Tag: Notebook

Notebook Praises 4 What is Truth?

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Today definitions are changed. But God?

The God of the Bible is . . . who He says He is.

There’s no shadow of turning with Him, (James 1:17). Not ever.

God is patient. Kind. Most people think this about God, but are we hungry to know Him?

Familiar words often become blurred, but to chew on the Bible’s account of God’s nature brings a prick to every heart:

God’s love doesn’t envy.

God’s love doesn’t boast. He’s not proud. 

God doesn’t dishonor others.

God’s not selfish. He’s not easily angered.

God does not keep a record of wrongs.

God takes delight in truth, not evil.

God always protects. God always trusts. God always hopes.

God perseveres through everything.

God’s love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13.)

“God is love” 1 John 4:8.

Do we (really) want love?

We must seek the true and living God!

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” John 17:17.

We’ve got a choice to make. To believe or not to believe the Holy Bible proclaimed to be the truth of God.

And who’s Jesus?

From Genesis to Revelation, God speaks a Scarlet thread to tie and hold each Book together.

To open the Bible is to hear God’s heart. His story. His plan. His promises. Everything about life for humankind is written.

What happens when the Book is closed? We can see this, today the truth is what you make it. But is this true?

We believe many things. The human mind, heart, emotion is expressed in words—communication. Words have power.

We follow words . . .

how can we hear the true voice of God?

Faith. ” . . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17.

The testimony of every believer in God is summed up in the first four verses of the Bible. I’ll share an example with my testimony:

God created me. Then my life was dark and empty, (because of sin). “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” (Genesis 1:3). (My body consists of 73% water. My interpretation.)

The Spirit of God was patient to wait as His presence remained and . . .

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light” Genesis 1:4.

Many testimonies speak of chaotic beginnings, brokenness, darkness, emptiness, pain, and hurt. Then, . . . the Rescuer came.

Chaos turned to light. Old became new.

Do believers have perfect lives after Christ? No way, but directed by the Spirit of God, the Word of God, the Father of Light who delights in His children—yes! Perfectly covered by His blood. Renewed in His love.

Jesus:

“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” Revelation 19:13.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” John 1:1-4.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” Revelation 1:1,3.

Truth? Jesus said, “I Am.”

Let the little children sing about “All Things New:”

P.S. Please spend some time talking with the Lord today. This day, may you ask Him in your life and say, “I’ve made Him mine!”

Notebook Praises Day 2

“Make His praise glorious . . .

Sing out the honor of His name; . . .

Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!

. . . All the earth shall worship You ” Psalm 66.

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When I speak aloud the Word of God, I’m renewed with hope. We can rejoice in the LORD always because God is who He says He is!

He doesn’t change whether we believe Him or not. God is God.

If there is any doubt in your heart whether you belong to the Lord, . . .

make this day, the moment you seek Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will. The Bible is His love letter. Jesus. Loves. You. And me. And every single person on this planet.

Period.

Ask the Lord to help you understand. Ask the Lord to speak in regards to your pain and loss.

The gospel message is the same. The Good News of God makes no changes, ever.

The Lord is a faithful God. Psalm 66 reminds us to sing out the honor of His name.

The Bible helps us focus on the grand power and goodness of God. God’s Word is living, soul transforming. The Word of God lifts us above anxious thoughts. We can’t worry and speak a dozen names of God at the same time.

Almighty God – The Anointed One

(Lord my) Banner – (Giver of) Counsel

Compassionate God – The Chosen One

A Crown of Glory – A Costly Cornerstone

Deliverer – Elohim

El Elyon (God Most High) – Exalted One

Hungry for more? The simple reading of a few names of God makes us hungry to read more:

Jesus is:

Enthroned in rainbow colors – Faithful

Forgiver – The First

Friend of Sinners – Fountain of Life

Gracious God – Glorious

Giver of the Spirit – Great Reward

Holy – Healer

Change happens. We were created to worship God and when we do, we have peace. He is the Prince of Peace.

Can we “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works!”

His greatest work is His sacrifice on the cross for each of us. He became the Passover Lamb, (another one of His wonderful names). By believing in His work of death on the cross, our sin is put on Him:

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Talk to Him today. He knows your heart already. He can cleanse and make all who believe a new creation. His other outstanding work is His resurrection. Each is great. Miraculous. Jesus rose from the dead.

He helps us rise to new life.

Yes, all who come to Jesus and believe in the sacrificial love He gave on the cross will be saved. Born again with living hope.

The Bible tells us so!

Let the sound of children minister the glorious gift Jesus gives when we believe in Him:

John 1:12 / 2 Corinthians 5:17


Psalm 66: Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
 All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah

 Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
 He turned the sea into dry land;
They went through the river on foot.
There we will rejoice in Him.
He rules by His power forever;
His eyes observe the nations;
Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

 Oh, bless our God, you people!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
 Who keeps our soul among the living,
And does not allow our feet to be moved.
 For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
 You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

I will go into Your house with burnt offerings;
I will pay You my vows,

 Which my lips have uttered
And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals,
With the sweet aroma of rams;
I will offer bulls with goats. Selah

 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.

 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

 Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!”

Talk to someone about what you’ve received from the Lord, today!

A Month of Thanksgiving to God Creator of Heaven and Earth

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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 believe in Your Word. Help our unbelief!