A former Speech and Language Pathologist for nearly 20 years, I began educating our 3 children full-time in 2015 and have cherished every gifted moment (even the challenges). But what is interwoven into all aspects of daily life (as a wife, via motherhood, teaching, friendship, fitness, etc.) is Christian Apologetics (1 Peter 3:15)… which is why this blog exists.
Feature photo: Harriet Tubman mural in Maryland by Michael Rosato
A woman of authentic faith, not to mention unfathomable perseverance, Harriet Tubman repeatedly sacrificed her own comfort and safety for the benefit of others. (Phil 2:3) Her passionate exhortation to “keep going” gives us treasurable insight into her unwavering focus upon freedom. And although spoken over a century ago, Harriet’s words continue to echo wisdom for today…
Friends, what is chasing you?
Fear of the unknown? Fear of losing control? A health diagnosis? Concerns about finances? Words of unforgiveness swirling in your heart? Doubts regarding God’s faithfulness? Self-condemning thoughts and attitudes?
And, to whom or what are you running?
No matter what is lurking and looming around us, we desperately need to keep our minds on Jesus, (Col 3:2; Matthew 11:28) not on our emotions. Don’t grant them the power to shepherd. If Harriet would have allowed her emotions to guide, her successful journey from Maryland to Philadelphia in 1849 may not have happened! Not only did she travel back and forth approximately 14 additional times…saving more than 70 lives in the process, but Harriet also co-led troops in the Combahee Ferry Raid of 1863. Rescuing 700 people from the bonds of slavery! The first woman to command a regiment of men in the United States military!
Twasn’t me, ’twas the Lord! I always told Him, ‘I trust to you. I don’t know where to go or what to do, but I expect You to lead me,’ an’ He always did. – Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman’s confidence in God’s Goodness and Faithfulness helped her navigate through times of immense hardship, pain, and danger. She didn’t waver because she leaned into her savior’s heart via prayer and community (The Underground Railroad)…She knew His Strength would carry her through. Friends, let’s take “General Tubman’s” heartfelt council and keep going. Keep following God’s lead. Keep growing in community. His Wisdom, Love, and Strength is more than sufficient for every need you have today…and always! (John 15:5; Phil 4:13,19).
Love, Mer
PS – Wisdom, Love, and Strength are all capitalized in the final paragraph as Jesus is the wisdom, love, and strength of God in and through us. Jesus is our greatest gift…and He is Faithful to keep leading. (Matthew 11:28)
Extras:
A 5-minute video made by our daughter, Norah, about one of her favorite women… none other than Harriet Tubman.
📙My Utmost for His Highest – February 18 “Taking the Initiative Against Despair” https://utmost.org
Charles H. Spurgeon – “My faith rests not in what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is doing for me.”
Crossroad-moments. We can confidently expect them to be woven into the fabric of our lives…whether we are prepared or not. Health crises that unexpectedly arise; the loss of a job you enjoyed; financial obstacles that constantly loom; the heartbreak of fractured relationships, and the parenting inadequacies we all encounter daily. Despite how seemingly insurmountable some may feel, we can look at these occurrences as gifted opportunities to consider the Cross.
The Cross: one column positioned vertically, pointing up towards the sky while anchored into the ground…holding a second beam fixed horizontally, stretching to the east and to the west. Friends, as weighty decisions unfailingly enter our paths, we often find ourselves soberly face-to-face with those wooden beams… posturing our “gaze” in one of three possible ways:
Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.
Elisabeth Elliot
Horizontally – ↔️ Focus: what is seen. 🔍
Comparison-driven;
Desperately seeking immediate guidance from other broken “vessels” (the world around us);
Redefining our viewpoints against the ever-changing cultural norms;
Readilypursuing the counsel of a fickle heart and it’s “wind-tossed” emotions;
Self-reliant;
Trusting in our own personal reasonings and limited understanding;
Often fixated upon unmet expectations;
Motivated by worry;
Anxious regarding possible outcomes, and
Settles for wishes.
Upwards – ⬆️ Focus: who is Lord (Jesus). 🙏🏼
Devoted to Prayer and reading His Word (the Bible) often;
Seeking His perspective, His lead, His Wisdom, and His Strength;
Invests in Community (Hebrews 10:25)
Gospel-driven; and
Rests (trusting) in His goodness, faithfulness, and sovereignty.
