HE afflicted...shall increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel -- Unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven --The imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.-- Love does not brag and is not arrogant.

      Pursue... gentleness.--Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart --He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.--Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously

Y glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report --All all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.--The stumbling block of the cross.

      Am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

      If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.

      To you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake -- One died for all, therefore all died and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf -- If we endure, we shall also reign with Him

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.-- Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand..--Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.

      The testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. --Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

THE wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud.

      Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.--Rest in the LORD.-- The one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

      Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace -- We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ

      In his shade I took great delight and sat down, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
 

HE fear of the LORD is to hate evil.--Abhor that which is evil.--Abstain from all form of evil.--See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled

      If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear

      Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth -- Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
      Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness --We...have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners --He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

 am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
     Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil --Take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,  and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one & take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.--In order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

AKE care, and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted --"Cease striving and know that I am God --Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God? --The pride of man will be humbled, And the loftiness of men will be abased, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
      Mary... was listening to the Lord's word seated at His feet...Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her--In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.--Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah
      Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
      He will not fear evil tidings. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is upheld
      He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
 

 HOU shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
      Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love...I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD.--Whom the Lord loves He disciplines.
      Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.--For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

E is also the head of the body, the church.--The head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.-- We are members of His body
      A body thou hast prepared Me.--Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
      Thine they were, and thou gavest them me.--He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world -- Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son
      We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

 
OW precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house and Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy delights. For with Thee is the fountain of life
     Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry. Behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty -- But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. -- This He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive
      Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters.--The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

HO is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?--To Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul.--I stretch out my hands to Thee. My soul longs for Thee, as a parched land. Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails. Do not hide Thy face from me, lest I become like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning for I trust in Thee; Teach me the way in which I should walk for to Thee I lift up my soul.

      Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise thee. So I will bless Thee as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in Thy name --Make glad the soul of Thy servant, for to Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee.
      Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do

 
T is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
      Learn a parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door --Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
      I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
      He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
      Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

HE hope which is laid up for you in heaven.--If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. --"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.-- Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple-- No man may be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
      Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.--The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.--Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead .--Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory--Through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

 
KNOW the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity --My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

      How precious...are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.--How great are Thy works, O LORD! Thy thoughts are very deep --Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts toward us
      Not many mighty, not many noble, are called.--Did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom --Having nothing, yet possessing all things.--The unfathomable riches of Christ.

HE LORD is a God of knowledge, and with Him actions are weighed.--That which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God --God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.--Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.
      What will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?--Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

      Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being --Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing

 
XCEPT a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit --If the first piece of dough be holy, the lump is also; and if the root be holy, the branches are too --Now is Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep --If we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection --The Lord Jesus Christ...will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
      The firstborn from the dead.--If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
      I am the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,
 

HOU sayest, I am rich, and have become wealthy and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.
      Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be satisfied.--The afflicted and needy are seeking water but there is none and their tongue is parched with thirst I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them--I the LORD, am your God.. open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
     Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance.--I am the bread of life: he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

 
HEN I should say, My foot has slipped, Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.
      Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail
      A righteous man falls seven times, and rises again --When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
      Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise. Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me -- From six troubles He will deliver you. Even in seven evil will not touch you.
      If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous --Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.


 

will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.--Good and upright is the LORD. Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
      That they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.
      I... entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

HEN I am weak, then am I strong.--My God is my strength.--He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me --Let him rely on My protection
      Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you.--His arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
      I will not let you go unless you bless me
     "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted --Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of buckler and shield, and rise up for my help.

HOU shall not follow a multitude in doing evil. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. What fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?-- Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

      You formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.--You did not learn Christ in this way...as truth is in Jesus,

y the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground --We we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat --Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands

      Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going --Night is coming, when no man can work.

      Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary --Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

      There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God --Who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day -- Here is rest, give rest to the weary and here is repose.

the LORD, am your healer.
    O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up. Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. --Thou hast placed our iniquities before Thee, Our secret sins in the light of Thy presence. --All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
      Come now, and let us reason together says the LORD,  Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. --Let him be gracious to him, and say, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom --He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed --He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.--Your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction
 

HE LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! And support you from Zion! We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. Some boast in chariots, and some in horses but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. They have bowed down and fallen but we have risen and stood upright.
      When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. --No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
      If God is for us, who is against us?
      The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? God Whom we serve is able to deliver...and He will deliver us
 

Y soul llonged and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God --O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary
      Ho. Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.--The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.--Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
--My blood is true drink.
      Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.

HAT which is imperishable.--for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.--He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies --They are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection --The incorruptible God.
      If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you --It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body
      Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another --Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

LESSED be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God --Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame. He is mindful that we are but dust.--As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.--Casting all your anxiety upon him; for he cares for you.
      Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
      Another Helper... the Spirit of truth --The Spirit helps our weakness
      He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away

E received honor and glory from God the Father...This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased--See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God
      Be imitators of God, as beloved children --If children heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ
      He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature --Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
      Jesus the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame --These things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy made full in themselves -As the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.