Psalm 146

1. Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

3. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

4. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6. the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

7. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,

8. the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

9. The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10. The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.

God Bless You & Yours-
Countess

The Coming of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13. "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

14. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

15. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

18. Therefore encourage each other with these words. "

God Bless You & Yours-
Countess

The Sheep and the Goats

Matthew 25:31-46

31. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

32. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37. "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38. When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39. When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40. "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41. "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44. "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45. "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46. "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

God Bless You & Yours-
Countess

Love

Romans 12:9-21

9. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

13. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.(c) Do not be conceited.

17. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"(d) says the Lord.

20. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."(e)

21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

c Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
d Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
e Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

God Bless You & Yours-
Countess