John 8:28b-30
“…I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And He who taught me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him. As He was saying these things, many believed in Him.”

Jesus, thank you for always doing the things that are pleasing to the Father and THANK YOU for crediting this righteous obedience of YOURS to me! Thank you for working in my heart so I could respond by faith to your atoning work on my behalf. Oh Lord God you are indeed worthy to be praised! Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to believe!

© 2007 Tucker Photography.(Left to right Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaoey, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily)

1 Thess 5:17
"Pray without ceasing."

1 Thess 4:13
"But we do not want you to be uninformed brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope."

From the moment I heard about the tragic accident in the Steven Curtis Chapman family, My heart was bent towards prayer for them. Isn't that funny? I don't even know them personally ... but how kind of God that when we hear of the suffering of a brother and sister in Christ we immediately feel connected somehow. At least I do.

I was reminded yesterday that I must pray for those that are suffering. It is a mystery to me how God uses the prayers of the saints, but He does. I know that I can pray for the Chapman family, as so many others in the christian community are doing' and God uses these prayers to accomplish His purposes.

One thing that is encouraging to me is that we know that any suffering that comes into the life of the christian is not without purpose. God has a purpose for all things and we can trust Him in that. I can't even imagine the pain of their grief right now. They are swimming in sadness.

Molly Piper (John Piper's daughter in law) wrote on her blog yesterday about what the Chapman family can expect in the days, weeks, months to come. Molly writes with knowledge for she and her husband had their baby die last year. She said that tidal waves of pain will wash over them again and again and then she said,
"I’m not trying to be pessimistic or say that God is not there. He’s the tidal wave and he’s the light at the top and he’s the fresh, cold air that their lungs will scream for."
She knows the pain of grief and YET she grieves with hope. She knows her God.

So, today i will continue to pray for the Chapman family. I encourage you to do so too. They need our prayers.

Father, not Judge!

John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life."

What a gospel- loaded Scripture! There are so many things to meditate on from this one scripture alone but the phrase that stands out to me this morning is, "He does not come into judgement."... WOW! As a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ I will not come into God's judgement!!!! Jesus came into judgement FOR ME, and therefore I will not have to. JESUS stood before God who judged Jesus for MY sins so I will not be judged for my sins. Therefore, my relationship with God is NOT with Him as my judge, but I have the honor, the privilege and the humbling joy of relating to God as my FATHER. Incredible! My mind can hardly put it's arms around this beautiful truth! Thank you Jesus!

LOOK TO GOD!

Is 31:1
" WOE to those who go down to Egypt
1)for help
and
2)rely on horses,
3)who trust in chariots because there are many
and in
4)horsemen because they are very strong,
BUT DO NOT
1)look to the Holy One of Israel
or
2)consult the Lord!

This scripture was the very first verse I read this morning and it hit me between the eyes. The word "WOE" means to experience deep distress and misery. Yikes! Doesn't it seem counter-intuitive for a nation to be miserable if they depend on their military might? Doesn't that usually give us comfort and hope for victory or protection? How about us, in America, in post 9-11 living? Don't we feel comfortable in knowing that we have an incredible Homeland Security? Is this where our peace and comfort should come from? Not according to this scripture.

The bible says that WOE, misery and distress and trouble will come upon the ones who look to power and might for their protection and help INSTEAD of looking to the ONE, instead of consulting the LORD, the very ONE who gives us the horses, the horsemen and the chariots.. the Homeland Security, the military might .... It is GOD who saves, not our power and might.

I have begun to get a little worried about the direction that the elections are taking. It looks like Obama just may be our president. Yesterday I watched a video of Obama speaking to Planned Parenthood and he was just so callous when speaking of the unborn. It literally made me get teary eyes and frightened at what his presidency may bring to our country.

THEN... I read this scripture this morning. Although i am to be responsible in my voting, I am not to look to my president for my safety and hope. EVEN if THE perfect candidate were to become president who was pro-life, took perfect care of the poor, had THE perfect health plan etc ec... STILL I would be wrong to feel safe because of HIM/HER. Woe would still be mine if I looked to the perfect candidate rather than God!

My eyes must look to the Holy One of Israel, I must remember to consult the Lord. Let's pray for one another as the elections heat up. I can get caught up in it all and I want to REMEMBER to look to God and no where else!

DEAL or NO DEAL?

Psalm 90:14
"Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

2 things stand out for me this morning as I meditate on this scripture:

1) We can call upon God and ask him to satisfy us! The mystery of God is that God himself gives us this love for Him. HE initiated our salvation, HE gives us the faith to turn to Christ in faith and repentance and we can and should ask God to satisfy us with Himself and His steadfast love.

I know I have had "dry" times in my walk with the Lord where I feel far from God, or I am not especially aware of His presence. I tried to "force" myself to love Him more or be satisified in Him more but that just doesn't work all the time! Yes, we are responsible to read His Word and this will draw us near to Him but how often have I read His word and... nothing.

I have found that the very best thing to do is to go to God in honesty and tell him that I feel far from Him, I ask him to satisfy me with HIS steadfast love.... God WILL answer that prayer!

2) the result of being satisfied with God's steadfast love is rejoicing and gladness!!! Now that's a good deal!!!

Catch the FOXES, the little FOXES!

Song of Solomon 2:15
"Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."

This weekend the local news reported that 2 people in Fairfax County, in two different locations, were bitten by a rabid fox! Each person was going about their daily routine, one was taking out the trash, the other was mowing the lawn, when unprovoked the fox attacked them. (Each individual is fine and undergoing rabies shots). This scared me. Our house is up against a wooded area and I always see foxes and families of foxes. They walk right through our front yard!
Fear prompted me to be more alert as I go to the mailbox, go to my car, etc. It is a good thing to be more alert right now if there seems to be rabies in our local foxes! I believe it is a good fear if I let it motivate me to safety and watchfulness. I have begun to pray for the children who play in the neighborhood, that God would protect them from the foxes.

THEN, I remembered this scripture. Am I just as vigilant in my life against sin? Do I allow the "little sins" (the little foxes) to spoil the vineyard (my walk with God)?
Am I as careful and watchful for the sin that creeps into my life as I am right now as I walk out my door? Am I guarding my soul the way I am guarding my body right now? Am I in prayer for my neighbors and their salvation the way I am praying for God to protect them from an animal? Am I as aware of the sin that crouches at my door the way I am watchful for a fox to be near my door? Do I go about my daily routine not aware of the sins that affect my soul? How vigilant am I ???

