the gifts or The GIFT

In Luke 1 God revealed how His most perfect plan for mankind would be accomplished when He sent an angel to a young woman in Nazareth. (Luke 1:26-37) He told her, she, who was highly favored by the Lord, had been chosen to bear God's Son, the promised Messiah. (Isaiah 9:6-7) Even in her perplexity as to how this could happen, since she was a virgin, she couldn't contain her joy at the revelation. In Luke 1:46-50, Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me -- holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation."

Mary's focus was on the greatness of her God. She cried out to Him and praised Him as her Savior, the Mighty One whose name is Holy. Never did she focus on herself. Mary knew that her faithful God would give her strength to face the coming days and He did!

After the birth of Jesus, shepherds came. They bowed in worship before the One the angels had told them about as they had been watching their flocks at night. "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
BUT MARY TREASURED ALL THESE THINGS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART." Luke 2:9-19

What are you treasuring this Christmas season? The gifts or the GIFT?
John 3:16
Where is your focus?
Colossians 3:1-17
Is your heart filled with praise and adoration?
Ephesians 1:3-8

May your heart, like Mary's, be filled with praise this Christmas season for God's indescribable gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior."
Luke 1:46

Extravagantly Blessed

Thanksgiving is a time to remember how extravagantly blessed we are because of who He is. In The Living Insights Bible, Chuck Swindoll says, "I am more convinced than ever that life's major pursuit is not knowing self . . . but knowing God. Today make it your aim. Consciously think, 'Lord, use these few quiet moments to enhance my knowledge of You. Take first place in my heart. Reveal Yourself to me."

A ~ Awesome in glory, Abba, Answer prayer, Almighty, All Your Words are True, Alpha/Omega

B ~ Beautiful, Breathe the breath of life in us, Blot out our transgressions, Big, Burden bearer

C ~ Compassionate, Counselor, Creator, Comforter, Cannot lie, Cleanses us from all our sins

D ~ Deliverer, Delight, Defender, Divine, Directs His love by day, Does not keep a record of wrongs

E ~ Everlasting, Ever present, Ears are attentive to our cry, Enables us to serve Him without fear

F ~ Father, Faithful,Forgiving, Foundation, From everlasting to everlasting, Familiar with all our ways

G ~ Good, Glorious, God who knows, Great physician, Guide, Great, Gives life to everything

H ~ Holy, High and lifted up, Hides us in the shadow of His wings, Help, Hears, Holy One, Highly exalted

I ~ Infallible, Immutable, Infinite, Immanuel, I Am that I Am, In You there is no sin, In You there is no darkness

J ~ Joy, Jealous, Judge, Jehovah Nissi (Banner), Jehovah Jireh (Provider), Just

K ~ King of Kings, Kind, Knowing, Knit me together in my Mother's womb, Kingdom will never end

L ~ Lord of Lords, Love, Long suffering, Light, Life, Lavishes His love and wisdom on us, Living God

M ~ Mighty, Most High, Messiah, Merciful, Made the heavens, earth, seas, Majestic in power and Holiness

N ~ Nothing is impossible with God, None like You, No other Rock besides You, Nourisher of my soul

O ~ Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, One and Only, One True God, Owns the cattle on a thousand hills

P ~ Perfect, Powerful, Potter, Prince of Peace, Provider, Pure, Patient, Pursues, Perfect love drives out fear

Q ~ Quenches our thirst, Quick to listen, Quiets us with His love, Quiets our fears, Quanna (Jealous God)

R ~ Redeemer, Restorer, Resplendent with glory, Rescues, Remains faithful forever, Righteous, Refuge

S ~ Savior, Steadfast, Sovereign, Strength, Supplier, Same yesterday, today and forever, Shepherd, Strong Tower

T ~ Truth, Teacher, Trustworthy, Three in One, Timing is perfect, Tender Mercy, There are no secrets with Him

U ~ Understanding, Unfailing love, Unchanging, Unrelenting

V ~ Victorious, Vindicate, Vine, Vinedresser, Vengeance is the Lord's, Voice

W ~ Wonderful, Worthy, Wonder of Your great love, Ways are perfect, Wise, Will not give Your glory to another

X ~ X-ray eyes, EXcellent, EXalted forever

Y ~ Yours is the greatness, You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word, Yahweh

Z ~ Zealous, Zeal of the Lord

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD,
who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight."
Jeremiah 9:23-24

Determined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Let us not grow weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up."
Galatians 6:9

Over the past few months, we've been looking at a woman of noble character from Proverbs 31. We looked at the characteristics of a woman of integrity, honor and one who is strong and dependable. Today we're going to look at the word Determined ~ firmly resolved, doesn't give up.

