Romans 11:33
“Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways!”

Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

How kind of God to reveal to us, even SOME of his secrets!!! The mystery of salvation was revealed to us through Jesus Christ! How kind of God! He revealed to us how to be saved. Wow! But there are some things that do remain a mystery. I know this bothers some people but by the grace of God it doesn’t bother me. I am content not understanding all of God. Actually, I delight in not understanding all of God!! Not being able to understand all of GOD confirms to me his magnificence and his absolute hugeness!!!! I love this scripture in Romans for it reminds us that he has depth that we cannot even comprehend! His ways are inscrutable!

I often have to look up words that I think I understand their meaning but I really don’t until I research it.

Inscrutable:

1.
Incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable.

2.
not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable:

3.
incapable of being seen through physically; physically impenetrable.

Doesn’t that definition help you? It helps me to be in awe of our God! He is so much more than we know and see.

Oh God! I bow down before you and worship You for you are worthy of all glory and honor! Thank you that in your mercy and kindness you took notice of me and saved me. Oh Lord, my God, how I love you! .

Romans 10:13-15
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they’ve never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”

My pastor's sermon yesterday hit a home run with me! He commended the church for reaching out to the community through yard sales and car washes etc… sharing the gospel as we have conversations with the visitors to our church. Merritt challenged us, however, to be a “GO TO” church… to GO TO those who don’t come to our outreaches and make relationships with these people, to know them and love them and ultimately share the gospel with them. I was convicted by God that I tend to think that because I participate in these outreaches, that because I am involved in Alpha, that because I have shared the gospel with my mom, that I’ve somehow “punched” my evangelism ticket with God and that I don’t have to put forth any more effort to share the gospel outside of my little world. Ugh! I know that one of our reasons for being on earth is to share about Christ!!!

Merritt encouraged us to look for these relationships in our lives. I was thinking how these relationships could be with my neighbors, or your colleagues, or the cashiers at Giant that I have seen day after day, week after week for years!!!! I have a very outgoing personality and yet, when it comes to having spiritual discussions with these people, fear of man creeps in…no, fear of man STORMS in! I’ve had this conviction before but I am sorry to say it hasn’t gone anywhere but God in his kindness has brought it up again.

My prayer is that I would obey God and seize the opportunities he sets before me to develop friendships and share the good news!!! How is it that THE most important piece of news in the whole of life is so hard to share???

I do understand that it is not my words that save, it is not my sharing that saves.. it is God alone who regenerates a person and gives them the grace to turn to Jesus in repentance and faith. But! as this Romans scripture tells us, who can be saved if they don't hear??? It's our job to tell, God's job to save. When you think about it? we have the EASY job! :)

Oh Lord, may I love you so much that I can’t keep my mouth shut to even strangers! To family! To everyone! Send me, Lord! Send me! How will people know about you, if we don’t speak of you and share the gospel? Send me, Lord! Help me to obey you and share the gospel.

Romans 8:38-39
“For I am sure that neither death not life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present not things to come, nor powers, nor 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.”

This morning, this blesses my heart as one of the most comforting scriptures. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. WOW! May you be blessed, comforted, encouraged and feel the love of our Father today.

Daniel 3:28
“Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusting in him, and set aside the King’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

I love how God shows us so clearly the faith and courage he placed into Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago. They had amazing faith. They were willing to die rather than to bow down to a god other than the one true God. They would not worship the god that the King commanded them to, and were thrown into the fiery furnace that was so hot that even the guards who brought them to the furnace died from the heat of the fire, yet, these 3 young men were saved from harm by God. God is able to do ANYTHING! This act of saving these three men served to make the King worship the one true God! God was glorified.

There are many Christians in today’s world that are killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. God is the same today as he was in the days of King Nebuchadnezzar, yet, Christians die for their faith. I am not discouraged by this. I know that God is good, He always has, He is and always will be. God is sovereign and he has his reasons why this kind of persecution is allowed to be. We can therefore be sure that God has a plan and HE is being glorified in this.

This makes me want to bow down and worship our God and declare that HE IS WORTHY OF ALL GLORY AND HONOR AND PRAISE!

I am also convicted that I should be more diligent in praying for those Christians in the world who are being persecuted for their faith.

Romans 6:20-23
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. BUT NOW that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I just love the book of Romans! I do believe it could be my favorite! I’ve read this book SOOOO many times, I’ve taught a woman’s bible study on this book, I’ve heard many great sermons on this book but I don’t ever recall seeing verse 20! I remember verse 23 but don’t recall the others! Isn’t it wonderful how God’s Word continues to speak over and over and over again?

Anyways… there are so many gems to marvel at from verse 20 itself! Before conversion we were slaves of sin.. and the fruit of these sins, the things we loved to do, couldn’t help but do, and NOW, after conversion we are ashamed of…the fruit of this is death! There is indeed fruit to be had from a sinful, apart from God life, and the fruit is DEATH!

BUT NOW

Because God saved me and you we are slaves of God and the fruit of this life is sanctification and eternal life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And all this is a free gift of God. We did absolutely, positively NOTHING to gain this, NOTHING! God in His great mercy and steadfast love chose us, called us to Himself and the fruit of being a slave to God , the fruit of being set free from sin is sanctification and eternal life!
I love that, for the first time I see that sanctification is fruit! I often view my sanctification as a laborious process that must happen to make me like Jesus and to remove remaining sin. Which, it is a process of doing just that but it is a fruit of being a slave to God, of no longer being a slave to sin! Sanctification is a fruit of God’s free gift of salvation. A fruit of His love and mercy and kindness! Absolutely amazing !!! AND it leads to eternal life. Oh the kindness of God is SO big!

Romans 4:5
“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly his faith is counted as righteous.”

I stand amazed when I read a scripture like this because I know that it is God himself who gave my faith to me so I could believe. He opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear. He gave me all I needed to believe in the one who justifies the ungodly! God demands righteousness of us and then gives it to us through Jesus Christ. This gospel truth drives me to praise and thanksgiving!

Psalm 18:30
“This God- His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.”

What a great verse to ponder on if you find yourself in a place of unbelief or doubt. God’s way IS perfect. His Word IS true; and if we take refuge in Him, He will be our shield.

Thank you Lord that your ways are perfect and that your word proves true! Thank you for being my shield. Thank you for providing a way out for me. thank you for shielding me from your wrath! Thank you for Jesus! Thank you for calling me to you and giving me ears to hear and a heart to turn to you. You are worthy of ALL glory, honor and praise!

Romans 2: 1, 3, 4
“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things… Do you suppose, O man, you who judge those who practice such and yet do them yourself- that you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

This scripture brought to my mind, yet again, one of the resolutions that Jonathan Edwards made that when he saw the sin of another that he would remember that he, himself, is the most vile of sinners and he let the knowledge of other’s sins cause him to go before God in confession and repentance of his own sins, the VERY same sins that he sees in others! The Holy Spirit continues to teach me about how to respond when I see the sins of others… I’m not where I ought to be in this area but by the grace of God I’m not where I used to be! Praise Him for sanctifying me and teaching me the ways of holiness. I long to be more merciful towards others as God is towards me.
Meditating on this I read another scripture this morning:

Psalm 107:43
“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things, let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”

Psalm 107 describes the troubles of God’s people. They were in trouble, by their own sins and wanderings BUT THEN they called on the name of the Lord and delivered them from their darkness, or their distress because of HIS steadfast love.
THIS steadfast love is what we must consider. It is wise to do so! For we see God’s mercy and love and kindness towards us while we by our own sin and wanderings got into trouble!!!

