How Precious Are Your Thoughts to Me....

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who willfn believe in Me through their word;—John 17:20

I have never gotten past the awe and wonder that I felt as a new believer when I first read these words.  I wasn’t sure I was reading it correctly so I reread it a few times.  My heart still bursts with joy each time I read it again.  I was thought of....I was considered...I was prayed for in the upper room after the last supper was finished.  Jesus’ intercessory work for me started thousands of years before I was born.  

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!—Psalm 139:17

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.—Romans 8:34

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.—Hebrews 7:25

Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now has been disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God, leading them to obedience to the faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forevermore! Amen.—Romans 16:25-27 AMPLIFIED. 

Search Me O God...

What hit my heart as I read 2nd Samuel 13 this morning was how grieving it is to see your own sin reproduced in your child.   Been there and seen that.   Truly there is no greater joy than to see your children walk in truth, but oh, what heartbreak for the parent when he sees his own sin mirrored back to him in his child.  Worse, to be in David’s position, and have to bear the shame that comes when a parent must submit to the Lord by correcting the sin of his child that he is conscious of in himself.  David failed as a father here with Amnon and again with Absalom.  2 Samuel 13 tells us David was angry, but the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  Justice was not meted out by David and his anger served to only harden his sons further.  Ecclesiastes speaks well to this:

Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.—Ecclesiastes 8:11

The consequences of sin are endless.  Reading through this chapter felt like sinking in the mire.  We live in a fallen world, and it is inevitable that sin and hurt and offenses come. Yet the person who leads a little one into sin initiates an instance or a pattern of sin that corrupts their innocence. (Or whatever innocence they may have had). They are guilty before God and without excuse.  Praying that God gives each of us hearts and wills that desire to be ruthless with our sin.

Father....I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.  Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

That the Works of God Might be Displayed....

So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:3-4ESV)

Jesus’ answer here is similar to the one He gave in John 9 in that in both instances these situations were orchestrated to reveal the works of God.

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3,ESV)

Thinking of this man as a little boy and perhaps asking his mom why was he blind?  What a perfect answer to give even a little one...even me, Father, when I wonder the same thing about my own circumstances and situations.

It is because God wants to work in and through even this. Jesus points them away from the why and on to the idea of what God can do in and through this. I liked what Spurgeon said about these verses:

“Whenever you see a man in sorrow and trouble, the way to look at it is, not to blame him and inquire how he came there, but to say, ‘Here is an opening for God’s almighty love. Here is an occasion for the display of the grace and goodness of the Lord.’” (Spurgeon)

Trusting in God Now and Forever....

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."—John 11:21-24

I soooo get Martha here!  She believed God for the future...she knew Jesus could raise Lazarus at the last day, (John :25-29) but had difficulty believing that she could trust Him to do the same in the present.  I am the same way....I believe that God will raise the dead who believed on the last day...I believe that those of us who are alive and remain will not face death but be caught up with Him in the rapture.  But I very often get anxious because I fail to believe that God can do the same in the present.  I love how Jesus answers her.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26 ESV)

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  His power does not change.  If we can trust Him for the future stuff, we can trust Him for the here and now.  He is the Great I AM!  The Becoming One...He becomes for us whatever our need might be.  My belief is not  an abstract concept. It is a personal trust in Him alone who can bring life to the dead.  Praying this one gets engraved on my heart.

Empty Hands...

The universe is our God’s dwelling place.  The only thing we can give Him as finite human beings is the only thing that He desires from us.  He wants us to take the cup of salvation He offers and obey Him as an expression of our love for Him. This is expressed beautifully in Psalm 116.

What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. --Psalm 116:12-13

David and the King of Moab...

Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me."
4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.—1 Samuel 22:3-4

I LOVED this!  David feared for his parents’ safety during Saul’s campaign against him. But why did David bring his parents to the king of Moab for safekeeping?  Moab was a traditional enemy of Israel.  Jesse, David’s father was a descendant of Ruth the Moabitess. David must have had family ties or friends there through His great grandmother, Ruth. ❤️

Ruth 4:10,17
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Drawing Near to God...

But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."...As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so.—1 Samuel 20:3;41

At this point David had to leave all behind him and live the life of a fugitive for many years.  During this very difficult time David must have been very conscious of his own mortality.  Saul and his armies were hunting him like an animal.   David stood in jeopardy each passing hour...day and night his life hung in the balance.

What was the result?  David drew near to His God and learned to depend on Him.  He began to understand with heart knowledge that his life was truly in His Father's hands.  He began to comprehend that his sufficiency was not of himself but from His God.   David lifted up His soul to Him who was able to save him not only from earthly death but from spiritual death as well.  He put His trust in the One who was and is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!

