Wednesday, June 30, 2010

God is Just.

11.God is Just. God rules with absolute justice. Not fooled by appearances, God is fair, equitable, and impartial in all of His judgments. http://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-god.htm
Psalm 75:1-7 (New International Version)
For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 We give thanks to you, O God,
we give thanks, for your Name is near;
men tell of your wonderful deeds.
2 You say, "I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge uprightly.
3 When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.
Selah
4 To the arrogant I say, 'Boast no more,'
and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horns.
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak with outstretched neck.' "
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt a man.
7 But it is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.

Justice is the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, fairness, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice

Zephaniah 3:8.: " Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy.
9. "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord. NKJV

Many times when we think of God’s justice we are thinking more of wrath than justice. Because many of us see everything as all good or all bad. We clothe ourselves in the Love of God and close our eyes to Divine rightness or we cower in fear at God’s wrath with no understanding of His awesome grace and mercy.

Romans 1 (New International Version)
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
God's Wrath Against Mankind
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

I am a witness to God’s grace and mercy. I truly know that our God is the God of second (and many more) chances; but I also believe that there will be a day of judgment and justice for all.

God sent His precious son, Jesus, who became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. This is grace and mercy. But some are unwilling to accept this magnificent gift.

-1 Timothy 1:9-11
"We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me."

I pray the Holy Spirit to help me to live a life which conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God. I thank God for planting me in a church of sound doctrine. I thank God for justice tempered with grace and mercy.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

God is Transcendent.

10.God is Transcendent.
We must not think of God as highest in an order of beings. This would be to grant Him eminence, even pre-eminence, but this is not enough. He is transcendent—existing beyond the created universe. http://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-god.htm
Psalm 113:4 -5
4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,

We are indeed interesting critters. We judge each other over the silliest things. There is a popular bumper sticker that says…”God is My Co-Pilot”, which was probably intended to depict a closeness with God. Then, of course, someone came up with a bumper sticker…”If God is Your Co-Pilot, Change Seats”, indicating, I suppose that the change in position puts God in control.

The first sticker seems a simple acknowledgement of relationship. The second seemed more interested in being “right”.

I acknowledge God in my life. Perhaps I don’t say just the right words all of the time, but God, who knows my heart, knows the words I mean. God is. God exists beyond the created universe. There is no box of our making into which God will fit, so we need to acknowledge Him, praise Him, glorify Him in any way our limited understanding opens for us.

2 Chronicles 2:6 “For the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him.”

Jeremiah 23:24 “‘Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?’ declares Yehovah. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares Yehovah.”

God is timeless (outside of time and space) and unchangeable, yet God cares enough to be involved in our lives.

Psalm 139:7-16 (New International Version)
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.


We need to be able to come in prayer without comparing our words to someone who may have a more eloquent speech. The important thing is to come in prayer and we have the scriptures to help us with the words. We must always honor our need to recognize God in our lives.

My God, I thank You for being in my life. I thank You for being exalted over all. I thank You.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Jehovah-jireh, “the God who provides.”

7.God is Jehovah-jireh. This name means “the God who provides.” Just as He provided yesterday, He will provide tomorrow. He grants deliverance from sin, the oil of joy for the ashes of sorrow, and eternal citizenship in His Kingdom. Genesis 22:9-14 (New International Version)
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

When I saw Jehovah-jireh, I thought this would be the easiest of all to write because my God is truly a God of provision; but I had to put it aside twice.
Mark 4 (New International Version)
18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

There is so much in the world today that hints, or downright speaks of God’s provision in very materialistic terms. It’s almost if you’re having difficulty there’s something wrong with your prayer life, or you’re not giving enough, or you’re giving to the wrong person group or cause or you just don’t have enough faith..

I wonder how many have been turned away because they felt they just didn’t measure up?

My God has provided me with life; provided me with love; provided me with work to do in the kingdom; provided me with the basics and more. My God is a God of Provision.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

Hebrews 4:16 (New International Version)
16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I approach the throne of grace with confidence. I know God is good. It is my daily goal to avoid getting so caught up in the worries of this life that I lose sight of the glory of God. It is my prayer that the comfort of the Holy Spirit keeps me ever mindful of what matters much, what matters most and what matters not at all. With this knowledge comes understanding of Jehovah-jireh

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

God is immutable

9.God is immutable. All that God is, He has always been. All that He has been and is, He will ever be. He cannot change because He is perfect and will remain perfect.
Psalm 102:25-28 (New International Version)
25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
28 The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you."

This is probably one of the hardest concepts to hold when we try to understand God and put Him into terms that we can grasp. God always was. There is no time when God didn’t exist. We can not go back and count the beginning of time or the beginning of God.