Corrie Ten Boom, after enduring tremendous suffering within a Nazi Concentration Camp, defined crossroad-moments with these words: “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” Friends, looking first to Jesus (in prayer) is not putting your head in the proverbial sand…nor is avoiding difficult conversations. Deferring to God and asking for His lead puts our perspective in His Hands…and seeks His wisdom instead. Asking for God’s guidance enables us to respond to conflict and hardship in ways that are best for every person involved. For what seems good and right might not be best. And selfless love seeks the best for others… even if it feels painful for a season. Friends, It’s arrogant to think that we could care more about our loved ones than God does.
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?
Corrie ten Boom
When we turn our gaze upwards, we can place our complete confidence in God’s sovereignty… trusting that He will faithfully provide what we need, when we need it, and in the best way possible. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control He supplies will be a blessing both horizontally: in our homes, work places, church families, and local communities…as well as within our own hearts: providing needed encouragement, perspective, and truth. Gals, as crossroad (crux) moments come your way, take a breath and look up. Place every ounce of self-sufficiency in His hands, and allow Jesus to be enough for all that you will face. He’s got you. 🙏🏼♥️
…But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Matthew 6:32-33
His Love through me, Mer
Scripture
Galatians 1:16 “ I did not immediately consult with anyone (flesh);”
Psalm 118:8 “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”
2 Corinthians 4:18. “as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Philippians 3:2 “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.”
Romans 12:10 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.“
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength[a]of my heart and my portion forever.”
2 Corinthians 3:4-5 “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,”
Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
Acts 17:24-27 “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,”
Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Psalm 16:2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Galatians 5:16-18 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
“These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.” Jude 1:12-13
Ephesians 4:15-16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Ephesians 4:17-24 “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Romans 7:18 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
John 15:5 “…apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Colossians 2:6-7 “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him“
Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—”
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”
Psalm 40:1-4 ” I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in Him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”
Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.”
Psalm 121 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
Psalm 95:2-3 “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods”
Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”
1 Timothy 4:4-5 “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Psalm 46:10 “…be still and know I am God…”
2 Corinthians 4:15-16 ” All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Corinthians 9:11-12 “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
Psalm 118:1-18 “1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.” 5 When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.”
Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
psalm 107:8-9 “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”
Ephesians 1:16 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,”
Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,”
2 Thessalonians 1:3 “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”
Revelation 7:12 “Saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’”
Jonah 2:9 “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
2 Corinthians 2:14 “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
1 Timothy 1:12 “I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,”
Friends, have you ever been advised to “Follow your heart,” or encouraged with the phrases: “It’s always been in you,” or “You’ve got this!” Most often folks say these phrases as thoughtful exhortations meant to uplift and inspire. However, … should we??
In the Bible, God lovingly teaches us (repeatedly) that trusting our own hearts can be exceedingly harmful…not only for ourselves, but for those placed in our paths as well. (Jeremiah 17:9; Prov 28:6; Matthew 15; Philippians 3) This realization is not for the faint of heart (pun-intended). But according to 1 Thessalonians 5:14…it 100% is! There will be gut-wrenching, God-gifted moments in our lives when we recognize that our hearts are not capable of leading us wisely nor selflessly. We need to see how “faint of heart” we actually are. All the while, ignoring the collective voice of society that unapologetically promotes the way of “looking within” as the answer for all of our needs. Broken people shouting to other shattered folks to fix themselves. “You got this!” “You’re enough.” “Stay strong.” “Think positively!”
But God.
As you read above, we will daily encounter temptations to yield to the calls of the heart… But God knows this. Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to walk with God freely and intimately and yet they readily chose the desires of their own hearts anyway. We are thousands of years removed from the Garden, and yet we continue to make the same foolish mistakes…over and over again. Our ceaseless propensity to make selfish decisions is both altogether distressing and incredibly humbling,… but God remains Faithful. He doesn’t put the heavy weight of “enough” upon our shoulders… We do that to ourselves.Instead, God sent His one and onlySon to be enough FOR us.
