Who will join me, (along with many from my church) in a month of an “Attitude of Gratitude?”
This month, let’s make the choice to deny our flesh and ask the Lord to grow us in Him, His grace, His love, His forgiveness: His Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and present help in trouble.
Help us put off our “self” and put on Christ and His Spirit of love by believing in Him and His great sacrifice He made for us.
Jesus took all the pain on the cross that we, who believe receive great gain.
Can we think about His sacrifice and deny our flesh in some way? Join me to hunger more for Him and ask to “eat” time in His presence, hope in His strength, and be empowered by His grace.
“O how restless is the foe Jesus’ kingdom to overthrow.
Shall not we as zealous prove to proclaim redeeming love.
Let us publish saving grace, scatter life in every place . . .
Dare the world and satan’s frown – turn his kingdom upside down!” (Words penned hundreds of years ago, author unknown):
We are thankful dear Lord that You are on the throne!
Help us know Your Good News above the news of this day:
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46: 10.
“We will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas, Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah(Psalm 46). We will pause and think calmly of the Name above all names, Jesus: Lord Omnipotent, Sovereign, LORD over all the earth.
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah Psalm 46:11.
Today. This day. We, “Pause and calmly think of that!”
“O God, give me noble and praise-worthy thoughts. I will speak a hymn and a psalm and immediately be changed from fear to faith:
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light
Keep my thoughts on things above, not on things of the earth.
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.
The only separation from me to You, Holy God of the Universe, is my sin. My unbelief, my pride to think I am enough without You. There is not a person on this planet able to escape evil thoughts, covetousness, selfishness, and lies.
I can never be good enough to come into Your presence. But Christ Jesus bridged the gap as He stretched out His arms for me on the cross.
Your Word is truth:
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord Thou my great Father, and I thy true son Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one
Am I separate from God, or am I His “true son?” Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” Romans 10:13.
Call on Him, Today.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise Thou mine inheritance, now and always Thou and thou only first in my heart High King of heaven, my treasure thou art
From the kingdom of darkness I’ve escaped, in the name of Jesus, to the Kingdom of Light. My inheritance is Love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness are empowered in and through me by the power and gift given to me of the Holy Spirit.
I’ve inherited the faithful, keeping hand of God to hold me for all eternity. I have reason to be thankful in every circumstance. I am a child of God. He has made me victorious in faith in Him!
High King of heaven, my victory won May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Psalm 46, Amplified:
God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas, Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.
(Pause and think calmly of that!)
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.
Pause and calmly think of that!
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them–those who are mistreated–since you yourselves are in the body also.
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:3-8.
“He saved me from my low estate, His loving-kindness, oh how great! Samuel Medley, 1782.
When temptations rise to be afraid or heavy-hearted under life’s weight, the hymns immediately change my mind.
After-all, doesn’t the Lord tell me, (and you), in His Word to, “Fix (y)our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” Philippians 4:8, NLT.
And furthermore, to “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.“
The hymnal, (along with the Bible, of course), is a safe place to find excellent and praise-worthy thoughts:
He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh how great! Samuel Medley, Loving-Kindness, 1782.
To wake and imagine my sweet Lord, patting the seat next to Him on the sofa,”Come a sit by Me.” So, I sit to be with the Lover of my soul as I open the hymnal:
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song for me, His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
(In the back of our minds, do we have the report from the doctor, or that call on the phone, or the piece of mail that recently arrived?)
The Lord in my heart, is near. He’s right here. And He reminds me today from this hymn long ago:
Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes, Though earth and hell my way oppose, He safely leads my soul along, His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit speaks to me. He reminds me of a favorite psalm,
Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him Psalm 42:5.
When trouble like a gloomy cloud, Has gathered thick and thundered loud, He near my soul has always stood, His loving-kindness, oh, how good! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
God’s Word is living water refreshing my soul. Word-picture perfect, Psalm 42 reminds me, “God knows.”
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God . . . My tears have been my food day and night,While they continually say to me,“Where is your God?” . . .
For I used to go with the multitude;I went with them to the house of God,With the voice of joy and praise, Psalm 42:1,3,4.
I will think on this today, “His loving-kindness, oh, how good:”
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life . . .
Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God;For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and my God Psalm 42:8,11.
