This birthday prayer is for each member of my family - Wendell, my husband; each of my children - Melody & Bill, Mark & Jeannine, and Jennifer; for each grandchild -
Bethany, Susan & Justin, Jonathan & Kim, Sean & Becca, Daniel, Rebekah, Lauren, and for Donna who is the mother of two of my great-grandchildren and who will always be a part of my family and much loved. This prayer is also for each great-grandchild: Ethan, Caleb, Jude, Nicholas, Lillian, Hannah and Hunter who I hope a printed copy will be given to them to read, or read to them by their parents if they don't read. If you will receive this prayer from my heart it will be the most wonderful gift I could receive from you. This birthday prayer is sent with all my love, Mom/or/ Gran Gran
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Dear Heavenly Father,
You told me in Your Word that I am to come before Your presence with clean hands and a pure heart so I want to first confess my sins. Forgive me for my lack of unceasing prayer; for not taking every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ; for sometimes dwelling on the negative instead of praising You that You are able to take care of my care; and to thank You for being the answer to my care. Forgive me for sometimes holding onto old hurts, instead of praying in faith for the healing and to remember how much You have forgiven me when I have hurt You with my pride or indifference. Where I am blind to my own sins, open my eyes. When I am prideful with my own self-sufficiency, forgive me and humble me. Forgive me of any pre-judging without knowing all the facts, and then when I must make a judgment, help me to do it with mercy, grace and forgiveness. Help me to be quick to restore relationships and to go the second mile when someone has hurt me. Please, continue to teach me how to be more like You.
As I look out on the beauty of this new day I want to praise You for being El Elyon, our Creator – the Maker of heaven and earth (and me). You are the Strongest strong One and You hold this universe (and me) together with the Word of Your power. You cause the sun to “rise” and nourish the earth and all its inhabitants with its rays. You cause those clouds I see to pour forth Your rain to water Your creation and keep it all alive (including me). You feed, nourish and keep all your creation (including me and mine) with the good things from Your loving hand and wise heart. Thank You for eyes and health to be able to richly enjoy Your creation You have made for me and others. Thank You for the Flicker Woodpecker, the Robin, the Cardinal and the Titmouse I can see eating the berries off the pear tree in back of the house. I thank You for letting me see the turtles sunning on the bank, the fish jumping in the water, the Herons fishing from the bank and the herd of deer grazing on the winter grass. You have made them all for me to richly enjoy – thank You.
I want to praise You for being El Shaddai, the Almighty God, Who is my Sufficiency. I praise you for being El Roi, the God Who sees. You not only see my need but are the Source and Sufficiency (El Shadai) to fill up all of my needs, spirit, soul or body.
I want to praise You for being Adonai, the Lord of all, the King of Kings, the Sovereign God, the Master of my life. I choose to daily relinquishment my will, and what I think are my rights, to You Who has a plan for good and not for evil for my life; a plan to give me hope and a future and Who knows what is best for me.
I praise You for being YHWH, Jehovah, Elohim – “the faithful, covenant keeping God,” Who is good and Whose mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting and Your faithfulness and Truth are to all generations (including mine). You never grow weary with my self-centeredness and luke-warmness, to the point of giving up on me, because You are faithful to keep your covenant to forgive all my sins, when I confess them and turn from them.
I praise You because you are Jehovah – The self-existent One Who reveals Himself to me and to all who will “see” and “hear,” and You are the Redeemer Who bought me back from the pit of death and then beautifies, dignifies and crowns me with Your loving-kindness and tender mercies. You forgive me of all my sins and heal all my diseases. You satisfy my necessities with Your good so, although I am 75 years old, you renew my strength like the eagles (strong, overcoming and soaring).
I praise You for being Jehovah-Rohi, my Shepherd, and have made me one of the sheep of Your pasture; and because of that relationship I can hear Your voice when you speak to me. And because of that relationship when my life is sometimes filled with turmoil and chaos, You cause me to rest beside You where it is quiet and peaceful. I praise You that Your Holy Spirit will comfort me through all the “times” of life. When life seems to leech all the joy, hope and strength from me Your sweet Holy Spirit comes to restore all those things my enemy, Satan, has stolen. Your Holy Spirit is the Comforter and Restorer, and I praise You!
I praise You because You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu (“God is Righteous”). Not only are You Righteous (right), but You chose to make me righteous by the Great Exchange that took place on the cross where You exchanged my old dirty coat of self-righteousness for Your pure white robe of righteousness, all for my just accepting it. I didn’t have to work for it or be good enough to receive it, but I could own my Robe just by putting it on, because possession is the right to ownership. Jesus, I thank You for Your salvation by paying for it by your death on the cross, and Your death was sufficient payment for me to receive my Robe of Righteous! And it will forever be mine!
Father, I praise You that although I have to walk through anguish, heartaches and testings while I am in this life, I know that You (Jehovah-Shammah, “The God Who is there”) will always be with me and will never forsake me. You are the Omniscient God Who knows what I am going through, how to solve all my problems and when. I thank You that I cannot go into the deepest sea, the highest heaven or anywhere that I will be out of Your presence. Thank You for seeing and understanding my deepest needs and that You have the sufficiency to fill all those needs abundantly. Thank You for being here in the place where I am now, and at this time when I need You, and I know that in Your time You will make all things beautiful.
I praise You for being the One and Only God Who is my All-in-All, the Great I Am – whatever I need You are Sufficient! I praise You for being the all-knowing, the Almighty, all merciful, the ever-present God; my God Who is Love and that loves me with an unconditional and everlasting love; the only true and faithful God.
I praise You for being Jehovah-Ropha – “My Healer.” You are the One Who has healed me spirit, soul and body, by Your stripes you took. I thank You because You will supply all my needs in Christ Jesus, according to Your riches in glory. I praise You for being Jehovah-Nissi – “My banner of victory.” You cause me to triumph in all things in Christ Jesus. You made me to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. You cause me to run through a troop and jump over a wall. I thank You for the victory I have in Christ Jesus.
I thank You that You have consecrated me to fulfill Your purpose and plan for my life; and You have enabled me, by Christ Jesus, to be steadfast and unmovable in this walk to which You have called me; and I know I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. I thank You that You are working in my life to do abundantly, above all I could even imagine, through Christ Jesus. I thank You that all of your blessings of mercy and goodness will follow me all the days of my life; and then when my life is over I will live in Your presence forever!
Father, I want to lift each member of my family to You. You know their needs, the desires of their hearts, so help them to “delight” in You so they may have those needs and desires met. When they are searching for something to satisfy their longing and fulfill their dreams, help them to realize that You are the “End” of man’s desires. Help them to know early that all true answers and fulfillment are in You and You alone. Help each of them to relinquish all their hopes, plans, dreams and desires to You, and to seek what Your plans and desires are for them.
Father, help each of my family members to walk in humility before you. May they realize that without You they are zero, but with You (Who is everything), they can be Everything. May they desire to grow into the perfect image of Jesus. You were meek and lowly in heart when You walked on this earth, and all the while You were the King of the universe. May each one realize without You they can do nothing; but with You they can do anything! May they live their lives doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly before You. May they realize that if they will humble themselves, You will lift them up.
Father, help each of my family members to keep short accounts with You and others. Help them to not let petty grievances build a wall between them and others. Help them to be quick to say, “I’m sorry, Forgive Me,” and then to move on in that relationship. Help them to realize that if they don’t forgive, You can’t forgive them. Help them to walk in love in the same way that You love us.
Father, help each member of my family to love You with all their heart, mind and soul and then to love their neighbor as themselves. Only You can fill their hearts with this kind of love, give them a desire for You to fill them with Your very Self (which is love). Help them to think loving thoughts, speak loving words and act in loving ways. As they relinquish themselves to You, make them into new creations in Christ as You promised.
Father, I thank You for the privilege of the invitation to come to You in prayer; to climb up on Your lap, like Your child that I am, and be able to face to face praise Your wonderful attributes, to thank You for all You have done for me and are going to do, to confess all my known sins and to intercede for all my family members that You will rise up big in them and be paramount in their lives. On this my birthday I pray each one will receive these prayers with all the love with which I send them.
I pray all these things in Your precious and powerful name, that name that is above all names and at that name every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen (so be it).
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tomorrow Never Comes
January 30, 2012
"Please see that now is the accepted time; and see that now is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6:2)
Did you hear the story of the service station owner who wanted to drum up some business, but in the process he disappointed a lot of people who read his sign that said, “Free Gas Tomorrow.” A lot of people were very attracted to the idea of getting anything “free,” (especially gasoline at its price today), and in their excitement missed the implication of the word “tomorrow” on the sign. When they came the next day for their “free” gas they had to be reminded that tomorrow had not come.
Some people live by the motto, “I will do it tomorrow” – these people are called procrastinators. Procrastinators never accept their responsibility of being timely, whether only a few minutes later or much later. By procrastinating they feel they are in control of when they want to do the things that others are depending on them to do. Procrastinators are self-centered and inconsiderate.
Procrastination robs us of healthy relationships – spouse, friend, boss, children, etc. It is a character flaw which can affect every part of our life. Have you ever known anyone who is habitually late? If they are in control of the event they will certainly be there on time but if someone else is in charge of a meeting, etc. they will get there when they are “good and ready” – they are selfish and inconsiderate. Part of doing a job well done is doing it in a timely fashion. One of the main points in pleasing an employer is to be punctual when arriving on the job, as well as completing the assigned task on time. If we procrastinate very many times on our job it may cost us that job.
Procrastination robs us of the joy of a job well done and of pleasing the one for whom we are serving. It robs us of the joy of obeying and accomplishment. Most of all procrastination robs us of the joy of accomplishing God’s plan and purpose (which includes accomplishing His plan in His time). God may count a day as a thousand years, but when planning for us humans He plans for us in our time (24 hour days).
Last year I received a book by David Jeremiah by the name of, Facing the Giants In Your Life. One of the chapters in the study guide is, “Facing the Giant of Procrastination,” and in that chapter it gives a good definition of procrastination – (below).
The Latin word for tomorrow was cras, from which the adjective, crastinus, “of tomorrow,” was derived. The prefix pro meant “forward” or “toward.” Therefore, the Latin verb procrastinare came to mean “put forward to tomorrow.” The person who procrastinates is the person who promises himself each day, “I will do it tomorrow.” And when tomorrow comes, the same promise is made again and again. That is, tomorrow is far enough away to avoid the discomfort we feel about getting it done at all. One wonders if Latin cras (tomorrow) was connected to crassus, the Latin word for “dense.” Procrastinators could certainly be called crass as we define it today—”lacking in discrimination and sensibility.”
The Word of God has quite a bit to say about “procrastination” and setting your own time table. James 4:13-17 says, “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know the least thing about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are really but a wisp of vapor, a puff of smoke, a mist that is visible for a little while and then disappears into thin air. You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and shall do this or that thing. But as it is, you boast falsely in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong. So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.” (Amp)
David Jeremiah also in commenting on Ephesians 5:16 which says to "redeem the time because the days are evil," says, "The best way to make the most of a life given as a gift from God is to make the most of today. When Paul wrote, '...redeeming the time,' he was talking about today, tomorrow, the day after--one day at a time. Why the focus on today? Because a day not redeemed is a day gone forever, and because a life is nothing but a collection ot todays."
Procrastination can be damning. God has an acceptable time set for our salvation. II Corinthians 6:1-2, Paul is begging the Corinthians who have heard the message to receive God’s grace and turn to Christ, “Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day to be saved.” In Acts 23 and 24, Paul had the opportunity to witness to Felix, the Governor, while Felix was hearing the complaints against Paul from the High Priest and some elders. Then later Felix and his wife called for Paul to listen to Paul’s faith; about uprightness, purity of life and the judgment to come. Felix became alarmed and terrified and said, “Go away for the present; when I have a convenient opportunity, I will send for you” (vs.24-25 Amp.). There is no record that Felix ever accepted the claims of Christ on his life. There are some things you can procrastinate about and get by with, but putting off a decision about Christ is not one of them. After death there are no tomorrows, no second chances, no do-overs when it comes to salvation. Procrastination is filled with excuses why “now” is not the right time. Luke 9:59-62 tells us of some of the excuses given Jesus when He called them to become His followers. The first man said, “Lord, permit me to go and await the death of my father.” Another said, “Let me first say good-bye to those at my home.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back to the things behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Procrastinator’s priorities are all askew. If they make a list of prioritized “to-dos,” they end up doing just what feels good at the time, because they can always do those other things tomorrow. The heartache of procrastination is remorse –“If only I would have --.“ "Procrastination is not only the thief of time, it is also the grave of opportunity" - (unknown).
There is an unbelievable story in Exodus 8 about when Moses was pleading with Pharaoh to let the Children of Israel go. God had brought the plague of frogs into the land. Frogs were in the Egyptian’s beds, cooking pots, ovens, kneading bowls, dough and on the people. So Pharaoh called for Moses to take away the plague of frogs. Moses said to him, “When shall I pray for you and your people that the frogs may be destroyed from you and remain only in the rivers?” Pharaoh, the procrastinator, answered, “Tomorrow.” Moses answered, “Let it be as you say, so you will know there is no one like the Lord our God.” The absurdity of Pharaoh choosing to stay in his misery until “tomorrow,” is mind boggling.
It is the same for unbelievers who put off receiving God’s free gift of eternal life until “tomorrow.” None of us has a promise of “tomorrow,” because tomorrow never comes!
"Please see that now is the accepted time; and see that now is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6:2)
Did you hear the story of the service station owner who wanted to drum up some business, but in the process he disappointed a lot of people who read his sign that said, “Free Gas Tomorrow.” A lot of people were very attracted to the idea of getting anything “free,” (especially gasoline at its price today), and in their excitement missed the implication of the word “tomorrow” on the sign. When they came the next day for their “free” gas they had to be reminded that tomorrow had not come.
