Favorite Verses

Well, Mom Keith emailed me over a month ago asking us to send her our favorite verse or verses....well, here is my problem (this doesn't excuse the fact that I have taken this long to respond to her request). I have definitely had ones that have been "favorites" through different seasons, but it is hard for me to pick just one. I struggle because I have found so much truth in reading through an entire book and seeing the very heart of God in the mist of the context and story. It has definitely changed my perspective of reading the Bible. It means so much more to me to read it this way. With this said, however, I do have some that I can share that have encouraged and shown me His heart...

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning God.

John 21:25

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

I went ahead and included the beginning of John to show how deep this gospel is. I find so much richness in the fact that God has always been and always will be. I find so much beauty in the fact that the stories we have of the life of Jesus from the Bible are just a tiny glimpse of what He did while He walked on the earth in flesh. I sometimes think about what else He could have done and who else He would have spent His time with....but, then I realize I don't have to know every detail because I miss the larger picture of what His heart is like and how He wants me to become more like Him. I find such enjoyment knowing that He loves me enough to allow me to discover who He is through this book we call the Bible.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The word therefore is always crucial to look at in scripture so you don't miss out on the audience or the story that was before it. The author had just finished sharing the faith of many "heroes" of the Bible. It was meant for encouragement for us. Our goal is by no means to get any praise or adoration for the way we follow Christ, but we have incredible people that have gone before us that have left outstanding legacies. I look at this verse and am reminded that Jesus never promises us that this life would be easy, only that it will be worth every minute if in the right hands. This life is a race and I so want to leave it exhausted. That is my continued prayer right now for our family....that we can find out where God wants us to spend our time for His purposes and that we can embrace it and pour these lives into it. He has already paid the ultimate price by laying His life down for us....we want to be a family that "gives our lives away" for His glory...whatever that may look like.

Matthew 6:31-34

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Those of you who know me well, know that this was my favorite verse for the longest time. I feel like I have a tendency to get so caught up in the "stuff" of this world, and feel worn out at the end of the day for the wrong reasons. I love the truth in this passage. If I start by laying my life down then it is a reminder that it is not "my day" but His. I have to constantly be reminded that God wants us to take it one day at a time...and worry or stress should not be a part of my life if everything is truly in Him and for Him. I find rest in this truth.

Luke 9: 23-24

23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

This is another life verse...it speaks for itself (as all scripture does). It just helps me sometimes to process and share how these verses have shown me His heart.

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Constantly saying this verse.

Eli just woke up from his nap, so I will have to go get him. I have only included New Testament verses, I know. I love the richness and history of the old testament...which I will include more of those next time. These are just some that have been precious to me recently and a few that have meant a lot to me for awhile. I want so much to have these ingrained in my life. My prayer is that each new day we will discover His heart in a deeper way.

It's been a good week thus far...and everyone is healthy...which is a blessing that I do not want to take for granted. I will update more soon.

I posted a few more pictures...but these remind me of the truth that it "isn't about us"...though I love all the pictures Brandy took....these just "fit today".