The Real Meaning of Christmas

“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!” (Isaac Watts) Most do not know the real meaning of the Christian Christmas holiday. In fact many are marking out “Christ” and replacing with an X – Xmas, or completely getting rid of the term, “Merry Christmas,” and now say “Happy Holidays.” The secular world doesn’t want Christ to have any part of these holidays. Actually, the name Christmas comes from the term, Christ’s Mass, which comes from the Catholic Church, to mean “the worship of Christ.” But has been infiltrated, distorted, and polluted by many heathen practices. But the Christian Church has embraced the idea of celebrating the coming of Christ into the world to bring about our salvation. Jesus Christ probably was not born on December 25, or even in December, but Christians wanted to have a “special day” to celebrate the free Gift from God the Father to us that by accepting Him we might be “saved.” The tree and the decorations are just part of our celebration to commemorate God’s magnanimous Gift. We celebrate with a pure heart toward God, the only God, Who is pure, all powerful, omniscient, omnipresent, and all loving God. Because of His love for us, God the Father gave Jesus Christ to us in the form of a baby. All this is to say, the true meaning of Christmas is LOVE, so what is real love? Real love “gives.” John 3:16 tells that God so loved the world (all of us) that He gave. He loved us so much that He was willing to give His most precious Gift, His Son, Jesus, to live and die for us so that those who would accept and commit to Him and become His children, so we could one day live with Him! Real love “gives.” It gives our very “self.” Read, study and meditate on this chapter of scripture to learn, or learn again, the real meaning of Christmas. The theme of every book in the Bible, in some way, is about the love of God. I can be the most talented, so I can speak in the tongues of men and even of angels, but have not that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion that God’s love inspires in me, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And I may have so much faith so I can remove mountains; and if I can understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am a useless nobody. Even if I dole out all that I have to the poor to provide food, and if I surrender my body to be burned (that I may gain glory), but have not God’s love in me, I gain nothing (I Cor.13:1-3 Amp). Verse 4&5 says that “true love” endures long and is patient and kind, and is not envious, nor jealous, boastful, nor conceited, nor rude, and does not displays itself haughtily. God’s love in us does not insist on its own rights or its own way; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful. God’s love in us causes us to be humble – we know from Whom all our abilities and our very life come. Real love “forgives.” I Cor.13:5c (Amp.) says “real love” takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong). Verse 7 says that real love bears up under anything and everything that comes, it is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything without weakening. In verses 6&8 it says that God’s kind of love does not rejoice in injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. It believes the best of every person. God’s love never fails, never fades out or becomes obsolete. Faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is LOVE! God is love! Love is His Essence, His DNA. He can do no less than love, He cannot change! He loved us when He knew us before we were born. He loved us while we were still sinners. That is why He willingly came to earth as a baby, to live a despised life by many, to die a hideous death on the cross for us, and He continues to love us from His place at the right hand of the Father. He sent His Holy Spirit to convince us of our sin and that Jesus loves us and is our Savior. The Holy Spirit will stay with us to keep, guide and comfort us. He prays for us that we will accept Him and commit our lives to Him. This is what Christmas is really all about – LOVE! Jesus gives us a “new commandment” in John 13:34 to, “Love one another as I have loved you.” May we all grasp and cling to His love for us, may it change us, may we internalize it and make it our own to expend on all with whom we come in contact, the good and the bad. That’s what Christmas is all about! Because Jesus came as a baby, lived as a man, died as our Savior, rose as our conqueror, and is our soon coming King, we can joyfully say, MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanksgiving Prayer After the 2016 Election

