Psalm 103: 14-17
For He understands how weak we are; He knows we are only dust. Our days on Earth are like grass, like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone--as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him.
O my Father, I know that I am but dust. I know that my lifespan is but a breath, one brief moment in Your grand march of Time. Like a wildflower in the field, you give me a beauty that shines for You to see, then the winds of time blow, and I will grow old and die.
Teach me to number my days, Lord, that I might apply my heart to wisdom. Then, when I am gone, the sweet fragrance of Your love will linger. For Your love remains forever with those of us who fear You and love You and love others.
Please strengthen me to use each remaining day for Your glory. Help me to use the talents and abilities You have given me to help others in practical ways. And to share Your love and Your wonderful Gospel of Grace of Christ Jesus to those who are perishing but seeking You. Lead me to Your chosen ones, open my heart to them and my mouth to speak forth Your Truth to draw them to You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Changed Into His Glorious Image
II Corinthians 3: 18
...And the Lord--Who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
If you have been reading these last several days, then you will have some knowledge of God's ways to apply in your own daily living. These are the things that display God's love in us and promote His love for others in the world.
God has formulated and decided and put forth a great Plan of the Ages for our whole Universe, including Earth, and individual plans for each of us as components of that Plan. He knows what is the very best for each of us, and whenever He closes a door He opens another, with even greater opportunity and benefit.
His love for us is beyond anything that we can imagine, so we know that we can trust Him with our lives--our desires, our dreams, our own plans--because, as our Maker, He knows each of us intimately, down to the hairs on our heads and the very molecules that make up the cells of our bodies. And He knows our weaknesses, too. So, as a good Father, He allows us to go through fires and pressures. He wants us to submit to Him as our Father, to melt out the impurities and squeeze out the pure, genuine ore of our intended being--the very image of our glorious Lord. We will one day shine as the Sun, as He does now. Let's not resist His working in us to produce that glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
...And the Lord--Who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
If you have been reading these last several days, then you will have some knowledge of God's ways to apply in your own daily living. These are the things that display God's love in us and promote His love for others in the world.
God has formulated and decided and put forth a great Plan of the Ages for our whole Universe, including Earth, and individual plans for each of us as components of that Plan. He knows what is the very best for each of us, and whenever He closes a door He opens another, with even greater opportunity and benefit.
His love for us is beyond anything that we can imagine, so we know that we can trust Him with our lives--our desires, our dreams, our own plans--because, as our Maker, He knows each of us intimately, down to the hairs on our heads and the very molecules that make up the cells of our bodies. And He knows our weaknesses, too. So, as a good Father, He allows us to go through fires and pressures. He wants us to submit to Him as our Father, to melt out the impurities and squeeze out the pure, genuine ore of our intended being--the very image of our glorious Lord. We will one day shine as the Sun, as He does now. Let's not resist His working in us to produce that glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Know God Better And Better
Colossians 1: 9-10
We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives, and we ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while you will learn to know God better and better.
O my Father, please give me, and all of Your children, a complete understanding of what You want us to do. Grant us Your spiritual wisdom to see and discern how to live our lives to bring You pleasure and honor.
O Father, what good, kind things am I doing for others? Lead me every day to do something for someone in Your Name, and not let the days slide by, wasted.
Father, restore the years the locusts of idleness and laziness have eaten up, and raise me up to be active in Your work, and not sedentary in my own selfishness and self-centeredness. Teach me to know You better and better, Father, that Your intimacy with me will form in me the character of Your dear Son, my Lord, my Savior, my Rescuer, my King, my best Friend.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives, and we ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while you will learn to know God better and better.
O my Father, please give me, and all of Your children, a complete understanding of what You want us to do. Grant us Your spiritual wisdom to see and discern how to live our lives to bring You pleasure and honor.
O Father, what good, kind things am I doing for others? Lead me every day to do something for someone in Your Name, and not let the days slide by, wasted.
Father, restore the years the locusts of idleness and laziness have eaten up, and raise me up to be active in Your work, and not sedentary in my own selfishness and self-centeredness. Teach me to know You better and better, Father, that Your intimacy with me will form in me the character of Your dear Son, my Lord, my Savior, my Rescuer, my King, my best Friend.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, March 20, 2017
God's Thought List
Philippians 4: 8-9
Fix your thoughts --
This is what we need to focus on.
on what is true --
Not false or deceptive in any way.
and honorable --
Positive, beneficial; not detrimental or slanderous.
and right. --
What promotes righteousness.
Think about things that are pure --
That are not soiled or diluted or twisted.
and lovely --
Beautiful in a pleasing way.
and admirable. --
Worthy to be admired for goodness.
Think about things that are excellent --
Of superior quality, not deficient or inferior.
and worthy of praise. --
What you can brag about.
