"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" - Matthew 6:25

DO NOT WORRY THEN  

"Do not worry then, saying ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”  

- Proverbs 10:4

DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING  

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  

- Philippians 4:6-7 

BUT THE WORRIES OF THIS LIFE  

"The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful."  

- Matthew 13:22

YESTERDAY'S REGRET AND TOMORROW'S WORRIES   

"Most Christians are being crucified on a cross between two thieves: Yesterday's regret and tomorrow's worries."  

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

ANXIETY WEIGHS A MAN'S HEART DOWN  

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”  

- Proverbs 12:25 

WHEN THE CARES OF MY HEART MANY  

“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”  

- Psalm 94:19 

BRANCH OF THE VINE DOES NOT WORRY  

"The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus."  

- Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) Missionary to China 

 A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NEVER WORRY 

"The Christian should never worry about tomorrow or give sparingly because of a possible future need. Only the present moment is ours to serve the Lord, and tomorrow may never come...Life is worth as much as it is spent for the Lord's service." 

 - George Mueller 1805-1898) English Evangelist and Helper of Orphans

TRUST AND WORRY CANNOT GO TOGETHER  

"What is needed for happy effectual service is simply to put your work into the Lord's hand and leave it there. Do not take it to Him in prayer, saying, "Lord, guide me, Lord, give me wisdom, Lord, arrange for me," and then arise from your knees, and take the burden all back, and try to guide and arrange for yourself. Leave it with the Lord and remember that what you trust to Him you must not worry over nor feel anxious about. Trust and worry cannot go together."  

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer 

THE CARES OF TOMORROW  

"It is not the cares of today, but the cares of tomorrow, that weigh a man down. For the needs of today we have corresponding strength given. For the morrow we are told to trust. It is not ours yet. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear."  

- George MacDonald (1824-1905) Scottish Christian Minister, Author   

HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME     

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”    

- Philippians 4:13 

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“And said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” – Stephen, moments before he was stoned to death." – Acts 7:56

In this verse (Acts 7:56) we get our first glimpse of the resurrected Christ as He stands to receive Stephen, the first martyr of the New Testament. What a sight Steven was fortunate to behold, the resurrected Son of Man, standing at the right hand of the God. Stephen’s reaction in verse 60 is, “He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”

At different times in your life, you may have been asked to stand for someone as a best man, God parent, or you may have even been asked to attest to someone’s character. It is often a place in which we feel honored to be called upon to testify for the person to whom we stand up for, believing in what we are called to confirm.

I hope that God gives us the opportunity to stand for those who have touched our lives when they step forward to receive a reward for their works while here on this Earth.

In 2 Corinthians 5:10 we are told that “We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.”

In 1 Corinthians 3:13, we see that “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 

Those are 2 verses can be very comforting or very frightening. I often wonder who will stand with me on that day to testify that my time living on this earth made a difference in the life of someone. The Bible tells us that Jesus will stand for me on that day. That’s all that really matters. What an awesome thought to behold Christ standing on my behalf! Christ, not only standing for our Salvation, but also revealing His work in our lives during the span of years of birth-life-death.

I hope that others will be there . . . standing up to share in the joy that is set before us, declaring the difference that we had made in their life. Maybe it will be the neighbor you prayed for who got saved, the woman you gave your tithe to feed her kids, or the orphan you helped sponsor in a third world country. It might even be someone that you would have never suspected who will give his testimony for your life.

I think it will be a joyful thing to stand for someone when their name is called and tell your story about how they blessed your life. Several people come to my mind that I would like to stand for on their day of redemption. I can think of a few that made such an impact on my life and have no idea how they touched me. . . but it went in, deep into my being and made a difference. I hope that I will be allowed to stand for each one of them to share in the joy of the blessing that awaits them for touching my life.

Who will stand for you? Perhaps it will be the very next person you meet that is need.

STANDING IN THE GAP

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”

- Ezekiel 22:30  

STAND AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD 

"You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”  

- 2 Chronicles 20:17

GO STAND BY THE GATES OF HELL  

'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world."  

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army    

WHERE DO YOU STAND?  

"Where do you stand in your relationship with the Lord? People often say, God is good to me, by which they mean that they have experienced good health or prosperity. What a person possesses is not always a safe measure of his dedication to the Lord."  