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You, Jesus for the victory in our nation’s election! Victory for the unborn; victory for the sanctity of marriage; victory for freedom of religion; and on and on for the victories for the freedom to follow the righteousness You have set down for us in Your Word. You are faithful ! – Faithful to keep Your promises, faithful to hear our cries, faithful to hear our prayers!! You heard our cries for mercy! You, once again have proved Yourself! You overlooked our fears and our doubts! You just accepted our “mustard seed” faith and showed Yourself great and faithful on our behalf! You are good, and You are great, and greatly to be praised!! We shout with Andre Crouch, “How can I say thanks for the things You have done for us? Things so undeserved, yet You did to prove Your love for us.” This victory shows the character of the Almighty, Omniscient, All Loving, Ever Present and Ever Merciful God – Jehovah Jireh, our Provider! Now, we need You to hear our cries for our newly elected President! Father, bring him to the foot of the cross in humility. May he openly acknowledge You as the Sovereign God Who rules the affairs of man, Who loves us even when we have walked so far from You and listened to the lies of the enemy of our soul, Satan, and You now wait to give us forgiveness, a clean heart, newness and restoration of all we have lost. Protect him, spirit, soul and body from Satan, our enemy. May he be the leader in humbling himself, praying, seeking Your face, and turning from his wicked ways (II Chr.7:14). Then he can claim the promise for You to “heal our land.” Only You can heal our hearts, so may Your Holy Spirit move in the hearts of all the people of this land to follow You first, then our leader, Donald Trump, in becoming a dedicated people to the righteousness of God You set forth in Your Word. Father, help us “to not remember the former things, neither consider the things of old, but to look to the new thing that is now springing forth (Isa.43:18-19). Thank You for giving us a new start, a new hope, and new courage to stand boldly for righteousness. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (II Chr.20:12c)! Hear our prayer, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer! Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing! Know and recognize that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Come into His presence and up close to Him with thanksgiving and praise! Be thankful and praise His name, Jehovah – the Almighty, Eternal, All Powerful and Sovereign God! For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting. His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations (Ps.100). (This is my heart’s response to the miraculous answer to our pleas for help regarding our nation! We must not forget to praise the One Who is the only One Who could bring about this victory, and I hope you will join me). Mary Jones

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD Psalm 23 is a Psalm that addresses all the needs and lack in our lives, and Jesus is the One Who can meet all that “lack.” Let’s look at Psalm 23 and see how Jesus is the Good Shepherd who fills full all of our “lack.” Psalm 23:1 shows us how our Good Shepherd will feed, guide, and shield us – if we follow Him we shall have no lack. In verse 2 & 3 He leads us to a place of peace, tranquility and rest after being depleted by our own waywardness, He will refresh and restore us and lead us back into the paths of righteousness (not for our earning it but) for His name’s sake –His name is Jehovah- Tsidkenue (our righteousness), what love and grace! In verse four the Good Shepherd is portrayed as the One Who continually walks with us, even through the shadows of death. We don’t have to be afraid of any evil because He is with us, and remember: “Greater is He that is within us than He that is in the world” (I Jn.4:4). He is with us even in the shadows of “death” to a dream; death of a loved one; death to a job that supplies our livelihood; death to a friendship; or our actual death, or anything that brings us into a place of shadows, depression or fear. Remember that our enemy, Satan, has come to steal, kill and destroy us, but Jesus has come to give us life and life more abundantly (Jn.10:10)! He has, and uses His rod of protection for anything Satan would devise to hurt or destroy us. He has His staff to guide us in the way we should go, the path of righteousness. He is The Light of the World, and if we look to that Light and walk in that Light, He will eventually bring us through and out of the “shadow of death,” and into His glorious Light, which will be a place of joy, peace and comfort. Verse 5 & 6 tells us that when we are His child, and one of His “sheep,” the Father prepares a banqueting table for us with wonderful plenty, while the enemy, who has been warring against us, spirit, soul, and body, will stand and watch us feasting on the goodness of God. “You anoint my head with oil.” In the Bible “oil” was used for the act of dedication to God; to mix with sacrificial items; marking God’s anointed; signifying richness, fruitfulness; putting on the face to make it shine to appear healthy. It was a symbol of the Holy Spirit Who comes into our lives when we give ourselves to God. He brings richness and fruitfulness into our lives, and brings a shining, joyful countenance to us. He enables us to be over-comers, and to do all things through His strength and ability. Our cup is running over with His grace, goodness, mercy and love! Surely all of these good things shall follow us all the days of our lives, and in His presence we will live! Everyone needs all of these things that are found in Jesus, so He is all we need. We need: Love – John 3:16. He is love. Love is character and He cannot be anything but loving. Just as Jesus is eternal, His love is eternal, it is unconditional! We cannot do more good things to make Him love us more; nor can we do any worse things to cause Him to love us less. He will always love us! We need a protector - He is our Protector - Ps.3:3! We need someone to lean on and sustain us - He is our Sustainer (the One we can lean on) – Ps.3:5! The whole world is crying for peace – peace in our world, heart and mind. He is our Peace – Isa.26:3! When we are weak and tired He is our Rest – Ps.16:8-9! When Satan with the circumstances of life have oppressed and depressed us -He is our Comforter – II Cor.1:3-4! When we are lost and wandering - He is our Seeker – Eze.34:16a; Luke 19:10! We are desperately in need of help - He is our Helper – Ps.33:20! We want and seek truth -He is The Truth – Jn.14:17! We want and need a true friend who will be there for us. Someone who knows us, yet loves us - He is our intimate Friend - Prov.18:24; Jn.15:14; Ps.139:1-18! When we are bound by addictive habits of the body and of the mind - He is our Deliverer – Ps.18:2! When we don’t know which decision to make or which path to follow - He is our Guide and Counselor – Jn.16:13; Isa.9:6! When we are in the “pigpen” of life and come to Him for cleansing, He will clean us up and give us His clean Robe of Righteous.” - He is our Righteousness – I Jn.1:9: Rom.3:21-24! What more, or who else could we want to satisfy our deepest needs and longings? Only the Lord Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd! He is all we need or want!!