“I have a great need for Christ: I have a great Christ for my need.” – CH Spurgeon
The voice that faithfully calls, “Come to Me,” is the very same one that daily invites you to stop striving…and to rest in His presence. Don’t hold your breath and push-through, but allow Jesus to BE yourstrength. (Isaiah 41:20; Philippians 4:13) Jesus wants to carry the burdens that bring you low, and to ease the painful ache of your weary heart. He intends to replace your frequent irritability with genuine compassion. He wants to substitute the grumbling of envy with the beauty ofcontentment. Jesus desires to restore hope in places where worry oftentimes dwelt. Friends, instead of incessantly leaning into the reasonings of our own ferociously fickle hearts, let’s be still, take a breath (pray), and trust His (Col 4:2; Psalm 73:26; Ps 139:23-24; Prov 3:5-7; Matt 11:28-29; Phil 1:6). Joyfully lean into prayer, knowing that Jesus is the only one able to be enough for every situation. Friends, we don’t got this! But rest assured, God does! ♥️ (John 6:29; Gal 6:9)
Much love, Mer
”The most important daily habit we can possess is to remind ourselves of the Gospel.” Spurgeon
Per this resource, a person may be subject to sex trafficking if they:
Appear submissive, fearful, or nervous.
Lack control of identification documents or money.
Have an inconsistent or well-rehearsed story about where they live, the relationship with the person they are with, or how they traveled to the current location.
Dress inappropriately for the weather, their location, or age.
Are in the presence of an overtly controlling or concerned friend or boyfriend/girlfriend.
Possess multiple hotel key cards, prepaid credit cards, or cellphones.
Show signs of physical, mental, or emotional abuse.
Seem unable to come and go as they please.
A person may be subject to labor trafficking if they:
Appear to live at their place of employment.
Are transported in a group by the employer or someone who is part of the employer’s organization.
Experience restricted or monitored movement.
Do not control their identification documents.
Earn wages below the state’s minimum wage.
Are constantly indebted to the employer.
Show signs of physical abuse, isolation, and starvation.
“The Samaritan Women offers these resources to encourage you to use YOUR VOICE to advocate against sexual exploitation. This is a national problem, and it will take each of us doing our part in our own communities to raise awareness and solicit change. We invite you to use these resources as a way to take your next step in learning more about this issue.”
“The Samaritan Women is passionate about educating the community on the realities of sex trafficking, how to protect the vulnerable, and how to engage the Church.”
Help raise awareness by requesting one of our trainings (virtual or in-person) for your church, school, coworkers, or other circle of influence.
The Samaritan Women want to help “Equip Your Church:” Create a culture of safety and transparency by educating your staff and community about sexual abuse and trafficking. Put safeguards in place, teach sermons about abuse, and bring training to your congregation.
A sister-in-Christ who lived advocacy well as was Harriet Tubman. She was someone who experienced more brutality, heartbreak, and injustice than most will ever endure. And yet she lovingly and courageously trusted God… boldly rescuing hundreds from slavery in the mid-1800’s. Of all of the people I will have the honor of meeting in Heaven, she is one I am beyond thrilled to hug. -Mer
Friends, being able to dialogue in-person would be absolutely wonderful…However, since we are miles apart,… please pull-up a comfy chair, grab a hot cup of coffee, and allow me to divulge some current happenings with you.
Well, it certainly has been an adventure: moving 8 times in 6 years…planted in 5 different states with my husband, 3 kiddos, and doggy (“Mocha”). 🗺️ Documenting the journey for family and friends on social media became an encouraging pastime 📷 …a convenient mode of sharing, and a welcomed refreshment for a fatigued momma. The frequent affirmations Instagram and Facebook supplied made locating a new pediatrician, visiting the license branch, and unpacking numerous boxes considerably more enjoyable. The benefits of social media between 2012 and 2020 appeared to be unmistakable.
Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.
Jim Elliot
Having said that, after 9 years and approximately 3,000+ posts, it was apparent that my relationship with social media needed to change. Instead of noticing the “good and perfect gifts” (James 1:17) placed in my path each day, I was undeniably distracted. One example to detail this observation was from this past fall (2020)- while on a trail hike with family, I was attempting to share the moment with “fr-amily” on IG. Instead of witnessing the joy on my daughter’s face as she discovered a beautiful butterfly, mine was aglow by the screen of my phone as I watched for likes and comments. Rather than intently listening (with my eyes) to my boys on the trail, I was intermittently gazing at new status updates.📱 And what saddened me the most was the realization that I was contemplating possible posts more than I was praying. Truly… it’s something to soberly consider: How often do we post (or rehearse a post) instead of praying? All things considered, it was clear that I was missing gifted opportunitiesto love and be loved...right in front of me…and it broke my heart.
