...make every effort 

to supplement your faith

            with virtue,

and virtue with knowledge,

and knowledge with self control,

and self control with steadfastness,

and steadfastness with godliness,

and godliness with 

              brotherly affection,

and brotherly affection with love.

                         2 Peter 1. 5-7

(It doesn't just happen.

As my friend Chris Davis says,

"The proof of desire

                is in the pursuit."

New affections are the basis

        of new behaviors.)

...He who saved Daniel

from the power 

               of the lions.

             Daniel 6. 27

(The same Almighty God

    who is more powerful

than anything 

                you face)

A faithful man
    will abound with blessings...

                      Proverbs 28. 20

(Because he knows
money and stuff
have nothing to do with it)

...but there is a God in heaven...

                    Daniel 2. 28

(And that changes everything.)

We give thanks to You,
                O God;
we give thanks;
we call on Your name
and recount
    Your wondrous deeds.

                      Psalm 75. 1

( Count
          and recount,
an ongoing chronicle of
   God's faithfulness.)

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.

            Philippians 4.8

(What to bring
as your contribution
to the Thanksgiving
                   table.
Think about,
pray about,
and use your words!)

...a burnt offering

          to the LORD daily,

morning by morning...

                  Ezekiel 46. 13

(A burnt offering 

was not for atonement for sin,

but consecration to

     a course of life

     pleasing to God.

Worship is a daily pursuit,

a daily state of being,

not just a Sunday action.

What course 

       am I choosing today?)

              

Then He brought me back

to the outer gate of the sanctuary,

which faces east,

and it was shut.

                   Ezekiel 44. 1

(Why do we focus more on what

              is closed to us

instead of what is open?

There is a reason in closed doors,

a purpose deeper 

       than what we can understand.

What God closes

          opens us to another.)

    

Then He led me out

       into the inner court,

toward the north,

and He brought me

to the chambers which were 

     opposite to the temple yard

and opposite the building

                    on the north.

                      Ezekiel 42. 1

(Make us sensitive, O LORD,

to where you have placed us

to explore every nook and cranny

        and opportunity,

spaces of great purpose

     that we do not yet understand.

Aware of the symmetry, 

the inner passages,

not just to the exits,

but the deeper places

              and hidden doors.)

Its vestibule faced the outer court,

and it had palm trees on its jambs,

one on either side;

and its stairway had eight steps.

                        Ezekiel 40. 37

(Even the most intricate details

have profound significance

                    in God's eyes.

There is not just a reason for it,

       but great purpose in it.

Palm trees are not

         a random embellishment,

but a symbol of hope.

Palm trees thrive

           in desert-like conditions.)

...set your mind

upon all that I show you,

for you were brought here

in order that 

       I might show it to you...

                        Ezekiel 40. 4

(You are exactly where

    God has appointed you today.

Even when we don't see the point

or will ever realize the outcome,

God's divine placement

      and His Presence prevail.

There is not just a reason for it,

but God's design and purposes

                        intricately woven.

Set your mind on that.)

                 

...when My sanctuary
     is in the midst of them.

                       Ezekiel 37. 28

(When I choose to seek God,
His Presence changes
everything I see,
I desire,
I do,
I worship,
         and who I am.)

A new heart
       I will give you,
and a new spirit
  I will put within you;
and I will take out of your flesh
           the heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh.

                       Ezekiel 36. 26

(There is nothing the matter with you
or your life
or your circumstances
         or the world,
that a new heart cannot change.
Heart conditions
             are God's specialty.)

Jesus Christ is the same

yesterday

and today

and for ever.

                 Hebrews 13. 8

(On that,

       you can stake your life.

He is not subject

            to public opinion.

His Gospel never changes,

His grace never fails.)

Strive for peace with all men,

and for the holiness

without which no one

        will see the Lord.

                Hebrews 12. 14

(It doesn't just happen.

Strive for Christ's rightful place

               in your heart.

It will change 

            the core of who you are

and impact everyone around you.

Peace in God,

       peace with all men.)

Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.

                  Proverbs 27. 17

(Seek out
     those kind of friends.)

So you shall be 

      a sign to them,

and they will know

that I am the LORD.

                   Ezekiel 24. 27

(In all that I say and do today,

             faithful to the Almighty.

To what,

to whom is my life pointing

by how I live,

by my affections and behaviors

                       and joy?)

Rule in the midst of your foes.

                        Psalm 110. 2

(Not rising above the fray,

but living faithfully in the midst

        with His prevailing grace.

It is not we who rule,

but Christ who rules in us.)

...we should live in such a way

that shows what we believe

is of supreme worth.

                   -- Matt Chandler

Let us hold fast

the confession of our hope

           without wavering,

for He who promised 

                 is faithful.

                    Hebrews 10. 23

(Excuse me,

but your hope in Christ

                    is showing.

Live in such a way

that what you believe

underlies everything about you,

even in the midst of a culture

that does not recognize

            what you are doing,

            or Whose you are.

What is so different about you?

That would be Jesus.)

With God we shall do valiantly;

it is He

    who will tread down our foes.

                           Psalm 108. 13

(Follow God into it

-- that difficulty,

that impossible situation,

that mystery --

and trust Him for the outcome.

He may surprise you

   with how He works it out.

No, actually,

       He WILL surprise you.)

Let the redeemed of the LORD

                     say so...

                        Psalm 107. 2

(What story of His faithfulness

                has God given you?

Use your words.)

...and you shall know

that I am the LORD

...when I forgive you

all that you have done,

says the Lord GOD.

         Ezekiel 16. 62-63

(ALL that you have done.

God loves you that much.

Forgiveness and redemption 

are unique to

a Biblical worldview.)

...and make the dry tree

                       flourish.

                    Ezekiel 17. 24

(God's flourishing

is never dependent 

on circumstances,

but always transcends them.

Only God can do that.)

He rebuked the Red Sea,

and it became dry,

and He led them 

   through the deep

as through a desert.

               Psalm 106. 9

(Trusting God

opens our eyes

to the scenery along the way

and to His glory in it.

The Red Sea 

was not a dead end after all,

nor a time of despair,

but a place 

        of His redeeming.)

He opened the rock,

  and water gushed forth;

it flowed through the desert

                        like a river.

                     Psalm 105. 41

(God provides

    in impossible ways

    and incredible places

and sometimes

  not the way we expect.

Watch for Him

 and trust Him through it.)

The Spirit lifted me up ...

                    Ezekiel 11. 1

(To help me see my day,
      my struggle,
in an entirely different way --
a divine placement,
an appointed encounter,
a call of faithfulness to God
     in what only appears
     as an impossible situation.)

Seek the LORD and His strength,

seek His Presence continually!

                             Psalm 105. 4

(Even in this.

Especially in this.

God never meant you

         to do life without Him.

It is not a matter 

   of God showing up,

            but our seeking Him in it.

He's already there.)

But the Spirit entered me
    and set me on my feet...

                  Ezekiel 3.24

(God gives the strength I need,
         the courage to persevere.)

And you shall speak My words to them,
whether they hear or refuse to hear,
for they are a rebellious house.

                             Ezekiel 2.7

(God does not call me
               to be successful,
 but to be faithful
     wherever He places me,
among His people
             or in a hard place.
Those who listen and respond
       may totally surprise you.)