and again.

once there was a lovely friend of mine who wrote a lovely song called, "and again." you know who you are!

here again is another passage of Scripture that has really been ministering to my heart. i am really digging my amplified bible these days! seriously, it's so great. it's like the Bible on steroids, with lots of extra wooooords! i do love words. it gives the fullest interpretation of the greek and hebrew words, so it's a really rich text to read. i read it pretty slowly. but it's such a blessing, because they are verses i know with a touch of added insight and wisdom. you should check it out.

my life has gone from 0 to 60 around here lately! all of the sudden i've got loads of friends with whom to fellowship, pray, worship the Lord, hang out and have fun together. i'm really blessed. in all honesty, i didn't really believe there were people around here with whom i could be friends. but the Lord sees all! it's kind of like when elijah freaks out and says "Lord, i alone am left and these pagans are wanting to kill me too!" and God gently reminds him, "I have seven thousand faithful among Israel." i'm being humbled pretty much daily to see that hello, it's God's work and not mine at all, whatsoever, no matter which way you look at it. He's so faithful to bless us, to encourage us, and to give us opportunities to be His witness, as we simply and gratefully abide in Him! and it's so natural- no striving, no fretting, no endeavouring on our own part. just trust-and-obey-for-there's-no-other-way-ing! you should try it and seeee!

ok, so here are the verses. i came across them in church yesterday, as we were studying chapter 13 of hebrews. a reference was made to 1 peter 5, for an entirely different reason, and i looked at the end of it and found another treasure, which you will see in bold/italics.

hebrews 13:5-6, Amplified Bible

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money

[including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions]

and be satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have;

for He, God Himself, has said,

I will never in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.

I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless 

nor forsake you nor let you down [relax My hold on you]!

Assuredly not!

So we take comfort and are encouraged

and confidently and boldly say,

The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm

I will not fear or dread or be terrified.

What can man do to me?

hebrews 13:20-21, Amplified Bible

Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace],

Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus,

that great Shepherd of the sheep,

by the blood that sealed and ratified the everlasting agreement [covenant, testament],

strengthen [complete, perfect] and make you what you ought to be

and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will;

while He Himself works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight,

through Jesus Christ [the Messiah];

to Whom be the glory forever and ever [to the ages of the ages].

Amen [so be it].

1 peter 5:10, Amplified Bible

And after you have suffered a little while,

the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor],

Who has called you to His own eternal glory in Christ Jesus,

will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be,

establish and ground you securely,

and strengthen, and settle you.

what grace! what glorious grace! JESUS DOES IT ALL, and strengthens and settles us meanwhile, as we abide in Him.
come hang out with me and i'll tell you more about it!

so blessed.

x