Waiting Takes Some Serious Doing

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and selected young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:30-31 Amp.) This kind of waiting is not sitting down and folding our hands and being inactive but waiting on God to answer our prayers involves some “serious doing” on our part. Sounds like an oxymoron? The Hebrew word for “wait” in our text is “qavah,” a prime root which means, “To bind together by twisting; (fig.) to expect – gather together, look, patiently wait (for, on, upon).” This definition of “wait” spells out the “serious doings” of waiting upon the Lord. So, what are they? First to wait and expect Him to act on our prayers, we must to come into His presence with clean hands and a pure heart (Ps.24:4). He will not hear our prayers if we come to Him soiled with sin (Ps.66:18). We must confess our sins, and know that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (IJn.1:9). Coming into His presence with clean hands and a pure hear is our first “serious doing” to be ready to wait on Him. After becoming clean we should praise God. Having a grateful heart moves the heart of God. Thank Him “in” everything (I Thess.5:18). Right in the middle of your problem give Him thanks for being your problem solver; thanks for being with you in your problem, thanks that He knows the answer, He is in control and in His time He will make everything beautiful (Eccl.3:11). Also thank Him “for” the problem (Eph.5:20). Thank Him for how He is teaching you with your problem - that you are learning to trust Him for a successful solution, and how your faith could not grow without problems. Andrae’ Crouch’s song, “Through It All,” says it all: I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow, There've been times I didn't know right from wrong; But in every situation God gave blessed consolation that my trials Come to only make me strong. I thank God for the mountains, And I thank Him for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He brought me through; For if I'd never had a problem I wouldn't know that He could solve them, I'd never know what fait in God could do. Chorus: Through it all, Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, Through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word! Next, we must “gather together” all of our desires, dreams, aspirations, and all we are, and commit our all to the One Who thoroughly knows us, Who knows what is best for us, Who knows every circumstance that must take place before we are ready to “mount up with wings; to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint.” Committing our all to Him is hard, because it means committing our will and our self-centeredness to God in exchange for His wisdom, His will and His Righteousness. (This is part of the Great Exchange I wrote about in another blog, December 26, 2008). More “serious doing” while waiting on the Lord is faith-filled praying. Not just presenting our petitions and going our way and hoping God heard us and will answer just the way we want it answered. But this is the part of “binding together” by twisting our will and our way of doing it to the One Who knows what is best and has the power to answer our prayers. When we have faith in, and trust our prayers to Him and His promises, we shall become bonded together with Him “Who is able to do abundantly, above all we could ask, hope or imagine” (Eph.3:20). His will becomes our will, and we can patiently wait for His answers. To come near to Him We trust our all to Him, and “We must know that God exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6). Having rewarding faith is being able to “Cast all of our care, your anxieties, all your worries and all your concerns on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (I Pet.5:7 Amp.). Until we come to this position of faith, we are not truly waiting on Him to answer our prayers. God is not as man that He should, or would lie, but what He says, He will do. All his promises are true – “Yes and Amen in Jesus” (II Cor.1:20). So when we come with clean hands and a pure heart, submitting our all to Him and fitting into His plan, and pray in faith believing He is God and will reward our faith with a “yes and amen” to His promises (Heb.12:1-3), then our waiting is rewarded by our prayers being answered, our strength being renewed, and we will be “lifted on wings as eagles; we will run and not be weary; and we shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

The Twenty Third Psalm (As I Enjoy It)