Every good gift, says St. James, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1: 17).

In Hebrews it is again stated that, Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us (Heb. 6: 17, 18). "

The Eternal God who revealed Himself as the I AM to Moses, is the I AM of today, "infinite, eternal, unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."

God, I thank You for being who You are. I thank You for the promise of eternal life in Your presence. I thank You for being an eternal God who is worthy of all praise. I thank You for growing discernment and ask greater and greater wisdom when studying Your Word.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Friday, June 25, 2010

8.Jehovah-shalom. “the God of peace.”

8.God is Jehovah-shalom. This name means “the God of peace.” God could never give to others a peace that exceeds understanding if He Himself were not perfect, unfailing peace.

(Philippians 4:6-7) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
{7} and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(Colossians 3:14-15) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
{15} And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
(1 Thessalonians 5:22-24) Abstain from every form of evil.
{23} Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{24} He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

(Isaiah 26:3-4) You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
{4} Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength

Our God of peace requires active participation from believers in the process of maintaining and spreading His peace. “Be anxious for nothing” requires active trust in God. “By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving”, not with apathy and ingratitude. Abstain from evil, pass up opportunities to do wrong. Keep your mind on God, trust in Him.

Father, God, I pray for a better understanding of my need to engage in the promotion of Your peace. I ask the Holy Spirit to guard my speech and help me be an agent of peace. I thank you for every opportunity to be an example of The Way in my daily life.

Thank You for the peace which surpasses all understanding and the guarding of my mind against the evils of this world.

Thank you for Your incomparable peace. Amen

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

God is Love

6.God is love. God’s love is so great that He gave His only Son to bring us into fellowship with Him. God’s love not only encompasses the world, but embraces each of us personally and intimately. http://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-god.htm
1 John 4:7-10 (New International Version)
God's Love and Ours
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

It is difficult to put into simple words the wonder of God’s love. It is difficult because we don’t have the capacity for an all encompassing Love.

I am a grandparent and I know how very much I love my grandchildren. I try to imagine that love a million fold and know that I haven’t scratched the surface of the magnitude of God’s love for us.

God’s love is unconditional. He chose to love us and He continues to love us despite our shortcomings. Anyone who has been in an intense relationship, who remembers the glow of being “in love”, but now is "out of love" can have a small idea of the difference in human love and God’s divine love.

We fall in love because. And we fall out of love because.

God is Love. He doesn’t leave us when we stray. Thank Him that He doesn’t divorce us when we don’t meet His expectations.

From an article in “All About God”Another great verse about God's love is found in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." In this verse and in John 3:16, we find no conditions placed on God's love for us. God doesn't say, "as soon as you clean up your act, I'll love you; " nor does He say, "I'll sacrifice my Son if you promise to love Me." In fact, in Romans 5:8, we find just the opposite. God wants us to know that His love is unconditional, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still unlovable sinners. We didn't have to get clean, and we didn't have to make any promises to God before we could experience His love. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love. http://www.allaboutgod.com/god-is-love.htm

Ephesians 2:4-5 (New International Version)
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

I thank You, God for your love. I thank you daily for accepting me as your child. I thank you for every day that you are with me. I thank you for your Son, Jesus. I thank you for the Holy Spirit.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

God is good

5.God is good. The goodness of God is what disposes Him to be kind, benevolent, and full of good will toward all creation.
Psalm 119:65-72 (New International Version)
65 Do good to your servant
according to your word, O LORD.
66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I believe in your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
(emphasis added)
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

One of our members speaks often of the goodness of God in her life. When she talks she fairly glows and it is beautiful to be in her presence.

But, many of us are like the Israelites, grateful to God when he pulls us out of a jam but quick to forget in the midst of just everyday life.

Yet, He is Good to us.

This beautiful psalm praises God for a reprimand, acknowledging that it benefited him to be chastised.

I often say “I thank God for gentle reprimands” because He always extends a hand of grace even when I truly deserve a more harsh judgement.
I thank You God for Your gentle mercy. I thank you for Your goodness to me and those dear to me. I thank You that I am a child of God.

2056. God Is So Good
Text: Trad.
Music: Trad.
Tune: GOD IS SO GOOD, Meter: Irr.
1. God is so good, God is so good,
God is so good, God's so good to me.

