Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Real You

Matt 6:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.
6:45 In order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 6:36..and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind (good) to the ungrateful and the evil men.

It is an amazing thing this love of Yours, Father. You show no partiality (Rom 2:11 ).

For you have created all things and they were created for You. (Col 1:16)

When you make us your own through Jesus Christ and His Cross, we become a new creature in Him. (2 Cor 5:17)

You see who we are with perfect love toward us, knowing our soul is being transformed into the image of Him who has risen from the dead…Jesus!

Human eyes see only the fleshly part of us. That is why our love is so faulty. Jesus enables mankind to know what true love is through the love You, Father, have demonstrated to us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)

A person without Jesus can never be all that he was created to be because he was created for Him and Him alone. Each life has a purpose and that purpose is able to be completely fulfilled through Jesus Christ. His Spirit active in us produces that life .

Yes, Father, that You, a Holy God are kind to ungrateful and evil men is amazing in itself and not only kindness do You give. You extend Your mercy and forgiveness in perfect love to give them the opportunity to come to You and become a child of Yours.

Help the Body of Christ to be merciful as You are merciful.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Rough Fishermen

Luke 5:1-11

:2And He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them, and were washing the nets.
:3And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land.
Jesus had people pressing around Him, teaching them by the lake Gennesaret but He still noticed that Peter and his partners were through fishing for the day, they were done.

After He finished speaking to the multitudes, He told Peter to go into deep water and let the nets down.
Peter let Jesus know they had been working hard all night and hadn’t caught a thing.

In reading in Bible History.com about fishing and fishermen it clearly tells about the hard work that fishing in those times was. It was strenuous; they had to pull the nets, dive into the water to draw the net and haul the net on board the boat or drag to the shore; They were hardy and fearless yet had to have the patience with the weather and patience to try again when there was no catch.
These men were crude in manner, rough in speech and harsh in the treatment of others.
Not exactly the diplomatic type.

Peter had let Jesus know they had been working hard all night. Yet he obeyed Jesus because Jesus asked him to…“at your bidding (word)…”
When the Lord speaks to us it is always with purpose. Many times he requires us to simply obey without question.

Verse 8 says that when Peter saw the catch it took two boats to hold and then because there were so many fish the boats began to sink.

Peter responded by falling down at Jesus’ feet, saying "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

What was he thinking? Maybe though he obeyed he realized the doubt that had been in his heart OR he had a deeper revelation of who Jesus was at that moment. This miracle was very personal to Simon, John, and James. They knew their trade and probably could not even have dreamed of such a catch as this. Surely they had never seen or heard of anyone draw a catch like this in all their years of hearing the great fishing stories told by their fathers and elders.
They had to know that they alone could never have made this happen; only God Himself could do this. Jesus is God!

They were all “seized with amazement” and then Jesus said to them “Do not fear from now on you will be fishers of men.” Fear in this context can mean “of those struck with amazement”. They were totally amazed!

He told them they would be fishers of men. These rough tough men were accustomed to fishing, not people. But they followed Him.

Father God, You are truly amazing the way You transform the believer’s heart to be what it needs to be to serve You. Whatever changes You make it is in conformity to the image of Jesus to work the purposes one is created for. No matter what we are at the point of salvation, an intimate walk with our Savior will transform the hardest heart! And in this we find hope!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Scribes

John 4:22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.


I looked up scribes on line; Bible History.com says: They were men from all classes, merchants, artisans and laborers. Their authority did not come from ancestry or finances, but from their learning and studying for many years.
 “By age 14 they had mastered the law and were thoroughly familiar with the scriptures. Thereafter they spent years in close association with scribal teachers, receiving lengthy instruction in personal conduct and application of the law in everyday situations.”
About age 40 they could be formally ordained as scribes.

Scribes were highly honored having the place of honor at important events; they were held in high respect and awe. They were thought to possess secret knowledge of the Lord’s power.

Father, you say that knowledge makes arrogant (1 Cor 8:1). These men had dedicated their lives to learning and teaching the law and the scriptures. They were considered as having this “secret” knowledge that no one else had.

With them being held in this kind of high esteem, it is truly amazing that the people in the synagogue when they heard Jesus, were “amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” They saw the difference in Jesus and the teaching of the scribes.

They saw authority in Him. Not just knowledge but authority. There is such a huge difference. Jesus spoke with the direct authority of the one who had sent Him, God the Father. This was the same God that these people worshipped but did not recognize Jesus as He who is the (Heb 1:3) “radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.” They worshipped God but did not know Him.

Father, you have revealed Your wonderful Son to us who have believed. You have gifted us with His Spirit to lead us, to teach us the Word, and to guide us unto righteousness.

Reading the Bible to gain knowledge of it is a good thing; but going further and reading it to find Jesus in it, to seek His face, to be in His presence and to develop an intimate relationship with Him is our ultimate goal. For Jesus is ALL.
Jesus has given His own authority to those who believe in Him. That is why when the Holy Spirit speaks through us, the truth spoken has the authority to be effective and have an impact on the listener.

Thank you for the grace, Father, that will enable your children to listen and obey when You prompt us to speak.

Friday, November 19, 2010

The Truth Enrages

Luke 4:15-29

Luke 4:15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.


:16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

This whole passage was amazing to me, Father.

After Jesus stood up and read from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue the religious leaders’ response was favorable toward Him….

: 22 all were speaking well of Him and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips, and they were saying “Is this not Joseph’s son”?

They were all amazed UNTIL He spoke the Truth about them. In just a moment’s time…
: 28 “all in the synagogue were filled with rage” at Him.
He knew that they had heard of the miracles He had done in Capernaum and wanted to see the same in Nazareth, His own hometown. But when he reminded them that the OT said there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah…”yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon,

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Eisha…and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian
Luke 4:24 And He said, Truly, I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his home town. He was telling them that even the prophets of O.T. went outside of Israel where the non Jews were to do miracles. The religious leaders had studied the scriptures and for Him to reprove them using the scriptures, was intolerable. It infuriated them. They hated Him for it. The Truth will stir up emotions and show one’s true heart.

This is true today.

Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.

Many in the world hate Jesus and as stated above, a believer will be hated also for standing up for Truth. Truth makes people accountable. It enrages them just as it did the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Today, following religion and its burdensome duties instead of the person and Spirit of Jesus Christ will only lead to resistance to Truth and the liberty that only a relationship with our Lord Jesus can bring to our life.

Jesus is life; He is our path to freedom…freedom to live with joy, freedom to love unconditionally as He has loved us, and freedom to give ourselves as He gave Himself for our sake.

We need not be surprised that the world does not receive the Truth when the Holy Spirit speaks through us. It will cause some to hate us. But the seeds of Truth are never in vain.

The cost may be high in the way of relationships and popularity but His word never returns void.

Help me Lord to stand up for Truth no matter the cost.

Friday, October 22, 2010

How Beautiful Your Love is

You brought to my mind how beautiful Your love is. It is pure and lovely. It brings down barriers that are humanly immovable, it transforms hearts, it illumines the dark places, and it bears the eternal fruit of the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.


What a privilege it is to know the love of God the Father! There is no greater treasure on this earth than to have this divine love dwelling within us through Your Holy Spirit.

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” 1 John 3:1
“So we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the surpassing greatness of the power
will be of God and not from ourselves. 1Cor 4:7

There is no one on this earth that can earn the love of God. It is a free gift and ready to be given to any that are willing to ask and receive it. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph 2:8-9

Having accepted this marvelous gift, You, Father, continue to pour it out to us daily, hour by hour, minute by minute; to be held, but not kept. When we allow Your love to be active within us, it is a crystal clear river divinely appointed to flow to the lost, the unlovely, and the ones in our lives most difficult to love in our own strength. What hope You give to us Father! It is not us, but it is Your love flowing in the grace of Your Spirit.