I imagine if you were to ask everyone who was familiar with the Bible, “What is your favorite Psalm” the large majority would say the 23rd Psalm. Whenever I stop to meditate on it, it thrills my heart to drink in the love of the Good Shepherd for those of us who love Him. It says to me: First verse: “Because the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want or lack anything.” The Good shepherd provides perfectly everything His sheep would need (and I am one of His sheep). As one of His sheep, I need to know all of my needs will eternally be met. Because He is eternal, and He will never change, He will eternally meet my needs, if I trust Him. Love is something all of us want and need. As one of His sheep, God, the Father, loves us with an everlasting love (Ps.100:5), and John 15:13 tells us, “No one has greater love than to lay down His own life for His friends.” And John 3:16 tells us, “For God so dearly loved and prized the world that He even gave up His only begotten (unique) Son that whoever believes and trusts in, clings to, and relies on His shall not perish and be lost but have eternal life.” No matter what we do, nor how far away from Him we may run, His unconditional love will follow us – always wooing and drawing us back. If we are one of His sheep we cannot withstand His patient and pursuing love, but must fall at His feet for forgiveness, cleansing & complete restoration (I Jn.1:9) The Good Shepherd is our protector (spirit, soul and body), because we have made Him our refuge (Ps.91). He brings us into the fold and becomes the “door” so nothing that would hurt or destroy could come in or touch us. Jesus tells us in John 10:9, “I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out freely, and will find pasture.” He is our Sustainer (Ps.3:5), we can “lean on” Him, and when we are down He will “lift us up.” We all desire, and are looking for peace. The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have they who love your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble,” and in Psalm 3:1&2 David is instructing his son, “My Son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of a life worth living and tranquility (inward and outward and continuing to old age till death), these shall they add to you.” Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23). When we become one of his sheep, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, with all of His fruit: love, joy, peace, an even temper, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (humility), and self-control). How do we as His sheep keep peace of mind and heart? Isaiah 26:3 has the answer: “You will guard him and keep him in perfect peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You.” “Whatever is true, whatever is worthy reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and fix your mind on them” (Phil.4:8). When we become so harried with life that our mind and body demands rest, the Good Shepherd makes us “lie down in fresh, tender, green pastures; He leads us beside the still and restful waters, He refreshes and restores our souls” (Ps.23:2-3a). At the end when time shall be no more, “the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and he will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev.7:17). God gives us a promise of rest in Isaiah 30:15, “For thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel; ‘In returning to Me and resting in Me you shall be saved; in quietness and in trusting confidence shall be your strength.’” God gave another promise in Jeremiah 6:16, Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.” We all need and want a comforter to come along-side and bring comfort to our minds and heart through His promises from His Word The Good Shepherd is the Wonderful Comforter to those who are “discomforted,” and seek His face. Second Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of pity and mercy and the God Who is the Source of every comfort and encouragement, Who comforts us in every trouble (calamity or affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort with which we ourselves are consoled and encouraged by God. Before Jesus went back to heaven He promised believers another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf. He will teach you all things.” He is now ready for you to pour out your heart to Him with all your grief, pain, or anything causing discomfort. When we trust Him, He will bring wonderful comfort as He refreshes and restores our lives (our very selves); He leads us in the paths of righteousness (uprightness and right standing with Him - not for my earning it, but) for His name’s Sake (Ps.23:3). Sheep are very helpless creatures, just as we are (although we think we are very self-sufficient). We need help, and at times want help. When a sheep accidentally gets on his back he cannot right itself because of the rather square shape of his body if his fleece is thick. We can become affluent, strong, healthy and think we have need of nothing, when all the time we are spiritually neither cold or hot, we are wretched, poor, pitiable, blind and naked Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be truly wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. (Rev.3:15-18). Good Shepherd, Help us! Sheep need to know the truth about their shepherd, their enemy and where the fold is. We also need to know the Truth about the Good Shepherd – “He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes to the Father but by Him” (John 14:6). The truth is there is no other way to be saved from our sins but by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Truth is He is our All in All – He is the Word (Jn.1:1); He is the Light of Life (Jn.1:4); He is the Living Bread of Life (Jn.6:51); He is the Living Water (Jn.4:37). The truth is that all the books in the world could not contain all the Truth about Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world (Jn.21:25). We, as sheep, will all someday “walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but if we know Him we have nothing to fear for He will be with us; His rod and His staff will comfort us. We know if we are His sheep He will protect us and guide us. His rod is to protect us, for Shepherd’s would carry a long, heavy, club-like stick to ward off predators. Satan is our predator waiting and enticing us to follow him in paths we should not go, where he can steal, kill and destroy us - our peace, joy, reputation, etc. and fellowship with the Good Shepherd. Sometimes God has to use the rod of hard discipline to bring us back. Sometimes it is a debilitating illness; sometimes a loss of friendship; sometimes a loss of income; or sometimes even alienation from loved ones. We should be thankful for the rod of suffering that our Good Shepherd used to rescue us from Satan’s snares. Our Good Shepherd also uses a staff, which was a long stick, sometimes with a crook at the end used to pull the wandering into wrongful paths so Satan can’t take advantage of our vulnerability. Thank You, Jesus, for your staff! (Ps.23:4). The Good Shepherd prepares a table (food, drink, & plenty) before us in the presence of our enemies (Ps.23:5). What an unusual picture this verse paints. I see it as the Good Shepherd has led us into a safe haven where our enemy cannot come, because He is the “door” and stands ever ready to protect us, and has us seated at His banqueting table, filled with plenty of good food and drink to nourish, encourage and strengthen us against the hardships of life. Once again, I see this banquet as our feasting on God’s Word (the Bread of Life), and being encouraged and strengthened by His fellowship with us, all the while, our “enemy” has to stand outside and cannot come in. How rich and good to feast on God’s Word. It shows us the way we should go – It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps.119:105). Proverbs 4:20-22 tells us to,“attend to My words; consent and submit to My ways, let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.” Continuing in verse 5, “You anoint my head with oil.” My commentary tells me it was customary in hot climates (& without air conditioning) to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration and dehydration. When mixed with perfume, this oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a manner of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His “sheep” with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in his service and run in the way He directs – in heavenly fellowship with Him. Our “cup” runs over with joy and love for the Good Shepherd Who is so loving and attentive to our needs and wants. Only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and the length of my days the house of the Lord (His presence) shall be my dwelling place (Ps.23:6). If we have Jesus as our Good Shepherd what more could we want?