Lord...give me eyes and a heart to live depending on You...I want to hear Your still small voice saying, “this is the way, walk in it.”  Keep me from going my own way...down my own paths.   I want your song to drown the voices in my head that speak lies...that cause my heart to become fretful and anxious. 

I want that inner calm that You promise to the one who is thankful...the one whose confidence in You does not waver.   The one who trusts that You are able to do what is best for His beloved child. Give me time today to think on how I live, how I think and what I meditate on.  I want Your perfect peace to rule my heart and mind, not the unmerciful and fearful voices of self and the world.  Help me to dwell on Your word...to set my mind on things above...to focus on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable...if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, set my mind on these things.  Be louder than me, Father.   Show me Your right way.  In Your presence is fullness of joy and at Your right hand pleasures forevermore. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.—Isaiah 26

Abide in My Word...

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."—John 8:31-32

In the context of this passage Jesus is speaking to the brand new believer instructing them to continue in their belief by abiding in His word.

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9, ESV)

Perseverance in obedience to Scripture is the fruit or evidence of genuine faith.  A true believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teaching. To walk in the freedom and liberty of Christ is to walk habitually abiding in His word.

At the time of conversion we are set free from the law of sin and death.  We walk in newness of life by His Spirit of Truth who dwells in us and directs our path as we surrender to His leading.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."—Romans 8:2;15

I asked myself what  the reality of that spiritual principle looks like in my own life.  How does abiding in the truth of God’s word set me free?

It sets me free from the tyranny of me...from my sin, my selfishness.  It releases me from the lies that abound in this world and the deceit of my past. It enables me to escape from wrong thinking and the baggage of my past.  The word helps me to do as it says in Hebrews 12:1—to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares me and run with endurance the race that is set before me.

Psalm 119 begins with these words:

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!

There are countless ways that I can pervert my path during the course of even just one day.  Abiding sets me back on right paths. It realigns my thinking...it “re-minds” me. Abiding is how my God ministers to my heart.  It is where I meet Him and enter His Presence.  It is where I find forgiveness, wisdom, comfort, grace and help.  It is how I grow spiritually.  It is how my countenance is lifted and the means by which I am transformed into His image.   Abiding is where my fruit is found.  

Seeing as Man Sees...

And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (1 Samuel 17:4, ESV)

Oh Father!   This one is so important.  I confess that I so often see my circumstances as man sees...my heart fails and my strength and faith with it.  Like Saul and all of Israel, I become dismayed and greatly afraid. Like them, I focus on outward appearances (10:23-34;15:30) and am able to be influenced by the fear of man (12:12;15:24).   On human terms, the “Goliaths” we face seem invincible.  Oh help me, like David, to remember that You are with me.  Help me to go out into this world like David did...in Your name and in Your strength desiring only Your glory.  He ran toward Goliath unencumbered by fear and emboldened by faith.  Thank you for Your Presence that goes with me.

Following is the Only Proof of Coming.” ...

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

I read something this morning by Frances R Havergal that was very convicting about following Jesus...the words that caused me to read further were these:

“Following is the only proof of coming.”

Jesus here in John 8, vs 12 says that those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.  How do we know we are following Him?  “Following”, the article said, is not standing still and you can’t follow something without coming away from something else.  Makes sense.  If you are not deluding yourself or seeking refuge in lies, your following Jesus will be just as real as your coming to Jesus was.  The author asks, “What have you left behind to follow Him?”  What have you left off doing for His sake?  Good questions...

Jesus left us an example, the Bible says, to follow in His steps...how closely matched are my own steps to Jesus’?

Here was the convicting part for me.  The author urged the reader to go through just one gospel with the guidance of the Holy Spirit with the express purpose of noting the steps of Jesus.  With that accomplished the author said, you would see very clearly whether are following or not.  Using Acts 10:38 the author gives us one indication of what those steps might be.

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”—Acts 10:38

“Went about doing good”...it does not say that He went about doing no harm but that He proactively sought to do good.   Umm...for me on most days that is a fail.

Being convicted is never pleasant but God’s ways...Wisdom’s ways...are ways of pleasantness and Wisdom’s paths peace. You, Father, will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Father...show me where my footsteps are not in alignment with Yours and by the power of Your Spirit give me that desire to walk pleasing You and may this be where my joy is found.

A Heart Like David’s...