Combining these two scriptures was easy for me today. If I consider the steadfast love of the Lord and how gracious and merciful He has been, is, and will be towards me, the fruit if this will be to be merciful at the sins of others and remember my own instead of concentrating on the sins of others!

Oh, how I love God’s Word! It is so beautiful! Thank you Lord for showing me how to apply your Word to my life today!

Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

I’m not sure if my application to this scripture has anything to do with anything but I feel convicted this morning to add a Part 2 to yesterday’s 3x5. I was convicted last night to ask myself the question, “am I doing everything I can do to encourage those around me to grow in and pursue holiness?” “Am I a stumbling block to someone else’s pursuit of holiness?” “Do I make it difficult for my close friends and family to grow in holiness?” I didn’t receive any immediate answers except to be aware. I want to be aware of how I relate to those around me and be an encouragement to them as they pursue holiness, not a stumbling block. As, I pursue holiness in my words, deeds, in EVERYTHING I do, I want to also, do everything I can to be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ as they pursue the same things.
So, yea, pray that way for me as well. :)

2 Timothy 3:12
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Many years ago, I was mentoring a young woman at my church who, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, made a decision to pursue holiness particularly in the area of entertainment and leisure activities. She began to be very godly and discerning in her movie and tv show selections. Do you know who gave her the hardest time? Not her secular work buddies, but her sisters in Christ!!!! That was eye opening for both me and my friend! We realized that following hard after Christ can be threatening to especially those in the family of God! For a while, my young friend had to avoid socializing even with her Christian friends in order to be able to avoid movies etc that were not godly. She did so with humility and prayer! Her secular friends, by the way, admired her for sticking to her convictions! Interesting, eh?
Well, God in his kindness helped my young friend maintain some of those friendships that still continue to this day but it was rough going for a while but she persevered in her convictions!
So, my prayer is that I continue to pursue holiness in humility and perseverance, knowing that I may get the rolling of the eyes from even some of my closest friends and family… I think the key here is to pursue holiness in “humility”… yea, you can pray for me that way. :)

Colossians 1:13-14
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

May this gospel truth bring you joy today!

Romans 12:10
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Sovereign Grace Ministries is really good at encouraging others and showing honor. I had never before been exposed to such an intentional effort to encourage one another. I have learned so much by the example of the people in my church but I need to grow in this area. I love that this scripture says to “outdo” one another in showing honor! This tells me that we can never be TOO encouraging!!! We can’t over do showing honor.

Lord, help me to be better at encouraging others and showing honor. Help me to see evidences of your grace in the lives of others and help me to be quick to point it out. I need your assistance Lord. In Jesus name. amen.

“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!! “ (It is Well, by Horatio Gates Spafford)

We sang this song at church yesterday and I can’t stop singing it in my head! What a beautiful way to preach the gospel to myself today! Jesus bore ALL my sins in his body! Not just some. ALL my sins! Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!!! It is indeed well with my soul, Jesus made it so.

Ephesians 2:4-5
“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.”

EVEN when I was dead in my sin, GOD made me alive with Christ! SUCH LOVE is almost impossible to comprehend. I was so deep in sin, my very best days were stained with my sin and unless God intervened I’d still be dead in my sin! BUT! God so rich in mercy, saved me. Oh Lord, I thank you.

Psalm 141:4
“do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies.!”

What a great scripture to pray for ourselves and others! The last phrase, “and let me not eat of their delicacies” got me thinking. What delicacies from men who work iniquity do I eat? What movies do I watch? What TV shows do I watch? Do I excuse my watching certain movies and shows because just one little part is bad? How about comedians, late night talk show hosts? Do I laugh at their slightly “off color” jokes? Do I laugh when they slander and cut down celebrities and politicians?

As I ask myself these questions I realize that I may eat the delicacies of men who work iniquity far more than I thought! I realize that I need God’s assistance in discerning what I watch and listen to. I NEED God to not let my heart incline to evil or busy myself with wicked deeds. The comfort, the hope is that God DELIGHTS to help us and give us grace in time of need!!! Such grace and mercy is overwhelming!

Oh Lord, do not let my heart incline to any evil! Instead, incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain (Psalm 119:36).

Psalm 128:1
“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!”

Psalm 112:1
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments!”

I have often asked God to give me a great fear of God not really understanding what that meant. As I read these scriptures this morning I realized that fearing God will produce obedience and delight in the commandments of God! Fearing God is not a “feeling” but an action!

Oh Lord, I need your help and assistance in walking in your ways and delighting in your commandments! Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Thank you that you delight to help me be obedient! You are sanctifying me and changing me to be more like Jesus! Please strengthen my soul and help me to walk in your ways! I do delight in your commandments for they are good for me and obedience to them brings you glory ! Be glorified in my life, Lord!
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1 John 2:1
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS.”

Romans 8:34
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died- more than that- who was raised- who is at the right had of God, WHO INDEED IS INTERCEDING FOR US.”

Hebrews 7:25
“Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since he ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM.”

One of the things that impacted me from my pastor's sermon on Sunday(August 3) was when he spoke about his own time of prayer and reading of the Word and he said, “When I go to pray, Jesus has already been praying for me!”
WOW! I looked up the scriptures above to remind myself today that God is faithful to forgive my sins and Jesus is ALWAYS and ALREADY interceding for me before the Father! Jesus perfectly atoned for my past sins, my present sins and my future sins! Sin has NOTHING to say about me before the Father for Jesus is my advocate and my savior.
Let the goodness of this gospel truth sustain our joy in the Lord today!

I don’t know about you but I am very quick to see someone else’s sin a whole lot quicker than I am able to see my own. It’s not because they’re not there, but because I can slip into self-righteousness so easily! I begin to think I have a speck in my eye but everyone else walks around with logs. The truth of the matter is, I have logs and everybody else has specks! I have been convicted over and over again that I have to stop this, not just with people I know but even with people I don’t know!!! Like the guy I read about in the newspaper, or the latest political candidate’s sin, or the mom I see yelling at her child in the grocery store!!! Why do I feel I can make judgements about them and feel better than them? It’s because I can be very self righteous! I think I am better than them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Lord, forgive me for so great a sin!!!!
So, following in the footsteps of my old dead friend Jonathan Edwards (http://www.apuritansmind.com/ChristianWalk/ResolutionsOfJonathanEdwards.htm) , I resolve as he did:

“to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I , and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others, and I will let the knowledge of their failings, promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.” (Jonathan Edwards)

Romans 5:1
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

From Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent, page 20:
“The gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and 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.”

In the gospel there is freedom from having to “prove” myself to God and others. JESUS accomplished my right standing before God. I have nothing to strive for, nothing to work towards, Jesus did it all!!! I am going to enjoy God by living in the good of the gospel today!

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. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Do not let this beautiful truth pass you by today. Ask God to make this affect your soul today:

He Himself bore MY sins in His body on the tree, that I might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds I have been healed. For I was straying like a sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of MY soul.

Because Jesus bore MY sins, I have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of MY soul! WOW! May we walk in the good and the beauty of the Gospel today!

PSALM 33:18-22
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”

Lord, thank you that trusting in the holy name of Jesus brings gladness of heart. You deliver my soul from death!!! You have set faith in you and fear of you into my heart! Thank you Lord! Thank you for giving me the faith to hope in your steadfast love. Thank you for being my help and my shield. Jesus, your name is a beautiful and holy name. Thank you for loving me, for if you had not loved me first, I would not have loved you. I am amazed by your great mercy and grace. Thank you for being my help, my Savior, my shield. Thank you for giving me gladness of heart!

Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The other day I heard a sermon about being a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ (by Will Pavone). By the end of the sermon I was fully convicted that most often I am a fully devoted follower of ME! When I am annoyed, frustrated, sad, put out by demands on “MY” time, etc etc etc… I realized that I am fully devoted to me and what I want, I am treasuring myself as my greatest treasure, not Jesus! I often wonder why those around me don’t see the Jesus that I treasure so greatly and what I came to see the other day is that people don’t see the Jesus I love because I show them instead, by my unspoken attitudes, the Diane that I love even more! Yuck!!!!!!!

I immediately went to the throne of grace and asked God for His forgiveness and I was reminded that God’s mercies are new every morning! So, this scripture is a reminder to me that it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. By God’s great grace I want to live my life fully devoted to Jesus, upholding HIM as my greatest treasure, not myself.

Thank you Lord for your help and assistance. I cannot live for YOU without YOUR help and what is so amazing to me is that you are delighted to give me your grace, mercy and help in my time of need. You are indeed worthy to be praised!

Psalm 119:114
“You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in your Word.”

I cannot think of a better place to hide than in the Word of God. Jesus is my hiding place, this is where I am shielded from God’s wrath for God poured out His wrath on Jesus so I would never have to bear the wrath of God. Thank you God for giving to me a hiding place from the wrath I deserve.

Thank you Lord for giving to me the righteousness of Christ. Thank you for the hope that is found in your Word.

Psalm 119:133
“Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”

Psalm 19:13a
“keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me! ….

I’ve been reading in psalm 119 for the past few days. When I came across verse 133 this morning I was reminded of how I used to pray this scripture or the one from psalm 19 almost daily! Isn’t it wonderful and so kind of God that we can depend on HIM to keep sin from gaining dominion over us!!!! We can go to his throne of grace and receive help in our time of need!!! He will keep us back from presumptuous (with rash confidence;willfull) sins!
I am so thankful that God gives us this example through the psalmist.. that we can/should turn to God and seek help in not sinning! I know that if I am left to myself will always choose to sin!

Thank you God for making yourself available to me through Jesus Christ! I need your help with my sins! I need your help to stop. I need your help to keep me from sinning! Thank you that I can, with confidence, seek your help and expect your help!!! Thank you for this great love and grace!

Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”

My new favorite hot beverage to drink at both Starbucks and at home is Tazo Refresh(mint) Tea. I love it! I used to drink coffee throughout the day but now I have my coffee in the morning and my Mint tea throughout the day. So, this is good, less caffeine..BUT, I use sugar with this new tea. We can discuss the pros and cons of deleting caffeine and adding sugar later, I wanted to use the sugar I put in my tea as an illustration of the above scripture.
I keep my sugar in a restaurant type pourer. When I make my tea I feel like the sugar pours and pours and pours into the cup and then I stop and before I even taste it, I add more sugar. Usually, I’ll then taste it and add more!!

When I read this scripture today I realized that I do not always treat God’s Word this way.. I have my scheduled daily readings, according to the plan our church recommended, I check the boxes… I often meditate on the scriptures I read but I don’t “add” more like I do the sugar to my tea. I add more sugar without even tasting my tea but in reading God’s Word I’m very careful to check my boxes and feel as though I’ve accomplished something!

Lord, please make your Word be as sweet, no sweeter to my taste than honey (or sugar) is to my mouth! Help me to see your Word as so sweet that I want to add more and more and more and not just check my boxes for the day! I need your assistance Lord! I trust in your promise to assist me in loving you and your Word.

Psalm 119:49-50
“Remember your Word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”

Thank you God for making me hope in your Word! Thank you for giving me faith to trust in Jesus, thank you that in your kindness you led me to repentance! I never would have hoped in your Word or trusted in your promises had I been left to do so myself! It is YOU Lord, that drew me near to you. It is YOU Lord, that opened my eyes to see the truth and the glories of the gospel! It is all of YOU Lord and absolutely none of me. I thank you for the hope I have in your promises. I thank you that your promises give me life. Lord, your kindness, mercy and steadfast love are beyond compare!

PSALM 119:9,10

“HOW CAN A YOUNG MAN KEEP HIS WAY PURE? BY GUARDING IT ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. WITH MY WHOLE HEART I SEEK YOU; LET ME NOT WANDER FROM YOUR COMMANDMENTS.”

Lord, I know that apart from You I could never be pure. My best efforts could not keep your Word perfectly! I would be in despair but then I remember Jesus!

Jesus, you lived the perfectly obedient life and then in your great love and mercy you gave YOUR righteousness to me!!! I pray now for your assistance. I want to keep my way pure. Help me to love for and yearn for your Word. Help me not to wander from your commandments. Not because I can be pure of my own doing, but because I love you and I want to keep your ways. You are a GREAT God! You help me to know your Word and you help me to keep it. What you demand of me you give to me by your grace. Oh Lord you are great beyond compare!

Psalm 116:1-2
“I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because He inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.”

Do you ever pray scripture back to God? It’s so easy and what better way to pray than to pray God’s Word back to Him!

Oh Lord, I love you. Thank you for hearing my voice and for hearing my pleas for mercy. Thank you that you incline my ear to me. I can call on you for as long as I live for I know you hear my voice and my pleas for mercy. You are so kind and merciful Oh Lord! I love you Lord. You are worthy to be praised! AMEN!

I'm on vacation! I'll be back in a few days!

Luke 6:41-42
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the LOG that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye when you yourself do not see the LOG that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the LOG out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.””

“We’re all much better at seeing the sin, weakness and failure of others than we are our own. We’re all very good at being intolerant of others of the very things that we willingly tolerate in ourselves….what does this all mean? It means that accurate self-assessment is the product of grace. It is only in the mirror of God’s Word and with the sight- giving help of the Holy Spirit that we are able to see ourselves as we actually are. In those painful moments of accurate self-sight, we may not feel as if we are being loved, but that is exactly what is happening. God, who loves us enough to sacrifice His Son for our redemption, works so that we would see ourselves clearly, so that we would not buy into the delusion of our own righteousness and so that with a humble sense of personal need we would seek the resources of grace that can only be found in Him.” (Paul Tripp, Whiter Than Snow, pp 32-33)

When I worked at Burke Community Church I kept a log on my desk! I went to the wood pile in my backyard and got one of the biggest logs that would fit on my desk. It was a great conversation piece but I had it on my desk to have a visual reminder that before I examine someone’s “speck”, I needed to remember about the LOG in my OWN eye! It even served to remind me of my own “logs” when I was tempted to be annoyed or frustrated with a colleague or someone who was in my office for business. I appreciate Paul Tripp’s encouragement with the truth that God helps us see our sin because He loves us!!!! How gracious of God to continue to work in us to make us more like Jesus!

By God’s grace, I’m going to concentrate on LOG extracting in myself rather than speck searching in others!

Psalm 106:44-46
“Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.”