The Light

We learn from Genesis 1:3-5 that God created “light.” It was this same Creator God Who has shone in our hearts so as to beam forth the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ the Messiah (II Cor.4:6 Amp.). Light is a wonderful thing. It causes life to grow, and enhances health. In businesses and in education they have proven that having natural light in the workplace and classrooms improves standardized test scores. It eliminates common distractions, and makes students more efficient. Natural light improves health and growth, and natural light is completely free of charge. Life would not exist without natural light, and people are much more alert, positive and happier with natural light. Spiritual Light has the same effect on mankind, which last forever. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, turn from our sins, we come out of the spiritual darkness we have lived in all our lives, and come into the Light of Jesus (II Cor.4:6). . Jesus is the Light of the world (Jn.1:4,9). Coming into the Light makes us a new person, and the old has passed away (II Cor. 5:17). Jesus said of Himself, “I am the only way, the only Truth, and the only Life-giver; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn.14:6). God’s Life reveals truth, and followed truth brings wisdom (Prov.3:21-26). The formula for Godly wisdom: Light = Revelation = Wisdom. We live in the midst of a lot of trees and on a lake, which is a perfect habitat for a lot of different kinds of snakes, including 4 poisonous kinds. It would be foolish for us to go outside at night without a light and a weapon of some kind with us so if we were to see a snake we could protect ourselves from it. That is the wise thing to do. The illumination from the light reveals the truth of any danger on the path. This truth gives us revelation knowledge and the wisdom to protect ourselves. Jesus is the True Light Who came to earth to live as a man to illumine our hearts to the Way we should live; to the Truth of Who He is and how we could receive eternal Life. His light has shown the Truth that while we were born sinners and needed a Savior. And Christ loved us while we were still sinners, died for us (Rom.5:8). Can we reject this Light, this Truth, and this Life? To accept Him is the only wise thing to do! Godly wisdom leads us out of darkness into His wonderful Light (Prov.). Jesus is the Light, and His light will shine more and more to the perfect day (Prov.4:18). By accepting this Light and Truth, we are illuminated with this same Light, and become “the light of the world, a city set on a hill” (Matt.5:14). Charles Stanley said, “The truly wise people of this world are those who have accepted the truth and bent their spirit – and their knees – before the Lord.” God’s Light reveals His Truth and results in conviction and Godly wisdom to choose His eternal Life! My Blog Address is: http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com