And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”—1 Samuel 16:12

Why was David chosen...what made him special.  The answer is in 1 Samuel 13:14

The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord had commanded him to be commander over His people.

I so want a heart like David’s. A heart that desires what God desires.  A heart that seeks Him with all that I have. How do we get a heart that seeks the heart of God?  There is really only one way and that is from spending time with Him in His word and in prayer.  Praying that with the time I have remaining on this earth that by His grace I would choose like Mary, to sit at His feet and learn from Him.

“Where did David get this heart?” I really enjoyed reading David Guzik here:

Obviously, from time spent with the Lord. But someone started him on that path. David says nothing of his father, but twice in the Psalms he refers to his mother as a maidservant of the Lord (Psalm 86:16 and Psa 116:16). Probably, it was David’s godly mother who poured her heart and love and devotion of the Lord into him, and gave him a foundation to build on in his own walk with the Lord. Like Timothy, God used David’s mother to pour into him a godly faith (2 Timothy 1:5).”

Be inspired and encouraged...choose the better part...the part that cannot be taken from you....and in so doing set an example for the little ones (and maybe even the bigger ones) in your life to do the same.

Guilty of Loving too Much...

In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.  (Psalms 109:4, ESV)

It doesn’t get much harder than verse 4 in the life of a believer.  Romans 13, verse 8 tells us to owe no one anything but love because love does no harm...love fulfills the law.  David tells us here that he is hated by them because he loved them.  He was guilty of loving too much.  What should have earned him gratitude and love earned him their hatred.  The same was true for our Lord Jesus and the same will be true for us as believers...they will render to us evil for our good because we follow after who is good. (Ps 38:20)

But here is the beautiful picture that we see in David as well as Jesus.  

“but I give myself to prayer”....in the Hebrew this is rendered “but I am prayer” David literally became prayer. He leaves his adversaries unanswered and goes to His Lord in prayer. He commits Himself to the One who judges righteously.   Before his accusers, he is silent.

I am reminded of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:15:

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

In Matthew 10 Jesus reminds us that the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. In the same chapter He says, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Sadly, as believers we may face times of being rejected by those we love...even by those in whom we have literally poured our lives, simply because we love and follow Jesus.

Our hearts, as David’s was, will hurt and be wounded within us.  But that’s okay...we are loved with an everlasting love and can entrust our hearts AND our souls to our God who who judges righteously.  We are in good company and can make His footsteps our pathway.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?—John 10:32

And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.—Luke 6:11-12

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.  Psalms 69:13,

Turned Into Another Man....

"Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. "And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.—1 Samuel 10:6-7

I loved reading this in 1st Samuel.  God told Saul through Samuel that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him and he would prophesy and be turned into another man, temporarily. An immeasurably better thing happens in the hearts of believers today as they yield their lives to the Spirit of God.  He turns them into a different person... forever.

Our God meets us where we are with all our dents and our scrapes.   He met me when I cried out to Him in utter terror and grief.  When, as last resort, I lifted my arms to Him.  He met me right where I was...very deep in the muck and mire of this world.  He pulled me up and set me in a broad place and put His Spirit in my heart and turned me into another woman.  He has done it all since....all I needed to do was stay close to Him and abide in His word.  He has given me beauty for ashes.  He has done exceedingly abundantly in my life. Have their been difficult times?  Absolutely. But His right hand upholds me and walks me through them all.  He  overrules all of them for my good and His glory.  My job as was Saul's is to obey Him and do as the occasion demands because my God is with me.  The results are always up to Him.

If you are in that place, cry out to God.  He will come to You...right where you are.  As you look to Him He will make glorious changes by His Spirit who will come and dwell in your heart.  You will be conformed to His image and will become what He wants you to be...

Praying also once again this morning,  for our unsaved family and loved ones.  Oh Father,  may they cry out to You in their misery and distress.  Hear their cries and open their hearts to receive all that You have for them.  Be glorified in their lives!  We want for them what You have given us!  Your Spirit dwelling in our hearts.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.--Jeremiah 29:11

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.--2nd Corinthians 3:18

But Sent Leanness Into Their Soul...

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,
And tested God in the desert.
And He gave them their request,
But sent leanness into their soul.—Psalm 106:14-15

And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."—Numbers 21:5

The Bible says that the eyes of man are never satisfied.  In Philippians 4:10-23 Paul expresses his thanks to Philippians for their gift to him, but undergirding this whole passage is a picture of a man who is content with whatever God brings His way.