- Theodore Epp (1907-1985) American Clergyman and Radio Evangelist

STAND IN FAITH  

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

- James 5:16

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS embrace all man's responsibilities towards God and toward his fellows and are summed up by our Lord in these two great commandments--to love God whole heartily and one's neighbor as himself. 

What man, when tested, can claim to be guiltless. Christ has magnified the law by His life of perfect obedience and His holy teaching, and on the cross met the full penalty for its violation, and this on our behalf, as are born of God and indwelt by His Spirit, and as we walk in the Spirit every righteous demand of the law is fulfilled in us without any legal threatening. Because of love for Christ, we are glad to do the will of God and this on our behalf, as He was the sinless One.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

- Exodus 20:1-21

FOR ALL HAVE SINNED

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

- Romans 3:23

FOR BY GRACE, YOU ARE SAVED THROUGH FAITH

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."

-  Ephesians 2:8-9 

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"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."  - Proverbs 22:6

TRAIN UP A CHILD  

"Train up a child in the way he should go - but be sure you go that way yourself."  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME   

"But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God."  

- Luke 18:16

CHILDREN ARE A HERITAGE OF THE LORD  

"Behold, children are a heritage of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is his reward."  

- Psalm 127:3 

FATHER MAKES KNOWN TO THE CHILDREN  

"The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness."  

- Isaiah 38:19

LEAVES UNHERITANCE TO HIS CHILDREN  

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."  

- Proverbs 13:22

A FATHER HAS COMPASSION ON HIS CHILDREN  

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him."  

- Psalm 103:13

A CHILD MAKES HIMSELF KNOW BY HIS ACTS  

"Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright."  

- Proverbs 20:11

CHILDREN ARE QUICK OBSERVERS   

"Children are very quick observers; very quick in seeing through some kinds of hypocrisy, very quick in finding out what you really think and feel, very quick in adopting all your ways and opinions. You will often discover that, as the father is, so is the son."  

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop 

FOLLY IN THE HEART OF A CHILD    

"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." 

- Proverbs 22:15

CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN EVERYTHING  

"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."  

- Colossians 3:20 

LET THY CHILD'S FIRST LESSON  

"Let thy child's first lesson be obedience, and the second may be what thou wilt."  

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

 THE JOY OF YOUNG IDEAS PAINED ON THE MIND  

"Oh, the joy of young ideas painted on the mind, in the warm, glowing colors fancy spreads on objects not yet known, when all is new, and all is lovely!" 

- Hannah More (1745-1833) English Religious Writer

GIVE GOD A CHANCE AT THE CHILREN  

"We will never bring in the Kingdom by simply seeking to save an adult generation. We must give God a chance at the children, or the cause of righteousness is going to be defeated. But if we save the child, we will surely save the world."  

- Clovis G. Chappell (1882-1972) Tennessee Methodist Clergyman

YOU THEN, MY CHILD, BE STRENGHTENED   

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 

- 2 Timothy 2:1

UNLESS YOU TURN AND BECOME LIKE CHILDREN  

"And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  

- Matthew 18:3

REVEALED TO LITTLE CHILDREN    

"In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."    

- Luke 10:21

Photo Source: gpinterest.com/pin/429179039460208584/ Jesus praying, Mary and jesus, Simon Dewey (1962, English)

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." - Proverbs 17:22

WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM   

"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."  

- Hebrews 12:2

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD  

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" 

- Psalm 98:4

RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF MY SALVATION  

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."  

- Psalm 51:12

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT   

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness."  

- Galatians 5:22

ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE MASTER  

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." 

- Matthew 25:23

THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL  

"Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."  

- John 16:24

THE JOY OF THE LORD  

"The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks." 

- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Nonconformist Minister, Writer  

THE LORD GIVES PERPETUAL JOY  

"The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him."  

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

IT IS HIS JOY THAT REMAINS  

"It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full."  

- A. B. Simpson (1843-1919) Canadian Preacher, Theologian

A JOY NOT GIVEN TO THE UNGODLY

"There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for Thine own sake, whose joy Thou Thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee, for Thee; this it is, and there is no other."  

- St. Augustine (354-430) Theologian and Philosopher

JOY COMES IN THE MORNING    

"For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."  

- Psalm 30:5

THEN IN HIS JOY   

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."  

