CONSIDER THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD!

Psalm 107.43
Whoever is wise, let him attend to those things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Psalm 108:4
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

This morning, as I prepare to be a small part in the teachings of the retreat being held today, I am STRUCK anew with the beauty of Jesus in salvation. It is WISE to consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

As I contemplate on how steadfast the love of God is I only have to remember that the Scriptures tell us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. WOW!

Enemies of God, in rebellion to the Creator, and his love is so great that He gives to us, through Jesus Christ, the righteousness that He demands of us.

and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Thank You For Saving Me

Thank you for saving me,

what can I say?

You are my everything, I will sing your praise.

You shed your blood for me,

what can I say?

You took my sin and shame,

a sinner called by name.

Great is the Lord,

Great is the Lord,

For we know your truth has set us free,

You've set your hope in me.

Mercy and grace are mine,

forgiven is my sin,

Jesus my only hope,

the Saviour of the world.

"Great is the Lord" we cry,

God let your kingdom come,

Your word has let me see,

thank you for saving me!

Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK

TOO WONDERFUL, TOO MARVELOUS

Job 38:2
“Who is this that darkens my counsel by words without knowledge?”
In this scripture God is telling Job that Job has no idea what he is saying. That Job just doesn’t know the things about God that Job presumed to know!

Job 42:3
“…therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things to wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
In this scripture Job agrees with God. He confessed that it is true, he was talking about things too big for him to know!!

and

v.6 “…therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
In this scripture Job repents of his sin.

Psalm 131:1

“…I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.”
In this scripture the psalmist says that he doesn’t spend time thinking or trying to figure out things that are just to great for Him to know.

How wonderful and sovereign of God to have this scheduled reading for today be on the heels of me opening my mouth yesterday with a friend on the phone and uttering words about things about God that I don’t understand. Oh, I am humbled by God’s love for me as He orchestrates circumstances to reveal sin in me and then forgives me! This love of God makes me embrace repentance knowing that it is God’s kindness that leads me to repentance and repentance is a gift from God!

When she and I were discussing something that was said in her small group I spoke as though I KNEW clearly what I was talking about, but I didn’t!!
How prideful and utterly ridiculous! I see through a glass darkly!

There are some things about God that we do not fully understand! What I DO know is that before I was saved I was an enemy of God because God is pure and holy and I am a sinner. I was once not a people of God and GOD made me a people of God! Once I had not received mercy but now I have received mercy. (1Peter2:10) … All I have to know is that I am a sinner separated from God and because God chose me, gave me faith to believe, by grace I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! THAT is what I DO know and that is all I need to talk about! J So… I gratefully stand corrected by God’s Word. I gratefully stand forgiven by God’s grace.

As the psalmist wrote, I think I will not occupy myself with things too great and marvelous for me!

Applying the Gospel to Everyday Tasks

Ephesians 2:10
“For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

“Preaching the Gospel to myself each day not only reminds me of the love of God for me, but it also reminds me of the love of God for the works He saved me to perform. When I see the Cross, I see the premium that God places on the works that he has prepared for me. How valuable all of these works must be if Christ would die so I might perform them! And how precious are those for whom these works are done if Christ would die that they may be served.” ( A Gospel Primer, by Milton Vincent, 2008)

I am reminded today that because I am saved, because I have been created in Christ Jesus FOR good works, that have already been prepared before for me to do, I can bring my mom to and from Physical Therapy, I can care for my aging mom’s needs, I can do laundry, sweep up dog hair, , serve my husband and home, raise my children, do the dishes, cook the meals, etc etc etc because Jesus died for me so I could do these works!!!! Applying the Gospel to everyday tasks assists me in being content for I KNOW that these works were prepared for me to walk in them. They are not random tasks that I have to perform so then I can do the work of God, these tasks ARE the work of God!!!! HE prepared them for me to do!!! Oh how I love living in the good of the gospel!!!!

JESUS MY ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION

“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

I revisit this scripture often because I love this truth: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.” I find this sentence jaw dropping! God has not destined us for wrath! Whose wrath? GOD’S wrath! He saved us from His own wrath!!!! This is love. This is mercy. This is AMAZING! He did this so we might live with Him! WOW! I pray that I can live in this jaw dropping realization of God’s great love and then encourage and build one another up in this!!! What could be better news? We can so easily forget that this is the best news of all and we must encourage one another in this truth!!!!

This song, for me, reflects the joy of having no fear of the wrath of God because of Jesus Christ for He is indeed My ONLY hope:

Jesus, My Only Hope

Words and music by Mark Altrogge

As recorded on Songs for the Cross Centered Life

I come into Your presence

With nothing in my hands

I only bring thanksgiving

For Jesus, God and Man

I cast myself on mercy

I cast myself on love

I trust Your gracious promise

To wash me with Your blood

I will not fear Your judgment

For me, no wrath I dread

For it was spent on Jesus

Poured out upon His head

When Satan’s accusations

Make my poor heart afraid

I hear my King declaring

“Father, that debt is paid”

Jesus my only hope,

my only plea

My righteousness,

my Great High Priest

Who intercedes for me

before the throne

Jesus, I trust in You alone

© 2002 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

HUMILITY

1 Cor 4:7

“What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

James 1:21

“In humility receive the Word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”


“Humility knows it is dependent on grace for all knowing and believing.” John Piper; DesiringGod.org; http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1126_6_aspects_of_humility/


Have you ever realized how the ex-smoker or the ex-drinker is the most passionate about NOT smoking or NOT drinking? Perhaps even more so than the life- long non smoker or life- long teetotaler? The ex smoker/drinker wants everyone to know what they now know and even though they mean well come across a little obnoxiously! (yes, I was that ex-smoker!!!)

I’m kind of in that boat right now with my fairly recent revelation of when God showed me my sin of judgementalism, critical spirit and legalism in dealing with myself and other people!. Since then I’ve been like a bull in a china shop plowing down everything and everybody in my attempt to show them where they are judgemental or legalistic !!! hahaha! Which, of course, then renders me judgemental and legalistic all over again as I get frustrated with their lack of “getting it.”

