A Right Relationship - John 21

 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.  But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.--John 21:5-8

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I love these verses because they show where Peter's heart truly is!  Make no mistake, Peter had trouble  maintaining a stable relationship with His Lord but he so wanted it, didn't he?  His desire was for the Lord.  even though many times it did not penetrate his will.  Peter was overconfident about his spirituality but  Jesus looked at his heart and loved him, because he saw where that desire would lead him as he matured. Jesus' kindness to Peter and to us reminds me of Isaiah 42:3:

"A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth."

As soon as John told Peter that it was the Lord, Peter jumps up and puts on his outer garment and plunges into the sea.  No hesitation...just took time enough to get properly dressed to meet Jesus and threw himself in the water.  The other disciples reacted a bit more sedately and waited til the boat arrived on the shore, but not Peter.  Yes, Peter was impulsive.  Yes, he was arrogant even to telling Jesus that if everyone else forsook Him, he would not, but you could not fault his fervor...His desire was for His Lord.  Peter's love for Jesus is always an encouragement to my faith.


When the time of testing came, Peter's will had not quite caught up with his  fervent desire to follow His Lord and  as John MacArthur says, he collapsed in a heap of denials. The restoration of Peter's relationship with the Lord occurs here in Chapter 21. As He goes about righting the relationship, we really get a window into what Jesus wants from us in our relationship with Him. 

The first thing He wants is that we love Him supremely. He wants us to love Him more than anything else.  I love that.  He demands all of our love.  I remember asking my dad when I was young and even when I got much older how much he loved me.  His answer was always the same.  With all my heart and then he would ask me the same question and I would reply, "I love you will all my heart, Daddy."   This is what Jesus wants from us...hearts that are completely surrendered to Him.  The extent of our surrender and love will be revealed in our obedience to Him. 

The next thing he discusses with Peter is sacrifice. Here is what he says to Peter in chapter 21.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God."


He wants us to be willing give our all even our lives in His service.  To be...as it says in Romans 12... living sacrifices wholly acceptable to Him which is our reasonable service. Loving Jesus supremely means taking up your cross and following Him.  It means obeying Him at any cost...even death. If there's anything in your life that you sacrifice for Christ, that's evidence of your love. If there's anything in your life that you will not sacrifice for Christ, that's the evidence of the shallowness of your love.

The final thing Jesus wants in our relationship with Him is that we follow Him.

He said to him, “Follow Me.”Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”  Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”--John 21:19-22

If we are going to be in right relationship with Jesus,we cannot be concerned about other people.  Our job is to be obedient and  follow Him.  We belong to Him.  Our eyes are to be on Him.  We are set apart to do His work.  Our lives are to reflect His wants and desires...what others are doing or getting or not getting  is irrelevant and not important.  If we focus on them, then they become distractions and get in the way of our service.  Peter turned his eyes away from following Jesus to look at John almost immediately after Jesus told him to follow.   Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Follow Him no matter the cost   It is never about you...it is always about Him and doing His work.  Love Him supremely, live for Him sacrificially, and follow Him completely


But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life--John 6:68


Love
Mom

Lead Me to the Cross

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
Te word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart

Hillsong...

23 on 23

Poem written by my husband Bill on the occasion of our 23rd Wedding Anniversary...

‎23 on 23

Tomorrow just another day?
"Oh yes, of course!" is what you say.
But you'd be wrong you lump of clay.
...It's quite distinct in every way.

For three and twenty years ago

(I'm pretty sure there was no snow)

Two souls agreed to make a go

And Reverend Kirk said "Make it so."

We married at a church in haste.

(A big ta-doo was such a waste!)

The sermon kind of cut-and-paste.

The catered meal without much taste.

Oh yeah we changed and both got older.

Our hands and feet they got much colder.

We learned to lean on His great shoulder.

In Him with grace we got much bolder.

So now its been a long time past.

The years have by us gone so fast.

Many said we'd never last.

But through it all we have held fast.

I do not know how life would be.