Some people live by the motto, “I will do it tomorrow” – these people are called procrastinators. Procrastinators never accept their responsibility of being timely, whether only a few minutes later or much later. By procrastinating they feel they are in control of when they want to do the things that others are depending on them to do. Procrastinators are self-centered and inconsiderate.
Procrastination robs us of healthy relationships – spouse, friend, boss, children, etc. It is a character flaw which can affect every part of our life. Have you ever known anyone who is habitually late? If they are in control of the event they will certainly be there on time but if someone else is in charge of a meeting, etc. they will get there when they are “good and ready” – they are selfish and inconsiderate. Part of doing a job well done is doing it in a timely fashion. One of the main points in pleasing an employer is to be punctual when arriving on the job, as well as completing the assigned task on time. If we procrastinate very many times on our job it may cost us that job.
Procrastination robs us of the joy of a job well done and of pleasing the one for whom we are serving. It robs us of the joy of obeying and accomplishment. Most of all procrastination robs us of the joy of accomplishing God’s plan and purpose (which includes accomplishing His plan in His time). God may count a day as a thousand years, but when planning for us humans He plans for us in our time (24 hour days).
Last year I received a book by David Jeremiah by the name of, Facing the Giants In Your Life. One of the chapters in the study guide is, “Facing the Giant of Procrastination,” and in that chapter it gives a good definition of procrastination – (below).
The Latin word for tomorrow was cras, from which the adjective, crastinus, “of tomorrow,” was derived. The prefix pro meant “forward” or “toward.” Therefore, the Latin verb procrastinare came to mean “put forward to tomorrow.” The person who procrastinates is the person who promises himself each day, “I will do it tomorrow.” And when tomorrow comes, the same promise is made again and again. That is, tomorrow is far enough away to avoid the discomfort we feel about getting it done at all. One wonders if Latin cras (tomorrow) was connected to crassus, the Latin word for “dense.” Procrastinators could certainly be called crass as we define it today—”lacking in discrimination and sensibility.”
The Word of God has quite a bit to say about “procrastination” and setting your own time table. James 4:13-17 says, “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know the least thing about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are really but a wisp of vapor, a puff of smoke, a mist that is visible for a little while and then disappears into thin air. You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and shall do this or that thing. But as it is, you boast falsely in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong. So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.” (Amp)
David Jeremiah also in commenting on Ephesians 5:16 which says to "redeem the time because the days are evil," says, "The best way to make the most of a life given as a gift from God is to make the most of today. When Paul wrote, '...redeeming the time,' he was talking about today, tomorrow, the day after--one day at a time. Why the focus on today? Because a day not redeemed is a day gone forever, and because a life is nothing but a collection ot todays."
Procrastination can be damning. God has an acceptable time set for our salvation. II Corinthians 6:1-2, Paul is begging the Corinthians who have heard the message to receive God’s grace and turn to Christ, “Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day to be saved.” In Acts 23 and 24, Paul had the opportunity to witness to Felix, the Governor, while Felix was hearing the complaints against Paul from the High Priest and some elders. Then later Felix and his wife called for Paul to listen to Paul’s faith; about uprightness, purity of life and the judgment to come. Felix became alarmed and terrified and said, “Go away for the present; when I have a convenient opportunity, I will send for you” (vs.24-25 Amp.). There is no record that Felix ever accepted the claims of Christ on his life. There are some things you can procrastinate about and get by with, but putting off a decision about Christ is not one of them. After death there are no tomorrows, no second chances, no do-overs when it comes to salvation. Procrastination is filled with excuses why “now” is not the right time. Luke 9:59-62 tells us of some of the excuses given Jesus when He called them to become His followers. The first man said, “Lord, permit me to go and await the death of my father.” Another said, “Let me first say good-bye to those at my home.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back to the things behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Procrastinator’s priorities are all askew. If they make a list of prioritized “to-dos,” they end up doing just what feels good at the time, because they can always do those other things tomorrow. The heartache of procrastination is remorse –“If only I would have --.“ "Procrastination is not only the thief of time, it is also the grave of opportunity" - (unknown).
There is an unbelievable story in Exodus 8 about when Moses was pleading with Pharaoh to let the Children of Israel go. God had brought the plague of frogs into the land. Frogs were in the Egyptian’s beds, cooking pots, ovens, kneading bowls, dough and on the people. So Pharaoh called for Moses to take away the plague of frogs. Moses said to him, “When shall I pray for you and your people that the frogs may be destroyed from you and remain only in the rivers?” Pharaoh, the procrastinator, answered, “Tomorrow.” Moses answered, “Let it be as you say, so you will know there is no one like the Lord our God.” The absurdity of Pharaoh choosing to stay in his misery until “tomorrow,” is mind boggling.
It is the same for unbelievers who put off receiving God’s free gift of eternal life until “tomorrow.” None of us has a promise of “tomorrow,” because tomorrow never comes!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
"Choices"
January 25, 2012
“Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit, and though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren, even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be happy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17, 18)
Habakkuk must have been a delightful person to be around because he chose to be positive and to praise God in spite of his dire circumstances mentioned in this scripture. Our draught the past few years in east Texas has been the worst on record we have had in east Texas. Yet, all of our fig trees were not destroyed; nor all the fruit crops failed; nor all the fields did not lie barren; nor were all the livestock gone. All of these things happened in Habakkuk’s day. Yet, he chose to focus on God’s goodness and be happy in the God of His salvation. Habakkuk knew Jehovah God had everything under control and would take good care of him.
When we have God as our Savior we have all we need and we too should rejoice in His goodness. Our focus should be upward toward Jehovah-Jireh (our Provider), instead of horizontal, looking at all the lack and problems around us. Choose and practice to look at the goodness and faithfulness of our Father to supply our need, and to be Savior Who will save us from our enemies. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy by choosing to focus on the negative in others and in circumstances. As it says in Minirth’s and Meier’s book, “Happiness is a Choice,” and Joshua encouraged the Children of Israel to “Choose today who you will serve.” Are we choosing to “serve” the negatives in our lives? Why would we when all the promises of God in Christ say “yes and so be it” (II Corinthians 1:20), and a positive outlook is healthy for the spirit, soul and body?
To be around someone who thanks and praises God in whatever their circumstances is like taking a long drink of cool water on a hot day – refreshing! When the worst circumstances come into our lives, that is the best time to “rejoice in the Lord” and know that “The Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and Truth endure to all generations” (Psalm 100:5), and to praise Him for His salvation and provision. That sincere praise is a loud testimony to all those who are watching our life that our faith is strong in a never failing God Who will answer all of our prayers, and provide all of our needs according to all of His riches in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:19), regardless of the dire circumstances around us. Choose today to be that long drink of cool water to someone who is “dry.”
PSALM 103
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and don’t forget any of His benefits – Who forgives every one of all of your sins; Who heals each one of all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit of corruption; Who beautifies, dignifies and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation with good things so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s (strong, overcoming, soaring)! (Amp.)
“Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit, and though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren, even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be happy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17, 18)
Habakkuk must have been a delightful person to be around because he chose to be positive and to praise God in spite of his dire circumstances mentioned in this scripture. Our draught the past few years in east Texas has been the worst on record we have had in east Texas. Yet, all of our fig trees were not destroyed; nor all the fruit crops failed; nor all the fields did not lie barren; nor were all the livestock gone. All of these things happened in Habakkuk’s day. Yet, he chose to focus on God’s goodness and be happy in the God of His salvation. Habakkuk knew Jehovah God had everything under control and would take good care of him.
When we have God as our Savior we have all we need and we too should rejoice in His goodness. Our focus should be upward toward Jehovah-Jireh (our Provider), instead of horizontal, looking at all the lack and problems around us. Choose and practice to look at the goodness and faithfulness of our Father to supply our need, and to be Savior Who will save us from our enemies. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy by choosing to focus on the negative in others and in circumstances. As it says in Minirth’s and Meier’s book, “Happiness is a Choice,” and Joshua encouraged the Children of Israel to “Choose today who you will serve.” Are we choosing to “serve” the negatives in our lives? Why would we when all the promises of God in Christ say “yes and so be it” (II Corinthians 1:20), and a positive outlook is healthy for the spirit, soul and body?
To be around someone who thanks and praises God in whatever their circumstances is like taking a long drink of cool water on a hot day – refreshing! When the worst circumstances come into our lives, that is the best time to “rejoice in the Lord” and know that “The Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and Truth endure to all generations” (Psalm 100:5), and to praise Him for His salvation and provision. That sincere praise is a loud testimony to all those who are watching our life that our faith is strong in a never failing God Who will answer all of our prayers, and provide all of our needs according to all of His riches in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:19), regardless of the dire circumstances around us. Choose today to be that long drink of cool water to someone who is “dry.”
PSALM 103
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and don’t forget any of His benefits – Who forgives every one of all of your sins; Who heals each one of all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit of corruption; Who beautifies, dignifies and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation with good things so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s (strong, overcoming, soaring)! (Amp.)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Elohim - The Faithful, Covenant Keeping God
January 18, 2012
“The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.”
(Psalm 145:13)
There was a time when to shake hands on an agreement was as binding, to faithful and honest men of integrity, as a signed agreement. Today I’m afraid to most people, shaking hands on an agreement is not binding. It is sad that so many people are not faithful to their word and cannot be trusted. But trusting God to keep His Word is a sure thing. Being faithful is part of His character that is unchangable. He is faithful because He is faithful. If He were to fail to keep even one of His promises He wouldn’t be our Father God Whom we know and love.
On July 13, 2008, was my third blog I had written. It was a short introduction to Elohim, our faithful, covenant keeping God. On December 29, 2008, I wrote a blog about How God is “Forever Faithful.” Now today, January 18, 2012, I am again writing on the faithfulness of God. God has so many wonderful attributes. God is love; He is merciful; He is all wise; He is ever present; He is forgiving. I could go on and on but my point is that He is faithful in each of his attributes. There is never a time when He does not love, nor that He is not merciful. He is always present everywhere; He sees every situation and even the motives of our hearts. He is always wise and never fails to act in wisdom. He is faithful in all His attributes.
God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), so we must just wait on Him to work out His purposes (Philippians 2:13), because He is faithful and He will do what He says He will do. His promises are “yes and amen” to all who trust Him (II Cor.1:20), and His faithful acts are always in love.
One of God’s names is Jehovah-Jireh – our “Provider.” Whatever our need, spirit, soul or body, our Provider is the source of all our needs. He is faithful to keep His promises to “liberally supply (fill to the full) every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:19, Amp.), and in keeping His promises He will keep them in love. His love is always providing for our good, whether we think it is good or not. He always acts out of His wisdom and love, which are both for our good (Romans 8:28).
Great Is Your Faithfulness
Thomas O. Chisholm
Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with You.
You change not; Your compassions, they fail not; as You have been You forever will be.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Your great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great if Your faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Your hand has provided. Great is Your faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
“The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.”
(Psalm 145:13)
There was a time when to shake hands on an agreement was as binding, to faithful and honest men of integrity, as a signed agreement. Today I’m afraid to most people, shaking hands on an agreement is not binding. It is sad that so many people are not faithful to their word and cannot be trusted. But trusting God to keep His Word is a sure thing. Being faithful is part of His character that is unchangable. He is faithful because He is faithful. If He were to fail to keep even one of His promises He wouldn’t be our Father God Whom we know and love.
On July 13, 2008, was my third blog I had written. It was a short introduction to Elohim, our faithful, covenant keeping God. On December 29, 2008, I wrote a blog about How God is “Forever Faithful.” Now today, January 18, 2012, I am again writing on the faithfulness of God. God has so many wonderful attributes. God is love; He is merciful; He is all wise; He is ever present; He is forgiving. I could go on and on but my point is that He is faithful in each of his attributes. There is never a time when He does not love, nor that He is not merciful. He is always present everywhere; He sees every situation and even the motives of our hearts. He is always wise and never fails to act in wisdom. He is faithful in all His attributes.
God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), so we must just wait on Him to work out His purposes (Philippians 2:13), because He is faithful and He will do what He says He will do. His promises are “yes and amen” to all who trust Him (II Cor.1:20), and His faithful acts are always in love.
One of God’s names is Jehovah-Jireh – our “Provider.” Whatever our need, spirit, soul or body, our Provider is the source of all our needs. He is faithful to keep His promises to “liberally supply (fill to the full) every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:19, Amp.), and in keeping His promises He will keep them in love. His love is always providing for our good, whether we think it is good or not. He always acts out of His wisdom and love, which are both for our good (Romans 8:28).
Great Is Your Faithfulness
Thomas O. Chisholm
Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with You.
You change not; Your compassions, they fail not; as You have been You forever will be.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Your great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great if Your faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Your hand has provided. Great is Your faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
"Near To The Heart of God"
January 16, 2012
“But He gives us more and more power of the Holy Spirit to fully meet this evil tendency of the sin of pride and all others. That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace continually to those who are humble enough to receive it. So be subject to God. Resist the devil and stand firm against him, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Recognize that you are sinners, realize that you have been disloyal, wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts of your spiritual adultery. As you draw near to God be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep over your disloyalty. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame for your sins. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will lift you up and make your lives significant,” (James 4:6-10) - (Amp.).
“Let the main thing be the main thing.” “Don’t get the horse before the cart.” Put first things first.” God has set up a progression that we have to follow to have our lives become significant. So many Christians feel so very insignificant and worthless. This should not be. If this is how we are feeling it is not because God has moved or gone on vacation but it is because we have left the closeness of His presence. This “leaving” is probably because we have let some “little foxes spoil the vines” (Song of Solomon 2:15).
These “little foxes” are the “little sins” in our life. These sins subtracts from our love of God and the closeness we once experienced. We may consider some sins “little” and some “big,” but any sin breaks our fellowship with Jesus and separates us from His closeness. Only those with clean hands and a pure heart; he who has not lived a lie, nor sworn deceitfully can stand in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 24:4). One of the Beatitudes says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matt.5:8). So we might as well “come clean” with God, He knows all our hidden sins anyway.