Thank You Father for the amazing grace to know this divine love You have loved us with. His name is Jesus.

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Mom's Heart

In reading Luke 2:48, there is an interesting passage that caught my attention;

: 48 “And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Child, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.”
: 49 and He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house? (lit: affairs; in the things of My Father)
: 50 And they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

His parents were troubled and worried because they had not found Jesus after three days of looking for Him. When they did find Him, the scripture says that they were “astonished” perhaps that here He was, sitting with the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

After finding Him safe and well (I wonder where He spent the night or who He had eaten with, if  He had eaten at all?) they asked Him, “Why have you treated us this way?” They were relieved yet perhaps a little angry and frustrated at His seemingly inconsideration and irresponsibility for not letting them know what He was going to do and where He would be. (would they have understood that?) All they could think of was the fear and anxiety they had as they sought Him for three days. Three days is a long time.

Mary had been told by the angel that she would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit and that the child would be the Son of God. Yet it had been more than twelve years and they had raised Him among His other siblings, so perhaps for those days of His being “missing”, her heart knew Him more as her first born son rather than His real identity, the Son of God. We know that Jesus was perfect, therefore the type of behavior that this seemed to be was totally out of character of their responsible first-born.

"Why have you treated us”…also speaks to me of the hurt Mary felt that He would do such a thing and worry them so.

Their reaction was totally human and from our standpoint, understandable. But God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.” (Is 55:8)

But Jesus answered them first with questions, “Why are you looking for me? Did you not know…? Jesus had never forgotten who He was, who His real Father was, and His business here on this earth. He was not apologetic in anyway. He had expected them to know He was tending to the affairs of  His Father God. He expected them to trust in knowing this and therefore not be alarmed. His attitude was totally divine. This is how he thought… in the reality of God’s will all the time.

This is also a rebuke to them for not understanding; for perhaps seeing Him as only their human son. Mary had conceived Him by the power of the Holy Spirit and had been told He was the Son of God. But in her mom’s heart he was her son to be cared for and watched over.

This mainly reminded me of believer’s relationships with their families, especially parents. Sometimes we tend to our human family at times when the Father is calling us to do something else. It can cause misunderstandings and hurt on the family’s part. Yet God will provide the grace necessary to do His will
when we ask for it. Our priority must be His will even at the cost of family relationships.

Matt 10:37 He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Matt 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

In this last verse he includes houses and farms. To me that means any thing or possession that could hold us back by hesitating or not doing His will.

We are very human and our Father knows it. Just like Mary, we have our human heart and emotions and He knows that too. I am so grateful to you Father, that You see our human hearts and love us where we are.

What a wonderful, marvelous, and awesome Father you are to us!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Servants of God

Rev 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him

You say Father, that your “servants” will serve you. In Rev 19:10 the angel speaking to John calls himself
“a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus”. So believers are servants with the angels. If we are called “servants” in heaven then serving You when we come home to You, will be complete fulfillment for us.

But also in Galatians 5:13 Paul encourages believers to ..."through love serve one another." You do call Your children to “serve” You here right now on this earth. When a believer is centered in Your will, we are serving Your plans and purposes.

Here on earth there is sin and struggle. We find it difficult and struggle not only in discerning Your will but doing what You are asking of us. Sometimes because of fear, embarrassment, laziness, etc. we hesitate and selfishly talk ourselves out of what we know we should do. We are weak! I am thankful my strength lies in You! Eph 6:10 Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

At home with You and all the heavenly host, serving You by doing Your will is how we will live moment by moment forever and ever! It will be our joy, our deep desire, our way of life and delight!

You have brought to my mind that it needs to be the same NOW in our life; practicing the servant hood of Christ, knowing that is our future. Yielding to your will and serving others for their best interests is something we truly need to remember!

But Father, it is not a matter of simply remembering; it is a matter of a change of heart through the working of Your deep and marvelous Grace. To grow to “be” a servant so that serving comes from a transformed heart and becomes a real part of who I am, by the working of the Holy Spirit.

So much to learn! Thank you for seeing me with eyes of infinite love and mercy.
Thank You that I am perfectly acceptable to You today; You look at Your children and Your love envelopes us and brings hope and promise to our weary hearts.

Hebrews 12:1….and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross , despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Monday, September 27, 2010

1000 years

Rev 20:4

And I saw thrones and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

One thousand years, Father, to us on earth is quite a long time. I’ve read this before and really had not stopped to think about how long a time that is.
That is a lot of generations. The dictionary says that a generation is “the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring. “
That certainly can vary in different cultures. In the culture of America, at least in the past, that would be about 20 years; 5 generations in a 100 years. That means 50 generations would be in the millennium.
 Actually, there are many cultures in the world where teens and even adolescents have children. If the average age is less, that means there would be more generations within 1000 years.

I remember your promise that “the descendants of the righteous will be delivered” in Proverb 11:21. It makes me very confident to pray for the future of our children’s children and our descendants; for you will deliver them, free them, and provide escape for them from the trappings of this world. I pray that our family line going forward will be a blessing to Our Most High God and King of Glory!

Satan is bound during the 1000 years but released at the end of the time to deceive the nations and lead them to war with God. Rev 4:8 says the number of them is “like the sand of the seashore”. That is an incredible amount of people to really realize the immensity of power coming against the Lord! But what always amazes me is that there is only one scripture that tells of the Lord’s victory over the millions that are coming to war with Him.
:9 “And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. “
That’s it! No description of the battle, the fight, etc. God zapped them and that was it!

This gives my heart deeper confidence in You, my faithful God. The struggles and problems in this earthly life are not too big (or small) for you to uphold us, deliver us, sustain us, and give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You are a Mighty God!

Ps 72:18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
              Who alone works wonders.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Jesus is Victorious!

Revelation 13
What stands out today Father is the intensity of hatred the devil has against you and your children.
: 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the saints-those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
13:1… He had ten horns, and on each head a blasphemous name
:5 the beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies..
: 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven.

The devil was speaking evil even against heaven, where God dwells. And since the Word also says “those who live in heaven”, perhaps he is still enraged because he had lost the battle for the souls of many that he had fought so hard for. Perhaps he is furious that You extend grace to some even in the last moments of their life.

Truly he hates the fact that there are “myriads and myriads” in heaven that worship You, our Mighty God:
Rev 5:11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.

Seeing this only makes me to know even more how powerful and victorious my Savior, our Lord Jesus is!
Rev 5:12 “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.

: 13 And EVERY (I’m sure this really makes the enemy mad!) created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”


Yes, Jesus has already won the war, it is finished, and “I am “raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.” Eph 2:6 What a glorious Savior we have!

Eph 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.
We need never to fear the devil; we need only (Hebrews 12:2) to keep “our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith”….Jesus is Lord!

I am so grateful to You Father for having the privilege of being Your child!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

The Wonder of His Blood

This is beautiful in Spanish:
Rev 1:9 Estaban de pie delante del trono y Cordero, vestidos de tunicas blancas (vestidos con vestiduras blancas) y con ramas de palma en la mano.

:13 Y uno de los ancianos habló diciéndome: Estos que están vestidos con vestiduras blancas, ¿quiénes son y de dónde han venido? 14 Y yo le respondí: Señor mío, tú lo sabes. Y él me dijo: Estos son los que vienen de la gran tribulación, y han lavado sus vestiduras y las han emblanquecido en la sangre del Cordero. 15 Por eso están delante del trono de Dios, y le sirven día y noche en su templo; y el que está sentado en el trono extenderá su tabernáculo sobre ellos.