2. God cares for me, God cares for me,
God cares for me, God's so good to me.

3. God loves me so, God loves me so,
God loves me so, God's so good to me.

4. God is so good, God is so good,
God is so good, God's so good to me.

Take time to acknowledge the Goodness of God in your everyday life. Take time to sing Him praises every day.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Psalm 121

Psalm 121 (King James Version)

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

A Song of degrees. Composed by David in the Wilderness of Paran, immediately after learning of the death of Samuel. When David realised that his last influential earthly friend was gone, he turned to the Lord for his sole remaining help. http://www.bibleinsong.com/Song_Pages/Psalms/Psalm121/Psalm121.htm

My dear friend is sick at this time. I lift her up in prayer to Almighty God and hope this psalm is comfort to her spirit.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Monday, June 21, 2010

4.God is omnipotent

4.God is omnipotent. God has power. God has all power. Since God is also infinite, whatever He has must be without limit; therefore, God has limitless power. http://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-god.htm

Jeremiah 32:17,18, 26,27
17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty,
Jeremiah 32:26-27
26 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
27 "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

omnipotent [ɒmˈnɪpətənt]
adj
having very great or unlimited power
n
(Christian Religious Writings / Theology)
the Omnipotent an epithet for God
[via Old French from Latin omnipotens all-powerful, from omni- + potens, from posse to be able]
omnipotence n
omnipotently adv

I believe it is the concept of omnipotence that snares us. We can imagine God as all powerful. I don’t think we have any problem associating Him with the big stuff. I don’t believe Christians have a problem seeing God parting the Red Sea or raining down manna from heaven. I believe it is when we think of the tiny things that we get bogged down.

I believe we find it hard to imagine God having time to attend to all of the little details of our spiritual lives.

How can God have time to hear, let alone attend to, billions of prayers, especially when we begin to judge the value of the prayers by our standards

Psalm 147:4-5 (New King James Version)
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.


Many of us find the 12th Chapter of Luke both comforting and fearsome. We are a little disquieted because we know that God has the ability to know all of our little secrets……
2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

Yet, we find joy in the knowledge that Our Father is all knowing…
6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

I thank You, God that You have limitless power. I thank You that You have chosen to include me in your love. How grateful I am to be a child of the Most High God. I know that You have time for my prayers. I thank You for your generous gift of the Comforter, that part of You that takes the time to assist me when I don’t even know what to pray.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Praying the Name of Our Infinite God

3.God is infinite. We cannot speak of measure, amount, size, or weight and at the same time be speaking of God, for He is beyond measurement. God has no beginning, no end, and no limits. Romans 11:33 (New International Version) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/items/Thirty%20Days%20of%20Praying%20the%20Names%20and%20Attributes%20of%20God

Main Entry: in·fi·nite
Pronunciation: \ˈin-fə-nət\
Function: adjective
3 : subject to no limitation or external determination
1 : extending indefinitely : endless
2 : immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive : inexhaustible

"YHVH" is the Hebrew word that translates as "LORD". Found more often in the Old Testament than any other name for God (approximately 7,000 times), the title is also referred to as the "Tetragrammaton," meaning the "The Four Letters". YHVH comes from the Hebrew verb "to be" and is the special name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you... this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'" (Exodus 3:14-15). Therefore, YHVH declares God's absolute being - the source of everything, without beginning and without end. http://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-god.htm

It is our nature to try to break everything down into pieces that we can understand. If we can’t put something into the small boxes of our mind, we want to dismiss it as unreal.
We look around us at the impossible order of this universe and find it easier to attribute it to chance than the divine Hand of God.

I read an article a few days ago by a young woman who argued that God can’t be a real God because He desires and needs worship of mere mortal beings. I felt such a hunger in this young woman's writing. The fact that she took time out to write and post such an article felt to me that she was searching for a meaning in her life and a connection to this God whom she was denouncing.

She was trying to put God into a box of her ability to understand.

Oh, how I understand this young woman. I was her once and I find it easy to pray that she comes into harmony with our Infinite God. I pray that she becomes acquainted with the Holy Spirit, The Comforter. I hope she begins to find peace in the knowledge that it is because He is God., He is beyond measurement, has no beginning or end, has knowledge beyond our ability to begin to understand and that He is worthy to be praised.

John 1 (New International Version)
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

When we can accept, not understand, accept that our God has the ability to speak everything into being we have reached a point where we are open to a relationship as a child of God.

Genesis 1:1 says, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Father, God, I thank you for coming into my life, into my heart. I thank you for Jesus who was willing to die for my salvation. I thank you for The Holy Spirit who is my constant Comforter. I thank you for being my Infinite God..

Psalm 19:1-2 tells us: The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Praying the Name Jehovah M'Kaddesh

2.God is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. This name means “the God who sanctifies.” A God separate from all that is evil requires that the people who follow Him be cleansed from all evil
Leviticus 20:7-8 (New International Version)
7 " Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.
8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

How in the world do I strive to be holy. I have so many faults and, even though I’ve come a long way, I am daily reminded of how far I have to go.