Had you chosen to not agree

To become my wife for all to see.

Here's to us at 23.

Happy Anniversary Babe.

Empty Cups - John 21:1-14

John 21

Breakfast by the Sea

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.  But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.  But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.  Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.  Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.  Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead."--John 21:1-14

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I have read these verses through many times and each time I come away with more. God's word is so rich! The application behind the illustration given in these verses is so basic to our Christian walk.  Do we depend on Christ or do we depend on our own efforts?  We all go up and down with this in our journey toward the promised land.  As we mature in the Lord, however, we do more of the depending on Christ than the not depending.  We walk more than in the Spirit than in the flesh. Why?  Because the Lord graciously shows us how unsuccessful and futile our self efforts are.  Each of us learns this lesson  if we are truly His...He makes sure we learn it.  He does not fill our cups until we really see the emptiness of our own efforts.  He wants us to see our weakness and until we do His strength cannot be applied.  It is such a good thing that He does this...self effort is sin.  It draws us away from Him...we leave the warmth of His fellowship and presence for what? For failure.  Depending on Him is so much better...we stay close, bear fruit and succeed.

Let's look quickly at how it plays out here in the illustration that John gives us.  Peter blurts out in verse 3, "I am going fishing," and the others say “We are going with you also.” I did not see prayer being mentioned here or any acknowledgment of the Lord in his decision.  I also remember Jesus telling them that He would meet them on the mountain (Matthew 28:16), but here they are by the sea.  They have moved away from where Jesus had said he would meet them.  It looks like their faith is wavering and they have decided to go back to their former profession and provide for themselves.  Now providing for yourself is a good thing...but make certain that you are providing for yourself in cooperation with His will for you and not your own.

The disciples go out and spend the night fishing and come back empty netted. Jesus, whom they do not recognize, probably because they have walked away in their own efforts, pointedly asks them if they have any food. They tell him no.  He then tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and they will find some.  Find some they did.  We are told they had 153 big fish...Jesus provided for them exceedingly abundantly.

Here is the pattern that we need to see and remember. Peter decides to fish...but He is not doing it in the direction and in the strength of the Lord.  It is all him and he takes all the disciples down the same road with him.  They catch nothing.  Self effort leads to disobedience, failure and loss of fellowship.  Your self-efforts can look really good on the outside but they are futile because they were done without Him...they are not what He wanted you to do.  Hence, they are destined to fail.  I do this so often...I spend time in His word in the morning and get up from my chair and immediately...just like Peter...start to do my own thing without praying or asking the Lord what His plans for me are. Here is what I should be saying either out loud or in my heart: "Lord, show me what you have for me today.  Cause me to walk in your way and do those works you have prepared beforehand...I don't want to do anything Lord in my own strength because I know it is sin and comes to nothing.  Please work in me and through me."

Conversely, doing things in the strength of the Lord will lead to success and intimate fellowship with Him.  Obedience brings blessing...I am going to repeat that....Obedience brings blessing.  This is stated throughout the Old and the New Testament....all the way to Revelation 22:7  which says blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Blessing = Obedience. Disobey and close the door on the Lord's blessing.  153 big fish vs 0 fish.  Divine effort 1 - Human effort - 0.

Most of us who have been a Christian a while can look back in our walks and remember when the Lord illustrated this truth so that it was understood by our hearts.   I can remember saying when He did this for me....wow...I really can't do anything without Him.  How futile to try...how stupid to forget God and not bring Him into the equation and cooperate with His will.  But, even so, I constantly need the reminder...my heart as my daughter Anna wrote in one of her devotionals does not like to abdicate....It likes to have "me" on the throne instead of my Lord.  That is its natural tendency.  I love the picture that John gives us of Jesus having breakfast already prepared as they were dragging up their catch.  Obedience brings intimate fellowship with Jesus.  Jesus said come and eat breakfast...He tells us in John 14:21-24

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me."