My eyes are up. My heart is tuned.
“He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song for me, His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
His loving-kindness, oh, . . .
how free!
Revive us Oh Lord. We speak aloud Your Word:
“Sing, . . . Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes . . . Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth . . . Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you Isaiah 54:1-10.
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise.
“His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”
Loving-Kindness by Samuel Medley, 1782:
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song for me, His loving-kindness, oh, how free! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh, how great! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how great!
Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes, Though earth and hell my way oppose, He safely leads my soul along, His loving-kindness, oh, how strong! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
When trouble like a gloomy cloud, Has gathered thick and thundered loud, He near my soul has always stood, His loving-kindness, oh, how good! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
Soon I shall pass the gloomy vale, Soon all my mortal pow’rs must fail; Oh, may my last expiring breath His loving-kindness sing in death. Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness sing in death.
Then let me mount and soar away To the bright world of endless day; And sing with raptures and surprise, His loving-kindness in the skies. Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness in the skies.
The Word of God. Hymns. Music Therapy. God’s help and comfort for us right NOW.
In a shattered world, where do we find real, living, powerful, present comfort? The Bible tells us in Psalm 119, our comfort comes from the Word of life.
When we have no words to pray, Psalm 119 provides the prayers:
Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors Psalm 119:17-24.
Yes, God is not silent. He speaks. His Word shows us the way.
Do we desire to be children of light in a dark place? What do we do?
Now is time to speak aloud truth. The Bible says, “Thy Word is truth,” John 17:17. We either believe this or not. God gives us choice. He sees each man’s heart, even if mankind thinks he’s his own person not needing Jesus.
Who is born of God? Those who believe in His name. What can we proclaim as true about Him regarding our lives today? Speak aloud Be Still My Soul by Kathrina von Schlegel:
Be Still my Soul, the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide,
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul, thy best and heavenly friend, Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end . . . Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul! for God will undertake to guide the future surely as the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know the voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Maybe our hope and our confidence is shaken a bit, but we will not be greatly shaken. We will choose this minute, and move about by the power of the Spirit of God to know Him more and be still.
Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.)
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.
Are we on God’s side?
He’s on our side.
He will guide the future.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, and all is darkened in the vale of tears, then shall you better know his love, his heart, who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Do we have His love? His hope?
God’s heart beats with constant love for us. He doesn’t change. His ways are unsearchable. Do we believe in Jesus?
Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8a.
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ -2 Thessalonians 3:5.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with . . . singing. —Zephaniah 3:17
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. —2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Our hope is our faith in a true and living God.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them – 1 John 4:16.
You, me, we can trust Him always.
The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. —Romans 8:18.
Music Therapy of the Hymn Be Still My Soul and Psalm 18 is provided to meditate on God’s Promises. He alone is true to His Word:
You O LORD, keep my lamp burning. My God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop, and with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is flawless and He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God beside the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? Psalm 18: 28, 29, 30, 31.
Every rose bush has it’s thorns but we celebrate the beauty of the flower.
Focus is the key.
In our broken world, I have choice. You have choice. We all have choice to focus on the thorns or the rose.
I might start my morning strong in believing my Lord, but often, dark clouds of trial and hurt, pain and sorrow come quickly to cover the Son’s warmth and love by noonday.
The praise to God in my heart flies away leaving me flat and despairing.
I become cut up by the thorns of life and forget to be careful in my thoughts. I forget to enjoy the rose.
As a believer in Christ, I’m tested. We’re tested. We pray for this when we ask of God to:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 119: 23,24.
The Lord is faithful to answer my request. He shows me . . . Impatience. Inner destructive dialogue of myself and others. Stubbornness. Unbelief. Hatred.
The beauty of the Lord is: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” 2 Timothy 2:13.
Let’s choose to change our mind when we’re flooded with troubles and tempted with thoughts that destroy, and instead choose to grow in the grace of our Lord and in knowledge of Him.
How? We’ll proclaim aloud His glory from His Word and grow in believing:
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness Psalm 96: 13.
Do I believe He will? Do we believe God?
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary Psalm 96: 4,5,6.
Do I believe He is? Do we believe?
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land Psalm 95:3.
He is the great King above all gods.
How can we despair in the midst of praise?