Paul’s joy was in doing the will of His God...it came from the gospel being preached.  It was independent of His circumstances.  (And his circumstances from an earthly perspective were rarely good). Paul’s focus was ALWAYS outward.  Even in thanking the Philippians for their gift his joy is the fruit that abounds to their account. (Phil 4:17)

A contented person will wait on God and trust in His providence. Their joy is found in their God....it is independent of their circumstances.  They are satisfied with little and are focused on the needs of others.

The Israelites primary focus in prayer was on their physical comfort rather than spiritual desires.  

And He gave them their requests but sent leanness into their soul. Sometimes we “fret and fume” like children until we get what we want.  More often than not our getting what WE want brings more bitterness and grief because the “getting” brings more disappointment.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.—Galatians 2:20

Oh Father...May our joy and our desire be for those things that are spiritually discerned.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?"But we have the mind of Christ.—1 Cor 2:12-16

His Song Shall be With Me...

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life.--Psalm 42:8

I started studying this verse this morning using The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and finished only up to "The Lord will command His lovingkindness." The Lord is my KING!  He is my Commander.  When I am a good and faithful servant and obey His commands, I am in a place of blessing.  In fact the Bible says that the blessings for obedience will come upon me and overtake me!  I love that!!  When I obey, His goodness and mercy follow me and overtake me.  That is so comforting!

Meditating on our God's sovereignty and lovingkindness is such an encouragement as we go through the many trials of life appointed for us.  Dwell on His mercy.  Remember His mercy. Pray for His mercy.  Know that one word from Him will turn your darkness to light, your rough waters to calm seas, your mourning to dancing, and your complaints to praise.  Make His mercy, truth, and power, your refuge. Take up the shield of faith which is your defensive weapons and believe in His power and in His promises.  Remember His presence goes before you and is with you. Stay your mind on Him.  Be strong and brave and let the Lord do what is good in His sight.

Vindicate Me O God...

Vindicate me O God.  And plead my cause against an ungodly nation.  Deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.  For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off?  Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?--Psalm 43:1-2

David is being accused unjustly, maligned and slandered and has been forced into exile.  He asks God here to be his divine judge as well as his defense attorney. Literally it says, Judge me O God, and argue my case. What a difference it makes when we commit ourselves to Him who judges righteously.  What a difference it makes when we know that the God of the Universe is on our side! What a difference it makes when we realize that He is our defender.

He is the God of our righteousness.  When we are attacked or maligned by evil men, it is not our righteousness at stake..It is God's.  His righteousness is imputed to us when we believe.  He will defend it. ❤️❤️

Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!  Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill.  And to your tabernacle.  Then I will go to the altar of God.  To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, oh God, my God."

I love those verses!  Coming to Jesus is always the remedy.  So when the darkness begins to surround me, I am so grateful that I can go to the One in whom is no darkness at all.  I can cry out for Him to lead me by His light and His truth.  I can pray that His goodness and mercy also will follow me. Where do I want them to bring me?  First, to His holy hill...and then to the tabernacle...and then to the altar of God and finally to Him...to God Himself.  Nothing else will do...nothing will satisfy me but to be in His presence.

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God

Mark 10...

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."—Mark 10:42-45

True greatness—Humility—service enjoined—gain thru loss—

Christ our example
Vs 45—Christ—Servant—Sacrifice—Death—redemption

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...Phil 2:5

—Submission and exaltation—Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...Phil 2:9-10

Blind Bartimaeus--Mark 10:46-52

Condition - Helpless
Opportunity - Jesus passed by
Faith - Cried out for mercy
Summons from Jesus
Bartimaeus response - humility...threw aside his garment and came to Jesus
Interesting note - Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus gave him an opportunity to confess his need...even though Jesus knew what he wanted.
Bartimaeus took opportunity when it came...faith honored and rewarded with sight and followed Jesus.

Be Still, and Know that I am God...

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!--Psalm 46:10

God's sovereignty over the affairs of men…Be still or in Hebrew "raphaph" is such a good reminder for me when I am in the midst of the seemingly endless fleshly battle that I fight entitled:  "What I Want That I Am Not Getting"

The word "STILL" OR "RAPHAH"  means TO SINK, RELAX, LET DROP, BE DISHEARTENED, DESIST FROM YOUR WAR….

I really love that description.  It exactly describes what I need to do in the midst of that fleshly battle I mentioned earlier.  I questioned "disheartened" till I thought about it a little more…Biblically the heart is the seat of the will…so take the "heart" or your passionate desire to get what you want…disarm yourself of self...and remember that He is God…

He is sovereign…cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for You….Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Owe No One Anything Except to Love One Another...

Mark 12:29:31 - Which is the first commandment of all?