With God there are no “little” or “big” sins, some just have more far reaching consequences, but if there were “little” and “big” sins with God, the sin of pride would be the biggest. The First Commandment says that we are not to have any other gods before Jehovah God. When Lucifer fell from his exalted place in heaven, it was because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). When we are prideful we become most like Satan (self-centered and self-absorbed). We are born with a sinful nature. Have you noticed how even a baby is self-centered? He cries, “I, I, I,” and when he gets a little older he is very selfish – “Me, Mine, gimme, gimme.” We get this prideful nature from Satan (Lucifer, the Angel of Light, the Deceiver, The father of lies). In heaven he was the “light-bringer, the daystar, and the son of the morning!” In verses 13-14 Lucifer says, “I will” five times. It was his pride that “brought him down.”
Our self-centered nature carries over into adulthood unless Jesus intervenes with a heart transplant (Ezekiel 36:26). Then we can love our neighbor as ourselves; we become givers instead of takers; we are new creatures in Christ! Pride causes us to become our own god, (remember the First Commandment? No one nor nothing can come before God, not even “self.” Pride is the father of all other sins – (remember Lucifer - after pride all other sins came). So in God’s set progression to make our lives significant we must confess our sin of pride, completely submit ourselves to God (holding nothing back),
Next, we must resist the devil by standing firmly against him in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18), then he must flee with that proverbial tail between his legs. After our confession and submission to God and standing against and resisting the devil then we can boldly come close to God in humility and He will come as close as we will let Him, and will raise us up to heavenly places. He doesn’t force us but calls and waits for us to start the progression back to His side, close to His heart.
Near To The Heart of God
Cleland B. McAFEE
There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before You, near to the heart of God.
“But He gives us more and more power of the Holy Spirit to fully meet this evil tendency of the sin of pride and all others. That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace continually to those who are humble enough to receive it. So be subject to God. Resist the devil and stand firm against him, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Recognize that you are sinners, realize that you have been disloyal, wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts of your spiritual adultery. As you draw near to God be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep over your disloyalty. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame for your sins. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will lift you up and make your lives significant,” (James 4:6-10) - (Amp.).
“Let the main thing be the main thing.” “Don’t get the horse before the cart.” Put first things first.” God has set up a progression that we have to follow to have our lives become significant. So many Christians feel so very insignificant and worthless. This should not be. If this is how we are feeling it is not because God has moved or gone on vacation but it is because we have left the closeness of His presence. This “leaving” is probably because we have let some “little foxes spoil the vines” (Song of Solomon 2:15).
These “little foxes” are the “little sins” in our life. These sins subtracts from our love of God and the closeness we once experienced. We may consider some sins “little” and some “big,” but any sin breaks our fellowship with Jesus and separates us from His closeness. Only those with clean hands and a pure heart; he who has not lived a lie, nor sworn deceitfully can stand in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 24:4). One of the Beatitudes says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matt.5:8). So we might as well “come clean” with God, He knows all our hidden sins anyway.
With God there are no “little” or “big” sins, some just have more far reaching consequences, but if there were “little” and “big” sins with God, the sin of pride would be the biggest. The First Commandment says that we are not to have any other gods before Jehovah God. When Lucifer fell from his exalted place in heaven, it was because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). When we are prideful we become most like Satan (self-centered and self-absorbed). We are born with a sinful nature. Have you noticed how even a baby is self-centered? He cries, “I, I, I,” and when he gets a little older he is very selfish – “Me, Mine, gimme, gimme.” We get this prideful nature from Satan (Lucifer, the Angel of Light, the Deceiver, The father of lies). In heaven he was the “light-bringer, the daystar, and the son of the morning!” In verses 13-14 Lucifer says, “I will” five times. It was his pride that “brought him down.”
Our self-centered nature carries over into adulthood unless Jesus intervenes with a heart transplant (Ezekiel 36:26). Then we can love our neighbor as ourselves; we become givers instead of takers; we are new creatures in Christ! Pride causes us to become our own god, (remember the First Commandment? No one nor nothing can come before God, not even “self.” Pride is the father of all other sins – (remember Lucifer - after pride all other sins came). So in God’s set progression to make our lives significant we must confess our sin of pride, completely submit ourselves to God (holding nothing back),
Next, we must resist the devil by standing firmly against him in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18), then he must flee with that proverbial tail between his legs. After our confession and submission to God and standing against and resisting the devil then we can boldly come close to God in humility and He will come as close as we will let Him, and will raise us up to heavenly places. He doesn’t force us but calls and waits for us to start the progression back to His side, close to His heart.
Near To The Heart of God
Cleland B. McAFEE
There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before You, near to the heart of God.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
"My Shepherd"
January 15, 2012
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!” (Psalm 23:1)
Of all the promises and scriptures in the Bible the Twenty Third Psalm is, to me, the most all inclusive, encouraging and hopeful of any that I know. “The Lord” comes from the Hebrew name YHWY, Who is the Sovereign of the universe. This “Lord is my Shepherd.”
A good shepherd loves each of his sheep. He guards them and protects them. He nourishes them and surrounds them with His goodness. He satisfies their spiritual thirst with Himself (the Living Water). When beaten down with “life” He restores hope and joy in the present and for whatever may come in the future. He clearly shows His sheep the path and goes before them in that path that is right and good, not because they deserve it but because of His grace and mercy, and for His name’s sake, for God is Love.
When I am in peril, either physically or spiritually, I will not fear adversity nor affliction because my provider and healer is with me – That’s my Shepherd! His discipline and support guides me in the way I should go and gives me strength and wisdom to be trained by them, these bring me much comfort.
My Shepherd prepares a table of abundance of joy, peace and security as He delivers me from all who would try to do me wrong or harm. He completely satisfies my longings to the point of me being overwhelmed with His goodness. This goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me, like a shadow, all the days of my life and in my Shepherd’s presence will be where I live forever. So you see I shall not want for anything, because my Shepherd’s sufficiency is more than enough!
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Henry W. Baker (From Psalm 23)
The King of love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His and He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow my ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid, and home rejoicing brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill with You, dear Lord, beside me;
Your rod and staff my comfort still, Your cross before to guide me.
An so through all the length of days Your goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Your praise within Your house forever.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!” (Psalm 23:1)
Of all the promises and scriptures in the Bible the Twenty Third Psalm is, to me, the most all inclusive, encouraging and hopeful of any that I know. “The Lord” comes from the Hebrew name YHWY, Who is the Sovereign of the universe. This “Lord is my Shepherd.”
A good shepherd loves each of his sheep. He guards them and protects them. He nourishes them and surrounds them with His goodness. He satisfies their spiritual thirst with Himself (the Living Water). When beaten down with “life” He restores hope and joy in the present and for whatever may come in the future. He clearly shows His sheep the path and goes before them in that path that is right and good, not because they deserve it but because of His grace and mercy, and for His name’s sake, for God is Love.
When I am in peril, either physically or spiritually, I will not fear adversity nor affliction because my provider and healer is with me – That’s my Shepherd! His discipline and support guides me in the way I should go and gives me strength and wisdom to be trained by them, these bring me much comfort.
My Shepherd prepares a table of abundance of joy, peace and security as He delivers me from all who would try to do me wrong or harm. He completely satisfies my longings to the point of me being overwhelmed with His goodness. This goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me, like a shadow, all the days of my life and in my Shepherd’s presence will be where I live forever. So you see I shall not want for anything, because my Shepherd’s sufficiency is more than enough!
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Henry W. Baker (From Psalm 23)
The King of love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His and He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow my ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid, and home rejoicing brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill with You, dear Lord, beside me;
Your rod and staff my comfort still, Your cross before to guide me.
An so through all the length of days Your goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Your praise within Your house forever.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
When We All Get To Heaven
January 14, 2012
“Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)
This is an election year here in the United States. To be able to vote you must be a citizen of the U.S. I am thankful I live in a country where the citizens are free to vote on whomever they want in office. But I am more thankful that I have dual citizenship – my earthly is in the U.S. but my spiritual citizenship is in Heaven. I am here on earth for a little while but soon I will be going to my Heavenly home where the King (Jesus) is waiting for me, and others who have made a decision to become a citizen of that Heavenly Kingdom.
To be a citizen of the U.S. you simply have to be born here, or you can be a naturalized citizen by meeting the requirements set forth by the U.S. government. Some of these requirements are: learning the English language; being legally admitted into the U.S.; passing a test on the history and government of the U.S.; living in the U.S. for a specified time; and signing a pledge of allegiance to the U.S. and its flag and for what it stands.
Whether being born a citizen of the U.S. or being naturalized, it really doesn’t change how we are as a person, but by being born-again into the kingdom of God (the spiritual kingdom) we become a “new creation, old things are passed away and all things become new (II Corinthians 5:27). Wow! We are not the same spiritually as we were before, we are new! Everything is new – even the world looks different. Our being a citizen of the U.S. doesn’t change our eternal destiny; but by becoming a citizen of Heaven we know our eternal destiny – to forever be with the Lord! In being a citizen of the U.S. we may have been born to poor, common parents, but being born-again we are adopted into the family of God and become a “child of the King” – and the King is our Father, and our name is written on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16), and in His Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16). This book must be the citizenship roll of Heaven.
I had no choice in my U.S. citizenship – I was born here, but in becoming a citizen of Heaven I had a conscious choice and by choosing Jesus I was born-again. This is a spiritual birth made possible by the shed blood Of Jesus Christ on the cross; and my acceptance of His sacrifice for my sins; and by my believing in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension and He now lives and sits on the right hand of the Father in Heaven, where someday we will rule and reign with Him. By believing and trusting in Jesus Christ as our only Savior, we are “born-again” and instantly become a citizen of Heaven, although we are still living in the U.S. “we are eagerly waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ to come and take us to that Heavenly Kingdom where we'll live forever with Him.”
Oh, what a Savior! Oh, what a Kingdom! Oh, what a citizenship!
When We All Get To Heaven
Eliza E. Hewitt
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus; sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place.
Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of him in glory will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open – we shall tread the streets of gold.
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.
“Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)
This is an election year here in the United States. To be able to vote you must be a citizen of the U.S. I am thankful I live in a country where the citizens are free to vote on whomever they want in office. But I am more thankful that I have dual citizenship – my earthly is in the U.S. but my spiritual citizenship is in Heaven. I am here on earth for a little while but soon I will be going to my Heavenly home where the King (Jesus) is waiting for me, and others who have made a decision to become a citizen of that Heavenly Kingdom.
To be a citizen of the U.S. you simply have to be born here, or you can be a naturalized citizen by meeting the requirements set forth by the U.S. government. Some of these requirements are: learning the English language; being legally admitted into the U.S.; passing a test on the history and government of the U.S.; living in the U.S. for a specified time; and signing a pledge of allegiance to the U.S. and its flag and for what it stands.
Whether being born a citizen of the U.S. or being naturalized, it really doesn’t change how we are as a person, but by being born-again into the kingdom of God (the spiritual kingdom) we become a “new creation, old things are passed away and all things become new (II Corinthians 5:27). Wow! We are not the same spiritually as we were before, we are new! Everything is new – even the world looks different. Our being a citizen of the U.S. doesn’t change our eternal destiny; but by becoming a citizen of Heaven we know our eternal destiny – to forever be with the Lord! In being a citizen of the U.S. we may have been born to poor, common parents, but being born-again we are adopted into the family of God and become a “child of the King” – and the King is our Father, and our name is written on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16), and in His Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16). This book must be the citizenship roll of Heaven.
I had no choice in my U.S. citizenship – I was born here, but in becoming a citizen of Heaven I had a conscious choice and by choosing Jesus I was born-again. This is a spiritual birth made possible by the shed blood Of Jesus Christ on the cross; and my acceptance of His sacrifice for my sins; and by my believing in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension and He now lives and sits on the right hand of the Father in Heaven, where someday we will rule and reign with Him. By believing and trusting in Jesus Christ as our only Savior, we are “born-again” and instantly become a citizen of Heaven, although we are still living in the U.S. “we are eagerly waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ to come and take us to that Heavenly Kingdom where we'll live forever with Him.”
Oh, what a Savior! Oh, what a Kingdom! Oh, what a citizenship!
When We All Get To Heaven
Eliza E. Hewitt
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus; sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place.
Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of him in glory will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open – we shall tread the streets of gold.
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Advent - "X" - "X Marks the Spot"
December 23, 2011
“So the shepherds went with haste and by searching found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger” (Luke 2:16).
The phrase, “X” marks the spot,” has been around a long time, and many are the claims to its origin. The earliest newspaper photography used an “X” to mark the scene of the crime. “X” is marked by pirates in the place where treasure had been found. “X” marked the spot in navigation searches. Also “X” is a gene expression having to do with the “X” chromosome. So you see “X” is an important directional pointer.
Although a literal “X” is not used, a figurative “X” marks many spots of Biblical importance in the life of Jesus. We’ll start with Bethlehem; this is the spot of Joseph’s and Mary’s city of registration, as told in Luke 2:3.
The shepherds were in the fields watching over their flocks by night; that was the spot to be on that night (Luke 2:17).
The highest heavens and on earth are the spots where the angels glorified God concerning Jesus the Messiah’s birth. Was that concert just for the shepherds or did anyone else hear? The shepherds were in the right spot at the right time! (Luke 2:13-14).
The place of Jesus’ birth and where the shepherds found the baby Jesus was the manger – a simple feeding trough for the farmer’s cattle (Luke 2:12).
Mary’s heart was a spot of purity and praise and a place of pondering all these marvelous things (Luke 1:46-55 & Luke 2:19). It was not clear where they stayed until the time of Jesus’ circumcision and to present Him to the Lord, and the time for Mary’s purification, but the spot for these rituals were in the temple in Jerusalem(Luke 2:21). What a holy place that was!