Keep putting into practice --
Continue to live out every day.
all you learned from me (Paul) and heard from me and saw me doing, --
Paul is setting himself as a role model, as he follows everything he learned from God and Jesus since he was knocked to the ground on the way to Damascus.
And the God of Peace will be with you.
This is how to stay close to God, it's how God wants us to think positively.
When we strive to be constantly aware of how we are thinking, and think only the best of others and events and happenings, then we will realize God's sovereignty in all the big and little things of our lives and be able to trust that He will use them for our good. Then we won't be worrying about anything, and can enjoy God's peace, knowing He will work it all out for our good and His glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Fix your thoughts --
This is what we need to focus on.
on what is true --
Not false or deceptive in any way.
and honorable --
Positive, beneficial; not detrimental or slanderous.
and right. --
What promotes righteousness.
Think about things that are pure --
That are not soiled or diluted or twisted.
and lovely --
Beautiful in a pleasing way.
and admirable. --
Worthy to be admired for goodness.
Think about things that are excellent --
Of superior quality, not deficient or inferior.
and worthy of praise. --
What you can brag about.
Keep putting into practice --
Continue to live out every day.
all you learned from me (Paul) and heard from me and saw me doing, --
Paul is setting himself as a role model, as he follows everything he learned from God and Jesus since he was knocked to the ground on the way to Damascus.
And the God of Peace will be with you.
This is how to stay close to God, it's how God wants us to think positively.
When we strive to be constantly aware of how we are thinking, and think only the best of others and events and happenings, then we will realize God's sovereignty in all the big and little things of our lives and be able to trust that He will use them for our good. Then we won't be worrying about anything, and can enjoy God's peace, knowing He will work it all out for our good and His glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
The Attitude Of Christ
Romans 15:5
May God, Who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.
O my Father, I praise You for Your great wisdom and understanding in all that You do for us, in the way You are directing all the events of this world to draw to the close, the culmination of Your Plan of the Ages.
And I thank You for considering me worth Your attention, Your love and Your care. Thank You for using the events and happenings in my life to contribute in a small way to Your great Plan. Thank You for Your patience and encouragement in me to be able to live in harmony with one another, as I learn to have in my own thinking Your attitudes, as the life of Christ demonstrated.
Thank You for continuing to work in my life to both will and to act according to Your good will for me, until I am perfected in that Day that our Lord Jesus returns as King over all kings, and I will reign with Him as His queen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
May God, Who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.
O my Father, I praise You for Your great wisdom and understanding in all that You do for us, in the way You are directing all the events of this world to draw to the close, the culmination of Your Plan of the Ages.
And I thank You for considering me worth Your attention, Your love and Your care. Thank You for using the events and happenings in my life to contribute in a small way to Your great Plan. Thank You for Your patience and encouragement in me to be able to live in harmony with one another, as I learn to have in my own thinking Your attitudes, as the life of Christ demonstrated.
Thank You for continuing to work in my life to both will and to act according to Your good will for me, until I am perfected in that Day that our Lord Jesus returns as King over all kings, and I will reign with Him as His queen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Just Do It
John 13: 17
You know these things--now do them! That is the path of blessing.
We have been taught how to do right. Our parents all did their best to teach us the right way in life. God has given us His Word to teach us what is right. We have pastors in our churches who endeavor to teach us the right way to live. Every person wants to live in a way that would be right for them.
But we all have been born with a defective soul and a dead spirit. Our own hearts lie to us and deceive us. So sometimes we can be mislead, and believe that what is actually wrong is right for us. But it is not healthy, or moral, or helpful at all.
God's ways are not our ways, because He is absolutely pure and holy, and we do not understand these concepts naturally, without His help. That's why He gave us His written Word. That's why He sent His only Son, to fulfill all the prophesies about Him and all the Laws that point to what He would accomplish. So He became our personal Sacrifice, fulfilling that requirement from Leviticus chapter 1. And He fulfilled all the letter of all the laws God had His people follow. Now He has written His Law in our hearts, so we can understand the principles underlying all those Laws; we not only do not sleep with our neighbor's spouse (the letter of the law), we do not even entertain the thought of doing so. We not only do not murder, we do not refuse to forgive, letting ourselves off the hook of hatred and resentment. And so for all the Laws.
So with Jesus having taken our place in death, and God having given us New Life in His own Holy Spirit, healing our soul and making our spirit alive; now we have the ability to understand God's ways, how they are not the World's ways, and the strength to obey them, to actually do them in our thoughts, attitudes and actions. God does not tell us to be "perfect" (mature), then leave us hanging, unable to live it out. His Holy Spirit speaks into our spirit, in His still, small voice, that we perceive as an inward "knowing," showing us the right way to go. He has given us His written Word, and His Spirit teaches us as we open our understanding to what He has written actually means for us.