Following are the thoughts that come to mind from this scripture:

1. God hears our cries! Because Jesus died for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, our cries NEVER go unheard! God hears our cries and looks upon our distress. He did so for the Israelites and He does for us!
2. God keeps his promises! For the sake of His people, God remembered his covenant. There is scripture after scripture after scripture which shows us that God keeps his promises! He will keep his promises to us too!
3. God relented. God had mercy! God has shown us His mercy over and over and over again! He did so for the Israelites and He does so now too! God poured out his wrath on Jesus so that those who receive Jesus in faith and repent for their sins will NOT receive the wrath of God upon them! WOW! Such mercy!
4. God works according to his steadfast love. God’s love towards the believer comes in abundance! While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us! What greater love can there be! God demands righteousness from us and then gives it TO us in Christ Jesus! And this love continues, it never wanes or changes.
5. God caused the Israelites to be pitied by those who held them captive. Well, we were not held captive by people, but we were captive to our sin and the kingdom of darkness! God sent Jesus to suffer once for our sin, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring us to God! Jesus set us free from the power of sin and death! We are no longer captives or slaves to sin but we are now slaves to righteousness!

I am in awe of God’s Word this morning. There are so many gospel truths in two little verses from this psalm! The gospel is not just in the New Testament but ALL through the bible from Genesis through Revelation! Oh Praise Him!!!

“If you see and savor mercy in Christ, you will LOVE being merciful.” (John Piper)

1 Peter 1:3-5
“Blessed be 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 is being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

I read this quote from Piper the other day and it really impacted me. I can really be hard on people who offend me or annoy me or frustrate me. ha! Even if it’s people I don’t know! It may be a political candidate, or the latest Hollywood star that whose life has run amuck. I can be critical and my comments unmerciful.

As I read this quote by Piper I began to think that if I really really really savored (to give oneself to the enjoyment of) the mercy I have in Christ how could I NOT be merciful to others! Therefore, if I find myself NOT being merciful then I must not be seeing and savoring the mercy I have received in Jesus Christ!

Looking at this scripture I see that preaching the gospel to myself would assist me in seeing and savoring mercy. This scripture tells me that it is God Himself who caused me to be born again. I could have been left dead in my sin, I could have been left to receive the full wrath and punishment of God that I deserve, BUT instead, according to HIS mercy He caused me to be born again! WOW! My prayer is that I would savor this mercy, enjoy it, love it, be thankful for it, be keenly aware of it and then, extend it to others!

1 Peter 3:18
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”

My pastor, Steve, preached on a portion of scripture yesterday beginning with this one. He reminded us that it is so very easy to gloss over familiar scripture and that we should really just stop and ponder this one. He is so right! I could totally miss the impact of what this scripture says.

Christ suffered ONCE for sins, the RIGHTEOUS for the UNRIGHTEOUS, that He MIGHT BRING US TO GOD….

AMAZING! I am near to God because Jesus suffered for my sins! He suffered for MY sins!!!! He, who lived perfectly obedient. He, who is righteous suffered for me, the unrighteous so I could be brought near to GOD!!! I once was as far as I could be from God, because of my sin, but he brought me near through Jesus Christ! WOWA!

Steve then brought up that sometimes we don’t “feel” near to GOD! He reminded us that we must not be led by our feelings but by our faith in Christ and in the truth of what the scriptures say. Feelings are not to be trusted! Christ alone is to be trusted!!!

A friend of mine, Monique, had the following quote as her Facebook status today:

“I am being led by faith in Christ not how I feel”

Ponder on that one and be encouraged!

Psalm 43:5
“Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”

Psalm 73:25-26
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Once again I was intrigued by a particular word. This time, I was drawn to the word “turmoil.” Turmoil is defined as being in an agitated state of confusion, disorder; disquiet, commotion, violent agitation, worrying confusion.
Wow! That certainly describes what I feel sometimes, when I give in to the sin of worry and lack of trust and belief in God. I love that the psalmist is talking to himself… he’s asking why his heart is in such TURMOIL and then He speaks truth to himself, he preaches the gospel to himself! He reminds himself to HOPE IN GOD, his SALVATION! I am reminded this morning to preach the gospel to myself. Whatever it is that I am worrying about that may be stealing my peace and causing turmoil within me I must remember to turn my attention to the Gospel to the promises of Hope in God through Jesus Christ. That is why I was also drawn to this verse in Psalm 73. It, also, reminds my soul that God is all that matters.
The answer, then, to turmoil in your soul? Preach the Gospel to yourself! Amen!!!!

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CURRENT OF GOD'S LOVE

This is a reprint of an older blog. I think I have re-blogged this a couple of times but it is worth it. Remembering the fullness of the love of Jesus is always encouraging! May you be encouraged as you read this and may your affections for Jesus be increased as you think about being surrounded by the love of Jesus!

I woke up this morning thinking about the time almost 28 years ago now, when my husband and I were stationed (Army) in the Republic of Panama ( yea, I know, hard life)My husband and I, with another couple and their 2 year old son, took a weekend vacation to a small little resort on the Pacific side of the Isthmus to a place called Mu Mu Cottages at Santa Clara Beach. It was absolutely beautiful! The ocean was magnificent! I had never before seen or have since seen the ocean as beautiful as it was there.We had a great weekend of friends, and food and relaxing! AND… I had an adventure that I will never forget.

The waters were fairly rough but as a 23 year old girl, who apparently thought she was immortal, I wasn’t afraid to go into the tumultuous waters! Our friend’s 2 year old son was in a small inner tube (no such thing as arm floaties yet) in this HUGE ocean, just kicking his little feet like crazy… We were all having a wonderful time, jumping the waves etc.

SUDDENLY, I found myself without control being flipped and tossed by the water. I was doing somersaults, not of my own accord, but by the water tossing me… My head kept hitting the bottom of the ocean floor as I kept getting flipped and tossed around. I remember trying to get myself out of the situation but I was helpless, I just resigned myself to go with the “flow” of the water’s current. I started taking in water and had that brief moment of realizing I was probably going to drown when all of a sudden it seemed like the ocean spit me out and I was on shore. I was very shaken up… My friends and husband all ran over to me as did others on the shore at the time . I had been caught in an undertow!No one could get to me to help me out. My hair was beaded with sand, there were sand particles imbedded in my scalp. I really was so tossed around! I was not a Christian at the time, but I knew I had experienced a miracle. I truly could have drowned!

Since that time the Holy Spirit has given to me a new heart, one that loves and follows Jesus.

One day I heard the following hymn and it reminded me of the time I was caught in the undertow:

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!Rolling as a mighty ocean,In its fullness over me;Underneath me, all around me,Is the current of Thy love;Leading onward, leading homeward,To my glorious rest above.by Samuel Trevor Francis, 1875

As I heard that song I recalled that time I was caught in the undertow. There was water all around me. As I was twirling and flipping around in the water there wasn’t a part of me that didn’t have water in and around me! And that is how it is with God’s love! When God effectively calls his children and draws them to himself we are “caught” in the current of His love! We are surrounded by it! It is over us, under us, around us, in us… we are completely consumed by God’s love in Christ Jesus! God’s love for his church isn’t something that comes and goes it surrounds every part of us always… It isn’t something that we always “feel” but the truth of the matter is God’s love is always there… it is steadfast, never failing.

My prayer for all my readers this morning is this, taken from the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 3:17-19 English Standard Version (ESV)

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

May God grant to you an ever increased awareness of His great love for you. As you are are caught up in the current of God’s love may Jesus Christ be your only treasure!

Psalm 40:17
“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer, do not delay, O my God.”
Psalm 70:5
“But I am poor and needy; hasten to me O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!”

I so often identify with King David. His life is laid open in the bible for us to see and learn from his life and most of all to see God’s grace at work in his life. I love that David knew who he was. He knew he was poor and needy. He knew He needed God’s help. He knew he needed God’s mercy for his sins, he knew he needed God’s help against his political enemies, he humbled himself and asked for God’s help. Not only did he realize his need for God but he asked God to hurry! It is good to walk our days KNOWING that we need God’s help and delivery. It is good to remember that “apart from Christ we can do nothing!!!!!” (John 15:5) I am reminded this morning that I should not forget to call on the name of the Lord for help!! I must remember who I am in relation to who HE IS!