...dressed in white
....they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
I love this Father. …they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb….
Thank you Father for the blood of Your Son! We have been made clean, pure, spotless, blameless, shameless, and holy before You, the Eternal God.

This is truly an amazing truth that transforms our heart daily as we think about it and allow that blood that was shed to be real to us as we go through our day. To remember that You have already washed us clean….we need not forget that even for a moment. How else can we walk in the joy that You alone can give us?

1 John 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood -
How are we released?...by His blood....sin does not have to have a hold on us and enslave us.  It is finished.

Is 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow ; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

John 13:8-14 Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet !" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." 10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean ; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord ; and you are right, for so I am. 14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

1 Cor 6:11
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Eph 5:26 having cleansed her (the church) by the washing of water with the word


:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing ; but that she would be holy and blameless

Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through at he eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ?


1 John 1:7 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Rev 5:9
9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals ; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Rev 12:11
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.


1 Peter 1:18
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers
:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

This is a wonderful marvelous, truth;  that this cleansing and freedom is available to all that receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Thank You Father for the blood of Your Holy Son, Jesus.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Revelation Chapter 7

In the below prophecy of Daniel, Your word tells of all the peoples that will serve You. Men from all nations and languages.
Dan 7:14
And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom (sovereignty)
That all peoples, nations, and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.

Here in Revelation Chapter 7, John’s prophecy also speaks of the men from every nation, tribe, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, praising You and Jesus, Father.

Rev 7:9-10
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, and all tribes, and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”

Rev 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Rev 10:11
An angel told John “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

No one is excluded. There is no race on this earth that is excluded from the opportunity to be a child of God. You do not see the color of our skin, or anything else. There is nothing in us that prevents us from knowing Jesus, for He has loved mankind perfectly by “delivering Himself up for us”.

Father, You sees the heart, not the exterior. The heart of all mankind is fallen and Jesus was sent to redeem any heart that is willing to come to Him. This is Your desire. You are  not a respecter of persons. 
How amazing is that! Father, I want to be like that. To know deeply that the people in my world are eternal beings that You love very much. That You gave to me the gift of knowing Jesus, knowing You, and You want them, each one to know You also.
Thank You that You will work Your perfect will in this heart of mine.

Rev Chapter 6

Chapter 6

: 9 and when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who have been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
: 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11: and there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.

I thought about Stephen who was the very first martyr. Over 2000 years ago he gave his life for Jesus. Is he there at the altar waiting for his blood to be avenged? God tells them to “rest for a little while”….certainly our time is not reality in the heavenly realm.
What is centuries here is no time there since it is basked in the unhidden glory of God. I don’t think Stephen and the other martyrs are thinking of that all the time. How could they when they are in the presence of our Holy and True and Awesome and Marvelous King and God? They are experiencing the complete presence, beauty, and holiness of Our Lord.


It is mentioned in scripture that various people have fallen flat down on their face when encountering Our Lord and God. So Mighty and Powerful and Glorious is He, how could one stand before Him? It is only possible to lift our eyes to His because we are covered with His blood. Thank You Father for the blood spilt for my soul.

: 12 I noticed that the scripture said that the sun became black as sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon became like blood
I noticed that the words AS and LIKE were used meaning that the sun was black and the moon really a deep red. Previously I read it taking it literally.

If there is anyone that doubts that God is a just God and must punish those who have rejected the tremendous sacrifice of our Lord Jesus and also rejected the love that He has offered to them, then they need to read this:

:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals , the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
: 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand?

What amazes me here is that they call out to the mountains and rocks. They acknowledge that God is on the throne, they acknowledge Jesus the Lamb, yet they do not repent or cry out for forgiveness. Have their hearts grown so cold that they no longer are able to see the truth? Or to yield to the truth?
To me this is beyond sad. It is tragic that man will still be obstinate even in the moments of judgment.

Help me to remember to pray for people that do no know you.

Thoughts on Rev

In reading through Rev you are helping me to think of who will be with me when I am home with You? Who will my life have impacted through sharing the gospel or pointing people to Jesus?
What really is more important than that?  In this brief journey on this earth, how has Your love in me spoken obediently in the moment of need?

You are the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth. Yet you are my Father.

You are able to complete the work You began in me by Your grace, mercy, and divine love. You are able to open these earthly eyes through Your Spirit within me.

These simply are some of the thoughts that came to me in reading this wonderful book. And thank you Father also for the scholars that help us to understand this book!


Rev 4
Before the throne , 7 lamps were blazing .
These are the seven spirits of God. Commentary says represents fullness of the Spirit.
4 living creatures
Lion- royalty
Calf (NAS)  some say Ox-servant (Greek says calf or bullock)
Face like a Man- mankind
Flying Eagle- victorious

I like this: verse 4:9 When the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
the 24 elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne and will worship Him and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying
11 “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
For Thou did create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created.”

I love this also.5:2…”Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”
:5 …the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll (book) and its seven seals.
:7 And He came and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Jesus is the only one that could go up to the Father and take the scroll….He alone is worthy; He had the absolute Right; He had paid the price; He had offered salvation to mankind; those that rejected His sacrifice and the Father’s love must now be judged for God is a just God.

:8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

In verses 4:10, 24 elders will fall -future tense –said the elders -will fall-before the Father
In 5:8 the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders fell down –past tense-says before the Lamb

Also, my prayers are not something insignificant, but are heard, answered, and kept in heaven.
I love that. They are precious to you and you are teaching me how to pray with Your heart and will and not my own. For that is what is eternal. “The prayers of the saints” are incense, a sweet aroma to the You, Father.

I love this also.
Rev 4:11
You are worthy, our Lord and our God,
To receive glory and honor and power,
For you created all things,
And by your will they existed
And were created

To me Father, all glory and praise are yours. You are the one who created me, for purpose, and it was an act of Your will by which I was created. I was brought into existence by the One and Only True Living God! How special is that!! And this is true of all mankind and that is why it is so important that the world realize Who you are and the love you have demonstrated to the world through our Lord Jesus.! No man can be fulfilled by being his own master; he will only find fulfillment in and through Jesus Christ, who created each soul for a specific purpose. And only by knowing and seeking You, Father, can we walk in that purpose. How great and marvelous are Your ways, O Most High!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Temporary Experience

...."we are spriitual beings having a temporary human experience. "
A quote from Jame Robison living Free series.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Aliens

Father, You have kept this truth of keeping our hope on You alone before me. Of our life here on this earth being so transient.

1 Peter 1:3..caused us to be born again to a living hope….
1:13 Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
1:21..so that your faith and hope are in God

Peter addresses his first letter like this..."to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, etc…..who are chosen…" not only aliens in other countries, but also on this earth, as he later addresses them.

1 Peter 1:17 speaks of the brief time we live on this earth.
“…conduct yourselves in fear during this time of your stay upon earth;”

The word stay—paroikia--means
1. a dwelling near or with one
2. a sojourning, dwelling in a strange land
3. metaph. The life of a man here on earth is likened to a sojourn

In comparing various translations, the words sojourners, exiles, temporary, strangers, and foreigner is used in translating verse :17:
Pass your time of sojourn here….” KJV
Throughout the time of your exile….”ESV
During this time of temporary residence….”CSB
Live your life as strangers here…”NIV
During your time as foreigners here…”NLT

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.

An interesting thing, Father, is that before we became your children, we were aliens then also.