When Jesus said this (scripture above), He had been teaching His disciples for over three years. Now He is telling them that only by putting these ideas into practice in their daily lives will they enjoy the blessings of God's favor.
Only by putting these principles into practice in our thinking processes, our attitudes and our actions every day will we experience God's favor and His blessings in our health, our finances and our relationships.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
You know these things--now do them! That is the path of blessing.
We have been taught how to do right. Our parents all did their best to teach us the right way in life. God has given us His Word to teach us what is right. We have pastors in our churches who endeavor to teach us the right way to live. Every person wants to live in a way that would be right for them.
But we all have been born with a defective soul and a dead spirit. Our own hearts lie to us and deceive us. So sometimes we can be mislead, and believe that what is actually wrong is right for us. But it is not healthy, or moral, or helpful at all.
God's ways are not our ways, because He is absolutely pure and holy, and we do not understand these concepts naturally, without His help. That's why He gave us His written Word. That's why He sent His only Son, to fulfill all the prophesies about Him and all the Laws that point to what He would accomplish. So He became our personal Sacrifice, fulfilling that requirement from Leviticus chapter 1. And He fulfilled all the letter of all the laws God had His people follow. Now He has written His Law in our hearts, so we can understand the principles underlying all those Laws; we not only do not sleep with our neighbor's spouse (the letter of the law), we do not even entertain the thought of doing so. We not only do not murder, we do not refuse to forgive, letting ourselves off the hook of hatred and resentment. And so for all the Laws.
So with Jesus having taken our place in death, and God having given us New Life in His own Holy Spirit, healing our soul and making our spirit alive; now we have the ability to understand God's ways, how they are not the World's ways, and the strength to obey them, to actually do them in our thoughts, attitudes and actions. God does not tell us to be "perfect" (mature), then leave us hanging, unable to live it out. His Holy Spirit speaks into our spirit, in His still, small voice, that we perceive as an inward "knowing," showing us the right way to go. He has given us His written Word, and His Spirit teaches us as we open our understanding to what He has written actually means for us.
When Jesus said this (scripture above), He had been teaching His disciples for over three years. Now He is telling them that only by putting these ideas into practice in their daily lives will they enjoy the blessings of God's favor.
Only by putting these principles into practice in our thinking processes, our attitudes and our actions every day will we experience God's favor and His blessings in our health, our finances and our relationships.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, March 17, 2017
We Will Never Fall
Psalm 37: 23-24
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
II Corinthians 4: 8-9
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
I want us all to remember how much God loves us, how great He is, and how He takes care of us. No matter what mere Man decides to do, God will use for His purposes. When we make mistakes, or make poor decisions, we stumble; but God will never let us be destroyed, because He has determined our good. God's enemies, the minions of our enemy, may conspire against us, but they can never prevail against us. Whatever is against us can never succeed against the good God has planned for us.
"Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger." God has determined that whatever gives us heartache or sorrow or perplexity will only strengthen us against what can destroy us, so that we will gain the victory over it, in His power. And even when we are killed, martyred for our proclaiming God's Truth, then we will only gain the crown to become a living stone, not only in God's Heavenly Temple, but of the very altar in that Holy Place.
God's plans for us are only for our good, our good right now, and our ultimate good. That will bring Him glory, for that is how He has decided everything will work out. His plan directs the Cosmos, World events, and our every moment of our lives.
May we each put our hand into His hand, follow His leading, and do His works in love for Him and for one another. Let us all acknowledge Him in our every thought, attitude and step of our lives. May we continue to seek His Face every day, and continue to learn His ways in ever more detail, so that our lives will show forth His goodness, His love and His righteousness to the World.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
II Corinthians 4: 8-9
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
I want us all to remember how much God loves us, how great He is, and how He takes care of us. No matter what mere Man decides to do, God will use for His purposes. When we make mistakes, or make poor decisions, we stumble; but God will never let us be destroyed, because He has determined our good. God's enemies, the minions of our enemy, may conspire against us, but they can never prevail against us. Whatever is against us can never succeed against the good God has planned for us.
"Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger." God has determined that whatever gives us heartache or sorrow or perplexity will only strengthen us against what can destroy us, so that we will gain the victory over it, in His power. And even when we are killed, martyred for our proclaiming God's Truth, then we will only gain the crown to become a living stone, not only in God's Heavenly Temple, but of the very altar in that Holy Place.
God's plans for us are only for our good, our good right now, and our ultimate good. That will bring Him glory, for that is how He has decided everything will work out. His plan directs the Cosmos, World events, and our every moment of our lives.
May we each put our hand into His hand, follow His leading, and do His works in love for Him and for one another. Let us all acknowledge Him in our every thought, attitude and step of our lives. May we continue to seek His Face every day, and continue to learn His ways in ever more detail, so that our lives will show forth His goodness, His love and His righteousness to the World.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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