Write down in Vision Board and ask God

My favourite motivation speaker with great sense of humour, Mr Steve Harvey. 2 Bible Verses that will change your life :-

1. You have not because you ask not. James 4:2b
2. Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2-3

James 4:2b-3 New International Version (NIV)

You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Habakkuk 2:2-4 New International Version (NIV)

The Lord’s Answer

2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it[b] will certainly come
    and will not delay.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

Habakkuk 2:2-4 The Message (MSG)

Full of Self, but Soul-Empty

2-3 And then God answered: “Write this.
    Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
    so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
    pointing to what’s coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
    And it doesn’t lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
    It’s on its way. It will come right on time.

4 “Look at that man, bloated by self-importance—
    full of himself but soul-empty.
But the person in right standing before God
    through loyal and steady believing
    is fully alive, really alive.

Classical Quote on the Bible

THE BIBLE contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.

Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's charter.

Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Pray it in, read it through, live it out, and pass it on.

-- Author Unknown --

-- Gideon Bible Preface--

The Bible is priceless in worth to me;

The depths of wisdom is enough for me to dwell on;

The width of knowledge stretch beyond my mind;

The length of God's love is unending;

The height of humanity is all explained.

All I ever needed to know,

All I ever wanted to read,

is all here waiting for me,

to come into the garden of God

to pluck, to spice up my life

to restore, to rest my tired soul.

I call it my Book of Life !

~ Doria

Mine of wealth,a paradise of glory,and a river of pleasure..

Mine of wealth,a paradise of glory,and a river of pleasure..

My facebook friend just posted the above in her profile status, such depth, I thought to myself. I google it and found that it is describing the Bible, the content and depth of its impact on our lives. Here are some of the google results on what is so precious about the Bible :-

http://www.fromoutoftheblue.com/blogs/peter/a-universal-experience
"It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed" and "It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure."

http://www.wordproject.org/direct/salvation.htm

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. [Found inside a Gideon's New Testament]

http://our.homewithgod.com/ewerluvd/hymndevotionals/3_5.htm
~* THY WORD IS LIKE A GARDEN, LORD *~

Edwin Hodder, 1837-1904

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:103-105

For the child of God, the daily reading of the Scriptures is the nourishment of the soul. The Bible's value has been described in many ways as the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Someone has offered this sage advice regarding the use of the Bible: "Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure."

Although just a lay amateur writer in England, Edwin Hodder was also impressed with the miraculous quality of the Bible. So in this hymn, first published in 1863, Hodder paints comparative pictures that both young and old can understand easily. Verse one begins with the thought that even casual seekers can find something from God's written landscape that will beautify their lives merely by "plucking a lovely cluster." Stanza one continues to say, however, that it is not enough to be a casual observer of this garden of beauty. Rather, we must earnestly search and dig into the Holy Scriptures' mighty depths for "jewels rich and rare".

Verse two extends the thought further that God's Word, like the starry host, is fathomless in giving guidance for life's journey. Finally, the hymn reminds us that there is an earnestness confronting each believer in the form of a warfare against sin and unrighteousness. For this battle we require the aid of God's Holy Word.

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;

And every one who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare

Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light

Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.

Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;

And find, for life’s long battle day, all needful weapons there.

O may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,

May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!

O may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,

I’ll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

For Today*: Psalm 119:105, 130; John 5:39, 6:63; II Timothy 3:16

Allow the Bible's relevance, beauty, and simplicity to thrill your soul.

**This little known hymn so struck me with it's beauty and simplicity that it was the first hymn text included in my first book, No Accident
Music url: The Cyber Hymnal http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/h/y/thywilgl.htm

http://www.christianityrestored.com/
This Book is the inspired, infallible Word of the Living God.

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man,
the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true,
its prophecies are accurate, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe. and practice it to be holy.
It contains Light to direct you, Food to support you, to comfort and cheer you.
It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's Staff, the pilot's Compass,
the soldier's sword, and the Christian's Charter.

