One of my Favorite Passages

Psalm 139

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise, 

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; 

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, 

O Lord.

You hem me in - behind and before; 

you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 

too loft for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

 if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you; 

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

FOR YOU CREATED MY INMOST BEING;

YOU KNIT ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB.

I PRAISE YOU FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE;

YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL,

I KNOW THAT FULL WELL.

MY FRAME IS NOT HIDDEN FROM YOU WHEN I WAS MADE IN THE SECRET PLACE.

WHEN I WAS WOVEN TOGETHER IN THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH,

YOUR EYES SAW MY UNFORMED BODY.

ALL THE DAYS ORDAINED FOR ME WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK

BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE.

HOW PRECIOUS TO ME ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, O GOD!

HOW VAST IS THE SUM OF THEM!

WERE I TO COUNT THEM, THEY WOULD OUTNUMBER THE GRAINS OF SAND.

WHEN I AWAKE,

I AM STILL WITH YOU.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God!

Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord,

and abhor those who rise up against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Matthew 7:1-5

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck our of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

WOW!!!

As stated in my Life Application Bible:

Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others.  The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves.  Our untamed bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others.  Do you find it easy to magnify others' faults while excusing your own?  If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism.  Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

As states in my Life Application Bible:

Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings.  Obeying these three commands - be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks - often goes against our natural inclinations.  When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, however, we will begin to see people in a new perspective.  When we do God's will we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.

At this time of year we all put on our "thankful hats", and tell everybody that we are thankful for everything.  But what about the rest of the year?  Are we not thankful then, too?  Regardless of what we are going through; rather it be happy, sad, frustration, hardships, etc; God has instructed us to be thankful in all of these times.  This means that on every other day of the year, not just the day that has been designated as Thanksgiving, we need to be thankful at all times in everything!!!  So, tomorrow, the day after Thanksgiving, continue to be thankful.

1 Peter 1:22

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, LOVE ONE ANOTHER DEEPLY, FROM THE HEART."

As stated in my Life Application Bible:

"Sincere love" involves selfless giving; a self-centered person can't truly love.  God's love and forgiveness free you to take your eyes off yourselves and to meet others' needs.  By sacrificing his life, Christ showed that he truly loves you.  Now you can love others by following his example and giving of yourself sacrificially.  

I read this and I think to myself: "Is this really how we love?"  Yes, God has instructed to love this way.  But do we truly follow his instructions.  Do we always give without thinking, "wonder what I might get in return"?  We all would like to think that we do.  But at some point in our lives, and more than one time,  I'm sure we have all had that thought.  Think of how refreshing it would be and much more special it would be to love this "sincere love".  After reading this, I am going to make a conscience effort to love with this "sincere love".