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Can we say together? Has our faith increased? Yes, we will:
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity Psalm 96: 7-10.
I will focus in the morning. I will re-focus at noon. Join me in desiring to have a song the whole day through:
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:1-3.
Jesus is the rose:
“I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys” Song of Songs 2:1.
Can we help each other keep our eyes on the Rose? Together, we win.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care Psalm 95: 6.
Amen. Amen.
Let me know if you joined me in proclaiming, “In Jesus name, Amen.”
Because the LORD is Omnipotent in wisdom and power, I invite you to speak aloud His Word back to Him:
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad Psalm 118: 21-24.
Together we pray to the LORD, Creator of heaven and earth His Word:
Listen to (our) my prayer, O God, do not ignore (our) my plea; hear (us) me and answer (us) me . . . Psalm 55:1.
Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets Psalm 55:9-11.
As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice . . . Psalm 55:16,17.
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords Psalm 55:20,21.
God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God Psalm 55:19.
We unite in prayer and pour out our complaints to a Living God, Sovereign over all the affairs on the earth:
Your words were found, and (we) I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, For You have filled me with indignation. Jeremiah 15: 16,17.
The LORD spoke in regards to Jeremiah’s cry. What is the LORD saying to me? To you? To US? Let’s speak the Word of God aloud that we might have ears to hear and hearts as soft clay in the potter’s hand, that He might work in us,
Therefore thus says the Lord:
“If you return, Then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth . . .
And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you;
For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the Lord. “I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible” Jeremiah 15: 19-21.
Can we hear the cry of the LORD, “Will you come back to Me?”
Can we hear His voice over the noise, “You’ll be able to extract the precious from the vile.” “Come back to Me. I am able to make all grace abound. I make all things work together for good to those who are the call according to My purpose.”
Together, evening, morning, and at noon we will:
22 Cast (y)our cares on the Lord,
we recite together His faithful Word. We will seek His face forevermore:
. . . He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days
But as for me, I trust in you Psalm 55: 22,23.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Eph. 3: 20).
“Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken,” the prophet Amos recorded for whosoever has ears to hear and eyes to see, “against you, O people of Israel—against the entire family I rescued from Egypt:
“Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim? Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey? Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait? Does a trap spring shut when there’s nothing to catch? When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed? Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?” Amos 3:3-6.
“That’s it,” many people shout in this present time, I refuse to believe in a God who is evil!”
Yet, Amos the prophet continues, Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7.
The lion has roared— so who isn’t frightened? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— so who can refuse to proclaim his message? Announce this to the leaders of Philistia and to the great ones of Egypt: “Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria, and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel.
My people have forgotten how to do right,” says the Lord. “Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence. Therefore,” says the Sovereign Lord, “an enemy is coming! Amos 3:8-11.
Paul the apostle recorded in Romans 9:7-16 the common belief that God’s not fair. Are we curious to hear the Scriptures on this point?
Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.
This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;
he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”
Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses,“I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.
In our human cry for fairness, we are tempted to believe God is unfair. But Paul continues in Romans 9:18-23.
So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”
When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?
In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
“God, give us hunger for the Word of God,” a daily prayer on our lips. For such a time as this, we must thirst for the Living Waters of God’s Word, continually praying for wisdom and understanding in His ways:
Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,“Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.”
And,“Then, at the place where they were told,‘You are not my people,’there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”
And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,“Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved. Romans 9: 25-27.
The LORD is a gracious God, compassionate, slow to anger the Bible proclaims. We must turn from the words of man and hear the testimonies of God:
For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth quickly and with finality.”
And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:“If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of our children, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”
What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.
But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.
Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him.
They stumbled over the great rock in their path. Romans 9:28-32.
Jesus is the rock of stumbling: “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 1 Peter 2:8.
We have choice. Will we choose Jesus?
Amos 4, consider. This is the Word of the Lord, NLT. Is it time to turn and trust in the Lord?
Listen to me, you fat cows living in Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always calling to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!” The Sovereign Lord has sworn this by his holiness: “The time will come when you will be led away with hooks in your noses. Amos 4:1,2. (This is how they treated their enemies).
Every last one of you will be dragged away like a fish on a hook! You will be led out through the ruins of the wall; you will be thrown from your fortresses,[b]” says the Lord.