Last night I heard an audio clip of John Piper pleading with his listeners to make war against sin!! He was so passionate in his pleadings that we must battle our sin. If we don't kill sin, it will kill us! We must battle sin and put it to death! And we can because as believers sin is no longer our master! JESUS is our master! Amen!!!

The sum of my meditations on this topic is this: Oh Lord! Help me to make war against my sin! Reveal to me the "little sins" the ones that I don't even notice so that I may, by the power of the Holy Spirit, battle them and put them to death! I am encouraged Lord, that because you love me, you will help me. The battle belongs to you O Lord, victory is promised because Jesus spent his precious blood to ransom me and I am forever secure. Oh Lord, catch the foxes the little foxes that spoil my vineyard. I need your help! In Jesus... for HIS glory. Amen.

O HAPPY DAY!

John 1:16
"And from HIS fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

"Glorious God, I bless Thee that I know Thee. I once lived in the world, but was ignorant of its Creator, was partaker of Thy providences, but knew not the provider, was blind while enjoying hte sunlight, was deaf to all things spiritual, with voices all around me, understood many things, but had no knowledge of Thy ways, saw the world but did not see Jesus only. O HAPPY DAY, when in Thy love's sovereignty Thou didst look me, and call me by grace. THEN did the dead heart begin to beat, the darkened eye glimmer with light, the dull ear catch Thy echo, and I turned to Thee and found Thee, a God ready to hear, willing to save.
(Valley of Vision, pp edition, p 62)

Is 40:28-31

Have you not known?!
Have you not heard?!

THE LORD is the EVERLASTING GOD, the CREATOR of the ends of the earth.

He does not:
faint
or
grow weary;
His understanding is unsearchable!

He gives:
power to the faint
And to him who has no might:
He increases strength.

Even youths shall faint
and
young men shall fall exhausted;

BUT THEY WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD:
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not be faint.

I pray the reading of this Word today finishes out my week with a joy in the mightiness, faithfulness and mercy of God as I look to HIM, as I seek HIM, as I wait for HIM to give me strength! Oh what a mighty God we have! Such compassion, such tenderness, such generosity in giving us what we need to endure! The JOY of knowing that God initiated this salvation and the knowing that HE keeps it and gives us strength to endure gives me joy inexpressable!

more STRENGTH

Psalm 73:26
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

This is such an encouraging scripture!!! I have nothing to add to it accept to say that I am grateful to God that it is not my heart nor my flesh that is my strength for these things will indeed fail, instead, my strength comes from God who will never, ever fail and who never changes. That is such good news!

THE TENDERNESS OF JESUS

Is 40:11
He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather His lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young.

"Who is HE of whome such gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Why doth He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts His heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion. It is His office, as a faithful High Preiest, to consider the weak. Besides, He purchased them with blood, they are His property. He must and will care for that which cost Him so dear. Then He is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant engagements not to lose one. Morever, they are all a part of His glory and reward." (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, May 14 evening)

I read this quote from Spurgeon last night before I fell asleep and my soul was stirred with affection for Jesus as I considered HIS tenderness towards me. I love Spurgeon's words that say any weakness at once melts His heart. Jesus knows how weak we are, that's why He died for us!!! We are weak in sin, weak in living... we are just plain weak! Jesus sees our weakness and cares for us. This scripture is precious because it shows the tenderness of God. Spurgeon continues to say how carrying one in His bosom implies a very intimate relationship. Today I am reveling in my God who is a NOT a God far off, but a God very near. So near I think I hear His heartbeat.

I AM WEAK!

2 Cor 12:9-10

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In keeping with the theme of strength this week I see this scripture as such an encouragement.
My weaknesses showcase the glory and beauty of Christ for in my weaknesses HIS power rests upon me and makes me strong, makes me persevere. Jesus is glorified when, I, in my weakness, rest in His amazing grace. As we saw earlier this week in 2 Timothy, we are strengthened by God’s grace and in this scripture we are told that His grace is enough!!
Then, Paul, in his humility is willing then to be content in whatever it is that exposes Paul’s weaknesses and illuminates the grace and power of Christ as HIS strength rests upon us!

I don’t know about you, but I am quick to flee from those things which show my weaknesses. Insults, hardships, calamities… we see these as our enemies… but today I am thinking that it is these things which expose my weakness and gives me the opportunity to depend on Christ for my strength. He is glorified and my faith is increased as I once again see God’s faithfulness in strengthening me by His grace. Now, I’m not saying we stand defiantly in the face of hardships and say, “BRING IT ON!”… but instead humbly bow before the Lord and admit our weakness and seek HIS strength.

Thank you Lord that your grace is sufficient for me! For when I am weak, THEN I am strong. Amen.

STRENGTH

1 Chronicles 16: 10-12

“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord, rejoice! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works of the Lord that He has done, His miracles and the judgements He uttered….”

I’m still thinking about strength in the Lord. Yesterday I pondered that God tells us to be strong in him and then we see that we are strengthened by grace and in today’s scripture I see that we are to SEEK strength. This implies an action on our part!! We are not to remain impassive and wait for God strength to fall down upon us, but we are to seek it! How?? We seek his presence.. how? We remember the wondrous works of the Lord that he has done. We remember his miracles. We remember the judgements that He has uttered. And how do we remember these things? From HIS WORD! Oh praise God for the scriptures. We have the privilege of having the works, the WONDROUS works of God written down for us. We must, must, must immerse ourselves in the reading and study of God’s Word. As we read God’s Word and remember who He is and what He has done, we will be strengthened! Our faith will increase and be strengthened. We have to make the effort to sit down, open the bible and READ!

Thank you Lord for giving us the bible. Forgive me for those times that I take it for granted or see the reading of your Word as some kind of task or box that I check off. Once again I see that you tell us to be strong in You, you tell us to see you and your strength and then you give us your Scriptures to teach us and strengthen us! Thank you O God for strengthening me through your Word.

BE STRONG in the LORD!

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of HIS might.