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 the righteousness of Christ, I have no fear of judgement. I am free to be jubilant with joy!!!!

Jesus, My Only Hope
Words and music by Mark Altrogge
As recorded on Songs for the Cross Centered Life

Lyrics

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).

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DO YOU FRET?

Psalm 37:8
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”

Ephesians 4:26
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

I decided to look up the word “fret” in the dictionary to get an accurate definition.

Fret= an irritated state of mind; annoyance; vexation ; to torment; irritate, annoy, or vex ; to become eaten, worn, or corroded; to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like. (

The definitions go on and on in the same vein. As I think about last week’s meditations about my mouth and my words I see that many of my careless words do not come from anger but from “fretting!” Do you fret? I realize that I do!

If I get annoyed with someone, either something they say or something they do, I turn it over in my mind over and over again. I worry about it, or I express my annoyance or discontent with that person…. I usually do it in my mind and eventually it will come out in my words!!!!!!!!!

I love the word “vexation”. It brings me back to one of my favorite books, Pride and Prejudice when the mother of the protagonist says to her husband in a perfect British accent, “I do believe you delight in vexing me.” haha! Even as I write this I realize that I do believe I delight in vexing myself! I’m fairly certain that I must take a certain delight in vexing myself or to use the biblical term, in fretting. Why else would I do it? Would that mean that I actually delight in this sin??? May it not be so, O Lord!

Fretting does tend to evil, it manifests in eating away at a peaceful heart and mind, it causes worry and discontent and it may lead to expressing this discontent verbally.

Amazing how one sin can lead to so many others! So, I think that today, I continue to pray that God would not only guard my mouth but guard my heart and mind so that if I get annoyed at people, that I will not fret, but instead extend grace to all as God so generously gives his grace to me!

Anyone else do this? Do you fret?

Psalm 8:6-7
"Give ear O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of trouble I call upon you, for you answer me."

Psalm 116:1-2
"I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because He inclined His ear to me therefore I will call on Him as long as I live."

I read these Scriptures and I am so encouraged! The psalmist is pleading with the Lord for grace and in the very next sentance he tells us why he calls upon the Lord in the day of trouble! BECAUSE GOD ANSWERS HIM! What great assurance! How often do we hear that the only the New Testament is grace! But this scripture says the exact opposite! The Bible is full of grace from Genesis to Revelation! Again, in Psalm 116 the psalmist has learned that when he calls upon the Lord for mercy, he receives it and therefore will call on hi for as long as he lives!
I love how I can never exhaust mercy and grace. As often as I ask for grace and mercy, I will receive grace and mercy!

Oh Lord, I love you! You have heard my pleas for grace and mercy! I WILL cal on your for as long as I live! You are worthy Oh Lord to receive all glory, honor and praise! You are so generous. Thank you for your grace and mercy!

Hebrews 4:15-16

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who is 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.”

For the last couple of days I’ve been talking about needing help in guarding my mouth and how quickly I sinned when I had spoken about wanting to glorify God with my mouth!
Reading this scripture I am so encouraged by the provision of help from God! Jesus too has been tempted in EVERY respect that we are and have been and will be, yet, HE DID NOT SIN! We are told, then, that we can draw near to the throne of grace and receive mercy and grace to HELP in our time of need. God has not left us without help! How kind of God to tell us to draw near and receive help in the form of mercy and grace. God loves us so much that He will help us NOT sin, but if we do, he loves us so much He gives us mercy.
This stirs my heart to desire to obey! Understanding God’s desire to help me makes me want to obey more than I want to speak what’s on my mind. Of course, this doesn’t apply to just the sins of our mouths but all our sins!

This makes me want to SHOUT the praises of God!!!!!

Matthew 12:34b
“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Psalm 71:8
“My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.”

Good Morning! I’m still thinking about yesterday’s scripture and how God in His great faithfulness and mercy and love revealed to me the sins of my mouth that remain. Isn’t God so wonderful? No sooner were the words out of my mouth that I desired to honor God with my mouth when He showed me how I still have within my heart the sins of how I use my words. He is so good!!!! What a kind Father to show me my sin and according to God’s Word I have the assurance that I am no longer a slave to this sin and am able to have victory in this area! It was a great reminder of my need of a Savior.

The Matthew Scripture above reminds me of what God pointed out to me yesterday. I can never say, “I can’t believe I said what I said!” or “Where did THAT come from?” The answer is simple. It came from what is in my heart. BUT I have hope because of the gospel! What joy this is! What hope!

Today, as I recall the gospel, my mouth IS filled with praise and with HIS glory! It is so important to preach the gospel to ourselves every day, all day … for as we remember what Jesus did for us at the cross we can’t help but speak praises to God!

So, how do I guard my mouth? I must immerse myself in the Word and recall the Gospel. Doing so, will cause the light to shine in my heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:6) . THEN my mouth will be filled with the glory of God! If the gospel is always on my mind, then THIS is what I will speak of!

I’m looking forward to a day where His praises pour forth out of my mouth!

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GUARD MY MOUTH O LORD!

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

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

So, these scriptures are great reminders to me to keep my big mouth shut. If I have nothing nice, kind, constructive or encouraging to say, then I must just keep my mouth shut. Keeps me out of trouble and ruin!
I am deeply aware of God’s great grace in my life. I used to feel compelled ALWAYS to speak what I was thinking. I have found that as the process of my sanctification continues I’m less and less compelled to speak my mind. Oh, believe me, there are days when I have a run of the mouth that probably makes up for the days I kept silent, but there again, I find God’s great grace.
I guess this is where that old saying came from, that my mom always used to tell me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.”

Or… as Mark Twain said, “It is better to remain silent and appear stupid, then to open it and remove all doubt.”

But the most important reason to guard my mouth? I so desire to honor God with the words that come forth from my mouth. I want to glorify Him with my conversation. So, yea, that’s how you can pray for me today.

Are you guarding your mouth today?

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Jeremiah 5:22
“Do you not fear me? Declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it.”

As I read this scripture this morning I realize that I take so much for granted. I love going to the ocean. It is so huge, it seems endless, it is calm and violent all at the same time. I find it so peaceful to be near the ocean. I’ve never once thought as I sat near the ocean that maybe this next wave will not stop at it’s appointed place and that the ocean will just continue to flow onto land. I’ve never thought about that. This scripture tells me that God, himself placed a boundary for how far the water can go. God controls EVERYTHING!!! The winds obey Him, the seas obey him. Amazing!

2 things come to mind as a result of my soul being affected by this scripture:

1) The Awesome power and might and sovereign reign and control of our Almighty God and Father! HE rules over all!
I should not take this for granted but let it affect my soul and my behavior so I will walk in fear and awe of God always
2) Since God is sovereign over the seas what little things in my life do I not trust Him with? God commands the seas and they obey him! Can He not then command my circumstances? My feelings? My fears? Etc etc…? Of course He can!

Thank you Lord for increasing my understanding of You this morning. Thank you for increasing my faith!

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

Last weekend I attended a wedding and this weekend I’m attending 2 more! Dennis and I have been married for over 30 years now! Amazing! I’m thankful to God for his grace in our marriage. If I could give one piece of advice to each of my newly married friends it would be the above scripture.

Do NOTHING from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count your spouse more significant than yourself. Can you imagine if we all did that in ALL of our relationships?

