Whiter Than Snow

Where I live now, I do not see much snow. But I love snow, and as I recall memories of its beauty, these thoughts come to mind:

He does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth.’

Job 37:5b-6

He gives snow like wool; He scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them; He makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:16-18

If God can say to the snow, “Fall to the earth,” and it falls, and, “Melt,” and it melts, can He not say to me, “Be cleansed of sin,” and I am cleansed?

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

I cannot comprehend the power of God—power over sin, death, and all creation.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts, [declares Yahweh].

Isaiah 55:9

To see the gentle snow is to behold the mighty power of Yahweh, the living God! Falling snow is a testimony of our Creator's control over His creation. When He speaks, creation yields.

Praise Yahweh from the earth . . . fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!

Psalm 148:7-8

Just as snow covers the earth's blemishes, purifying and beautifying it, so the blood of Christ purifies, cleanses, and beautifies our sinful hearts.

Come now, let us reason together, says Yahweh: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

prayer request: elementary school shooting, Connecticut

Please stop with me for a moment to think and pray.

I'm assuming you all heard about the horrible, nightmarish thing that happened in Connecticut yesterday afternoon.  It's hard for me to fathom that while I was blissfully unaware and going about my business yesterday, these six adults and twenty beautiful, innocent little children (under the age of ten) were being slaughtered in that school building by a shooter just a little older than I am (he was 20).  Try to empathize for a moment: imagine being one of the people who discovered that they would never see their child or loved one again?  That would crush me.

How could something like this happen?  What would possess a person to do this unspeakable thing?  A question that a lot of people are asking is  "Why would God allow this?"

For one thing, the Bible says that things like this would be characteristic of the last days on earth.  The fact is that Jesus is coming back very soon to judge.  People need to get right with God.  Please read 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

Another thing (I've said this before): America (for the most part) has forsaken God.  They have rebelled against Him.  They have thrown Him out of the school system entirely, thus making themselves (and all the children in school) readily available to the one responsible for every evil thing: Satan.  What a painful thought.

When people refuse the Lord's presence in their lives Satan will gladly take charge immediately.  That's why a person could commit a crime like this-- Satan is ruling in that person's heart.

That is also why God allows things like this to happen.  God cannot protect a nation that Satan is actively ruling.

This is very scary.  I mean, there is no promise that something like this won't happen again tomorrow!

People need Jesus!  If only they would cry out in repentance to the Lord, He would set them free from sin, and from Satan's death grip!

If we are followers of Christ, we need to be out sharing our faith and the love of Christ with these hurting and lost souls-- I mean, who knows?  If someone had taken the time to reach out in the name of Christ to that poor young man who was obviously struggling intensely inside, perhaps this whole shooting event might have been prevented.

Anyway, please stop right now and praying for the families of the shooting victims.  Pray that they would start to seek the Lord because of all this, not pull away.  Pray that they would realize their desparate need for Jesus Christ.

I wonder how many families will start thinking about the benefits of homeschooling after this?

"For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify  Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools... and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do things which are not fitting."  Romans 1:20-22,28

Jesus said, "The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

SING!

Singing. Have you ever thought about it in reference to spiritual things? My understanding was instantly taken to a whole new level when I read this verse.
“And these are the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night.” 1 Chronicles 9:33

Wow! You mean there were special men whose service in the temple was solely to sing!? Somehow I had not grasped how important to God songs of praise are, but looking closer we can find much more in the Bible that speaks to singing than just this verse. Think about it, what is the longest book in the Bible? It’s psalms! A whole book of nothing but songs written to God. In other books of the Bible we find many references to singing as well, here are just a few



“Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him: talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name… 1Chronicles 16:9-10

“Sing to the Lord, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:5

“Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of evildoers Jeremiah 20: 13

“’Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the Lord” Zechariah 2:10

　
So I wonder are we as the church faithful in this? Do you suppose that now, at every moment, of every day, God always has a song of praise being lifted up to Him just like in the days of the temple? If not don’t you think there is something wrong?!