Cross-reference verse Romans 13:8-10:

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Love is the debt that is never paid...it is always owed.  Love is the summation of our obedience for in love the whole law is fulfilled.  Love is a decision and is always an action.  The love that God has shed abroad in our hearts by His Spirit involves teaching and speaking the truth in love to others, (faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) The love that God has poured out in our hearts also ministers to needs, sets an example that does not lead people toward sin, covers faults, forgives, endures and sacrifices on behalf of others. This kind of love is our debt that is never paid and always owed.

Father...we want to love like this!  Thank You that You have shed Your love abroad in our hearts.  You have given us all we need to love others as you have loved us...to meet them at their point of need.  We submit  to Your Spirit right now and ask that he would purify our hearts and teach us to love.  Be pleased with the way we pay our debts, owing no man anything, but owing everyone love, “always paying and always owing”.  That the world might know we belong to You and that they might be attracted by that love to the One alone who can save them.

"Take Heed, Watch and Pray...

"Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.—Mark 13:33

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."—Luke 21

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.—1 Corinthians 16:13

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.—1 Peter 4:7

He was Despised, and We Dd Not Esteem Him...

In John 6 Christ describes the manna coming down from heaven as a type of His coming down from Heaven to bring life to the world.

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
 "I am the bread of life.
"Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
 "This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."—John 6:38;48-51

As the manna was despised by the Israelites so Christ the bread of life was despised by their descendants.

"but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"

He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him

Simon of Cyrene

And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. (Mark 15:21, ESV)

I grew up Catholic and every Friday throughout Lent my grammar school would assemble in the church at 2:30 and go thru the stations of the cross.  Although I no longer adhere to the traditions of the Catholic Church, God used them, as He uses everything in my life, for my good.  Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry Jesus’ cross was my favorite one to think on...we know very little about who he was except that he was from the North African city of Cyrene and was on his way into Jerusalem. Mark identifies him here as the father of Alexander and Rufus....Rufus is identified in Romans 16:13 as a prominent member of the church at Rome....this makes me happy to read because it most likely means that some time after He bore Jesus’ cross, Simon was saved and then Rufus and perhaps his whole household.  I also like the picture because it reminds me that Jesus fell under the weight of that cross...it was really our cross...not His...because it was for our sin that He bore it.  It was appropriate then that some “representative sinner” was chosen to carry it for Him symbolizing that we all would have had to bear the eternal burden of our own sin had not Jesus come and done it for us.  

For God is My Defense, My God of Mercy...

But I will sing of Your power;

Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;

For You have been my defense

And refuge in the day of my trouble.

To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;

For God is my defense,

My God of mercy.—Psalm 59:16-17

..I will sing psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs with grace in my heart to You, my Lord. I will give thanks to my God who performs all things for me. Riches and honor come from You....in Your hand is power and might...you give strength and reign over all. 

I know, like Job did, that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.  All power belongs to my God!  

Your mercy, oh Lord, is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds.  Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,

But to Your name give glory,

Because of Your mercy,

Because of Your truth.

You are my refuge and my strength.

A very present help in trouble.  Therefore I

will not fear.  

You, LORD, preserve the simple;

I was brought low, and You saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

With my enemy is an arm of flesh; but You, the LORD my God are with me to help me  and to fight my battles.  You delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me,

For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But You were my support.  You also brought me out into a broad place; You delivered me because You delighted in me.

Oh Lord, my God, in You I put my trust!

Comfort, Yes, Comfort My People...

"Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" 

Says your God.

2 "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,

That her warfare is ended,

That her iniquity is pardoned;

For she has received from the LORD's hand

Double for all her sins."

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

"Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make straight in the desert

A highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted

And every mountain and hill brought low;

The crooked places shall be made straight

And the rough places smooth;

5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

And all flesh shall see it together;

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.--"Isaiah 40:1-5

These verses quoted in part from Isaiah 40 in Luke Chapter 3 always fill me with joy.   This is so because of the unity and supernatural design of Scripture, and that even in judgment God “remembers mercy.

I love how Chapter 40 of Isaiah begins too...Comfort, yes, comfort My people!  This chapter also commences the 2nd section of Isaiah.  The two divisions of this OT book  (Chapt 1-39 & 40-66) contain 39 and 27 chapters, respectively, which is how the Old  and New Testaments are broken up...39 books in the OT and 27 in the NT.  Part 1 of Isaiah like the OT, emphasize law and judgment, while part 2 of Isaiah like the NT focus on grace and salvation.  The “NT” portion of  Isaiah begins with the prophecy fulfilled by John the Baptist 700 years later in the gospels, and ends with the coming of the “new heavens and the new earth”(65:17-66:24); further detailed in Revelation, the last book of the New Testament.  