Eph 2:12 “ remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Eph 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,…

So we were once aliens separate from God….but now we remain strangers and aliens, but of a different kind. We have been delivered out of the dark world that is separate from God and transferred into the Kingdom of His beloved Son. (Col 1:13)

However, in this Kingdom also, we are strangers and aliens while we remain briefly on this earth as it exists now. “For we have become fellow citizens with the Saints and belong to God’s household.”

This is the truth. Now we are aliens that are temporarily here and are to be looking and longing for our real home with our real Father, our Lord Jesus, and all the Saints that have gone before us. This truth will transform our lives if we allow it to.

1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.
: 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

This is the reality as the Scriptures describe man…
                "All flesh is grass,
                And all its loveliness is like
                The flower of the field.
                The grass withers
                And the flower fades
                But the Word of our God stands forever."

It seems to me Father, that if the reality of being here so briefly was seeded deep within my heart, it would change my relationships; for what now seems important to make my point or get my way, would lose its value in light of eternity. This opens the door to loving at all times.

The ability to fervently love one another from a clean heart impacts the world in a way that demonstrates we are born again and have a hope that the world does not have.

Thank You Father that by Your infinite grace, you will enable my hope to be fixed on You and You alone.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Faith Eternal

1 Peter 1:5-7
: 5..who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
: 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials

:7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

: 13b Amplified says it a little stronger…set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace that is coming to you when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is revealed.

Father, this whole chapter in 1 Peter is wonderful! I love it. There is so much here to sit and dwell on!
This week what caught my eye is what I have to look forward to. You speak of the revelation of Jesus Christ and of what will be revealed to me “in the last time.” And later on in 1 Peter 4:13 You speak of the “revelation of His glory”.

The Christians at the time were facing a time of severe persecution to come. Peter speaks of (:13) fixing our hope completely (all of it!) on the grace we will receive when Jesus returns.

In thinking of living as many other believers live today in persecution, it has to be His grace alone that enables one to endure.

I’m talking being tortured, being brainwashed, being stripped of everything we own, and being separated from our loved ones. This is happening today in many foreign countries for the sake of Christ.

Having to live in an environment like that, Peter knows that in order to have hope at all we would need to “fix”, to keep in place God’s promise of the grace that will be revealed to us at Jesus’ second coming.

Peter reminds us of the imperishable inheritance (:4) that is reserved for us in heaven and that suffering tests the purity and genuineness (:7) of our faith.
This proof of our faith results in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus, Our Victor returns for us.

I like the way The Message expresses verse 7:
Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith not your gold that God will have on display as evidence of His victory.

I haven’t thought of my own faith as an object that is precious to You Father. A blessing to You, yes. And more like it is pleasing and a foundational necessity in our Christian walk. But the fact that the Word says it is of the highest value and will result in praise, glory and honor is a little different perspective to me.

To live without the expression of faith in this life then becomes vain. To really know and understand that You will utilize pure faith to proclaim Jesus’ victory and as evidence of His triumphant life in His Body, is motivating. It creates in me a greater understanding of its divine value and importance of it being demonstrated in my life.

Its not all about me. It is not about having “more” faith. Faith the size of a mustard seed will move mountains. It is about utilizing the faith (Rom 12:3) You have already equipped us with; it’s about knowing we already have it to accomplish Your perfect will in our lives. It’s about stepping out and doing what You ask us to do.

How else can believers endure the suffering of persecution if it is not by having a fixed faith in our Resurrected Lord and in His promise? They can know that they will be taking into Eternity the faith that sustained them and it will result in praise, honor and glory.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; And the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Gird Your Minds

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Father this was interesting to me. You tell us to gird our minds for action. What does this mean?
The literal translation of “your minds” in the Greek is “the loins of your mind”.

Loins to the Hebrews were the seat of virility, of generative power. (Manhood)

Webster defines loins as the abdominal and hip region;
And to “gird one’s loins”…as to prepare for action, muster up one’s resources.

The word “gird” metaphorically means to be prepared for action. “It is derived from the practice of Orientals who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed when starting a journey or engaging in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their bodies and fastened them with a leather belt.” (from Greek Lexicon)

So what would be the meaning of girding the “loins of your minds”? You brought forth the question to me that since the Hebrews considered the loins as the seat of generative power, what is the seat of generative power in my mind?

The presence of God through His Spirit and the knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is a life-giving Spirit (1 Cor 15:45). As believers know Him more intimately, we not only receive His life more fully, but we impart it to others whose hearts are open to receive it. Life is produced in others. We are unimpeded by the distractions of the world

So girding my mind is preparing it by filling it up with Jesus. When He fills our mind, get ready, because there will be action!! Jesus is all about demonstrating His love through us as the Father demonstrated His love to us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8) Then He rose Jesus from the dead, and Jesus is alive forevermore! And He is alive in us!

Thank You Father for Your presence in the Body of Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to Your children through the knowledge of Our Lord Jesus.
(1 Peter 1:2)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Occupied with Gladness

Ecc 6:19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward (share) and rejoice in his labor; This is the gift of God.
:20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.
Amplified
:20 For he shall not much remember (seriously) the days of his life, because God (Himself) answers and corresponds to the joy of his heart (the tranquility of God is mirrored in him.)

These verses really speak to my heart, Father. You are so wonderful! How grateful you make me by calling me Your own!

You say that I won't be considering, remembering my years but will be occupied with the gladness of my heart. Growing older will not be what the world says but will be a time of knowing You in a way that makes our latter years "shine brighter and brighter until the full light of day." (Prov 4:18).

1 Tim 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

What is "life indeed"? The Hebrew can mean a "life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ."

Even though by physical laws of life our body is decaying, our real life in Christ, is alive forevermore. This is the beauty of knowing God. The Risen Christ indwells us through His Holy Spirit and imparts His life to us and out to the world around us. Age, in reality to me, enable us to accumulate the wisdom of God, to know Him more intimately and deeply, to see what Jesus has done for me on the Cross in a way that impacts my life daily in these few years, as Ecc 5:18 says, that God has allotted me on this earth.

Your children don't have to be thinking about and fearing how old we are or aging. We are able to be occupied with Your presence which gives true genuine life through the abundance of love and grace You shower on us daily.

The word of the Lord came to King David toward the end of his life and he spoke this last song in 2 Samuel 23:3-4:
When one rules over men righteously, ruling in the fear of God,
:4 He dawns on them like the morning light, when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after the rain.

This is true for me when the Risen Christ rules in my heart regardless of the season of my life.

Thank You, Father, for being my God.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Spring Rain

Hosea 6:3
“So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.”

Zech 10:1
Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—
The Lord who makes the storm clouds;
And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation
in the field to each man.

James 5:7
So be patient until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land. See how he keeps up his patient vigil over it until it receives the early and late rains.

Weymouth: Be patient….Notice how eagerly a farmer waits for a valuable crop! He is patient over it till it has received the early and latter rains.

In reading the above, Father, you remind me of having patience. Here it is speaking of knowing and believing that Jesus is returning….so be patient for that.

The early and latter rains are the March and April rains which mature the crops of Palestine.

Hosea speaks to our hearts that as sure as the dawn will come, Our God will come to us….like rain watering the earth.
How does rain water the earth? The rain on the earth enables the seed planted to” bear and sprout (Is 55:10), to furnish seed to the sower and bread to the eater...”

In thinking of your encouraging us to have patience until Jesus returns, that same patience is necessary when we sow your word. Your Word will bring forth a valuable crop to Your Kingdom. Just like it says in Is 55, it will not return void, it will accomplish what you sent it out to do.

It is interesting that the thought comes to my mind that it is a two way street. The early and latter rains mature the crops of Palestine.

