ONLY JESUS! No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay… But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.  —Psalm 49:7-9, 15 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? —Mark 8:36-37             If all the people that lived past, present and future said they would die for you, all their deaths could not redeem…

MY GUIDE For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. —Psalm 48:18             Now here’s a relationship that is totally dependable!  I am so grateful that my God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6). He will be with me to the end just as Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  So whether the end of our lives on…

SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE! It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’ —Numbers 23:23 Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. —Psalm 66:16             Reflect on what God has done and is doing and will do in Israel.  It is an amazing history filled with joys and sorrows.  Reflect on what He has done— Creation, fall, flood, nations, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Joseph, Moses, wilderness wanderings, Canaan, Israel & Judah… Jesus… now…  Truly astounding to ponder.             Reflect on what God has done, is doing and will do in your own…

LOOK IN FAITH/BELIEF! They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”  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…

VICTORY COMES ONLY BY OUR LORD! It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. —Psalm 44:3             We have no victories due to our own supposed skill and strength.  Any victory we have is because of our Lord’s power.  It is because of His love for them and us that we have any victory.  So, today, praise His Name for any victory you have had.  It occurred not because of you, but because of Him— “I am the vine; you are the branches.…

PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD! Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. —Psalms 42:5, 11             Are you downcast today?  Has disappointment gripped you?  Are you dejected or dismayed?  Why?  Brothers and sisters, fellow followers of Jesus, get your focus off the circumstances that are disturbing you and put your hope in God.  He is your Savior.  He is your God.  Instead of being downcast and disturbed by whatever situation is causing you to feel that way, look to Him who loves you with an everlasting love and cares for…

JESUS NEVER FAILS! Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. —Psalms 41:9 All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. —Job 19:19  ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ —John 13:18 Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” —Luke 22:48             When those you love turn on you it is so painful.  Close friends, those you have trusted, those you have shared meals with in their homes and in your homes, when they turn against you is a hard part of life.  There are those who were once…

SET ON THE ROCK— JESUS! I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. —Psalm 40:1-3             When did you cry out to the Lord and He heard you and responded?  Have you cried out to the Lord?  If not, why not?  Anyone who cries out to Him will receive…

LIFE IF BRIEF, ETERNITY IN JESUS NEVER ENDS! Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.  You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.  Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure… But now, Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you. —Psalms 39:4-5 ,7             A handbreadth is the width of the human hand— about 4 inches.  The span of our lives before the Lord are as nothing.  This is truly amazing and puts into perspective how awesome God is and how utterly…

WAIT ON HIM WHO KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. —Psalm 38:9 Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. —Psalm 38:15 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. —Deuteronomy 4:29             What are you longing for?  What are your desires?  What are your hurts?  Whatever they are, our Lord knows them.  Even when you sigh, that is known by Him.  Actually, everything about you is known to Him— “Nothing in all creation is…