This morning I looked for an answer and was led to:

Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
(emphasis added)
6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9not by works, so that no one can boast.
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
One in Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)—
12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,
20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
(emphasis added)

I tried to shorten this, but could find no break point.

To the Body of Christ I ask…

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Renewing Your Mind

renewing your mind

Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I believe that every group needs an organizer, that person you can always depend on to make sure things flow well. Our Christian Ladies Group has just such a person.

We know that every event will be decorated beautifully and appropriately. We know that every gathering, no matter how informal, will have an uplifting and spiritual focus.

I believe her latest light-hearted, yet very right on, contribution is worth sharing.

CLEANING HOUSE FOR _Put your name here__________

Last week I threw out worrying, it was getting old and in the way
It kept me from being me. I couldn’t do things God’s way.
I threw out a book on MY PAST
(Didn’t have time to read it anyway)
Replaced it with NEW GOALS, started reading it today.
I threw out hate and bad memories,
(Remember how I treasured them so?)
Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.
Brought in some new books took called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
WOW, you should have seen the dust.
I ran across an OLD FRIEND, I hadn’t talked to in a while.
His name is JESUS, and I really like His style.
He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Himself,
Like PRAYER, HOPE, FAITH and LOVE.
Yes, I placed them right on the shelf.
I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door.
I FOUND IT..it’s called PEACE. Nothing gets me down anymore.
Yes, I’ve got my house looking nice,
Looks good around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble there just isn’t any space.
It’s good to do a little house cleaning. Get rid of the things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter, maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF.
BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!

May the Lord open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it all. Malachi 3:10

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Praying the Names and Attributes of God

Praying the Names and Attributes of God

1.God is Jehovah. The name of independent being—“I AM WHO I AM”—only belongs to Jehovah God. As we consider His greatness, we fall down in fear and awe of this One who possesses all authority. http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/items/Thirty%20Days%20of%20Praying%20the%20Names%20and%20Attributes%20of%20God

Exodus 3:13-15 (New International Version)
13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.


We have become the royal people of the King by faith. We have been accepted into the fold through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate our position as children of The most High God through prayer.

Deuteronomy 6 (New International Version)
Love the LORD Your God
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.


Father God, Jehovah, I thank you for another opportunity to come to you in prayer. I thank you for another opportunity to study your word and to impress it upon my heart. I joyfully accept that you are the one true God. I thank you for an opportunity to share your word with others. Amen.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Great is God’s Faithfulness

great is God’s faithfulness

Ps 5:3 My voice shall you hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You and I will look up.
Ps 119: 147-148 I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help; I hope in Your Word. My eyes are awake through the night watches that I might meditate on Your Word.

Is 50: 4-5 The Lord has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned. , The Lord has opened my ear….

There are so many reminders in scripture of the wisdom of coming to God first in the morning. What a wonderful way to start the day…secure in the presence of the Holy Spirit, comforted by His renewed promises.

Psalm 1 (New International Version)
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

I found a story of a child whose eyes were intently focused upon the sidewalk as she and her mother were walking.
"Whatever are you looking for?" Asked the mother.

"For something to find," answered the child.

"Something to find" for the Christian is the blessing which God stands ready to reveal.
As the Scriptures remind us, such blessings are "new every morning."
The exact reference from the Old Testament reads like this: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is God's faithfulness."
We are to look for the blessing whatever it may be. http://www.hleewhite.fws1.com/Thanksgiving/lookforbless.html

Lamentations 3:22-23 (New International Version)
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.


How wonderful to start each day clothed in the renewed mercy of God. How foolish to miss an opportunity to avail ourselves of a gift so freely and lovingly given.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Going Vertical

Going Vertical

Exodus 20:2-20 (New King James Version)
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

This is a very straight forward commandment. We are to put nothing ahead of God.

There are so many reasons to go to church. I remember the un-named hunger I felt that drew me to the House of The Lord. At the beginning I was like a hungry child, at the table crying “feed me”.

I still enjoy the fellowship. I feel blessed to be a part of a church with effective prayer warriors. I love the teaching so much. I love being a part of so many outreach ministries.

But as I grow in Christ I realize more and more how horizontal my spiritual life had become. My quest now is to attend to the vertical beam of my cross. I am making a conscious effort to truly “put God first in my life“

I want God to have the first hour of my day.
Matthew 6:33 (New International Version)
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I want to give Him the first hour in prayer, praise, thanksgiving and worship.
Ps 119: 147-148 I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help; I hope in Your Word. My eyes are awake through the night watches that I might meditate on Your Word.

I want to give Him the first of my income.
Malachi 3
10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

I found this wonderful acrostic that might provide inspiration for us as we strive to truly put God first.


F.I.R.S.T.
“F” stands for Focus.
Spend serious time reading Bible verses that talk about who He is and you will be filled with a sense of wonder and trust.

