A Man Fell In A Hole

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." 

-Romans 3:10, 23-

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

-Romans 6:23-

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." 

-Romans 10:9, 13-

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED!

My favorite way to memorize scripture

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness...(2 Timothy 3:16). 

One thing I really enjoy doing is memorizing scripture. Whether a longer passage or a short verse, all scripture is beneficial to us as Christians. It's amazing how sometimes a verse I have memorized will suddenly pop into my head in the different situations of life.

I've had people tell me "I can't memorize" or "It's too hard". But I know this, that practice makes perfect...The more you memorize, the easier it becomes. 

There are many different methods people use to memorize, but today I'll share one of my favorites. It's actually kind of guessing game! :)

1- Choose a verse, passage or chapter from God's Word to memorize. You may want to read it all the way through before starting. Also pray before you begin! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

2- Find a whiteboard/dry erase board and some markers. Write out the verse on the whiteboard. 

3- Check your verse one last time to make sure that you have it correctly written out. It's challenging if you find out later that it's slightly off. :P

4- Read the verses out loud from your white board over and over, erasing one word or so each time you start over. When you get to the erased part of a verse, then you try to remember and say the missing word. Fill in the blank! :) And you can erase less or more, if you'd like. :) 

5- Once the whole board is erased and clean, say the entire verse from memory. Do you have it memorized? Practice and review it to get it mastered. (Also, you could definitely do this with paper and a pencil, but just make sure you erase it completely so you can't see what you erased.)

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There you go! :) Pretty, simple, right?

Blessings to you as you memorize Scripture! It seems as I read the Word, I find more and more verses I want to memorize...I have a on-going list of scriptures I would someday, like to master. ;-)

I have also found Memverse to be very useful in reviewing your memorized verses. There are different learn features, fun weekly Bible quizzes, and much more! And, it's 100% free and nothing to download. A plus for me :D

How do you memorize Scripture? Is there a verse or passage that you've been working on recently? 

Please share in the comment box!

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P S A L M   1 1 9  :  9  - 1  8 

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach my thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

Shine!

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the [daughters] of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world….”
—Philippians 2:15

It’s hard to be a shining light. Matthew 5:14 says that we are the light of the world. That’s a pretty high expectation, isn’t it? But God also promises that “[He] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20).

Even though He promises that, it’s still oh-so-easy to forget and go off on our own thing, then get depressed at our lack of love and spiritual awareness of God (sound familiar, anyone?). We get to feeling like God doesn’t really love us after all—and even if He does we aren’t really worth His notice anyway. Friends, I want to tell you, though—that thought is wrong. Just think about this little fact for a moment:

Jesus is real. And He’s still working.

“Candle light” by Alesa Dam is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Now, I know it sounded strange for me to say that, but I think sometimes we can forget this simple, yet profound fact. We shouldn’t forget—oh, no, of course not! But when we don’t really see Him working in a drastic way in our lives at the moment, it becomes easy to forget. To forget that He actually IS the Son of God, come down to a little earth that He made, confining Himself (as God) to the body of man’s flesh—that He had created! It was—is—an incredible event.

But while we can know all that in our heads, it’s easy—too easy—to forget that in our hearts. So this next week, I challenge you: Practice remembering God’s presence in your life. Take time to remember what He’s done for you in the past. Notice all the things He made—in a single word! And then remember that He took special pains to make you just perfect, not just speaking and forming man in a single word like He did the animals (see Genesis 1:27 and 2:7 on that). No. He took special pains to make you. Then, beyond that, remember that Jesus prayed for you—for you!—here on earth! In John 17:20 Jesus is praying, and He says, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word…” (emphasis mine). That’s you He’s talking about there!

By remembering, your light can shine brighter—because it has good reason to! When we forget why we’re here, what our purpose in life is, and Who Jesus really is, our light dims. But by remembering, our joy—our light for Jesus—grows brighter.

Remember. So that you’ll never forget. Because He calls you “precious” (1 Peter 2:3-5).

Esther

Guidance

From the heart of Jean Rhodes with influences by other unknown author(s)—


When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw “G: I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i”. “God, “u” and “i” dance.” God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

And I Hope You Dance!!!!!!!!

Source

Blessings to you all!

~Bonnie

Let's Talk about Jesus!

I once heard of a small girl and her family, who visited her Grandparents in Michigan.  Upon her return home to Missouri, her parents reported to the grandma and grandpa that their daughter happily kept saying over and over: “Michigan! Michigan!”

Do you know a name that has your attention? Is there a name you love to hear? Do you love to sing its worth?

Back to my story, there was something about that name that attracted her. It could have been the sound of it…or the enjoyable time she had had. It’s hard to tell with a little girl, but obviously that name had had such an impact on her that she could not stop saying it!

Do you talk about Jesus? He’s the reason we live, and move, and have our being. He came and died, and rose from the dead to save us from our sins – is there a reason we should not talk about Jesus?