There is still so much more in this passage but girls...Examine your own hearts. Are you moving on the basis of your own will or His.  Are you experiencing intimate fellowship with Him?  Are you bearing fruit?  You could be doing good things but still be in disobedience to your God.  If you have been doing things in your own strength...confess it...admit your need for Him because when you think you can do it on your own you are finished. Failure will be the inevitable result. Failure maybe not in the world's eyes but most definitely in His. You received Christ by faith, walk in faith. You didn't get yourself saved., you can't keep yourself saved and you can't make yourself grow spiritually.  It is all Him.

Love
Mom

Valley of Baca

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.... 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 29:4-7,11


Dear Girls,

This one is so important!  What do you do when you find yourself in a very unpleasant and distressful situation.  A situation that brings on feelings of fear, uncertainty, discontentment, grief, or a longing for the past and how things used to be?  A situation that may or may not be permanent.  What do you do? How do you react? 

Now I hate not to have things go the way I want them to or the way I think that they should.  I just hate it!  I complain and kick against the goad...sometimes for a very long time.  I even think I might be surrendering to the situation, but..you know...really I am not.  Focusing on what you are not getting and  what you don't have will ALWAYS make you miserable.  You will be miserable to be around and you yourself will be miserable because you will be thinking of yourself rather than the Lord and those around you. Complaining is sin...you are telling the Lord that the situation He has lovingly prepared for your good is not good.


Do you see what God told His people to do in the very distressing situation they found themselves in...He tells them to accept it and move ahead.  He tells them to adjust, pray and keep moving.  Wait Lord...accept it...but I haven't finished complaining about it yet. Give me some time.  I just want to sit here and be miserable.

Don't allow your life to grind to a halt because you find yourself in a situation in which you never expected and never wanted. Life, more often than not, brings terrible tragedy.  Job loss, betrayals, family problems, marriage issues, sickness, chronic illness, debilitating pain, and death. We do grieve...but we do not grieve as those who have no hope.  If you are a believer whatever situation you find yourself in is from Him.  He will use it for good in your life. This is what we want...we want His plan for our lives.  His plan for us is from His heart of love.  It is always for His glory and our good.  Don't miss out on any of the blessings by complaining about what He has decided was not in your best interest.  Surrender to Him.  Do those works that He has put in front of you today.  Adjust and keep moving.  Plant seeds...follow His leading. Stay close to Him and above all immerse yourself in His word.  Let sitting at His feet and worshiping Him be your highest priority...give Him all the pre-eminence.

The Lord allows us to be in very hard places sometimes because He wants to accomplish His will in us and through us.  Our Lord is faithful, girls. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.  He is always there....if you don't think so it is because you have drawn back and moved away from Him.  Abide and surrender.  The Lord will be your rear guard...The Lord will hedge you behind and before and will keep His hand on you.  He will provide you a way of escape...seek Him...He IS your way of escape, your strong tower and your refuge.  Revel in His goodness.  Don't look back...press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Be blessed and comforted in His love, grace and kindness toward you in His Son.

Psalm 84:6-7 says this: As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.  They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.


Girls...this is what I want as I go through my Valley of Tears here on my earthly pilgrimage.  I want to make it a spring...I want to surrender to His Spirit inside and trust the All Sufficient One in my time of trouble. I want my journey to encourage others in their own walk with the Lord. We all need times of barrenness and trouble to grow strong in Him. Strengthen your inner man by spending time with God and you will begin to see your adversity as an opportunity from Him to experience His faithfulness even more.  Sing in your time of sorrow.  Triumph in tragedy. Look for the rainbows.   Our Lord will bear you up on wings like eagles.   Immerse yourself in the water of His word, girls, and go from strength to strength on your own journey to Zion.

Love
Mom

Tear Your Heart and not Your Garment - Psalm 16:4-6

⁴ Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;
         Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
         Nor take up their names on my lips.
    
 ⁵ O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
         You maintain my lot.
 ⁶ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
         Yes, I have a good inheritance.