The sower and the harvest are both changed by your word. It will not only go out and bring to maturity your purpose, but it will also mature us as we wait in faith expectantly to see the harvest.

Your Holy Spirit has perfect patience and He indwells us. We already have the patience in Him to believe Your Word and to wait.
We do not have to become dry, discouraged, or frustrated when we allow Your Truth to have its perfect way in our heart no matter what we see, hear, or feel. We are the sowers and You are the one that brings forth the harvest. You alone are God!

The other thought that came to mind is that Hosea clearly speaks of Your coming to us like the “spring rain”. Spring rain is so wonderfully refreshing, its fragrance in the air is life giving to us as well as the earth.

Rain restores the wilted flowers and it will restore our soul unto Your presence. You are a life-giving Spirit (1 Cor 15:45). “Ask at the time of the spring rain….” For N.T. believers the time of spring rain is ever present for us.

Thank You, Father for the spring rain that comes in the power of Your love to refresh and restore my heart.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

The Right Thing

James 4:17

(NAS) Therefore to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
(NIV) Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

In reading this last verse of Chapter 4 of James You end this chapter with "Therefore...." or "Anyone, then..."

The reference to these in the verses before are saying that all boasting about the future
as in "I will do this or that..." is wrong because we are like a vapor. This is arrogance.  :14 How do we know what our life will be like tomorrow?

:16 "You boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil."

Yes, Father, we are like vapor. Vapor lasts but for moments. But I really do not have the reality or sense of that driving me.

My heart desires to have my real home, heaven, constantly influencing and impacting my life; to know my life here is a vapor and to yield to Your promnptings and leading without hesitation or fear or doubt.

I am amazed at your patience and longsuffering toward me. I know You know the number of times I have not followed Your Holy Spirit's promptings or done what I knew was the right thing to do in the moment and it was sin....yet because of the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the Cross for me, You do not count it against me and You would never ever bring it up to accuse me. You simply continue to love me where I am at.

Your love for me is THE most amazing thing.

In thinking of verse 17 especially makes me to realize even more the importance of doing what I know is the right and good thing to do and to also obey promptly when the Holy Spirit speaks to me. It is not about me....it is about Your desire to bless someone or to meet a need so that their heart may turn toward You whether they are a lost person or believer. I may not feel like doing what is the "good" thing to do or want to take the time to do it or have a clue why You are leading me to do something but You still want me to do it.

You very clearly here point out to Your children that "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is sin."

Doing the right thing is an opportunity to do something that is excellent, noble, and praiseworthy (no matter how small a thing) to bring honor to Your Name. And not only that, our life on this earth is like a vapor so it makes it even more important to do that right thing in the moment. Now is the time to do it.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

A Greater Grace

James 3:5 (NAS) The Spirit (capital S) which He has made to dwell in us jealously desires us.
:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Verse :5 is an interesting scripture. Reading the NAS version caused me to be in wonder that the Holy Spirit "jealously desires us". The word "desires" means to long for; to pursue with love, and has the idea of yearning in it.

Think of that! The Spirit of the Most High God longs for me, desires me, He wants ALL of me! Father, help me to hold that in my heart, the fact that You consder me so desirable!

And also that He feels the same about each of His children....help me to remember how HE thinks about them so that I do not taint others view of them.

Looking at the various translations, some do not capitalize spirit therefore referring to
our own spirit rather than the Holy Spirit.

Both translations have meaning for me.

James 3:5 (NIV) Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely?

(JEB) Do you suppose the scripture speaks in vain when it says that there is a spirit in us which longs to envy?

In Chapter 4 James is speaking of wrong motives (lust, envy, etc) and seeking one's own pleasures, even in prayer. The results being conflicts and quarrels.

In :4 he states that friendhsip with the world is hostility toward God, and therefore an enemy of God.

Our flesh and pride tend toward the earthly emotion of envy and self seeking pleasures causing strife.

4:6 But He gives a greater grace.....(I liked this)

It seems to me, that these verses Father, after speaking of peoples' doublemindedness, are telling them that there is a greater grace through which they will be exalted.
The best kind of pleasure and joy come through a heart of humility.

You point to Your grace because You want us to know that You provide us the grace to humbly be content and not allow envy, strife or jealsousy to rule us.

Humbling ourselves enables gratitude and thanksgiving to flow from our hearts for what You have given to us and how You provide for us. Our eyes are not on what we do not have but on Your love that has provided our needs and even the pleasures we do enjoy.

Humility is so necessary in our walk with You and You are the only one who can grow us in this beautiful and rare gift. This will bless the Body of Our Risen Lord.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Orphans

John 14:18


"I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you."

This really grabbed my heart today.

In John 14:16, Jesus is comforting the disciples and speaking about giving us the Holy Spirit.."I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.."

Father, You will never leave us or forsake us..You are always with us...You will never
abandon us.

"Let not your heart be troubled nor let it be afraid." John 14:27

"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress.." James 1:27

Jesus cares deeply for the orphans and He will come to them.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Sprinkled Blood

Hebrews 10:19,20

19 Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is His flesh...

You've been speaking to me about the blood of Jesus, the new and living way.
That "new" way is "sprinkled blood."

Sprinkled means "serving to purify; appointed to purify."

A new way is a way that has not been done before.
A living way brings life, true life to me. This way vibrates with life and vitality.

Webster says vitality means "the peculiarity distinguishing the living from the non-living)." Whew! Big difference!

First of all, You have given believers in Jesus access to go right on in, to go right up to the throne of THE Creator of the Universe and everything in it.
This is possible by Christ's blood that was spilled for the forgiveness of sins. This blood was appointed by You, Father, to purify which is to "free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish; to free from undesirable elements."

This blood that purifies us also speaks.

Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus, mediator of a New Covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
Gen 4:10 And He said "What have you done?" The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.

So here we see that blood speaks.

What did Abel's blood say? According to the scholars, it cried out for vengence.
And Your word says that Jesus' blood says better things.

1 Peter 1:2 (verse :1 leads in with .."who are chosen") according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you my obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood;...
So before You, I have a continual cleansing....as you transform my mind, will, and emotions to Your will. 
What also came to my mind was that the accuser of our soul seeks to accuse us day and night (Rev 12:10) before our God.

We have been washed in the blood of Jesus and are continually sprinkled with it in such a way that in whatever the enemy is accusing us of before You, Father, You see the sprinkled purifying blood which declares the better thing for us:

Pure! Holy! Without blame!
The price for sin has been paid once and for all.

Thank You Father for welcoming and embracing me at Your throne!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Sacrifice of Praise

Hebrew 13:15

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

The Message says it this way:
Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name.

Father, I love this passage. Through our Lord Jesus and through Him alone are we able to praise Your name and call You Lord!

The Message clarifies and unites this verse with the preceding verses, which speak of Jesus going outside the camp.

His sacrifice outside the city gates on the Cross, made us holy. Blood no longer has to be shed to satisfy God's wrath against sin.

Now, instead of our own way of offering sacrifices, from within we bear the fruit of pure and thankful praise, confessing Him as Lord.

A "sacrifice of praise" means what? Are we sacrificing anything when we praise You? In reality, no sacrifice can be compared to Jesus' sacrifice which stands alone for the redemption of mankind. It is the ultimate of sacrifices.

Webster says sacrifice can mean:
1. an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially : the killing of a victim on an altar;
2. destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else
Looking up in the Greek, "sacrifice" in this verse means victim.
Jesus was the victim offered on the altar.

But as believers and Your children, we ourselves are not victims. Blood no longer has to be shed. We, now, are able to bring to Your altar something else that blesses You.