Jerusalem and the temple were important spots throughout the life of Jesus. As already mentioned, it was the place of His dedication, to present Him to the Lord, along with the place they gave their sacrifices for the birth of their Son (Luke 2:22-24). Also it was in the temple in Jerusalem that Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, was waiting for the coming of the promised Consolation of Israel, Israel’s Salvation and Light to the Gentiles, and when Jesus was brought into the temple, Simeon took Him up in His arms and praised God for letting him see their Messiah; and he blessed Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:25-35). Also, it was in the temple that a widow prophetess came at the same hour. She had not gone out of the temple enclosure for eighty four years but stayed worshipping, praying and fasting. She gave thanks to God and told everyone who was looking for their Redeemer (vs.36-38). What a spot to be!
Nazareth, their home, became a spot where Jesus learned obedience and He grew physically, in wisdom, in understanding and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:51).
The “X” that marked the spots for Jesus teaching were in many places: in the mountains (Matt.5:1-7:29), the temple (Matt.26:55), and wherever He had anyone who would listen (Luke 13:22). After the resurrection He taught the apostles on a mountain in Galilee to which He had directed them to go (Matt.28:16-20). The Hillsides and rooms of lodging became Jesus’ sanctuaries for Prayer. They were spots of solitude – on the mountains (Luke 6:12, in the wilderness (Luke 5:16). Gethsemane was not only a place of prayer but an infamous spot of betrayal by Judas (Matthew 26:36-57). The cross was even a spot for prayer for His executioners (Luke 23:34).
Oh, the wonderful Cross – it was a spotof suffering and death but also a place of salvation, redemption and mercy (Matt. 27:27-54). Then after Jesus’ death they took Him to that spot in the borrowed tomb where they gently laid Him (Matt.27:57-60. The guards thought they had closed the door of the tomb with a stone, but that stone that covered the door was rolled away and the spot where He lay was empty (Matt.27:62-28:6). Because that spot was empty we can know that we will live again! The empty tomb brought hope (Matt. 28:1-10).
After the resurrection, wherever Jesus went became spots of comfort – to Mary at the tomb, to the two on the road to Emmaus, to the eleven apostles at the dining table (Mark 16:9-15) Bethany – what a fitting and blessed spot for Jesus Christ’s ascension. Bethany was where Jesus had raised Lazarus, His friend, from the dead. It was where He had spent many warm and wonderful times with His friends, Lazarus, Mary and Martha. It was at this spot where the finale of this glorious drama unfolded - the ascension. Now again in the presence of the apostles and others, He blessed them and was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51).
We will never be in the same spots, with the same people, but we must remember three of these important spots: the first is the manger with the virgin birth; the second spot is the cross, which took His life on this earth – He died for us. The third is the empty tomb - He's alive! If we trust in these two facts of faith, then “X” will mark the spot for us in heaven forever.
“At the cross where I first saw the Light and the burden of my soul passed away.
It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.”
(Ralph E. Hudson)
“So the shepherds went with haste and by searching found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger” (Luke 2:16).
The phrase, “X” marks the spot,” has been around a long time, and many are the claims to its origin. The earliest newspaper photography used an “X” to mark the scene of the crime. “X” is marked by pirates in the place where treasure had been found. “X” marked the spot in navigation searches. Also “X” is a gene expression having to do with the “X” chromosome. So you see “X” is an important directional pointer.
Although a literal “X” is not used, a figurative “X” marks many spots of Biblical importance in the life of Jesus. We’ll start with Bethlehem; this is the spot of Joseph’s and Mary’s city of registration, as told in Luke 2:3.
The shepherds were in the fields watching over their flocks by night; that was the spot to be on that night (Luke 2:17).
The highest heavens and on earth are the spots where the angels glorified God concerning Jesus the Messiah’s birth. Was that concert just for the shepherds or did anyone else hear? The shepherds were in the right spot at the right time! (Luke 2:13-14).
The place of Jesus’ birth and where the shepherds found the baby Jesus was the manger – a simple feeding trough for the farmer’s cattle (Luke 2:12).
Mary’s heart was a spot of purity and praise and a place of pondering all these marvelous things (Luke 1:46-55 & Luke 2:19). It was not clear where they stayed until the time of Jesus’ circumcision and to present Him to the Lord, and the time for Mary’s purification, but the spot for these rituals were in the temple in Jerusalem(Luke 2:21). What a holy place that was!
Jerusalem and the temple were important spots throughout the life of Jesus. As already mentioned, it was the place of His dedication, to present Him to the Lord, along with the place they gave their sacrifices for the birth of their Son (Luke 2:22-24). Also it was in the temple in Jerusalem that Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, was waiting for the coming of the promised Consolation of Israel, Israel’s Salvation and Light to the Gentiles, and when Jesus was brought into the temple, Simeon took Him up in His arms and praised God for letting him see their Messiah; and he blessed Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:25-35). Also, it was in the temple that a widow prophetess came at the same hour. She had not gone out of the temple enclosure for eighty four years but stayed worshipping, praying and fasting. She gave thanks to God and told everyone who was looking for their Redeemer (vs.36-38). What a spot to be!
Nazareth, their home, became a spot where Jesus learned obedience and He grew physically, in wisdom, in understanding and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:51).
The “X” that marked the spots for Jesus teaching were in many places: in the mountains (Matt.5:1-7:29), the temple (Matt.26:55), and wherever He had anyone who would listen (Luke 13:22). After the resurrection He taught the apostles on a mountain in Galilee to which He had directed them to go (Matt.28:16-20). The Hillsides and rooms of lodging became Jesus’ sanctuaries for Prayer. They were spots of solitude – on the mountains (Luke 6:12, in the wilderness (Luke 5:16). Gethsemane was not only a place of prayer but an infamous spot of betrayal by Judas (Matthew 26:36-57). The cross was even a spot for prayer for His executioners (Luke 23:34).
Oh, the wonderful Cross – it was a spotof suffering and death but also a place of salvation, redemption and mercy (Matt. 27:27-54). Then after Jesus’ death they took Him to that spot in the borrowed tomb where they gently laid Him (Matt.27:57-60. The guards thought they had closed the door of the tomb with a stone, but that stone that covered the door was rolled away and the spot where He lay was empty (Matt.27:62-28:6). Because that spot was empty we can know that we will live again! The empty tomb brought hope (Matt. 28:1-10).
After the resurrection, wherever Jesus went became spots of comfort – to Mary at the tomb, to the two on the road to Emmaus, to the eleven apostles at the dining table (Mark 16:9-15) Bethany – what a fitting and blessed spot for Jesus Christ’s ascension. Bethany was where Jesus had raised Lazarus, His friend, from the dead. It was where He had spent many warm and wonderful times with His friends, Lazarus, Mary and Martha. It was at this spot where the finale of this glorious drama unfolded - the ascension. Now again in the presence of the apostles and others, He blessed them and was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51).
We will never be in the same spots, with the same people, but we must remember three of these important spots: the first is the manger with the virgin birth; the second spot is the cross, which took His life on this earth – He died for us. The third is the empty tomb - He's alive! If we trust in these two facts of faith, then “X” will mark the spot for us in heaven forever.
“At the cross where I first saw the Light and the burden of my soul passed away.
It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.”
(Ralph E. Hudson)
Advent - "W" - "Why Did Jesus Come?"
December 22, 2011
“We have seen and know positively that the Son of God has actually come to this world and has given us understanding and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true – in His Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah. This Man is the true God and Life eternal” (I John 5:20).
A common question to a curious mind is, “WHY?” Many of the young and old, educated and uneducated are just as inquisitive about the known and unknown. I have always been a very inquisitive person, wanting to know the whys and wherefores to all kinds of things; "why," for things I don’t understand the reason or purpose; and "how" and "where" for more information.
Our "whys' about the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and about spiritual things, are to satisfy our spiritual need to "know" God and His ways. I am sure people from time immemorial have asked the questions, Why do we need a Savior? - and Why did the Father choose Jesus of Nazareth to be our Savior? - and “Why did Jesus come?” God’s Word gives us the answers.
In Mark 10:45, Jesus came to teach us by example how to serve and be a servant.
He came to “Destroy the works of the devil.” (I John 3:8) He also came to fulfill the Father’s plan for us to be adopted into the Family of God (Ephesians 1:5).
Also Christ came to introduce us to the Holy Spirit Who was to be the “downpayment” of our inheritance and our acquiring complete possession of our redemption (Ephesians 1:14).
Another reason for Jesus’ coming, was to have the unity of all things to be consummated in Him, both things in heaven and things on the earth; and for God’s grace to be poured out on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6-10).
Isaiah 42:6-7 says that Jesus came to fulfill the promise for a covenant to the people of Israel and for a light to the Gentiles.
Jesus came to give us life abundantly (John 10:10), and He was born to save sinners(I Timothy 1:15). Jesus said that He had come to show us the Father because He and the Father are one (John 14:9). He came to do the Father’s work (John 5:36) - to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison (Isaiah 42:7).
Jesus Christ came to satisfy the Father’s need for a pure and holy sacrifice for the people He had created and loved and wanted to call His own (I John 4:10). He came to make it possible that whosoever would believe in Him would be saved (John 3:16).
Why does God love us so much that He sent His own unique Son to bring reconciliation between God and man and to do all these things for us that we’ve mentioned? We probably will never know the answer to those questions, we just accept the fact that God does love us with an everlasting, unconditional love, and bask in His mercy and grace.
Why?
John M. Moore
Why did they nail Him to Calvary’s tree? Why? Tell me why was He there?
Jesus the Helper, the Healer, the Friend – Why? Tell me why was He there br />Why should He love me, a sinner undone? Why? Tell me, why should He care?
I do not merit the love He has shown – Why? Tell me, why should He care?
Why should I linger afar from His love? Why? Tell me, why should I fear?
Somehow I know I should venture and prove – Why? Tell me, why should I fear?
All my iniquities on Him were laid – He nailed them all to the tree;
Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid – He paid the ransom for me.
“We have seen and know positively that the Son of God has actually come to this world and has given us understanding and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true – in His Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah. This Man is the true God and Life eternal” (I John 5:20).
A common question to a curious mind is, “WHY?” Many of the young and old, educated and uneducated are just as inquisitive about the known and unknown. I have always been a very inquisitive person, wanting to know the whys and wherefores to all kinds of things; "why," for things I don’t understand the reason or purpose; and "how" and "where" for more information.
Our "whys' about the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and about spiritual things, are to satisfy our spiritual need to "know" God and His ways. I am sure people from time immemorial have asked the questions, Why do we need a Savior? - and Why did the Father choose Jesus of Nazareth to be our Savior? - and “Why did Jesus come?” God’s Word gives us the answers.
In Mark 10:45, Jesus came to teach us by example how to serve and be a servant.
He came to “Destroy the works of the devil.” (I John 3:8) He also came to fulfill the Father’s plan for us to be adopted into the Family of God (Ephesians 1:5).
Also Christ came to introduce us to the Holy Spirit Who was to be the “downpayment” of our inheritance and our acquiring complete possession of our redemption (Ephesians 1:14).
Another reason for Jesus’ coming, was to have the unity of all things to be consummated in Him, both things in heaven and things on the earth; and for God’s grace to be poured out on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6-10).
Isaiah 42:6-7 says that Jesus came to fulfill the promise for a covenant to the people of Israel and for a light to the Gentiles.
Jesus came to give us life abundantly (John 10:10), and He was born to save sinners(I Timothy 1:15). Jesus said that He had come to show us the Father because He and the Father are one (John 14:9). He came to do the Father’s work (John 5:36) - to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison (Isaiah 42:7).
Jesus Christ came to satisfy the Father’s need for a pure and holy sacrifice for the people He had created and loved and wanted to call His own (I John 4:10). He came to make it possible that whosoever would believe in Him would be saved (John 3:16).
Why does God love us so much that He sent His own unique Son to bring reconciliation between God and man and to do all these things for us that we’ve mentioned? We probably will never know the answer to those questions, we just accept the fact that God does love us with an everlasting, unconditional love, and bask in His mercy and grace.
Why?
John M. Moore
Why did they nail Him to Calvary’s tree? Why? Tell me why was He there?
Jesus the Helper, the Healer, the Friend – Why? Tell me why was He there br />Why should He love me, a sinner undone? Why? Tell me, why should He care?
I do not merit the love He has shown – Why? Tell me, why should He care?
Why should I linger afar from His love? Why? Tell me, why should I fear?
Somehow I know I should venture and prove – Why? Tell me, why should I fear?
All my iniquities on Him were laid – He nailed them all to the tree;
Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid – He paid the ransom for me.
Always Is Forever
January 12, 2012
“Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)
What is it we don’t understand about the word “always?” There are exceptions nearly to everything but to a few words there are no exceptions, and “always” is one of those words. Webster’s very definition of this word shows there are no exceptions: “the whole, only, at all times, invariably, forever, without exception.”
Because today's scripture says “always” be joyful – it means what it says – there is never a situation in which we should not be joyful. How can we be joyful in what we consider a bad situation? We must remember that the Almighty God is in charge and is there ready to help in the direst situation and has a reason for permitting your situation to happen.
Again we are told to always keep on praying no matter what happens. Matthew 7:7 says to “ask and keep on asking.” It isn’t that God doesn’t know our situation, but His time may not be our time that we want Him to act. He wants us to “wait” on Him in trust. Nor is it that He is not able to help – He is the Almighty God and He promises that we can do all things through Him Who strengthens us (Phil.4:13). Or it may be that we have unconfessed sin in our lives and God “will” not hear us (Psalm 66:18). Sin breaks our fellowship with God. Pray the prayer of confession for all your known sins, then His ears will be open to hear you and we can come in confidence before Him bringing our petitions.
Next, our text verse says, “No matter what happens, always be thankful.” Grumbling is sin (remember the Children of Israel in the wilderness?). We may have to have an attitude change, but we must if we want our prayers heard and answered; “for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Be Still My Soul
Katharina von Schlegel
Be still, my soul – the Lord is on your side! Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide – in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul – your best, your heavenly friend thru stormy ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul – your God does undertake to guide the future as He has the past;
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake – all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul – the waves and winds still know His voice Who ruled them while He lived below.