In My Self-Sufficiency...

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah--Psalm 62:8

Often, I go through my day looking and hoping in wrong things.  My heart looks for fulfillment and joy where it will never be found.  As it says in Jeremiah, I hewn for myself cisterns...broken cisterns that can hold no water and I forget the fountain of living waters!   I wonder as David did in Psalm 42:

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

In my self-sufficiency, Father,  I am in distress...every hand of misery comes against me.  But, You, my God, because I am Your beloved...You bow down toward me and speak to my heart  You draw me to Yourself with gentle cords of love. You remind me to come...to cast all my care upon You because it is only in You that my soul finds its rest. 

My Soul Followeth Hard After Thee...

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.--Psalm 63:8

Father....Help me to be like David and follow “hard” after You.  May my soul thirst for You and may Your word be my treasure.  May spending time with You at Your throne of grace be where my attention and time is devoted.  Let me desire like Paul to know nothing but Your Son, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  This is wisdom!  Help me to find my peace in this life in You at Your feet.  May You be my consolation and comfort in death and may I have joy forever in Your everlasting arms.

In the Solitude...

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;—Luke 4:42

There are two applications in this verse...both of which I need to remember daily as I journey through this life.   

The first is I need to depart to a deserted place to be alone with God.  It is here...in the quiet....that I can listen for and hear His still small voice.   It is here that my mind is renewed and progressively changed.  It is here that I can examine what the will of God is...that which is good and acceptable and perfect in His plan and purpose for me.  It is here away from the demands, trials and cares of this world, that I can truly abide...where I can enter His presence and behold Him!   It is here in my solitude that I can come face to face with me and my sin, because it is here that I can see the Lord high and lifted up.   It is here in the quiet where the Lord empties me of me and fills me with Him.  When I turn to Christ, the “veil” is lifted and, as it says in 2 Corinthians 3, I can behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.  I can be transformed into His image from glory to glory by His Spirit.  After spending time with Jesus, I am more able to have compassion on the people around me, more ready to do the ministry that God has given me and more able to love others with the love that God has poured out by His Spirit in my heart.  

The second application is that as He transforms me into His image I will be more approachable to those that are seeking Him. I can be the light in the darkness to those who are hurting or lost...to those who are searching for truth in this world.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV)

The Dayspring from on High...

March 15, 2019

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people

By the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace."—Luke 1:76-79

Note:  the dayspring is the sunrise, the figure corresponding to Ps 19:4-5, and speaks of Jesus, the light of the world coming from heaven to dispel the darkness of this world. 

For You, my God, so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  You demonstrated this great love toward us by dying for us when we were ungodly...dead in our trespasses and sins. Your tender mercies toward us, Father, are from old.  Your Son Jesus, is both the root and the offspring of Jesse, the Son of David, the bright and morning star, and the Sun of righteousness that came with healing in His wings.  He came as a light to the Gentiles and as the glory of the people of Israel.  He opened the eyes of the blind, and led them in a way they knew not. He brought the prisoners out of darkness of the prison house.   He make darkness light before us and the crooked places straight...these things He does and continue to do...He does not forsake us. 

You, Father, opened my eyes and turned me from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.  From your hand through my belief in Your precious Son, Jesus, I have received forgiveness for my sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in You. 

When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me.  My Shepherd, Jesus, is gentle and lowly in heart and it is in Him that my soul finds rest. Righteousness goes before Him and I have made His footsteps my pathway.  My heart sings for the light has come and His glory is upon me...For it is You my God who has shone in my heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  Father, may all the earth come to Your light and kings to the brightness of Your rising.  

When I Was Without God...

The fear of the wicked will come upon him,

And the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.—Prov 10:24-25—

When I was without God, I was without an anchor and without a foundation on which to stand AND I knew it. There were times when fear would grip me...warning words would sound in my head telling me that there was a God and my day of reckoning was ahead and that it would come when I least expected it.  Arrogantly, I ignored those warnings.  BUT God ...in His mercy and grace did not leave me to eat the fruit of my own way. He drew me to Himself with cords of kindness and brought me to a place of repentance.  He redeemed (redeems)my life from destruction and fulfills all my purpose.  My God crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercies...truly my cup runs over. 

