Day 3 A Look Ahead

Day 3

 I would encourage you to go and read Luke 21:8-19. Jesus speaks of the coming events; before His return. The passage that spoke directly to my heart was verses 13-15 and 17-18. Jesus has instgructed that His believers will be persecuted and they will be turned over to leaders and possibly prison. 13-15 tells us "This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict". WOW!! Just to think that trusting Him is all I have to do when faced with anything. He will give me the words! I dont have to think about it and worry over it, He will help me. It amazes me that we can look back to scripture when Jesus began His ministry and these same words are echoed.....DO NOT WORRY! Then in verses 17 and 18 He tells us we will be hated for His name sake but we will not perish. To know that nothing is going to happen to me until He says so is great comfort. Notice He was telling His disciples these things. He knew they were going to face terrible things after He returned to the Father. He knew they would feel hopeless in 4 days, He knew they would feel scared in less than 2 months, and what does He do....encourages them! Isn't He so very sweet....to warn and comfort them and even still today these words, His words, warn and comfort us! What a great God!! He knew their road would not be easy; He knows our road will not be easy, but, He will be there! What a Comforter is Our God! Imagine for a moment-Jesus about to endure horrible agony, separation from the Father, death....and He is comforting them! Join me this third day of Holy Week in praising Jesus for always being with us!

Holy Father thank You for reminders that You are always with me. Thank You that I do not have to worry over anything, You will provide. You are the sweetest Saviour, most loving Father, and Wonderful Teacher. Thank You for teaching me, for hearing me, for carrying me, for protecting me. You truly are Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides! I stand amazed in Your presence, I stand silenced by Your glory. Worthy is the Lamb!!!!

Day 2 He Withdrew

Day 2 

The scripture tells us in John 12: 36(b)-37 that after all these things Jesus withdrew and hid Himself from them and even though they had seen all the miracles, they still did not believe Him. They didn't believe when He spoke of His death and resurrection (John12:31-36). The word doesn/t tell us what Jesus did as He was away from the crowd. I imagine(and that's me, not the word, and I am in no way adding to it) that He prayed asking how could he make these hard-headed people understand? Now the scripture does go on to tell us that many, even some authorities, believed, but they did not confess Him for fear of being an outcast; rejected. Verse 43 specifically says "they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God". How sad is that? Here they had Jesus with them, in the flesh, and would rather have man's glory than God's! How often are we guilty of that...not speaking truth to avoid hurting someones feelings, not calling sin what it is because everybody can live their life the way they choose, and not standing for Jesus and living a holy life because our friends may ridicule us or reject us. Join me on this second day of Holy Week in standing boldly for Jesus......no matter the cost. He did that for us, doesn't he deserve our loyalty and obedience? Wouldn't you rather have praises and glory from God rather than from man??

Holy Father help me to be bold for you, no matter what. Give me courage when I need it. No one deserves my loyalty more than You. Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I long to hear well done My good and faithful servant from you. Teach me Your ways and give me Your words so that You are glorified. I love You so much, You are what matters.

Day 1: Still He Came

I have purposed to write a blog entry for the 7 days leading to the resurrection. Let me start by saying that while this week marks a wonderful time of reflection and celebration for the believer, it also marks the beginning of the most horrible week in our Savior's earthly life. Not just the pain of the cross that was coming, but deeper than that; the seperation from the Father. They had never been separated. In Genesis we find the first mention of God the Father and God the Son. Remember that; never separated since BEFORE the foundation of the earth! The thought of being separated must have been pure agony for Jesus!

Day 1: The Triumphal Entry

Reflect with me for a moment on the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Have you ever been to a ballgame of some kind where their was a huge crowd of people cheering for their team? Gets pretty loud doesn't it!?! John 12:12-13 tells us that there was loud shouting welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem. Oh how the people praised and loved Him! "Hosanna to the King" shouted the crowd! Jesus knew that the praises would soon stop. He knew they would cry out for His death. But.....STILL He came! That has gripped me in a way that drives me to my knees in thanksgiving to know that He knew what was coming and the wicked hearts of mankind and STILL He came! The scripture goes on to tell us in John 12:27-28(a), "Now is My soul troubled. Snd what shall I say? 'Father save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name." The amazing truth that makes me speechless and is hard to understand is that He would have done all of it even if I was the only one who needed salvation! Join me on this Palm Sunday in shouting Hosanna to the King of Kings!! What a wonderful God we serve and worship, that He spared nothing, NOTHING, for us; but gave His only Son!! 

Father in heaven, Lord of all the universe may I never forget what you gave for me. I could not come to You so You gave the sacrifice and came to me! Thank you for hearing my cry, reaching low to get me, and for Your salvation. Thank you for giving Your Son for my sin! 

What Choice Do We Have?

Choices are a funny thing. We make choices every day, some good, some bad. No matter what, there are always consequences for the choices we make. I have been reading in Genesis, specifically the story of Isaac and Rebekah, and God has taught me a huge lesson. When Abraham's servant went to seek a wife for Isaac, he prayed for the Lord to show him the woman, and he prayed specific details in how to know the woman God had chosen for Isaac. Of course, true to being a Faithful God, He answered. Upon finding Rebekah, the servant explains how he knew Rebekah was the woman God had chosen. The response of Rebekah's father and brother? "This is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter". How profound! I have asked my Father for direction so many times and when He gives that direction, shouldn't my response be the same as Rebekah's father and brother? Now the story doesn't end there. Her mother and brother were not ready to let her go; they wanted to keep her a few more days. When they didn't get the response they wanted, they asked Rebekah's opinion. Thankfully, Rebekah responded with "I will go"! Now yes, in this story, she was responding to a marriage invitation; to a man. The lesson God has taught me is I should respond to Him the same way! So many times I ask the opinion of others or am selfish and want to stay with family a little longer. This is the wrong mindset to have. I belong to God; the Creator of the universe, the Almighty, the I AM, the God who told Abraham to go and He would take care of the rest, the Provider who gave manna for each day, the Savior who died for me! Jesus said "follow Me" not "what is your opinion?". 

