BibLenScaping

  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.' This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not ...

     "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."  Martin Luther King Jr. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.   Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  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. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impo...

Perseverance “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” — Thomas Edison We started the year with the word perspective . We did well keeping our perspective, holding on, and not giving up. Now, as we stand at the doorstep of 2025 , it’s a call to persevere . Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Let each of us say, in St. Paul’s words : “I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Being mindful that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses , let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us not become weary i...

For to be steadfast is not merely to stand still in the same place, but to move forward with a slow and unwavering step—George Eliot. Being steadfast in faith, in love, and in perseverance is not for the fainthearted. It is a feat that those who are strong in spirit can achieve, looking unto Jesus and not turning to the right or to the left. We need to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. But what is the confession of our hope? It is the firm grip on what we believe in. And what is the belief we confess and place our hope in? We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, having been justified by faith and gaining access to grace in which we stand, through faith. Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are able to rejoice in our sufferings, the end product of which is hope. Suffering produces endurance, endurance character, and character hope. This hope does not put us to ...

"Come on, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world... strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” – Alfred, Lord Tennyson Embracing the adventure of seeking something new is a lifelong journey. We are always seeking, but what exactly are we chasing? The deeper question is what we are truly pursuing. Our pursuits shape our perceptions and priorities. Some of us may be preoccupied with things that do not contribute to the greater good. Distractions constantly vie for our attention—the tyranny of the urgent, the allure of power, pride, and people-pleasing. If we focus on the right things, we can prevent anxiety from ruling over us. What or Who Should We Seek? Seek God's Kingdom and Righteousness: The promise is that everything else will follow. Seek the Things Above: Focus on eternal values, not the transient pursuits of the ungodly. Seek God Himself: Building a relationship with God should be our ultimate goal. How and When to Seek Seek with al...

     "When, when, Peace, will you, Peace?" (Hopkins, G.M) There is  so much noise and clamor, of  wars and rumors of wars,  nation rising against nation, of famines, earthquakes, tornadoes and floods. Yet, could these be only birth pains? Should we not be alarmed, because such things have to happen, but the end is still to come? Isn't  the night fast approaching? How can we just stand still and know?    Know what, know who, know why and why know at all?      Know the one who knows. Know the one who comes walking on the troubled waters in the middle of the night.  Know, because this friend who opens the door at the midnight hour, says, be still and know. Know because, knowing is tasting, seeing and believing once and forever that He is good.      The wind and the waves know Him and obey His command to be quiet. He can do all things and His purposes can not be thwarted?  Birds and  flowers know that ...