The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you…certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Attempts to put relaxed boundaries on social media only revealed my utter inadequacy to successfully follow-through…and friends were so gracious in the learning process (Thank you!). Therefore, after a couple weeks of genuine prayer, as to counter an impulsive decision, my fam and I confidently walked away from Instagram (with FB utilized only for Homeschooling groups and lessons). This decision was affirmed the next day by Norah-10, and Boaz- 7, as both appeared to comprehend the significance of this commitment… expressing how they felt extra loved and prioritized. I was immensely grateful to hear their input.
Update: We’ve been “offline” for over two months now, and ya’ll- my focus has improved considerably. Not only do I notice the growing giftedness of Boaz as a brother, and enjoying plentiful play times with Ben, but I’m soaking-up cherished time with God, conversations with a rapidly growing daughter, as well as an ever-deepening relationship with my hubs. Do I feel as though I’ll miss-out on the current events of extended family and friends (FOMO)? Well, in all transparency… I was relatively unsettled in the beginning. It saddens me that I may not hear about numerous birth announcements and marriage celebrations… or when friends experience grief and sorrow. Nonetheless, what has comforted my heart in relation to this concern has been a quote by Elisabeth Elliot: “God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.”💡God has faithfully placed others on my mind and heart in the past, so I can absolutely trust that He will continue to do so… and provide the best way to connect. 📞💌 🫖
Set your minds on things that are above… – Colossians 3:2
NorahBoaz BenSteve (Hubs)Playing at my mom’s
Trusting that God will lovingly help me know what I need to know when I need to know it fosters an invaluable focus upon who and what He has right in front of me. Our days on this earth are few, fleeting, and precious. Therefore, it is a fervent hope and prayer to intentionally love my family, friends, neighbors, and community (with God’s supply and guidance) as much as possible. With all of this being said, I’m incredibly grateful to share that instead of “#FOMO,” my heart is refreshed, encouraged, and ready to keep learning. (Matthew 11:28-29)
Be still, and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10
Before you take that last sip and head back to your day, please don’t hesitate to send prayer requests my way … community is important! Thank you for listening…Loved sharing a cup with you!! ☺️
Much Love, Meridith
P.S.
Why coffee? ☕️
Well, it’s something that can be shared.☺️ It’s not meant to be lukewarm nor is it brewed in haste. Such is Love. God’s love is meant to be shared in community. It’s not shaped in isolation, but is nurtured over time via relationships…often through adversity and hardship. We pray together, weep together, learn together, grow together, celebrate together, and seek Peace together. And frequently, these moments happen over a cup of coffee. (Matthew 19:26)
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,…”
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me (Jesus) you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 15:5 “…For apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Zechariah 9:9-10 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey…He shall speak peace to the nations; His rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
1 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Romans 12: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Colossians 3:5 “And let the peace of Christrule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Hebrews 12:14 “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Romans 15:14 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Romans 8:6 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spiritis life and peace.“
1 Peter 3:11 “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”
1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,…”
James 3:18 “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Psalm 34:14 “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Matthew 11:28 “…come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest…”
Matthew 10:34-36 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious 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 surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 29:11 “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!”
Romans 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
2 Corinthians 3:11 “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:9 “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
1 Peter 3:9-11 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.
Psalm 85:8 “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.”
Jude 1:2 “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”
Ephesians 1:2-3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, …”
Ephesians 4:3 “Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Isaiah 55:12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 32:17 “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.”
Palm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Romans 12:17-21 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Romans 14:7 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 15:33 “May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
1 Peter 3:10-11 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be stil,l and know that I am God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”
John 14:1-31 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
2 Timothy 2:22 “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Romans 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Leviticus 26:6 “I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.”
Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Proverbs 20:3 “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.”
Hebrews 12:11 “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Isaiah 54:13 “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Proverbs 17:1 “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.”
James 2:14-24 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Proverbs 16:32 “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
1 Peter 1:2 “According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
Colossians 3:13 “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Malachi 2:5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.”
Colossians 3:1-25 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…”
1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
Proverbs 3:13-18 “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace…”
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Ephesians 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace, Who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…”
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Ecclesiastes 3:8 “A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Psalm 85:10 “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”
Colossians 1:13-14 “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Matthew 6:14-16 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…”
Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Proverbs 18:17 “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.”