We can offer our own sacrifice to You, which has everything to do with the Cross of Jesus.

"Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name. " ( Yes, You say "continually").

And as Webster explains it a sacrifice can be the destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else.

When You are teaching us the price Jesus paid on the Cross to bring us to You free of sin, thankfulness and praise flow out of our heart to Your altar and it is pleasing to You.

Sometimes the will of the flesh has to be surrenderd in order for us to flow in the continual praise. Sometimes our emotions must be destroyed by the acknowledgement of what we know is Truth according to Your Word.

A sacrifice of praise is not about what we think we can produce for You. It flows continually from within our hearts because of what Jesus has already done for us at the Cross.

Thank You, Father, for Jesus.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Out to Jesus

Hebrews 13:12-14
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp bearing His reproach.

14 Here we do not have a permanent city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

I love these scriptures. To me they have such power and proof of Jesus' complete authority and fulfillment of the Law.
The O.T. law required that the flesh and refuse of the sin offering be taken outside of the camp or city gates and burned.

Hebrews 12:29 says that "our God is a consuming fire."
Consume means to "completely destroy, to do away with."

Yes, that is what happened to my Lord's body.
And Isaiah 53:10 says "But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief";
it was Your good pleasure to pour out all Your wrath on Your Holy Son for me. His body was totally consumed and Your wrath against man's sin was satisfied because Jesus became the perfect eternal sin offering..."by the grace of God He tasted death" (Hebrew 2:9) for me and the world.

So the Hebrews writer tells me to go out TO Jesus where He is --outside the camp--bearing His reproach.

Bearing His reproach meaning out TO Jesus from WHERE?

From the mind set of the world.
From seeking the approval of man and the conformity to his thinking.
From religion as a duty.
Away from keeping a set of rules to gain God's approval.
Away fron hesitating to stand up for the truth when no one else agrees with me.
Away from the sin that entangles.

"Out to Jesus " to me, Father, is "coming" to Jesus and having my "heart strengthened by grace" (Hebrews 13:9). To remember that He, My Savior, is my perfect, burned, entirely consumed sin offering today and always.

You Father, consumed Jesus in such a way as to make me a clear, unhindered path to Your throne. That now one such as I may come confidently, fearlessly, boldly to Your throne to recive mercy and grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Going out TO Jesus will cause us to bear His reproach. Am I willing to bear His shame, contempt and abuse as He did for me?

Can I do that? Only by His abounding grace and to keep seeking the city which is to come.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Temporarily Here

Hebrews 11 Father, makes my heart so want to have the reality of this earth being such a temporary place that it constantly changes my life.
The book "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn did that in me also. It opened my eyes to the fact that this life is extremely temporary and all about allowing God to complete the work that He created us for, our specific purpose for being here. We don't always know the extent of what that means but our journey with You Father, will lead us on the right path.

After all,Your word says in Is 6,7;"all flesh IS grass; the grass withers and the flower fades..." This truth and the reality of it is that our bodies here on this earth are like a breeze and then they are gone.

My being a "temporary thing" is not a truth that is easily grasped nor one that the flesh receives willingly. Is it one that I truly "know" within?

In reading through Hebrews, we see that the saints of old had their eyes on their permanent home and not the one here on earth. That was a key focus and necessary to endure the things they had to endure.

They were were tortured, stoned, sawn in two, tempted, put to death with the sword, destitute, afflicted, and ill-treated. They were mocked, scourged, put in chains and imprisoned. Heb 11:36-37 Yet THEIR eyes were fixed.

Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

The words in verse 1 are very interesting and helped me to understand the importance of what we are "seeing" and fixing our eyes on.

Race can mean any struggle, contest, or battle.
Endurance means steadfastness, constancy; for instance "a N.T. man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings."
Also it means a patient, steadfast, waiting for.

Entangle means "skillfully surrounding i.e. besetting". In looking at the word more closely its origin comes from words meaning "well done and fixed, established in place."

So being entangeld in something means we are stuck, really fixed in place and as one translation (CJB)puts it "..the sin which easily hampers our forward movement."

Wow. I don't want to be stuck, fixed or established in one place. In our relationship with you Your love, grace, and Word keeps us moving forward.

Just as the O.T. saints had their eyes fixed on the promise, You encourage us to go on "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,..."

There is no other way.

Moses in Heb 11:27 faced the fury and wrath of the king of Egypt and it did not stop him leaving that country because "as seeing Him who is unseen" he was able to lead Your people out.

No struggle, battle, or fear will intimidate us to waver from what we know is Your will when our eyes are fixed on the resurrected Christ, Our Lord.
Jesus says in Rev 1:17,18...
"Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore,..."

Help me to "know" and to "see" my eternal home, in Your  presence Father and that of
Jesus forevermore.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Unseen

Hebrews 11
:10 (speaking of Abraham)...as looking for the city....
:13... but having seen them,
:14 ..seeking a country...
:26 ..looking to the reward
:27 as seeing Him who is unseen

Speaking of Moses, the scripture says : "..he was looking to the reward." "...as seeing Him Who is unseen."
:26 "Looking" here means to turn the eyes away from things and fix them on some one thing.
To look at with steadfast mental gaze, to look attentively. This particular Greek word is
used one time in the N.T.

:27 .."as seeing Him who is unseen", which means "to perceive" and to i.e."become acquainted with by experience."
:10 Abraham's gaze was not just set on a city to settle in but on one that was eternal
whose architect was God.
:27 Moses kept his gaze on God who is unseen

Seeing (perceiving) the unseen and experiencing the reality of it. What does the unseen
hold for us? Without doubt, it holds the promises of a Mighty God to do the impossible; He who says "I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" Jer 32:27
The saints of old "saw" the promises, experienced and embraced them and welcomed them.Their eyes were fixed on Your promises. The idea I get from the meaning of the words was like they kept staring and gazing and looking intently at what You had said would be.
Their gaze was so set that fear did not have an entrance into their hearts and they went
forward with You.

You say it best in :27 Motivated by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and
undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his
purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him, Who is invisible.

Today the promise that we have not seen come to past may seem far away. But being N.T. believers You remind me that we have given a better covenant in which all of Your promises are "yes" to us in Christ.(2 Cor 1:20).

Help me Father to keep my eyes on You and Your promises when my heart is tempted to look at circumstances or other things.
For You are God and there is no other. (Is 46:9)
.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

A Body Prepared

Hebrews 10:5
Hence, when He (Christ) entered into the world,
He said, "Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me;
:6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no delight."

"But a body Thou has prepared for Me."


Jesus understood that the body He had was prepared for Him to make a better way for mankind to come into Your prescence.

It ripped open the veil that had so long separated man and God. After thousands of years,His body was received as the perfect offering to a Holy God.


Father, You did not make it complicated for us. You sent Your Son to this earth with a body that You prepared to go to the Cross and pay the penalty for our sins, for the sin of the whole world.


That is an amazing thing to me. And then I think of Your Body of believers, Your children.


You brought each into this world with a purpose and specific plan also. Each one so very loved and treasured by You.


Even a baby born half way around the world has a tiny little body that will fulfill Your purposes and plans in this dark world we live in.


As the Perfect Lamb, Jesus was willing to say "Behold, I have come to do Thy will, O God."


Thank You Father for preparing the body of Jesus so that by your grace today I may also say "Your will, Lord".

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Once for All

How many times do we like to have to do something over and over again to get it done?

The O.T. priests presented sacrifices for the Israelites continually throughout the year. Then once a year they entered the Holy of Holies to present a sacrifice for the sins of the people committed in ignorance throughout the year. Heb 9:7

Once a year. But every year.

Sin could never be done away with forever.