What would keep us from this amazing work God has called us too? It’s not hard. There are many excuses however I think the main reason we sometimes fail in this is simply because we do not meditate on God and His greatness and therefore our minds are empty of praise. Look back to the verses I listed above. When God’s word tells us to sing it nearly always gives us a good reason; His wondrous works, His deliverance of the poor, His soon return, and we could each make our own list. Our Salvation, God’s constant faithfulness to us, His unconditional love toward us, the forgiveness he gives us again and again, this beautiful creation, His daily care for us manifest in so many ways,… Your list will look different from mine but no matter what trials we are going through we ALL have a very real, very long list of things to praise God for. We simply do not always recognize these things or turn them into joyful song.

And you know what else? I believe God moves when His people praise Him! Listen to this piece of an incredible story from the Old Testament

‘And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.’
2 Chronicles 20:21-22

Are you getting excited? I am! I am definitely beginning to think there is much more to singing to the Lord than I ever realized. We may never know the significance of this service to God but is it not thrilling that we get to enter into it! So my sisters will you take part in this mission with me? When we are cheerful let us sing! When we are discouraged let us sing! When we are facing a battle let us sing! Will you join your voice with believers everywhere and the angels in heaven praising our great God? for He truly is praiseworthy!

keep your heart

"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."  Proverbs 4:23

Your heart is where your dreams are born!  Your heart is where your character and mannerisms are formed.  The things in your heart say who you really are... they lead to the choices you make and how you live your life... they pave the way for the quality of your future.  Ultimately, the things you ponder deep within your heart reveal where you'll spend eternity.

So what's in your heart?  Consider it...

Ask yourself-- do the things in your heart honor Christ?  Do you think of ways to benefit others?  Do you dream of Heaven and the splendor of spending eternity in the Kingdom with your Christian brothers and sisters?  Do you seek to draw closer to the Lord, to feel the warmth of His presence and love?  Do you desire to understand God's word to acquire wisdom and discernment from it?

Or are there thoughts in the secret places of your heart that you would be ashamed to reveal?   

I can't see what's in your heart, and a lot of times, I can't even make sense of what's going on in my own heart, but God always does... He sees and knows.  Ask Him to purify your heart completely.  It's a matter of surrendering it all to Him and desiring to change.  "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."
Jeremiah 17:10

The world is full of individuals who are lost-- their lives are void of Christ and their hearts are full of unholy and impure things.  They are suffering... emotionally and often externally as well... Remember, the things you fill your heart with lead to the way you live your life.  (Thank the Lord that He can purify and bring light to even the darkest of hearts!!!!)

So how do you "guard" (or keep) your heart?  First of all, set aside time every day to spend in God's Word.  Fill your heart with good things from the Scriptures (Philippians 4:8), meditate on it as often as possible (Psalms 1:2), and spend time with other like-minded Christians for accountability (Hebrews 10:24,25)  The best way to cause evil thoughts to die is to stop feeding them.  Be very careful about what you're viewing on the internet or TV, what your reading, or who you're hanging out with. If a certain influence is causing you to be tempted in your heart or thought-life, it's time to cut it off.  Instead, if you feed wholesome, productive, purposeful and kind thoughts on a regular basis, that's what will start to thrive.    Furthermore, guarding your heart will begin to characterize who you are-- how you act, what you choose to do day to day.    

Guarding your heart has life-long benefits!

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by your generous spirit."
Psalms 51:10-12

Press On!

Train yourself for godliness; 

for while bodily training is of some value, 

godliness is of value in every way, 

as it holds promise for the present life  

and also for the life to come. 

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 

For to this end we toil and strive, 

because we have our hope set on the living God, 

who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe . . .

Set the believers an example 

in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

Until I come, devote yourself 

to the public reading of Scripture, 

to exhortation, to teaching . . . 

 Practice these things [spiritual gifts],  

immerse yourself in them, 

so that all may see your progress. 

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.  