My foundation is sure...built now on my Rock, which is Christ. He enlarges my path underneath me so my feet do not slip.  In Him I dwell securely...my habitation is peaceful, my resting places quiet and my sleep sweet. When I pass through the waters, He is with me and the rivers, they do (shall) not overflow me.  I can now because of His grace boldly say, “the Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Keep my heart steadfast Father, trusting You. 

Gracious Words...

but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. —Joshua 23:8

May we cleave unto the Lord our God and continue with Him with purpose of heart...delighting, depending and devoting ourselves to His desires.   Make us shine as lights, Father, bearing fruit by Jesus Christ as we walk through this dark world.  However, this morning it was the second part of this verse that really spoke to my heart.

“but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God AS YOU HAVE DONE UNTO THIS DAY”

Note how gracious the Spirit of God is speaking through Joshua here given the children of Israel’s erratic history!  What an example to me of thinking the best about people.  His words impart grace to the hearers,  they edify.

The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;—Ecclesiastes 10:12

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"—Luke 4:22

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.—Philippians 4

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen—Hebrews 13:20-21

One Thing I Do...

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."—Joshua 24:15

I have been studying the book of Philippians and reading this verse brought my mind to a section of Philippians 3 where I personally have been camped for a week.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”

Those verses together stopped me in my tracks...Joshua and Paul have the same mindset...they were pursuing the same thing...Christlikeness.  Paul's prize, and ours, is the very purpose God had in saving us:

"Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29).

Focusing here on one phrase from Phil 3:13...but ONE thing I do.

Paul had reduced the whole of sanctification to the simple and clear goal of doing “one thing”—pursuing Christlikeness.  I love that for many reasons but mostly because it makes it easier for me to remember and bring it to mind when I need to apply it.  Paul presses toward the goal and does not allow himself to be distracted.  Joshua without equivocation serves the Lord.  He pursues holiness and like Paul is jealous for those under his care to do the same.  Neither want to have labored in vain

Praying that by His gracious Spirit who dwells in me and desires this for me that I can surrender and run as one who wants to win that prize.  Direct me in this, Father, by Your Spirit, to run all I think, say and do through the filter of:

Will saying that or doing this or acting this way coincide with my lifelong pursuit of becoming like my Jesus?

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,—Hebrews 12:1-2a

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,—2 Cor 10:5-6

Counted Worthy to Escape...

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
"For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."—Luke 21:33-36

These verses (34-36) appear only in Luke.  Jesus seems to be stressing the suddenness of this event and from my reading can only apply to the the Rapture.  Verse 36 tells us to watch therefore and pray always that we may be counted worthy to escape all those things that will come to pass and stand before the Son of Man.

Jesus appears to be saying that there is a real possibility that one may profess faith in Christ without possessing true faith.

Paul also reminded the Corinthians (and us) to examine themselves in regard to the genuineness of their salvation

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.—2 Cor 13:5

We do then need to examine the reality of our professed faith to be sure that we are trusting in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 I liked what Henry Morris said about this:

“The sure proof (of genuine salvation) is the realization that Christ is indwelling us by the Holy Spirit resulting in godly lives and glad acceptance of all the revealed Word of God, as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”—Henry Morris

Hymn of My Heart

So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.
—Judges 6:6


The answer for every problem, every fear and every heartache in this world is always the Lord.   I confess I can be so stubborn at times...like a young unteachable child really...how many times has He heard my cry and answered.  How many times has He sent His divine protection, His divine deliverance, His divine wisdom, His divine comfort to my heart and yet I still forget.  I go and attempt to face the day in my own strength.  Even at almost 60, I forget I am weak, insufficient and very flawed!  I FORGET I need Him. Oh Father, forgive me!   So thankful for your forgiving, unchanging, steadfast, faithful love that never leaves me or forsakes me.  Write these verses on my heart, Father, may the words of Psalm 34 become the hymn of my heart!

I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!—Psalm 34:1-8

More Gideon and Judges 6

So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."—Judges 6:15

Oh Father, keep me small in my own eyes. Let not the foot of pride come against me.  Gideon was the least in his poor family and of an undistinguished tribe, but God, who sees the heart, chose Him.  Gideon was also a believer in a family of unbelievers, but his courage brought His father back to You...the One true God. Give me this kind of courage as I face my enemies both within and without and may others see the grace You give me and turn their own hearts toward Yours.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--
that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.—1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Give to the LORD glory and strength.
Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!—Psalm 96:7b-9

The Love of Jesus

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."—Luke 23:34

Jesus prays for the VERY ones that are putting Him to death. God is kind to the unthankful and the evil. He blesses people who don't deserve it, (me) and He pours out His kindness on all. His love never fails...it has eternal effects. 