Father, what an awesome God You are to orchestrate the taking away of sin from the heart of fallen man and to enable us to come before you, blameless and without the stain of sin, through the blood of Jesus Christ,Your Son.

Hebrews 10:10.. by this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all...so that He might bring us to God...

Hebrews 9:26 But now He has appeared once for all....to do away with sin.....

Hebre 9:28 Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people....

You make my heart to celebrate and proclaim as in Psalm 24:7:

Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors
That the King of Glory may come in!

:8 Who is the King of Glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.

:9 Lift up your heads, O gates
and lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of Glory may come in

:10 Who is the King of Glory?
The Lord of Hosts,
He is the King of Glory.

You gave me a picture of the ancient everlasting doors of heaven finally being lifted up, the gates opening wide, and Jesus triumphantly returning to heaven, passing through the doors as our High Priest, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty...Hebrews 8:1

He died, He was buried, He rose from the dead, He proclaimed "It is finished!"

Once for all it was finished. Sin was paid for forever.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Consider Jesus

These verses I love!
Heb 2:14 since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is,the devil;

Heb 7:16 ...one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his authority but on the basis of the power of an INDESTUCTIBLE life.
:for it is declared:
You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.

Heb 7:26 For it is fitting that we should have such a High Priest holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Father, You declare:
Jesus has made powerless the enemy of our soul.
Jesus High Prieshood is based on the power of an indestructible life.
Jesus is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinner, and exalted above the heavens.

You say in Heb 3:1 "consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.

and in Heb 4:14 Since we have a High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Our hope is not based on anything earthly, it just cannot be. Why would it be when we have a Risen King?
Today enable me to consider Jesus and hold fast to the confession that He has made possible for me.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Anchor

Father, I was surprised when looking up "anchor" in the NT. It is used only once in reference to our soul. The other 3 times it was mentioned was in reference to Paul's ship wreck in Acts.

Why is it that hope is an anchor? Why it is so important?

An anchor by Webster's definition is
1. cast overboard to hold a boat in a particular place
2. a reliable or prinicpal support
3. something that serves to hold an object firmly.
4. a fixed object (as a tree, rock)) to which a climber's rope is secured.

In verse:17,18 You speak about Your unchangeableness in Your purpose and plan. You gave a promise and swore by yourself and state that You cannot lie.

My hope is in YOU. You ARE my Hope.

1. You are there, always ever present in the same place, when I call upon Your name.
2. You are the reliable and the principal stake in the ground for me. Through You being my hope, You bring encouragement and consolation in the moments of need.
3. You hold me firmly in Your arms and do not let me go. You keep me close to You.
4. You allow me to cling to you, to rely on you, to depend on You...I am secure in You.

Yes, Father, the hope in these verses speak of the eternal promise You have given to us and encourage us that this hope ushers us into Your presence where Jesus has entered in for us as High Priest forever.

May You grace enable me this day to be aware of Your presence and reminds me of Your unalterable, unchangeable love.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

He Tasted Death for Me

Hebrews 2:9
"But we see Him who was made for a little whle lower than the angels, namely, Jesus,because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the
grace of God He might taste death for everyone."

I absolutely love this scripture, Father! This reminds me once again that we will not die---ever!! Jesus died for us (so often said)...but do we really really grasp its full meaning?

Physical death no longer has a hold on us-even though the body decays and returns to dust. Praise God! I will be more alive than I ever was on this earth. Jesus was dead and He arose--He went through the suffering of death
and conquered it.We no longer have to be held in fear (slavery)of it.(Hebrews 2:14) Jesus rendered it powerless over us.

As Your child, Father, I rejoice in the eternal life You have provided for me. But this victory over death is mine today in my daily walk with You also.

2 Cor 4:16 "Do not lose heart,even though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day."

Rom 8:6 "The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace."

I was thinking about what brings death into my daily walk.

2 Cor 10:4-5 shows us that the battle is in the mind;
"taking captive every thought to the obedience of Christ" will conquer death right now. Through the death of Jesus Christ, His Spirit within me is able to conquer every thought that is destructive, when I allow Him to conquer it.

If a thought is negative, most likely it will be destructive. Destructive to others, to our health and wholeness, to our love, kindness, and compassion. It works death in these. It forms unhealthy attitudes.

This results in the very harsh truth that others also suffer the consequences of a person's yielding to the negative.

Father, You are a life-giving Spirit (1 Cor 15:45). Death was conquered by our Risen Lord. Death in a believer's life is destroyed and conquered through Him.

I thank you that You are the One that makes me new in the spirit of my mind (Eph 4:23) and enables me to be transformed by that renewing.(Rom 12:2)

You are Life!!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Kindness of God our Savior

Titus 3:4-But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared
:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Paul says this right after he reminds us of our own natural state before we were saved.

Father, You have me thinking about Your kindness, especially to the lost.

It began by 1 Tim 2:3 where Paul, in speaking to women, Paul tells them not to be malicious gossipers.

Of the 5 references to the word “gossips” in the New Testament, three of those references are directly spoken to women. That was interesting to me and something to take note of.
The other references are in Romans and in 2 Tim 3:3 where Your word talks about lovers of self, boastful, arrogant, haters of good, malicious gossips, …and more things that we would not want to be identified with!

Prov 20:19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
This word “gossip” in the Hebrew means “to be simple, entice, deceive, persuade.”

Well, Father in this Proverb You identify a gossip with a slanderer. A slanderer defames or injures another’s reputation.

Webster defines gossip as:
1. a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others
2. a rumor or report of an intimate nature

You clearly command us not to be a gossip, which is as bad as all the other sins listed in 2 Tim 3:3, which most true followers of Christ would not consider themselves a part of or want to be seen as.

What does this have to do with kindness? In remembering something that Joyce Meyer said, “People just want to be shown kindness,” the question arises “Can gossip and kindness be of one spirit? Can we be kind to someone even though we are not with them?”

Rom 2:14 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance.

In Titus 3:2 Paul is instructing Titus to remind the church to “malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men."

After this verse, he also then reminds them of how they themselves lived and acted foolishly before they knew Jesus.

Following this is the scripture quoted above:
: 4 "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,"....it was Your mercy and love for us that gave us the opportunity to live freely,know You and to receive Your love. Without Jesus people walk in darkness.

So once again we, as Your Body, are reminded of Your love and kindness toward us in Christ our Living Lord.
To the extent we receive Your love, mercy, and kindness is the extent that we are enabled by Your Spirit to show the same to the lost as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ. It has nothing to do with whether we agree with their opinions, lives, or weaknesses….it has all to do with the Cross of Our Lord Jesus and the love You, our God and Father, demonstrated to us through it.

Thank You Father for reminding me to think kindness, to speak kindness, and to be kind to others.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Our Gifts

In thinking about 2 Tim 1:7 I can see why You Father has reminded your children about the power of Your spirit within us. We need to be reminded.

You have gifted Your Body with wonderful gifts that are to be used for Your glory and perfect will.

When the spirit of fear comes to intimidate us our gifts are not at your disposal but they are held in bondage by fear and intimidation. The one thing the enemy does not want to see is the Body of Christ flowing in the gifts bestowed on them by Your grace.

2 Tim 1:6 Paul tells Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God”.
In looking this up in the various translations, these are the words used:
Stir up
Rekindle
Fan into flame
Keep ablaze
Keep using. Let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.

One I particularly liked is:
Let that grace of God which is in you, given to you by my hands, have living power.

Wow. You, the Lord of all, are saying to us to use our gifts, keep using our gifts, and do not let them grow cold. They are part of our new DNA in Christ.