By God’s grace it’s a goal worth working toward!

Romans 14:13,20,21

“Therefore let us not pass judgement on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. Do not, for the sake of food destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.”

I read these scriptures this afternoon and I’m reminded of my friend who was an alcoholic. One day she was drinking and partying for pure enjoyment and then God interrupted her life and she stopped drinking. It was indeed a work of God!!! He worked in her a greater thirst for Jesus than her thirst for alcohol! It was miraculous to witness and a joy to have had a ringside seat to this transformation. As I read these scriptures today I think of my friend’s new roommates. Before my friend moved in it came to her attention that the girls kept wine in the house. Now, it is not evil or even sinful to keep and drink wine UNLESS it would be a stumbling block for someone. As my friend brought this up with her potential roommates they informed her that they had already made the decision WITHOUT HER EVEN ASKING that if she moved in they would no longer keep alcohol in their house.

These young ladies put their money where their mouth is. These young ladies were not just hearers of the Word but doers of the Word! They were willing to set aside their own freedoms to ensure that their new roommate would not stumble.

I think of this song: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” (written by Peter Scholte)

Daniel 2:20-21
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

Proverbs 21:1
“The King’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.”

As the elections heat up the temptations to worry about who will be our next president may be great! Here are two scriptures that have always calmed me down when I’ve been unhappy with our political leaders. I am reminded that that GOD is the one who decides who is going to be our next president. Our job is to pray and to vote according to our conscience and we leave the results to God. The bible isn’t going to tell us, by name, who to vote for. We must weigh the issues, pray and then vote… but we are not to worry!!! We are to be responsible to vote but we must remember that our hope is not in our president but in GOD ALONE!
The proverbs scripture reminds me that God turns the king’s heart any which way He wills. I have to constantly remind myself that God is sovereign over every leader, nation and decisions made… God does not sit idly by and watch us make a mess of this world! God is actively involved in history. After all it is HIS STORY!

Are you tempted to get wrapped up in the election coverage and worry? Remember, trust God.

From The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent, p. 46

“What happens to my appetite for sin when I am filled with the fullness of God in Christ? Jesus provides this answer:
“He who continually comes to Me will never hunger or thirst again.” (John 6:35)
Indeed, as I perpetually feast on Christ and all of His blessings found in the Gospel, I find that my hunger for sin diminishes and the lies of lust simply lose their appeal. Hence, to the degree that I am full, I am free. Eyes do not rove, nor do fleshly lusts rule, when the heart is fat with the love of Jesus.”

So, how fat is your heart with the love of Jesus? The ONLY way we can feed our heart is by being in the WORD! It is THERE that we find the Gospel. It is in God’s Word that we read over and over again God’s love for us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins. When we read about the holiness of God and the depth of our sin, when we read about what we deserve because of our sin and when we read about what God did to save us from His just wrath, THEN we see the beauty of Jesus and His love for us.

If I find that I am falling into sin a lot, o worse, if I find that I am not hating sin as I should... I need to stop and evaluate what I’m feeding on. Am I feeding on the things of the world? Or am I feeding on Jesus Christ!?

Is your heart fat with the love of Jesus?

“Acts 5:41
“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.” (of Jesus)

The Apostles had just been beaten and charged not to speak about Jesus.. and they left the council REJOICING!
I read this and I realize what a whiny butt I can be when I speak about Jesus to my friends or my fear of speaking of Jesus to the cashiers at Giant etc…why? Because I’m going to be beaten????????? NO! I might get a “funny” look or I might get “talked about”… but I can go into the store the next day and still buy my groceries with no fear of being beaten. Or I can still go to a family reunion and have no fear of being thrown in jail or of being beaten because I speak of the name of Jesus. I’m afraid, of… what? Not being liked? Of a “rolling of the eyes?” goodness!

So what did the apostles do after they were beaten? Did they run in their house and pray for the people? They may have, but they also did this:

v. 42
“And every day in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

WOW! And the same Holy Spirit that made them bold is the same Holy Spirit that lives in me and makes me bold. All I have to do is obey!
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not feeling condemnation. I am feeling encouraged that all I have to do is ask God for boldness and opportunities and courage and strength to obey and I’m pretty sure God will give me all of these!

Lord, please give me boldness and courage and strength to seize the opportunities you bring my way to share Christ!

Acts 4:12
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

JESUS. What a BEAUTIFUL name!

“How do I thank You oh Lord for taking my place on the cross; And how do I thank you oh Lord for all of your mercy and kindness. For calling me to You, for letting me hear You, for opening my heart to the gospel! As long as I have breath I will praise you. As long as my heart beats I will sing. As long as life flows in my veins, I will bless Your Name.”
(1998 Sovereign Grace Music; Words and Music by Mark Altrogge)

Psalm 118: 14
The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.

Last night I was at a wedding of a friend (Kirk) from an old church and is presently a new pastor in the family of churches (Sovereign Grace Ministries) that I am a member of now.
Being at Kirk’s wedding reminded me of how God used the Gathering (a young adult ministry at McLean Bible Church), particularly the worship there, to ignite my heart to the knowledge of the glories of God in Jesus Christ.

During those years at the Gathering I was introduced to worship songs that were God-centered, NOT man centered! I remember worshipping one night at the Gathering and I wondered in my heart that perhaps eventually I would have to move on from this group of people that I had grown to love. I had NEVER in my Christian life experienced such God honoring worship! I couldn’t imagine where I would find a church that used these type of songs to honor God and not man. Well, God in his sovereignty, used a series of circumstances to move many of us out of that church and ministry and I ended up at Sovereign Grace Church in Fairfax.

I could not believe that my new church used the type of songs that Will Pavone had introduced me to in worship! Last night at Kirk’s wedding, my two worlds blended. Having Will leading us in worship with my Sovereign Grace family caused me to get emotional in my thanks to God for His kindness to me. God drew me into greater affections for Himself, God drew me into a love of deep worship of Him. I love the church. I love the body of Christ. I love Jesus. Yesterday, I had a glimpse of heaven as I saw friends from my former church blended with my friends at my new church and seriously, I couldn’t keep from getting teary.

I say all this to honor God and declare that it is HIM that I love to worship, that is is HE who has become my salvation and I love to worship Him with my family of God. How I thank God for my salvation. How I thank God for old friends. I thank God for new friends. He is so good to me, giving me far more than I deserve for I deserve nothing but hell and God, not only saved me but keeps giving me gift after gift. I thank you Lord God!

1 John 2:1
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

I just listened to a sermon by John Piper (http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/2665/Video/)
Regarding this scripture. He spoke about the tenderness that John used in writing this letter. He referred to the Christians he was writing to as his little children. That is indeed very comforting terminology. It conveys concern and compassion not harshness. This letter of 1 John is written so the Christian can test themselves and see if they are in the faith. Dr. Piper said that as the Christian reads 1 John they may begin to panic because the person who is truly born again is very aware and sorrowful over their sin that they know is a part of their lives every hour. He then referred us to this scripture that I just quoted and he spoke about the assurance, those in Christ Jesus have, when they sin. They assurance is that JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS is our advocate! Now THIS is something to ponder on today and rejoice and be thankful about!

Is 61:10
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; for He has covered me with the robe for righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.”

Before God rescued me I was enslaved to sin and dressed in filthy rags, BUT THEN God called me and rescued me and dressed me in the garments of salvation and a robe righteousness! Jesus lived a righteous life, a good and perfect life and then gave HIS righteousness to me. He credited HIS righteousness to my account. He clothed me a robe of righteousness. I will indeed greatly rejoice in the Lord!!!