2 Timothy 2:1
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

These scriptures encouraged me today. We are told to be strong in the Lord in HIS strength and then we are told that we, ourselves, are strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus. I am reminded that I am the weak one and JESUS is the strong one! I have had opportunity this passed week to rely on the strength of Jesus many times… as I struggled against sin, as I struggled with the flu, … each time I called out on God and he gave me strength… strength to resist sin and strength to endure in my illness. I am in awe of how much God loves us. He doesn’t make demands of us and then leave us to ourselves to do them. He GIVES us what we need to meet his commands. God’s Word tells us to be strong in the Lord and then tells us that we are strengthened by GRACE! What a kind, generous and gracious God!

Thank you Lord for giving my YOUR strength and grace to rely on! Thank you that I do not have to rely on my own strength for I have none. I have only weakness but in YOU I am strong! Thank you for giving to me ALL I need to be strong in You.

1 John 1:9

“if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Is that not the best news you could hear today? Even if we can’t see a specific sin in our lives (which I would find almost impossible to believe), then there are the sins that we don’t even know we’re doing!!!! I love Psalm 19:12 which says, “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.” Our hearts are deceitful at best and will lie to us about our sins, telling us there are none where there are some!!! We have some hidden faults!
How kind and gracious of God to forgive us our sins that we confess and we can go to him and know that he will reveal to us our hidden sins and bring us to a sorrowful repentance. We don’t have to go digging for sin.. all we have to do is ask God to show us our sins and he will do it because He is for us not against us.
Oh Lord, thank you that you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you that because my heart is deceitful you will show me my hidden sins. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for this good news today. I fall on my knees and cry, “HOLY.”

John 3:29-30
“The one who had the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase but I must decrease.”

“We exist to glorify Christ. If someone else can do it better, let them. Let’s rejoice when others surpass us spiritually. God will be glorified and we’ll be filled with joy.” Stephen Altrogge

There just isn’t any room in the Christian life for competition or jealousies. There is no room for exalting self… we must glorify Christ! Not ourselves!
Like John the Baptist, I must decrease. CHRIST must increase.

You must read Stephen Altrogge's blog about this scripture. It was excellent!

REMEMBER

Psalm 77: 9-15

“Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up his compassion? Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; your have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your peoples, the children of Jacob and Joseph.”

In this psalm, the psalmist feels as though God is not listening, not hearing. He felt forgotten by God and then in the very next sentence he knows what to do! He reviews the great works and wonders of God. He reminds himself and God of all the works God has done! I believe the psalmist is encouraged when he reviews what God has already done.

This is a good lesson for us! When we feel that God is far off we must immediately review what He has already done!
We must preach the gospel to ourselves! It will serve our souls well to remember the great works and wonders of our God and it will glorify him as we do this!

How Great is our God??

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

1 Peter 4:19

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

I have a godly Christian friend who teaches in a local school system. Her job requires that she tests A LOT of children to assess their progression in their studies. The county has a firm date for beginning and ending this testing. Many of my friend’s colleagues encouraged her to begin the testing before the official beginning date and told her to put lie about the date. My friend refused to do so. She said it would be lying to do so and she didn’t want to lie. She was criticized, told that she would have a hard time finishing. My friend felt pressure, but she stuck to the godly way. I think she endured suffering in that she was aware of what people were thinking about her and saying about her. Although this suffering wasn’t unbearable, and does not compare at all to the sufferings some of our brothers and sisters in this world have to endure for their faith, it was a small suffering but she endured. She did good, while trusting her faithful Creator.

So, I began to think what “little” things do I have to endure while doing good? Is it saying no to certain movies or tv shows? Is it not chuckling at the off color joke? Is it not entering into gossip or judgement about someone?

Oh God, help me to choose to do good while entrusting myself to you, my faithful Creator!

By the way… my friend began the testing when she was supposed to and finished on time. Praise the Lord!

GOD IS FOR US!

Psalm 56:9b
This I know, that God is for me.

Romans 8:31-33
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?

When I am reminded that God is for me it gives me such comfort! God demands righteousness from us but HE gives it to us through Jesus Christ! God tells us to be holy as He is holy but he doesn’t leave us to our own devices to be holy, HE works in us to make us holy! Sometimes we get discouraged when God reveals sin in our lives. We shouldn’t be!! We should be repentant and sorrowful, but not discouraged! Because God is for us we can be assured that He shows us our sin to help us defeat and kill that sin in our lives! He doesn’t show us our sin to condemn us for there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) but he does so to make us more like Jesus!!! God is for us! He will complete in us what he has begun! I am praising God for this today!

THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!

2 Timothy 1:9

…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

This little verse is packed full of gospel truths but what hit me square between the eyes this morning was the phrase, “not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace” …
I am reminded this morning of God’s grace and kindness in saving me. I did NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, to deserve or require Him to save me. He did so because of his purpose and grace. That’s it! HE DID IT and He did it before anything we see now, existed! WOW! Before I even was born, before time began, God saved me because of his purpose and grace. THAT is worthy to think and ponder on today!

It makes want to sing this song:

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

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org :

Can I take the Lord's Supper if I've had a bad week spiritually?
Listen Download Podcast

Download: Audio
By John Piper May 2, 2008

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.
Can I take the Lord's Supper if I've had a bad week spiritually?
It depends on the transaction of the moment, not the quality of the week gone by.
Nobody brings a successful week to the Lord's Table, period. Nobody. We all call into question—and rightly—the effectiveness of our devotions or the quality of our communication with our kids. It's never been perfect. Therefore, we bring to the table our sin.
That's the point of the table. It is a recognition of our sin.
However, what you do in preparation—when you take stock of yourself—is that you confess all known sin. You do Psalm 19: "Cleanse me of hidden faults, and hold back your servant from presumptuous sins."
So you pray specific confession for the sins you know, you pray general confession for the sins you're unaware of, and you receive afresh the cleansing, the application of the blood of Christ (1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness").
Now, after you've appropriated afresh the work of Christ and are enjoying that forgiveness, you eat. And you eat worthily, not because you had a good week, but because you have a great Savior and are united with him by faith and are renouncing all those sins.
That's what I encourage our people to do. "Set it right with God now, in these next three minutes." And then as the trays come we celebrate that, we remember the foundation of that forgiveness, by eating.

