Thursday, June 28, 2012

Repent

Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
 Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.


Repent - sorrow and contrition for sin followed by a change of heart Godward.

The reward - kingdom of heaven.

To repent is not just saying 'sorry' 
To repent is to really see the sin, call it out, and turn from it. Turn and run into the arms of God.
Choosing to turn from the fleshly life toward the spiritual.

The Katydid? Judgment. 
God will use whatever it takes to get people to turn to Him.

Repent 
This day is a day of repentance.


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Perfection

Psalm 50:2
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.


Perfection. 
None is perfect except God.
Holy. Whole. Without Lack
Or blemish.

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your 
Father which is in heaven is perfect.

How can we be perfect? Born in sin, fallen creatures
we know we are not perfect.
How can it be?

Jesus. 

Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering he hath perfected 
for ever them that are sanctified.

In Christ, we take on His perfection, His Robe of righteousness.
Because Perfection was nailed to the cross, we who are not perfect
can take on the perfection of our Risen Lord.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Summer Stars and Eternal Life

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 


God is.  
I just like that phrase.
For He is above all things, Lord of all things, even death.
For He makes what is dead live.

The dead seed in the ground hears His voice and sprouts. 
In the dead of summer, purple flowers open and declare His glory.
And the dead in Christ live. Forevermore.

God is - I AM.

Monday, June 25, 2012

God is

Deuteronomy 4:24For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.


A consuming fire. God will not share His throne with anyone or anything. His Holiness will burn out all that stands between you and the Great I AM.  

Although the idea of a consuming fire sounds a bit worrisome, fear not. For anything that stands between you and God is an obstacle to the abundant life in Christ. And if it is something or someone you love, once you turn to God, He will restore what you have given up. But in a more wholesome blessed way.

Search you heart and see. Is there something that keeps you and God apart? 
Give it to Him, place it on the altar and let the Lord burn away the dross.
He is a jealous God, but it is all for us. 
He is jealous to our good. Jealous to know His own and not desiring that they should perish
but have everlasting life.

Jealously seeking our good. For our good is only found in Him.

In the KJV of the Bible, God is can be found 157 times. Read them and see who and what God is.
The search - God is  From Bible Gateway.  A wonderful online tool.


Friday, June 22, 2012

Summer Surprises

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: 
he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. 


Flowers in all shapes and sizes. 
Colors to delight the eyes.
Aromas to please.

Look around and see what the Lord has done.
Look and know He's made provision.
Look and see how He loves you.

Rejoice in the day.
Seek Him and
Praise Him!


Thursday, June 21, 2012

Living in the Shadow

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most 
High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.


Love that verse. 
For some reason, today I was struck with the simplicity of this verse. 
To be in a shadow - you have to be near the thing making it.

The secret place, dwelling with God, is nearness to the Lord.
My trees make good shade, long shadows, 
but until I am near the tree, I'm not in the shadow.

Be near to God. Abide with Him. 
And His Shadow will cover you.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Keeping your soul

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, 
and lose his own soul? 


At the beginning of this month, I published my first book, Liberty Belle. What a wonderful experience. And I do give God all the glory.

But a day or two after, the Lord impressed on me that I 
needed to keep my head and heart in a right place. 

The road to success is a narrow way on either side danger lurks. It is so easy to slip away from the Lord. Not in a salvation way, but in a relationship way. We have all done it. Things are good. And without realizing it, our time with the Lord is pushed to the back of the line. 
Then one day we 'wake up' and realize the Lord is way over there. He didn't move. I did.

I believe the Lord wants to bless us beyond what we can even imagine - if we can handle it.
But,Our Father in heaven will not give us evil gifts. He knows if He were to bless us in abundance and it would lead to our destruction because we would walk away, and He won't do it. 

Some of us will need to be kept on a short line. We can't handle great success. 
But it doesn't have to be that way.

Determine that God will always get the glory. Strive to keep that foremost in your mind.
Serve Him. Serve others. And let humility rule your heart.
Gaining the world is a curse if you lose eternity.

