Colossians 2:5
"For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ."

Philemon 1:6
"that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

James 1:3
"knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

1 Peter 1:7
"that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,"

1 Peter 1:9
"receiving the end of your faith -- the salvation of your souls."

"Thy paths drop fatness."
Psalm 65:11

Many are "the paths of the Lord" which "drop fatness," but an especial one is the path of prayer. No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, "My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me." Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy- seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong--if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace. Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord. Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not bidden to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely invited if you be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in the way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel's fields.

There is another especial path dropping with fatness to those who walk therein, it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights of fellowship with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus' bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the priest to eat thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering. But, reader, sit thou ever under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree, and take hold of the branches thereof; let thy beloved be unto thee as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, and thou shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with thy salvation!

(Luke 10:30)    Comparing "a certain man" to "the Son of Man"

"...among theives..."
         ----   "Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left." (Matthew 27:38)

"...stripped him of his clothes..."
         ----   "And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him." (Matthew 27:28)

"...wounded..."
         ----   "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our
                 peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
         ----  "Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,"
                (Matthew 26:67)

"...left him half dead..."
         ----  "Then they crucified Him..." (Matthew 27:35)

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished up a rough first day on the job. A flat tire had made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

Then, opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterwards he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the best of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that is my 'trouble tree,'" he replied. "I know I cannot help having troubles on the job, but one thing is for sure-troubles do not belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang 'em on the tree every night when I come home; then in the morning, I pick them up again.

"Funny thing is," he said smilingly, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there are not as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

        Get a good grip on God's Word!!!

 - Hear it as much as you can  (Rom. 10:17)
 - Read it faithfully  (Rev. 1:3)
 - Study it as deeply as you can  (Acts 17:11)
 - Memorize it often  (Ps. 119:9,11)
 - Meditate on it all day long  (Ps. 119:15,16,47,48)


FREE AUDIO BIBLE DOWNLOAD of the book of Ephesians!

 - -  The Incarnation, The Crucifixion, and The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
 - -  Manger, Cross, and Tomb
 - -  Faith, Hope, and Love
           + "work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope"
 - -  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
 - -  Past, Present, and Future
 - -  Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification
 - -  Body, Soul, and Spirit
 - -  Mind, Heart, and Will
 - -  Substitution, Propitiation, and Redemption
 - -  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
 - -  Sarai, Rebekah, Rachel
 - -  Jesus, Moses, and Elijah
 - -  Jesus spent 3 days in the grave
 - -  Jonah spent 3 days in the great fish
 - -  Hell, Hades, and the Grave (...pit?)
 - -  Holy, Holy, Holy
 - -  Grace, Mercy, and Peace
 - -  3 wisemen
 - -  Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh
 - -  Man, Woman, and Beasts
 - -  Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Synoptic Gospels)
 - -  Peter's three denials
 - -  Father, Mother, and Child(ren)
 - -  Lust, Sin, and Death
 - -  Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom
 - -  Light, Love, and Life
 - -  Satan, Lucifer, and The Devil
 - -  Son of the Father, Son of (the living) God, and Son of the Highest (Most High God)
 - -  Son of Abraham, Son of David, and Son of Joseph/Mary


** HAVE FUN!!! :-) **


P.S. Comment if you know of any more...

The Reverend Charles H. Spurgeon once said, "Christianity rests on three great pillars, the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Incarnation alone could not redeem sinful men. But apart from the Incarnation there could be no propitiatory sacrifice that would avail to put away sin. God became man in order to die. We cannot, therefore, make too much of the mystery of the union of the human and the divine in Him who was both Son of God and Son of Mary. In Him we have the Daysman for whom the patriarch Job longed, one who can lay His hand upon both God and man (Job 9:33) because He combines the natures of both in one glorious Person. Bethlehem, Calvary, and the empty tomb, all alike should stir our souls and draw our hearts out to God in wonder, love, and praise.