ASSURANCE and ANSWERED PRAYER

Psalm 35:3b
“Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

“David knew where to obtain full assurance…” Spurgeon went on to pray as perhaps David did when he asked God to say to his soul that HE is his salvation… “Lord, I have sinned; I deserve not thy smile; I scarcely dare ask it; but oh! Say to my soul, even to my soul. “I am thy salvation. Let me have a present, personal, infallible, indisputable sense that I am Thine, and that Thou art mine.” (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, evening-March5)

I fell upon this scripture this morning in my bible. I had written this quote from Spurgeon in the margin next to this scripture. For a time I struggled with assurance of salvation. I purchased so many books on the subject of assurance and would be encouraged for a while but still had a nagging fear in my mind. Then I read this devotion by Spurgeon and thought to myself, ‘I will pray this prayer. I will ask GOD for HIS assurance.” Needless to say God answered my prayer and gave me a deep seated assurance that I am HIS and HE is mine.

As one who LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to read great books of sound doctrine it is often to those that I go to seek some piece of truth. It is so kind of God to give us these resources to teach us sound biblical doctrine. But I realize, now, that in reading these books I have a responsibility to allow these great books to direct my eyes back to God’s Word. I believe most authors desire to do that, to direct our eyes to the cross, to the word of God. Spurgeon’s great little devotional directed my eyes to Psalm 35 and it was there that God prompted me to pray and ask God for assurance!

So, this little scripture reminds me of 2 things today:

1) How sweetly God answered my prayer to be assured of HIS salvation! He showed me that David, himself, needed that assurance and that it is from GOD that I should seek that assurance.
2) That God has given us great resources to teach us but we should not let those be our primary source of learning about God but we must allow them to direct our eyes to the Word of God.

I’m still a bibliophile, but I know that it is God’s Word, first and foremost that will teach me.

NO CONDEMNATION!

WE ARE

COMPLETELY FREE!

Romans 8:1
“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

This morning on the blog, OF FIRST IMPORTANCE , todays quote is:

CJ Mahaney, THE CROSS CENTERED LIFE, 39,40 :
“Because of the gospel’s power, you can be completely free of all condemnation. Not mostly free, COMPLETELY free! Don’t buy the lie that cultivating condemnation and wallowing in your shame is somehow pleasing to God, or that a constant, low grade guilt will somehow promote holiness and spiritual maturity. It’s just the opposite! God is glorified when we believe with all our hearts that those who trust in can never be condemned. It’s only when we receive his free gift of grace and live in the good of total forgiveness that we are able to turn, from old sinful ways of living and walk in grace-motivated obedience.” (CJ Mahaney, THE CROSS CENTERED LIFE, 38-40)

I am reveling and resting in the good of the gospel and the greatness of God today! THIS is good news!!!!

HE LOVED ME FIRST

1 John 4:19
“We love because He first loved us.”

I will never forget going to the memorial service of a man in my church just a few months ago and we had the privilege of seeing a video of Mark taken months, or maybe weeks before He died. Marie (his wife) asked him, “Mark, why do you love Jesus?” and Mark answered through labored speech, “I love Jesus because He first loved me.” He then proceeded to share the gospel.

It was beautiful! I would have answered that question with, “because he died for my sins” or “ because he saved me from God’s wrath.” Those statements are true, but bottom line is this, if Jesus didn’t love me first, if God HIMSELF didn’t open my eyes to see the beauty of Jesus, if God Himself didn’t put a measure of faith in my heart, I WOULD NOT HAVE LOVED JESUS! I would have gone my own way sinning and sinning until I died.

BUT

God loved me first!! He opened my eyes and let me see!!

There’s an old hymn that I love: Here is the link if you want to listen to an updated version: http://voiceofthesheep.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/my-lord-i-did-not-choose-you/


My Lord I did not choose You

For that could never be

My heart would still refuse You

Had You not chosen me

You took the sin that stained me

Cleansed me, made me new

Of old, You have ordained me

That I should live in You

My Lord I did not choose You

For that could never be

My heart would still refuse You

Had You not chosen me

Unless Your grace had called me

And taught my opening mind

The world would have enthralled me

To heavenly glories blind

My Lord I did not choose You

For that could never be

My heart would still refuse You

Had You not chosen me

My heart knows none above You

For Your rich grace I thirst

I know that if I love You

You must have loved me first

My Lord I did not choose You

For that could never be

My heart would still refuse You

Had You not chosen me

Copyright 2003 Detuned Radio Music. Words by Josiah Conder, Music by Matthew Smith

Oh Lord God! Thank you so much for loving me and choosing me! I am in awe today of your love, grace and mercy! There is nothing in me that would cause you to love me .. it is all due to YOUR love, YOUR grace, YOUR mercy! I am humbled today by your grace. I love you Jesus. Thank you that I love You. Amen.

RANSOMED

1 Peter 1:18-19
“…knowing that YOU WERE RANSOMED from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver and gold, but the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Revelations 5:9
“…for you were slain, and BY YOUR BLOOD you RANSOMED PEOPLE FOR GOD from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You made them a Kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth.”

When I read these scriptures this morning I had the picture in my head of the movie RANSOM that came out about 10 years ago starring Mel Gibson. Do you remember it? I think of the picture of him sitting at a desk surrounded by a million+ dollars and yelling into a tv camera that he is not going to give in and pay the ransom. He was calling the kidnapper’s bluff. He refused to be “had” by the kidnappers. His precious boy was being held prisoner and he decided to make a statement instead of paying whatever it took in order to reclaim his son.

Then I read these beautiful scriptures about being ransomed and I think about how Jesus WILLINGLY laid down His life and spilled his PRECIOUS BLOOD, HIS LIFE, for the elect. He ransomed us, rescued us, paid for us with not millions of dollars but with his very blood. If this ransom had not been paid, if Jesus decided to “make a statement” and not humble himself to the point of death, we would have NO HOPE! BUT… Jesus was slain and by HIS BLOOD He ransomed a people for God. WOW! It was impossible for Jesus to do anything but that which was the will of God. Jesus is so full of mercy, compassion, grace and love, obedience and humility, it was HIS joy to ransom us by His precious blood. Jesus did not look into a camera and say, “ I will not be had”.. instead he looked to the Father and sacrificed His life for us.

I cannot put my arms around the greatness of this kind of love. It’s too huge for me to comprehend. Instead, I shall rest in it and be joyful today that Jesus spent His precious blood for me… and you.