Herein Paradise is restored, Heaven is opened, and the gates of hell are disclosed.
CHRIST IS ITS GRAND SUBJECT
Our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory,
rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.
It is a Mine of Wealth, a Paradise of Glory, and a River of Pleasure.
It is given to you in life, will be opened at the Judgment, and be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor,
and condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.
Amen

The Bible is our rule of faith...

And Christ alone is Lord;

All we are equal in His sight

When we obey His Word;

No earthly master do we know

To man-rule will not bow;

But to each other and to God

Eternal trueness vow.

The Light Of His Word Dispels All Darkness
 
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." (1Corinthians 1:10)

It is only through God's Word and by His Spirit that this will be accomplished. Will you be among those who will search the scriptures to see if ye be in that faith of Biblical Christianity?

Psalms 118:17

King James Version
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Message
I didn't die. I lived! And now I'm telling the world what God did.


New American Standard Bible

I will not die, but live, And tell of the works of the LORD.

New International Version (©1984)
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Bible in Basic English
Life and not death will be my part, and I will give out the story of the works of the Lord.

我 必 不 致 死 ， 仍 要 存 活 ， 并 要 传 扬 耶 和 华 的 作 为 。


Geneva Study Bible
I shall not die, but live, and {h} declare the works of the LORD.
(h) So that all, that are both far and near, may see his mighty power.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
17, 18. He would live, because confident his life would be for God's glory.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
118:1-18 The account the psalmist here gives of his troubles is very applicable to Christ: many hated him without a cause; nay, the Lord himself chastened him sorely, bruised him, and put him to grief, that by his stripes we might be healed. God is sometimes the strength of his people, when he is not their song; they have spiritual supports, though they want spiritual delights. Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.

Psalm 118 (The Message)
1-4 Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits.
Tell the world, Israel,
"His love never quits."
And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
"His love never quits."
And you who fear God, join in,
"His love never quits."

5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God;
from the wide open spaces, he answered.
God's now at my side and I'm not afraid;
who would dare lay a hand on me?
God's my strong champion;
I flick off my enemies like flies.
Far better to take refuge in God
than trust in people;
Far better to take refuge in God
than trust in celebrities.
Hemmed in by barbarians,
in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Hemmed in and with no way out,
in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
when God grabbed and held me.
God's my strength, he's also my song,
and now he's my salvation.
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
in the camp of the saved?
"The hand of God has turned the tide!
The hand of God is raised in victory!
The hand of God has turned the tide!"

17-20 I didn't die. I lived!
And now I'm telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn't hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
I'll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
so the victors can enter and praise.

21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
you've truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
is now the capstone!
This is God's work.
We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
let's celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God's name—
from God's house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You're my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he's so good.
His love never quits!

The Bible Verse for this Season

Psalm 18:1-3 (The Message)

Psalm 18 1-2
I love you, God— you make me strong.
God is bedrock under my feet,
the castle in which I live,
my rescuing knight.
My God—the high crag
where I run for dear life,
hiding behind the boulders,
safe in the granite hideout.

3 I sing to God, the Praise-Lofty,
and find myself safe and saved.

4-5 The hangman's noose was tight at my throat;
devil waters rushed over me.
Hell's ropes cinched me tight;
death traps barred every exit.

6 A hostile world! I call to God,
I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call;
my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!