Today, set your hearts to serve Him and others.





Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Why my head is in the Clouds.

He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.


I love clouds. My husband and son often shake their heads when they look at the pictures I take. 
Why all the cloud pictures? 

They amaze me. From wondrous majestic thunderheads that boil into the sky reaching higher and higher into the heavens. To the wispy fun-filled cirrus.

Who hasn't looked at the great white puffy clouds and seen different images? Or imagined walking on them, floating in the sky on your own white sailing vessel.


And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud

to lead them the way;

And just maybe I like clouds, because God led 
the children of Israel in a pillar of cloud. 

The Lord must like clouds. Jesus went to heaven in a cloud. And of course we have the promise:

1 Thessalonians 4:17
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Yep, I think I'll just keep enjoying the clouds. Looking up and watching, praying, and waiting.

He will return,
Jesus is coming back.

Monday, June 18, 2012

For those wimpy days

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.


A cold attacked me last week, although feeling much better, I have the strength of an overcooked noodle. Well, maybe not quite that bad.  : ) 

But how wonderful to find this verse and realize I don't have to run on my own strength.
He is my strength. 

Don't feel it yet? 

Praise Him. Love Him. Exalt Him. 
Raise your feeble arms to the heavens. 
Shout His glorious name. 

And it comes. Maybe just a turning of the tide, the rudder of your ship slightly turned.
But you can feel it. Life inside you quickened at the worship of the Creator. 
Your life bowing and acknowledging that the Lord is above all things.
Above your cold, your weakness, your failure.

And then continue. Keep on Praising. 
Singing His praise, Shouting His wonders.
And Glory in His strength.

And then go! We've been given a new day and a new week.
Let's make something out of it!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Amazing Creation - Amazing Creator

Genesis 1:31
 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.


This picture doesn't do this creature justice. Those white spots shine like silver in the light.
How beautiful and exquisitely made. God is the first artist.
Look around and see His hand.
White puffy clouds sail through cerulean skies.
Birds of all shapes and sizes, colors and songs.
Trees and flowers diverse and beautiful.
Animals from gigantic whales to possums who carry their babies in a pouch.
Giraffes with their long necks, Elephants and their tusks.

Amazing.

And then their is mankind. Made in His image.
The crowning glory to Creation.

Consider how fearfully and wonderfully we are made. And when you look at someone that maybe you don't care for  - consider the hand that made them.

God is amazing. Praise Him and treat His creation with care.



Thursday, June 14, 2012

The Banner Over You

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, 
that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.


IT's flag day in the USA. The beautiful red, white, and blue that flies over our land. 
To me it stands for Freedom.
Independence.

And as wonderful as that flag is, there is one other that I delight in.
The banner that the Lord flies over me because I fear Him and am His.
WE might not see His banner with our earthly eyes, but in the Spirit world, His banner waves high,
A banner of protection and provision, Healing and deliverance.
Yes, I am proud to be an American

But prouder still to live under the Banner of our Lord.

Exodus 17:15

15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

Jehovahnissi - The Lord is my Banner.

I am an American but first and foremost I belong to Lord.




Flag picture is from   http://www.patrioticon.org

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Our Father who Art in Heaven

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.


How amazing that through Jesus, we have been born again as sons and daughters of the Most High.
That our hearts hold the Spirit of His Son.

Ah, if that doesn't get  you going.
Shouting Glory!
That we have been brought back into communion with God our Father.
It just doesn't get any better.

If your earthly father mistreated you, ask for God's healing touch to show you what your Father in heaven is like. That He is good. And only gives good gifts to His children.

Today, go out into the world knowing that your Father in heaven loves you. 


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Wonders

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, 
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!


Our God is full of wonderful works. They are all around if you but look and see.
Just the wonder of color is amazing. 
Add to that shapes and sizes.
Unique abilities of His creation.

