2016 Word and Verses

I love cows and snow so this is the perfect picture! This year I have a word and some verses that go with that word. I am anxious to find other verses, God's words, that will impact my walk with Him. My word is: uncommon hope. Yes, that is two words, but they go together for me. I tried making hope one word, like hopeful, hopefulness, etc, but they just didn't work like uncommon hope. What do I mean by that? Below is what I'm studying on and the verses that have applied so far.

Uncommon hope, as in the uncommon hope we have in Jesus when He died on the cross. Uncommon hope that He loves us. John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Uncommon hope that we have eternal life in Him. John 10:26-28 26"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.… Uncommon hope that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

What words and/or verses impact you? Have you read a verse that just stopped you and you had to go back and reread it several times to let it soak in? What was it? What word or words do you feel God giving you for the new year?

God is a jealous God

This morning, my pastor said something that got me to thinking. God is a jealous God. What does that mean? What can I learn about this? Pastor said jealous can mean jealous rage or disappointment.

If we really love someone, we'll go out of our way to please them, to be noticed by them, to do something each day to show our love. What do we do to show God we love Him? Show up at church on Sunday morning? Stand for worship and act like we're singing and pouring our hearts out to Him? Pray when the pastor says pray? Lift our hands when the pastor says lift your hands? But what are we doing on our own to show God we love Him? Do we pray each day, even during the week when we're not coming to church? Do all our days look the same, reading God's Word, praying, witnessing, and obeying? Or do we reserve those activities for Sunday only?

Deuteronomy 4:24 'The Lord your God is a raging fire, a God who does not tolerate rivals.' No thing should be before God. We should live our life as unto God, doing our best for Him. Anything that comes before your relationship with God is an idol. God is a jealous God and doesn't want anything in your life to come before Him. There should be no doubt as to whom you serve. Be committed in your relationship with God. Show Him that He is most important in your life on a daily basis, not just on Sunday morning.