5 Favs {vol.5} ...the Bible edition:)

  

Another link up with Hallie today...and I'm spicing things up for my 5 favs, and running with a theme.  Hold onto your seats, peeps as I share with you my five favorite Scripture verses and why they are special to me! Yayyyy Bible!

{1}

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; 

In all your ways be mindful of him, 

and he will make straight your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This one HAS to be my #1 because it was the first verse of Scripture I memorized.  When I re-discovered my faith, I had heard of folks talking about memorizing Scripture as a way to fill your heart with the promise of God's truth and that really resonated with me.  And no, I don't always do it regularly, these verses are so special because it was when I decided that I wanted to learn more about my faith and Jesus through getting into the Word more.  I also love it because I'm kind of a control freak. like. a lot.  I'm the type that can say in my morning prayer driving to the office, "Jesus, I love and I give you this day, my work, marriage, all I have and do for your glory....you get the idea".  By lunch time, I can be mentally taking it back and saying "No Lord, I don't like that" or "It's too hard and scary letting you have it all."  But I am working at it constantly with the whole "let go and let God" kind of thing...practice makes perfect right??

{2}

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence..." (1 Peter 3:13-16)

This verse I mention in my About section too.  I love this verse because it just screams out to me the importance of being a. able to defend/speak about/share your faith with others and 2.To always do it with compassion/love/gentleness...always speak the truth, but in love.  This verse for me is just so empowering as one striving to be an intentional follower of Christ.  This a verse when I read it, cannot simply help smiling because it just makes me want to work to be a better witness in my day-to-day life of the faith that I profess and believe.

{3}

"...Because you are precious in my eyes, and glorious, and because I love you..."

(Isaiah 43:4)

This one is actually a really tough one for me.  One of the things I struggle with a lot on a personal level is comparing myself to other people, especially in terms of my body.  You may be able to relate with that: focusing more on the things I don't like about my body, always wishing I was a 'smaller' size and/or weight, and sometimes sadly thinking I find my value and worth in what the numbers on the scale vs. in what God tells me about my true and real dignity.  For awhile now, I have really felt that God is wanting me to really address this issue in my life and its been hard.  I mean how do you start 'loving' yourself overnight after years and years of negative even mean self talk to yourself???  Thankfully, I have a good spiritual director who is encouraging and challenging me to take this to prayer and I have good family/friends...oh and what about Jim, yeah he's great too about it.  

I really really want to believe this verse and know that 1. I love myself for me! and b. really know that to be true in my relationship with Jesus too.

So in the end, a tricky verse for me at times, but I still love it too, because I know and sense God calling me to wrestle with all of this through these words of the prophet Isaiah.

{4}

"God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; 

but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it" 

 (1 Corinthians 10: 13)

I really love this verse, and find great comfort/strength in it for me personally and for many others I know who endured and went through hardships in life.  I know when I'm in the middle of a difficult time, I don't hesitate to whine and complain to Jesus about "fixing the situation" or "getting me out of it like pronto!"  Nobody wants to suffer in life, but it comes with life for us all.  This verse is just a great reminder on how God never abandons us...and I don't know about you, but I constantly need reminders like this!

{5}

This last one is a certain section and verses from the Gospel of John 21:1-19, it was actually the Gospel read this past Sunday.  After having breakfast with the disciple (aka the first church fish fry ;-) Jesus asks Peter three times do you love me.  Peter starts getting frustrated with Jesus and basically responds, "Well duhhh, Lord, you know that I love you."  And Jesus responds, "feed my sheep...come follow me."  I have always loved encounter of Jesus and his disciples.  I feel I connect with it and probably all of us can, because I mean how many times do I strive to love/follow Jesus, but miss the mark??  And then Jesus response, he asks Peter to rely on him more and come follow him.  Lots of good food for thought here...

What are some of your favorite Scripture verses??

Be sure to check out the link up party for others five favs too!