“Go ahead and offer sacrifices to the idols at Bethel. Keep on disobeying at Gilgal. Offer sacrifices each morning, and bring your tithes every three days. Present your bread made with yeast as an offering of thanksgiving. Then give your extra voluntary offerings so you can brag about it everywhere! This is the kind of thing you Israelites love to do,” says the Sovereign Lord.
“I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I kept the rain from falling when your crops needed it the most. I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another. Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away. People staggered from town to town looking for water, but there was never enough. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I sent plagues on you like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago. I killed your young men in war and led all your horses away. The stench of death filled the air! But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I destroyed some of your cities, as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Those of you who survived were like charred sticks pulled from a fire. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”
For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
Can we hear the word “return?” Do we choose today in humility to return, to “repent” for the kingdom of heaven,
is.
at.
hand.
God is gracious to receive those who chose to believe in the Son He graciously gave to pay our debt in full on the cross at Calvary.
“Today, today . . . ” the Good Shepherd calls His sheep. Do we turn to Him? The choice is ours.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” John 12:24.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
How can we bless the Lord at a time of trial or loss? We can . . . when we remember all His benefits as Psalm 103 reminds us:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Circumstances change continually. We’re tempted to fret. We try to figure things out. We become angry and impatient.
Will we remember our great and mighty Lord?
He forgives all (y)our iniquities, Who heals all (y)our diseases, . . .
The struggle is great, . . .
to fret, or choose faith?
God waits. He’s patient and kind. It’s one thing to be patient, but patient and kind? That is glorious. That is the Lord. Fret brings on a deaf ear. Faith opens the hearing,
“Look up. Let go. Turn around. Follow Me.”
The struggle is great. There’s a war in our spirit. We have a choice to make.
When we look into His Word, we’re reminded that He who is faithful and true, keeps His promises:
He redeems (y)our life from destruction, He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, He satisfies (y)our mouth with good things, So that (y)our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Emphasis mine).
What will I think on today? What will I remember? The losses, the hurts? Or the promises of God?
Do I choose to believe the Lord, this moment, this day? Who is my Lord? Is it my own understanding or God’s proven character:
The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water” Jeremiah 2:13.
Selfishness and a stubborn spirit steal and bring thirst to my soul. But to all who seek Him, Jesus, He gives benefits:
” . . . but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” John 4:14.
If I’m aware that I’m full and overflowing with the Lord’s love and sufficient grace, then my eyes see the green pastures the Lord has made me to lie down in, ( even in the storm), then I understand He restores my soul, yesterday, today, forever. He is God.
Circumstances change, but God doesn’t.
Who is God that I should bless?
He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
He is a gracious and compassionate Lord whom we can trust at all times.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Is He “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name?” Do we agree and ask to surrender as His children under His will? As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
Do I bless the Lord and remember His Word? It is light and life to our soul when we choose Him, Jesus.
Yes, when we remember His benefits toward us, those who choose to be children, forgiven and free: But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
The battle is won in prayer and praise.
Dear Lord, with all that is within me, let us remember all Your benefits:
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all Psalm 103: 1-19.
To give thanks can be hard. Especially during times of loss or pain.
Children are a gift. They are our teachers. I share a lesson from a little child.
I heard about a very young boy who never knew his dad. His mom got very ill and died.
Relatives and friends expressed sadness around the boy.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months where the boy felt bad because everyone around him had unhappy faces.
He was sick of being sad and decided to do something about it. “People are happy when they get presents,” he thought, “I need to give presents.”
At first, he found things around the house and handed them to his relatives and neighbors saying, “This is a gift for you.”
The boy was changed, forgot his sadness and began to see smiles again.
The young boy asked if he could go to the dollar store to buy things he might give away to people.
“This gift is for you,” he would say to strangers in the park and hand them a little treasure. Smiles and thankfulness he received which made him very happy. Everyone he met was filled with thankfulness as they received his gift.
God holds out a gift, in this present, sad and dark day.
Our Father in heaven, Almighty God gave to whoever would receive:
For God so loved the world that he gave . . .
his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Can we hear Him with our eyes and hearts? Can we see His hands spread wide, “This gift is for you.”
Are we critical of the gift? Are we wise in our own eyes?
