Tag: Scripture

Scripture Graphics #53

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.” (Psalms 61:1-5)


I know this is praise of God’s creation, but it struck me in a new way—as God’s time. Do I live as though the day and night are mine, to do as I please, instead of doing what pleases God? Just as God fashioned light and dark, He set the clocks in motion. Am I selfishly hoarding time which should ultimately be spent for His glory?

“For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” Psalm 78:5-8
There is so much in these verses about duties, penalties, warnings, and commands. God has done His part in providing His Word. He handed the responsibility to fathers to teach their children. Every generation of fathers who neglect this responsibility produces a generation of children who do not hope in God, keep His commands, and remember His works; a generation of stubborn and rebellious people who are not righteous and steadfast in God. Yet, just as Israel could turn back to God, so can wicked generations today: “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.” (Vs 38-39)



This is a good reminder verse–first, a reminder of Who God is; second, a reminder of His delight to give His children good things (note: what He deems good; not always our perception of good).
“Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.” Psalm 85:12



What is something that stood out to you in the message yesterday?

Scripture Graphics #52

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
Number 52. I suppose this makes a year of sharing Scripture graphics! It has been a personal blessing for me to hear how God has used these posts to come for you on the exact days you need them. He is so faithful to use His Word just when — and how — we need it. 🙂 Here’s hoping for another year of diligence in sharing!

This kind of makes for a good “catch-up” post. I had found a few graphics that I lost track of my personal thoughts — or maybe I had my personal thoughts on the graphics but lost track of the exact verse that went with it.


What is your favorite verse?

Scripture Graphics #51

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
This is why believers have hope—though we are not spared from the grave (unless Christ returns), we are spared from its power and have eternity with Jesus Christ because of His redemption.

Do we go to God at the beginning of trouble—or only after we’ve tried the help of man and have found it to be lacking?

Being unmovable is never rooted in how strong or spiritual we are, but in how steadfast, faithful, and unmovable our God is. An interesting note: the Psalmist glances at his enemy and his wiles (vs. 3-4), reminds himself that his expectation is from God (vs. 5), then repeat verse two with, “I shall not be moved.” If our focus is on things around us, we will lose our assurance in God’s power. But if we remind ourselves of God’s power even in the midst of trouble, it will reassure us of God’s strength.

When was the last time we stopped to purposefully praise God—for no other reason but to praise Him?
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. (Psalms 71:8)


I often take God’s daily blessing for granted—every day, I wake up; I can move; I have food to eat; I’m saved because of His keeping; I can see, hear, walk… yet this is the mere beginning. Every day, God answers prayers and fills my life with so many other things I do not deserve. I don’t want to take it all for granted.

What peace to know that when we pray, God doesn’t hear us according to our righteousness or our attempts at perfection. He hears us in His mercy and the truth of His salvation.

What theme or lesson has stood out to you recently from God’s Word?

Scripture Graphics #50

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
What comfort to know that the One Who leads me is my strong rock and fortress—He never changes, is mighty and strong, and is my protector.

If God’s praise is continually in our mouth, then there is no room for complaints, bickering, murmurings, boastings, gossip, and accusation. “And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long.” (Psalm 35:28)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (Psalms 46:1-3)
When God alone is our refuge and strength, then our trust will remain unshaken when temporal “pillars” around us are removed.



The more we understand God and His ways, the more we will want to praise Him and the richer our praise to Him will be. So if we have no desire to sing or praise God, maybe we should start by searching His Word to know Who He is.

What passage did your preacher preach from yesterday?

Scripture Graphics #49

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
On days (and weeks) where things are crazy and busy, I need this reminder: I must go in God’s strength, not my own; I must seek Him for the way I am to take, the things He wants me to do.

This should never cease being our heart’s prayer and desire.

If we are starting to slide, maybe we need to examine: in whom or in what is our trust? Something other than the Lord?


This verse reveals three beautiful truths about God’s relation to us: He hears us (Psalm 6:9, 18:6, 34:4, 40:1, 116:1, 120:1), He is merciful (Psalm 31:7, 57:10, 62:12, 103:8, 116:5), and He helps us (Psalm 54:4, 33:20, 46:1, 94:17, 121:2, 124:8).

What is your favorite Psalm?