I don’t even know how I navigated to this article about humility by Desiring God ministries this morning, but I am thankful that God took me there for it reminded me that ANYTHING I know or understand about God, his Word, my sin, salvation is because it was GIVEN to me and REVEALED to me by God! I’m not that smart, insightful, or savvy to “get it” on my own. I am such a “fool” and therefore I could never see this on my own without God opening my eyes to see.

"Oh Lord, help me to walk in humility remembering that EVERYTHING I have that is good and worthy is from You. Every thought, every understanding is from YOU! Lord, help me to remember to be gentle and humble as I walk alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ. Please show me every vestige of pride in my life that continues to rise up in me. I want to kill this sin, not just redirect how it manifests itself. I need you Lord! I need Thee every hour, no, every minute, no, EVERY SECOND! I praise you that you are for us and show us our sins for our sanctification! You are so patient and merciful and gracious to me. I love you Lord. Amen."

JUBILANT WITH JOY!

Psalm 68:3

But the righteous shall be glad;
They shall exult before God;
They shall be jubilant with joy!

Because I have been clothed with and the righteousness of Christ had been given to me, I have no fear of judgement before God!!!

Jesus bore the full weight of the wrath of God that I deserve! THEREFORE, I have no fear of God’s wrath and judgement and THEREFORE I am FREE to be jubilant with joy before God!!!!

THANK YOU JESUS!!!

OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!

Psalm 66:5-12

“Come and see what God has done; He is awesome in HIS deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in Him, who rules by His might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of His praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you O God have tested us; you have tired us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we through fire and water; YET you have brought us out to a place of abundance.”

This Scripture reflects God’s awesome faithfulness! In CHRIST we are in a place of abundance! Living in gratitude today.

THE SWEETEST THING OF ALL

Psalm 65:4

“Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!”

Psalm 27:4

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

I am in a state of awe and gratitude that God chose to bring me near to dwell in His courts through Jesus Christ! How can I NOT be satisfied with the goodness of the Lord and the holiness of His temple? I am so grateful for I know it was nothing in me that caused God to draw me near to Him but it was His great mercy and love and grace that He chose me. Thank you Lord! Because of God’s great mercy in choosing us we get the privilege of inheriting God HIMSELF and gazing upon his beauty for all eternity. I can hardly wrap my mind around that! But it’s true! I want to ponder and meditate today on God’s great love and mercy.

Funny, as I was reading these scriptures today and thinking about sitting in God’s temple I was reminded of the musical Fiddler on the Roof! In one of the songs that the main character Tevya sings is, “If I were a Rich Man” and this particular stanza always made me get weepy:

If I were rich,

I'd have the time that I lack

To sit in the synagogue and pray.

And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.

And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.

That would be the sweetest thing of all.

This poor man had no time to spend in the scriptures and pray as he wanted and he thought about being a man who was so wealthy that he wouldn’t have to work so then he could spend his time learning and praying.. to Tevya this would be the best aspect of being rich.

Since God chose, by His great mercy, to draw me near to him and gaze upon His beauty and therefore I have the privilege of having access to the very Word of God then do I consider time with God in prayer and His word the SWEETEST thing of all in my life? I am reminded once again that I do not have to “wish” for my time with the Father or in the Word, I just have to TAKE the time. I am blessed to live in a time and place where I have time.

Oh Lord, you have chosen to draw me near by your great mercy, help me to not waste my time but to use my time wisely and take the time to be with you and gaze upon your beauty and your holiness. I love you Lord, help me to love you more. I love your Word Lord, help me to love it more. Thank you for your grace, your mercy and your steadfast love. May I view my time with You in prayer and the Word as the sweetest thing of all. Amen.

Earnestly seeking God?

Psalm 63:1-8

"Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So have I looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night. For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me."

This psalm was in my scheduled reading for today. I love this psalm. I come back to it often! Sometimes it reflects where I am, and sometimes it reflects where I want to be, and sometimes it reflects where I need to be. I love praying through scriptures and this is such a wonderful psalm to pray through.

I once heard a story, I'm not sure if it's actually true or not, but it is a story about a man teaching a younger man about how much we should desire God and His Word. The story goes like this: An older man who had been walking intimately with God for most of his long life took his young protege to the local river. The young man had indicated that he wanted to know how much he should yearn for God. The man took this young man to the river and suddenly took him by the back of the head and dunked his head and face into the lake. He held him there for what seemed like forever to the young man, his arms were flailing, he was trying to get the older man's hand off his head.. finally the old man released the young man and naturally the young man was gasping for each beautiful breath of fresh air that he could get. The young man said, "WHAT were you doing?" and the old man replied, "the way you gasped for each breath when I released you is the way we must gasp for the God and His Word."

thus, my prayer:

Lord, I need your help to earnestly seek you. Often my soul doesn't thirst for you. I drink from empty cisterns instead. Oh Lord, give me a thirst for you alone. Do not let me be satisfied anywhere else. Help me to behold your power and your glory! Help me lord to believe and live out that your steadfast love is better than life! Help me to bless you as long as I live! Help me to cling to you. Thank you that your right hand upholds me! I want to be fully satisfied in you alone! Thank you Lord that you are my joy and my inheritance! Thank you that you have been my help! Help me to rest in the shadow of your wings and sing for joy!

and I love love love this song:

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence
Living in me
This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very Word
Spoken to me
And I, I'm desperate for You
And I, I'm lost without You

© 1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing





You can hear a sample here:




http://media.vmg.com/VMD9380/VMD9380-S-96kbps-15.mp3

PERFECT PEACE

Is 26:3-4

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

I am drawn to the phrase “perfect peace” today. What IS perfect peace!? For one thing, I think, only God is perfect so perfect peace or perfect anything can only be found in God, himself. This is an incredible promise!!! If my mind stays (secured in place, constant, standing firm, taking up residence, to continue in a place or condition, to stick, to remain with, to stop advancing forward) on God, if I trust Him, HE will KEEP me in perfect peace. I am realizing it is not a circumstance by circumstance deal, or a single activity.. it is a way of life to have my mind STAYED on God.. it’s an “all the time” deal, as my mind is constantly on God, not moving from that spot, this is producing trust and God will keep me in perfect peace.