James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Psalm 32:5 “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Ephesians 4:26-32 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
James 1:20 “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (-Jesus)
Proverbs 17:9 “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Isaiah 43:25-26 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for Me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.”
Acts 3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”
Daniel 9:9 “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him;…”
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”
Hebrews 10:17 “Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
Psalm 103:12 “…as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 6:9-15 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Matthew 26:28 “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 2:38 “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
What is Apologetics? Apologetics is essentially encapsulated in verse 1 Peter 3:15, “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” The word “defend” in the Greek is “apologia.” This isn’t a fleshly defensiveness but instead a loving and respectful sharing of the reason for our hope in Jesus. So, why compile all of these videos, links, and audiobooks? Friends, it’s my genuine prayer that these resources (links embedded) point whomever sees them to Jesus, encourages hearts to pray (Col 4:2), and fosters a deepening thirst for His Word (Bible: Col 3:16). This page is to be a resource for anyone wanting to walk-out 1 Peter 3:15 in dependency upon God. Videos found here might also be seen via the Gal220Life YouTube channel as well. For an expanded explanation, please see the bottom of the page. Love, Mer
Please read 1 Corinthians 15 as it contains a creed spoken by Paul and other believers within 5 years of Jesus’ Resurrection. Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture was a focal point of Paul’s letter to Corinthian believers. Paul was martyred sometime around AD 64, nearly 30 years after Jesus’ Resurrection.
Catalogued by Gary Habermas from Biola University, the following 12 historical facts are agreed upon by some of the most skeptical critics:
Jesus was crucified. Verified as dead (stabbed in the heart)
Jesus was buried
Jesus’ death caused his disciples to despair and lose hope, believing His life had ended
Jesus’ tomb was found to be empty just a few days later
Disciples had experiences they actually believed to be literal appearances of the risen Jesus (basis of book Jesus’ Resurrection, debate by Wm Lane Craig and Gert Ludemann, who held the Hallucination Theory)
Disciples were transformed from doubters afraid to identify with Jesus to bold proclaimers of His death and resurrection
This message was central to the preaching of the early church (Acts 7; 1 Corinthians 15)
It was especially proclaimed in Jerusalem, where Jesus died and was buried only a short time before
As a result of the preaching, the church was born and grew
Sunday became the primary day of worship, especially powerful considering that early believers were all Jewish
James, Jesus’ 1/2 brother and formerly a skeptic, was converted to faith when he also saw what he believed to be the resurrected Jesus
A few years later, Paul likewise was converted by what he believed to be an appearance of the resurrected Jesus
2 minutes with Lee Strobel
26 minutes with Dr. David Wood
46 minutes with Dr Gary Habermas, Dr. Darrell Bock, and Dr. Mikel Del Rosario
Important: Be careful not to replace the Bible with devotionals (or any other book). Devos are merely shared as study materials, meant to prepare our hearts for what we need most: God’s Word. As C.H. Spurgeon once wisely encouraged, “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” God’s Word is sufficient.
Sisters, if Peter (an Apostle of Jesus) can be tempted to combine “old” practices with the Gospel of Jesus…so can we. God’s faithfulness in and through Paul lovingly confronted Peter, and Peter responded humbly. Paul didn’t stand from afar and criticize, as many of us do via social media, but he prayerfully approached his brother with loving encouragement to keep his eyes on the True Gospel. As Oswald Chambers eloquently stated, “God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.” Please read Galatians 2 for more about this historical example of loving correction. Friends, let’s be devoted to prayer (Col 4:2), testing what we hear by getting into His Word often (1 John 4), as well as diving into Gospel-focused community (Hebrews 10:25). With God’s help, we will be ready to both receive and provide Biblical encouragement. 🙏🏼Mer
Acts17Apologetics – David Wood provides apologetics predominantly focused upon Christianity and Islam.
Alisa Childers Apologetics – “Whether you’re a seeker, a doubting Christian, or strong Christian wanting to become better at articulating your faith, I (Alisa) pray that this website will be a lifeboat for you. So jump in and let’s tackle the tough questions together.”
All the Things – The hosts embrace historic Christianity, reflecting the major streams of Christianity: apostolic, evangelical, and Spirit-filled. We platform Christians diverse backgrounds who are unified by the common desire to engage in conversations to promote unity in the Body of Christ. We desire to show the existence and character of God, not only with our lips but in our lives.