Jesus should not be the one we just talk about at church; or prayer meetings; or; in personal devotions.  He should compass our entire being; just as the little girl

kept repeating “Michigan”, we, should have Jesus the focus of our hearts and lives. His name is above every name.  He is the Master, Savior, Messiah and King!  What depth does the name of Jesus have!

Let heaven and nature sing.  Let us sing and proclaim his glorious, powerful, awesome name!

~Rachel

My Identity in JESUS

Source


Click on the image to make it larger :)

Matthew 19:26

(I'm sorry I haven't been posting longer article/posts here, I have been extremely busy of late!)

O Rejoice in the Lord!!

Source

God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O Rejoice in the LORD
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried
And purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

                 ~Ron Hamilton

A Thousand Years Like Yesterday

Just recently, my dad’s truck was washed away in a flooded river. Thankfully, Dad got out safely and the truck was headed for the scrap yard within a few months anyway, so it wasn’t a big loss.

Today, while doing memory verses, I came across an interesting passage.

Photo Credit

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.” (Psalm 90:4-5)

After seeing that flooded river, this verse (verse five) especially jumped out at me. A thousand years…that’s a long time! Longer than most of us live! Methuselah got close at 969, but he didn’t quite get there!

That gets me thinking. Even if we did have that long to live, our lives would be pointless without Jesus. Man’s lifespan these days is very short—if you reach 100, you’re fortunate. With those 100 years, with Jesus, you could do a lot—if you choose to. It all depends on what we choose to do—how we choose to spend our precious few years here on earth. There are so many things we do that are pointless. They might be fun to do, but are the things you’re doing drawing people to the Lord? No matter what we do, we must consider this question: Is this something that will last for eternity, or is it just something that will be remembered in the present?

What’s one thing you’re doing that will last for eternity?

Keep shining!

- Esther

Tempted like as we are…

I don’t know if this verse has been shared before or not, but this is an amazing reminder! Jesus was tempted just like we are, but he was still sinless! What an encouragement!

Blessings,
Esther

The Most Precious Gift in the World...

Source: Pinterest 

What an AMAZING Gift!!! :) I'm SO thankful for it!!

Have you received it?

A verse for your day...

Source: Seven Farmgirls on Pinterest

Wisdom Wednesday :: Time with the Lord

"We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength."

--Charles Stanley

This is so true! Sometimes I feel very discouraged, and when I take the time to hear from the Lord from his Word, or through prayer, it refreshes me! I am given new strength and am able to go on! 

Meditations on Monday :: Give Thanks!

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.  Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

1 Chronicles 16:8-12 NIV

What are you giving thanks for today?

Near to the Heart of God

There is a place of quiet rest,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where sin cannot molest,

Near to the heart of God.

Refrain:

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee

Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where we our Savior meet,

Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where all is joy and peace,

Near to the heart of God.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

~ Matthew 11:28-30 ~

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:

~ Deuteronomy 33:27a ~ 

Thoughtful Tuesdays :: Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

~Lamentations 3:22-23 ~ NIV ~

Photo Credit goes to my friend, Emily.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Another thought

"Jesus didn't die half-way for you
why do you get to live half-way for Him?"
 -Damon Thompson

Happy Resurrection Day! Jesus is RISEN!!

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away...

Matthew 26:30, 36, 39, 41, 57 a

The Garden of Gethsemane / Mount of Olives, looking towards the city of Jerusalem.


Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

Matthew 27: 22, 24, 26, 28-31, 33

Golgotha - "The place of a skull"

Do you see it? The lower half of it is now hidden under the parking lot.

 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

 And sitting down they watched him there;

And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews.

 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Matthew 27:35-37, 46, 50

Photo Credit: FreeFoto.com

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

Matthew 27:57-60

The Garden Tomb - where he was buried ... and where he rose from the dead!!

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE IS RISEN, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Matthew 28:1-8

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

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Praise the LORD! Jesus is risen and alive forevermore!!!

Happy Resurrection Day! 

Blessings,

Rachel

(Photo Credit goes to my wonderful Daddy! :) Thank you!)

A scattering of thoughts

Some convicting thoughts:

                            Source

                          Source

(Don't just pray about what seems logical and possible. Pray HARD about the "impossible" God will show you that NOTHING nothing nothing nothing is impossible with Him. Ever. Period. End of Story.)

                            Source

Hmm very interesting!

Blessings Tiffany

oops! Suddenly realized there was a thoughts Tuesday -oh well there is now Thursday Thoughts :D

The Fruit of the Spirit ..... And an Announcement!!!

Hello Everyone! 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

~Galatians 5:22-23~

"God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality. Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity."

--Rick Warren

What has the Lord been showing you recently?

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And the announcement ??? :)

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Issue #5 of Jewels of Jesus!!! :D

Click HERE to read this issue! 

Have fun! And once you've read it, tell us what you think! :)

~Blessings~

Rachel for the JOJ team