Psalm 106:43-46
“Many times He delivered them but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. NEVERTHELESS, He looked upon their distress, when He heard their cry. For their sake He remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of HIS steadfast love. He caused them to be pitied by those who held them captive.”

I’m amazed by grace again today. The Israelites were rebellious and sinful and NEVERTHELESS God relented according to the abundance of His steadfast love. WOW!
Thank you Lord that your steadfast love is so great and so huge that you would look upon the Israelites distress! Thank you Lord that even in my sin you look upon me with grace and steadfast love through Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for your amazing grace.

Tribute to Edith Wickert

2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Yesterday in the early afternoon an elderly friend of mine (in her late 80’s) from Burke Community Church had the pleasure of leaving this world and seeing her Savior Jesus face to face. Can you imagine the joy she had upon seeing His face? It boggles my mind. She had pain and suffering as she was leaving this world but I imagine that once she passed from this world to the next, she forgot every bit of that suffering as she gazed upon Jesus.

I had the pleasure of serving the Lord with Edith in several ministries. For a while, she and I would get together at 5:30 AM at church on Friday mornings to pray for the church. Mind you, she was already in her late 70’s at this point! We taught women’s bible studies together (in the same ministry). We were in a ministry together that helped women see sin and sin patterns in their life and walk in freedom from these sins. It was such a privilege to serve the Lord with her.

Edith was such an elegant woman. She was a gracious, Southern woman, the kind you read about in novels with the beautiful white hair and the gracious and elegant speech. Top that with a deep love for Jesus.. yes, she was a wonderful woman of God. And so generous!

One day she and I were casually talking about our households and she asked me a question regarding my “silver”. I said, “What silver?” She said, “your silver bowls and serving pieces.” I said, “I don’t have any of those things.” She said, “Didn’t you get any for your wedding?” I said, “I think I have one serving piece.” She just nodded.
Next time we were together for bible study she handed me a gift box, wrapped up like a wedding present ( I had already been married for almost 20 years) and when I opened it there was a beautiful silver bowl in it. She told me it was one of her bowls, but she had so many she wanted me to have one. J Yes, Edith was a thoughtful and generous woman.

We will miss her here on earth. Her husband Tom will be so very lonely, I am sure. But, I can’t help but be excited and so happy for Edith today for even though you and I still must walk by faith and not by sight, Edith now walks by sight! She SEES her SAVIOR JESUS! Alleluia! Or as another friend of mine from BCC used to say, “GLORY”!!

James 2:13
“For judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.”

I read this scripture this morning and I realize that I am not very merciful. I am quick to point a finger. I am quick to show disgust, anger or frustration. Should I hate the sin I see in the world? YES! What should my response be, then? A love and compassion for the lost? YES! Then I wonder is it really enough to just love the lost in feelings? NO! It’s a great start but I am beginning to think that I must do more! I can’t share the gospel with EVERYONE who is lost but I can in my little piece of the world. To my family. To the people that God places in my life. The cashiers at Giant that I have come to know so well with over 16 years of shopping at the same store. My mailman? Give him/her an unexpected Gift Certificate and throw in a tract, then be available to talk when he/she next delivers the mail. I have asked God to show me how to be merciful and the ideas are beginning to flow!

If I hate the sin I see then I must realize that same sin was in me and some still remains in me!!! BUT, I have been forgiven and set free from the slavery to this sin by the sovereignty of God in giving me a measure of faith and the grace to believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and HIS kindness brought me to repentance. Is this not mercy?
Then the most merciful thing I can do is to take measures to love people by sharing the very same gospel that saved me.

Please pray for me. I do not want to have this conviction today and ignore it. I want to act on it. Please pray for boldness for me. Please pray for courage to follow through on the ideas that God is giving me. Please pray that I am not just a hearer of the Word but a doer! I want God to be glorified. I want to share the gospel AND be merciful and loving and compassionate while hating sin and loving those that are made in the image of God.

As you can see… I have a lot on my mind today.

Today I am pondering God’s benefits:

Psalm 103: 2-17

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

1. He forgives all my iniquity
2. He heals all my diseases
3. He redeems my life from the pit
4. He crowns me with steadfast love and mercy
5. He satisfies me with good so that my youth is renewed like the eagles
6. He works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed
7. He is merciful and gracious
8. He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love
9. He will not always chide, nor keep His anger forever
10.He does not deal with me according to my sins
11. He does not repay me according to my iniquities
12. His steadfast love is as high as the heavens above the earth toward those who fear Him
13. He removes my transgressions from me as far as the east is from the west
14.The Lord shows his compassion to those who fear him
15.The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.

As I ponder these benefits today I want my affections for my Lord and Savior to increase!

Psalm 102:27
“But you are the same and your years have no end.”

Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

God never changes. Weather changes. People change. Jobs change. Presidents change. Economy changes. Health changes. Circumstances change. I change. My mood changes. GOD NEVER CHANGES! The God who parted the red sea for the Israelites to have an escape route, is the same God who walks with us today. The God who died on the cross for our sins is the same God who parted the sea and walks with us today. The God who parted the sea, died on the cross and walks with us today is the same God who will come back for his church.
I bow before my God, the Almighty.

Psalm 100:3
“Know that the Lord, He is God! It is HE who made us, and we are HIS, we are HIS people, and the sheep of HIS pasture.”

I read this scripture several times this morning and each time I was more convicted of the “familiarity” I can sometimes have with God. It is good to know God and be familiar with who He is and to be intimate with him, but I’m talking about the negative familiarity, the kind that minimizes who someone is, taking them for granted. I’m going to take this one step further. If there are times when we are not impressed with who God is, if there are times when I take God for granted it is because I really haven’t taken into consideration to know God and WHO HE IS!! Know that the Lord, HE IS GOD!
HE IS GOD! Alleluia! HE IS GOD!!!

On Steve Altrogge’s blog, The Blazing Center : http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/06/official-gratefulness-day.html , He has declared today to be Official Gratefulness Day. I read this psalm this morning and then I will list only a few of the things I am grateful for.. there are so many, too many to write, but today I will just some!

Psalm 98:1,4
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for him… Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, break forth into joyous song and sing praises.”

Some of the things I am grateful to God for today:

1. Salvation through my Lord, Jesus Christ
2. My loving husband of over 30 years!
3. My 4 children
4. My son in law – I love how he loves and takes care my daughter
5. My daughter in law – I love how she loves my son and how she waited for him so faithfully to return from war.
6. That God brought my son safely home from Iraq
7. Flowers… I LOVE flowers
8. My eyesight, I LOVE to read
9. Books, I LOVE to read
10. My church! We LOVE our church family!
11. My friends. God has given me so many godly friendships!

SING TO THE LORD!

Is 53:5
“But he was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed f our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.”

THEREFORE:

Psalm 95:1-2
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! “

Enough said?

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MY FOOT SLIPS!

Psalm 94:17-19
“If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “my foot slips.”, Your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

The psalmist was writing about living in a world with the wicked. It was difficult then, it is difficult now. Praise the Lord, we, in the USA, are not put to death for our faith. We are not tempted to turn from our faith because impending death for our faith looms on the horizon, however, we are tempted in many other ways. The things of the world which are around us… the TV shows we want to watch that everyone is talking about, or the movies… or in the way we respond to things and situations! We want to “fight for our rights”, we want to defend our reputations, we want to “be right”, we want to argue, we want to worry etc etc.. the list is almost endless.