It’s time to learn from the children:
Jesus said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me Matthew 18:1-5.
Children. Believe. God.
We suffer loss, stress, pain. Today, . . . can we see the gift that the Lord holds out to us? His Word is Living. Comfort. Life. Hope. Peace.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Psalm 91: 1-8.
Is it time to decide to turn from the sadness? Is it time to turn to the Lord and let Him cover us in His love?
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly John 10:9,10.
It’s time for life, and that more abundant. Jesus gives . . .
His arms are wide.
The Gospel message is this: We’re all separated from God. Sin has ravaged all of human kind.
. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23.
But God, sent His Son Jesus to die in our place.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Romans 6:23.
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 53:6.
As John the Baptist spoke as the messenger to “prepare the way in the wilderness,” Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near Matthew 3:2.
Eternal life begins the moment we believe:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.But ahireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming andleaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; andI know My sheep, andam known by My own.As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;and I lay down My life for the sheep.Andother sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice;and there will be one flock and one shepherd John 10:11-16.
Is today the first day of the rest of your life receiving the gift from the Son? Pray to the Lord. Do we have the Lord, but continue in stubbornness and pride?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.
Ask for His forgiveness in that we have all gone astray. Receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus. And the Lord tells us we be new:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17.
If you have prayed to the Lord to receive His gift of salvation, let someone know! Amen.
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face Psalm 11:7.
Psalm 11 is a powerful Word for today.
When “the foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”
Seven verses of promise found in Psalm 11 prove to be a present help for those who trust in the Lord when the arrows of the enemy are set against us.
We need grace and help in our time of need. Where are the words for our prayer?
Psalm 11:
I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.
The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”
But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,punishing them with scorching winds.
For the righteous Lord loves justice.The virtuous will see his face. Psalm 11: 1-7.
We’re to speak to one another in Psalms and hymns. What would an appropriate hymn be? A Mighty Fortress is our God by Martin Luther. Let’s challenge ourselves to speak these words aloud to be as a vitamin for increased faith this day:
A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing. Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe. His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing, Were not the right man on our side, The man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He. Lord Sabboth, his name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him. His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers Not thanks to them, abideth. The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also. The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever…
The Word and the Hymnal empower us to have melody.
Been misunderstood? Is it hard to find a friend who understands?
There’s a Friend who understands everything. Every evil brought against us, Jesus knows first-hand.
In desperate times and days filled with hardships, we need to see with our own eyes a reason to hope. We look out at all that’s going on and we only see destruction and pain.
It’s at times like this, when a closed Bible on the shelf seems impossible to open. I don’t have the “want to.”
God must know we can’t do it on our own. The pages are too heavy. Every other App is shouting, “Open me!” But the Bible App remains closed.
But Jesus prayed for us.
His light can overcome any darkness. He accomplishes His will.
My will says “no,” but the spirit urges me to receive healing in its open pages.
The Gospel of John is opened.
Misunderstood? This is Jesus’ story from the beginning. He Created the very ground the people stood on, yet, he was not received.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” John 1:12.
What Good News is sandwiched in the middle of rejection. Choice is His gift.
The stories unfold.
Disrespected? Treated with cruelty? Hated?
The God of the Universe, the one who sees the heart of man, He knows.
He was spat upon. Beaten.
Jesus experienced it all. He suffered.
Are lies spread against you? The enemies of Jesus spread word that “by the ruler of the demons He casts out demons” Mark 3:22.
Let the reading of the Gospels, today . . . be our refuge. An open Bible gives sight to our blurred eyes and water to our discouraged and hardened hearts.
Living Waters move hard things. Through God’s Word, the mountains of anxiety in self-discovery are scattered to freedom in knowing Jesus came to earth for one purpose, to die on the cross to set us free.
Jesus walked this sin-cursed earth. He kept His eye on His Father. Jesus prayed for us. He prayed . . . that we would be one.
With God, all things are possible. He trusted the Father. So can we.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them”John 17:20-26.
God demonstrated His love. He suffered. He rose again on the third day. He will help us rise as well, through His glorious power and love, He will show us how to love.
He will.