FOR GOD'S GLORY

Isaiah 43:25
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

Psalm 25:11
“For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”

“God forgives our sins for His own sake.” (John Piper)

Reminding myself this morning that the Gospel is not about me, but it is all about GOD and HIS great mercy, compassion, love, holiness, and sacrifice FOR HIS GLORY! It is not a man-centered gospel but a God-centered gospel and that makes me very happy and full of joy!

Does it make you joyful?

PUT ON NEW WAYS OF LIVING

Colossians 3:12-15

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and, if one a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

When I read this passage this morning my first thought was, “oh, if only everyone in the body of Christ would take this scripture to heart.” And then it came to mind that I cannot do anything about anyone else’s behavior but I can do something about mine!!! I began to think on what it would be like if I lived out my every moment with every person in my life with a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with others and always forgiving and loving them!!! WOW! My life would radically change and I imagine that those around me might be affected as well!

Lord God, assist me in living this way. Help me to stop thinking about how OTHERS should be living this way but instead entrust myself to you, surrender to you and live this way myself! Lord, I need your help for I know that left to myself I would live in the opposite way! I would be critical, prideful, impatient, holding grudges against others. Lord, I do not want to live this way anymore, not one little tiny bit! I thank you that by the work of Jesus on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit in me I am not a slave to this sinful way of behavior but instead I am a slave to living in love and meekness and patience, forgiving others! Oh God this fills my heart with joy for THIS is the life that this new creation was created to live! Thank you that I can count on your assistance for you are going to complete in me what you have begun! In Jesus name, Amen.

A CALM AND QUIET SOUL

Psalm 131
“O Lord my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised to high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.”

“It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. It is our glory to trust Him, no matter what.” ---Joni Erickson Tada---

I saw this quote from Joni on a friend’s Facebook page and I began to think about it and how beautiful it is to trust God. It glorifies Him! I love that, Joni, who has had a very difficult journey in life sees God’s sovereignty in concealing WHY certain things come into our life are for HIS glory. How it magnifies God when we trust Him, no matter what and the fruit in our life is a calm and quiet soul.

David understood that there is peace in not trying to figure out things that are just too great and marvelous for us to know. It was enough that God is sovereign.
Yes, that is my prayer today that God would help me to always have a calm and quiet soul.

How is your soul today? Is it calm and quiet?

A WIDE PLACE FOR MY FEET

Psalm 18:35-36

“You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave me a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.”

I love the psalms. The psalms were written by real people like me and you under the direction of the Holy Spirt, but they are SO real in expressing the emotions, feelings and everyday living of people. This psalmist is speaking about a physical battle of war that God rescued him from, but how beautiful a picture this is of the salvation of our souls. God delivered this man from the pursuit of his enemies and He gives glory and credit to God alone for this deliverance from his enemies. God delivered me from the wrath of God and the mastery of sin, and I give credit to God and God alone! He has given to me the shield, the protection of HIS salvation.

For those who say the gospel is only seen in the New Testament they need to read the psalms for here we see that God alone gives us the shield of his salvation through the life and death of Jesus Christ. Do you see that God is gentle???? I am a sinner who deserves the full wrath of God for my sins but instead I have received salvation through Jesus Christ! He gave me the faith to believe that Jesus died for my sins, so I could turn to Him in faith and repentance! THIS is a gentle God! He has compassion on my plight and takes great measures to save me/us. This is not a “saved by the skin of my teeth” type of salvation this is a FULL and SURE salvation. He set my feet on a wide place! There is no fear of my feet slipping. God put me there and God will KEEP me there! He is a great God full of love and gentleness, kindness and mercy. God has changed my heart, made me a new creation who DESIRES to serve and obey God! He has indeed set my feet on a wide place!

God you are worthy to be praised!!! Thank you for your gentleness and love that saved me! Amen.

This blog from Desiring God Ministries is outstanding and I just had to post it here! Oh how I need to be reminded that I am not to be wise in my own sight.

Never Be Wise In Your Own SightApril 24, 2008 By: John Piper Category: Commentary

If a twelve-year-old makes A’s in school and generally makes wise choices, how would you help her apply this verse to herself?

Never be wise in your own sight. (Romans 12:16)

You might say:

It means that you gladly admit that all true wisdom is from God. It is his, and not finally ours.
It means that you recognize that any sense of superiority comes from comparing yourself only with your inferiors. But the most important person to compare yourself with is God, and he is infinitely wiser than you. Not only that, there are a lot of people in the world wiser than you.
It means that you feel humbled by the fact that you are a sinner deserving of God’s wrath, and that you are amazed at the grace that gives you eternal life. This humility and amazement swallows up a sense of pride.
It means that you do not count yourself worthy of being served, but rather “empty yourself” and become obedient and serve others, both the wise and the foolish.
It means that you are mainly not thinking about yourself at all but taken up with how admirable Jesus is and how wonderful his works are and how interesting and needy others are.

GIVE YOURSELF TO PRAYER

Psalm 109:3-5,21

“They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I GIVE MYSELF TO PRAYER.
So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. BUT you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your names sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.”

It is hard to hear words of hate at anytime, but particularly when they are spewed forth without cause and especially when they are from the mouth of a friend! The psalmist has the right answer, GIVE YOURSELF TO PRAYER!

It is hard to be hated, to have loved someone and be given hate in return. The “feeling” of betrayal is sharp indeed. BUT the scriptures tell us over and over again that God deals on our behalf, it’s not up to me, it's not up to you, it’s up to him. Our response should be to give ourselves to prayer and to entrust ourselves to God alone. He alone can ease the pain of the shards of sharp words that penetrate the heart and mind.

The answer is so simple. GIVE YOURSELF TO PRAYER!

Giving ourselves to prayer, immersing ourselves in Scripture is THE way to walk in the light of the gospel in trials like these.

Remind yourself that if someone has sinned against us, our response must be one of forgiveness. If they are believers, they are forgiven through Jesus Christ, just like we are, for all our sins. If they are not, they will have to face God with this sin.

Then, think on this!!! What if we had to face God with even just ONE of our many sins??? I cannot EVEN imagine what it would be like to have to face the wrath of God!!! I lived for almost 33 years without God in my life but even then I never had to face his wrath! Thinking on this should drive us to prayer on behalf of the person who has sinned against us!