Persist in this, 

for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

(I Timothy 4:7b-10, 12b, 13, 15-16)

My life is about my walk with God, about making progress, about revealing His character and His glory to others. Nothing matters so much as this. And nothing is so dangerous to a Christian as stagnancy or, worse, degression.

Let us know; let us press on to know Jehovah;

His going out is sure as the dawn;

He will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth. 

(Hosea 6:3)

What motivation! To devote myself to knowing God. Not growing weary in well-doing, but longing for Him. And not just longing, but pursuing, actively pursuing godliness, pressing on the upward way, striving for the higher ground.

This is what God requires of me. This is how I glorify Him. By toiling and striving and progressing and persisting.

Devoted to God, practicing godliness through the gifts He has given me, immersing myself in service to Him, progressing in sanctification, keeping myself pure.

God does not demand perfection.

He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. 

(Psalm 103:14)

He does require change.

Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

(Romans 12:2b)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,  

are being transformed into the same image 

from one degree of glory to another. 

(2 Corinthians 3:18)

God is on my side. The battle is the Lord's! Press on!

O LORD, I pray, give me success [in my Christian walk]! 

(Psalm 118:25b)

bought with a price

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

It’s a simple statement with profound implications. My body, my spirit, I do not belong to me. Your body and your spirit do not belong to you. Why not? For one very glorious reason - if you have accepted God’s gift of salvation - the death of His Son Jesus bought your life from it’s slavery to sin. Such an overwhelming price to be paid, the death of God’s Son a perfect, spotless lamb, for such a sinful wretch as I and for such a sinful wretch like you.

It’s sobering to realize that we don’t belong to ourselves because we very often live as if we do. It’s easy to get up in the morning and put on what you think makes you look good, eat what you find tasty and spend your time on what you find enjoyable or even what you think is good. We need to refocus and get our eyes off of ourselves and what we want. It may seem restrictive at first to think of being owned by someone else but when that someone is the almighty, all loving God it is actually freeing. Imagine if we had only to live for ourselves, what a shallow existence that would be! Imagine if we had to decide on our own how to best spend our life, how frightening that would be!

So if our body belongs to God - He calls the shots in the area of our clothing. If our body is God’s - perhaps He has ideas about how we eat and take care of that body. If our body is God’s - you know He has plans for how it can be used for His glory. Are you willing to serve Him when He calls? On the other hand let us not fret or worry about what God’s plan is for us, rather simply surrender ALL areas of our life to Him.

To correct this self-centered way we often live we must submit to Him and to the knowledge that nothing in our lives is beyond His jurisdiction. Humbly seeking His will and changing through His power and grace as He shows us areas in our life where we are not honoring Him with our spirit and body that belong to Him - that is living as one bought with a price!

sensitivity to His will

"Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith..."
1 Peter 5:6-9a

This is a subject I have recently given quite a lot of thought to.  I believe that while we, as Christians, are in a world full of the devil's schemes and traps, we need to be careful, watchful, and "vigilant" about how we live our lives.  Are we getting into areas that our Lord would rather we stayed away from?  Are things of this life subtly stealing our hearts?  Is the devil trying to get in and make you think that you're okay even if you harbor things in your life that displease your Savior?  

I believe that walking through this life as a Christian is literally like walking through a mine field...  If we aren't really, really, really careful about our actions and the things we allow in life, the devil might get victory.  If he does, there will be a detrimental explosion in your faith... possibly a fatal to your spiritual life.  We need to be very alert!

Spending time in God's Word will show you very clearly the things you need to do, and the things you should not do.  This is God's designed way for us to obtain sensitivity!

Being a Christian means giving up a lot... our comfort, our cravings, our sin.  It's radical!!!!  It might be a little stressful sometimes trying to live up to the standards set forth in the bible... but isn't that what grace is all about?  First, grace saves you from your sin.  Then it empowers you to live an upright, watchful life.  In Christ, and because of His grace, we can do ANYTHING! (Philippians 4:13)  Isn't it invigorating to think of it that way?