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

The last study spoke of the saints, the excellent ones on the earth.  These stand in stark contrast to those who run after other gods...the ungodly.  This verse brought my mind to Psalm 1 which speaks of the way of the righteous and the end of the ungodly.  Here it is:

¹ Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
         Nor stands in the path of sinners,
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 ³ He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water,
         That brings forth its fruit in its season,
         Whose leaf also shall not wither;
         And whatever he does shall prosper.
     
 ⁴ The ungodly are not so,
         But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
 ⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
         Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
     
 ⁶ For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
         But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What a contrast!  Girls, going after other gods, whatever they might be...however innocent they might seem will only increase your sorrow.  You eventually will become like what you worship and unless you are worshiping the Lord of the Universe, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, this will NOT BE A GOOD THING.

Jeremiah 10:14-16

"Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them.¹⁵ They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish.¹⁶ The Portion of Jacob is not like them,  For He is the Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name."

Your idols cannot do a thing for you...in fact they will make you dull-hearted and without knowledge.  They are futile. Their end is destruction and you will become their essence.  God will eventually turn you over to your own desires.  Your foolish heart will become darkened. (Romans 1:19-25) Read, however, Jeremiah 10:16...here is the antidote for idol worship.  Here is its cure.  Let your Portion...your all in this world be Jesus Himself.  Do not compromise.  Become radically, completely and utterly devoted to Him and your joy will be full.

Lamentations 3:24  “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!”  The antidote to idol worship is to immerse yourself in Him and remember that it is in Him that you live and move and have your being.  How many times have you said to yourself..."if i just had or if this would just occur then I would be okay"...How many times?  Finally you go to where you should have gone at the outset...to the Lord and spend time with Him and return realizing that it really wasn't any of those things that were needed or were going to make it better...IT WAS HIM YOU WANTED...HE WAS WHAT WAS NEEDED.  The Lord doesn't just give me a portion...HE is my portion. He is the Becoming One...He becomes whatever we need.  In Him we find such satisfaction in our souls that nothing else matters.


Girls, may you never fool yourself in thinking that you can live after your own desires and that somehow the grace of God will make up for it or His love will cover it. God said, "Tear your heart, not your garments." He doesn't want an outward display. He wants an inward work in your heart and your total devotion to Him. If there are things you are putting before God even today...repent...stop...go in the other direction.  If your life is filled with an outward display but not much of an inward change...surrender to Him right now and ask Him to do that work in your heart.


Truly, if the Lord is my Portion and my cup then the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places...YES! I DO HAVE A GOOD INHERITANCE!!

Love
Mom

Twas 6 Days Before Christmas by Bill Lilley

T'was Six Days Before Christmas

And all through the earth

Social Networks t'were a Twitter
...
Celebrating the birth

Of the One who came down

From His Heavenly Throne

To die in our place

And to make us His own.

Oh sure there are laptops

That decry such a story

But they're overwhelmed by the desktops

That give God all glory.

I know that the Enemy, the father of lies,

Is enraged that God's people

Spread the good news through WiFi's.

Despite all the efforts to mute all the din

His plan of redemption

Will assuredly win.

So as you all the details

Carefully prepare

Don't forget the main purpose;

Jesus is there!

James 1:18

James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

The first few words of this verse, girls, are worship worthy! He brought us forth of His own will.  Meditate on that. He brought us forth because He wanted to. It was His desire to bring us forth into new life. We did not earn it or deserve it.  It was His will and His grace to do it. His unmerited, unwarranted favor in Christ Jesus. I am amazed by this.  I know who I was before the Lord reached down and saved me.  I am a woman who has been forgiven much.  I think of the Phil Wickham song "Cannons", "You are holy great and mighty The moon and the stars declare who You are I'm so unworthy, but still You love me Forever my heart will sing of how great You are."  So unworthy and yet He loves me....Unfathomable grace!   By this spiritual birth we become His children and since a birth cannot be undone, we are His children forever. John 1:12-13 says this:

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Reading on the agent used to bring forth this new birth is the Word of God.  The Spirit of God uses the word of God to bring forth this miracle. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us this "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." and finally James 1:21 tells us to "lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." 1 Peter 1:23 tells us that our new birth is unfailing and permanent because we are born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. Are you getting the picture...there is no rebirth apart from the Spirit of God and the word of God.