“I” stands for Identify.
I identify what purpose God has for you. What spiritual gift(s) has God given you that you are to use to serve in His spiritual kingdom right here and now.

“R” stands for respect.
We should respect God’s timetable. He is ultimately in control and He has a plan. As we pray and as we live we are to be mindful that our plans will always superseded by His plans.

“S” stands for serve others.
Serving other people is some capacity is an excellent way of taking our attention off ourselves and placing it on others. Jesus came to the earth to serve and not to be served. In serving others we are living the life he would live.

“T” stands for telling others.
When we tell others about what happens when we put God first it encourages others to do the same. http://livesmart.wordpress.com/2007/06/09/how-to-put-god-first/

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

This happiness that I receive is the horizontal beam of my cross, the part that fills me.

Putting God first is my vertical beam, the beam that brings me ever closer to God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Monday, June 14, 2010

The Beat Down, Broke Down Christian

The Beat Down, Broke Down Christian

This morning Joyce Myers was talking about Christians who could not enjoy the life God has blessed them with right now. She talked of people caught up in depression, legalism and other roadblocks to the fullness of life God intended for us. She called these folk beat down, broke down Christians.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (New International Version)
9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"[


Many people view Christians as sad faced, unhappy folks who never smile and go about telling everyone what they are doing wrong. Many Christians live their lives as if it’s a sin to be happy.


10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.John 10:10 (New International Version)


Since we have the capacity to turn anything into a controversy, the controversy here is whether we are entitled to believe that we can have this life in the full while we are here on earth or must we wait for the promise of life to the full in the “great by and by”.

In the history of Christianity there have been many who propose that a true Christian shows the depth of his faith by the measure of his earthly poverty. Some go so far as to measure this poverty in terms of depravation of even basic comforts.

If one enjoys food, clothing, a nice home or, heaven forbid sex (including with one’s spouse) it is a sign of diminished piety and they have the scriptures to prove their points (of course you must be willing to read out of context with your mind and at least one eye closed.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
4For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.Isaiah 64:4 (King James Version)

So much of the scripture speaks of God’s love of us and His joy in providing for us.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2)

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.New International Version Psalm 27:14

I believe this is the land of the living; therefore, I expect to see the goodness of the Lord here!

If the world only knew the absolute joy in a life devoted to service of Our Lord, they might beat down our church doors. Perhaps we just aren’t doing a good enough job in service of The Great Commission.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY
Chorus: By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are gathered home,
we'll tell the story how we've overcome,
for we'll understand it better by and by.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

The Person of The Holy Spirit

The Person of The Holy Spirit

For two days I have been led to write about the Holy Spirit. For two days I have been arguing in my spirit…I did this already (April 16), I have nothing more to say. Yet, I am stuck. I can’t write about anything else, so I wait.

I believe that it was my need to study about the Holy Spirit that had me on hold.

I looked at several articles on the net about the Holy Spirit and was dismayed at the dissention and just plain ugliness in some of them.

My usual response when I am met with this level of controversy is to move on to another topic, but I finally figured out that I was being called on to study. I asked God for a richer spiritual life. I asked for growth in the Word. I am being called to spend more time in study and to make sure that that study is directed by the Holy Spirit.

“Maturity is more than knowledge, it is fruit that comes from relationship with the Spirit of God. “ http://www.christian-faith.com/forjesus/baptism-in-the-Holy-Spirit


I needed this. I needed to read again some of the scriptures that address our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13 (New International Version)
13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Romans 8:26-27 (New International Version)26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Ephesians 4:30 (New International Version)
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

John 14:26 (New International Version)
26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Acts 13:2 (New International Version)
2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

John 14:12-14 (New International Version)
12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

John 17:22 (New International Version)
22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

Isaiah 28:11-12 (New International Version)
11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said,
"This is the resting place, let the weary rest";
and, "This is the place of repose"—
but they would not listen.

Acts 5:3-4 (New International Version)
3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

The scriptures I was led to today had much to do with our relationship with the Holy Spirit. These scriptures evoked feelings of a personal connection with the Holy Spirit. Even the admonishment made to Ananias was that he had made a personal affront to the Holy Spirit.

I needed this. I hope it was some measure of benefit to you.

At this moment I am experiencing a trial in my life. I ask all who will to pray for me.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your life!!!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Train Up a Child

Train up a child
Deuteronomy 18
9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.
13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

A part of our charge is to assure that our children know what is in the will of God. So many things are popular and trendy and it’s easy for our young ones to be led astray.

This is indeed a bountiful land within which the Lord has planted us. Yet, there is much in the land that it would be good for us not to imitate.