Yes, God is Wonderful and full of wonder.
If your faith is assaulted by doubt, just look down and spot the flowers. Be amazed
at His handiwork, the colors, size and shapes. 
And then look out at the sea of peoples.

See the wonder of His creation and its crowning glory - Mankind.
And know that He is drawing the children of men to Him.
Tell about His wonders.


Monday, June 11, 2012

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth. 


We don't have to defend God. Whirl about striking out as those who defy Him.
God is capable of handling that Himself.

Better to stand in His confidence. The world may strike out at us, but we know where we're going.
The world may brand us intolerant and ignorant, but we know the Truth. 
The world may try to get us to stampede in fear, but we will stand because we know that He is God.

The Lord will deliver us, fight for us, hold in His mighty Right Hand.

Stand, be still, and know that God is. And soon He will be exalted by the heathen
and over all the earth.

Friday, June 8, 2012

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places... 



How comforting to know that the Lord is my strength. That He will strengthen me for the high places.
And really isn't that the whole point of Christianity?
Only in His Strength, His Great Right Arm, Jesus, can anyone walk on high places.
There is no other way to the Father but thru Jesus.

Basically, the Bible shows that man was never meant to live out their lives without God.
We can't do it, not well anyway.

Rejoice today! And know that the Lord is your strength.
Let Him take you higher and higher
So that you might know Him more
And live the abundant life HE came to give you.

TO God be all the Glory

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Is God Boring?

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; 
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.


According to the Truth, the Word of God, walking on the path God has for you is full of joy and pleasure.
Hmm, Not to sure I find that on my path everyday.
Why?

The answer is in the first part - God will show me the path.
The problem - we don't listen. Most don't even ask.

Early in the day, seek Him.
Ask the Lord to set your day, what He wants you to do

Then Listen

And be prepared for an awesome day.
In His presence you will have fulness of joy.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The love of Christ

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 



Ephesians is one of my favorite books in the Bible.

The love of Christ, can we possibly understand the depth and height?
The above verse indicates that as Christ dwells in our hearts we may be able to comprehend
such wonder.

I love the part that say - and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.
The comprehension will be more in our spirit and heart than head.
Ah, the wonders of our amazing God.
The wonder that we may be filled with the fulness of God.

In God, there is no lack, only fulness.

Seek Him today.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Encouraging Words

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another ....


Encourage - to strengthen another
Edify - to promote wisdom and piety in another.

Remember the old song - Home on the Range and the line that says
...Where never is heard a discouraging word...

We need to get back to that. How many encouraging words do you know?
I will not ask how many disparaging words, for we are full of those from the TV and radio, work place, school, and our own corrupted minds.

And by encouraging words, I mean to go beyond the surface of physical characteristics. Its nice to say someone has a nice smile, or looks good today, but what else can we say to encourage others?

I think the first step is to care. Acknowledge others an what they are doing.
Point out what is right! Not wrong.

The mission for today - seek words that would encourage others.
Listen to those around you and pay attention to those who encourage and what they say.

It's a hard world. We need encouragers.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Run Your Race

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,


Run your race. 
Many times we are frustrated because we aren't keeping our eyes on our own race.
We aren't called to run our neighbor's race or even our children's race.
Only our own.

Your distinct path that only you are called to run.
The one HE designed for you.
For sure, your road will intersect others and you must deal with them
as HE would want.

But your race is yours alone.

No excuses.

Keep your eyes on the Lord
And run for His Glory.

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Eternal Connection

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.


And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.


We've all heard the saying, "you only live once." The world uses these words to justify living according to the flesh.

BUT what if we lived as if we were eternal? 
Living as if this world was not our home, but instead looked forward to the new Jerusalem and our life in Christ forever. A life set in the Glory of God, not the miry world of sin that is our fleshly world now.

What if we looked beyond today into eternity. 
We would not fret about most of what concerns us now.

Live with eternity in mind. Live knowing that God has made provision for eternal life in His Son Jesus Christ. 

Live the Truth