(22) Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (23) The law of the Lord says, “If a woman's first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.” (25) At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him (26) and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. - Luke 2:22-26 NLT (6) For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven's Armies will make this happen! - Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT (27) That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, (28) Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,(29) “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. (30) I have seen your salvation, (31) which you have prepared for all people. (32) He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (33) Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him. (34) Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. (35) As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” - Luke 2:27-35 NLT (25) Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. (26) My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (27) Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. (28) But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. - Psalm 73:25-28 NLT (1) Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. - Psalm 115:1 NLT (12) Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. (13) Instead, be very glad–for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. (14) So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. (15) If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs. (16) But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! - 1 Peter 4:12-16 NLT 1. Run God, Not Him. (18) So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (19) This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. (20) Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 6:18-20 NLT 2. Be in His Presence. (16) But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (17) For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (18) So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord–who is the Spirit–makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. - 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT 3. His Glory. We are to be a of to . (21) This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. (22) Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. (23) But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God's servant to proclaim it. - Colossians 1:21-23 NLT 4. Speak and at ! (22) What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. (23) When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way. - Luke 6:22-23 NLT