Just because folks are not, to my knowledge, “sacrificing his son or daughter in the fire“, does not mean that we should not stand watch.

I rely greatly on the concept of the mustard seed. I try to plant the Word as a part of our daily experience in the hope that I don’t close the ears of the young ones in my charge. Sometimes simply saying “we don’t do that because” and referencing the Word of God plants a seed that sprouts when we are not present to tend the garden. I know this is true when I hear my kids telling others why they should or should not do something with great confidence and authority.

Proverbs 22:6 (New King James Version)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Perhaps you have had opportunities to “hear” your parents words coming out of your mouth or gotten annoyed when you find yourself acting just like one of your parents This stuff really works.

Ephesians 6:4 (New American Standard Bible)
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

When I read these words I am always impressed at the awesome responsibility of bringing up our children while being in control of and taking responsibility for our own stuff.

What an awesome charge.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Praise Ye The Lord!!!

praise (prz)
n.
2. The extolling or exaltation of a deity, ruler, or hero.
1. Expression of approval, commendation, or admiration.

3. Archaic A reason for praise; merit.
tr.v. praised, praising, praises
2. To extol or exalt; worship.
1. To express warm approbation of, commendation for, or admiration for.

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.
Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds.
—Psalm 149:1-5


The ways we praise has changed so much over the years. Many times what is simply a preference of a few ends up being doctrine when that few are in a position of power. And these few have a great impact on what is considered acceptable praise for us all.
It takes a good deal of tolerance to accept ways of praise that are different from the status quo in our own circles.

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Thy precious time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem,
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.

By influence of the Light divine
Let thy own light to others shine.
Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways
In ardent love, and cheerful praise.

In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noontide clear;
Think how all seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.

All praise to Thee, who safe has kept
And hast refreshed me while I slept
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless light partake.

Heav’n is, dear Lord, where’er Thou art,
O never then from me depart;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.

Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.

I would not wake nor rise again
And Heaven itself I would disdain,
Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed,
And I in hymns to be employed.


I’ve purposely left off the last stanza of this song to give you a bit of it’s history.

The words to this song were written by Thomas Ken,in 1674. (Man­u­al of Pray­ers for the Use of the Schol­ars of Win­ches­ter Col­lege), Ken wrote this hymn at a time when the established church believed only Scripture should be sung as hymns—with an emphasis on the Psalms.
Some considered it sinful and blasphemous to write new lyr­ics for church mu­sic, akin to adding to the Scriptures. In that atmosphere, Ken wrote this and several other hymns for the boys at Winchester College, with strict instructions that they use them only in their rooms, for private devotions. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/r/praisegf.htm

How sad that this wonderful song was withheld from the world. The beautiful words are indeed a prayer of praise.

Morning Hymn, François H. Barthélémon, 1785 (MIDI, score). Barthélémon wrote music for these words, at the request of an orphanage chaplain in London; it was first published in A Supplement to the Hymns and Psalms Used at the Asylum or House of Refuge for Female Orphans, printed for William Gawler, organist to the Asylum (London: circa 1785). http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/w/awakemys.htm

Now, that last stanza…..

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.


Iron­ic­al­ly, the last stan­za has come into wide­spread use as the Dox­ol­o­gy, per­haps the most fr­equent­ly used piece of mu­sic in pub­lic wor­ship. At Ken’s request, the hymn was sung at his fun­er­al, fit­tingly held at sun­rise.http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/r/praisegf.htm

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
—Psalm 150:1-6

It’s very possible that those objecting to any but the most circumscribed methods of praise and worship did not read the bible they thought they were upholding. I thank God we can praise God with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

I'm also grateful that we can worship in a gentle whisper.

1 Kings 19:11-12 (New International Version)
11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

God is willing to provide

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New King James Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.

It is so easy to trust in the Lord when things are going well. It’s not so bad when things are just a little off. But where is our ability to trust when the going gets truly rough.

We have spent a lot of time lately studying the letters of the Apostle Paul. Here is a man who truly knew how to put his trust in his God. Here is a man who sets an example. If I could muster up one tenth of the faith that Paul had I would be a long way on my journey of faith. But I despair not because I know that I am within the promises of God.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (NASB)
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; (emphasis added)
10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

I love visiting sites that give encouragement in the simplest of terms. One of those is found at:
http://organicfaith.net/blog/?p=148 and is called:
Journey to Simplicity
…because faith was never meant to be complicated


And faith isn’t complicated; We just don’t always value or trust things that are simple. On the one hand we acknowledge that there are many obstacles in our lives that we cannot in the natural overcome. For this reason we pray for divine intervention. Then we set about going on our own way.