Besides, if giving up certain things in this life means gaining eternal bliss in the presence of our loving Creator and Sustainer forever (FAR greater importance in comparison) don't you think that the little bit of suffering would be worth it?  (Matthew 16:26)

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  Ephesians 5:15-17

The Lord will give us a supernatural sensitivity and awareness of His desires if you ask for it!

Light

Light is truly a wonderful thing. It is a life-source; there can be no form of life without light.

Also light helps us to distinguish truth from error.  It helps us to see everything as it is.

Another cool thing about the light... when it's dark, and I can't see where I'm going, the light will show me where to place my steps.   If I need to go somewhere at night, or just maneuver around in a dark room, I need to find a flashlight, or a lamp, or a light switch, or my headlights... something to illuminate my path... to show me where I am, and to keep me from colliding with something and making a mess, or injuring myself somehow.  (I think we all know what happens when we try to head out in the dark, just guessing and feeling around best we can to find our way.  Ouch.  *smiles knowingly*)

The Bible uses the illustration of light numerous times, I guess because the Bible does the same things for us that light does.  It gives us spiritual life and vitality, it helps us to see concepts clearly, and it guides us as we make decisions and walk the path of life in a dark, uncertain world.  (Who wouldn't be gravitated to this amazing book?)

Actually, Bible tells us why most people avoid the truths of scripture.

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."  John 3:19,20

People don't like the Bible because it shows them their sin and tells them to forsake it.

The honorable person, however, sees how terrible sin is and asks the Lord to cleanse it all out of their life.  Then they have nothing to hide.  They can come before the God's Word unashamedly and confidently, seeking purification and wisdom.

"But He who practices the truth comes to the light, that His deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."  John 3:21

Abide in Christ, who is the Light of the world (John 14:6) and let the light of the truth of His Word guide you day by day (Psalms 119:105).  That light will fill your being and emanate through you for all the world to see...

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light."  Ephesians 5:8

strength

“oh Father, I do not have the strength for this day…but You do! please help me…”
I don’t know where I first heard or read it, but this simple prayer is one I have used time and again. Often my lack of strength hits me before the day has even quite begun. In the dark of morning I find myself reviewing what I expect to meet me this day and when I am overwhelmed I find solace in crying out to God admitting my own inadequacy. Sometimes it is physical weariness that defeats me, other times it is emotional strain that makes me feel unable to meet the day. The certainty and uncertainties of our future can both be disheartening.

This use to be a once in a while prayer for me but lately I’ve been praying it more mornings than not as my days get busier and my infirmities multiply for this season. I’ve found myself discouraged laying in bed staring up at the knot holes in my wood ceiling telling the Lord that I yet again lack the strength for this day. But then it struck me…why should I be discouraged when I have to rely on God for my strength? Isn’t that what the Christian walk is all about? In fact God even tells us in His word that apart from HIM we can do nothing.

It’s O.K. if on our own strength we can not get through the day, we aren’t meant to do it alone! As comforting as this is I still find myself drawing back from it sometimes. “But I want to be able to do it on my own” my pride says “I want to be strong” Yes, I am discovering that one of the reasons I shrink from my trials is because I don’t like having to trust the Lord so completely in everyday ways.
          Yes, we may say we trust the Lord for our daily bread but what if that were literally all we had and each and every new day we had to wait on Him to provide our food?
          We may say all we do is in the Lord’s strength but what if we had a physical ailment that meant each and every day we had to trust the Lord for strength to complete the simplest tasks, like walking?

 It’s a lot closer to home when we truly run out of strength and have to lean completely on God morning after morning after morning… But dear sisters that is what we are suppose to do anyway! God does not lead us into these intense periods of dependence because He wants to scare us, or because He is mean. No!! He brings us here because He knows that the only trustworthy thing in our lives is Him! He knows that we can never be secure or have peace even when things are going good if we are relying on something or someone other than Him to take us through. And sometimes the only place we learn these thing if when “we pass through the waters“.

Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. Jeremiah 17:5-8

love like THAT

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
Ephesians 5:1,2

Isn't that beautiful?

Think of a little boy who tries to be just like his daddy, or a little girl who attempts to imitate her mommy.   The child may not be doing a very good job, but isn't is a sweet thing to see, as a parent?  Also, as the child gets older, he or she often does become very much like their parent!  (You become like the one you most admire and spend time with).

I want to love the way Jesus loved...  Don't you?  His love is very special, so unlike the superficial love that the most of the world offers.  

Humans will (for the most part) only extend love based upon what they can get from you-- they are selfish.  In contrast, Jesus loves everyone without expecting anything in return.  He even loves the people who curse His holy Name and are on their way to hell... because His love is unconditional.  He loved those people enough to die for them.  (Can you do that?  I know I would struggle to love, let alone die for, someone who hated me!)

God the Father saw that love... the perfect, sacrificial love of Jesus, and it pleased Him.  It was like a beautiful aroma to Him.

I want to love like that! Or at least try to!

Here are 10 aspects of God's love.  (examples from Exodus chapter 20)

1. love is LOYAL "You shall have no other gods before Me" (vs.3)
2. love is FAITHFUL "You shall not make for yourself a carved image" (vs.4)
3. love is REVERENT "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" (vs.7)
4. love is INTIMATE "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (vs.8)
5. love is RESPECTFUL "Honor your father and your mother" (vs.12)
6. love is HARMLESS "You shall not murder" (vs.13)
7. love is PURE "You shall not commit adultery" (vs.14)
8. love is UNSELFISH "You shall not steal" (vs.15)
9. love is TRUTHFUL "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (vs.16)
10. love is CONTENT "You shall not covet... anything that is your neighbor's" (vs.17)

It may be hard to love this way all the time, but if we surrender ourselves to the control of our loving (and forgiving) Father and let Him chip away at the parts of us which are faulty, over time, we are molded more and more into His perfect image. It may seem like an overwhelming sacrifice, but at the same time, it also is like casting off a huge burden... just knowing that God can do anything.

"You shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect."  Matthew 5:48

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."  Ephesians 3:16

Blessing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us IN CHRIST

with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in the heavenly places, 

even as HE CHOSE US in Him 

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be HOLY AND BLAMELESS before Him.
Ephesians 1:3-4

We lack nothing in Christ! 

 He chose us to be holy and blameless before Him, and He has given us everything we need to become so. 

What a gift! If I am not what He wants me to be, it is not because He has neglected to offer the grace, but because I have neglected to receive it.

Seasons of Life

  "To everything there is a season,
 A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
 A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
 A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
 A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
 A time of war,
And a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Universal Longing

"Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Him..." 
-Augustine

EVERY person who has ever lived and will live-- even people who would call themselves atheists-- all have a deep-set longing for something that transcends... something outside of themselves and all that we are capable attaining physically.

"...He has put eternity in their hearts..." Ecclesiastes 3:11

The Lord God has created each of us with a built-in desire for His love.  A built-in knowledge of the fact that there is more to this life than the normal, day-to-day things we experience.

All of us, naturally, at some point, will notice a hollow space in our lives; and feel this crazy, wistful, longing deep within our souls.  

We scramble so desperately to fill that empty spot in our hearts; it's just so painful to ignore... but even more painful than that is the reality that all earthly, materialistic, or sensual pleasures can't and won't satisfy that craving, but instead, leave you even more depressingly empty and hungry than you were before.

That missing piece of your life can only be truly filled with the love of Jesus Christ.

It's what all mankind is searching for.

Don't worry...

Philippians 4:6,7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

There really is so much you could get stressed over in this life; and actually, none of it is worth stressing over!  What good will worrying do you?  It is not only very unproductive (and bad for your health as well), but according to the Bible, worrying is a sin!  By worrying, we are actually telling God that we do not have complete faith and trust in Him, and in His decisions. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him..."  Hebrews  11:6

Nothing can happen to a person unless God, in His goodness, allows it... even the most tragic things that happen in the world come about because God has a good reason for it, that will result in accomplishing His purposes-- drawing more souls to Heaven.