Answers in Genesis – AiG is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ effectively.
Apologia Studios – Welcome to Apologia Studios! Our mission is to get the Gospel into all areas of culture. From theology to politics. We discuss everything from modern culture, to mormonism and the cults and do it all in a reformed and relevant way.
Apologetics.com – Provides compelling and persuasive answers to the most challenging objections to Christian faith today in a manner that is most effective with inquirers and most glorifying to God. It is our vision to engage the church, the wider public, and the academy.
Apologetics Guy, with Mikel Del Rosario – Helping you to explain your faith with courage and compassion. Mikel is a Christian apologetics professor at William Jessup University and is also a podcaster at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Becket Cook’s YouTube – Becket spends much of his time in ministry speaking at churches, universities, and conferences helping believers (and non-believers) understand this issue biblically, theologically, culturally, and personally. Balancing grace and truth when teaching on this subject is of primary importance. His goal is to challenge the current cultural narrative about sexuality in general and homosexuality in particular by demonstrating through his personal testimony and biblical truths that, yes, homosexuality is still a sin, and that following Christ is infinitely more satisfying and joyous.
Christian Answers for the New Age CANA – Headed-up by Marcia Montenegro, CANA provides up-to-date information regarding the New Age and how it compares to Christianity.
Cross Examined – Frank Turek’s Apologetics – CrossExamined.org exists to address the problem that 3-out-of-4 Christian youth leave the church while in college, many because they are intellectually skeptical.
Cultish (Apologia Studios) – “Cultish: The Aftermath” is a new after-show that gives a raw and up-close look into the world of the Cults & so much more. Jeremiah & Andrew put in hours of research into each series and this is an opportunity to get their immediate after thoughts. If you like Cultish your gonna love The Aftermath!
GotQuestions.org – “Got Questions Ministries seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.
Greg Koukl’s Stands To Reason – Stand to Reason trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defense for classical Christianity and classical Christian values in the public square.
Isaiah 53 Project – “One For Israel” was established in 1990 as a Bible college and has since expanded to a multi-faceted ministry with the express goal of reaching Israelis with the Good News of Yeshua, training and equipping the Body of Messiah in Israel, and blessing our community with Yeshua’s love.
Impact 360 – Located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, Impact 360 Institute has been cultivating leaders who follow Jesus since 2006. Through biblical worldview education, community-based discipleship, leadership coaching, vocational mentoring, and missional opportunities, students are equipped to live as change-agents in the world. Impact 360 Institute serves High School graduates through their 9-month Impact 360 Fellows experience, teenagers for one and two weeks through Impact 360 Immersion and Propel, and young professionals pursuing a graduate degree through Impact 360 Masters.
Jana Harmon and Ex-Skeptic – The Side B Podcast is a story-driven, conversational podcast that helps listeners understand why people dismiss or believe in God and Christianity.
John Lennox – Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University and internationally renowned speaker on the interface of science, philosophy, and religion, leads us in a journey through the whole wondrous story of Scripture.
Jon McCray’s Whaddo You Meme – If you enjoy talking about Christianity, Christian Apologetics, current cultural issues, religion, politics, laughing, and stuff like that, we’ve got you covered! This page is dedicated to responding to anti-Christian memes, videos, breezy slogans, and Christian views on cultural issues from a thoughtful Christian perspective.
Living Waters (Ray Comfort) – Living Waters seeks to train the members of Christ’s Body in the principles of biblical evangelism and to provide them with practical tools to proclaim the gospel.
Mama Bear Apologetics – Hillary Ferrer and the Mama Bear (MBA) team provide apologetics for parents navigating this post-postmodern time.
Melissa Dougherty Apologetics – A Christian Artist andApologist best known for her YouTube channel as an ex new ager. Her video comparing a “typical” modern-day Christian woman to an early church Christian woman is both powerful and convicting…not to mention, heartbreaking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zrve6NMWxk
Michael J. Kruger – Dr. Michael J. Kruger serves as the President and Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. His research interests include: Development of the NT Canon; particularly fourfold gospel collection; Gospels, General/Catholic Epistles; Christian origins; development of early Christianity in the second century; Apocryphal gospels and the transmission of Jesus tradition, and Palaeography, codicology, ancient manuscripts.
