BibLenScaping

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 ...

Weary and heavy laden, my soul downcast and disturbed within me, I hear the voice crying through the wilderness of my heart, make straight, a high way... for the Great I am. The Great I am is  infinitely  present,   before the mountains were brought forth, and before the earth took shape, from   everlasting to everlasting. I am dwelt among us as Love. This Love that has been always the first to love, surpasses knowledge. It is as high as the heavens above, as deep as the deepest sea, as wide as the widest ocean. This ever-present, all pervasive, comforting Love gives life and life in Abundance.  My grace and peace abound through the knowledge of this divine L ove who has given us everything we need for a godly life through the great and precious promises: I am the Bread of life, I am the Light of the world, I am  the Gate, I am  the good Shepherd, I am the Resurrection and Life, I am t he Way, the Truth and the Life; I am the true Vine, I am  the ...

The sun has one kind of  splendor , the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in  splendor . Nothing in nature ceases to shine in splendor. But we have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep though the woods be lovely, dark and deep. The sun makes its circuit from one end of the heavens to the other, coming out like a bridegroom from his bedroom, rejoicing to run its race like an athlete.  While what has been will be again,  what has been done will be done again;  there is nothing new under the sun.   Splendor has vanished from our human hearts and souls. However, as b eauty lies in the beholders eye, splendor lies in the heart with a sensitivity for astonishment and awe.  T ake time to bask in the splendor of the morning star not to be caught in the r igmarole of the  routine.  We cannot afford coming  short of the splendor and glory as long as it is still day, for night is approaching fast w...

 A good word to hold on to as the new year unfolds would be 'Good' or 'Goodness'. The crescendo moment of creation was that it was all "very good". It trickled down from the One who abounds in goodness, who is good to all, who gives good gifts and whose goodness endures. It doesn't stop following every day of our lives as we too create, recreate and procreate. The heavenly heirloom is hewn with goodness from the star sprinkled skies to the clapping coasts; from the streams in the desert to the springs in the valley. There is nowhere that the Nature's voice doesn't reach. It reverberates from the hills to the mighty mountains from the shallow streams to the depths of the oceans, proclaiming the voice of Goodness. We too are called to show forth our good deeds, to add to our faith goodness and to goodness knowledge.....as we are bombarded with bad things these last days.  Surely the pale horse has left the pavilion with Death riding on it, and the ve...