Matthew 25:21 (NRSV) — 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; 

you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; 

enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 25:21 (NLT) — 21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, 

so now I will give you many more responsibilities. 

Let’s celebrate together!’

Romans 5:3–5 (NLT) — 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, 

for we know that they help us develop endurance. 

4 And endurance develops strength of character, 

and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. 

For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit 

to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3–5 (The Message) — 3 There’s more to come: 

We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, 

because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, 

4 and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, 

keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. 

5 In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. 

Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything 

God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Our Gracious God sees your good works.

He honours you!

Know that He notices all your goodness

and that heaven rejoices ...

even when earth does not notice.

Rest secure in His Love today.

Psalm 97:1 (NRSV) — 1 The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Psalm 5:11 (NRSV) — 11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; 

let them ever sing for joy. 

Spread your protection over them, 

so that those who love your name may exult in you.

Psalm 31:7 (NRSV) — 7 I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, 

because you have seen my affliction; 

you have taken heed of my adversities,

Psalm 31:7–8 (The Message) — 7 I’m leaping and singing in the circle of your love; 

you saw my pain, you disarmed my tormentors, 

8 You didn’t leave me in their clutches 

but gave me room to breathe.

Psalm 16:8–9 (NRSV) — 8 I keep the Lord always before me; 

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; 

my body also rests secure.

Psalm 16:8–9 (The Message) — 8 Day and night I’ll stick with God; 

I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. 

9 I’m happy from the inside out, 

and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.

God Who perfectly created the heavens and the earth

is transforming your perfectly into His Image!

Your body can rest secure 

as your glad heart and soul rejoice!

Amen.

Romans 5:8 (NRSV) — 8 But God proves his love for us 

in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 (The Message) — 8 But God put his love on the line for us 

by offering his Son in sacrificial death 

while we were of no use whatever to him.

1 Corinthians 8:3 (NRSV) — 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him.

1 Corinthians 8:3 (The Message) — 3 We never really know enough 

until we recognize that God alone knows it all.

Ephesians 3:16–18 (NLT) — 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources 

he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 

17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. 

Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, 

how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NRSV) — 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God 

and to the steadfastness of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT) — 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding  

and expression of the love of God 

and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

Jesus is LOVE.

His Love changes us from glory to glory.

It is not an instant fix.

It is a Promise ...

of gradual transformation

into His Image.

This is quite AMAZING ...

Enjoy!

Psalm 23:3 (NRSV) — 3 he restores my soul. 

He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3 (NLT) — 3 He renews my strength. 

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Psalm 23:3 (The Message) — 3 True to your word, 

you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

Isaiah 58:12 (NRSV) — 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

 you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; 

you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

Isaiah 58:12 (The Message) — 12 You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, 

rebuild the foundations from out of your past. 

You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, 

restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again

1 Peter 5:10 (NRSV) — 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, 

the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, 

will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10 (NLT) — 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory 

by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, 

he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and 

he will place you on a firm foundation.

Papa God uses the life we bring to Him

to heal us, restore us, renew us

and thus, with integrity of faith,

we reach out to others and 

point them to Jesus Christ,

our God of all Healing.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV) — 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, 

plans for your welfare and not for harm, 

to give you a future with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message) — 11 I know what I’m doing. 

I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, 

not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Isaiah 45:2–3 (NRSV) — 2 I will go before you and level the mountains, 

I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, 

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, 

so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

Isaiah 45:2–3 (The Message) — 2 “I’ll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road. 

I’ll break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances. 

3 I’ll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables— 

Confirmations that it is, in fact, I, God, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

Sometimes we are in a place

where we are unable to see 

'the forest for the trees'.

Remember His Promise

to always go before us, demolishing barriers

in order to reveal His Plans and Purposes to us.

And so we wait ...

with expectant hearts.

Amen

Luke 19:10 (NRSV) — 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.

Luke 19:10 (The Message) — 10 For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.

Acts 2:21 (NLT) — 21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:21 (The Message) — 21 And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NRSV) — 18 For the message about the cross is foolishness 

to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT) — 18 The message of the cross is foolish 

to those who are headed for destruction! 

But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (The Message) — 18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross 

seems like sheer silliness to those hell-bent on destruction, 

but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. 

This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out.

We declare this day that

we are not ashamed of the Gospel

for it is the Power of God

at work saving everyone

who believes!

!YAY!

John 15:16 (NRSV) — 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. 

And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, 

so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

John 15:16 (The Message) — 16 “You didn’t choose me, remember; 

I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. 

As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

1 Peter 3:4 (NRSV) — 4 ... let your adornment be the inner self 

with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 

which is very precious in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:4 (NLT) — 4 You clothe yourselves with the beauty that comes from within, 

the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 

which is so precious to God.

Colossians 3:10 (NRSV) — 10 [You] have clothed yourselves with the new self, 

which is being renewed in knowledge 

according to the image of its creator.

Colossians 3:10 (The Message) — 10 Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. 

Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, 

with his label on it. 

All the old fashions are now obsolete.

Your beauty is His Beauty within you!

You have been made anew in His Image!

Rejoice in your newness of life and 

LET IT SHINE!

Hallelujah.