Be still, my soul – the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul – when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
“Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)
What is it we don’t understand about the word “always?” There are exceptions nearly to everything but to a few words there are no exceptions, and “always” is one of those words. Webster’s very definition of this word shows there are no exceptions: “the whole, only, at all times, invariably, forever, without exception.”
Because today's scripture says “always” be joyful – it means what it says – there is never a situation in which we should not be joyful. How can we be joyful in what we consider a bad situation? We must remember that the Almighty God is in charge and is there ready to help in the direst situation and has a reason for permitting your situation to happen.
Again we are told to always keep on praying no matter what happens. Matthew 7:7 says to “ask and keep on asking.” It isn’t that God doesn’t know our situation, but His time may not be our time that we want Him to act. He wants us to “wait” on Him in trust. Nor is it that He is not able to help – He is the Almighty God and He promises that we can do all things through Him Who strengthens us (Phil.4:13). Or it may be that we have unconfessed sin in our lives and God “will” not hear us (Psalm 66:18). Sin breaks our fellowship with God. Pray the prayer of confession for all your known sins, then His ears will be open to hear you and we can come in confidence before Him bringing our petitions.
Next, our text verse says, “No matter what happens, always be thankful.” Grumbling is sin (remember the Children of Israel in the wilderness?). We may have to have an attitude change, but we must if we want our prayers heard and answered; “for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Be Still My Soul
Katharina von Schlegel
Be still, my soul – the Lord is on your side! Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide – in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul – your best, your heavenly friend thru stormy ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul – your God does undertake to guide the future as He has the past;
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake – all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul – the waves and winds still know His voice Who ruled them while He lived below.
Be still, my soul – the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul – when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Hide and Seek
January 11, 2012
“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14)
Remember the childhood game, “Hide and Seek?” As a child, in the summertime the neighborhood children would all collect at my house late in the evening and sometimes even after dark to play outdoor games. I remember “Kick the Can”, “Piggy Wants a Signal,” “Annie Over,” “Red Rover,” and my favorite was “Hide and Seek.” With all the violence in the world and with the big competitor, TV, I don’t see children playing outside very much anymore, and certainly not after dark. But, what fond memories those were!
Everyone knows the concept of Hide and Seek, where one person is “It” and he closes his eyes and counts to a specified number, while all the rest hide. Depending on the thoroughness of hunting and the speed at which “It” can run, the first one “found” will be “It” the next time, after all the others are found. The most fun is when you can hide so well no one can find you, or you can run so fast that “It” cannot out-run you to “home.” There is not a perfect spiritual analogy to the “Hide and Seek” game because God is not hiding – He is right in plain sight. It is people’s sin that blinds them so they cannot see Him. People are the ones trying to hide in their sins, both secret and public, and they don’t know it is God Who is seeking them. They have a dissatisfaction, a longing for something they know not what. Augustine put it this way, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” Someone else said, “Our lives have a God-shaped void which only God can fill and satisfy.” The Truth is that man cannot be satisfied with the things of this world to fill the longing in his heart – neither fame, fortune, sex, success, happiness nor accomplishment - only until we “find” Jesus will we be satisfied and find rest. Jesus was “It” when He came searching from heaven. He searched for man with “Love.”
His purpose for seeking for us when we were so lost was to show us His love (Luke 19:10). He did this best when He took our place on that cross, died and went to sit on the right hand of God the Father to continue to seek us with His love by interceding there for us. He left His Holy Spirit to continue to seek us with His wooing love. He is the One who makes us dissatisfied with all our earthly searches. He causes us to be hungry and thirsty for God, when we are unwilling to “seek” Him. The Holy Spirit’s wooing is like the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” The solution to this dilemma is to give the horse a cake of salt and let him lick it for a while, then his will is changed and he will run to the water to satisfy his thirst. The Holy Spirit is the cake of salt and Jesus is the water (living water).
As Luke 19:10 puts it so succinctly, “The Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and save that which was lost.” Jesus was “It” first, and then He left His Holy Spirit to cause us to become so thirsty for Him that we become the seeker – seeking Truth, Love and Fulfillment. In our seeking the Holy Spirit brings “the cake of salt” into our lives by convicting us of our sins and through the dissatisfaction with our lives; by the loving life of a Christian lived before us; and revealing the love and Truth of the scriptures to us. All bring a great longing for the “real thing” – (real love, truth, success, riches and values in life). He pleads with us to "Seek the Lord while He may be found." We must be like the horse to begin running and seeking for the only One Who can satisfy our thirst and fill the void in our lives.
In our text scripture, God is telling us a Truth: “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart, I will be found by you.” Half-hearted seeking will not be successful. The only way we will find the sumum bonum (the supreme good from which all others are derived – Jesus, the Living Water), is to “Seek” Him with all your heart. When we find Him all our seeking and striving for the elusive will be gone. We will be completely satisfied because we have found the One Who is the “All-in-All.”
“Seek first of all His kingdom and His righteousness then all these other things will be given to you besides.” (Matthew 6:33)
“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14)
Remember the childhood game, “Hide and Seek?” As a child, in the summertime the neighborhood children would all collect at my house late in the evening and sometimes even after dark to play outdoor games. I remember “Kick the Can”, “Piggy Wants a Signal,” “Annie Over,” “Red Rover,” and my favorite was “Hide and Seek.” With all the violence in the world and with the big competitor, TV, I don’t see children playing outside very much anymore, and certainly not after dark. But, what fond memories those were!
Everyone knows the concept of Hide and Seek, where one person is “It” and he closes his eyes and counts to a specified number, while all the rest hide. Depending on the thoroughness of hunting and the speed at which “It” can run, the first one “found” will be “It” the next time, after all the others are found. The most fun is when you can hide so well no one can find you, or you can run so fast that “It” cannot out-run you to “home.” There is not a perfect spiritual analogy to the “Hide and Seek” game because God is not hiding – He is right in plain sight. It is people’s sin that blinds them so they cannot see Him. People are the ones trying to hide in their sins, both secret and public, and they don’t know it is God Who is seeking them. They have a dissatisfaction, a longing for something they know not what. Augustine put it this way, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” Someone else said, “Our lives have a God-shaped void which only God can fill and satisfy.” The Truth is that man cannot be satisfied with the things of this world to fill the longing in his heart – neither fame, fortune, sex, success, happiness nor accomplishment - only until we “find” Jesus will we be satisfied and find rest. Jesus was “It” when He came searching from heaven. He searched for man with “Love.”
His purpose for seeking for us when we were so lost was to show us His love (Luke 19:10). He did this best when He took our place on that cross, died and went to sit on the right hand of God the Father to continue to seek us with His love by interceding there for us. He left His Holy Spirit to continue to seek us with His wooing love. He is the One who makes us dissatisfied with all our earthly searches. He causes us to be hungry and thirsty for God, when we are unwilling to “seek” Him. The Holy Spirit’s wooing is like the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” The solution to this dilemma is to give the horse a cake of salt and let him lick it for a while, then his will is changed and he will run to the water to satisfy his thirst. The Holy Spirit is the cake of salt and Jesus is the water (living water).
As Luke 19:10 puts it so succinctly, “The Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and save that which was lost.” Jesus was “It” first, and then He left His Holy Spirit to cause us to become so thirsty for Him that we become the seeker – seeking Truth, Love and Fulfillment. In our seeking the Holy Spirit brings “the cake of salt” into our lives by convicting us of our sins and through the dissatisfaction with our lives; by the loving life of a Christian lived before us; and revealing the love and Truth of the scriptures to us. All bring a great longing for the “real thing” – (real love, truth, success, riches and values in life). He pleads with us to "Seek the Lord while He may be found." We must be like the horse to begin running and seeking for the only One Who can satisfy our thirst and fill the void in our lives.
In our text scripture, God is telling us a Truth: “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart, I will be found by you.” Half-hearted seeking will not be successful. The only way we will find the sumum bonum (the supreme good from which all others are derived – Jesus, the Living Water), is to “Seek” Him with all your heart. When we find Him all our seeking and striving for the elusive will be gone. We will be completely satisfied because we have found the One Who is the “All-in-All.”
“Seek first of all His kingdom and His righteousness then all these other things will be given to you besides.” (Matthew 6:33)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Advent -"V"-"Victory in Jesus" December 21, 2011
December 21, 2011
“For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.” (I John 5:4)
They say that more people, even Christians, deal with chronic depression more than any other emotional problem. But Christians have more to be "up" about than any people in the world. How can this be? But for reasons of clinical depression, many are just ignorant of who they are in Christ and that Satan has come to steal their peace and sense of well being by feeding into their minds condemnation over past sins, fearful thoughts of the future and a strong sense of self- consciousness rather than God consciousness. Satan wins the battle of the mind when we listen to his accusing and doubtful thoughts instead of putting in our hearts what God has said about us, His children. We must learn to look at ourselves, and our circumstances, and our world like God sees them. He looks at us with eyes of love, and those eyes He sees victory over Satan.
Jesus was born into this world in the worst circumstances possible, except for the fact that He was loved and wanted by His parents. As He grew physically, He also grew strong in the knowledge of Who He was. He knew He had a purpose in this life and lived every day to reach His victorious goal. Satan tried to make Him fall and be led aside from His purpose by tempting Him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-10). But Jesus was victorious over all of them because He knew Who He was (the Son of God); He recognized His enemy’s tactics (deceit and appealing to His flesh – pride) and He defeated His enemy with the Word of God.
Christ had His greatest victory at the cross when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). His purpose for coming to earth was finished; the plan of our salvation was finished – He was victorious over sin, the grave and hell!
By trusting in God’s Word we can be victorious in all our temptations. If we obey His commandments God has made us the “head and not the tail, above and not beneath,” (Deut.28:13). If we trust in Him and His strength, He will cause us to “run through a troop and jump over a wall” (II Samuel 22:30). “We can do all things through Christ Who gives us the strength” (Phil.4:13). Christ is our strength and courage and enables us to be victorious in all things. He leads us to triumph in all things (II Cor.2:14).
One of Jesus’ names is, Jehovah-Nissi, which means His banner of victory is over us. As long as we march to His drumbeat and step in His steps, we cannot fail, we too will always have victory in Jesus! Our final victory will be when we stand before Him without spot or wrinkle, with clean hands and a pure heart – all because of our victorious Jesus! There will be no more depression, no more temptations to overcome, no more heartaches or tears – just victory!
When it seems we cannot go on; we feel defeated, discouraged and depressed; we don’t know which way to turn; we feel like we are in a night of blackness – that is the time to turn to the light. Jesus is the Light; He is our hope; He is the answer. Only in Him there is victory! “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5b).
Jesus is the good news Isaiah talks about in chapter sixty one. The good news is that Jesus has come to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the physical and spiritual captives and the opening of the prison of the eyes to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of His favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. To grant joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a heavy, burdened and failing spirit. We will be called “oaks of righteousness,” the victory of the Lord.
“Then Came The Morning”
Bill Gaither
Then came the morning, shadows vanished away before the sun,
Death had lost and life had won, for morning had come.
“For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.” (I John 5:4)
They say that more people, even Christians, deal with chronic depression more than any other emotional problem. But Christians have more to be "up" about than any people in the world. How can this be? But for reasons of clinical depression, many are just ignorant of who they are in Christ and that Satan has come to steal their peace and sense of well being by feeding into their minds condemnation over past sins, fearful thoughts of the future and a strong sense of self- consciousness rather than God consciousness. Satan wins the battle of the mind when we listen to his accusing and doubtful thoughts instead of putting in our hearts what God has said about us, His children. We must learn to look at ourselves, and our circumstances, and our world like God sees them. He looks at us with eyes of love, and those eyes He sees victory over Satan.
Jesus was born into this world in the worst circumstances possible, except for the fact that He was loved and wanted by His parents. As He grew physically, He also grew strong in the knowledge of Who He was. He knew He had a purpose in this life and lived every day to reach His victorious goal. Satan tried to make Him fall and be led aside from His purpose by tempting Him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-10). But Jesus was victorious over all of them because He knew Who He was (the Son of God); He recognized His enemy’s tactics (deceit and appealing to His flesh – pride) and He defeated His enemy with the Word of God.
Christ had His greatest victory at the cross when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). His purpose for coming to earth was finished; the plan of our salvation was finished – He was victorious over sin, the grave and hell!
By trusting in God’s Word we can be victorious in all our temptations. If we obey His commandments God has made us the “head and not the tail, above and not beneath,” (Deut.28:13). If we trust in Him and His strength, He will cause us to “run through a troop and jump over a wall” (II Samuel 22:30). “We can do all things through Christ Who gives us the strength” (Phil.4:13). Christ is our strength and courage and enables us to be victorious in all things. He leads us to triumph in all things (II Cor.2:14).
One of Jesus’ names is, Jehovah-Nissi, which means His banner of victory is over us. As long as we march to His drumbeat and step in His steps, we cannot fail, we too will always have victory in Jesus! Our final victory will be when we stand before Him without spot or wrinkle, with clean hands and a pure heart – all because of our victorious Jesus! There will be no more depression, no more temptations to overcome, no more heartaches or tears – just victory!
When it seems we cannot go on; we feel defeated, discouraged and depressed; we don’t know which way to turn; we feel like we are in a night of blackness – that is the time to turn to the light. Jesus is the Light; He is our hope; He is the answer. Only in Him there is victory! “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5b).
Jesus is the good news Isaiah talks about in chapter sixty one. The good news is that Jesus has come to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the physical and spiritual captives and the opening of the prison of the eyes to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of His favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. To grant joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a heavy, burdened and failing spirit. We will be called “oaks of righteousness,” the victory of the Lord.
“Then Came The Morning”
Bill Gaither
Then came the morning, shadows vanished away before the sun,
Death had lost and life had won, for morning had come.
When Will Jesus Hear Us?
