Psalm 16 - New Living Translation - Beyond Suffering Bible

16 A miktam or psalm of David.

1 Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. 

2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you."

3 The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!

4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods. 

5 LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. 

6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!

7 I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night 🌃 my heart ♥ instructs me.

8 I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right 👉 beside me. 

9 No wonder my heart ♥ is glad, and I rejoice.* My body rests in safety.

10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead* or allow your holy one* to rot in the grave.

11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy 😂 of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. *

16:9 Greek version reads and my tongue 😝 shouts his praises. Compare Acts 2:26.

16:10a Hebrew in Sheol.

16:10b Or your Holy One.

16:11 Greek version reads You have shown me the way of life, /and you will fill me with the joy 😂 of your presence. Compare Acts 2:28.

Psalm 15 - New Living Translation - Beyond Suffering Bible.

Psalm 15

Verse 01: Who may worship 🛐 in your sanctuary, LORD ? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

Verse 02: Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right 👉, spreaking the truth from sincere hearts 💕.

Verse 03: Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil 😈 of their friends.

Verse 04: Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts.

Verse 05: Those who lend money 💵 without charging interest, and cannot be bribed to lie 🤥 about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. 

Psalm 8:1-9 New Living Translation Beyond Suffering Edition

8 For the choir director: a psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.

1 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.

2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers---the moon and the stars you set in place----

4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, humans beings that you care for them?

5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority----

7 the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals,

8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth.

CONNECTION POINTS


8:1-9 The Pinnacle of God's Creation Made "in the image of God' (Genesis 1:27), human beings are at the apex of God's creation---" wonderfully complex.... marvelous" beings (Psalm 139:14) who bear great responsibility toward one another and all of creation. When we fulfill these responsibilities, we bring glory and honor to God; when we don't, suffering often ensues.

Psalm 48:1-14: The Passion Translation | Beautiful Zion | April 13, 2020.

1. There are so many reasons to describe God as wonderful! So many reasons to praise him with unlimited praise!
2. Zion-City is his home; he lives on his holy mountain---high and glorious, joy-filled and favored. Zion-Mountain looms in the farthest reaches of the north, the city of our incomparable King!
3. This is his divine abode, an impenetrable citadel, for he is known to dwell in the highest place.
4. See how the mighty kings united to come against Zion,
5. Yet when they saw God manifest in front of their eyes, they were stunned. Trembling, they all fled away, gripped with fear.
6. Seized with panic, they doubled up in frightful anguish like a woman in the labor pains of childbirth.
7. Like a hurricane blowing and breaking the invading ships, God blows upon them and breaks them to pieces.
8. We have heard about these wonders, and then we saw them with our own eyes. For this is the city of the Commander of Angel Armies, the city of our God, safe and secure forever!                                                                                                                                                                                                                  {Pause In His Presence}
9. Lord, as we worship you in your temple, we recall over and over your kindness to us and your unending love.
10. The fame of your name echoes throughout the entire world, accompanied with praises.        Your right hand is full of victory.
11. So let the people of Zion rejoice with gladness; let the daughters of praise leap for joy!          For God will see to it that you are judged fairly.
12. Circle Zion; count her towers.
13. Consider her walls, climb her palaces, and then go and tell the coming generation of the care and compassion of our God.
14. Yes, this is our God, our great God forever. He will lead us onward until the end, through all time, beyond death, and into eternity!

John 21:1-25 - New Living Translation.

Epilogue: Jesus Appears To The Seven Disciples.

1. Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.

2. Several of the disciples were there---Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

3. Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing". "We'll all come too", they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

4. At dawn, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was.

5. He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?" "No", they replied.

6. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

7. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.

8. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.

9. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them--fish cooking over a charcoal fire and some bread.

10. "Bring some of the fish you've just caught", said Jesus.

11. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn.

12. "Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

13. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.

14. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

15. After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?""Yes, Lord", Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs", Jesus told him.

16. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord", Peter said, "you know I love you". "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.

17. A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep".

18. "I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go".

19. Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me".

20. Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple that Jesus loved--the one who leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who will betray you?"

21. Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?"

22. Jesus replied, If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me".

23. So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that isn't what Jesus said at all. He only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

24. This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

25. Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

Psalm 30:1-12 - New Living Translation - Beyond Suffering Bible Edition.

1. I will exalt you, LORD, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.

2. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.

3. You brought me up from the grave* [30:3 Hebrew from Sheol], O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

4. Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones!
    Praise his holy name.

5. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!
    Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

6. When I was prosperous, I said, "Nothing can stop me now!"

7. Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
     Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

8. I cried out to you, O LORD.
    I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,

9. "What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave?
       Can my dust praise you?
       Can it tell of your faithfulness?

10. Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me.
      Help me, O LORD."

11. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
       You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

12. that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
      O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!


CONNECTION POINTS                                                                                                                          

30:5 From Mourning to Joy How do our "why" questions become worship? The answer comes, ultimately, in our complete surrender to the will of a wise and loving Father --even when we still don't have all the answers we wish we could receive. Even when it may appear that he is silently hiding. God calls us to endure and remember that he walks beside us. And after a dark night of the soul, "joy comes with the morning."

"Encouraging Words From God's Word To A Discouraged Generation Needing Encouragement"

Romans 15:5 

Verse 5: May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other-each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.

2 Corinthians 7:13

Verse 13: We have been encouraged by this. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was at the way you welcomed him and set his mind at ease.

Ephesians 4:29

Verse 29: Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those that hear them.

Philippians 2:1-2

Verse 1: Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? 

Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic?

Verse 2: Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

Philemon 1:20 

Verse 20: Yes, dear brother, please do me this favor for the Lord's sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.

Proverbs 12:25

Verse 25: Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.