“Satan thought he had won, but You rose again to give me life, to give me victory! I love You Jesus, because You first loved me.” -Lincoln Wright
Lincoln Wright, a missionary in Managua penned these words many years ago when our dear friend was very ill. They were both revived in spirit by Jesus’s love and sacrifice. I put music to the words for my two friends.
I pray this music therapy of the Gospel message becomes a response and remedy for healing and hopebecause we discover again or for the first time, . . .
Rivers run through our history and folklore, and link us as a people. They nourish and refresh us and provide a home for dazzling varieties of fish and wildlife and trees and plants of every sort. We are a nation rich in rivers Charles Kuralt
Word Weavers International and its Local Chapters, much like a river, helps nourish and refresh writers and provides a home of comfort and a kick to produce dazzling life and bold expression to bring glory to God.
Rivers move and cover great amounts of ground.
Years ago at a one day Word Weaver’s Conference, guest speaker, Eva Marie Everson, the President of Word Weavers International, concluded with attendees standing in a circle of prayer.
Reluctant to admit, the words in the prayer which spoke to me were, “Dear Lord, some of these writers might be writing to encourage others in their writing. Help us all be faithful to accomplish Your will, to Your glory, in Jesus name.”
Who wants to simply be an encourager to others’ writing? No one. But, those words God spoke to me.
Perhaps, this is a success story.
I began writing devotions after my cancer battle ten years ago. I felt a need to express “God’s Hand” of grace and help for me.
I joined Word Weavers International and made the commitment to attend the monthly critique meetings with a written piece, as consistently as I could. Encouragement, direction, and help from Word Weavers, (and my son for the technical side), helped me set up my WordPress blog.
Challenged with time struggles of work and family responsibilities, fighting writing demons of perfectionism and doubt, the writing continued . . .
s-l-o-w-l-y.
I have published nothing.
A move from New Jersey to South Carolina thirteen years ago separated me from Children’s Ministry friends from my old church, as Annie was, but fb helped keep us connected.
Annie read my blog posts and began messaging me many years ago asking questions about writing, etc. I told her of Word Weavers, shared links, helps, and tools.
I soon noticed that some of my Word Weaver friends became her fb friends.
Annie Lovell began calling herself an author on her fb page.
For the last few years, Annie poured out her passion and love for the Lord writing, God Moments by His Amazing Grace by Annie Lovell on fb posts.
Her Timeline announced: Annie Lovell: All about Jesus, The Christ, who died, shedding His blood on the Cross, paying for my sins!
God Moments by His Amazing Grace by Annie Lovell were constant inspirational notes to promote growth and love of Jesus. Many of her fb friends greatly enjoyed her posts.
Annie’s cover photo was changed as Covid-19 spread throughout the world. Little did anyone know, but Jesus would soon be holding her in comfort against this dangerous virus.
March 18th, Annie offered her services to challenged families:
March 18, 2020 While you are homeschooling/remotely/digitally educating your kids, if you need assistance with understanding something that has been assigned for your child just let me know! I am a certified Elementary and ESL teacher, If I don’t know it, I likely know someone who will! I’d be happy to answer questions! #bettertogether(Teacher friends copy, edit and paste)!
On March 19, 2020 she wrote of the old hymn: Near to the Heart of God, and shared thoughts:
There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God, a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us, who wait before thee, near to the heart of God.
2 There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God, a place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God. [Refrain]
3 There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God, a place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God. [Refrain]
March 19, 2020 Remember this old hymn, that’s where Jesus is and we can find rest there! No matter how high the storms in our lives go, we can always find rest “near to the heart of God.” Take a moment if you want and quieten yourself as we draw near to God(Jesus)! Thankful He lives in us and through us using trials to make us more like Him!
March 21, 2020 post was a shared memory:
CoronaVirus this year instead of snow, but He is still giving us time to stop and reflect!! 2 Years AgoSee Your Memories
March 21, 2018 · "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" - Psalm 46:10I think God is talking to us this month! If you can’t stop and reflect on your own then I will send some snow to slow everyone down and offer them a time to reflect and “be still and know that I am God.”
Annie became sick, but shared posts:
God Moments by His Amazing Graceby Annie Lovell March 21, 2020The Lord just reminded me of these verses I learned as a child! Maybe you can teach them to your children!Psalms 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.Psalms 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?