April 25, 2011
“Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.” (Psalm 88:2)
In this Psalm David is crying out to God to be heard. We all, saint or sinner, cry out to the only God Who can hear us and Who can answer. The Heavens sometimes seem like brass and we wonder, “Does God hear me?” When do we know that God does hear us?
In II Chronicles 7:14, God is speaking to His people (that includes us if we are His adopted child), telling us “If we will humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and repent of our wicked ways, then He will hear us and heal our land.” These are very hard words for us to receive, that is why God starts off His list of requirements for Him to hear our prayers with “humble yourself.” Our pride and self righteousness and self-sufficiency are very offensive and grievous to God. When we will not acknowledge these sins and “regard (perceive) them in our heart,” and then confess them, He will not hear us (Ps.66:18). We must bow our hearts and come under subjection to His holiness and righteousness, then acknowledge and confess our sinfulness – this is humility.
Next, God says to “pray.” In Hebrew the word “pray” means to make supplication (to ask specifically, earnestly and humbly). I am afraid a lot of our prayers are those general, dutiful, and sometimes even flippant and selfish requests we quickly shoot up to God to appease our “need to pray.” I acknowledge that those quick prayers sent up when in trouble, throughout the day or night, are received if they come from an earnest and humble heart and prayed with specificity. God sees and knows our hearts and motives for asking.
The next requirement for God to hear our prayer in this II Chronicles scripture, is to “seek My face (crave and require of necessity (Amp.).” The Hebrew for “seek” in this passage is “to search out by any method in worship or prayer.” (See:Jer.29:13). In this Jeremiah passage God is saying, “You will find me when you search me with all your heart.” This “seeking” is not a haphazard, off the cuff or ‘when I get the time’ searching. It is an intense searching out God “by any method in worship or prayer.” How long has it been since we have sought the “face of God” for answers regarding any situation in our lives? It is this kind of “seeking” that gets the ‘ear of God.’ Remember, He sees and knows our hearts.
The last requirement for God to hear us that is mentioned in II Chronicles 7:14 is that we must “turn from our wicked ways.” The first line of this verse says, “If My people who are called by My name (that includes all believers) will…..” God is not talking to the entire world but only to those who name the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so when He says we must “turn from our wicked way” He is talking to us. We don’t like to think of ourselves as ‘wicked’ but the Hebrew meaning of the word, “wicked,” in this passage means we are acting in a way that is (“bad” (as in physically, socially or morally)?
Are we acting badly physically toward anyone? Are we being abusive by neglectful or overt actions? Love does not knowingly hurt. When we have it in our hand (our resources) to help our neighbor – do we? Until we act in love physically toward others God will not hear us (I Cor.13:6-7; Matt.7:12).
Are we acting badly socially toward anyone? Do we do whatever it takes to get ahead to our desired goal, even if it takes ‘stepping on’ someone else to get there? Love never takes advantage or ‘uses’ another. Love prefers one another (Rom.12:10). Until we act in love socially toward others God will not hear us (I Cor.13:4-7).
Are we acting morally ‘bad’ toward anyone? Are we dishonest, with even a penny - with the cashier, with the neighbors belongings (even his wife or husband), with our income tax, etc? Are we murderers? Do we kill another’s influence or reputation with our tongue? Do we hold a grudge toward anyone? Do we hate anyone? God called “anyone who hated his brother a murderer and the love of God was not in him.” (I Jn.3:15). God is love and anyone who is in Christ can and must walk in love. Love is a choice! Acting in any other way, except in love, toward others is ‘immoral’. Until we act in love morally toward others God will not hear us (I Cor.13:5).
So until we come to God asking for help: 1) humbly, 2) with specific prayers, 3) seeking with our whole heart and, 4) repenting of our wicked ways, only “then will He hear us, forgive us and heal our land (us and all with which we are concerned”). Any failure to hear us and answer us is certainly not on His part – (guess whose--?). We must remember that after coming to Him with “clean hands and a pure heart” that God always answers our prayers – but His answer isn’t always “Yes” or “No,” it could be “Wait.”
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s heats and minds (a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy), yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Eccl.3:11 - Amp.).
“Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.” (Psalm 88:2)
In this Psalm David is crying out to God to be heard. We all, saint or sinner, cry out to the only God Who can hear us and Who can answer. The Heavens sometimes seem like brass and we wonder, “Does God hear me?” When do we know that God does hear us?
In II Chronicles 7:14, God is speaking to His people (that includes us if we are His adopted child), telling us “If we will humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and repent of our wicked ways, then He will hear us and heal our land.” These are very hard words for us to receive, that is why God starts off His list of requirements for Him to hear our prayers with “humble yourself.” Our pride and self righteousness and self-sufficiency are very offensive and grievous to God. When we will not acknowledge these sins and “regard (perceive) them in our heart,” and then confess them, He will not hear us (Ps.66:18). We must bow our hearts and come under subjection to His holiness and righteousness, then acknowledge and confess our sinfulness – this is humility.
Next, God says to “pray.” In Hebrew the word “pray” means to make supplication (to ask specifically, earnestly and humbly). I am afraid a lot of our prayers are those general, dutiful, and sometimes even flippant and selfish requests we quickly shoot up to God to appease our “need to pray.” I acknowledge that those quick prayers sent up when in trouble, throughout the day or night, are received if they come from an earnest and humble heart and prayed with specificity. God sees and knows our hearts and motives for asking.
The next requirement for God to hear our prayer in this II Chronicles scripture, is to “seek My face (crave and require of necessity (Amp.).” The Hebrew for “seek” in this passage is “to search out by any method in worship or prayer.” (See:Jer.29:13). In this Jeremiah passage God is saying, “You will find me when you search me with all your heart.” This “seeking” is not a haphazard, off the cuff or ‘when I get the time’ searching. It is an intense searching out God “by any method in worship or prayer.” How long has it been since we have sought the “face of God” for answers regarding any situation in our lives? It is this kind of “seeking” that gets the ‘ear of God.’ Remember, He sees and knows our hearts.
The last requirement for God to hear us that is mentioned in II Chronicles 7:14 is that we must “turn from our wicked ways.” The first line of this verse says, “If My people who are called by My name (that includes all believers) will…..” God is not talking to the entire world but only to those who name the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so when He says we must “turn from our wicked way” He is talking to us. We don’t like to think of ourselves as ‘wicked’ but the Hebrew meaning of the word, “wicked,” in this passage means we are acting in a way that is (“bad” (as in physically, socially or morally)?
Are we acting badly physically toward anyone? Are we being abusive by neglectful or overt actions? Love does not knowingly hurt. When we have it in our hand (our resources) to help our neighbor – do we? Until we act in love physically toward others God will not hear us (I Cor.13:6-7; Matt.7:12).
Are we acting badly socially toward anyone? Do we do whatever it takes to get ahead to our desired goal, even if it takes ‘stepping on’ someone else to get there? Love never takes advantage or ‘uses’ another. Love prefers one another (Rom.12:10). Until we act in love socially toward others God will not hear us (I Cor.13:4-7).
Are we acting morally ‘bad’ toward anyone? Are we dishonest, with even a penny - with the cashier, with the neighbors belongings (even his wife or husband), with our income tax, etc? Are we murderers? Do we kill another’s influence or reputation with our tongue? Do we hold a grudge toward anyone? Do we hate anyone? God called “anyone who hated his brother a murderer and the love of God was not in him.” (I Jn.3:15). God is love and anyone who is in Christ can and must walk in love. Love is a choice! Acting in any other way, except in love, toward others is ‘immoral’. Until we act in love morally toward others God will not hear us (I Cor.13:5).
So until we come to God asking for help: 1) humbly, 2) with specific prayers, 3) seeking with our whole heart and, 4) repenting of our wicked ways, only “then will He hear us, forgive us and heal our land (us and all with which we are concerned”). Any failure to hear us and answer us is certainly not on His part – (guess whose--?). We must remember that after coming to Him with “clean hands and a pure heart” that God always answers our prayers – but His answer isn’t always “Yes” or “No,” it could be “Wait.”
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s heats and minds (a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy), yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Eccl.3:11 - Amp.).
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Faith is Gold
“So that the genuineness of your faith may be tested, because your faith is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. This proving of your faith is to redound to your praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Peter 1:7)
Did you know God considers your faith even more precious than what we consider the preciousness of gold? Today the price of gold is the highest it has ever sold in U. S. dollars, according to Google information. Why is gold so precious? Because gold is very rare, it is hard to extract, it is enduring, it is beautiful and doesn’t rust or discolor. We measure all other material values by it, because it is “precious.”
The above scripture tells us that our faith is tested for its genuineness like gold is tested for purity. I read many years ago how gold is refined and tested by fire and the analogy is so applicable to how our faith is being refined, tested and purified that I want to share it.
The entire explanation of how gold is refined is too technical and lengthy to include in this writing but basically the gold ore is put into a crucible placed on a very hot fire (gold melts at l,l02 C). When the gold reaches its melting point it separates from all the earthy impurities in which it has been infused by time and nature and leaves pure gold . These impurities rise to the top of the mixture and are skimmed off by the refiner. These impurities are called “dross.” This process is continued until there is nothing left in the crucible but the precious, pure gold. The point at which the refiner can tell that there are no more impurities is when he looks into the crucible and can clearly see his own reflection.
What a perfect analogy as to how our Father (the Refiner) purifies our faith by putting us in the crucible of life and turns up the fire of His discipline and life’s excruciating circumstances – this tests the genuineness of our faith. When we are in the crucible of life and the fire has been turned up to “high,” the impurities in our life (doubts, fears, self-will, etc.) begin to rise to the surface, the Refiner skims off the dross in our lives with His ladle of His promises and His Word. This process of heating and skimming sometimes makes us feel as if “we are all goin’ to skimmins,” but the Refiner is simply “separating the precious from the vile” (Jeremy 15:19). He is replacing the doubts about Him with the Truth of His Word.
This life process causes our faith to become more pure with every testing. This proving process is intended for our glory when others see the reflection of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is at this point that our faith has become as pure gold and is more precious to the Father than real gold.
The third chapter of Revelation, God is talking to the church in Laodicea whose faith had become contaminated with lukewarmness, self-sufficiency and spiritual blindness. The Father counseled them to buy spiritual gold (true faith), which would make them truly wealthy and would cover their nakedness with God’s robe of righteousness. And this refined faith would be the salve to put on their eyes so they could see the Truth of God’s Word. We are implored to do the same because the world (especially the western world) has been so contaminated with the world’s perspective and ways, that only the Refiner’s process will make our faith pure again. And only then will others see the beauty of Jesus in us.
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me – all His wonderful passion and purity!
O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine, till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me! (Albert W. T. Osborn)
Did you know God considers your faith even more precious than what we consider the preciousness of gold? Today the price of gold is the highest it has ever sold in U. S. dollars, according to Google information. Why is gold so precious? Because gold is very rare, it is hard to extract, it is enduring, it is beautiful and doesn’t rust or discolor. We measure all other material values by it, because it is “precious.”
The above scripture tells us that our faith is tested for its genuineness like gold is tested for purity. I read many years ago how gold is refined and tested by fire and the analogy is so applicable to how our faith is being refined, tested and purified that I want to share it.
The entire explanation of how gold is refined is too technical and lengthy to include in this writing but basically the gold ore is put into a crucible placed on a very hot fire (gold melts at l,l02 C). When the gold reaches its melting point it separates from all the earthy impurities in which it has been infused by time and nature and leaves pure gold . These impurities rise to the top of the mixture and are skimmed off by the refiner. These impurities are called “dross.” This process is continued until there is nothing left in the crucible but the precious, pure gold. The point at which the refiner can tell that there are no more impurities is when he looks into the crucible and can clearly see his own reflection.
What a perfect analogy as to how our Father (the Refiner) purifies our faith by putting us in the crucible of life and turns up the fire of His discipline and life’s excruciating circumstances – this tests the genuineness of our faith. When we are in the crucible of life and the fire has been turned up to “high,” the impurities in our life (doubts, fears, self-will, etc.) begin to rise to the surface, the Refiner skims off the dross in our lives with His ladle of His promises and His Word. This process of heating and skimming sometimes makes us feel as if “we are all goin’ to skimmins,” but the Refiner is simply “separating the precious from the vile” (Jeremy 15:19). He is replacing the doubts about Him with the Truth of His Word.
This life process causes our faith to become more pure with every testing. This proving process is intended for our glory when others see the reflection of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is at this point that our faith has become as pure gold and is more precious to the Father than real gold.
The third chapter of Revelation, God is talking to the church in Laodicea whose faith had become contaminated with lukewarmness, self-sufficiency and spiritual blindness. The Father counseled them to buy spiritual gold (true faith), which would make them truly wealthy and would cover their nakedness with God’s robe of righteousness. And this refined faith would be the salve to put on their eyes so they could see the Truth of God’s Word. We are implored to do the same because the world (especially the western world) has been so contaminated with the world’s perspective and ways, that only the Refiner’s process will make our faith pure again. And only then will others see the beauty of Jesus in us.
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me – all His wonderful passion and purity!
O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine, till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me! (Albert W. T. Osborn)
The Recipe
“God gave us His wonderful and powerful promises, so that as a result, we will share in His divine nature.” (II Peter 1:4)
…………………………
I like to cook and have a cabinet full of recipe books. I haven’t tried all the recipes in all of those books but I have found if I want a recipe to turn-out like it should, I must follow it explicitly.
God has given us the recipe to most glorious “dish” that if followed and digested will be a life changing experience and the most glorious results that could ever be imagined. The name of The Recipe is, “Sharing in God’s Divine Nature.” The secret of success to His Recipe is to follow it explicitly. This Recipe is simple but hard - simple instructions but hard to follow.
“Sharing in God’s Divine Nature”
Authored and Created by God the Father
You don’t have to heat your “oven of life,” it seems to always be hot enough to bake this Recipe.
1 completely committed life (This is hard because the flesh doesn’t want to commit to
God.)