How often have you said . . ."This time I really mean it, I'm not going to quit, no matter what, I won't give up." How often have you promised to keep your house clean, stay on your diet, pray for someone or be consistent with your quiet time, only to find yourself keeping those promises for a day, a week, a month at best. Good intentions often remain just that, good intentions.

In 1 Samuel 25:14-35, we meet a woman named Abigail. Abigail was married to a man who was described as wicked, mean, arrogant, disrespectful, rude, stingy and by the way, his name meant fool. Not exactly the kind of person you'd chose for man of the year or the love of your life.
Abigail on the other hand is described as beautiful, intelligent and sensitive in her dealings with others. She was wise, gracious and generous; a jewel compared to her husband. When faced with a difficult situation, she didn't think about herself, but remained determined and committed to do what was right. Because of her determination, she diverted trouble and brought protection for those around her.

You may not be faced with a situation like Abigail, but each of us from time to time are faced with battles we can't win. The battle to stay on a diet, be consistent to pray for non saved family and friends or just to pray period. What about the battle to have a consistent quiet time? You fill in the blank ______________.

In 2 Chronicles 20 when King Jehoshaphat was faced with a battle he knew he couldn't win, what did he do? First, he praised the Lord for who He was, what He had done, and what he could do. God answered by promising in verse 15 that He would fight the battle for him. King Jehoshaphat was instructed to "stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you." Pretty powerful words. Those words are just as powerful today as the day they were written. Our God does not change and neither can He lie. Claim that promise for yourself and watch as God intervenes. Our job is to "suit up and show up," as Bob Barnes said in a message I heard many years ago and to remember the battle is the Lord's. The point is we need to stand our ground. Ephesians 6:10-11 says, "Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Dig your stake in the ground, so to speak, be resolved and don't give up.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lord, I can't fight this battle alone. I know! I've tried! Help me not to grow weary in doing good, for You have promised that at the proper time, I will reap a harvest if I don't give up. Help me to remember the battle isn't mine, never has been and never will be. It's Yours and You always win. In Jesus name, amen.

Confide in her?????

Can you think of someone in your life who is dependable, reliable and completely trustworthy? Someone you can count on day or night, regardless of the circumstances. Someone you can confide in. Someone, who at the very sound of their voice, brings immediate comfort and calmness.

Would others describe you as dependable, fully trustworthy and someone they can confide in?

The following verses in Proverbs give us MUCH food for thought.

"A man (woman) who lacks judgment derides his (her) neighbor, but a man (woman) of understanding holds his (her) tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man (woman) keeps a secret." Proverbs 11:12-13

"He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment." Proverbs 10:18-21

"A wise man's (woman's) heart guides his mouth, and his (her) lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:23-24

Our words either build others up or tear them down. Remember that once words are spoken, they can NEVER be taken back. James 1:19 says, "My dear brothers (sisters), take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." Do your words draw others to you or push them away? The Proverbs 31 woman, "speaks with wisdom, and has "faithful instruction on her tongue." She carefully weighs her words and thinks before she speaks. Do you?

"If anyone considers himself (herself) religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his (her) tongue, he (she) deceives himself (herself) and his (her) religion is worthless." James 1:26

James goes on to say in chapter 3, verse 5 "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." Been setting any fires lately. It's time to put them out, stop making excuses, and seek the Lord's help. Ask His forgiveness (1 John 1:9), let Him do a new work in you and move forward with Him.