When I found this prayer I knew it described me much too well.
Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen. http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/meditating/sw_oxygen.htm

I do have my days when, regardless of my circumstances, I am at peace in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Those days when I am just full of the “just gotta praise You dance.” Those are the days that I know I have given the direction of my life over completely to God.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Monday, June 7, 2010

An Invitation to Abundant Life

Isaiah 55:1-6 (New King James Version)
An Invitation to Abundant Life
1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The sure mercies of David.
4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,
A leader and commander for the people.
5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,
And nations who do not know you shall run to you,
Because of the LORD your God,
And the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.

I am so familiar with the concept of hungering after God. I truly remember the unrest I felt when I was not being spiritually fed.

I went to church. I served the church as a volunteer in the kitchen. I worked with the education department. I was starving to death spiritually.

I knew something was wrong, but had no idea what it was.

Then one day my then pastor made an off-handed remark within my hearing. He said “This isn’t a restaurant, you don’t come here to get fed”. I know that he had no idea of the impact that statement had on my spirit, because I was so hungry and I so desperately needed to be fed!

His statement did lead me on a quest to find what was missing, a quest to find and sit at the table of life.

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;

God is so merciful. He gives us an open invitation to come and enjoy His bounty.

And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.

We are reminded that we are saved by grace. That we have absolutely no ability buy our salvation by money or by works.

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.


Our time is our spiritual money. The way we spend our time lets us know what is important to us. We must spend our first fruits on what is bread and does satisfy.

3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;

Romans 10 (New International Version)
13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

It is also beautiful and refreshing to be the receiver of the good news.

It means so much to be well fed at the bountiful table of God!

Psalm 34:8 (New International Version)
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

I do feel blessed.

Now, I find myself like a spoiled child asking for more. I want more of the peace of God. I want more of the gifts of the Spirit. I want to be spiritually fed. I come to the table.


May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

A Closer Walk

Just A Closer Walk With Thee
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Chorus
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Chorus

When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Chorus

Revelation 3
To the Church in Sardis
1"To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. (emphasis added)
5He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.


I was talking to a friend at work one night and happened to say to her “I try to be careful of the way I treat everyone just in case its actually Jesus.

A dear friend was mortified and genuinely concerned for my very soul because of what he saw as my ignorance and possible affront to Our Lord. “Jesus doesn’t walk around the earth now,” he stated. “There is nothing in scripture to support that Jesus would walk on earth until he comes again in the end times.”

It had not been my intention to start a religious controversy. It hadn’t been my intention to start anything.
I guess I was just affirming my belief that I need to conduct my everyday life with the knowledge that God is omnipresent and that I, unlike Jonah, would not be foolish enough to try to hide from Him.

Now, I personally believe that Jesus still walks this earth. I firmly believe in the Oneness of God, so if God is here and the Holy Spirit is here, why isn’t Jesus here?

I know in my head how simplistic this is but Jesus said “13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. “ Am I to assume that there is no middle?

I read that there are specific things that Jesus said he would not do until the kingdom of God comes:

Luke 22 (New International Version)
15And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

Perhaps the biblical scholars among you will show me the error of my ways. In the meantime:

I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.


I plan to live my life as a closer walk with Jesus.

Just in case.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Friday, June 4, 2010

The Presidential Prayer Team.

Father, I cry out for the hearts of the people to return to God. That You would give them a heart to know You, that You are the LORD; and that they will become Your people, and You will be their God, that they will return to You with their whole heart (Jer.24:7).


This is the “Daily Devotional” for today of the Presidential Prayer Team.

Until today I didn’t know there was such a creature as a “Presidential Prayer Team”. I knew there were many churches with prayer teams with a specific mission for corporate prayer for the leadership of our nation. We have such a team in our church. But I was gratified to find that there is a national team dedicated to prayer for our nation and it’s leadership. http://presidentialprayerteam.com/faq

1 Timothy 2:1-4
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—
2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Why bother to pray for the leadership of our nation, our state, our county, our town? Well, first of all, because the bible tells us so. Not only does the bible tell us to pray for those in authority but the bible gives us very good reasons for doing so.

Titus 3
Doing What is Good
1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Why on earth would we not pray for those in authority if we are to be obedient to them. How can we be obedient, peaceable and considerate unless we, ourselves, are in the Will of God?

Proverbs 21
1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

If we know that “every way of a man is right in his own eyes” wouldn’t we want the eyes of those who have such an impact on our daily lives to be in the will of God. I would pray for that.

Romans 13:1-7 (New International Version)
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.
7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

1 Timothy 2:
5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

I am glad we pray to our one mediator for all those charged with governing our lives.

May God forever be a blessing in Your Life!!!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Love my brother as myself

Matthew 22:37-40 (New International Version)
37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
38This is the first and greatest commandment.
39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. These words were spoken by Our Lord and this is not the only time that Jesus reminded us of the importance of treating our brothers and sisters well if we consider ourselves children of God.