How does our mind STAY on God? By reading and knowing the Scriptures!! God gave us a way to KNOW him and all about him. We must must must have a life devoted to reading the Bible!!!! I am reminded over and over again that I always find time to do what I want to do.

“Thank you Lord that through Jesus Christ alone there is nothing between You and I that can keep me from keeping my mind stayed on you. Lord, when my mind wants to move on, to move away from being stayed on you, from trusting you, I pray you bring my mind and my thoughts back to Yourself. Thank you that it’s not I who keeps myself in perfect peace but YOU oh Lord who keeps me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on you. Thank you Lord for this beautiful promise. When I am weary of reading Scripture, when my joy in your word begins to wane, I pray Lord that you will draw me back and give me a new and deeper hunger and desire for your Word, that I may grow in my knowledge of You. Amen.”

MORE COMPASSION

“Fill me with an over-flowing ocean of COMPASSION, the reign of love my motive, the law of love my rule.” (Valley of Vision, p130; paperback edition)

Colossians 3:12
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.”

I am daily reminded of my lack of compassion. I think I’m doing okay in this area and then all of a sudden I find myself impatient with a difficult person, or legalistic about the sin in someone’s life, or frustrated with someone’s complaint. I find I can be like this with people close to me, and I find this to be true about me with complete strangers! I recognize my sin in my lack of compassion.

Therefore, I come before the Lord to ask forgiveness and to seek help in time of need; to ask God, who is FOR me, to help me to be more compassionate towards all people in all circumstances, to help me to love others as Jesus does, to be kind and compassionate in my thoughts, my words and my actions.

I am assured of God’s help for he is making me like Jesus and uses all circumstances to this end. May God be glorified as he works compassion into my heart.

GOD keeps me walking!

Psalm 56:13

“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”

Psalm 116:8-9

“For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

Yesterday my prayer was that my walk with the Lord would be worthy of the calling. Today, as I read the above scriptures I am reminded that GOD, himself does this work in me. HE has delivered my soul from death; HE keeps my feet from stumbling and falling, and because HE does these things, I will walk with him in the land of the living.

I love how God answered yesterday’s prayer with today’s scriptures. My walk is a work of God and I must depend on Him ALWAYS in ALL things. I am to trust HIS work in me and I must surrender to God and die to self as he works in me. What makes this all so AMAZING is that God himself provides the power, the strength, and the grace to do these things.

"THANK YOU LORD for delivering my soul from death. THANK YOU that you keep my feet from stumbling and falling. THANK YOU that I can walk before you in the light of life and the land of the living. It is only by your great grace and mercy and the work of JESUS on the cross that I can do so. You are worthy of all glory, honor and praise O Lord!

"

WALKING with CHRIST

Ephesians 4:1
“…urge you to walk in the a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace.”

Philippians 1:27
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…”

Lord, may my walk and manner of life be such that reflects how worthy YOU are of my obedience and a life that pursues holiness. It is not because I am worthy of the gospel. It is because of the beautiful gospel of grace that YOU are worthy of our lives and reflect your holiness, mercy, love and grace. Lord, work holiness in me, by your Spirit. Teach me how to walk so that you are glorified and shown to be worthy! By the name of Jesus I come to you and ask. Amen.

In reading one of my devotionals today the author spoke about how worthy Christ is!!! I began to think of how I want my life to reflect the worthiness of God. The author reminded me that when people walk away from an encounter with us, they should be in awe of how great this great God of grace really is! Sometimes I feel, well, most times I feel that I am so far off this ideal. My prayer is that the Spirit of God would work in me so that my life will reflect the greatness, goodness and mercy of God!

Happy Resurrection Day! He is Risen!!

“For I delivered to you as for first importance what I also received:
that
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS
in accordance with the Scriptures,
That He was buried,
that
HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY
in accordance with the Scriptures.
and that He appeared to Cephas,
then to the twelve.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-5


“…the Lord has risen indeed..”
Luke 24:34

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5-6

Continuing to ponder the death of Jesus for my sins. “Amazing grace how can it be, that thou, MY GOD, should die for me?” (Charles Wesley)

Romans 5:7-8
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person- though perhaps for a good person one would even dare to die- BUT God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 19:30b
“It is finished” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I don’t think I need to add any words to this to explain what my heart is thinking today, with gratefulness.

SING TO THE LORD! SING ABOUT THE LORD!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 89:1

“I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you Oh Lord, I will make music.” Psalm 101:1

So many things are rushing through my mind this morning as I think of singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Before my mom came to live with me I would go to my iTunes and select my favorite worship songs and listen through my quiet time and often just leave it on throughout my morning while at home. Once my mom moved in and I found that she joined me in the kitchen at the time that I would usually do my quiet time, I found that it wasn’t as easy to belt out songs of worship. :)

I eventually found my “groove” again with my quiet time but the music was replaced by a conservative, usually political, radio show that my mom likes to listen to. God has given me the ability to tune out things that I don’t want to hear.. so the radio show would be on but I wouldn’t hear a thing they were saying.

This morning, by God's sweet leading, I didn’t turn on the show for my mom. Instead, I turned on Stuart Townend's newest CD and found myself immersed in Cross centered, gospel centered, Christ centered music! Oh what a pleasant change from 2 men grousing about the political state of our nation and upcoming elections! I sat doing my quiet time, even doing all my blog reading that I do in the morning with this godly music playing. My affections were truly influenced by this music this morning. I felt my love for Jesus increase with each song as I sang and pondered the gospel. This music truly soothed my soul. I would sing (very quietly) or hum or just revel in the beautiful gospel words that I was hearing.

I realized anew how music affects my soul. If I’m hearing some rock classic that is sad or bluesy I find myself sad.. if I listen to country music I find myself downright depressed!!! Ha! But as I listen to gospel centered music I find myself joyfully being thankful to God for crushing His Son for my iniquities!