Midwest Christian Outreach – Speakers from Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc. (MCOI) can speak in your local churches, conferences and special events. Our topics: the Christian worldview, un-Biblical beliefs, cults, false religions and more.
Natasha Crain – Natasha is a national speaker, author of four books, blogger, and podcaster whose passion is to help Christians think more clearly about holding to a biblical worldview in the midst of an increasingly challenging secular culture.
One Minute Apologist – Bobby Conway offers us credible answers to life’s most curious questions, as I address everyday issues and how they relate to Scripture.
Parr, Allen – “The Beat” – Christian apologist, author, speaker, YouTube content creator, and bible teacher. Highly recommend his work!
Reasons For Jesus – Started by Steven Bancarz, Reasons for Jesus is an apologetics-based website dedicated to providing justification for a Biblical worldview and a rational defense for faith in Jesus Christ.
Reasons.org – We make every effort to help people discover that sound reason and scientific research consistently affirm the truth of the Bible and of the Good News it reveals.
Red Pen Logic w/ Mr. B – A wealth of apologetics videos. Red Pen Logic began out of Stand To Reason Ministries.
Remnant Radio – educates believers in biblical theology and a Christian worldview.
Stand to Reason University– STR U is an online training program designed to produce a particular kind of person: an effective ambassador for Christ. Using short, interactive, and engaging courses, STR U equips Christians to make an even-handed, yet gracious defense for Christianity and Christian values in the public square.
Stands To Reason – Stand to Reason trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defense for classical Christianity and classical Christian values in the public square.
The Apologetics Guy, with Mikel Del Rosario – Helping you to explain your faith with courage and compassion. Mikel is a Christian apologetics professor at William Jessup University and is also a podcaster at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Wesley Huff Apologetics – “Making the evidence for Christianity more well known to more people than ever before.“
Women in Apologetics – Women in Apologetics (WIA) is a Christian non-profit organization whose sole focus is to equip, encourage, and educate women in Christian apologetics. We have a passion for encouraging and equipping other women in the church who are interested in learning how to think more deeply and intelligently about their faith. Here at Women in Apologetics, we strive to live into Luke 10:27, which is why it’s our featured verse: He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (NRSV)
The philosophy of Pragmatism originated around the turn of the 19th century here in America with Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. Per Merriam-Webster, Pragmatism is a doctrine that promotes the search for meaning “in their practical bearings, that the function of thought is to guide action, and that truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief.” The basic premise suggested is that something is “True” if it is observed to work.
Pragmatism, at the heart of it all, has always been a struggle for humanity. The battle cry of “whatever works is true” is something in which our sin nature finds comfort- “How could this be wrong if it is helping me?” And then we process “helpful” as “good.” Our emotions lead and our feet follow. In these post-postmodern times, both the admonition to “You do you,” and the attitude that “anything goes” are promoted with fervency! This soil of self only amplifies the growth of pragmatism. And with doing “whatever works” often comes a compromise of spiritual syncretism. But when it comes to Truth, we know it is not an emotion nor an experience…but a Person. (John 14:6) A quote that hits to the heart of spiritual pragmatism is this one by Dr. Michael Rydelnik:
“Faith in Christ is not true because it works, rather faith in Christ works because it’s True.“
Friends, most of us were born into Postmodernism… a heart-centric, individualistic time when movies reign, and linear dialogue is seemingly rare. With this in view, it is genuinely crucial that we slow down and think logically about what we are reading and hearing…or rather (mostly) seeing and feeling. For example, when someone refers to the “differences” between the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, do not worry. “Differences” do not signify “inaccuracy.” The differences cited often are related to the intended audience of a Gospel as well as to the personality of the writer. For example, Mark was writing to Jewish readers and John to a Greek audience. The Jewish day began at 6am, and the Greek day began just after midnight. Each sited events accordingly. John wrote more chronologically, but Mark wrote thematically. The styles were unique, but the message was the same. The events pointed to the Gospel of Jesus…Christ and Him Crucified. God is so intentional in His design… He is sovereign over every detail. For this reason (by God’s doing), we have excellent evidence to sustain the idea of Scriptural inerrancy. Please research and be encouraged by His care and faithfulness.