Thank you Father for the gifts you have bestowed on us. Keep reminding us and enabling us to use them for Your Kingdom.

Paul's Wisdom

2 Tim 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
:7 For God did not give you a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind.

You know what Father? 2 Tim 1:7 has been quoted and memorized by so many of your children and helped them in times of fear. But you brought to my attention the verses before it, which truly I have not thought of as often in relation to this verse.

Paul wrote to Timothy, who was as dear to him as a son, to encourage him. Paul spoke of how “I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you”.
He prayed for Timothy unceasingly and told him he was reminded of Timothy’s sincere and genuine faith. Paul also reminds Timothy of the gift given to him when Paul laid hands on him for ministry.

Then to me it was interesting how Paul approached something in Timothy that needed to be addressed and encouraged. His fear. His timidity.

He didn’t say anything like “you need to….” (like I probably would have). But he directed Timothy’s thoughts to You, Father. To the fact that basically You had already given him ministry gifts, you had equipped him already with Your spirit of love, discipline and a sound mind.

I loved the way Paul approached Timothy to encourage him and did it so that the focus was on what God had already given to him. To see that these gifts enabled him to minister in a way that was not natural to Timothy. The burden was not to be on Timothy to think it was all up to him.
It was God who had gifted him and who was the One on whom Timothy could depend on to use the gifts accordingly when needed. Timothy could lean on, depend on, and believe God to help him in all times when fear knocked on his door. God’s spirit was bigger, stronger, and more powerful than his own natural heart and mind.

Thank you Father for reminding me of the power of Your Holy Spirit within me and also helping me see the wisdom Paul used in ministering to Timothy.

You are the spirit of Wisdom itself and there is no true wisdom without Your word and Your Spirit.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Scatter!

1 Tim 6:18-19
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.
:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

In thinking of this Father, I wondered if the last phrase, take hold of that which is life indeed, meant this life or life eternal

The words “ready to share”, 2843, means inclined to make others sharers in one’s possessions, inclined to impart, free in giving, liberal.

I loved what one commentary said: Earthly riches scattered in faith lay up in store a sure increase of heavenly riches.

That makes me want to scatter. But even aside from the rewards that giving brings in the eternal, to me You have shown me that real life is found in giving.

God gave His only begotten Son to enable us to become His children. The Cross is all about the love given to the world, so that we could know the Father and His deep unchanging love for us. This truth transforms the most hardened heart.

You just brought to my mind yesterday’s thoughts on Amazima ministry and their ministering to the poor in Uganda. What was noticeable in the pictures shown in the work they do, is the joy on the faces of the people they serve as well as on Katie. The life they live is not easy.

You also brought to me the memory that in my own life the truest most pure joy that I have experienced has been in the most difficult times. Those were times when my body was physically exhausted and yet the act of putting Mom or Cl above myself, was the most rewarding.

“For the joy set before Him He endured the Cross….” Hebrews 12::2 Jesus is our example. Nothing can compare with the sacrifice He endured for me.

And the Cross compels us to scatter. To not hold onto our possessions but to hold them loosely.
You know what Father? I want to hold onto a lot of things I have, even more than I really know.

But it is wonderful that Your word comes and transforms this heart of mine and encourages it to give and to scatter. To remember that these earthly treasures are meaningless if not scattered by faith or held loosely to bring joy to our lives, as You say in 1 Tim 6:17, ” who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy,”

Thank You Father for Your grace and love for me.

Friday, January 29, 2010

I Am Amazed

Father, I am so overwhelmed by your goodness to us. You have brought us a baby from across the world that you picked out for C and her family. Now we have another grandchild with great big beautiful eyes and I know that you will give her a heart to know You and love You.

I am also amazed at the calling you place on people’s lives and when they answer and say “yes” You are able to be the Magnificent God that You are and simply place a blanket of love over them which extends to those you bring to them.

C shared with me the blog spot of Katie Davis, Amazima.org ministry. God has called her to Uganda where she lives with and serves the poverty stricken children and their families. She is a modern day Mother Teresa that has been gifted with a heart to follow Your calling on her life.

What an inspiration Your life in others is to me. It makes me to desire You all the more, but more importantly to live a life, the life You have given to me, that demonstrates Your love to others as You have demonstrated it to Your Body. Quite frankly, I cannot look at my own heart which seems so lacking, but at the heart of Jesus, Your Risen Son,Which indwells me….and there lies my hope. Not in what I am but in Who You are.

I love You Father and thank you for moving my heart by the amazing lives and testimonies of Your children around the world.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Mercy of God

1 Tim 1:12-17

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service:
:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.
And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.
:14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners among whom I am foremost of all.
:16 And yet for this reason I found mercy in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

I love this…:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor, glory, forever and forever. Amen.

This passage really spoke to me today Father.
First, as you did with Paul, you have done with us as believers…You have put us into service. We were chosen, called and appointed to serve the Most High God.

Paul thought he loved you, but really he was violently opposed to Your children and persecuted them. He stood by when Stephen was stoned to death. He thought he was right in Your eyes.

Yet what stood out is that he says he acted ignorantly in unbelief. That is the way it is when a person is lost. They are ignorant of Your love for them, of the grace and mercy that is extended to them at the Cross. This most beautiful, magnificent gift is set before them, yet they cannot see it.
But Paul’s eyes were opened and he could look back and see the abundance of grace that You poured out on him along with faith and love that is found in Jesus. This is mercy at its ultimate level when a Holy God accepts sinners as they are because Jesus paid the price for their sins at the Cross of Calvary.

No matter what a person has done, said, or thought in their life, they are able to find mercy at the throne of the Creator of this world. Each time a person accepts the Lord Jesus as Lord of their life, it is demonstrating to the world His perfect patience toward those who walk in darkness.

Because as believers, we are in Him and we have His Spirit indwelling us, we are able to extend His perfect patience to those who are lost. It is His love and patience within us that draws the lost to Him.

Thank you Father for the mercy that You also continually pour out to me daily as a believer.
As I walk through the day, You are with me in my imperfections, loving me every step of the way.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

New Clothes

Col 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

To me that means Father that we are inseparable, that my real life is hidden and reveals Your life to others.
Hidden in this verse can also mean to escape notice, to conceal that it may not become known.

My life becomes more hidden as you teach me Your ways.

Col 3:10
You say to “put on the new self”. This new self is being renewed to a true knowledge that enables us to become like our Creator. Truth draws us closer to You, Father. We begin to think like you, to act like you, and to actually live in Your presence more.

The word “put” means to clothe oneself. We are to put on new clothing. This is clothing that is put on after we have died. Now that we are raised up with Christ, and are hidden with Him, we have new clothing to wear.

So when I consider clothing I think of what I wear. I put on clothing that I like, that make me feel good, that compliments my hair and skin coloring, that speak of my taste and personality. It is a reflection of who we are and You just brought to my mind, also it can tell who or what owns us. Who or what dominates our life.

Clothing can tell the world a lot about us.

Since I have died I have changed clothed. I’ve taken off the old clothing of anger, wrath, bad feelings toward others, abusive hard speech, and anything like these.

I’ve got new clothes that make me look really good!

My new regenerated self, this hidden self loves compassion and understanding of others. It is kind, humble, gentle and patient, which means to be tireless, long-suffering and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper. Most importantly, it is ready to forgive as Christ has forgiven me.

And after I put on this new clothing, putting the final touch on, love, will complete and unite all of it together.

The secret? The secret that believers know and the world does not know, is that what really makes us look good and draws people to us is Jesus Christ with Whom I am hidden. This new clothing reveals the resurrected Christ.

Remind me Father to consider well what I am wearing each day.