I remember my dad who immigrated to the United States immediately after WWII. My dad loved America but he sure did miss his homeland of Lithuania. Sometimes I would pass by the den and see my dad weeping as he was listening to Lithuanian music. Music affects our souls and our emotions.

So, I am renewed in being intentional about listening to cross centered music each and every day while at home. Psalm 89:1 says that “I will make known your faithfulness to ALL generations!” As this music is playing and as I pathetically sing along (good tone is NOT one of my gifts) :) my mom will hear the gospel over and over and over again!

My prayer is that I remain intentional about listening to godly music and not let fear of man interfere with this and that as my mom hears these words and songs that God would open up her eyes and hearts to see her need of a Savior.

I thank God for showing us in scripture that we should sing and make music to the Lord and about the Lord and we do so thankfully.

MORE INTERCESSION

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”
Luke 22:31-32a

As I continue to think and pray about prayer, I believe God drew my eyes to this scripture as another example of how Jesus intercedes for us. What a beautiful prayer to pray for someone, that "their faith may not fail.” Jesus appealed to the ONE who gives us faith, to the ONE who keeps our faith.

How often, when I have a friend in trial, do I pray for her faith to not fail? I don’t think I ever have,

until this morning!

I am praising God for giving us these examples of how to pray! I am encouraged on two counts: 1) I see, again, how Jesus intercedes and 2) I have learned another way to pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Oh how love God’s Word

and how

it teaches me daily.

Intercession

“…Christ Jesus is the one who died- more than that who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
Romans 8:34

“Because of the resurrection Jesus intercedes for us in heaven before God.” (By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org )

I’m still thinking about me and intercessory prayer and how I want to be more diligent about praying for others and then I read the above sentence by Piper and I am overwhelmed again by the fact that

Jesus intercedes for us before the throne of God!

How absolutely incredible is that? I am just going to ponder on that today!

WOW!

Stop and meditate on this.

Amen.

Give thanks.

prayer

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” Colossians 4:12

“O God of the Open Ear, teach me to live by prayer as well as by providence, for myself, soul, body, children, family, church. Give me a heart frameable to Thy will; so might I live in prayer, and honour Thee, being kept from evil, known and unknown… (Valley of Vision; pp edition, p 137)

This scripture wasn’t part of my daily reading but was the focus of a devotional that I read by Sam Storm’s The Hope of Glory. Sam Storms spoke of how Paul commended Epaphras for his prayers for the Colossians. Reading both the scripture and the devotional made me yearn to STRUGGLE on behalf of my family, my friends, my church like my brother Epaphrus.

When I first was saved I prayed so much more than I do now. What happened? I’m not sure, but I realized this morning I want to live by prayer once again the way I did when I first met Jesus Christ.

So, please pray for me as I go before the Lord and ask him for the gift of struggling on behalf of others in my prayers. Can you imagine how God will answer prayers as we pray that others would stand mature and assured in ALL the will of God? Oh yes, I want to pray again like I used to, I want to pray like Epaphras. Work this in me O Lord, my God!

GOD'S WORD

Psalm 94:19

“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

“O Though who hast the hearts of men in Thine hand, form my heart according to the Word, according to the image of Thy Son, so shall Christ the Word, and His Word, be my strength and comfort.” (Valley of Vision, p 17)

I love this scripture for it reminds me where real strength and comfort and consolations lay, IN CHRIST and in HIS WORD! I remember there was a time, when troubled, I would run to the nearest phone to talk to a friend or my husband to receive their consolation and their advice. Now, more times than not, I realize that it is in the scriptures where we see and hear of the mercies and love and promises of God and where we find our counsel and encouragement and this is where I run!

This is also is a reminder to me when ministering to other people, that I must minister with God’s Word not my own words!!! For it is God’s Word that brings hope and peace!

O God I love your Word!!!!

HOW GREAT ARE YOU GOD!!!!

Hebrews 4:14-16

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

God continues to remind me through His Word that as believers we no longer relate to God has our judge but as our father. I am reminded that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are FOR us not against us. As we are being sanctified God tells us to come with CONFIDENCE to his throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help us in out time of need! As we battle sin, as we are confronted with our sin we do not have to be afraid of God’s judgement for Jesus has already paid for this sin. Instead we are told to come to God for help! For mercy! For Grace to help in time of need!
How can I not bow down and say, “HOW GREAT ARE YOU GOD!!!”

GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME!

1 Timothy 1:12-17

I thank HIM who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because HE judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. BUT I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost. BUT I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. TO THE KING OF AGES, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, THE ONLY GOD, BE HONOR AND GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

I just love this scripture. I use it when giving my testimony. It describes me so well. For example, I, before I received Christ would turn on the tv and watch Christian networks and mock the people and their message for fun! I was indeed a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent, the foremost of sinners, in this and oh so many more ways!!!!! And then comes one of my most favorite words … “BUT” I received mercy!!!!! How beautiful is Christ Jesus!!!!!!!! It is good to re-visit this verse to remember what I once was, so mercy and grace are all the more amazing and Jesus is even more beautiful to me!

If I could have fit it on my card the following song would have been written on it. Based on Psalm 51…

GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME (words by Richard Redhead)

God be Merciful to me
On thy grace I rest my plea.
Plenteous in compassion Thou
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me make me pure within
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against thy grace
And provoked thee to thy face;
I confess thy judgement just
Speechless, I thy mercy trust.

Sinners then shall learn from me,
And return O God to Thee
Savior all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love
Touch my silent lips O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

May my life reflect the merciful work of Jesus in my life so sinners will learn from me the kindness, compassion and mercy found in Jesus Christ!

God's Faithfulness!

Jude 24
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

“I will glory in my Redeemer,
My life He bought,
My love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone.
I will glory in my Redeemer
HIS FAITHFULNESS my standing place.
Though foes are mighty
And rush upon me,
My feet are firm held by HIS grace
My feet are firm held by HIS grace”

(2001 Sovereign Grace Worship, words and music by Steve and Viki Cook)

Today, I am reminded that it is God’s faithfulness that keeps me in Him, not my faithfulness!! God, Himself,
keeps me following hard after God. God’s grace works in me and gives me the desire to love His Word, to love Him, to hate sin, etc etc. God is so faithful to complete in me what HE has begun! (Philippians 1:6). This makes me want to praise HIM!!!!

