Archive for the ‘ Lifestyle ’ Category
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8, ESV
The only hope we have in this world and for the next is Jesus Christ, the only way to eternal life and forgiveness for our sins.
As I will share briefly tomorrow, 2020 was certainly a year.
But it ends today. (Why are so many people shouting “Amen!”? ;p)
Yet, overall, it was pretty good in my little sphere.
I personally stepped back from most of social media. It seems most people could not handle civil discourse. I was blocked and unfriended by people for merely offering reasonable/simple thoughts. I had to block and unfriend a few people for crossing too many lines. (And all of those attend church, for what it’s worth. I did not have to block or unfriend any of my non-Christian friends.)
In terms of this blog, things went really well. Many new followers have come to the blog, for starters.
I could have said last year that it was the best year. In 2018 I began posting daily thoughts on a verse(s) of the day. 2018 saw the number of visits for the year hit about 2,000. I was stoked. Then, in 2019, the number of posts doubled, but the number of visits more than quintupled to more than 10,000!
If a few more people stop by today (December 31, 2020), a simple man of God will break 11,000 views with fewer overall posts! (But just a few fewer … like 20. Ha!) That is maintaining posting VerseD posts and sharing from several friends and a few other places.
So, thank you, dear readers, for helping this be a good year for the blog.
As I have said all along, regardless of the year that came or went, we should remember that God is in control. Nothing happens outside of His will or sight.
He does not condone everything that happens. He does not like everything that happens.
But God has it all under control. We are working toward the end of this world, so we should not be surprised by craziness, stupidity, sinfulness, or sadness. God warned us it would all come, for one reason or another, even if not specifically called out.
(But it does look a lot like 2020 brought us that much closer to His return than much of history has done! And, no, I am not setting any dates or saying that 2020 definitely set the stage for one End-Time scenario or another. Just that it became very clear His return is closer than ever this year. As His return is every year.)
Did anything good or even great happen to you this year? Has God blessed you in unexpected ways, or are you simply ready for this year to be gone?
In His Love,
Daniel
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 5:44, ESV
Our hope in Christ pushes us to emulate Him, and, just like He prayed for and loved those persecuting Him, we win over others by praying for and showing love to those who despise us.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
1 Corinthians 13:4, ESV
It is easier to love this world when our hope and source of love are found in the One who first loved us. Knowing the world mistreated Jesus helps us be patient with those who do not understand what they are doing.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4, ESV
Our greatest fear (usually) is death.
Through Christ, our greatest hope, we find eternal life.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11, ESV
The armor of God is the gift of the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and Son, that Christ may work in and through us to stop evil and the Evil one.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9, ESV
We have the promise given to Joshua and reiterated by Jesus that He is always with us, to the end of the age. We can be sing and courageous in the hope of Jesus’ presence and imminent return.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:7, ESV
God has come to us and saved us, and when He returns His Kingdom shall be the only kingdom full of His saved saints.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:10-11, ESV
Whether we have riches or nothing, feel like experts or novices or somebody’s or nobodies, God gave us the ultimate sign of hope through the gift of His Son.
Let us worship Him with everything we have, are, and do. For this baby grew to become our ransom from sin and death, and He is coming again!
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:14, ESV
Our Father in heaven deserves praise and honor for sending His Son, the Prince of Peace, to give us the hope of our salvation.
a simple man of God 