7-15 Earth wobbles and lurches; huge mountains shake like leaves,
Quake like aspen leaves because of his rage.
His nostrils flare, bellowing smoke; his mouth spits fire.
Tongues of fire dart in and out; he lowers the sky.
He steps down; under his feet an abyss opens up.
He's riding a winged creature, swift on wind-wings.
Now he's wrapped himself in a trenchcoat of black-cloud darkness.
But his cloud-brightness bursts through, spraying hailstones and fireballs.
Then God thundered out of heaven; the High God gave a great shout,
spraying hailstones and fireballs.
God shoots his arrows—pandemonium!
He hurls his lightnings—a rout!
The secret sources of ocean are exposed,
the hidden depths of earth lie uncovered
The moment you roar in protest,
let loose your hurricane anger.
16-19 But me he caught—reached all the way
from sky to sea; he pulled me out
Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
the void in which I was drowning.
They hit me when I was down,
but God stuck by me.
He stood me up on a wide-open field;
I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!
20-24 God made my life complete
when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together,
he gave me a fresh start.
Now I'm alert to God's ways;
I don't take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works;
I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
and I'm watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
25-27 The good people taste your goodness,
The whole people taste your health,
The true people taste your truth,
The bad ones can't figure you out.
You take the side of the down-and-out,
But the stuck-up you take down a peg.
28-29 Suddenly, God, you floodlight my life;
I'm blazing with glory, God's glory!
I smash the bands of marauders,
I vault the highest fences.
30 What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth.
Every God-direction is road-tested.
Everyone who runs toward him Makes it.
31-42 Is there any god like God?
Are we not at bedrock?
Is not this the God who armed me,
then aimed me in the right direction?
Now I run like a deer;
I'm king of the mountain.
He shows me how to fight;
I can bend a bronze bow!
You protect me with salvation-armor;
you hold me up with a firm hand,
caress me with your gentle ways.
You cleared the ground under me
so my footing was firm.
When I chased my enemies I caught them;
I didn't let go till they were dead men.
I nailed them; they were down for good;
then I walked all over them.
You armed me well for this fight,
you smashed the upstarts.
You made my enemies turn tail,
and I wiped out the haters.
They cried "uncle"
but Uncle didn't come;
They yelled for God
and got no for an answer.
I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.
I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.
43-45 You rescued me from a squabbling people;
you made me a leader of nations.
People I'd never heard of served me;
the moment they got wind of me they listened.
The foreign devils gave up; they came
on their bellies, crawling from their hideouts.
46-48 Live, God! Blessings from my Rock,
my free and freeing God, towering!
This God set things right for me
and shut up the people who talked back.
He rescued me from enemy anger,
he pulled me from the grip of upstarts,
He saved me from the bullies.
49-50 That's why I'm thanking you, God, all over the world.
That's why I'm singing songs that rhyme your name.
God's king takes the trophy;
God's chosen is beloved.
I mean David and all his children— always.

Psalm 18:1-3 (King James Version)
Psalm 18
1I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress,
and my deliverer; my God, my strength,
in whom I will trust; my buckler,
and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3I will call upon the LORD,
who is worthy to be praised:
so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3 (New International Version)
Psalm 18
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
He sang to the LORD the words of this song
when the LORD delivered him from
the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
He said: 1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Footnotes:
Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.

詩 篇 18:1-3 (Chinese Union Version (Traditional))
詩 篇 18
1 （ 耶 和 華 的 僕 人 大 衛 的 詩 ， 交 與 伶 長 。 當 耶 和 華 救 他 脫 離 一 切 仇 敵 和 掃 羅 之 手 的 日 子 ， 他 向 耶 和 華 念 這 詩 的 話 。 說 ： ）

耶 和 華 ， 我 的 力 量 啊 ， 我 愛 你 ！
2 耶 和 華 是 我 的 巖 石 ， 我 的 山 寨 ，
我 的 救 主 ， 我 的 神 ， 我 的 磐 石 ， 我 所 投 靠 的 。
他 是 我 的 盾 牌 ， 是 拯 救 我 的 角 ， 是 我 的 高 臺 。
3 我 要 求 告 當 讚 美 的 耶 和 華 ；
這 樣 我 必 從 仇 敵 手 中 被 救 出 來 。

Ecclesiastes 3 There's a Right Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3
There's a Right Time for Everything

There's an opportune time to do things,
a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does?
I've had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly.
True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—
but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to,
whether he's coming or going.