Break up the Fallow Ground!

Hosea 10:12
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord that He may and rain righteousness upon you.”

1 Peter 2:24
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”

“May I with Moses choose affliction rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin.” (Valley of Vision, p. 105; pp edition)

“Return again with showers of converting grace to a poor gospel-abusing sinner.. Help my soul to breathe after holiness.” (Valley of Vision, p. 99; pp ed)

My pastor's(Mark Mullery) sermon on Chapter 10 of the book of Hosea yesterday was like a cool drink on a hot day. He pointed out the warnings that God was giving to His people and His judgements and then in the midst of that gives us verse 10. God gives a way out and showed them how !!

How does this apply to today? God wants us to respond to his warnings of sin in our lives! I realized that sometimes I respond to sin, after the fact (in sorrow and repentance, sometimes in guilt) when instead I could have headed off the sin by responding to God’s warnings first!!!

God doesn’t just sit idly by and wait for us to fall into sin, he warns us! Oh the kindness of God in his sovereign love! In v 10 Hosea tells us to “break of your fallow ground.” My pastor told us ways that we can break up the fallow ground, the hardness of our hearts: through prayer, journaling, applying scripture and involving others.

I have used these methods immediately AFTER sinning… but I had a “duh” moment, as I realized yesterday morning, to use these methods BEFORE the sin!!! This is especially effective for an area of sin where you struggle in. I am blessed to have people in my lives who ARE involved with me and will help me battle sin. What a blessing from God!

The 1 Peter scripture reminds me of the assurance I have in Christ as I die to sin and live to righteousness. God is FOR us, not against us! I am freshly reminded of what Puritan John Owens said, “Kill sin before it kills you.” My prayer today is indeed, “Help my soul to breathe after holiness.” Amen?

Scripture for Sunday, March 9, 2008

”Your words were found and I ate them and your words became a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of Hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16

I chose that today because I missed being in God’s Word yesterday because I was sick and I wanted to pray through and meditate on a scripture today that would help me to remember what a joy and delight God’s Word is. Also, it's a great scripture to pray through for those who you know that struggle to take time to be in God’s Word!

Happy Sunday!

Scripture for Friday, March 7, 2008

Ephesians 1:3-8

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holdy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of this will, to the praise of his glorious grace with which he blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of this grace which he LAVISHED upon us in all wisdom and insight….

Today, I am simply VERY thankful… for if God had not chosen me, I would not have chosen Him. Thank you Jesus!

Scriptures and thoughts for Thursday, March 6, 2008

“when my flesh yearns for some prohibited thing,
I MUST DIE.
when called to do something I don’t want to do,
I MUST DIE.
when I wish to be selfish and serve no one,
I MUST DIE.
when shattered by hardships I despise,
I MUST DIE.
when wanting to cling to wrongs done against me,
I MUST DIE.
when enticed by the world’s allurements,
I MUST DIE.
when wishing to keep besetting sins secret,
I MUST DIE.
when wants that are borderline needs are left unmet,
I MUST DIE.
when dreams that are good seem shoved aside,
I MUST DIE.” ( Milton Vincent, The Gospel Primer, p. 41)

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is not longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now life in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

When I read this yesterday in The Gospel Primer it resonated with my heart! We can fill in the blanks with any temptation or sin! “when I want to complain about my children, I MUST DIE! When I want to snap back at my husband, I MUST DIE! When I want to feel sorry for myself, I MUST DIE! When I want to complain about some circumstance in my life, I MUST DIE! When I am tempted to worry, I MUST DIE. ” etc etc… you get what I mean! Fill in your own blanks!

I chose this today because I want to concentrate today on Christ who lives in me and who helps me put these sins to death!

"Oh Lord, help me to die to self and live in faith and obedience to you! Thank you Lord that you are for me and are working in me to put to death the things of my flesh and helping me to live for your perfect will!"

Pray for me as I continue to daily die to self. I feel I must add that I can’t do this on my own! I need to pray to God and ask him to do this in me. I need his help to die to self. I have to remind myself, as I die to self, Romans 8:1 : Therefore there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. As God helps me die to self I must remember that Christ died for this sin! How great is that!!

Scripture for Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Mark 7:15,20-23

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defiles him. And he (Jesus) said, what comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these things come from within and they defile a person.

“The gospel applied to our heart everyday, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. The assurance of his total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don’t have to play defensive games anymore. We don’t have to rationalize and excuse our sins.. we can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. With the assurance of total forgiveness through Christ, we have no reason to hide from our sins anymore.” (Jerry Bridges, The Disciplines of Grace)

This Mark scripture was in my daily reading this morning and a great reminder to me that we can never sin and then say to ourselves, “Where did that come from?” .. we know that it comes from our heart!!!! The GOOD news is that we don’t have to hide and cower from God but as believers boldly go to the throne of grace in repentance knowing that we are forgiven and are helped to become more like Jesus! I am reminded again and again and again that God is FOR us not against us. Because of the blood of Jesus applied to our lives through God’s great mercy and grace we KNOW that God is revealing our sin to us and helping us put it to death. We don’t put it to death ourselves! We have his help! Such good news! Such GREAT news!
(I received this quote and many of the quotes I use from a blog site that posts a cross-centered, gospel centered quote every day!
http://firstimportance.org/

Have a blessed day!

COMPASSION!

Scripture for meditation: Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Mark 6:34

When he (Jesus) went ashore he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

“When I see persons who are are materially poor, I instantly feel a kinship with them, for they are physically what I was spiritually when my heart was closed to Christ. Perhaps some of them are in their condition because of sin, but so was I. Perhaps they are unkind when I try to help them; but I , too, have been spiteful to God when he has sought to help me. Perhaps they are thankless and even abuse the kindness I show them, but how many times have I been thankless and used what God has given me to serve selfish ends? .. the gospel reminds me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me. Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the save generosity that has been lavished on me.” (A Gospel Primer, Milton Vincent, pp 34-35)

Many years ago through a book, Hunger for God, by John Piper… a book I was reading with a dear friend, I began to think about how I could serve the community around me. Not just the family of God, but those outside the family of God! (we must not neglect serving the family of God in our local church.. but this is beyond that).