Add: a life of obedience to God’s Word (This is also hard because our old nature doesn’t
want to obey.)
1 Day-at-a-time of Trusting in God’s wonderful and powerful promises. (This is also
Hard because our old nature wants to trust in “self.”)
1 large cup of daily confessions (This is also hard because our old nature is prideful and
doesn’t want to admit our sins.) When confessions are blended in well with the
other ingredients it makes a wonderfully humble consistency. God loves humility.
After mixing and blending well pour all these ingredients in a prepared and holy vessel and bake in God’s Life-oven of Joys and tribulations. Bake a lifetime. If you follow these instructions explicitly you will experience and enjoy God’s Divine Nature (even while it is baking). Bon Appetit!!
“Come and Dine”
Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine.”
With His manna He doth feed and supplies our every need;
O ‘tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “come and dine,”
You may feast at Jesus table all the time;
He who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”
(C. B. Widmeyer)
…………………………
I like to cook and have a cabinet full of recipe books. I haven’t tried all the recipes in all of those books but I have found if I want a recipe to turn-out like it should, I must follow it explicitly.
God has given us the recipe to most glorious “dish” that if followed and digested will be a life changing experience and the most glorious results that could ever be imagined. The name of The Recipe is, “Sharing in God’s Divine Nature.” The secret of success to His Recipe is to follow it explicitly. This Recipe is simple but hard - simple instructions but hard to follow.
“Sharing in God’s Divine Nature”
Authored and Created by God the Father
You don’t have to heat your “oven of life,” it seems to always be hot enough to bake this Recipe.
1 completely committed life (This is hard because the flesh doesn’t want to commit to
God.)
Add: a life of obedience to God’s Word (This is also hard because our old nature doesn’t
want to obey.)
1 Day-at-a-time of Trusting in God’s wonderful and powerful promises. (This is also
Hard because our old nature wants to trust in “self.”)
1 large cup of daily confessions (This is also hard because our old nature is prideful and
doesn’t want to admit our sins.) When confessions are blended in well with the
other ingredients it makes a wonderfully humble consistency. God loves humility.
After mixing and blending well pour all these ingredients in a prepared and holy vessel and bake in God’s Life-oven of Joys and tribulations. Bake a lifetime. If you follow these instructions explicitly you will experience and enjoy God’s Divine Nature (even while it is baking). Bon Appetit!!
“Come and Dine”
Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine.”
With His manna He doth feed and supplies our every need;
O ‘tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “come and dine,”
You may feast at Jesus table all the time;
He who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”
(C. B. Widmeyer)
An Important God Equation
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
We are nothing……………………………………..0
God is Everything……………….........................+ Everything
Our nothingness, plus, God’s Everything, equals = Everything
All that we are and all that we have come from God as a gift. God is a “gift giver” and gives to us richly and freely all things to enjoy (I timothy 6:17), because God loves us and “love” gives. Any physical wealth, health or favor we have are all gifts from God. Any spiritual wealth or health we have are also gifts from God, so we cannot boast that we have obtained them of our own strength, ability, ingenuity or intelligence. But we must acknowledge that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), and boast in Him as being our “everything” (Psalm 34:2; II Corinthians 6:17). We must remember: He is the Great I AM! He is the eternal Everything (Exodus 3:14)!
(HE’S EVERYTHING TO ME)
W. by Kate Ulmer & Kate Byron
In sin I once had wandered, All weary, sad, and lone,
Till Jesus through His mercy -- Adopted me His own.
E’er since I learned to trust Him, His grace doth make me free,
And now I feel His pardon, He’s everything to me.
In sin no more I’ll wander; He’s Pilot, Friend, and Guide;
He brings me joy and singing; His Spirit doth abide.
A blessèd, loving Savior, The Lamb of Calvary!
He purchased my redemption. He’s everything to me.
No longer will I stray from -- His tender, loving care;
Like Him to be my purpose, My aim, my constant prayer.
And when He bids me welcome -- Throughout eternity,
I’ll praise His Name forever. He’s everything to me.
Refrain:
He’s everything to me, From sin He sets me free,
His peace and love my portion -- Through all eternity!
He’s everything to me, More than I dreamed could be.
O praise His Name forever! He’s everything to me.
We are nothing……………………………………..0
God is Everything……………….........................+ Everything
Our nothingness, plus, God’s Everything, equals = Everything
All that we are and all that we have come from God as a gift. God is a “gift giver” and gives to us richly and freely all things to enjoy (I timothy 6:17), because God loves us and “love” gives. Any physical wealth, health or favor we have are all gifts from God. Any spiritual wealth or health we have are also gifts from God, so we cannot boast that we have obtained them of our own strength, ability, ingenuity or intelligence. But we must acknowledge that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), and boast in Him as being our “everything” (Psalm 34:2; II Corinthians 6:17). We must remember: He is the Great I AM! He is the eternal Everything (Exodus 3:14)!
(HE’S EVERYTHING TO ME)
W. by Kate Ulmer & Kate Byron
In sin I once had wandered, All weary, sad, and lone,
Till Jesus through His mercy -- Adopted me His own.
E’er since I learned to trust Him, His grace doth make me free,
And now I feel His pardon, He’s everything to me.
In sin no more I’ll wander; He’s Pilot, Friend, and Guide;
He brings me joy and singing; His Spirit doth abide.
A blessèd, loving Savior, The Lamb of Calvary!
He purchased my redemption. He’s everything to me.
No longer will I stray from -- His tender, loving care;
Like Him to be my purpose, My aim, my constant prayer.
And when He bids me welcome -- Throughout eternity,
I’ll praise His Name forever. He’s everything to me.
Refrain:
He’s everything to me, From sin He sets me free,
His peace and love my portion -- Through all eternity!
He’s everything to me, More than I dreamed could be.
O praise His Name forever! He’s everything to me.
A True But Sad, Sad Story
“So Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod -(wandering).” (Genesis 4:16)
Part of my Bible reading yesterday was the story of Cain and Able. I had read this story many times before but in this reading the pathos I felt touched me as never before, because this could be the story of any of our lives - “But for the mercy and grace of God there go I.” This could very well be the story of my or your child or grandchild.
This is a story of Cain who was “continuing in the wrong direction.” It is a story of how taking one step of disobedience can lead us down a path of destruction. It is a story of blatant willfulness against the will of the loving heavenly Father. It is a story of an unrepentant heart to the end. It is a story of reaping what you sow. How very, very sad!
It is also a story of the mercy of a loving heavenly Father Who would have saved, but Cain would not repent and accept the offered salvation. This story reminds me of the incident when Jesus’ life was being threatened by the very ones He had come to save. Their hearts were hardened and their minds twisted with hatred and self will. He responded to their hatred and threats with, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who continue to kill the prophets and to stone those who are sent to you! How often I have desired and yearned to gather your children together around Me, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you would not!” (Luke 3:14)
The Prodigal Son is another story of one who chose to “continue in the wrong direction,” but his ending was different because he “came to himself” and turned from his willful ways and returned to the Father who was waiting to forgive and restore. Cain never repented but chose to suffer the consequences of his disobedience – to be cursed by God, (read all of the fourth chapter of Genesis). How very, very sad!
Cain found there were steps of digression taken by “continuing in the wrong direction” - by following his disobedient choices to the point of the final consequences of those choices. This digression started in Genesis 4:3 when Cain, who was a “tiller of the ground” – (a farmer), brought the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.
Seth, Cain’s younger brother, was a shepherd and brought the firstborn of his flock as an offering to the Lord. It doesn’t say in this story, but evidently the Lord had already set down the “ground rules” for bringing a sin offering to the Lord. It had to be a “blood offering,” if available (Hebrews 9:22), with the exception in the Old Testament if a blood sacrifice was not available a sin offering specifically should be an “ephah of fine flour,” (ephah is a Hebrew measure of grain) - (Leviticus 5:6-12).
Genesis 4:3 tells us Cain “brought an offering of the ground.” This could have been vegetables or maybe even grain, but the instructions were to bring a measure of “fine flour.” God wanted Cain to obey because he wanted to obey and please God, but Cain’s heart was filled with willfulness and sin, so instead of obeying what God had commanded for an offering to have his sins forgiven, Cain chose to “make a showing” of an offering by doing it his way, not a sacrifice of love to the Lord, but by offering God some of his surplus “stuff.”
Because of the hearts’ condition of these two men, Cain and Abel, God “regarded” Abel’s offering as acceptable, but Cain’s offering as unacceptable because it was offered with a disobedient and willful heart. In II Corinthians 9:7 it says that God loves a cheerful giver. If anything given to God is not given cheerfully, it is not considered a love gift. Love and obedience goes hand-in-hand (see I John 5:2-3). You maybe can obey without loving (obeying out of duty); but you cannot love God without obeying Him. Cain had the first problem. He was giving lip-service to God’s Command by just giving an offering of any kind, but inwardly it was all his will & his way – it was rebellion.
But God saw the true heart of each and therefore, when God did not accept Cain’s offering, he became angry and looked sad and depressed (Gen.4:5). This is the next step of his “continuing in the wrong direction.” Anger always comes when sin is found out and guilt and rationalization show up. This is the time when Cain should have confessed his sin and received God’s forgiveness, but instead the stronghold of rebellion and pride, which had set itself up in Cain’s heart, took even a stronger grip. Even in verses 6&7 when God tries to reason with and warn Cain by asking, “Why are you angry and sad? Don’t you know if you do well and obey Me you will be accepted? But if you do not do well and disobey, sin crouches at the door and desires to master you, but you must master it. You must take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (II Cor.10:4-5). You must submit your self to God and resist the devil, who is waiting to devour you, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).” But Cain “would not.”
Because of his jealousy of Abel’s offering being “accepted” by God, Cain enticed Abel to go out into the field and he killed his brother, Abel. This was his next step of digression – murder. Why did Cain kill his brother? - I John 3:12 tells us why, “Because he took his motivation from the evil one and his deeds were malicious but his brother’s were righteous and virtuous.” Even at this point, God would have forgiven and accepted Cain if he would only repent and ask for forgiveness, but Cain would not. That was so very, very sad!
This has all been such a sad digression into sin, but what is, to me, the saddest step of digression is the step Cain took in Genesis 4:16. In verses 9-15, God discloses His knowledge of Abel’s murder and made Cain own up to it. Because of Cain’s steps of “continuing in the wrong direction,” God cursed Cain in verse 12 – “When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth in perpetual exile, a degrading outcast.” In verses 13-14 Cain cries out in anguish to God (but not in repentance). God still would have accepted Cain – but he would not!!
The saddest step of Cain's digression - “So Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod (wandering)”(Genesis 4:16). Why is this so sad to me? Because in God’s presence there is fullness of joy, peace, safety, mercy, grace, comfort and everything we need to have a fulfilling life, and Cain was willing to give up all those benefits to "enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."
Let’s choose “the road less traveled”- the road of love and obedience- the road Abel chose that leads straight into the presence of our Father! That is a happy story!
Trust and Obey
John H. Sammis
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
Part of my Bible reading yesterday was the story of Cain and Able. I had read this story many times before but in this reading the pathos I felt touched me as never before, because this could be the story of any of our lives - “But for the mercy and grace of God there go I.” This could very well be the story of my or your child or grandchild.
This is a story of Cain who was “continuing in the wrong direction.” It is a story of how taking one step of disobedience can lead us down a path of destruction. It is a story of blatant willfulness against the will of the loving heavenly Father. It is a story of an unrepentant heart to the end. It is a story of reaping what you sow. How very, very sad!
It is also a story of the mercy of a loving heavenly Father Who would have saved, but Cain would not repent and accept the offered salvation. This story reminds me of the incident when Jesus’ life was being threatened by the very ones He had come to save. Their hearts were hardened and their minds twisted with hatred and self will. He responded to their hatred and threats with, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who continue to kill the prophets and to stone those who are sent to you! How often I have desired and yearned to gather your children together around Me, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you would not!” (Luke 3:14)
The Prodigal Son is another story of one who chose to “continue in the wrong direction,” but his ending was different because he “came to himself” and turned from his willful ways and returned to the Father who was waiting to forgive and restore. Cain never repented but chose to suffer the consequences of his disobedience – to be cursed by God, (read all of the fourth chapter of Genesis). How very, very sad!
Cain found there were steps of digression taken by “continuing in the wrong direction” - by following his disobedient choices to the point of the final consequences of those choices. This digression started in Genesis 4:3 when Cain, who was a “tiller of the ground” – (a farmer), brought the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.
Seth, Cain’s younger brother, was a shepherd and brought the firstborn of his flock as an offering to the Lord. It doesn’t say in this story, but evidently the Lord had already set down the “ground rules” for bringing a sin offering to the Lord. It had to be a “blood offering,” if available (Hebrews 9:22), with the exception in the Old Testament if a blood sacrifice was not available a sin offering specifically should be an “ephah of fine flour,” (ephah is a Hebrew measure of grain) - (Leviticus 5:6-12).
Genesis 4:3 tells us Cain “brought an offering of the ground.” This could have been vegetables or maybe even grain, but the instructions were to bring a measure of “fine flour.” God wanted Cain to obey because he wanted to obey and please God, but Cain’s heart was filled with willfulness and sin, so instead of obeying what God had commanded for an offering to have his sins forgiven, Cain chose to “make a showing” of an offering by doing it his way, not a sacrifice of love to the Lord, but by offering God some of his surplus “stuff.”
Because of the hearts’ condition of these two men, Cain and Abel, God “regarded” Abel’s offering as acceptable, but Cain’s offering as unacceptable because it was offered with a disobedient and willful heart. In II Corinthians 9:7 it says that God loves a cheerful giver. If anything given to God is not given cheerfully, it is not considered a love gift. Love and obedience goes hand-in-hand (see I John 5:2-3). You maybe can obey without loving (obeying out of duty); but you cannot love God without obeying Him. Cain had the first problem. He was giving lip-service to God’s Command by just giving an offering of any kind, but inwardly it was all his will & his way – it was rebellion.