Praying like this would certainly change our heart as we think about the offense:

Thank you Lord for your mercy on my life! Jesus, you endured the wrath of God the Father for sins that you didn’t even commit!!! Do I think I deserve better than you had to endure? I’m only asked to bear the wrath and slander of one friend and even still I am doing much better than I deserve! Thank you Lord for calling me to prayer, prayer to bear the heartache of hurt feelings and prayer for the one who has offended. Please be merciful to my friend, O Lord and draw my friend near to you. Amen.

DO NOT GROW WEARY

in

DOING GOOD!

2 Thessalonians 3:13
“As for you brothers, to not grow weary in doing good.”

Sometimes it is tiring to continue doing good. We know the right thing to do, but sometimes we just grow tired. At these times it is good to look to the cross!

Jesus suffered and died and became sin for us and bore the wrath of God so we can not grow weary in doing good! When I was a slave to sin it was impossible to “stay on the right path”, to continue to “do good”. HOWEVER, in Christ, because of HIS active obedience and righteousness credited to me I can continue in doing good and not grow weary and quit. The power of the gospel is strong! As I feel spiritually weary I MUST look to the cross and ask for God’s help.

He will help.
He promises.

SHHHHHH!

Ecclesiastes 3:1,7b

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”

Last week, for several days, I pondered on scriptures that warn us about the dangers of the tongue, and I prayed that God would guard my tongue and help me to speak only words of grace and encouragement. This week, because of a new trial in my life, I see that I must keep silent, period. Words of grace fell on deaf ears.

I prayed and wrote about this yesterday… about the temptations to defend myself, to demand justice, to accuse back!!! Yet, by God’s grace, I want to follow the example of Jesus and not revile in return, to keep silent. There are several scriptures that speak about Jesus remaining silent and NOT defending Himself.
So, with God’s help, I will remain silent. I will not defend myself. I will entrust myself to the ONE who judges justly.

The truth of the matter? The gospel is helping me so much! God has forgiven the one who accuses me the same why God has forgiven me. CHRIST DIED FOR MY SINS! It is true for me and it is true for the one who accuses me!!! I can keep silent because JESUS remained silent. I am not remaining silent in anger!!! I am remaining silent because God is showing me how to lay down my “right” to defend myself. I am learningto die to self in this trial.

I can remain silent because JESUS died for my sins and those of my accuser. WOW! Such rest and peace to be found in the gospel!

Jesus, thank you so much that by your grace I can be silent and not defend myself. I started to defend myself, Lord, and my beginning responses to this trial I did, but then you showed me ,Lord, that by your work in me I can be silent. Thank you Jesus that you yourself are my peace. May you bring YOUR peace to my friend. Amen.

SUFFERING

1 Peter 2:19-23
“For this is a gracious thing, when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it you endure?
But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
When He was reviled, He did not revile in return;
When He suffered, He did not threaten, BUT continued entrusting Himself to the HIM who judges justly.”

It is so tempting when we are sinned against to defend ourselves, to strike back, to hurt like we’ve been hurt, but this is not the example given to us by Jesus.
He died for us. He bore our sins and took our punishment. He received upon Himself the wrath of God that belongs to me, not Him! Yet, Jesus did not revile in return. Jesus did not defend Himself. He did not threaten his mockers and killers.

BUT, he DID continue to entrust Himself to God who judges justly. The gospel just keeps on giving, doesn’t it? The gospel : CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS reaches way beyond the cross. The gospel is our key to daily living. We must preach it to ourselves everyday! While Jesus was suffering and dying for our sins He endured! And in this scripture it is shown to us how we too can endure suffering! Jesus, while bearing the wrath of God still trusted God.

We, who follow Jesus, get to trust God while He is showing us compassion, grace and mercy, NOT WRATH! Oh how sweet suffering is when we compare it to the suffering of Jesus. We will NEVER have to endure the worst suffering there is, bearing the sins of the elect and experiencing the full wrath of God. There is no greater suffering than this. I will NEVER see this kind of suffering.

WOW! Doesn’t this then put our sufferings into perspective? By the power of the Holy Spirit we can choose to endure. Because of the great sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf we are no longer slaves to sin.

I no longer am a slave to being offended.

I am no longer a slave to thinking I have to protect myself from life’s hurts.

I am no longer a slave to defending myself when wrongly accused.

I am no longer a slave to reviling in return or threatening those who hurt me.

I am no longer a slave to settling the score.

I am no longer a slave to being hurt and angry.

I am a slave to righteousness and because CHRIST DIED FOR MY SINS I can choose to endure in my sufferings.

Because of the gospel we are able to endure the sufferings that come our way.

The gospel continues to be good news!

It is so helpful to remember that the fellow believer who has sinned against me has been forgiven by God because JESUS DIED FOR THEIR SINS, just like he died for mine!!! WOW! Oh may I endure it when I am sinned against by not reviling, not threatening and by entrusting myself to GOD who judges justly.

It is tempting, to hurt back. It is tempting to be mad. Why do I act as though “how can this happen to me?”… it can happen to me because I am a sinner and I am living with and friends with sinners and I am not above the sufferings that Jesus himself endured and just to remind myself again, I will never endure sufferings as drastic as those endured by Jesus. Oh Jesus , I need your help! Make me more like you!!!!

And even more important, Lord, Help ME to not be the one that causes others to suffer! Help me Lord to be cautious and gentle and compassionate and full of grace and mercy as I interact with your precious children. I need your help. In Jesus name.. amen.

AMEN

Jesus is Yea and Amen in all his offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once, he is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for his people, and to defend them with his mighty arm, he is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come, his lips are most sweet, and drop with honey still—he is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of his blood; he is Amen as to his righteousness. That sacred robe shall remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every single title which he bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death’s dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Castle and your High Tower; the Horn of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yea and Amen in all.
(Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, April 19)

Revelation 3:14 “The Amen”

All I have to add is AMEN!

Psalm 97:10a

O You

who love the LORD,

HATE evil!

Oh Lord, why do I dabble with sin and flirt with evil? Oh if it weren't for your grace and your steadfast love and your righteousness that I am a slave to, I would fall headlong into sin. Help me! Keep me from sin! Help me to hate what you hate and love what you love!

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust (OR SPILLED COFFEE) can destroy and where thieves and break in and steal, BUT lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust (OR SPILLED COFFEE) destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO!" Matthew 6: 19-21

Mark's sermon on this passage motivated me to ponder on where my treasures are.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my gadgets! I LOVE LOVE LOVE technology! Love my laptop, love my iPod, love my Blackberry, love my HD TV.. etc etc... After Sunday's sermon I thought to myself, that although I love these things I "think" i'd be okay if they were gone.