(Jesus) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(Jesus) never fails.—1 Corinthians 13:7-8

"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

"bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.—Luke 6:27-28

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.—1 Peter 2:21-24

.

Reign in My Heart

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian." But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you."—Judges 8:22-23

May this be MY cry today and every day!  Come and rule in MY heart!  Save me from myself and fill me with You!  For it is in You that I am made perfect.

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

Wrath of Abandonment

God speaking...
Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.—Judges 10:14

Uh oh...They're going to get exactly what they wanted with no restraint. God is stepping back and leaving them to the consequences of their own sinful choices.  They will be filled with their own way and their sin will be their ruin.  Genesis 6:3 tells us that God's Spirit will not strive with us forever. The price for the Israelites as well as for us was/is staggering.

This is the wrath of abandonment.  Proverbs chapter 1 verses 24 to 31 says this:

Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,  Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.  Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

There are many times as I walk through the trials of this life that I feel that even with His presence it is all too much!  But I can endure because He does the enduring.  He performs all things for me and perfects all things that concern me.  His plan for me here out of His heart of love.  He works all together in my life for my good and His glory.   I cannot fathom journeying through life here on earth without Him. He is my rock, my hope and my joy unending.  It is in Him that I live and it is Him that I live unto.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Nothing can separate me from His love.  Not even me.

I do not lose heart because He is always with me!  My work is not in vain, and  my hope is sure,


Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.--Isaiah 40:28-31

The Road to Emmaus

Luke 24: 13–15 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

They were talking and communing together about the things which had happened in Jerusalem and then BAM there is Jesus in the midst of them.  ❤️

Matthew 18:20
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"

And He said to them, "What things?"

I love what happens next...they pour out to Jesus what they know...Jesus then meets them at their point of need...He encourages and strengthens their hearts toward belief. He shows them that their hope was NOT disappointed. That it was in His death and resurrection that the Scriptures had been fulfilled. (“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.”)

This passage resonates with me because what Jesus did for these men on the Emmaus Road, He does for me as I pour out to Him in prayer, my doubts, my misconceptions, my fears and my griefs. He meets me at my point of need.  He perfects what concerns me...He uses His word to comfort me in my grief, encourage me in fears and lack of faith, to impart wisdom when needed (always)and to clarify and correct my doubt and my misconceptions.

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.—2 Timothy 3:14-17

Jephthah...

I was so very grateful for Jephthah today!  I woke up cranky, complaining and filled with me.  From there I went into a mind spiral that centered on my failures and faults.  So by the time I sat down to read my Bible I was not in the greatest of places.

Enter Jephthah to remind me that my God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Oh yeah...

Wanting to find out more about Jephthah, I turned in my Thompson Chain Reference Bible to #1876.  There, I discovered that his name is recorded as one of the giants of faith in Hebrews 11.  I turned there and read the names of the others whose names were recorded there.   Guess what...none of them were perfect...they were all sinners like me.   All of them needed a Savior.

—So grateful to God that He brought me up out of a horrible pit, set my feet upon a rock and established my steps.
—So grateful to God that I can never fall further than His everlasting arms.
—so grateful for His word that is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, that rights my thinking.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:38-39

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

Grace and Truth

John 1:14 tells me that Jesus is full of grace and truth.  Jesus is full of the exact two things that I desperately need...grace and truth.  As if that were not enough, John goes on to tell us that

Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace—John 1:16

Grace for grace: “Literally it means ‘grace instead of grace’.  God’s Grace to us is continuous and inexhaustible...like waves on a seashore. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. There ARE NO interruptions.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ—Ephesians 4:7

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,—Colossians 1:19

Closing with some beautiful quotes by Spurgeon...

Blessed be the Lord for ever that he has provided a fullness for us, for in us by nature there is all emptiness and utter vanity.

The accents are sweet as those of the angel-messenger when he sang, "Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy." Are they not stray notes from celestial sonnets? "All fullness." You, sinner, are all emptiness and death, you, saint, would be so if it were not for the "all fullness" of Christ of which you have received; therefore both to saint and sinner the words are full of hope. There is joy in these words to every soul conscious of its sad estate, and humbled before God.

Mary of Bethany: The Woman Immortalized by Christ

Mary of Bethany: The Woman Immortalized by Christ. ❤️❤️❤️

At Christ’s feet for instruction..

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.—Luke 10:39

"But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."—Luke 10:42

At Christ’s feet for comfort...

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."—John 11:32

At Christ’s feet for service...

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.—John 12:3 (see also Matthew 26:6-13)

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?—2 Cor 2:14-16