Praying and Praising the Names of God

Father, I praise You for all that You are, and how You reveal Yourself through your names. Your names are so precious to me and bring me joy, hope, comfort, and most of all, faith. Thank You because Your name, Jesus (Savior), saves us when we call upon that name in faith, (Acts 2:21). How precious is Your name, Jehovah, which is Your Redemptive Name of Deity, the self-existing One Who reveals Himself. Thank You for being Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. I am such a needy person, but only You can fill those needs. You are the One Who provides and liberally supplies all my needs, spirit, soul, and body, according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:19), and Your riches are unfathomable! Thank You for being Jehovah Rohi to me - my Shepherd, and I am your sheep. You see me when I am lost, or discouraged, or in need of protection or deliverance. You are my Friend, my Keeper, my Counselor, my Comforter, my Guide, my Protector & Deliverer, and my Provider. You are my All in All (Ps. 23; John 10:11,14; Heb.13:20). I am so thankful You are Jehovah-Shammah , the God Who is there. Wherever I am and in whatever situation, You are there! You are the One Who will never, never, no never leave me, nor forsake me. You saw me in my mother’s womb. You saw my unformed substance, yet in Your book all my days were written. If I go into the deepest sea, or highest heaven, even there Your hand shall lead me and Your right hand shall hold me. The darkness cannot cover me because the light and the dark are alike to You (Ps.139, Heb.13:5; Joshua 1:9). Thank You that You are that Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov.18:23). Thank You for being with me forever! I praise Your holy name, Jehovah-Shalom – You are my Peace. You have broken down every wall of division. I am so thankful that You have promised that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. You are the Author and Giver of peace. You have given me Your peace when I surrendered my heart of turmoil to You and believed on Your name, and the world (nothing, nor no one) can take it away! Thank You for being my Peace! (Eph.2:14; Isa.26:3; I Thess.5:23; Heb.13:20-21; Isa.54:17). I praise Your holy name, Jehovah-Ropha – The God Who Heals, (spirit, soul and body)! Even as you healed when you walked on this earth, You still heal today – You are the same yesterday, today and forever! I may not understand why some are healed and some are not, but I know You are a good God and knows what is best, and Your plans for us are for good and not for evil. Your ways are not our ways, and since You made the heavens and the earth by Your great Power and Your outstretched arm, nothing is too difficult, for You are the Sovereign God Who loves me with an everlasting love, and I will not resent Your ways with me, but just trust in Your goodness. And someday I will understand Your ways. (Heb.13:8; Ex.15:26; Eccl.3:11; Jer.32:17; Isa.55:8-9; Jer.29:11). Thank You for being my “Banner of Victory,” Jehovah-Nissi. As I focus on You and trust in You in all my difficulties, You cause me to run through a troop and jump over a wall (Ps.18:29). You always cause me to triumph in Christ (II Cor.2:14). Help me to always walk under Your banner of love – love never fails (I Cor.13:8). How wonderful to know that You are Tsidkenu, You are Righteous. You are right in all You are and all you do, and You desire to give me of Your Righteousness. I may not be perfect in my ways, but when I ask of You, You make my heart clean and right with You. You clothe me in Your Righteousness. Thank You for so great a plan of salvation that You take my sins and give me Your righteousness – O what a wonderful exchange! (Rom.3:21-26; I Cor.1:30)! Thank You, Jesus, for being my Sanctifier, Jehovah M’Kaddish. You are the only One Who can make me pure and set me apart from my past sinful life, and set me apart to do Your good works. Thank You for opening my eyes so I could turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so I could receive forgiveness for my sins and a place among those who are purified and set apart by faith in You. (I Cor.1:30; Acts 26:18; I Thess.4:3; I Thess.2:13; I Pet.1:2-5). Thank You, Jesus, for being Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts. You are the Almighty, Sovereign God Who is always in control. I bow at Your Name! (Amos 4:13; Ps.24:10; Isa.51:15; 1:24; 6:5; 56:5). Jesus, You are the “Way, the Truth, the Life.” You are the “Bread of Life,” the “Water of Life.” You are the “Christ, the Messiah – the anointed One.” You are the Word of God,” and the “Word of Truth.” (Jn.14:6; 6:35; 4:14; 1:1; Acts 8:5; Thank You, Father, for Your wonderful, powerful Names: El Roi, “The God Who sees,” (Genesis 16:13-14). Elohim, “The strong, faithful, covenant keeping God Who is the universal creator, and King of kings,” (Lamentations3:23). El Elyon, “The God Most High; The Maker of Heaven and Earth,” (Jer.33:2). El Shaddai, “The Almighty God; Sufficiency,” (Gen.14:18-22). Adonai, “Lord, Master, Sovereign,” (Gen.4:26; Isa.42:8; 48:11; 54;5; II chron.20:6). There are many more names that would take many books to hold. The above are just the major names out of which all the others come. BLESSED BE THE NAME/S OF THE LORD! My Blog address: http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com