Standing Out

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

When we were born again by the Spirit, we were made to stand out.

Do you?

Even now, as the waves of unrighteousness 

threaten to flood the nation.

God has set His hand on His people.

Stand apart. Keep the faith.

Do you?

Stand, stand out and don't shrink because you appear peculiar

to those around you.

For you were called for such a time as this.

Be the light, share the hope.

Stand!

Reflection

Matthew 5:14,16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

We are to be reflections of the Lord.

Light of the world. The hope of mankind whether they

recognize it or not.

Time is short. Jesus is coming soon.

The world is winding down into an abyss

of misery, godlessness, and destruction.

Now is not the time to hide, or to hide the light the Lord entrusted in us.

Pray, Listen to your Father in heaven,

And do what He says. 

Hearken to the small voice of the Holy Spirit

Obey quickly

Lives and souls are at stake.

Now is the time. Reflect the light of Jesus

Be His hands and mouth

Shine! in this dark hour.

Running the 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, 

I think it fitting to talk about running our race on the day the Olympics open.

Run with patience.

Sounds odd but wise to me.

Obviously, if we're in a marathon, we need to be patient

Persistent, Keeping on and not quitting.

And we are to run the race set before us.

Not John's over there or Jane's on the other side.

God has a appointed our own race uniquely made for each of us.

To prepare for a race, we must get fit. 

Focus on the goal and put aside that which will prevent us from running.

It can be looking behind instead of forward

falling into temptation to sin that chains our ankles

Whatever slows your progress

Name what it is and throw it off

AND RUN

Run toward the victory

Proclaiming the Lord and Praising His Name.

What is down the road?

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

 the evidence of things not seen. 

We can't really see too far down the road. What we know sounds scary.

Skyrocketing debt, unemployment, drought,pestilence

and wars and rumors of wars.

And that is where need to take a stand. 

It is not what we know

But WHO

Do you know Jesus?

The answer to that question will determine how you will act

 and react to what is going on in the world.

Will you run in fear? Panic and be swept up in the crowd of chicken littles

decrying that the sky is falling.

Or  will you stand on the Word of God.

Proclaim that the Lord is your provision an protection.

That heaven is your home and eternal life is yours

because of the Blood of the Lamb!

It really doesn't matter what is down the road in this life.

What really matters is are you walking with Him.

Look up, Pray, and Be ready.

Ambushed

Ambushed. The attack you didn't see coming.
What really hurts is I should know better.
As a Christian, I know we are told to put on the whole armor of God

Why?
To withstand the schemes of the enemy.

And that's what make me mad.
when I fail to heed the warnings and fall
into the harsh world of my flesh in all its unholiness.

Falling as sure as Adam and Eve at first bite.
And they had been warned too.

I rejoice in the forgiveness extended to me
The holy sacrifice of the blood of my Savior who cleanses me
After I turn to Him, confess, repent, He
Picks me up and judges me clean.

Yes the ambushes come.
Yes be ready, prayed up, wise, and wear the Armor of God
and Praise the Lord that God has supplied all our need.
Especially the need for forgiveness.

Cool

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God 

walking in the garden in the cool of the day:

In the midst of +100 degree days,

I thought it good to think on cool.

Snow.

I love snow. To me its a miracle of pure

white crystals sent for our delight.

The Lord likes cool, too.

He even has a storehouse of snow in the heavens.

So sit back, look at the snow and think cool.

Remember the pristine smell of air so cold it tickles your nose.

The crunch on the snowy surface as you walk

The joy of your kids and dogs and you as you play in the fun white powder.

Snow angels. Snowmen. Snowball fights.

In season, snow will come again.

For now, think cool. Think snow.

The Kingdom of heaven

Matthew 19:14

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Children.

What are they like?

Trusting, believing, loving.

Innocent. Believing what is good.

Waking everyday to the wonders around them.

Eyes wide as they discover.

Trust your Father in Heaven

Believe what He says.

Love Him and those around you.

Believe God's word is true

and live accordingly

Not giving the enemy or the naysayers the time of day.

Be as children to your Father in heaven.

All is not lost

 1 John 1:7 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

As the drops in the ocean is the love of God for us.

He made provision for us in all things.

Though this fallen world batter us because of sin

He cleansed us by the blood of His Son, Jesus.

We are free.

No matter what happens in this life

Whether a man man's action changes the course of our lives

God has made provision

We pass through this brief life on the way

to Eternal Life 

Knowing the Love of God will carry us on.

All is not lost, 

Fear Not

God is with us.

You Matter

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

You know those days when you think - nobody knows what I am going through 

nobody cares.

Look Up! God has taken great care in seeing that you realize you do matter.

All of creation awaits the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.