I don’t know why that fervor I felt years ago went away.. maybe it was because I still had young children at home.. but I have had this passion to serve the community arise again in my heart. I read the Mark scripture and was struck by the compassion of Jesus. This scripture was found in the middle of Jesus healing so many people of all their diseases. He helped them and then he taught them .

Will I be called to serve the physically poor people so they will see the grace of Jesus? I feel myself drawn to homeless people and unwed about to be single mothers. I do not know where God is leading me through this but I do know it’s going somewhere! I don’t know WHEN this will all begin to come about but I believe God is placing it on my heart as he is preparing me for some sort of service as a result of the power of the gospel growing in me.

Please pray for me that I remain open to whatever God has prepared for me. Pray I stay close to God’s Word and immerse myself with His Word so when he speaks I will hear! I long to have Christ-like compassion, not just in my thoughts and prayers but in my actions.

Love you!
diane

THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!

1 Peter 2:10

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Psalm 66:16

Come and hear all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.

“Mercy and grace are mine, forgiven is my sin, Jesus my only hope, the Savior of the world. “Great is the Lord” we cry, God let your kingdom come, Your Word has let me see, THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME.” (written by Martin Smith, 1994, Curious? Music UK)

Yesterday’s sermon reminded me afresh of the great gift of salvation. Mark’s sermon about Hosea purchasing back Gomer, his unfaithful wife is a beautiful picture of God purchasing me and you , his unfaithful wife, the church. Hosea paid 15 shekels for Gomer, God paid with his son Jesus Christ for me. I am reminded of how GREAT GOD is!!!! Before time He chose to make me his people, he chose to give me mercy. How is it that I keep silent about this as much as I do? The Peter scripture reminds me what God has done and the Psalm scripture reminds me to tell of my salvation!

GREAT IS THE LORD!!!! THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!!!

Here's a HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY to my daughter Colleen!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEEP!

Scripture to ponder on Sunday, March 2, 2008

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” (Edward Mote, 1797-1874)

1 Timothy 1:15-16

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ may display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

Lord, may my life reflect the beauty of Jesus Christ in his full mercy towards me a huge sinner, the worst sinner. Lord, remind me of the gospel as I walk through my day. Remind me that my hope is built on Jesus Christ ALONE, that I trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Oh Lord help me to live, eat, breathe and walk in the light of the gospel today so that you will be glorified!

Have a blessed Lord’s day!

Gospel Truths!!!

Scriptures to ponder for March 1, 2008 : My 3x5 card for today

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in the hope of the glory of God.

1 John 2: 1,2

And if anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.. and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 4:5

But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

“The Gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me.. I never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God. Freed from the burden of such a task, I now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God’s amazing grace to others.” (Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer, p.20)

Preaching the gospel to myself again, this morning, because this former Pharisee and legalist needs to do this daily so I don’t fall into the performance mindset before God and man but instead respond to this gospel truth in surrendering to God in and for my sanctification! Pondering these Scriptures makes my soul bow down in gratitude to God’s great mercy in His provision of salvation! Alleluia! Let all the earth rejoice!

My 3x5 card for today, Friday, February 29, 2008

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, HE SAVED US, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7

“O Father who spared not Thine only Son that thou might spare me… help me to adore Thee with lips and life.. O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise.” (Valley of Vision, p 42, pp edition)

I just can’t get enough of the glorious gospel! How great and kind of God to save us according to his own mercy! Incredible! My desire is that the prayer of my lips all the days would be THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!!! May I never grow tired of praising God with my lips and my life! I want every part of my being to walk in the gospel of Jesus Christ! Look at that first sentence of scripture! Look at what I once was! BUT… the goodness and loving kindness of the Lord appeared!!! Oh Praise Him!

Good Morning!

My 3x5 for Thursday, February 28, 2008:

Romans 12:1

“I appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship.”

Take My Life and Let it Be (Frances Havergal, revised by Chris Tomlin)

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my king.
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold not a might would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use every power as you choose.

::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me. Take my life, it's all for thee.

Take my will and make it Thine it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord I pour at your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee,
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee.

Listening to this song this morning I was reminded of how each morning I used to get up and pray for God to order my day according to HIS will and purposes. I used to ask God to use my eyes to look at what pleases Him, to use my ears to listen to others and listen to what pleases Him; to use my hands and feet for His glory, etc etc.. and somewhere along the way I stopped praying that!

A couple of weeks ago I began again, though sporadically. Today, when I heard that song I know that by God’s grace I have the desire to consecrate myself to the Lord again on a daily basis.

I did that the other day. Then, as my day began to go differently than I had anticipated and I began to complain I remembered that I had asked God to order my day! It increased my faith and encouraged me to remember that God, in His sovereignty does indeed order my day and I depend on Him to do so! God, in His sovereignty of course orders my day whether I pray about it or not, however, how much sweeter it is to have consciously dedicated my day to the Lord. I pray I continue to do so with every part of myself!!!

Scriptures and Thoughts to Ponder for: Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Here is my 3x5 card:

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Phil 2:3 (NASB)

Proverbs 21:21

“…pursue.. kindness…”

Puritan writer Matthew Henry was once robbed by thieves and recorded this in his journal:

“Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not someone else.”

This response from Matthew Henry particularly point #4 reflects a man who understood and lived out Philippians 2:3. He truly esteemed others as more important than himself .. in kindness for others he was GLAD it was him who was robbed and not someone else. Do I look at my misfortunes this way? Not always. When calamity falls upon myself am I thankful that it was on me and not someone else? I’m sure that I don’t wish that something bad happened to someone else instead of me, but am I openly thankful that others were spared and it was I who suffered instead? Isn’t that was Jesus did for us? He took upon himself the wrath of God and punishment for MY sin and was GLAD to do it! Hmmm… my prayer continues to be, Lord let me esteem others as more important than myself!

ps. I saw the Matthew Henry quote on this blogsite: http://www.theblazingcenter.com. The author had a different perspective on it but it caught me differently. Please go read his blog.. it's fantastic and great words of wisdom!