The last part of the verse says we who are born again are a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. James wrote to Jewish believers, and the word firstfruits would be meaningful to them.  Proverbs 3:9 says “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase”  Everything comes from the Lord and belongs to Him. The Christian Jews to whom James wrote were some of the very first believers. The firstfruits of Christ's harvest so to speak. They would be followed by others throughout the years. By you and by me. All believers are a kind of firstfruits and as such we should offer ourselves as living sacrifices to our Lord.  We came from Him, we belong to Him and we are to devote our lives in service to Him.

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Total and utter commitment is our reasonable service. Nothing less for Him who died for us. 

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
   On which the Prince of glory died,
   My richest gain I count but loss,
   And pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
   Save in the death of Christ my God!
   All the vain things that charm me most,
   I sacrifice them to His blood.
3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
   Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
   Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
   Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
   That were a present far too small;
   Love so amazing, so divine,
   Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts

Love
Mom

Psalm 16:3 - The Excellent Ones...

Psalm 16:3 As for the saints who are on the earth,“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I love verse 3.  I understand just what David is saying....The saints who are on the earth....they truly are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.  Those who have been born again...renewed by God's grace are precious in my sight. They are God's gifts to me for the journey.  The saints on this earth have surrounded me with God's love, care, concern, encouragement and kindness for the last 16 years.  Watching them walk with our Lord and seeing their kindness to me and to my family in Christ Jesus encourages my faith and helps me to endure.   Paul says this in Romans 1:12 "that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."

John 5: 1-2 says "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments."  To love God, girls, is to love his people.  We are His delight, His beloved, His excellent ones, His jewels and His nobility here on the earth.  The saints of the earth bear His image and are His servants and His friends.  Galatians 6:10 says that we (the saints on the earth) are to do good to all but especially to those who are of the household of faith.  This is not to say that our kindness should be limited to believers but that our kindness toward believers should be especially evident.  1 John 3:17  "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"


Jesus tells us this in Matthew 12:50:  "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

Israel would not have Him, so He turns to those who will.  Blood relationships were superseded by spiritual relationship. Our true family here on this earth girls, are the saints. There is a depth and dimension of relationship with them that cannot be found or forged with a non-believer.  Make no mistake, however, God uses us in each others lives as sandpaper and as iron sharpening iron.  The precious of God on this earth, girls, will most definitely encourage you, but they WILL also offend you. The church, especially if it is not well taught, can become a war zone with victims strewn everywhere.  When you find yourself offended...do as it says in Psalm 4. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.  Do what is right because it is not about you it is about His light shining through you to others.  If you get in the way with your own offense you cast shadows over His goodness. Focus on your own sin, NOT on the sins of those around you. No planking and specking allowed!  Yours is the only heart you can surrender to Him to do with as seems good in His sight.  Philippians 4:8 "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." 

If your relationship is right with the Lord, your relationship will be right with the saints He surrounds you with.  If you surrender to Him and refuse to make anything about you, the Lord will work mightily in your heart and in the lives of those around you. You  will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

I found the following quote in the Believer's Bible Commentary.  It really speaks my heart in my feelings towards the people of the family of God.



"From the first day I set off until the present hour, I have been as highly favored as a mortal and sinful being can well be. My fellowship has been with the excellent of the earth, and every one of them striving to the utmost of his power to show me kindness for the Lord's sake.


Paul says this in Philippians 1 about the saints that surrounded him.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,  for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;  just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ."

 Love
Mom who is also including Galatians 6:1-10 below.  A truly beautiful passage.