~ ~ ~

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:18-19

For further reading see:
Psalm 19:14
Psalm 39:1
Psalm 141:3
Proverbs 16:23
Ecclesiates 5:2
Matthew 12:33-37
Ephesians 4:29

Woman of Strength

"Wealth and honor come from You;

You are the ruler of all things.
In Your hands are strength

and power to exalt and give strength to all."
1 Chronicles 29:12

~

Do you find yourself focused on your weaknesses most of the time rather than the strength that is yours in Christ Jesus? This morning I was reading some thoughts from a missionary, named Anita, who lives in South America. "'Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Jesus said to me, Trust Me. Live and breathe in My love. Do lifes stresses and heartaches have you disturbed and defeated? Don't get lost in the feelings. Hang on to the truth in God's Word. Trust Him with whatever comes, because remember -- He's working it all together for your good!" (quoted from page 114 in Beth Moore's book entitled "Voices of the Faithful")

Here are a few verses for you to claim to focus on His strength rather than your weakness.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10
Lord, thank you that You are my strong tower and that when I run to You I am kept safe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"She sets about her work vigorously and has arms strong for her tasks." Proverbs 31:17
Lord, give me strength to do the mundane things today ~ washing, folding the clothes, cooking, cleaning, dusting the cob webs for the "hundreth" time, all the while remembering that I do these things because I love You and the family You've entrusted to my care.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25
Lord, clothe me with Your strength and dignity to hold my shoulders high, so that I can laugh and be joyful regardless of what comes on my plate today.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
2 Corinthians 12:9
Lord, I confess my weak areas to You today and TRUST You to give me the strength I need to accomplish the tasks that lie before me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9
Lord, I admit that I want to give up, I'm tired of doing the same things over and over again. Help me to focus, not on the things, but on my family and pray for them as I go about my routine.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"And whatever you do, whether in word of deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:23-24
Lord, as I go about my day, help me to please You then my family will be pleased. I thank You for the eyes to see, hands to feel with, feet to take me where I need to go, etc.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Finally, be strong in the LORD and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11
Lord, I choose to be strong in You and in Your MIGHTY power today. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-20). I choose to put on Your armor that I might stand strong today. I know that no weapon forged against me will stand, because I am kept safe and secure in You. (Isaiah 54:17)

~ ~ ~

I close with the words of Chuck Swindoll, "Today is unique! it has never occurred before, and it will never be repeated. At midnight it will end -- quietly, suddenly, totally. Forever. But the hours between now and then are opportunites with endless possibilities. With God's enablement, live this day to the full -- as if it were your last day on earth." (quoted from page 1252 of The Living Insights Study Bible)

Woman of Honor

What does it look like to be a woman of honor? A woman of honor is someone whose life is characterized by being ~ highly respected ~ above reproach ~ full of integrity ~ humble.

"The ideal woman in Proverbs 31 didn't need to boast about her accomplishments. She didn't plan and work diligently so that she could brag about her home, family, or business successes. She acted from a motivation to honor God and serve others. No one who observed her lifestyle could fail to recognize her godly character. She lived with the quiet confidence that, whatever others thought of her, her actions spoke for themselves." (from The One Year Women of the Bible by Dianne Neal Matthews)

In Hebrews 13:18 it says, "desire to live honorably in every way." Look at those words again: "desire to live honorably in every way." In every way! That's about as clear as it gets. In your thoughts, in your speech, in your actions and in your desires, are you acting in a way that is honorable? Whew! This is an impossible task apart from Christ. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Jesus has given us everything we need for life and godliness. (See 2 Peter 1:3-4) We have to make the choice each day to ask for His help and then act on what He tells us to do. If we don't, we are like the one described in James 1:22-23. "Anyone who listens to the Word, but does not do what it says is like a man (woman) who looks in a mirror and immediately forgets what he (she) looks like." One commentator explains it this way, it's like someone who looks in a mirror, but does nothing about their appearance.

How can we, as women, live honorably and have lives which are:

• Highly respected -- by our husbands, children, or friends
  Proverbs 31:25-31
• Above reproach -- in our thoughts, speech, actions, desires,
  Psalm 19:14, Ephesians 4:29-32
• Full of integrity -- in our ways, in our decisions
  Psalm 78:72, Proverbs 10:9; 11:3
• Humble -- not seeking our own honor,
  but continually looking to the interests of others
  Psalm 115:1, Proverbs 25:27; 27:2
  

It begins with an examination of our heart. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I, the LORD, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man (woman) according to his (her) conduct, according to what his (her) deeds deserve." (Jeremiah 17:9-10) In Hebrews 4:13, it says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Begin right now by asking God to examine your heart and show you the area(s) that are keeping you from being a woman of honor. Give that area(s) to the Lord and ask His forgiveness. "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD and You forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5

Lord,
I desire to be a woman of honor in every area of my life. As You have shown me those area where I am weak, fill me with Your strength and grace. I KNOW that Your grace is sufficient and Your power is made perfect in my weakness. I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Integrity

In the last post, the Lord had me share about a woman of noble character. Rather than moving to another topic, God is leading me to take a closer look at each one of the characteristics found in a noble woman. So often as believers, we want to rush on to the next thing ~ gathering more knowledge rather than staying put until we've grasped what God wants to teach us. Knowledge in and of itself is a great thing, but if we don't understand and apply it, we only have "more knowledge".

A couple of years ago in the small group I lead on Thursday nights, we studied the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Each time we met we looked at one of the verses. We didn't move to the next verse until God said 'go'. When we came to the verse that talked about hungering and thirsting for righteousness, we stayed many weeks until this truth was worked in our hearts. As a result of our staying, without exception, the women in the study continue to hunger and thirst to know their God more.

Lord, as we take a closer look at the word integrity, help us to "be still" and wait as You reveal Your Truths to us. Show us what integrity looks like to You and work that character in our hearts.

The bible concordances I looked at define integrity as; honesty of heart, without compromise or corruption, ethically sound, morally well adjusted, sincere. In 1 Kings 9:4-5 Solomon is challenged to be a man of integrity. "As for you, if you walk (notice the word if) before me in integrity of heart and uprightness as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'" In Job 2:13, God describes Job as a man of integrity. Even when he was pushed to the limit by Satan, Job remained a man of integrity.

How do you respond when the tests and trials come? "Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters) whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance." (James 1:2)

"We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask Him to help you solve your problems or give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problem; He will stay close and help you grow." (quoted from the Life Application Bible, Tyndale House Publishing)

Recently a dear woman named Amy from our Church went home to be with the Lord after a nine year battle with cancer. For the past four years I've known her, I never once heard her complain, whine or gripe about her situation. She had numerous rounds of chemo and each time I saw her, despite her weakened appearance, she was always radiant (Psalm 34:5). This last year was especially hard for her. Not only was she battling cancer, but this past December, her young adult daughter died suddenly. Did Amy complain, (Philippians 2:14-15) or get angry with God? No! She drew her strength from Him. None of us will truly know the depth of pain she experienced from losing her daughter, and the degree of pain caused by the cancer, yet she remained strong because of her steadfast faith in her faithful God. (Psalm 57:7-10) Amy was the epitomy of a woman of integrity. Are you?

As you look at your own life, what qualities of a woman of integrity do you display?

Would others say you remain radiant and steadfast regardless of your circumstances?

In Hebrews 1:3, Jesus Christ is described as the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of His being. How are you representing your Savior? How does your life reflect His glory? In the video series "Living Beyond Yourself" Beth Moore said, "Lord, let Your glory fill me so much that you push out my old nature."

Lord,
You know my heart. There are no secrets with You. Please search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10) Make me into a woman of integrity; honest of heart, without compromise or corruption, ethically sound, morally well adjusted and sincere in my walk with You. Show me any sin in my life that is keeping me from being a woman of integrity. I confess it now and thank You for Your complete forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)

Character Matters

Several weeks ago I was meeting with a young woman for Bible Study. God led us to Proverbs 31. We read verse 10 through the end of the chapter. After reading all the verses we went back to verse 10. "A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."

As we looked at the verse, we thought about what a person of noble character looks like. The first image that came to our minds was a (medieval) knight. A knight is someone who has integrity, is honorable, strong, dependable, determined and confident, etc. Although none of us have been called to be knights, we are called to be women who have a noble or strong character; women of integrity, honorable, strong, dependable, determined and confident.

Let's look a little deeper into what each of those words mean:

• Integrity- soundness of moral principle, undivided, honest ~ "In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2:7


• Honorable - highly respected, characterized by integrity, upright ~ "The fear of the Lord teaches a man (woman) wisdom, and humility comes before honor." Proverbs 15:33


• Strong - having great physical power, not mild or weak, zealous, firm, not easily upset, tenacious or showing power to endure. ~ "Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devils schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11


• Dependable - reliable, trustworthy, committed ~ "But blessed is the man (woman) who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him." Jeremiah 17:7


• Determined - firmly resolved, doesn't give up ~ "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galations 6:9-10


• Confident - full of conviction ~ "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

From the list above, what qualities or characteristics of a noble woman does your husband, family, or friends see in you? Are there areas where you feel weak or inadquate? Give them to the Lord and ask Him to work those qualities in you. Pray the corresponding verse related to the quality you struggle with every day and watch as God begins to work that quality in your heart. There is power in God's Word and His Word does not return void.

~ ~ ~

Loving Father,
Help me to be a woman whose character is noble and strong, filled with confidence that can only come from You. Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. May they who fear You rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your Word.

10 Practical Ways We Love Our Children

A while back I heard a message from Dr. Danny Aiken, President of Southeastern Seminary, at our Church. In the message he spoke on building family relationships and gave 10 practical ways to show love to our children (grandchildren, niece's, nephews). Trust they will be as much a help to you as they have been to me.

1. Get down on their level.
   ~ Bend down when you talk to them
   ~ play the things they want to play
   ~ roll around on the floor with them
   ~ have fun.
   
   
2. Loving our mate.
   ~ Speaking words of kindness and respect to your spouse in the same way you would speak to your friends.
   
   
3. Discipline them.
   ~ Be consistent wherever we draw the line. "The rod of correction (used in a responsible way) imparts wisdom, but a child left to itself disgraces his mother." "Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul." Proverbs 29:15, 17
   
   
4. Look at them.
   ~ Looking in their eyes shows them they are important to you and what they have to say is valuable.
   
   
5. Touch them.
   ~ They need hugs.
   
   
6. Spend time with them.
   ~ Love is a four letter word ~ best spelled out TIME.
   
   
7. Listening to them.
   ~ "My dear brothers(sisters), take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19
   
   
8. Blessing them rather than cursing them.
   ~ There is such incredible power in our words ~ our words either tear down or build up. Use only words that will build our kids up ~ "I'm so proud of you" goes a long way in building a child's self esteem.
   
   
9. Having fun with them.
   ~ Always look for teachable moments. "These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7
   
   
10. Introduce them to a perfect parent.
    ~ Pray for them daily and tell them about God, the perfect Father. "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 ". . . And by Him we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:15-16

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him."

Psalm 127:3

Treasured Possession

We all have something we treasure. What is the thing you treasure most?


When I was a young adult, I would have to say, I treasured "possessions" most. The constant thought that kept running through my mind, was "if only I had . . . . if only I had." A nicer car, a better house, new clothes, etc. My identity was wrapped up in what I had or thought I had to have, not in the One who had given His life for me and promised to supply all my needs. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life (food, clothing, place to live, transportation) and godliness (His Word that shows us how to live in a way that brings Him glory) through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 (see also Matthew 6:25-34)


God was very patient with me as He began to show me my heart and teach me that all those "possessions" I thought I wanted could NEVER bring me true happiness and that my identity is found in Him alone. Although there is nothing wrong with having external "things", it does become wrong, when having to have those "things" consumes you and becomes your most treasured possession. Matthew 6:21 says, "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be." What consumes your thoughts?

Today, the thing I treasure most is His Word. His Word that is "sweeter than honey", "more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold", "preserves my life", "comforts", "is my counselor", "is eternal", "gives me peace", and the list goes one. Check out Psalm 119 and find more promises of what the Word is or does. Let me know what you find.

"When Your Words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my hearts delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY." Jeremiah 15:16 Warren Wiersbe says, "Meditation is to your inner person what digestion is to your body; you make the Word a part of your life and you grow." "Follow my advice, my son (daughter); always treasure my commands. Obey them and live! Guard my teaching as your most precious possession." Proverbs 7:1-2 Is God's Word your most treasured possession? If not, ask Him to put that desire in your heart.

"Your hands made me and formed me;

give me understanding to learn your commands.

May they who fear (reverence) You rejoice when they see me,

for I have put my hope in Your Word."

Psalm 119:73-74

Reflected Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." John 14:27

"Reflected peace is the proof that you are right with God because you are at liberty to turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself." Oswald Chambers

He has promised to keep us in perfect peace when our mind is stayed on Him.

What is keeping you from experiencing God's peace today? Is it a spouse or friend that continually lets you down? A child who is out of control? A dream never realized? The job that went to someone else? Your own shortcomings?

As Chuck Swindoll says, "God wants our total trust. Nothing held back. No games. No empty, pious-sounding words. No, He commands our absolute confidence. There is no area that He is unable to handle. God is a specialist in every circumstance - including yours. Today."

~ ~ ~

Lord, turn my heart and mind toward You today so that I can enjoy the freedom that is mine in You. "Direct my footsteps according to Your Word, let no sin rule over me." Psalm 199:33 I give You everything that causes me anxiety and keeps me from experiencing Your perfect peace. Take control of my thoughts and desires. Flood my heart with Your peace that transcends all understanding and guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-8)

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in You.

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD,

the LORD is the Rock eternal."
Isaiah 26:3-4

Deeper Still . . .

Last weekend I had the honor and privilege of attending the Deeper Still Conference sponsored by LifeWay with our Women's Ministry Team. Over 18,000 women converged upon the Atlanta area to hear conference speakers Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur. Worship was led by Travis Cottrell and his team. Just imagine hearing all those women singing "In Christ Alone" ~ it gives me chills just to think about it. We laughed, and cried, as we heard incredible messages from the Word that challenged and encouraged us to, first, have a personal relationship with our creator God through His Son Jesus and, second, to grow in a more intimate relationship with Him.

I want to share just a few thoughts on what we heard from these precious sisters in Christ . . .

On Friday evening, Priscilla Shirer spoke from Exodus about the wilderness experience that God led His people through. She shared how God chose the wilderness because it would best meet the needs of His people. He used the experience to show them . . .

• His Sovereignty
• Their spiritual identity in Him
• His call upon their lives that led them to new levels of surrender and practical obedience.

Something to Think About . . .
Are you currently going through a wilderness experience? What is God showing you about Himself through these difficult days? How have you recognized a new level of surrender and obedience to Him? In the center of the word obedience is the word die. Remember that in order to be fully obedient to God, we need to die to self daily. It's our choice. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24

~ ~ ~

On Saturday morning we heard a message from Kay Arthur about restoring our nation. She encouraged us through many verses from Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah to remember the holiness of our God and the judgement that will be brought upon our nation if we don't repent. It wasn't an easy or popular message to share, but I praise the Lord for her boldness because it was something we all needed to hear. As she concluded she gave us seven things to do in light of where we are in America:

1. Repent ~ Return to Me -- ask God to break our heart for what breaks His.
2. Time to mourn
3. Pray
4. Love God's Word
5. Love others as Jesus loved them
6. Introduce people to Jesus
7. REST in our faith -- being confident that our Sovereign God is in control and will accomplish His purpose and plan.

Action to take . . .
Pray daily that we, His children, who are called by His name, will humble ourselves and pray, seek His face, turn from our wicked ways and He will forgive our sins and heal our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

~ ~ ~

Beth Moore concluded the conference with a message from John 1, emphasizing verse 14. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." God used her to effectively teach this verse and help all 18,000 plus women put it to memory that day.

Have you . . .
received God's Son and know with full assurance that He lives in your heart? If not, receive Him now by simply asking Him to forgive you of your sins that separate you from a Holy God. In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

Are you . . .
living in a way that others see Jesus in you? Are they drawn to Him by your attitude, your actions, your words? If not, ask Him to search your heart. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

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If you have the opportunity to attend a Deeper Still Conference or to hear any of these teachers in your area, I would encourage you to go. You will be richly blessed.