But God saw the true heart of each and therefore, when God did not accept Cain’s offering, he became angry and looked sad and depressed (Gen.4:5). This is the next step of his “continuing in the wrong direction.” Anger always comes when sin is found out and guilt and rationalization show up. This is the time when Cain should have confessed his sin and received God’s forgiveness, but instead the stronghold of rebellion and pride, which had set itself up in Cain’s heart, took even a stronger grip. Even in verses 6&7 when God tries to reason with and warn Cain by asking, “Why are you angry and sad? Don’t you know if you do well and obey Me you will be accepted? But if you do not do well and disobey, sin crouches at the door and desires to master you, but you must master it. You must take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (II Cor.10:4-5). You must submit your self to God and resist the devil, who is waiting to devour you, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).” But Cain “would not.”
Because of his jealousy of Abel’s offering being “accepted” by God, Cain enticed Abel to go out into the field and he killed his brother, Abel. This was his next step of digression – murder. Why did Cain kill his brother? - I John 3:12 tells us why, “Because he took his motivation from the evil one and his deeds were malicious but his brother’s were righteous and virtuous.” Even at this point, God would have forgiven and accepted Cain if he would only repent and ask for forgiveness, but Cain would not. That was so very, very sad!
This has all been such a sad digression into sin, but what is, to me, the saddest step of digression is the step Cain took in Genesis 4:16. In verses 9-15, God discloses His knowledge of Abel’s murder and made Cain own up to it. Because of Cain’s steps of “continuing in the wrong direction,” God cursed Cain in verse 12 – “When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth in perpetual exile, a degrading outcast.” In verses 13-14 Cain cries out in anguish to God (but not in repentance). God still would have accepted Cain – but he would not!!
The saddest step of Cain's digression - “So Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod (wandering)”(Genesis 4:16). Why is this so sad to me? Because in God’s presence there is fullness of joy, peace, safety, mercy, grace, comfort and everything we need to have a fulfilling life, and Cain was willing to give up all those benefits to "enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."
Let’s choose “the road less traveled”- the road of love and obedience- the road Abel chose that leads straight into the presence of our Father! That is a happy story!
Trust and Obey
John H. Sammis
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Recipe
January 3, 2012
“God gave us His wonderful and powerful promises, so that as a result, we will share in His divine nature.” (II Peter 1:4) ..................... I like to cook and I have a cabinet full of recipe books. I haven’t tried all the recipes in all of those books but I have found if I want a recipe to turn-out like it should, I must follow it explicitly. God has given us the recipe to the most glorious “dish” that if followed and digested will be a life changing experience and the most glorious results that could ever be imagined. The name of The Recipe is, “Sharing in God’s Divine Nature.” The secret of success to His Recipe is to follow it explicitly. This Recipe is simple but hard - simple instructions but hard to follow. .......................
“Sharing in God’s Divine Nature”
(Authored and Created and Submitted to us by God the Father)
You don’t have to heat your “oven of life,” it seems to always be hot enough to bake this Recipe.
One completely committed life (This is hard because the flesh doesn’t want to commit to God.)
Add: a life of obedience to God’s Word (This is also hard because our old nature doesn’t want to obey.)
One Day-at-a-time of Trusting in God’s wonderful and powerful promises. (This is also hard because our old nature wants to trust in “self.”)
One large cup of daily confessions (This is also hard because our old nature is prideful and doesn’t want to admit our sins.) When confessions are blended in well with the other ingredients it makes a wonderfully humble consistency. God loves humility.
After mixing and blending well, pour all these ingredients in a prepared and holy vessel and bake in God’s Life-oven of Joys and tribulations. Bake a lifetime. If you follow these instructions explicitly you will experience and enjoy God’s Divine Nature (even while it is baking).
Bon Appetit!!
“Come and Dine”
(C.B. Widmeyer)
Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine.”
With His manna He doth feed and supplies our every need;
O ‘tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “come and dine,”
You may feast at Jesus table all the time;
He who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”
“God gave us His wonderful and powerful promises, so that as a result, we will share in His divine nature.” (II Peter 1:4) ..................... I like to cook and I have a cabinet full of recipe books. I haven’t tried all the recipes in all of those books but I have found if I want a recipe to turn-out like it should, I must follow it explicitly. God has given us the recipe to the most glorious “dish” that if followed and digested will be a life changing experience and the most glorious results that could ever be imagined. The name of The Recipe is, “Sharing in God’s Divine Nature.” The secret of success to His Recipe is to follow it explicitly. This Recipe is simple but hard - simple instructions but hard to follow. .......................
“Sharing in God’s Divine Nature”
(Authored and Created and Submitted to us by God the Father)
You don’t have to heat your “oven of life,” it seems to always be hot enough to bake this Recipe.
One completely committed life (This is hard because the flesh doesn’t want to commit to God.)
Add: a life of obedience to God’s Word (This is also hard because our old nature doesn’t want to obey.)
One Day-at-a-time of Trusting in God’s wonderful and powerful promises. (This is also hard because our old nature wants to trust in “self.”)
One large cup of daily confessions (This is also hard because our old nature is prideful and doesn’t want to admit our sins.) When confessions are blended in well with the other ingredients it makes a wonderfully humble consistency. God loves humility.
After mixing and blending well, pour all these ingredients in a prepared and holy vessel and bake in God’s Life-oven of Joys and tribulations. Bake a lifetime. If you follow these instructions explicitly you will experience and enjoy God’s Divine Nature (even while it is baking).
Bon Appetit!!
“Come and Dine”
(C.B. Widmeyer)
Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine.”
With His manna He doth feed and supplies our every need;
O ‘tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “come and dine,”
You may feast at Jesus table all the time;
He who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”
Monday, January 2, 2012
An Important God Equation
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
We are nothing……………………………………....................0
God is Everything……………….........................+ Everything
Our nothingness, plus, God’s Everything, equals = Everything
All that we are and all that we have come from God as a gift. God is a “gift giver” and gives to us richly and freely all things to enjoy (I timothy 6:17), because God love us and “love” gives. Any physical wealth, health or favor we have are all gifts from God. Any spiritual wealth or health we have are also gifts from God, so we cannot boast that we have obtained them of our own strength, ability, ingenuity or intelligence. But we must acknowledge that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), and boast in Him as being our “everything” (Psalm 34:2; II Corinthians 6:17). We must remember: He is the Great I AM! He is the eternal Everything (Exodus 3:14)!
(HE’S EVERYTHING TO ME)
W. by Kate Ulmer & Kate Byron
In sin I once had wandered, All weary, sad, and lone,
Till Jesus through His mercy -- Adopted me His own.
E’er since I learned to trust Him, His grace doth make me free,
And now I feel His pardon, He’s everything to me.
In sin no more I’ll wander; He’s Pilot, Friend, and Guide;
He brings me joy and singing; His Spirit doth abide.
A blessèd, loving Savior, The Lamb of Calvary!
He purchased my redemption. He’s everything to me.
No longer will I stray from -- His tender, loving care;
Like Him to be my purpose, My aim, my constant prayer.
And when He bids me welcome -- Throughout eternity,
I’ll praise His Name forever. He’s everything to me.
Refrain:
He’s everything to me, From sin He sets me free,
His peace and love my portion -- Through all eternity!
He’s everything to me, More than I dreamed could be.
O praise His Name forever! He’s everything to me.
We are nothing……………………………………....................0
God is Everything……………….........................+ Everything
Our nothingness, plus, God’s Everything, equals = Everything
All that we are and all that we have come from God as a gift. God is a “gift giver” and gives to us richly and freely all things to enjoy (I timothy 6:17), because God love us and “love” gives. Any physical wealth, health or favor we have are all gifts from God. Any spiritual wealth or health we have are also gifts from God, so we cannot boast that we have obtained them of our own strength, ability, ingenuity or intelligence. But we must acknowledge that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), and boast in Him as being our “everything” (Psalm 34:2; II Corinthians 6:17). We must remember: He is the Great I AM! He is the eternal Everything (Exodus 3:14)!
(HE’S EVERYTHING TO ME)
W. by Kate Ulmer & Kate Byron
In sin I once had wandered, All weary, sad, and lone,
Till Jesus through His mercy -- Adopted me His own.
E’er since I learned to trust Him, His grace doth make me free,
And now I feel His pardon, He’s everything to me.
In sin no more I’ll wander; He’s Pilot, Friend, and Guide;
He brings me joy and singing; His Spirit doth abide.
A blessèd, loving Savior, The Lamb of Calvary!
He purchased my redemption. He’s everything to me.
No longer will I stray from -- His tender, loving care;
Like Him to be my purpose, My aim, my constant prayer.
And when He bids me welcome -- Throughout eternity,
I’ll praise His Name forever. He’s everything to me.
Refrain:
He’s everything to me, From sin He sets me free,
His peace and love my portion -- Through all eternity!
He’s everything to me, More than I dreamed could be.
O praise His Name forever! He’s everything to me.
Faith is Gold
January 2, 2012
“So that the genuineness of your faith may be tested, because your faith is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. This proving of your faith is to redound to your praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Peter 1:7)
Did you know God considers your faith even more precious than what we consider the preciousness of gold. Today the price of gold is the highest it has ever sold in U. S. dollars, according to Google information. Why is gold so precious? Because, gold is very rare, it is hard to extract, it is enduring, it is beautiful and doesn’t rust or discolor. We measure all other values by it because it is “precious.”
The above scripture tells us that our faith is tested for its genuineness like gold is tested for purity. I read many years ago how gold is refined and tested by fire and the analogy is so applicable to how our faith is being refined, tested and purified that I want to share it.
The entire explanation of how gold is refined is too technical and lengthy to include in this writing but basically the gold ore is put into a crucible placed on a very hot fire (gold melts at l,l02 C). When the gold reaches its melting point it separates from all the earthy impurities in which it has been infused. These impurities rise to the top of the mixture and are skimmed off by the refiner. These impurities are called “dross.” This process is continued until there is nothing left in the crucible but the precious, pure gold. The point at which the refiner can tell that there are no more impurities is when he looks into the crucible and can clearly see his own reflection.
What a perfect analogy as to how our Father (the Refiner) purifies our faith by putting us in the crucible of life and turns up the fire of His discipline and life’s excruciating circumstances – this tests the genuineness of our faith. When we are in the crucible of life and the fire has been turned up to “high,” the impurities in our life (doubts, fears, self-will, etc.) begin to rise to the surface, the Refiner skims off the dross in our lives with His ladle of His promises and His Word. This process of heating and skimming sometimes makes us feel as if “we are all goin’ to skimmins,” but the Refiner is simply “separating the precious from the vile” (Jeremy 15:19). He is replacing the doubts about Him with the Truth of His Word.
This life process causes our faith to become more pure with every testing. This proving process is intended for our glory when others see the reflection of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is at this point that our faith has become as pure gold and is more precious to the Father than real pure gold.
In the third chapter of Revelation, God is talking to the church in Laodicea whose faith had become contaminated with lukewarmness, self-sufficiency and spiritual blindness. The Father counseled them to buy spiritual gold (true faith), which would make them truly wealthy and would cover their nakedness with God’s robe of righteousness. And this refined faith would be the salve to put on their eyes so they could see the Truth of God’s Word. We are implored to do the same because the world, especially the western world, has been so contaminated with the its perspective and ways, that only the Refiner’s process will make us pure again. And only then will others see the beauty of Jesus in us.
“Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Me”
Albert W. T. Orsborn
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me – all His wonderful passion and purity!
O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine, till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!
Did you know God considers your faith even more precious than what we consider the preciousness of gold. Today the price of gold is the highest it has ever sold in U. S. dollars, according to Google information. Why is gold so precious? Because, gold is very rare, it is hard to extract, it is enduring, it is beautiful and doesn’t rust or discolor. We measure all other values by it because it is “precious.”
The above scripture tells us that our faith is tested for its genuineness like gold is tested for purity. I read many years ago how gold is refined and tested by fire and the analogy is so applicable to how our faith is being refined, tested and purified that I want to share it.
The entire explanation of how gold is refined is too technical and lengthy to include in this writing but basically the gold ore is put into a crucible placed on a very hot fire (gold melts at l,l02 C). When the gold reaches its melting point it separates from all the earthy impurities in which it has been infused. These impurities rise to the top of the mixture and are skimmed off by the refiner. These impurities are called “dross.” This process is continued until there is nothing left in the crucible but the precious, pure gold. The point at which the refiner can tell that there are no more impurities is when he looks into the crucible and can clearly see his own reflection.
What a perfect analogy as to how our Father (the Refiner) purifies our faith by putting us in the crucible of life and turns up the fire of His discipline and life’s excruciating circumstances – this tests the genuineness of our faith. When we are in the crucible of life and the fire has been turned up to “high,” the impurities in our life (doubts, fears, self-will, etc.) begin to rise to the surface, the Refiner skims off the dross in our lives with His ladle of His promises and His Word. This process of heating and skimming sometimes makes us feel as if “we are all goin’ to skimmins,” but the Refiner is simply “separating the precious from the vile” (Jeremy 15:19). He is replacing the doubts about Him with the Truth of His Word.
This life process causes our faith to become more pure with every testing. This proving process is intended for our glory when others see the reflection of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is at this point that our faith has become as pure gold and is more precious to the Father than real pure gold.
In the third chapter of Revelation, God is talking to the church in Laodicea whose faith had become contaminated with lukewarmness, self-sufficiency and spiritual blindness. The Father counseled them to buy spiritual gold (true faith), which would make them truly wealthy and would cover their nakedness with God’s robe of righteousness. And this refined faith would be the salve to put on their eyes so they could see the Truth of God’s Word. We are implored to do the same because the world, especially the western world, has been so contaminated with the its perspective and ways, that only the Refiner’s process will make us pure again. And only then will others see the beauty of Jesus in us.
“Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Me”
Albert W. T. Orsborn
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me – all His wonderful passion and purity!
O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine, till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!
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