- Matthew 13:44 

TO PERSUE JOY IS TO LOSE IT  

"To pursue joy is to lose it. The only way to get it is to follow steadily the path of duty, without thinking of joy, and then, like sheep, it comes most surely unsought, and we "being in the way," the angel of God, bright-haired joy, is sure to meet us."  

- Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

IN YOUR PRESENCE THERE IS FULNESS OF JOY   

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  

- Psalm 16:11

THEY SHALL BE JUBILANT WITH JOY  

"But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!"  

- Psalm 68:3

SHOUT FOR JOY IN THE LORD  

  
"Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright." 

- Psalm 33:1    

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"Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." - Genesis 2:7

GIVES TO ALL PEOPLE LIFE AND BREATH 

"Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things." 

 - Acts 17:25

BREATH OF GOD 

"For as long as life is in me, And the breath of God is in my nostrils."  

- Job 27:3

GIVES BREATH TO THE PEOPLE  

"Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it."  

- Isaiah 42:5

THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY 

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." 

- Job 33:4

BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS  

"Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."  

- Genesis 2:7

ALL SCRIPTURE IS BREATHED OUT BY GOD  

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."  

- 2 Timothy 3:16

THE BREATH OF LIFE FROM GOD  

"But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them."  

- Revelation 11:11

BREATH OF THE LORD BLOWS UPON IT  

"The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass."  

- Isaiah 40:7

WILL KILL WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH  

"And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming."  

- 2 Thessalonians 2:8

HE BREATHED ON THEN AND SAID TO THEM 

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit." 

- John 20:22

YOU MAY AS SOON FIND 

 
"You may as soon find a living man who does not breathe, as a living Christian who does not pray."  

- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Nonconformist Minister, Writer  

I BREATH IN HIM  

"God is nearer to us than any man at every time. He is nearer to me than my raiment, nearer than the air or light, nearer than my wife, father, mother, daughter, son, or friend. I live in Him, soul and body. I breathe in Him, think in Him, feel, consider, intend, speak, undertake, work in Him."  

- John of Kronstadt (1829-1909) Russian Orthodox Archpriest

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FIND LIFE AND OBTAIN FAVOR

"For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord."

- Proverbs 8:35 

THE WORD: FAVOR

The word "Favor" used in this passage for affliction "rāṣôn" pronounced "raw-tsone" and occurs 56 times in the Bible.

The KJV translates STRONG'S H7522 in the following manner: favour (15x), will (14x), acceptable (8x), delight (5x), pleasure (5x), accepted (4x), desire (3x), acceptance (1x), selfwill (1x).

The word for "favor" in this passage is the context of "delight (especially as shown):—(be) acceptable (-ance, -ed), delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will, as...(what) would."

HIS FAVOR IS FOR A LIFETIME

"For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."

- Psalm 30:5

SO SHALT THOU FIND FAVOR

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

- Proverbs 3:3-4

FAVOR AS A SHIELD

"For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield."

- Psalm 5:12

THE FAVOR OF GOD

"What is honor, and riches, and the favor of creatures - so long as I lack the favor of God, the pardon of my sins, a saving interest in Christ, and the hope of glory! O Lord, give me these, or I die! Give me these, or else I shall eternally die!"

- Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) Puritan Preacher and Writer

PREVENT YOU FROM ACCEPTING GOD'S FAVOR

"Don't allow false modesty, doubts or unbelief prevent you from accepting God's favor. The door of mercy stands wide open." 

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Missionary

IN MY FAVOR I HAVE HAD MERCY ON YOU

"Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor, I have had mercy on you."

- Isaiah 60:10

GROW IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD

"Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man."

-  1 Samuel 2:26

FAVOR AND COMPASSION

"And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs."

- Daniel 1:9

SHE WON FAVOR IN HIS SITE

"And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter."

- Esther 5:2

I KNOW YOU BY NAME

"And the Lord said to Moses, This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

- Exodus 33:17

I HAVE FOUND FAVOR

"And said, O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.”

- Genesis 18:3

YOUR SERVANT HAS FOUND FAVOR

"Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me, and I die."

- Genesis 19:19

YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD

"And the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

- Luke 1:30

GROW IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD

"Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man."

- 1 Samuel 2:26

WHY HAVE I FOUND FAVOR

"Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

- Ruth 2:10

A TIME OF FAVOR 

"Thus says the Lord: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation, I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.”

- Isaiah 49:8  

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