Galatians 6

Bear and Share the Burdens

 ¹ Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Rose in the Desert by Rebecca

“Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” ~ Ezra 4:24

The denizens of Judea fought the rebuilding of the temple and of Jerusalem tooth and nail. When their threats failed to prevent the altar from being laid on its base, they tried deception. It just went on and on. When one tactic failed, ...they would try another. “Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (vs. 4-5) Their greatest achievement was writing an accusation to Artaxerxes, claiming that if Jerusalem was rebuilt, the Jews would revolt and the king would suffer major losses of power, territory, and treasure. They cited Jerusalem’s “rebellious” history as proof.

Artaxerxes heeded the letter and made a search into the records. He responded, “...a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.” (vs. 19-20) He commanded that all construction cease.

And no wonder. Israel’s entire history, from Abraham to the nation today, is a chronicle of miracles that even the most skeptic modern critic cannot wholly deny. The very fact that she exists, that her people exist, that her culture exists, and that she blooms like a rose in the desert, is jaw-dropping of itself. Artaxerxes looked at his records – looked at how many times this nation had gone from nothing to almost everything, looked at the mighty kings she had produced, looked at the impossible odds she had withstood – and he did not want to be the next entry.

Israel was, is, and will continue to be a cup of trembling to the nations. And those who won’t understand the God of Israel can’t understand why. But that impossible people is God’s chosen people, set apart to Him, and His witness, and thus the constant object of Satan’s hatred and assault. There is enormous physical conflict surrounding Israel because there is enormous spiritual conflict surrounding Israel.

Yes, Artaxerxes stopped the construction for a while, because the Lord allowed it. But construction began again exactly when the Lord decided it was time, and Jerusalem was rebuilt. Satan can try all he likes – for now – but he can’t win with God. Even more galling to him, the Lord can take his evil and use it all for good. God is sovereign over the world, over its rulers, over Satan, over the demons, and over all the principalities and powers. He is in control. And His people Israel is one of the greatest proofs of His authority.

The awesome God of Israel is my God, even my Father. The God of Israel is my refuge, my salvation, my fortress, and my hope. Whom shall I fear?

Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

The Value of the Word....

Girls...no words...just this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dpmp_-TY0&feature=player_embedded


Love Mom who used to sleep with her bible under pillow and still does not like it out of her sight for long.

Psalm 16:2 - And Grace for Grace...

O my soul, you have said to the LORD, You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”--Psalm 16:2

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

The Lord does not need me or you or anything we think we can do for Him.  If there is anything good in us, it is from Him.  We have no goodness outside of Him. We can offer Him nothing. Job 22:2-3 says  "Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless? Then again in Job 37:7-8 "If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?  Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man." 1 Corinthians 4:7 says "What do you have but what you have received? And if you have received it, then why do you boast as though you didn't receive it?" If there is any goodness in my life it is because God is at work in my life.  I can't boast in anything because my righteousness is a gift from Him through belief in His Son.

Are you seeing  how we bring absolutely nothing to the table...nothing. Yet look at the things that Psalm 139 tells us about His love, care and concern for us.  He takes our hand.  He leads us and upholds us.  When the darkness falls on us, He makes the night light about us and His thoughts toward us are more in number than the sand. Read John 17 and be overwhelmed with His graciousness and His love. Listen to what David has to say in Psalm 8.

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels,  And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have Even the beasts of the field,The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"

Psalm 40:17 says But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me."  The Lord not only thinks on us, He died for us when we were His enemies and lives forever to make intercession for us.

Romans 5:8-10  says that "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  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."

Are you getting the picture girls..."He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) What unfathomable grace we have in Christ Jesus.  Luke 12:32 says it is His pleasure to give us His kingdom.  Philippians 1:6 says that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. What does He ask of us for all His care and concern.  What is His desire?  The answer is in John, Chapter 3. "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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  Do as the Psalmist did 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."  Cast your care upon Him girls, He truly cares for you.


Love
Mom

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it--1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Preserve me O God....Psalm 16

 Psalm 16:1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.



Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

Lord willing, I am going to be memorizing and meditating on Psalm 16 over the next few weeks. I have already been so blessed in just examining the first word!

