The LORD is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger,

and abounding in steadfast love.

                      Psalm 103.8

(How should I respond?

This is it,

the mark of His indwelling

     in impossible situations.)

But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD

           never ceases,

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness.

              Lamentations 3. 21-23

(Never forget this.

No matter what you face.

No matter what.

May these words course through

    your mind and heart.)

...because the hearts of the saints
have been refreshed through you.

             Philemon 1.7

(We are all surrounded
by people starved
     for encouragement
in word and deed.
Nothing done in love
is insignificant.)

Serve the LORD with gladness.

Come into His presence with singing.

                      Psalm 100.2

(Not just a good attitude,

      but a happy heart.

It will change your day.

Guaranteed.)

Show yourself in all respects
a model of good deeds...

              Titus 2.7

(This is how to do it,
    the living out of His grace,
in the smallest detail,
in the most impossible places.)

Their Redeemer is strong,

the LORD of hosts

      is His name.

           Jeremiah 50.34

(No one beyond His redeeming,

nothing beyond His strength)

...preach the Word,

be urgent in season

     and out of season...

           2 Timothy 4. 2

(by how you live)

All scripture is inspired by God

and profitable for teaching,

for reproof,

for correction,

and for training in righteousness ,

that the man of God

           may be complete,

equipped for

   every good work.

             2 Timothy 3. 16-17

(God's Word changes us.

Different eyes,

    different heart.)

...that the LORD your God

   may show us

         the way should go,

and the thing that we should do.

              Jeremiah 42.3

(Wait. Be still. Listen.

God will reveal Himself.

My heart is open

    to Your leading, O LORD.

No detail too small.)

Because you have made

    the LORD your refuge,

the Most High 

          your habitation,

no evil shall befall you,

no scourge come near 

               your tent.

For He will give His angels

    charge of you

         in all your ways.

                 Psalm 91. 9-11

(Dwell in His Presence.

Seek Him out,

       even in this.

God will bring you through.

He will protect you

     even in its midst.)

A man without self control

is like a city broken into

   and left without walls.

           Proverbs 25.28

(A shield around,

  scaffolding and strength within.)

So also good deeds are conspicuous,

  and even when they are not,

they cannot remain hidden.

            1 Timothy 5.25

(God is using you for His glory

    even in the smallest kindness.)

Thus says the LORD who made the earth,

the LORD who formed it to establish it

      --the LORD is His name:

Call to Me

     and I will answer you,

and will tell you great and hidden things

      which you have not known.

                   Jeremiah 33.3

(When Christ is at the center of your life,

you do not just have another worldview,

                 but corrected vision.

God opens up new dimensions to you.

You see everything differently.)

For I will satisfy the weary soul,

and every languishing soul

    I will replenish.

           Jeremiah 31.25

(My strength is not my own,

    but only in Him.)

...found grace in the wilderness.

           Jeremiah 31.2

(No matter what,

    no matter where,

God will redeem the hard places

  when we follow Him into it.)

But seek the welfare

of the city where 

I have sent you into exile,

and pray to the LORD

  on its behalf,

for in its welfare

  you will find

           your welfare.

        Jeremiah 29.7

(Wherever God sends you today,

His divine appointments

        His strategic placement)

Now may the Lord of peace
   Himself give you peace
at all times
              in all ways.
The Lord be with you all.

              2 Thessalonians 3.16

(Even in the most impossible situations.
God makes the strategic difference.
Mind set,
heart set,
eyes set on Him.)

A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold

    in a setting of silver.

          Proverbs 25.11

(Give me Your vocabulary today,

         O LORD,

that my words may be 

        gracious and kind,

extending Your hope

      and compassion

even in dark places.

        "Use His words."

...always seek to do good

  to one another and to all.

Rejoice always,

pray constantly,

give thanks

  in all circumstances.

1 Thessalonians 5. 15-18

(And God will take care

      of the rest.

See differently.

Think Christianly

        about all things.)

Blessed is the man

   who trusts in the LORD,

   whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree

  planted by water,

that sends out its roots

         by the stream,

and does not fear

         when heat comes,

   for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious

  in the year of drought,

for it does not cease

          to bear fruit.

  

Jeremiah 17. 7-8

(Take root downward,

      bear fruit upward,

no matter the circumstances)

...the Word of God,
which is at work
               in you.. 

1 Thessalonians 2.13

(Yes, it makes a deep 
     and powerful difference,
  in your heart,
  in your day,
  in everything 
     around you.)

And behold,

the waist cloth was spoiled,

it was good for nothing.

            Jeremiah 13.7

(Even in what

   looks ruined to us,

           God redeems.

God is working

   His greater purposes,

   His deeper plans.)

Whatever your task,
       work heartily,
as serving the Lord
and not men...

             Colossians 3.24

(What has God placed
before me today?
There is nothing small
in His eyes,
nothing He will not use
in mighty ways.)

Thus says the LORD:
"Let not the wise man
        glory in his wisdom,
let not the mighty man
        glory in his might,
let not the rich man
        glory in his riches,
but let him who glories
        glory in this,
that he understands 
                and knows Me,
that I am the LORD
who practice steadfast love,
   justice and righteousness
   in the earth,
for in these things I delight,
                 says the LORD."

Jeremiah 9. 23-24

(When it comes down to it,
what is my bottom line?)

He cleft rocks in the wilderness,

and gave them drink abundantly

as from the deep,

                Psalm 78.15

(God will provide

even in your 

impossible situation,

even in ways

      unexpected.)

I will call to mind
  the deeds of the LORD;
yea, I will remember
  Your deeds of old.
I will meditate
  on all Your work,
and muse 
  on Your mighty deeds.

              Psalm 77.11-12

(Antidote to anxiety--
  dwelling on 
     God's faithfulness
instead of fear.)

...to lead a life

     worthy of the LORD,

fully pleasing to Him,

bearing fruit 

     in every good work,

and increasing

     in the knowledge of God.

             Colossians 1.10

(The only agenda I need,

that which changes me

and changes the world.)

Have no anxiety about anything,

but in everything

by prayer and supplication

             with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

                         to God.

And the peace of God,

which passes all understanding,

will keep your hearts and minds

                   in Christ Jesus.

                 Philippians 4. 6-7

(In everything,

            about anything.

First response,

   not last resort.)

Do I believe that God is sovereign 

          except in this?

But when I thought

      how to understand this,

it seemed to me 

            a wearisome task,

until I went

   into the sanctuary of God.

                Psalm 73. 16-17

(God changes everything,

even what is wearisome

     into opportunity.

O LORD,

help me to see it with Your heart.)