Matthew 5 (New International Version)
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. (emphasis added) Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca', is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Ra´ca (rā´kå)
a. 1. A term of reproach used by the Jews of our Savior's time, meaning "worthless."
Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council.

Greek
Strongs #4469: raka rhaka
1) empty, i.e. a senseless, empty headed man
2) a term of reproach used among the Jews in the time of Christ


Most of us really respect and admire the person who is warm and kindhearted. We like to be in the presence of people who are up-beat and usually can see the best in everyone. But are these attributes we strive to hold?

How many of us who profess to be Christians, followers of Christ, find it difficult to say a kind word about anyone or give our brothers and sisters the benefit of the doubt. Period.

Perhaps the only way we can begin to achieve brotherly love is through the power of prayer. Perhaps we need a daily infusion of the Holy Spirit to help us begin to be in the Great Commandments.

If we sincerely desire to come close to fulfilling the Greatest Commandments we must remember that God is more than willing to help us.

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, (emphasis added) but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

We must remember that we will be granted the grace of God when we earnestly seek to be in His will.
16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I admit that I need help staying in the will of God. I admit that I fall short many times.

I sincerely pray that the Holy Spirit will infuse me with a strong desire and will to Love my brother as myself.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Renewing Our Spirits

When I am lead to a scripture, either as a part of a church lesson or a “memory scripture” I usually find myself reading the whole chapter (and sometimes more) so that I can get a better handle on the context; and, therefore, the meaning of the passage.,

Today I was led to think about spiritual strength. How do we “renew our spirits”?, and found direction in this chapter of the book of Titus.

Titus 3 (New International Version)

Doing What is Good
1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,
2to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
11You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

This chapter of Paul’s letter to Titus provides such a do-able way of renewing the spirit. He first reminds us of some of the basic concepts of Christian behavior.
...to be subject to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient,
to be ready to do whatever is good,
2to slander no one,
to be peaceable and considerate, and
to show true humility toward all men.

In our humility we must remember that we come with a past lest we get too big headed and judgmental of our brothers and sisters:
3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

He then reminds us that it is not our responsibility to “save” ourselves; that we have already been bought with a price and left with a comforter.
5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life

Paul encourages us to behave towards our church families in ways that promote peace and understanding rather than dissention:
9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Sometimes the road to peace and renewal is so simple we miss it.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The Healing Power of Spiritual Breathing

The Healing Power of Spiritual Breathing
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/meditating/sw_oxygen.htm
http://breathmastery.com/breath.htm


1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (New International Version)
19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

The temple of the Holy Spirit. How do we honor God with our bodies? Well, lets start with something easy, something we do every day, all day.
We breathe.

Genesis 2:7 King James Bible
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Let us then consider Spiritual breathing as a way to honor The Holy Spirit and renew ourselves at the same time..

I read two interesting articles about spiritual breathing (the url’s are posted at the beginning of this blog) What an easy way to acknowledge the Holy Spirit in our lives and refresh our spirits at the same time.

Spiritual Breathing Defined
Physical breathing provides the body with a constant supply of oxygen, which is necessary for energy production. It also releases the byproduct of the process - carbon dioxide, a gas that is lethal in large quantities.
Spiritual breathing is like physical breathing in that:
You "exhale" by confessing your sins immediately to God and claiming His forgiveness
You "inhale" by asking the Holy Spirit to control and empower you and to keep you from returning to sin.
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/meditating/sw_oxygen.htm

Practice now a simple example of Spiritual Breathing which was taught by Richard Alpert back in the 70's which works as well today.

On the inhale we think "the power of God is within me."
On the exhale we think "the grace of God surrounds me."

Again,
Inhale "the power of God is within me."
Exhale. "the grace of God surrounds me."

"Spiritual breathing, like physical breathing," says Dr. Bill Bright, founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ, "is a process of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure, an exercise in faith that enables you to experience God's love and forgiveness and walk in the Spirit as a way of life."http://breathmastery.com/breath.htm

"the power of God is within me."
"the grace of God surrounds me."


John 1:12 New International Version ...
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.


Galatians 5:16-17 (New International Version)
Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

I believe that Spiritual Breathing is to psychosomatic illness what penicillin was to infection. Spiritual Breathing is the quickest way to clear your head, settle your stomach, calm your nerves, and open your heart. It will uplift you, center you, and ground you in your being. Spiritual Breathing opens your heart to love and fills your body with light and life. Stacy Wiebe http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/meditating/sw_oxygen.htm

Enjoy a life with the power of God within you.
Enjoy a life with the grace of God surrounding you.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!