My husband and I are seeking God on several things right now. I pray that He will give us strength and courage to say "this is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter". When you really get honest with Him; would you really want anything else other than what He has planned for you? 

God of heaven, Wonderful Counselor, please give me and my love the courage to follow you. Give us the desire for Your will only and not our own. Help us to hear You clearly, see You more, love You more deeply, and be obedient to Your leading. You alone keep us and hold us. You alone are our Provision. Speak Holy Father; your servants are listening.  

A Lesson in Snow!

Well, it finally snowed today! Not much, but it did snow. Here in NC we rarely see any snow, so even a little bit shuts down the town all day and night! Today's snow was the prettiest I have ever seen. God has spoken to me all day through His beautiful creation..........SNOW!

First thing, I stood and just looked at it and thanked Him for the snow. He is the wonderful Creator God! 

Second, He reminded me, as I looked at the snow and how bright and white it was that "though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool." Isaiah 1:18. 

I never really noticed how very white snow is. Sure I have seen it many times but today I saw it with different eyes; eyes that try to see God in everything. The snow just gleamed......

Third, He reminded me, as I looked at the snow and how it was melting, and melting fast, that my sins are gone! "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12.

East to West is a long way and the fact that my sins have been removed, even farther than that!! 

Fourth, He reminded me, as I looked at the snow, that the Perfect Lamb was pure, undefiled, sinless; white as snow. The Perfect Lamb shed all His scarlet blood for me. How humbling the thought. How grateful I am. How perfect He is. How alive He is. How sweet He is. Sweet, sweet, Jesus...what a beautiful name.....what a wonderful Saviour!

What a Savior, what a Comforter, what a Defender, what a Daddy, what an amazing GOD! He teaches me so much and has done so much for me, I can never say thank you enough.

What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow,

No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refined Like Silver

I have been reflecting on family and friends today. I was blessed to have a great conversation with a very good friend who said "God always has a reason, even though it may hurt". How very true!!! I think about growing up and having growing pains. They hurt. When we go through dark valleys. They hurt. When God refines us. It hurts. But............................. through growing pains came growth, through valleys come mountain tops, and through refining comes perfection. Have you ever thought about when a refiner boils down silver. It goes through the fire and then all the "dross" or impurities come to the top and the refiner removes them. Its just like that with the Father. He refines us and purifies us, removes all the impurities, and then He looks down and sees the image of His Son. Thats what a loving God does. Can you think of anyone you would rather be like than Jesus? I cant. 

Will it always be easy........no. 

Will it cost...........yes. 

Is His will always easy to understand............no. 

Is it still perfect................YES!!  

In Malachi 3:3, the Word says, bring offering "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offering in righteousness to the Lord". Isnt that beautiful.The holy God of all creation, the one who spoke and it existed, the one who breathed into dust and created man, sits and refines us to make us perfect! I always want to remember that even though I may go through fire, I will be refined and then my offering will be in righteousness before my loving, deserving, Righteous Father. I dont want to focus on the fire, I want to focus on who is refining me.

 

Righteous Father even though it hurts and is not always easy to understand, purify me. Help me to remember it is for Your glory. I want my offering to you to be in righteousness. You are Holy, You are Holy, You are Holy! I love you Father. I desire only Your will for my life. More of You Father and less of me.

"New" Smell

Have you ever thought about what "new" smells like? There are some things that come to mind for me. I like the new car smell, the new purse smell. Those are things that just smell nice. Then I think about the new baby smell. This is my favorite. I dont know if you have ever experienced seeing a baby come into the world. I have. Aside from my own, I had the privilege of seeing on of my prayer children, Cameron, come into the world and my second cousin, Maddox, make his debut. I am so very thankful to Toni and Allison for allowing me to be a part of this beautiful process. When you watch a baby being born, you think, wow how can they smell so "new" after birth? But you know what........they do! They smell so sweet....even at only a few minutes old.

I have been reflecting with the new year, what new smells like. When we become a new creation in Christ we change. There are times in my own Christian walk that I know the aroma that I send up to my Father is not pleasing to His nostrils. I want to serve and worship my Father in a way that is a pleasing aroma in His nostrils. In order to do this there are things that MUST happen.

1. Ask Him to search and show any wicked way

2. Confess sin

3. Repent of sin

4. Pure motivation in service and worship

The Word says in Revelation 21:5  And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words ar faithful and true." 

Yes this passage is talking about our new home in paradise with the Father. The message is still the same, He makes all things new. New life through His blood, new mind, new purpose. And one day new earth and new home. 

So I ask myself, with all the new that God gave me, is my service and worship pleasing in His nostrils? Do I give off a pleasing smell or a foul stinch? May I always stand aware, listen to Him and give off a pleasing aroma. May I smell "NEW"!

Father, Most High God, for all the new you have given me I can never thank you enough. Help me to serve and worship You in a way that brings You honor and is pleasing in Your nostrils. Any offering I give You is so small compared to what You did for me on Golgatha. You are amazing and awesome God and nothing or no one compares to You!