Weekly Reflection and Scripture Tags

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Weekly Reflection Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Apostle Paul, prior to making this statement was encouraging the disciples to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (verse 12). As you read this scripture, does this passage prompt you to think about how you know it is God who is using you as a vessel to fulfill his good purpose or pleasure?  As I have done for many years, the first week of January I prayed asking God to show me how to move forward this new year for his purpose.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Weekly Reflection Philippians 2:13 KJV

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

“When the advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father the Spirit of truth who goes out from the father he will testify about me” (John 15:26). “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18).  

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Weekly Reflection 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me.

Each of our journey with God is different.  What does it mean to you when you read God is your “rock and fortress?”  This is my scripture for the year 2024.  Yes! Every year, as I am led by the spirit, I choose a theme scripture and from the theme scripture I meditate on a phrase that helps me focus on my spiritual journey for the year.  This year did not start as I normally expected.  Well! Neither did the end of 2023. Can you relate how God sometimes change your

For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me.

Weekly Reflection Psalm 31:3-4- KJV

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!

Unity (Yachad- Hebrew) can be translated as altogether. The word unity or unify is often used in different settings. I often hear the word unity used in the church setting. Jesus, in John chapter 17:20-23, prayed for his disciples and future disciples who will believe in him to become one.  As I read Jesus’ prayer asking God to allow all his followers to become one, it leads me to ask, what was the purpose and vision that Jesus saw as he prayed that prayer?

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!

Weekly Reflection Psalm 133:1 NIV

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Heavenly Father God! I come before you in the name of Jesus Christ to present this prayer before your throne. Father God, please allow your Holy Spirit to show me how to speak for those in our society who have been marginalized. Father God, we live in a society where we are consuming and focusing on ourselves.  Father God, we often forget that all we have belongs to you and can be taken away in a split second.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Weekly Reflection Proverbs 31:8 NIV

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said, "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered his glory.)

What drink are you consuming? Jesus is inviting you to come drink from the “Rivers of living water”. This passage brought me back to one story that I have written about previously regarding the woman at the well (John chapter 4).  What burden are you carrying and feel

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said, "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered his glory.)

Weekly Reflection John 7:38 NLT

The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

How often do you find yourself fighting to repent/change something in your life that you know is not pleasing to God?  The more you fight, the more you feel defeated.  As I listened or read sermons from different teachers and preachers, I noticed very few taught repentance which simply means to change the course of your life toward God’s will not your own. I believe according to scriptures after becoming a follower of Jesus your life must transform from

The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Weekly Reflection John 6:63 NLT

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Jesus had been called many names as he proclaimed the good news as God’s ambassador while he was on earth.  The Lamb of God is one of the names. Have you ever taken time to meditate on Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God”? Jesus, the savior of the world, is frequently used to describe his ultimate purpose for mankind.  Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world! And he is also the sacrificial lamb who was murdered in our place and became the final sacrifice for us to be seen and

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Weekly Reflection John 1:29 NIV

 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Weekly Reflection John 1:17 NIV

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The law and Jesus Christ! As I continue to study the law and Jesus Christ, it is fascinating to learn how connected they are, yet different. I can see why certain religious groups teach doctrine that baptism, which is submersion in water as Jesus taught Nicodemus in John 3: 1-21 is viewed as human work. Nonetheless, as I study the Scriptures, I find that their doctrine is far from the true purpose of baptism. Yes, I do believe baptism alone doesn’t bring transformation and salvation.

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So, Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

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