I sat at the table
with some of the greatest people I know.
They aren’t rich. They aren’t
famous. But these people were some of
the ones who have stuck by me and served with me for several years. We’ve done life together for several years.
What happened next
was not what I expected to say the least.
The fellow leading our meeting, a good friend, asked us to create a time
line for our lives. On the line that
represented the years that we have lived thus far are points that stick out in
our minds.
Mine was full of
historical moments that continue to hold my heart captive because of how I
experienced God as various places and in situations. Today I share with you some of the verses
that are scattered along that line that stuck out in moments that I chose not
to forget and find myself often sharing with the people I get to minister to.
Have you found, as
I have, that where we have experienced God are the places where we can identify
with and encourage others? God doesn’t
waste a hurt, Rick Warren said, and I have seen that become a reality.
These verses and a
few thoughts are close to my heart. My
prayer is that you will find courage to live with faith and encouragement to make
a difference in the lives of others.
Colossians 3:2 NASB
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on
earth.
It was as a
teenager at a relationship conference that I remember learning how to deal with
lust. That is a big deal for a teen
guy. But that verse has continued to be
part of my arsenal ever since and one I share with lots of people.
Psalm 139:23-24 NASB
Search me, O
God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there
be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
A couple years
later our close youth group shared so many spiritual moments and growth. One of my friends, a girl I had my heart set
on, was leaving town. Before she left
this was a verse marked in my Bible.
That is the Bible that I started studying the word and preaching with,
and those two verses have been a prayer I have used often.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all
he has done. Then you will experience
God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as
you live in Christ Jesus.
It is hard to
pinpoint when these verses moved in to my life, but there are many occasions
when they were filled with promises of God for me. Taking it many steps forward I have quoted
this in sermons, counseling sessions, among friends, at conferences, when I’ve
been alone and so much more. Not long
after I met Julie, who is now been my wife for over 20 years, God gave me these
verses as a clear statement to step forward in faith trusting God. This is maybe the biggest one of all.
Proverbs 29:18 KJV
Where there
is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law,
happy is he.
One of my mentors
taught me this verse in all its different realities. We need vision, the voice of God speaking to
us, about the plan we are to carry out.
It is bigger than any of us.
Another version says “when people do not accept divine guidance, they
run wild…”. That is a fact. We need His voice daily, and the best time to
hear His voice is in the morning with our Bible in our hands. There are other places. But that is my favorite.
Isaiah 43:19 NLT
For I am
about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Helping to start
The Community Fellowship is one of my favorite memories, and this verse is one
that drove me and continues to drive me as we share His love with others.
John 10:10 NLT
The thief’s
purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to
give them a rich and satisfying life.
A daily reality is
meeting people who the enemy is currently destroying and allowing each of these
people to find life from God. It never
gets old.
Proverbs 21:26 NLT
Some people
are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!
I can share more,
but I will stop here. I love to
give. Whether it is time or resources or
encouragement, there is nothing like helping another human being connect with
our great God. That really is why these
verses are the BIG ones.
Take some time to
look back over your life. What are the
happenings that stick out to you, and how did God show up and change your
life? The verses and situations you
point to will help change others to.
Share your BIG ones with others.
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