Annie Lovell went home to be with the Lord, March 28 due to Covid-19. This was a response to Annie’s last post:
Thank you Annie Lovell for this last post of scriptures!
The Lord is now your keeper. While we miss you and while we are sad we rejoice that you are sitting at Jesus’ feet! Love you so much! Miss you.
From her family's tribute they wrote,
"Annie . . . shared God's love daily through scripture, encouraging messages, songs, and sermons through her online ministry, "God Moments by His Amazing Grace." She worshipped her Lord joyfully, unashamedly, and powerfully . . . A quote from her final online post reads: "He did it all, we did nothing. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
Annie Lovell, an author who shared the glory of God’s truth, wrote with passion to link others to God’s Word . . . which will go on living to nourish and refresh for all eternity.
I thank Word Weavers International and my Local Chapter for its far reaching help to me, which I believe was an encouragement to Annie.
Like a river, Word Weavers provides a home for a dazzling variety of writers, sharing the riches of God.
December has begun, and people are . . . not all jolly. How do we overcome and move forward when life is filled with loss,
or sickness, or falls,
and pressures, and messes,
and great amount of cares?
Is there a rescue place? Well, those who believe in God take comfort in spending time and thinking on His love and sufficient gift in His Son.
But what about when the song is gone when the holiday season has begun? Like a tire gone flat? Where’s the lift?
I’m telling you, it’s in the hymn-book! One that’s opened and read aloud that is.
This is the one-stringed guitar that I play, so-to-speak: the hymnal has amazing power. But my favorite of all time are Robert J. Morgan’s Then Sings My Soul editions.
I brought one of the editions into the infusion room many years ago when I was undergoing chemotherapy. The cancer patients in close vicinity to my voice were lifted immediately by the hymns and the stories of the writers.
We were changed. A deep joy, courage, and most important, hope returned to our sick bodies.
Many were reminded that God’s gracious love never left their side, even though they had nothing to do with Him for long and past years.
Yesterday, I was thinking of my elderly neighbor while I was able to be at church on Dec. 1. She’s unable to get to church because of many reasons, and struggling in many ways.
Thank you Robert. J. Morgan, for writing Then Sings My Soul Special Edition. I scooped up this book and went on my way to pay a short visit to my neighbor.
Coffee came first, but then pages were opened:
His Eye is on the Sparrow by Civilla D. Martin, 1905.
The Scripture of choice for this hymn was, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will”Matthew 10:29.
Always to the left was the hymn, to the right, a story. With nomelody at all, just the words of the hymn read aloud, “Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely And long for heaven and home.
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “
Yes, it’s true, the Word has been told us, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) Matthew 1;23.
Isn’t this one of the most precious promises of God? My eyes scroll up for verse 2 with anticipation of the thoughts: “Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise, When song gives place to sighing, When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him; From care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “
Hope is restored with the speaking, (or singing, if you choose) of a hymn. Change comes. The promises of God fill the mind instead of troubles and pain. For example,
“. . . God has chosen to make known . . . the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
And then my eyes roamed to Morgan’s writing in regards to this hymn by Civilla Durfee Martin, and I was reminded of other verses regarding God’s faithfulness within this theme:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” Matthew 10:29.
“Do not fear . . . you are of more value than many sparrows” Luke 12:7.
What a wonderful gift this book is to me over and over again. Perhaps, this year the most meaningful gift you might give yourself, or others, is a Robert J. Morgan’s, Then Sings my Soul edition.
We must remind each other, God is good, even though things don’t seem as they should.
“This is impossible,” we say in our hearts, or perhaps out-loud.
The Bible reminds us, God is able to make a way, . . . through the wilderness:
This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, . . . “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland . . . ” Isaiah 43:16-19.
We, who believe in God through His Son, (His great and perfect provision for us, Jesus), must not let our thoughts paralyze us. What are the promises? We must fight to think on these things and pray for increased faith.
“Eyes up, ears open. God speaks: “
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” Isaiah 43:10-13.
Am I a child of God? Perhaps that’s the first question.
God is good, the Bible tells us. The world is broken, dark, chaotic because of the fall. But God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” Gen. 1.
The account is written. Wise is the man who checks out the light of His Word daily.
God’s faithful love is dependent on nothing.
