Day 54

Matthew 28:18-20
     And Jesus came and said to them,  "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Happy New Year to readers of my blog. I pray that you have a very blessed and joyous 2011. Keep living for Christ and Abiding in Him!

Day 53

John 16:33
    "...I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Because Christ has overcome the world so do we when we follow Him! So have faith and peace as a believer and remember that He has overcome the world!


John Mark McMillan - Ten Thousand

Day 52

John 14:1-3
      "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

Day 51

Matthew 11:28   
       Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Lord, You are my strength when I am weak. I want to follow You each day and long to remember this verse when I feel I can't go on. You are my everything!

Day 50

~Matt Papa - Open Hands

To give unselfishly to love the least of these Jesus I'm learning how to live with open hands All these treasures that I own will never satisfy my soul  Jesus I lay them at your throne with open hands

I lift my hands open wide let the whole world see how you love, how you died, how you set me free free at last, I surrender all I am with open hands, with open handsTo finally let go of my plans these earthly kingdoms built of sand Jesus at your cross I stand with open hands

You took the nails, You bore the crown You hung your head, Your love poured outYou took my place, You paid the price so Jesus now I will give my life

Lord, nothing in this world compares to You. Nothing will satisfy my soul as You do. I will lift my hands open wide and show the world how You have changed my life, how you love, died, and set me free! 

Day 49

 ^{Matthew 16:24-28}

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Day 48

Romans 5:2
    Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

"Christ in me, Christ in me, Christ in me, the hope of glory, You are everything. Be my everything, be my everything, be my everything, be my everything." ~Tim Hughes - Everything

Day 47

1 Timothy 1:15
     The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Day 46

Proverbs 18:24
    A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Day 45

Luke 2:8-11
    “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Day 44

Christmas is fast approaching, a time to celebrate Jesus' birth, be with family, exchange gifts and to eat a lot of sweets. When we get all wrapped up in the hustle and bustle do we fail to realize why Jesus was born and how Christmas is really connected to Easter and His death and resurrection? I know I have a hard time thinking that they have to be connected and knowing that He was actually born to die and suffer for our sins. Jesus Christ sent His only Son to take my place.

Isaiah 9:6
    For to us a child is born; to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 1:30-33
    And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

The Son of God was born as a sinless innocent baby. He was born sinless and lived a perfect life so that He could take our sins upon His self so that we might have life.

Mark 8:31
    And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 10:45
   "...For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John 3:16-17
   "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him...."

I know I have a hard time connecting the two, but have joy in the thought that Jesus Christ sent His Son to save me and my sinful soul. I don't deserve His love but take joy in it and strive to serve Him each day!

Flyleaf - Christmas Song

Day 43

Philippians 1:6
     And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.

Day 42

Galatians 1:10
     "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Lord, I want to be as Paul as he spoke to the church in Galatia in this verse.I long to be a servant for you and not focus on trying to please man more than you. I love and adore You, and am in awe of all You have done for me!

Day 41

Luke 1:68-71
    "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

Day 40

Matthew 1:20-21
       But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Day 39

So I've been on this "Abide Journey" for 40 days now. This has become more of just having time with my Savior each and every day then worrying about how long I'm doing it for. There have been many times I start out on quiet times and really on fire for Christ, keep it up for a week or so and then slowly go back in the habit of not having personal time with Him. This Abide Challenge was just what I needed and this blog I'm keeping to keep me accountable. Whatever time I get with my Savior I will cherish and strive for more each day. Might not be what I desire at the time, but I will make the effort more and more so that I may walk daily with Christ and live for Him each and every day. I pray that for those reading my blog on a regular basis don't look at the number of days but to look at what God has been teaching me and long to abide with Him daily as well!

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Longing for a attitude and heart like Mary in her song of praise when she was chosen to be the mother of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Savior to the nations.

Luke 1:46-56
 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;  for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

She was not expecting for any of the events to happen let alone her to be called blessed by many generations. I want to have that same attitude when the Lord places in my life something that I am not expecting. He has a plan for everything and uses the weak to lead the strong and those who aren't able to on their own so that He can have all the glory.

Day 38

Luke 1:30-33
     But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Day 37

Luke 1:26-28
      In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"

Day 36

Matthew 2:1-6
   Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
  "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
   who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

Day 35

Galatians 4:4-5
    But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Day 34

Isaiah 53:4-6
    Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

(Read the whole chapter. Focusing on this chapter today)

Day 33

Isaiah 7:14
     Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Day 32

Isaiah 43:2-3a
    "...When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

Day 31

Psalm 19:14
    Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in you sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Day 30

John 11:25-26
    Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Day 29

Reflecting on Isaiah 9:6
     For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Handels Messiah - For Unto Us a Child is Born

Lord, you are the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. You are everything to me! You are the only One that deserve praise! You are my strength! I love you Lord, help me to live for you more and more each day.

Day 28

Psalm 40:2
       He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

Lord, I want to live my life on the rock. I want to focus on Your word to keep my path straight. Help me to overcome desires of the flesh so I can live for Your glory!

Day 27

Jeremiah 29:11
     For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Lord, help me to remember that You have good plans for me. Even though I may not see it at the time You always have a good plan for my life.

Day 26

Joshua 1:8
    This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Day 25

1 Peter 2:11
    Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that I am not of this world. It is just my temporary home until you call me home to you. I desire to follow you and keep my mind focused on good things and not sinful pleasures of the flesh. Lord, help me to have strength and fight back the temptations and win this spiritual war.

Philippians 4:8
    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Day 24

Romans 10:14-15
     But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe n him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

Never really think of feet as a beautiful thing... You walk on them all day long, they get dirt and bugs etc squished all over them. Yet, when you are preaching and sharing the Word of God and the good news they are a beautiful thing!