Do you want to be KIND? or RIGHT?

Good Morning!

“Will you choose to be kind? Or right?” (written in HUGE letters on the side of a building on Rolling Road in Burke, VA)

“As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” (Psalm 40:11)

“…show kindness and mercy to one another.” Zech 7:9

“Cause me to be a mirror of Thy grace, to show others the joy of thy service… Let me always esteem others better than myself.” (Valley of Vision, p 136 pp edition)

God continues to teach me and speak to me about the fruit of kindness. This is an area that He wants to cultivate. As I realize (by God’s literal handwriting on the wall of this building), that lack of kindness is often the result of wanting to be “right”, being annoyed, .. bottom line? Pride and ungodliness! As God is teaching me about kindness and showing me where I lack in this area the Psalm 40:11 scripture reminds me of the gospel. God shows me my sin and makes me more like Jesus. He does not restrain his mercy from me! WOW! His steadfast love and faithfulness will ever preserve me! I want to be more mindful of his grace than my sin. I cannot outsin God’s grace, nor do I want to! I'm excited to see the fruit of kindness grow in my life!

Have a beautiful day resting in the grace, love and mercy of God!

Scriptures to ponder today, Monday, February, 25, 2008

THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked… among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. BUT GOD being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved- and reaised ups up with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:1, 3-7

Just reminding myself of the gospel today and singing the following song this morning:

Thank You For Saving MeThank you for saving me, what can I say?

You are my everything, I will sing your praise.

You shed your blood for me, what can I say?

You took my sin and shame,a sinner called by name.

Great is the Lord,Great is the Lord,

For we know your truth has set us free,

You've set your hope in me.

Mercy and grace are mine,

forgiven is my sin,

Jesus my only hope,

the Saviour of the world.

"Great is the Lord" we cry,

God let your kingdom come,

Your word has let me see,

thank you for saving me!

Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK

See that older guy on the left? That is Dennis, my husband who I've been married to for 30 years today!!!!!!!!!!! He is the best! God has been and continues to be so faithful to us!

HAPPY 30th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO ME AND DENNIS!

ps.. the other people in the pic are my 16 year old son, my 26 year old daughter and her husband!

RESCUED, not Right!

Scriptures on my 3x5 card today: Sunday, February 24, 2008

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, “the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ as welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:1-7

This morning as I read these scriptures I am once again reminded that I have been rescued! I am to live as one who was rescued, not one who is right. I am reminded to depend on God alone through scripture as my encouragement to live in harmony with others. It is important to remember that I have been rescued by Christ Jesus! I did not rescue myself! God Himself opened my eyes to see the beauty of His holiness! God and in HIS great mercy saved me from my sin and HIS wrath!
Oh the glories of God! How great they are!!!!! Oh Lord, help me to live in kindness and gentleness with others and bear the failings of others. Help me to live in kindness and humility. I need you Oh God!

KINDNESS

Scriptures on my 3x5 today: February 23, 2008

Good morning!

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Proverbs 21:21
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Zechariah 7:9
Thus says the Lord of host, render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another.

Galatians 6:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness…

Last night I had the joy and privilege of watching one of our pastors display kindness about a situation. Once again, I am stunned and in awe at how easily kindness flows from the people in my church and it is modeled by the pastors.

For me, kindness is often an afterthought.. it is an “oops, this is how I could have shown kindness”..

I am going to follow the proverbs scripture and pursue kindness! I long to be kind with a kindness that is an overflow of my time with and intimacy with Jesus. This only comes from immersing oneself in the Word of God.

My prayer is that God would work in me and help me to show kindess, that the teaching of kindness would be on my tongue, that I would relentlessly pursue kindness that I would consistently show kindness and mercy to others.

When I first began attending Sovereign Grace Church I was stunned at the kindness of the people.. at first there were times I was even suspicious of this kindness.. thinking that perhaps I just “caught them on a good day!” ha! But of course, time revealed that this kindness is genuine and modeled and desired in my church and is evidence of grace and the Holy Spirit’s work from the top, down.

I have seen and been the recipient of this kindness over and over and over again and I long for it. Although these scriptures are on today’s 3x5 card I expect to meditate and ponder and pray about these scriptures long after today is gone.

Salvation Belongs to our God!

http://www.growingchristians.org/mfgc/delivered/Salvatio.html

Scripture meditation for today: My 3x5 card for Friday, February 22, 2008

Here is my 3x5 card today:

Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “GOD IS GREAT!” Psalm 70:4

The theme from yesterday continues in my heart as I ponder thankfully the salvation of my God! I want to be every thankful and bless His Holy name for God’s great mercy in CAUSING me to be born again! It is not of me, was never of me.. it was all God!! I included the Psalm 70:4 scripture again today because I just love that it says that those who love the salvation of God WILL say FOREVER that God is Great!!! I want to have that on my heart and lips at all times…

Lord, help me to constantly be thankful for your salvation and to think in my heart, sing with my voice and say with my lips, and with my deeds that You are great O GOD!

GREAT IS THE LORD!

Scriptures for today: My 3x5 card for Thursday, February 21, 2008

Good Morning!!!! How are you today? Here is my 3x5 today!

“Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say forever more, “GREAT IS THE LORD,” who delights in the welfare of his servant. Psalm 35:7

“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation, say continually, “GREAT IS THE LORD!” psalm 40:16

“May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “GOD IS GREAT!” psalm 70:4

“Oh magnify the Lord me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3

GREAT ARE YOU LORD!

I think my choices today are self explanatory. I am simply reveling in the greatness of God today!

What’s on your card today?

Scriptures to Ponder for today: My 3x5 card for February 20, 2008



Give Thanks! And it's not even Thanksgiving Day!!!! :)







“Let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him… You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:16,17, 24b

“But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.. by grace you have been saved… Ephesians 2:4-5

Lord, give me a thankful and grateful heart for everything!