Love is who He is, . . .
the LORD:
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43:3.
Is He my Savior? Am I a child of God trusting and relying on Him to save me for salvation, and give guidance and help for each day’s trials?
How can I trust Him greater? Am I relying on my intellect, my bank account, my careful plans to save me from my hour of peril or trial?
“Yes, that’s sensible. That’s logical.”
Even more than people to come and discourage our trust in a (so called) invisible God, our own hearts discourage us in our weakness.
This is the fight. This is the battle. We must as soldiers have a plain command: “Look up. Listen up.”
As soldiers in the lord’s army, are our eyes up? Hear God speak:
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze Isaiah 43:1-2.
Or are we faith-less this day:
“Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel . . . But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses” Isaiah 43:22, 24.
Today, one heart at a time, beginning with mine, I feel the need to repent. I need to believe God and pray. “Forgive me for my unbelief Lord, increase my faith, in Jesus Name, Amen.”
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence” Isaiah 43: 25,26.
“Lord Jesus, the only innocence I have is the complete and sufficient washing of Your blood. ‘This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.’ And for that, I say, Thank You Lord.”
Jesus lifted my eyes and gave me ears to hear again. His amazing grace, how sweet the sound. He saves me from myself daily.
Are you a child of God? He is only a prayer away. Call on the name of the Son that God the Father has sent to pay each of our debt in full for our sin and shame. Yes, believe in Jesus, and ask Him to empty you of all the old, and fill you a new with the Holy Spirit.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” John 3:16,17.
If you have prayed and asked Jesus to come into your life to cleanse and make you new, please tell a trusted friend that today is the day of salvation for you!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Magic Kingdom can’t be entered without a ticket. The ticket will change in color and price daily, but everyone knows, you must acquire that day’s entrance pass, or you remain outside the gate.
The greatest and most magical kingdom of all is the heavenly kingdom of God. What’s the entrance pass to enter into our heavenly home?
How can we know? Does God leave us to figure it ourselves?
God makes it no mystery at all.
It’s not popular opinion.
It’s not intellectual discovery.
It can’t be acquired by earnings or points.
God’s ways are made plain. God’s plan unfolds. A look to the heavens brings awe and question, but is our faith complete through nature alone?
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ Romans 10:17.
The Bible proclaims that Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made John 1:3.
The heavens belong to Him. The seas of the earth are His possession. He is Almighty. We are awestruck with His creation.
But faith comes from hearing.
Not solely by the sounds of the morning birds or the fall of water. God speaks through the word about Christ.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind John 1:4.
Proclaimed by man are many roads to the Kingdom. But whose word can be trusted? How can we know.
What is truth? Can we know it?
Darkness is present. We feel it. We see it. Our lives are pained greatly by the evils in this world.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it John 1:5.
Who will cry out for truth?
Who is crying for light?
When the Bible is opened, God’s Word speaks,
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him John 1:9,10.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him John 1:11.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God John 1: 12, 13.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. What is truth? What is life? What way do we go?
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth John 1: 14.
Where’s the light that reveals the solid rock path so we may cross the rough rivers of this life? Where’s the hope in this dark world?
He’s a Person. The Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is the ticket! Have we received Him? Do we believe in His name? He gives us right to become children of God.
Have you read His invitation?
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David Isaiah 55: 1-3.
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon Isaiah 55: 6,7.
Will we open the pages of God’s Book? Will we receive His word above man?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:8,9.
Who will hear? Who will believe God above man?
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it Isaiah 55: 10,11.
Oh how we need truth to set us free. We can have the ticket, even now:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me John 14:6.
Today, today . . . who will believe?
Do we ask, “What’s in it for me?”
Jesus speaks,
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:12, 13.
“Come into my life Light and Truth. Come into my life and show me Your way. Come into my life, Lord Jesus.”
The gatekeeper says,
Enter into His gates . . . (Psalm 100:4),
and we will,
with thanksgiving, . . . into His courts with praise Psalm 100:4.
To give thanks can be hard. Especially during times of loss or pain.
(Teacher friends copy, edit and paste)!
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" - Psalm 46:10I think God is talking to us this month! If you can’t stop and reflect on your own then I will send some snow to slow everyone down and offer them a time to reflect and “be still and know that I am God.”