Isn't that a wonderful thought?

Psalms 23:4
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me."

Proverbs 3:5,6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. "

The more we learn about our wonderful Lord (through prayer and Bible reading), the more faith we'll have in Him!

Matthew 6:25-34
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Knowing God Through His Word: Genesis 1

God is Creator.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (v.1)

God is a Spirit.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (v. 2b)

God speaks with authority.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (v. 3)

And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters . . . And it was so. (v. 6-7)

And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. (v. 9)

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation . . . And it was so. (v. 11)

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens . . . And it was so. (v. 14-15)

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds . . . And it was so. (v. 24)

God is good, and everything He says, does, and creates is good.

And God saw that the light was good. (v. 4)

God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. (v.10)

The earth brought forth vegetation . . .And God saw that it was good. (v. 12)

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars . . . And God saw that it was good. (v. 16, 18)

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm . . .and every winged bird . . . And God saw that it was good. (v. 21)

And God made the beasts of the earth . . .and the livestock . . .and everything that creeps on the ground . . . And God saw that it was good. (v. 25)

And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. (v. 31)

God is wise.

God is orderly.

These characteristics are displayed in the sequence of creation.

God always has a plan in mind; He makes provision for the future.

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (v. 11-12)

God is creative.

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens. So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (v. 20-21)

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. (v. 24)

God is generous.

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. (v. 29-30)

Application: What can I learn from this?

I am accountable to God because He is my Creator.

Nothing I have belongs to me because God created the earth and everything in it.  

“The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)

I can trust God exclusively because He is good and all that He does is good.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17a)

I need to be grateful to my Creator because He so generously provides.

Spiritual Anecdote

Spiritual Anecdote

As I dressed my two-year old son for church, he became enthralled by the necklace my husband had given me as a Christmas gift. He grasped it in his fingers and said, “What this?”

“It's a necklace,” I said. “It has a special rock called a sapphire.”

“It look like a heart,” he said.

“Yes, it does.” I explained, “A heart is a symbol for love. When someone wants to express special love to a person, they give something in the shape of a heart. Do you know someone who loves Mommy enough to give her a heart?”

My son considered for a moment. Then his face lit up and he exclaimed, “God!”

I cannot describe the emotion that welled in my heart. Delight that my little man should already associate love with God ('God is love!' I John 4:8), joy at the beautiful reminder of who God is to me: 'Your Maker is your Husband,' the prophet Isaiah declares (Isaiah 54:5).

“Yes,” I told my son. “God loves me enough to give me a heart. In fact, He gave me more than a heart. He gave all of Himself—His heart and His life—so that I might be His bride forever!”

~

In this the love of God was made manifest among us,

that God sent His only Son into the world,

so that we might live through Him.

In this is love,

not that we have loved God but that He loved us

and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

I John 4:9-10

~

Laura Story - Blessings

1 Peter 4:12,13
"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

The words to this song are powerful...  open your heart and listen to them carefully.   They are the main message I want to express in this post today.


                              

Purified For Prayer

PRAYER.

Effectual, fervent—this describes HOW. 

Of a righteous man—this describes WHO. 

God chooses to work according to the prayers of His righteous chosen ones. (James 5:16; see previous post)

But WHY? Why does God want us to pray? Why does He command us to bring our requests before Him (Philippians 4:6)? We, who in our sinful, degenerate condition have neither right nor motivation to approach the Holy One of Israel and commune with the Holy God; the great 'I AM;' Yahweh.

Out of the abundance of His steadfast love (Psalm 69:13) He commands His children to come (Matthew 11:28)! He desires fellowship with us. He delights in it. He is glorified by it.

And because He loves us, He gives us the confidence and the ability through His Son to approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).

Hebrews 10:12-19 explains:

When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God . . . For by a single offering he . . . perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us . . .