(5/1/2021) We need Jesus… We need to be praying loads and reading The Bible often. (Col 4:2) Friends, it’s incredibly important to remember that Satan (“the Father of Lies”) is well-versed regarding scripture. One profound example out of the pages of Biblical history was when Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. Satan approaches Jesus there and arrogantly questions Jesus’s identity as God’s own Son (mind-blowing). He then quoted scripture to Jesus in ways that would benefit Satan’s own agenda… But Jesus endured without sin. Succeeding where Adam and Eve had failed. (Matthew 4)
Friends, Satan does the same today- he takes what is true and twists it, adds to it, or promotes doubt re: God’s character. Possibly the most salient scheme he promulgates is placing the focus upon ourselves (the “self”) instead of upon God. But despite his continuing efforts to alter our understanding of Truth, He can’t change Truth. We need to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:16-18), read His Words daily (Col 3:16; Hebrews 4:12), and get into Gospel-focusecommunity (Romans 12; Galatians 6). As stated above, it’s my genuine prayer that these resources point whomever sees them to Jesus… We can (and should) trust Him with every detail. ♥️🙏🏼
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
John 15:5 “…for apart from Me, you can do nothing…”
Acts 2:42 and 45 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need”
Romans 15:7 “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God “
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Ephesians 4:2-3 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”
2 Corinthians 3:11 “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;…”
Colossians 3:13-14 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on Love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Corinthians 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Ephesians 4:2-4 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
1 Corinthian 16:14 “Let all that you do be done in love.”
Hebrews 13:1-2 “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Ephesians 6:18 “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,…”
Ephesians 4:11-15 “He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherdsand teachers,to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Galatians 5:13-14 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
1 Corinthians 12:25-27 “That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Colossians 3:13 “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Acts 2:42-47 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Romans 12:9-21 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Colossians 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Romans 12:6 ” Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
1 Peter 2:5 “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Romans 12:5 “…so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Romans 1:11-12 “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
1 Corinthians 12:25-27 “…so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 2:17-19 “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?”
Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.”
John 15:12-13 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Ephesians 4:15 “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,”
2 Timothy 4:2 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen”
Jesus is everything… Our Salvation, our Intercession, our Wisdom, our Sanctification, our Strength, our Justice, our Hope,… and our Lord. We need Him more than we can fathom.
2 Corinthians 1:20 “For as many as the promises of God are, in Him (Jesus) they are yes; therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
Acts 17:28 “for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’”
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (God, through Jesus, supplies all we need for loving others well)
Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”
Romans 6:1-3 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?”
2 Corinthians 6:1 “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”
Colossians 1:21-22 “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Psalm 40:1-2 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
Psalm 103:10-11 “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 5:20 “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”
Psalm 103:12 “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Romans 4:4-5 “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”
Romans 11:6 “And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 1:6 “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
John 1:14-16 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me. For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”
James 4:6 “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 1:2 “According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”
2 Corinthians 8:7-9 “But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Who is Jesus?
6 minutes
12 minutes w/ Nabeel Qureshi regarding the Trinity
Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”
1 Corinthians 1:31 “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (God, through Jesus, supplies all we need for loving others well)
Colossians 1:28-29 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all HIS energy that HE powerfully works within me.”
Colossians 1:29 “…For this I toil, struggling with all HIS energy that HE powerfully works within me.”
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Psalm 84:5 “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.”
Psalm 20:7 “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.”
Deuteronomy 20:4 “For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him WHO strengthens me.”
John 15:5 “…apart from Me, you can do nothing…”
Hebrews 3:6 “but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.”
Isaiah 40:31 “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of My weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Galatians 6:14 “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be stil,l and know that I am God.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Ephesians 3:16 “That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being,”
1 Chronicle 16:11 “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!”
Mahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
Exodus 15:2 “The Lord IS my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”
2 Thessalonians 3:11 “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
1 Samuel 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “… And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Habakkuk 3:19 “God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s; He makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”
Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might He increases strength.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Lamentations 3:23 “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
1 Peter 4:11 “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
2 Timothy 4:17 “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it…”
Galatians 5:7 ” You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a Spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Isaiah 41:31 “But they whowait for the Lordshall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord”
Hebrews 12:2 “…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
Psalm 29:11 “May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless His people with peace!”
1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
Psalm 18:32 “The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless”
Psalm 31:24 “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, … hope in the LORD”
1 Timothy 1:12 “I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service,”
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”
1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid…”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Psalm 31:24 “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.”
Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Hold Fast Apologetics 