[continued from previous message]   
      
   4 (Col 1:5; 2Ti 4:8) to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does   
   not fade away, kept in heaven for you,   
   5 (Eph 2:8) who are protected by the power of God through faith for   
   a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.   
   6 (Jas 1:2; Isa 61:3; Ro 5:2) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now,   
   if for a little while, you have had to suffer various trials,   
   7 (Job 23:10; Pr 17:3; Isa 48:10) in order that the genuineness of your faith,   
   which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire,   
   may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus   
   Christ,   
   8 (Jn 20:29; Heb 11:27) whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though   
   you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and   
   full of glory,   
   9 (Ro 6:22) receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls.   
      
   [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according   
   to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the   
   resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,   
   [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not   
   away, reserved in heaven for you,   
   [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to   
   be revealed in the last time.   
   [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are   
   in heaviness through manifold temptations:   
   [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that   
   perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and   
   honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:   
   [8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet   
   believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:   
   [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.   
      
   A Call to Holy Living   
      
   13 (1Pe 4:7; 5:8) Therefore guard your minds, be sober, and hope to the end   
   for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.   
      
   [13] Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end   
   for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus   
   Christ;   
      
   Each fall in my youth, my grandmother got the JCPenney Christmas catalog.   
   With a zealous delight, I spirited it away to ponder its marvelous images.   
      
   These days, those images show up on our smartphones daily - the algorithmic   
   distillation of our hopes and dreams, a personalized feed tailored to us. It's   
   easy to get lost in them. Recently, experts have named this digital phenomenon   
   dreamscrolling. A survey conducted by OnePoll indicates that the average U.S.   
   smartphone user dreamscrolls more than two hours a day! The images that   
   tantalise our hearts invite us to hope, to believe, that if we just had   
   this one thing, it would all be good.   
      
   Scripture, in contrast, invites us to relinquish our grip on material things.   
   In 1 Peter 1:3-4, we read, "In [God's] great mercy he has given us new birth   
   into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,   
   and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade." Peter contrasts   
   our temporal yearnings with the promise of something that will satisfy:   
   placing our hope in God's grace. Later he adds, "Set your hope on the grace to   
   be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming" (v. 13).   
      
   Truth? I'm a dreamscroller. But I'm asking God to help me gradually learn to   
   lean into His bigger hope, to set my desire fully on Him.   
      
   Reflect & Pray   
      
   What are you truly seeking when you dreamscroll?   
   What's captivating your heart?   
      
   Dear Father, the world is full of promises   
   that will only leave me empty. But my hope in You will never disappoint.   
   Please help me set my hope on You today.   
      
      
   Discover more about faith in a digital world.   
      
   3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation   
      
   Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools   
      
   Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 4 - Arming for Battle   
      
   Joshua 1:8   
      
   8 (Ps 19:14; 119:15) This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth.   
   Meditate on it day and night so that you may act carefully according   
   to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way successful,   
   and you will be wise.   
      
   8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt   
   meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according   
   to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,   
   and then thou shalt have good success.   
      
   When God spoke these words to Joshua, the young leader's prospects for   
   "prosperity" and "success" were far from promising. Upon Moses' death,   
   Joshua was appointed to lead Israel into the Promised Land, to claim   
   the territory and establish a nation under God's rule.   
   Joshua was afraid, and for good reason. The people were rebellious   
   and intractable. And "claiming the land" meant battling many strong enemies.   
   Yet God told Joshua that his strength would come not in preparing for battle,   
   but in preparing for battle, but in preparing himself by meditating   
   on and applying God's word to his life.   
   We, too, face difficult battles as we seek to enter the "Promised Land"   
   of God's peace and presence. But his promise is the same as it was to Joshua:   
   through obedience to the Word, we can find prosperity and success.   
   God's promise does not necessarily mean financial prosperity   
   or material success. These victories may come as well, but God's primary   
   purpose for his people is spiritual success - the victory and joy of living   
   in fellowship with him. We can be enriched in the knowledge of God and   
   find power to overcome the enemies of sin and self. The way may not be easy   
   - after all, there is no victory without conflict - but God promises   
   that we will succeed as we look to him.   
      
   Application   
      
   a) What image do I have a personal "Promised Land" that I long   
   to enter and claim as my own?   
      
   b) What enemies will I need to battle in order to enter that land?   
      
   c) How can meditation on the Word of God and obedience to him bring me   
   prosperity and success?   
      
   4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland   
      
   2 Cor 9:6   
      
   6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,   
   and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.   
      
   6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;   
   and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.   
      
   5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:   
      
   When you are Worried Over Money   
      
   1 Tim 6:6-10   
      
   6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.   
   7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain   
   that we can carry nothing out.   
   8 If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with these things.   
   9 But those who desire   
   to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish   
   and harmful lusts, which drown men in ruin and destruction.   
   10 For the love of money is the root of all evil.   
   While coveting after money, some have strayed from the faith   
   and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.   
   He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.   
      
   6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.   
   7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain   
   we can carry nothing out.   
   8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.   
   9 But they that will   
   be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish   
   and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.   
   10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)