25 Encouraging Bible Verses for Those Celebrating Birthdays

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Lynn

Having just celebrated another birthday I am reminded of all the blessings God continues to bestow on me.  Birthdays are not only a time to celebrate, but also a day to reflect on the events of the past year, and look forward to memory-building in the year ahead!  “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10) 

John 16:21  “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”

James 1:17-18  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

2 Corinthians 9:15  “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Ephesians 2:8-10  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

1 Corinthians 1:3-7  “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.  Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”

Jeremiah 1:5  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Psalm 37:4-6 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.”

Psalm 1:1-3  “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”

Psalm 71:6-8  “From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.  I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.  My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.”

Psalm 22:10  “From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”

3 John 1:2  “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

Psalm 20:4  “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

Psalm 90:12  “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Zephaniah 3:17  “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Psalm 91:11-16  “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.   “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Proverbs 9:11  “For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.”

Psalm 16:11  “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 139:13-14  “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 39:4-5  “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.”

Psalm 148:5-6  “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever—he issued a decree that will never pass away.”

Proverbs 4:10-13  “Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.  I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.  When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.  Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”

Ecclesiastes 11:5-6  “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.  Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

Psalm 27:4-7  “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.  Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.”

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

 

 

 

Posted in 25 Encouraging Bible Verses - Topical | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Total Eclipse

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Lynn

I was a newlywed when the last total eclipse of the sun was seen in our neck of the woods in 1979.  I don’t really remember if there was as much excitement about that one as there was for this one in 2017, but the images captured yesterday were probably more spectacular because of new technology.  To be honest I missed it both times and will likely not see the next one seven years from now as it will cross over the eastern part of Canada and miss the west entirely.

As I listened to the news last night and saw the amazing image of the moon crossing in between the earth and the sun, I was mesmerized not by the event itself per se, but peoples’ reaction to it.  I listened to their interviews and noted that in our world where everyone acts as though the world revolves around THEM, the reality is that a total eclipse makes people realize that they have absolutely no control over what happens in the “heavenlies”.  People were actually weeping when they witnessed the event, perhaps overcome by the enormity of the universe compared to the insignificance of their petty lives.

Was God mentioned yesterday?  Yes.  People often refer to a “greater power” when they witness things that they have absolutely no control over.

Franklin Graham on his Facebook page wrote: “Throughout history some have associated a solar eclipse with a warning of God’s pending judgment. Today, a #SolarEclipse will cross the United States from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast. I don’t know if this is a sign of His judgment, but as the moon’s shadow crosses our nation, may it be a reminder to all of us to pray—to confess our sins, to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness, and to pray that God will heal our broken land.”
#GreatAmericanEclipse #Pray

Psalm 19:1 was quoted quite often yesterday as well: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

God has complete control of the universe and it is only our human arrogance that seems to think we can change what God has already put into motion.  We truly are insolent creatures!

I do pray that yesterday’s cosmic event will push people to think how truly small they are in the grand scheme of things.  God holds the cosmos in His Hands and His Creation bows to His Majesty and His Grand Plan.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  He will determine how many days are allotted to each of us and to this World, and when He says “It is finished” there will be NOTHING we can do about stopping what happens next.

I’m ready, are you?

 

Posted in Proverbs 16:9 - Journey Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tearing Down History

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Lynn

When the Islamic extremist group, ISIS destroyed historical sites and tore down thousand-year old statues in the Middle East, the outcry against this act of desecration and vandalism was swift.  I wept at the senseless destruction of historical artifacts that can never be replaced or restored.  To me, as a teacher, with a passion for understanding how history has shaped our world, these acts of terrorism will impact future generations!  Much like explaining the extinction of an animal species to my grandchildren, they will never benefit from seeing and learning about that animal without some visual representation.  The same is true for past civilizations they will never understand by actually physically touching and viewing the masterpieces that acted as historical markers for the people who lived in those times.  Even if those markers, statues, obelisks and the like were a reminder of the brutality of the times, they still have historical relevance that should remind future generations of learning from past mistakes.

There is biblical relevance for erecting monuments and statues as reminders of God’s provision and awesome power and activity in our lives. Henry Blackaby speaks of this and calls them “Spiritual Markers“:

“Spiritual memory is crucial in the Christian life. Do you vividly recall times when you know God spoke to you? It would be tragic if, in your haste to advance in your Christian faith, you neglected to leave spiritual markers at the key crossroads of your life. Without the help of these markers, you will lose your spiritual bearings.

The Israelites experienced a tumultuous pilgrimage. Their doubt that God was powerful enough to give them victory cost them forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Then God miraculously parted the waters of the Jordan River so they could pass over and continue their conquest. God knew that at times the Israelites would face intimidating enemies and would need a reminder that He was powerful enough to protect them. The Israelites might be tempted to think they made a mistake entering Canaan. For this reason God instructed them to build a monument on the banks of the Jordan River. Whenever they returned to this spot, they would see the monument and be reminded of God’s awesome power. This marker would give them confidence to meet the new challenges they faced.

A spiritual marker identifies a time of decision when you clearly know that God guided you. Can you remember the moment you became a child of God? Were there specific times when He called you to His ways of living? Can you point to times when He clearly guided you in a decision? Were there times when He spoke powerfully to you about a commitment you should make? Keep track of these important moments! Regularly rehearse them and notice the steady progression in the way God has led you. This will help you understand God’s activity in your life and give you a sense of direction as you face future decisions.”

When I battled cancer, my husband bought me a little angel figurine on the first day of my first chemo treatment.  Every time I looked at that figurine during my journey with cancer, I was reminded to not give up, to know that God was in control, I was loved.  Some have said I should get rid of it because it is a constant reminder of the pain I suffered during that time, but fifteen years later, I still cherish that little figurine as it acts as a Spiritual Marker for what I went through and it is a tool to keep me pointed towards the future and to depend on God through good times and bad.

On November 11th, each year I wear a red Poppy in remembrance of the sacrifice of men and women who fought and died in wartime battles.  I have stood at many of the war memorials erected to honour our Canadian soldiers and to remember the tragedy that is war.  They are historical markers that should serve to remind all who look upon them, the horrors of war and to never ever repeat them in the future.

I wept this week, when I saw vandals tear down statues in Charlottesville that depict a time in America’s history that, although painful, should never be forgotten.  I understand the anguish and suffering and the hateful division those monuments are a reminder of, but the anger that culminated in their destruction was misdirected!  Tearing down monuments and statues will not negate the events of that era then or now.  These markers should serve as reminders to all peoples to NEVER repeat the mistakes of the past.  The hate of yesterday should never be carried forward into today’s reality and thus affect future generations.

Instead, to those who want to abolish the hate propagated by events of the past, erect MORE monuments and statues so that you can teach the lessons learned from history to your children and grandchildren.  Let the statues, monuments and spiritual markers stand as sentinels to remind future generations to never repeat those same mistakes.  Place your own Spiritual Markers around your home to remember times when God intervened, or saved, or led you and your family through different seasons of life.  Pass those “God Stories” on to your children and grandchildren to benefit future generations.  You cannot eradicate hate by tearing down history, only repenting of the sins of the past and turning to Jesus Christ will do that.

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Proverbs 16:9 - Journey Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments