the LORD speaks – isaiah reports – you decide

wash yourselves

make yourselves clean

remove the evil of your deeds from before MY EYES

cease to do evil

learn to do good

seek justice

correct oppression

bring justice to the fatherless

plead the widow’s cause

come, let’s reason together

your sins like scarlet?  they’ll be white as snow

your sins red like crimson?  they’ll become like wool

be willing & obedient and you’ll eat the good of the land

refuse & rebel and you’ll be eaten by the sword

(the MOUTH of the LORD  has spoken)

 

denying-taking up-following-living-giving up: mark 8:34-38

 

deny yourself

take up your cross

follow HIM

live your life for your purposes & you lose it

give up your life for HIS purposes & you save it

if you’re ashamed of HIM as you live out your life in this cesspool of a world, HE’LL be ashamed of you when you stand before HIM in all HIS FATHER’S GLORY with HIS holy angels present

psalms 22 & 23: what a difference a chapter makes

22: my GOD, my GOD, why have YOU forsaken me?

23: the LORD is my shepherd; i shall not want.

 

22: GOD, i cry all day and all night, and YOU do not answer.

23: HE restores my soul.

 

22: i am a worm and not a man; i am despised by the people.

23: i fear no evil; YOU are with me.

 

22: strong bulls surround me; they open their mouths to devour me like a roaring lion.

23: YOU prepare a banquet table for me in the presence of my enemies.

 

22: my bones are out of joint, my heart melts like wax, my strength is dried up, my tongue sticks to my jaws, i lay in the dust of death

23: YOU annoint my head with oil.

 

22: dogs and evildoers surround me.

23: goodness and mercy follow me.

 

22: they have pierced my hands and feet; they stare and gloat over me.

23: i will live in the LORD’s house forever.

 

2nd corinthians – apostle paul

affliction

share abundantly in CHRIST’s sufferings

utterly burdened beyond our strength

despaired of life itself

felt that we had received the sentence of death

deadly peril

much affliction and anguish of heart

with many tears

afflicted in every way

perplexed

persecuted

struck down

always carrying in the body the death of JESUS

always being given over to death for JESUS’ sake

death is at work in us

our outer nature is wasting away

slight momentary affliction

in this tent we groan

burdened

afflictions

hardships

calamities

beatings

imprisonments

riots

labors

sleepless nights

hunger

dishonor

slander

treated as imposters

unknown

dying

punished

sorrowful

poor

having nothing

in all our affliction

our bodies had no rest

afflicted at every turn

fighting without

fear within

indignation

fear

longing

punishment

severe test of affliction

extreme poverty

labors

imprisonments

countless beatings

often near death

received forty lashes less one

beaten with rods

stoned

shipwrecked

adrift in the sea

in danger from rivers

danger from robbers

danger from my own people

danger from gentiles

danger in the city

danger in the wilderness

danger at sea

danger from false brothers

in toil and hardship

many a sleepless night

in hunger and thirst

often without food

in cold and exposure

anxiety for all the churches

a thorn was given me in the flesh

weaknesses

insults

hardships

persecutions

calamities

 

psalm 37

don’t fret.

 don’t be envious.

trust GOD.

do good.

befriend faithfulness.

delight in GOD.

be committed to GOD.

be still.

wait patiently.

refrain from anger.

forsake wrath.

be generous & give.

turn away from evil.

utter wisdom.

speak justice.

keep GOD’s way.

mark the blameless.

behold the upright.

take refuge in GOD.