Well... God put me to the test this week. On Tuesday my Blackberry stopped sending and receiving emails. I tried to fix it to no avail, so I brought it to the local ATT store and they tried with no success. They called the Techies at Blackberry and they tried to remotely fix it.. NOPE. They determined that it was the device that was broken and could not be repaired. I pretty much spent half the day at ATT! The young girl who was helping me at ATT was very apologetic saying that she knows how important cell phones and particulary blackberries are to people. I smiled at her and said, "Ya know what? if this is the worst thing that happens to me today then I am a very blessed woman." She looked at me and said, "WOW! That is a great attitude." And then they gave me a new phone FOR FREE! We discovered it was still under warrenty. I didn't expect that. I figured I was out a blackberry and it was OK!

THEN TODAY:

As I was at the computer early this morning at my desk, my lamp fell, hit the coffee cup and SPLASH! Coffee spilled ALL over my laptop!!!!! I jumped up, turned it upside down to drain and then, a message appeared: "Hard drive has halted." ... then it faded to black. I am HORRIBLE at backing my files. So, I pretty much lost everything. Addresses, Care Group stuff, bible study lessons, a study guide I was writing, etc etc etc.. the list goes on and on.

My response? Calm and peaceful!!!! I ran upstairs to tell Dennis what happened. He came down and fiddled with it. His response? Calm and peaceful!!!!!!

I give ALL glory to God for mine and Dennis's responses! There was a day when I would have cried and been angry at myself and anyone in my way. Dennis would be been angry and seen $ signs before his eyes! NEITHER ONE OF US HAD THOSE RESPONSES!! How can this be?????

It is our dear Savior and God working in us, forming us and changing us to be like Christ! In my flesh I would not respond with such peace.... Dennis and I both looked at one another and said, "Well, the computer died, at least it wasn't one of our kids." ... God has given us a godly perspective.

I thank God and God alone that although I love my technology and gadgets, my treasure is indeed JESUS CHRIST and Him alone! It is HIS work alone in my life, changing my heart to love only HIM! May it always be so with greater increase each and every moment! Thank you Lord God for giving me a heart to love you! I love you because you first loved me!

TAMING THE TONGUE

James 3:8-10
“…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

My meditation on what comes out of my mouth continues. J I have pondered, so far this week, about guarding my mouth, about speaking words of grace that builds others up, and today I am reminded that it is common to man to talk out of both sides of the mouth.

I sing songs of worship! I pray! I bless the Lord! And then this same mouth speaks words of grumbling about others, judgement on others, slander and gossip about others!! Ugh!!!! James tells us that this ought not be so!!!!

The good news as found in the gospel is this: We who have repented of our sins and trust Jesus Christ for salvation are NOT slaves to sin any longer. We are NOT slaves to our tongue any longer!!! Milton Vincent’s Gospel Primer reminds me that “the righteousness that God credited to me became my master on the day I was converted!!” (page 21) I am now a slave to righteousness! Now I must surrender my tongue “to do whatever this righteousness dictates.” (Gospel Primer, page 21).

When I was first converted almost 20 years ago, I read this Scripture in James and realized that God did not want me to use foul language anymore! I remember being so shocked and moved by this scripture and from that day forward my language was cleaned up!! I KNOW it was a work of God in my life. HE cleaned up my mouth! I must surrender all my words to the Lord!

Lord God, today I surrender my tongue to you!!! I do not want to surrender to my flesh. I do not want to surrender to gossip, slander, uncharitable judgements or grumbling about others! I need your help O God! I desire to surrender to the righteousness that you have credited to me! Work in me O God and convict my heart and may the words that come forth from my mouth be pleasing and glorifying to you and edify the hearers of my words. In Jesus name. Amen.

SHOUT WORDS OF GRACE!!!

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

I am reminded of a quote by Sinclair Ferguson that I used at the women’s retreat :

“Only be seeing our sin do we come to see the need and wonder of grace. But exposing sin is not the same thing as unveiling and applying grace. We must be familiar with the exponents of its multifaceted power, and know how to apply it (grace) to a variety of spiritual conditions. Truth to tell exposing sin is easier than applying grace; for alas, we are more intimate with the former than we sometimes are with the latter. Therein lies our weakness.”

Yesterday’s scriptures that I was pondering on reminded me to speak little.. today I am reminded that when I DO speak it must be with words that are full of grace, using words that will build others up.

It is so much easier, I'm sad to say, to tear down, to expose sin, than it is to see grace and apply grace. It IS true, I am more familiar with exposing sin than to look for evidences of grace in others. I desire for my words to SHOUT with grace!

O Lord God, help me to have eyes that see evidences of grace in others lives! Help me to be an encourager, not one who tears down. Help me to be intimate with seeing and applying grace. I need your help Lord, for I am afraid that when I do speak it is not always with grace. Help my words to be few and help those few words speak loudly of grace. Amen.

SPEAK NO EVIL!

Proverbs 13:3
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; He who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 21:23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Every once in a while God reminds me to guard my mouth and tongue. Besides the obvious desire of guarding my words and mouth for the glory of God, the bible also includes these wonderful words of wisdom: opening your mouth, Diane, will often get you in trouble and bring ruin! I may bring ruin to myself but even worse, I may dishonor God and bring ruin to others!!!!!

How I need the constant reminder that I do not need to always tell what I am thinking, I do not need to share all I know and I do not need to express my opinion! I DO need to honor God with my words and I DO need to pursue kindness with my speech. Oh Lord, I need your help!!!!!

God's Steadfast Love

Psalm 34:10b
“…but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.”

My prayer today:

Your steadfast love surrounds me Lord because I trust in You and I trust in You because YOU have set YOUR faith into me!!!! Thank you Lord for choosing me for I know I would not have chosen You. I would have continued in my own sinful ways. I love You because You first loved me. Help me Lord always be glad in You and to love Your ways and Your word. In Jesus name, Amen.

MAJESTY

Luke 9:42-43

While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And ALL were astonished at the majesty of God.

The Miriam Webster dictionary definition of “majesty” is: sovereign power.

