Rachel Viertel

1 Timothy 6:17-19

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (MSG)
Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

Luke 12:33-34

Luke 12:33-34 (MSG)
"Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Luke 6:23-26

Luke 6:23-26 (MSG)
You can be glad when that happens-skip like a lamb, if you like!-for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this. Give Away Your Life

James 1:2

James 1:2 (MSG)
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:3

James 1:3 (MSG)
You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

James 1:4

James 1:4 (MSG)
So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:5

James 1:5 (MSG)
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

James 1:6

James 1:6 (MSG)
Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves.

James 1:11

James 1:11 (MSG)
You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

James 1:12

James 1:12 (MSG)
Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

James 1:14

James 1:14 (MSG)
The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust.

2 Chronicles 14:10

2 Chronicles 14:10 (MSG)
Asa met him there and prepared to fight from the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

2 Chronicles 14:11

2 Chronicles 14:11 (MSG)
Then Asa prayed to God, "O God, you aren't impressed by numbers or intimidated by a show of force once you decide to help: Help us, O God; we have come out to meet this huge army because we trust in you and who you are. Don't let mere mortals stand against you!"

2 Chronicles 14:12

2 Chronicles 14:12 (MSG)
god defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah; the Ethiopians ran for their lives. Asa and his men chased them as far as Gerar; so many of the Ethiopians were killed that there was no fight left in them—a massacre before god and his troops; Judah carted off loads of plunder. They devastated all the towns around Gerar whose people were helpless, paralyzed by the fear of god, and looted the country. They also attacked herdsmen and brought back a lot of sheep and camels to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 15:13

1 Kings 15:13 (MSG)
Asa spared nothing and no one; he went so far as to remove Queen Maacah from her position because she had built a shockingly obscene memorial to the whore goddess Asherah. Asa tore it down and burned it up in the Kidron Valley.

1 Kings 15:14

1 Kings 15:14 (MSG)
Unfortunately, he didn't get rid of the local sex-and-religion shrines. But he was well-intentioned-his heart was in the right place, in tune with God.

Deuteronomy 6:5

Deuteronomy 6:5 (MSG)
Love god, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!