God placed the rainbow in the sky for us.

He sent His Son, Jesus, to bridge the gap between God and man.

He cares. 

What's more, people care.

If you feel like know one cares for you, that you don't matter,

find someone else to care for.

Tell someone something good

Smile at someone who looks like they could use one.

You do matter, make sure you let someone else know they do.

Complete

Colossians 2:9

And ye are complete in him, ...

This little lizard has all he needs to be what he is. Suction pad toes so he

can climb walls, trees, and plants.

He was made with all he needed to be a lizard.

When God created Adam and Eve, He pronounced they were very good

He made them with all they needed to be 

They were equipped to be His crowning creation.

BUT then sin entered.

Death

No longer was man able to live forever and come into the presence of God.

BUT God already knew and made provision.

He sent His own Son, Jesus

 To take away the Sin of the World

That all who come to Him

Can again be complete

Complete to be His Child

Complete to live as we were meant  

Complete In Him

The Name of Jesus

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

Today, look at the news, our culture,

There is only one name that causes such controversy.

You can say almost anything in society, but say,

Jesus, and there are those who rush to silence you.

Why?

Because Jesus is the dividing line. The Chief Cornerstone,

By His name, souls are known for eternal salvation,

Others deny Him and will

find their names not

written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Who do you say Jesus is?

Food for Thought and Life.

Matthew 4:4 

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

Food is good. God's food is best.

His Holy Mannah, Words from Heaven, spoken into our souls

Spirit food. Logos, The Living Word.

Jesus.

And HE said, 

John 6:54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life;

and I will raise him up at the last day.

Eat and drink heartily.

Your Problem is not too Big

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: 

Whatever problem we are facing, take heart,

God is bigger.

Turn to Him, fall at His feet, and worship Him.

What a comfort to know that we are not alone

That He knows what we are facing and

has made provision.

Trust. Trust Him and turn to Him.

Nothing is too hard for God.

Work in Progress

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

As a writer, we refer to our novels as a WIP, work in progress, until we finish them.

We are God's workmanship. He is the potter, we are the clay.

And it is the Work of God in us that changes us

From Glory to Glory

We learn of Him and See His handiwork in our lives

Always moving onward.

Take heart, you are a WIP.

He is the author and finisher. 

Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Rejoice as He fashions you

to fit and be whole in His Kingdom.

And give your brothers and sisters room to grow as 

they too are being molded by the hand

of the Lord.

Treasure!

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

Yes I found treasure!

Ephesians is a book full of treasures.

I think we could spend years going through this verse.

I Love it when God's Word unfolds,

peeling back layers to reveal 

His mysteries.

God is able to do more than we can ask or even think!

According to the power that worketh in us.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead!

Glory in the church by Christ Jesus

Thoughout all ages

World without end.

now that last one is an odd one to ponder on

The Greek word -  aiōn 

is used to mean world and ever.

Have to wonder on that one. 

our earthly world will pass away

But the eternal world will not. 

Search the Word and see what you come up with?

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the answers to the mysteries.

Word

 Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Words are powerful. 

By His Word the heavens and the earth were made.

By His Word they will not pass away.

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

 and the Word was God.

Jesus, the Word of God.

Logos

An amazing concept, too grand for our minds to fully understand. And I take great comfort in having a God that is beyond my understanding.

Consider the Word.

Hope!

Psalm 31:24

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, 

all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 33:20
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Take heart!

Even in the darkest hour, there is hope.

For hope shines best where it seems there is none.

For hope is not made of what we can see.

Faith and hope encourage one another.

Let your hope bolster your faith.

Search and know that God is good.

Have faith!

Hope!

Hosea 6:1

6 Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,

 that shall he also reap.

The USA is a great country because it was a country founded on God's principles. As we deny God, our greatness falls. We grapple in the fog or our own way not seeing we are undone by our own actions. We have mocked God and applauded sin.


Pray. There still might be time. Pray.

Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. 

God have mercy on our nation. 

We abound with, promote, and revel in sin.

Good is called evil and evil good.

We are a country turned upside down.

A people pitted against one another.

Our only hope is in turning to the Lord.

Will that happen?

Pray.

Rest

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Rest.

In our run, run world, rest is a precious commodity.

Even our vacations end up being a time of business.

We are battered daily by life.

Where do we find rest?

The answer is in the Lord. He is not concerned with busy work.

He tells us that his yoke is easy, his burden light.

Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We are to learn of Him.

Jesus meek and lowly.

Jesus only doing what He saw the Father do.

He wasn't pressured by peers, 

or reacting to situations or needs.

But set His heart to do as the Father did.

And that is our rest. 

Walk away from the craziness of the world

The whip of political correctness and peer pressures

And rest.

Rest in Him.