Vicki Norris
Aug 3, 20209 min
Updated: Mar 24, 2022
What, then, shall I say in response to these things? If God is for me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)
The Lord hates cheating and delights in honesty. Proud men end in shame, but the meek become wise. A good man is guided by his honesty; the evil man is destroyed by his dishonesty. Your riches won't help you on Judgment Day; only righteousness counts then. (Proverbs 11:1-4)
Do not take advantage of the widow ... If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. (Exodus 22:22-23)
He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
(see below for referenced scripture)
He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely His goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:5-6)
(see Curt’s testimony, and Curt's entry into Heaven, links provided below)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
(see Weakness, a Self-Portrait, link and further explanation provided below)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. (Romans 8:28-29)
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:2-3)
Proverbs 4:23
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart …" (Psalm 91:1-7)
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life … Your heavenly Father knows what you need. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:25, 32-33)
For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.
For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for His inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth — He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:4-22)
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalm 40:2) ... Jesus is my rock and firm foundation
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: he old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17) ... Jesus is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6)
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, an only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14) ... Jesus is the gate
... Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Than you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
“Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones, so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal. Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out. They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death. Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright, and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them (Job 33:19-24)
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. (Job 36:15)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.(Ezekiel 36:26)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a]Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” (Zechariah 3:1-4)
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15)
Curt's brokenness and God's glory
Weakness: A Self-Portrait (My Testimony, part 4)
In my testimony (part 4), I spoke of loved ones with cancer. Curt was one of those whose cancer returned, but in his weakness and pain, he devoted his last days to Christ, assuring him a home in God's eternal kingdom. My friend, Lori, who years ago invited me to a meeting that forever changed my life, also passed away from cancer (days after Curt). I look forward to seeing them when The LORD calls me home. There is another, my Step-Father, who God has since healed of cancer. He continues to love and care for my Mom, whose dementia is in no way improved, but there is a peace that is evident most days.