Scripture Graphics #48

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
If our delight is in God’s law, then we should not be in danger of close companionship with the ungodly, sinners, or scornful. Likewise, if we are in close company with those three, we will not find delight in God’s law.

If we are so concerned about “my rights,” does this indicate a lack of trust in our eternal judge?

How are we fighting against the enemy so that the foundations are not destroyed? How are we upholding the foundations in our era–around our family, friends, in our workplace, on social media? Or are we turning a blind eye as foundations crumble?

There is a combination here: God’s Word keeps us from the paths of the destroyer (so we need to read and apply it), and God Himself holds us in His paths (so we need to follow, trust, and obey Him).

What are you meditating on today?

Scripture Graphics #47

Published on by Amanda Tero1 Comment

“And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.” (Acts 28:4-5)

I found this amazing, because Paul *was* a murderer. But he was also saved by the grace of God, and that made the difference.

“And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.” Judges 2:19
Following God is up to the individual, not just the leader. If we only do what’s right when a leader is directing us to do right (whether parent, pastor, or even a peer leader in groups or situations), what will happen when we stand on our own?


“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23
How well do we truly understand our heart? How often do we yield to the evil of our heart? God has saved our soul, but the struggle of our natural flesh is still there, and if we do not yield ourselves to God, our heart will try to take over. It is a dangerous thing to pretend that we are above yielding to the wickedness of our heart (after all, pride itself is in that list!).


She obeyed and gave her offering, but I doubt she truly realized how God was using her obedience — as a death-anointing. Nor did she obey for millions to hear her story — yet they have. We never know how God will use our obedience to His leading, our sacrifices yielded to Him.

Do you usually read your Bible in the morning or evening?

Scripture Graphics #46

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
We hear this passage often as an example to search the Scriptures. This time, when I read it, I noticed their “readiness of mind.” They were teachable but also wise in the Scriptures. Today, we have many unteachable hearers who don’t go to the Scriptures to define truth. May we never be guilty of this!

The power of God and His Word. Do we trust that power? Or, when ministering to others, do we take the place of God and His Word—others cannot grow in the Lord unless we’re there?

“Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.” (Joshua 22:3-4)
When I’m tempted to think, “My time is being used by someone else,” I should remember these tribes. They left their wives and children home while they went with Israel for years, fighting, and likely some of them getting killed. Yet, in due time, God rewarded their faithful service.


A beautiful reminder of what salvation is: turning from darkness to light, changing from the power of satan to the power of God, receiving forgiveness of sins, an inheritance, sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.

Share a verse from your Bible reading today!

Scripture Graphics #45

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!” Isaiah 31:1
These attributes of God — Him as our help (Ps. 33:20; 124:8), our trust (Ps. 20:7; 40:3), our strength (Ps. 46:1; 81:1) — can be found elsewhere in the world but they are artificial. Do we seek temporal strength and help, or do we seek the Source of help and strength?


God closed two doors because He had a door wide open in Macedonia (vs. 9). If we are sincerely following God and all paths lead to closed doors, it may mean He has an open door, leading straight to a harvest ready to be reaped.

This verse is in the middle of a passage basically exhorting those who were seeking God to stay looking to Him. We often think about encouraging the faltering to seek God, but it’s also needful to encourage those who are walking after God to “keep on keeping on.”

Where are you in your Bible reading this week?

Scripture Graphics #44

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
The progression here: desire, seek, teach. If we end our night with our heart set on God and desiring Him, then He will be the first thing we seek in the morning. In other words, preparation for morning Bible time starts the evening before. If we squander our evening to where we are exhausted and rushed in the morning, how does that prepare us to seek God?

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word…And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:4, 7
God’s Word increased, followers of God multiplied. But that came after the dedication of prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. Also, it came after men were faithful to do their part–some of the men weren’t ministering in the Word, per se, but were serving tables. What if they hadn’t been faithful? God uses every part of the body in many different ways.


“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 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.” Joshua 1:7-8
It takes courage and strength to obey God’s Word in the midst of the world. Yielding to the pulls and beliefs of the world proves our lack of courage and trust in God.

“And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:” Joshua 7:20
If Achan had just waited, he could have rightfully received his garment, silver, and gold. Impatience and greed may provide us short-term enjoyment, but waiting for God to bless in His time is always far better than “what we missed out on” before. Is there something we just can’t wait to have? Be patient…not an Achan.

What Old Testament character have you learned from?