In my Wednesday night bible study that I do with a few ladies, we are studying Jerry Bridge’s book, Respectable Sins, Confronting the Sins We Tolerate. This week's lessons were about the sins of ungodliness and unthankfulness.



These Scriptures remind me to be thankful for EVERYTHING! The very breath I breathe, every beat of my heart, every time something good comes out of my mouth, every good work .. SALVATION! In EVERYTHING I must give thanks! In great circumstances, in poor ones.. I want to thank God for we know that God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose! He is making us more like Christ through every thing in our lives, good and bad!! This is worthy of thanks!!!!



We need God for every little thing in our lives. For this we should be thankful and express this to God. As we walk in thankfulness and remember God and give glory to Him, we will walk KNOWING we are in the sight of God! My desire and prayer for today and as a habit of my life is that I would walk in thankfulness to God for everything! I have sinned by taking things for granted. I want to have a thankful heart!

Scriptures to Ponder For Today: My 3x5 card for February 19, 2008

Matthew 6:5-6
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

2Cor9:7-8
Each one must give as has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

My card is full today to include a prayer for God’s help as our new season of Alpha/ESL begins today! In listening to a sermon online by CJ Mahaney this morning he said something which struck a cord with me: Pride would be serving in ministry to impress, humility would serve in ministry to “Serve” (my paraphrase).

The Matthew scripture, although speaking of prayer, reminds me that I must not serve to impress or to be seen but to serve the Lord! The 2 Corinthian scripture reminds me today to serve with joy, to serve cheerfully.

In the past as the sessions of Alpha go into the 6th and 7th weeks I often begin complaining, sometimes aloud, sometimes inwardly about being busy every Tuesday night. Ugh! I am deeply aware today that my complaints are sinful and I need God’s help, I need God’s grace so that I may abound in every good work in serving the Lord by serving the Alpha and ESL attendees tonight and EVERY Tuesday night.

My desire is that MANY, that ALL would, as a result of hearing the gospel, turn to the Lord in faith and repentance and be saved! I pray that these 2 Scriptures would remind me today of the BIG picture of serving God and not myself and serving with cheer and joy by the grace of God who is able to make ALL grace abound to me!!! Amen?

Last December I read on the Girl Talk blog ( http://girltalk.blogs.com/ ) a hint of how to keep God's Word before you during the busy holiday season. Carolyn Mahaney, one of the writers of the blog, told of how, in the morning, she writes a scripture, or a prayer, or a quote or something that she wants to ponder on for the rest of the day, on a 3x5 card and carries it around with her throughout the day! I thought it was a great idea!

I started around mid December doing this and decided to carry this out on a daily basis.

So, I purchased a pretty leather 3x5 card holder that holds the current day's card on the outside and previous days cards on the inside. You can see the picture above this entry.

I carry it in my purse when I go out, from room to room in the house...when I have a free moment I look at it, pray through it, meditate on the scripture, pray through the scripture etc.. It's been working great!!!

I realize everyone has a unique way to keep God's Word before them during the day, this one works for me. I will be posting my 3x5 card everyday..to share with you the thought, prayer or scripture of the day.

I pray it serves you and draws your eyes to the cross.

My 3x5 card today:

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whome the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit... You are a hiding place for me, you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance!"

Psalm 32: 1, 2, 7

"Through grace let my will respond to Thee, knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that Thy free love enables me to serve Thee." (Valley of Vision, p 117, paperback edition)

Have a blessed day! Walk free in the grace and love our of our Lord!

With great joy and thankfulness to my God for bringing my son Pat home safely from Iraq I want to publically declare God's steadfast love and faithfulness to us!

"Blessed be the Lord!
For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
My heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to Him."
Psalm 28:6-7

Here is a working link to the article I just told you all about at Purple Cellar!

The Purple Cellar: Life Lessons from a Toothbrush

Perspective... interesting word... the definition from Miriam Webster online dictionary is, "Aids in the vision of"....

I'm sure you've had those moments of perspective thinking... for example.. I am having a horrible day, nothing is going right and then i remember my son, and all our soldiers, risking life and limb in Iraq and Afganistan and then I realize that my day isn't so bad after all. Remembering what my son in Iraq is going through "aids in the vision" of how my day really isn't quite so bad!

Lydia, over at the Purple Cellar blog wrote a great article today about perspective. You may have to copy and paste the link. Here is the link:

http://purplecellar.blogspot.com/2007/10/life-lessons-from-toothbrush.html

I highly recommend you go and read it.

May God give you HIS perspective today. No matter what else is going on in your life ask yourself this, "Is it well with my soul today?"

Blessings to you! Go and read Lydia's blog!

I am so encouraged this morning! I am encouraged because I was at church yesterday! I have not been at my church for 2 Sundays due to travel. It was SO good to be back with my church family. It was GOOD to sing songs proclaiming the gospel and thanking God and worshiping Him through song! It was GOOD to be taught from God's Word! I wrote an email to some women that I am in bible study with this morning and thought I would post this email on this blog to encourage whomever might stroll by and read it today! May it encourage you as we treasure Jesus together!

Good Morning friends,

How are you today? I hope that the songs of worship yesterday, as we sang about the glories of the gospel, served to encourage you and boost your confidence in the faithfulness of God!

I just finished listening to one of Piper's sermons from this weekend (There was a huge Desiring God conference this weekend and videos of all the speakers are online) and I am so encouraged to FIGHT for delight in Christ.. to treasure HIM above all things.. above health, above family, above worldly possessions and worldly promises and wordly expectations...etc etc... and I just wanted to pass that along to you today..

At whatever time you read this email I trust that you will be encouraged to switch your mind and your heart from whatever is occupying its thoughts to the glories of God as found in Christ Jesus! That you would treasure Jesus above all things.. Nothing but Jesus is worth anything! So, delight in HIM today and glorify Him by delighting in Him! Magnify him by delighting in Him! That is my prayer for myself today.. may it be yours as well.

Romans 8:31-39
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

With a promise like this how can we not delight in Jesus!? May God's Word give you joy today!

love,
diane