Yesterday I pondered on the sovereignty and power of Jesus as he calmed the sea and the winds and they obeyed him. Today we see that unclean spirits obey Jesus. Yes, majesty is a good word, a biblical word to describe Jesus.. SOVEREIGN POWER! He is Lord over all! May I never again take for granted the sovereignty and power of my God and Savior!

HE COMMANDS EVEN WINDS AND WATER

Luke 8:22-25

One day He got into a boat with his disciples, and He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and ask they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.
He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled saying to one another, “who then is this, that He commands even winds and water, and they obey Him?”

This particular scripture never ceases to make me awestruck! Can you imagine being in that boat when Jesus rebuked the wind and the waters and they obeyed Him??? I would imagine that after I picked my lower jaw up from the bottom of the boat I would be terrified!!!! Who is this that has command over the elements? I often think that I have a better perspective looking at it from 2008 because I KNOW that it is GOD HIMSELF who was in that boat with them, protecting them and showing His great power and presence over creation! How kind of God to show us in this day and age who He is and example after example of His sovereignty of ALL things! May I walk today in the knowledge that my God and Savior is God and Lord over all things. THIS indeed, increases my faith! Thank you God!!!!

“My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!!!!!” (Horatio G. Spafford 1873)

Luke 7:37, 38,47
“And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at at table int he Pharisee's house, rought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind Him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. ..Therefore I tell you, her sins which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Reading this scripture today I remember back in the days when I was under the teaching that we are not sinners but saints. I was taught that if I think I am a saint then I won’t sin. Ugh! The truth is, those who are saved, are indeed saints, but we are also sinners. It is a 2-sided coin. We are both! I am embarrassed to say that in those days I was taught to believe that those who considered themselves sinners were immature and uninformed, that these people took joy in beating themselves up for their sin.

OH! How I thank God for opening my eyes and showing me the depth of my sin and the extent of my depravity!!! For I found that the truth of scripture is this: Only when I realize that I am a sinner, that I sin and it is deep and extensive, do I appreciate all the more the grace and love of my God!!!!

It has served, not to make me sad and morose but joyful and grateful and has increased my affections for Jesus!!!!! I am rejoicing night and day for the amazing grace given to me by God! I am no longer a slave to sin. Sin no longer has dominion over me. BUT I do sin and my joy is this: that Jesus died for my sins and God is working in me and making me holy.

The woman in this scripture cried and wiped Jesus feet with her hair and anointed Jesus feet in repentance and gratitude for she understood her great sin and God’s great forgiveness found in Jesus. The Pharisee was appalled because he felt his sin was small and his goodness great. May I never again consider my sin small. It serves to make me prideful.

How much more effective for my soul it is to realize the depth of my sin. Thank you Lord God for dying for my sins. Thank you for opening my eyes to realize that although you count me a saint in Christ Jesus I now see the depth of my sin. The longer I walk with you the more I see my sin. Thank you for giving me this understanding. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!!!!!!

Luke 6:27-36

But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, off the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish others to do to you, do so them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those who from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinnres, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return , and your reward will be great, and you will be son of the Most High, for hie is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.


These are Jesus's words that speak louder than anything more I can say.

BUT...

Titus 3:1-7

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy to all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days with 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.

It’s one of those days where I am just reveling in the gospel. I read about what I once was… foolish? Yes. disobedient? Yes. led astray? Yes. a slave to various passions? Yes! passing my days with malice and envy being hated and hating others? YES! and once again comes my favorite word… BUT when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, HE SAVED ME!!!! Not by works but ACCORDING TO HIS OWN MERCY!

May pondering this scripture remind us today of God’s goodness and kindness and cause us to praise HIM!

Romans 12:10a
Outdo one another in showing honor.

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Still thinking about the retreat from this weekend. As I read these scriptures I think, "Do I really try to outdo my brothers and sisters in Christ in showing honor to them!? no! and then we are told to count others as more significant than ourselves! We are blessed to be a part of a church that teaches this. I know that I've mentioned this to you before that when I first began going to my church I was suspect of peoples encouragement and kindness to me.

Eventually I realized they are putting into practice this scripture! They are showing honor to their brothers and sisters through encouragement and gratitude! By seeing this modeled to me, I began to desire to extend honor and kindness to those around me. I found I began to NOTICE the service of others where I never had before.

Jesus, himself, the ONLY perfect one humbled himself and took upon himself our sins and bore the wrath and punishment of God in our place, SO that I can, in His name, bestow honor to my brothers and sisters!

Lord God help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ by counting them more significant than myself and to show them honor with zeal!

And they'll Know we are christians by our love,

by our love.

Yes they'll know we are christians

by our love. (by Peter Schools)

Can't help but hum this tune as I think about counting others as more significant than myself!

May God be glorified and the gospel advanced as we love one another, imitating Christ.

ROCK OF AGES

Is 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

rock of ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in Thee;
let the water and the blood,
from they wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure,
save from wrath and make me pure.

not the labor of my hands,
can fulfill Thy law’s demands.
could my zeal no respite know,
could my ears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
Thou must save and Thou alone.

nothing in my hand i bring.
simply to Thy cross i cling;
naked come to Thee for grace;
foul, i to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior or i die.

by Augustus Toplady 1776

As I was listening to my worship songs this morning and heard Rock of Ages I was reminded of the beauty of salvation and how it is a work of God and God alone! God gives us the faith to believe, so by this faith and by God’s grace we turn to him in this God-given faith with repentance.

GOD alone is the one we hide in. HE hides us from His own wrath!

Do you see the kindness of GOD????

HE saves us from his own wrath and gives us what we need to be saved! While we were yet sinners Christ died for our sins! God gives us the faith to believe and in His kindness leads us to repentance!!!!!!! And then we have access through Christ to the very one whose wrath we needed saving from!

WOW!

There is never so secure a place as in Christ! It’s all God! I sing with such joy,

“nothing in my hand I bring.

Simply to thy cross I cling;

naked come to thee for grace;

foul, I to the fountain fly;

wash me, Savior or I die.”

Thank you Jesus for saving me.

A FRAGRANT OFFERING

Eph 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

This was the theme scripture for our little retreat yesterday. It is sticking with me… I want to be an imitator of God, walking in love. I am humbled as God shows me what it means to walk in love as Christ did. That’s a tall order!!! But by HIS grace and work of the Holy Spirit He is sanctifying me and doing this in me! May I willingly surrender to God and his work in me. May it be a sweet aroma unto the Lord.