"How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those
who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion 'Your God reigns.' "
Isaiah 52:7

Praising God from A to Z

Do you ever have trouble knowing how to praise God?

Try a simple idea ~ one that works for adults and kids.

List the letters in the Alphabet from A to Z.

Write down any word that comes to mind that describes who God is, His character or what He does. For Example:
A Awesome
B Beginning
C Creator
D Deliverer
E Everlasting
F Forgives
G Good
H Hears
I Infinite
J Just
K Kind
You get the idea. Hint: when you come to the letter X ~ you can use the word Excellent, etc.

Use those words to praise Him during your quiet time or anytime during the day.

Alphabet Praise is a great tool to use with your kids to help them know who God is. Set a timer for 3-5 minutes and see how many words they can come up with. Put the list on your refrigerator or a place where they will see it. Use those words to help your children praise God and thank Him for who He is and how He always provides for our needs.

Something else that has helped is to read a Psalm each day and list all the words you find that describe God. For example, here are a few words that describe God from Psalm 18:
strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn of my salvation, worthy of praise.
Put the words beside the appropriate letter.

Using Alphabet Praise is a great way to be reminded on a daily basis who our mighty God is and what He promises.

~ ~ ~

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18:30

"Soul" Satisfaction

Ever felt like you were in a desert? Aimlessly going from place to place, looking for someone or something to quench your spiritual thirst and fill the emptiness deep within your soul? Wandering day in and day out. Searching, but nothing satisfies. Thirst increases. Emptiness swells. Relationships are affected. Weak, unchanged, there's no end in sight.

David must have felt the same way when he cried out in Psalm 63. "O, God, You are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." David longed for spiritual nourishment, but he was far from the temple. But in the stillness of the desert, he remembered God's faithfulness in the past and he went on to say, "I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of food; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me."

In a comment by Chuck Swindoll in the Living Insights Bible, he says, "About the time we are ready to give up, Jesus comes alongside and whispers, 'Don't quit; keep going; keep your eyes on Me.' In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, 'Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from, Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Take Him at His word, for He who formed you, knows you and He will fill your deepest longings.

~ ~ ~

Lord, I ask You to restore my soul.

"The LORD is my shepherd . . . He restores my soul."

Psalm 23:1,3

Forgive me for looking to others or things to fill the empty places in my life.

"You are forgiving and good, O LORD,

abounding in love to all who call to You."

Psalm 25:11

Lord, I also choose to look to You and Your Word to satisfy my needs, not to anyone or any thing else, regardless of where I am, my position in life or my circumstances. Let Your Word penetrate the deep recesses of my soul. Keep my eyes fixed on You, the author and perfecter of my faith.

(See Hebrews 4:12 and 12:2.)

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Claim His Promises

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken."

Psalm 62:5-6

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. He forgives my sins and heals all my diseases; He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion. He satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Psalm 103:1-5

"For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

Psalm 107:9

~ ~ ~

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled."

Matthew 5:6

Reflect His Glory ~ Bring Him Praise

Anna was a young girl whose life truly reflected God's glory. She was a vivacious, energetic nine year old who had given her life to Christ when she was only five. She loved the Lord and expressed her love in her attitude, her speech, and her actions. Anna wasn't perfect by any means but, despite her young age, she always tried to live in a way that brought glory and praise to God. She was a bright little girl who had taught herself to read by the age of three and had read the entire Bible by the time she was seven; even writing notes in the margin of her Bible so she would remember what she had learned. In the book of John, when it described how Jesus was mistreated before His death, she had drawn a face with tears coming down. She said it made her so sad to think what had happened to Him.

English was not the common language in the city where Anna and her family lived. But in spite of this language barrier, she had met four girls her age and had become their friend. Anna longed to share Christ with these friends and had often asked others to pray that God would show her how. Eventually, Anna did share Him with her friends, but not in the way anyone would have expected...

Two weeks ago, Anna and her Mom had gone for a bike ride, just like they had done on many occasions. While on a path they had traveled over and over, an accident occurred and, as Anna's Daddy said, there is no good way to say this other than "Anna went home to be with her Lord."

After she died, there were two Memorial Services held in the town where she lived. One of the service's was held in her home. At this service, Anna's four young friends came. During the service the gospel was presented through an interpreter and her friends heard the Truth. Only God knows how the friends responded. But what we do know is that Anna's life brought glory to God and, even in death, her testimony lives.



How can our lives, like Anna's, reflect God's glory?

1. We have to know the One who is the true reflection of God's glory.
   Jesus, the Son of God "is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." (Hebrews 1:3)
   
   Have you received God's forgiveness for your sins? God offers eternal life as a free gift. It isn't something we earn or deserve. (Ephesians 2:8-9) You can receive eternal life by believing in Jesus alone. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
   
   
2. In order to reflect God's glory we need to know who God is.
   We find out who He is by reading His Word. His Word has given us everything we need for living a godly life that will bring Him glory and praise. In 2 Peter 1:3-4 it says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
   
   
3. We need to daily live in a way that reflects or represents God's glory well. He deserves nothing less.
   In the video series, "Living Beyond Yourself", Beth Moore said, "Lord, let your glory so fill me that you push out my old nature." May that be our prayer today.

~ ~ ~

Bring God praise

• How does your attitude, your speech, your actions, your thoughts, what you watch, and the way you treat others, etc., reflect God's glory and bring Him praise?


• Read Colossians 2:6-7 and Colossians 3:1-17


• Underline or write down everything you find about godly living.


• Ask God to show you if there is any sin in your life that would hinder you from living a godly life. "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." Romans 6:12


• Confess any known sin to Him and thank Him for His forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)


• Write down the verse below on an index card and place it where you will see it often as a reminder.

"You are worthy, our Lord, and God

to receive glory and honor and honor and power,

for You created all things,

and by Your will they were created and have their being."

Revelation 4:11

Refreshed in His Strength

Wouldn’t you just love to have the time to sit in a tub filled with the most luxurious, fragrant bubble bath or linger in the shower, in a room lit with candles ~ slowly sip on a cup of tea or coffee while sitting outside with a gentle breeze blowing on your face (of course having a piece or two of oh, so yummy chocolate) ~ read a good Christian novel ~ plant some pretty flowers in your yard; in other words, just have some time for yourself?

Need some refreshment? Feel like you can’t take another step or you’ll collapse? That if someone else calls your name or asks you to do one more thing, whether it’s an adult or a child, you’re going to scream???? Don’t think you’re alone, as women, we’ve all felt like this. But the reality of lingering in a tub or even picking up a book, much less reading it, is only a dream because of the “season of life” you’re in. So, how do we cope? We go to the only ONE whose words can refresh and strengthen us ~ Jesus. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Strength for the weary:

• Read Isaiah 40:28-31
• Praise Him that He is your strength
• Focus on His strength today. Every time you get tired, ask Him to refresh you. Remember, He doesn’t care nor count how many times you ask. It’s in the asking that we take the focus off ourselves and on to Him, the only source of true strength.
  

“You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!” Psalm 68:35

Stillness ~ a lost art . . .

Stillness seems to be a lost art in our society today, even as believers. But it doesn't have to be. NO. It's a choice. God tells us in His Word to "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) Being still before the Lord simply means to STOP what you're doing and give Him your undivided attention. It's in those times of stillness that He reminds us of who He is. That He is our Redeemer, sufficient, strong, merciful, full of grace, able to meet all our needs, etc.

When was the last time you sat still before the Lord ~ really still? When was the last time you sat in silence ~ total silence, waiting to hear His voice? When was the last time you gave Him your undivided attention?

Stillness ~ take it back . . .

• Begin today ~ find a place where you can get alone with God. Turn off the music, the radio, the TV.


• Open up your Bible and read Psalm 23. Let your eyes gaze on your Shepherd. Don't just give Him a casual glance. Enjoy the stillness! Stay as long as you can in His presence.


• Spend some time praising and thanking Him for His Word that promises to refresh, restore, guide, remove our fears and fill us full to overflowing with His goodness and love.

Blessing

He has promised to fill us with JOY when we spend time with Him and He always keeps His promises.

You will fill me with JOY in your presence.

Psalm 16:11