Metanoeite CXLIV

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only."

Those Nike guys must read Chambers: "If God has shown you something to do, don't say, 'I'll do it'; do it!"

"Behavior betrays belief."

"Walk the talk!"

Metanoeite CXLIII

"Let me tell you why you are here.
You're here to be
salt-seasoning -
that
brings out the
God-flavors...
If you lose your saltiness,
how will people taste
Godliness?
You've lost your usefulness
and
will end up
in
the
garbage."

Warned that evil schemes to exterminate whoever dares to expose them, I confess I'd rather be like those preachers who pretend everything's O.K. to avoid hassles, headaches, and heartaches.

"You can't...if you're on My side."

"You're not in the driver's seat.
I am.
Don't run from suffering; embrace it.
Follow Me...
Self-help is no help at all.
Self-sacrifice
is the way,
My way,
to
finding yourself, your true self.
What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself?
What could you ever trade your soul for?"

Metanoeite CXLII

"I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God.
You're acting like infants in relation to Christ,
capable of nothing much more
than nursing at the breast.
Well, then, I'll nurse you
since
you don't seem capable of anything more.
As long as you grab
for
what makes you feel good
or
makes you look important,
are you really much different than a babe at the breast,
content only when everything's going your way?"

Whether it's presbyters, pulpiteers, pewsitters, or people who volunteer to work in youth sports, I feel more like a babysitter than discipler too often.

"You love and I'll judge."

"God wants everybody to be saved."

Metanoeite CXLI

"If you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't.
You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.
Doom to the world
for
giving these God-believing children a hard time!
Hard times are inevitable,
but
you don't have to make it worse -
and
it's doomsday to you
if
you do."

After another thinly veiled threat for exposing their racism and consistent pattern of intimidation, megalomania, and narcissism, I thought, "Bring it on, you _____!"

"If you're true to Me, I will take care of them; for it's like I warned through the prophet, "Don't mess with Me, Babylon; or I'll come and break the backbone of your power!"

"You come from God and belong to God.
You have already
won
a big victory
over
those false teachers,
for
the Spirit
in
you
is far stronger
than
anything in the world."

Metanoeite CXL

"Jesus wept."

So much barking, bitching, berating, beating, bruising, battering, and butchering in this world; and I can't stop crying.

"Come to Me."

"He will wipe away every tear."

Metanoeite CXXXIX

"Forgive our debts as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us."

I'd like You to erase two debts that are really inhibiting me; for I've learned less debt means less stress.

"The biggest one has been cancelled already; so there's no problem with the rest as long as you do your part."

"There is a connection between what God does and what you do.
You can't get forgiveness from God,
for instance,
without also forgiving others.
If you refuse to do your part,
you cut yourself off
from
God's part."

Metanoeite CXXXVIII

"Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice
between
prosperity and disaster,
between
life and death."

She closed the door; leaving others open.

"Behind every door is a consequence."

"Choose this day."

Metanoeite CXXXVII

"Put no value on earthly things, which worms and rust consume, and which thieves break into and steal.
Rather, y'all set your hearts on spiritual values...For
your values and your character
are wrapped up together."

I'm so upset about losing those two Starbucks cards.

"If only you cared as much about..."

"'Let's all eat and drink and whoop it up,
because
this son of mine was given up for dead,
and
he's still alive;
he was lost
and
is
now
found.'
And they began to whoop it up!"

Metanoeite CXXXVI

"Love does not hold grudges or catalogue wrongs.
Love is not touchy.
Love hardly even
notices when
others do it
wrong."

She said she can't/won't forgive.

"Self-righteousness is self-destructive now and then."

"Your Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you;
but
if you refuse to forgive them,
He
will not
forgive
you."

Metanoeite CXXXV

"Rain falls on everybody."

Winter inhibits worship, work, and witness.

"Walking in the Sonshine is a choice."

"I am with you."

Metanoeite CXXXIV

"...with a kiss?"

Friend betrayed friend who betrayed friend who betrayed friend who betrayed friend who betrayed friend who...

"...betrayed Me."

"As you do it to members of My family,
you
do it
to
Me!"

Metanoeite CXXXIII

"I thirst for God."

It's been a year since Kopper joined our family; yet our puppy still likes to be cradled and cuddled.

"Kind of like you."

"As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you."