Get to Know Me p. 27
"How very rich are God’s wisdom and knowledge! How he judges is more than we can understand! The way he deals with people is more than we can know!"
- Romans 11:33 NIRV
"Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. 'The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-
fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.'"
- Matthew 11:27-30 MSG
"Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government." – 1 Peter 2:13-17 MSG
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"The Father gives me the people who are mine. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them." - John 6:37 NCV
"We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."
- John 6:69 NIV
Relationship to God and Others p. 132
"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." - John 1:18 NIV
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored
throughout the world.” - Psalm 46:10 NLT
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"Then he was told, 'Go, stand on the mountain at attention before GOD. GOD will pass by.' A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before GOD, but GOD wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but GOD wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but GOD wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper." - 1 Kings 19:11-12 MSG
"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.'" - Isaiah 30:15 NLT
"The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." - Isaiah 32:17 NKJV
Love Others
p. 49
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 NIV
"When they got to Iconium they went, as they always did, to the meeting place of the Jews and gave their message. The Message convinced both Jews and non-Jews—and not just a few, either. But the unbelieving Jews worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street. The two apostles were there a long time, speaking freely, openly, and confidently as they presented the clear evidence of God’s gifts, God corroborating their work with miracles and wonders." - Acts 14:1-3 MSG
"I guided them with human kindness, with loving reins. I acted toward them like one who removes a yoke from their neck; I bent down and fed them." - Hosea 11:4 ISV
"Do not be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, then forgive him. Forgive each other because the Lord forgave you."
- Colossians 3:13 ICB
"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."
- Colossians 3:12-14 MSG
Trust
p. 138
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding."
- Proverbs 3:5 NIRV
"Your loyal followers trust in you, for you, LORD, do not abandon those who seek your help." - Psalm 9:10 NET
"Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful." - Proverbs 16:20 NLT
"If you’re faithful in small-scale matters, you’ll be faithful with far bigger responsibilities. If you’re crooked in small responsibilities, you’ll be no different in bigger things." - Luke 16:10 VOICE
Created for Relationship
p. 120
"My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God; the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God." - Psalm 62:7 VOICE
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8 NLT
"Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others." - Philippians 2:3 VOICE
"In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus." - Philippians 2:5 NCV
"Finish, then, with lying and tell your neighbor the truth. For we are not separate units but intimately related to each other in Christ." - Ephesians 5:24 PHILLIPS
"I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: GOD’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left." - Lamentations 3:19-24 MSG
"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part." - Matthew 6:14-15 MSG
Turning Life Around
p. 25
"Turn away from evil! Do good! Seek peace and go after it!" - Psalm 34:14 CEB
"I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope." - Jeremiah 29:11 CEB
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
- Matthew 5:9 NIV
"Because of God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace." - Luke 1:79 CEB
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-
control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone."
- 2 Peter 1:3-7 NLT
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone." - Titus 3:3-8 NIV
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"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." – Romans 8:18-21 NIV
"May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers." - 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 MSG
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well- developed, not deficient in any way. If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought." - James 1:2-6 MSG
Barriers
p. 130
"Christ himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his own body." - Ephesians 2:14 NCV
"Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will give you strength, and for sure I will help you. Yes, I will hold you up with My right hand that is right and good." - Isaiah 41:10 NLV
“'Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.'" - Isaiah 54:4 NIV
'"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'” - Joshua 1:9 NLT