Where there is forgiveness of [sins], there is no longer any offering for sin . . .

Therefore . . . we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.

SO . . .

Because . . .

Christ offered the ultimate sacrifice for sins,

is now seated at the right hand of God (12),

and has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (14),

and because . . .

the Holy Spirit has sealed the covenant for us (15-17)

and because . . .

God has forgiven our sins (17-18)

then . . .

I have confidence to enter the holy place as a priest before God and to fulfill my responsibilities to my Creator (19).

But we cannot come as we are. Prayer transports us into the very presence of our pure and holy God. In Old Testament times, only the priests were permitted into the holy place to stand before God. Just as they cleansed their bodies with water before approaching Him, we must 'wash [ourselves] and make [ourselves] clean' (Isaiah 1:16).

Hebrews 10:22 tells us to 'draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.'

We are commanded to draw near and fellowship with God, to talk with Him and enjoy Him. But we must do this on God's terms, not ours.

So what are God's terms?

We must come with a true heart. That is, a heart that is undivided in its affections, fully devoted to God, sincerely seeking and faithfully serving.

Purify [make true] your hearts, you double-minded.

(James 4:8c)

We must come fully assured that God will fulfill His promises. This means forsaking sinful distrust and being confident in our belief that God's promises are true. We cannot be transformed if we are not assured of God's power and ability. By our faith, He is glorified.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for whoever would draw near to God must

believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

(Hebrews 11:6)

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,

for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

(James 1:6-8)

We must come with our hearts sprinkled clean from every guilt, fear, and fleshly perversion, from every selfish motive and deed. We must acknowledge that the blood of Christ atones for every sin and triumphs over every fleshly vice, allowing us to do what is right in the sight of God.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness

through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence,

by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises,

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

(2 Peter 1:3-4)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(I Corinthians 15:57)

We must come washed with pure water. Just as the Old Testament priests were required to wash before making intercession in the presence of God, we must confess and be cleansed from sin.

When you come to appear before [God]. . .

Wash yourselves;

make yourselves clean;

remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;

cease to do evil, learn to do good . . .

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

(Isaiah 1:12, 16, 18)

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?

And who shall stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.

(Psalm 24:3-4)

Cleanse your hands, you sinners.

(James 4:8b)

So come, draw near to Him, be cleansed and purified as a priest before Him. Live righteously and offer up your effectual fervent prayers to God who alone offers salvation and hope, and to whom alone belongs power and steadfast love (Psalm 62).

powerful prayer

"So He [Jesus] Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."

Luke 5:16

Even Jesus Himself prayed to His Father, God.  What a perfect example He laid for us.

I know that I've talked about prayer before, but I can't seem to get over the power that I have personally discovered in prayer.  If we pray in faith, it becomes a direct link between us and God.  It has become, for me, second-nature to just talk to the Lord about everything within the quietness of my heart, wherever I am.  Although often, like Jesus did, I have to get away.  I live in the country, so there's plenty of places not far away to go to find a quiet moment with the Lord.

Recently, I was reading a verse that I've known by memory almost all my life, but this time, God showed it to me in a different light.

"Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.  

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

James 5:16

So, the three guidelines given for powerful prayer are:

Effective.  Learn how to pray genuinely and according to God's will.  We can learn about God's will and how He works in different situations by reading His word.

Fervent.  Pray often! Pray, pray, pray all the time.  He's your friend.  He'll always have time for you!

Of a righteous man.  If you ever feel distant from God, the problem may be a hidden or undealt-with sin. Try with all your heart to live the pure life God has enabled and intended you to live.
He will honor this effort!

When you begin to pray effectively, fervently, and while living a righteous life, you will see how God, because of your prayer, begins to move in powerful ways!

God's answers are simple.  He will say "Yes" if  what you have requested does not conflict with His will;  He says "no"  if it does, and "wait" if He is still at work in a situation.  His will is perfect... be ready to submit to His answers.  He'll make them clear to you.  I know that!