In my home I live with unbelievers. Sometimes it’s a fight for joy! Sometimes I want to be fearful and worrisome like my mom … sometimes it seems easier to do that than fight for joy and faith. BUT when I think, “my foot slips”, GOD’S steadfast love holds me up!

I wasn’t even looking for a reference to God’s steadfast love today but it was in my regular reading plan.. how kind of God in his perfect timing to remind me that it is HE , by His love, that holds me up when I am about to slip, or when I feel like I’m slipping or even when I want to slip!!! God keeps those he saves. Oh, what comfort!

Psalm 92:1-2
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.”

Psalm 36:5
“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.”

I’m still meditating on the steadfast love of the Lord! I’m pretty sure that an important component of being “satisfied” in God’s steadfast love is meditating on it and searching out scriptures about it. Of course the loudest proclamation of God’s steadfast love is the salvation of our souls through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
My hope and intent today is that I think often of this great love that comes from God and may my life reflect this love by the love I extend to others as a result of God’s love for me.
This love of God brings such joy!!!!

Psalm 91:1-6

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.”

I looked up the word “pestilence” in the dictionary and it is defined: something hard to be rid of; an pernicious, malign influence that is hard to get rid of; a virulent disease, harmful and destructive.

WOW! God delievers us from the deadly pestilence. He delivers us from the deadliest pestilence: sin. What a gracious, merciful and loving God. I am also pondering today that this scripture tells us that it is GOD’S FAITHULNESS (not mine) thiat is our shield and buckler(one that shields and protects). It is so important to know and understand the faithfulness of God for then we will know and understand the protection we have from and the refuge that God is! Amazing! So amazing! So, so , so comforting.

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

“God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love and watching over me for my good.” (Knowing God, by J.I. Packer., p. 42)

I love praying scripture back to God and I love when I come across an actual prayer in Scripture. The psalmist is asking God to satisfy him with HIS steadfast love and goes on to say that being satisfied in God’s steadfast love brings rejoicing and gladness to our days! Of course it does!
I am re-reading a modern Christian classis, Knowing God. It powerfully affected my soul when I read it almost 18 years ago and it is powerfully affecting my soul now! The author of this book is directing my heart to scriptures that speak of God’s steadfast love. I am being refreshed in my soul, heart and mind in the understanding of God’s love for me and it has indeed produced in me a renewed joy and gladness in my God and Savior.
I encourage you to pray this and ask God to satisfy you with His steadfast love. See what happens!

2 Tim 2:24-26
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth , and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by hm to do his will.”

This reminds me to be kind to the non believers in my life. It’s way too easy for me to get argumentative over an issue of sin that gets public notoriety.. for example, abortion, gay lifestyle.. As believers we must, of course, stand firmly against those sins but it does absolutely no good to argue with someone over those. Of course they’re not going to see what we see, because their eyes are still blind to the truths of the gospel. So many times we try and clean up someone’s act AND THEN lead them to Christ through the gospel. So many times I’ve had it backwards! My job is to share the gospel and GOD will clean up their act. Being quarrelsome does no one any good!

Lord, help me to be gentle and kind to everyone even when every part of me wants to argue because I know I’m right on these issues! Instead, help me to be humble and gentle and kind, speaking as one who is rescued, not as one who wants to be right. In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Timothy 2:22
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

As I read this scripture I see that if we are to pursue (to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish)
righteousness, faith, love and peace that means we are to FLEE from unrighteousness, unbelief, hate, and conflict(not peace).
Yikes! If I take a quick look I’d say I’m doing okay… but a deeper look would indicate that maybe I don’t flee from these sins as quickly as I ought or thought

Let me take a look at my own life:

Worrying about something = unbelief
Arguing over a theological concept in order to be right = conflict
Gossiping or entertaining gossip = hate (this includes Hollywood entertainment magazines or tv shows or laughing at political jokes about candidates. It’s still gossip even if I don’t personally know the people that are being gossiped about!!!!)

Oh Lord! Help me to flee from these things! Help me to hate these things! Give flight to my feet Lord so I will run, run, run from my youthful passions!

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2 Timothy 2:21-26
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. SO flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who calls on the Lord from a pure heart. Have NOTHING to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

I am going to camp on this scripture for at least a couple of days if not more. So many things to think about and ponder on!
The phrase that first came to my attention was, “ready for every good work.” As I thought about and prayed that I want to be ready for every good work I had to read on to see how that happens. I am to FLEE youthful passions… according to dictionary.com, flee is defined as: to run away, as from danger or pursuers; run away quickly; The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape or expected evil; hasty departure.
This doesn’t mean flirt with youthful passions and try to resist. It doesn’t mean to slowly back away. It doesn’t mean to stop, look at it, pray about it, think about it. It means GET OUT OF THERE FAST!
So, one way to be ready for every good work is to FLEE youthful passions. Tomorrow I’m going to think through and talk about what youthful passions are. But for today, my prayer is for God to help me to flee from sin and to hate it and not even entertain the thoughts of sin. Sin is dangerous. As John Owen said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” FLEE!

Psalm 27:4
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I 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.”

In John Piper’s book, God is the Gospel, he says, “The critical question for our generation – and for every generation- is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied in heaven, if Christ was not there?” (page 15)

That is and should be a very sobering question. Do we love Jesus for Jesus or for what He gives to us? Do we love the beauty of Jesus and His holiness? Oh may it be so!!!

Lord, help me to be a lover of only Jesus! Help me to always love Jesus more than what He gives to me. Help me to love the beauty of Christ and being with Him more than anything else. Amen.

Is 45:5-7
“I am the Lord and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, there there is none besides me; I am the Lord and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.”

How reassuring to my soul it is to know that there is NO OTHER GOD except the Lord. How reassuring to my soul it is that there are no random acts that “happen” to us but our lives are in the control of our God who is good. Amen?

Please continue to pray for Jeff.

Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
He knows those who take refuge in Him.

On Saturday evening my son's childhood friend was in a car accident. Buddy's friend is miraculously fine and will be out of the hospital today. Sadly, his friend's girlfriend and another friend died in this accident. His friend is so, so sad.
Please pray for Jeff. Please pray for the families of the 2 girls who died. Jeff is only 15 and has this huge burden to bear. Pray for his healing and that God would be his comfort.

It is good to know that even in this the Lord is indeed good and HE is a stronghold, our security, in the day of trouble.

Please keep this situation in your prayers.

John 15:4,5,8
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

When I read this scripture this morning I was reminded of a movie I had seen where a family’s vineyard burnt to the ground and were despairing at the loss of their means of living. Then, someone found a piece of the living vine and they rejoiced because they knew that with just one part of the living vine to plant… that the vine would again produce grapes. A happy ending!

This is how it is with us in Christ. We are the branches attached to the vine… it is the VINE that produces the fruit in us, the branches. If we are not abiding in Christ, in the vine, we will not produce Father-glorifying fruit. If we do, then it is proof that we are disciples of Christ. It is not the fruit that we muster up and try to push out.. it is the fruit that comes from abiding in Christ.

It is a beautiful reminder this morning that unless we abide in Christ; unless we abide in the Word of God, we will not bear fruit. For apart from Jesus we can do NOTHING!

Oh Lord, I love your word, Help me to love it more and more and more. When I get complacent about your Word, wake me up and draw me into your word. Help me see it as my very sustenance! I want my Father to be glorified by the fruit that is produced from abiding in You. I want the gospel to be advanced by the fruit that YOU produce in me.
I love you Lord and I thank you for Your Word.