I've decided that there's nothing better to do
than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life.
That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift.
I've also concluded that whatever God does,
that's the way it's going to be, always.
No addition, no subtraction.
God's done it and that's it.
That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
Whatever was, is.
Whatever will be, is.
That's how it always is with God.
God's Testing Us

I took another good look at what's going on:
The very place of judgment— corrupt!
The place of righteousness—corrupt!
I said to myself, "God will judge righteous and wicked."
There's a right time for every thing,
every deed—and there's no getting around it.
I said to myself regarding the human race,
"God's testing the lot of us, showing us up as nothing but animals."
Humans and animals come to the same end—humans die, animals die.
We all breathe the same air.
So there's really no advantage in being human.
None. Everything's smoke.
We all end up in the same place—
we all came from dust, we all end up as dust.
Nobody knows for sure that the human spirit rises to heaven
or that the animal spirit sinks into the earth.
So I made up my mind that there's nothing better for us men and women
than to have a good time in whatever we do—that's our lot.
Who knows if there's anything else to life.


Bible according to The Message

Psalm 1

Psalm 1

How well God must like you—
you don't hang out at Sin Saloon,
you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.
Instead you thrill to God's Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You're a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.
You're not at all like the wicked,
who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
unfit company for innocent people.
God charts the road you take.
The road they take is Skid Row.


Bible according to The Message

Psalm 7

Psalm 7 A David Psalm

God! God! I am running to you for dear life; the chase is wild.
If they catch me, I'm finished:
ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,
dragged into the forest and left
unlooked for, unremembered.

God, if I've done what they say— betrayed my friends,
ripped off my enemies— If my hands are really that dirty,
let them get me, walk all over me, leave me flat on my face in the dirt.

Stand up, God; pit your holy fury against my furious enemies.
Wake up, God. My accusers have packed the courtroom; it's judgment time.
Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,
throw out the false charges against me.
I'm ready, confident in your verdict: "Innocent."

Close the book on Evil, God,
but publish your mandate for us.
You get us ready for life:
you probe for our soft spots,
you knock off our rough edges.
And I'm feeling so fit, so safe:
made right, kept right.
God in solemn honor does things right,
but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

Nobody gets by with anything.
God is already in action— Sword honed on his whetstone,
bow strung, arrow on the string, Lethal weapons in hand,
each arrow a flaming missile.

Look at that guy! He had sex with sin, he's pregnant with evil.
Oh, look! He's having the baby—a Lie-Baby!
See that man shoveling day after day,
digging, then concealing, his man-trap down that lonely stretch of road?
Go back and look again—you'll see him in it headfirst,
legs waving in the breeze.
That's what happens: mischief backfires; violence boomerangs.

I'm thanking God, who makes things right.
I'm singing the fame of heaven-high God.

Bible according to The Message

Psalm 96 Sing God a brand-new song!

Psalm 96

Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!

Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
Take the news of his glory to the lost,
News of his wonders to one and all!

For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
His terrible beauty makes the gods look cheap;
Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags.

God made the heavens—
Royal splendor radiates from him,
A powerful beauty sets him apart.

Bravo, God, Bravo!
Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.

Bring gifts and celebrate,
Bow before the beauty of God,
Then to your knees—everyone worship!

Get out the message—God Rules!
He put the world on a firm foundation;
He treats everyone fair and square.

Let's hear it from Sky,
With Earth joining in,
And a huge round of applause from Sea.

Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
Animals, come dance,
Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

An extravaganza before God as he comes,
As he comes to set everything right on earth,
Set everything right, treat everyone fair.

Bible according to The Message

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 - A David Psalm

God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I'm not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

Bible according to The Message

The goal of The Message is to engage people in the reading process and help them understand what they read. This is not a study Bible, but rather "a reading Bible." The verse numbers, which are not in the original documents, have been left out of the print version to facilitate easy and enjoyable reading. The original books of the Bible were not written in formal language. The Message tries to recapture the Word in the words we use today.