This prayer of David's (Preserve me O God) has much precedent in Scripture...Psalm 31:23 tells us that the Lord preserves the faithful.  Psalm 37:28 says that the Lord does not forsake His saints...that they are preserved forever.  Psalm 97:10 states that the Lord He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.  Psalm 116 says the Lord preserves the simple and then goes on to say I was brought low and the Lord saved me.  Finally Proverbs 2:8 says He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.


I loved reading the definition from the Strongs.  "Preserve" means to  root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.: - beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).

Wow....This is what David asks the Lord to do for him. This is what David knows the Lord does for Him...This is why David's trust is in the Lord.  It wasn't about who David was or what David had done or dependent upon David at all; it was about who the Lord is.  I want to know and trust with heart knowledge that the Lord of the Universe...the One who spoke the worlds into existence watches over me...hedges me behind and before, guards me, protects me, attends to me, observes me...looks narrowly at me...saves me!  I want His constant regard and concern.  I want Him to oversee all my doings.  I want Him to search my heart so that He can lead me in the way everlasting.  I don't want to miss out on a single one of His blessings here or in eternity.

Stay under the shadow of His wings, girls.  There is no place you can go where He cannot find you.   I am reading Psalm 139 in conjunction with studying this verse and am overwhelmed with His love and kindness toward me.  Truly as it says in Psalm 139 such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain it.  Give up now...surrender yourself to the One who truly cares for you.  Give Him your life and watch Him work!


Love
Mom

Psalm 139

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
 ² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
 ³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
 ⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 ⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.
       
 ⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
         Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 ⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
         If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
         And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 ¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
         And Your right hand shall hold me.
 ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall^[a] on me,”
         Even the night shall be light about me;
 ¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
         But the night shines as the day;
         The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
       
 ¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.
       
 ¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
         How great is the sum of them!
 ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
         When I awake, I am still with You.
       
 ¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
         Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
 ²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;
         Your enemies take Your name in vain.^[c]
 21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
         And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
 ²² I hate them with perfect hatred;
         I count them my enemies.
       
 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me, and know my anxieties;
 ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,
         And lead me in the way everlasting.

Yokes - Jeremiah 27 - 28

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

 God once again is asking Jeremiah to do something that is definitely going to make him stand out among the people of Judah. I am pretty sure that everyone in the surrounding area and nations are getting to know this "strange man of God."

This time God told him to put a yoke around his neck to convey the message that Judah and the other nations around her needed to submit and surrender to the "yoke" of Babylon.  Jeremiah delivers this same message to the ambassadors from other nations who had come to form an alliance, to King Zedekiah and also to the priests and the people. He told them that the Lord had given all the nations into the hand of his servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and would serve him.  If they refused to submit to the king of Babylon's yoke they would die.  If they accepted the yoke, they would live. The false prophets were giving Israel hope, but Jeremiah told the truth.  

Jeremiah was telling the people to surrender and live.  Surrender and live!  Take His yoke and live...because make no mistake we are all in bondage in many ways.  Be in bondage to the One who can bring blessing from bondage.  Be yoked with the One who does not want us to bear it alone.  Be yoked with the One who gives sufficient grace for every time of need. All other kinds of yokes and bondage bring death.  Life is full of grief, sadness, depression, discouragement, betrayal, illness and death.  It is wearying. Jesus said this In Matthew 11:28-30.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”--Matthew 11:28-30
 
Go to Him, Jesus, and find rest.  Take His offer and find rest.  Take his yoke...walk with Him daily and learn from Him. Behold Him. Put aside your own ways for His. Allow Him to show you how to live...His commandments are not burdensome...they are for our good and His glory.  We can trust Him.  He loved us so much that He gave His life for us.  He gives us life abundantly here and in eternity.

Girls, what is most taxing...most wearying in my life is me, myself and I.  What Pastor Lloyd calls the "trinity of stupidity."  It is what causes the majority of my problems.  God wants to take that burden from us...He wants us to take off the yoke of self and put on His Son, Jesus.  Know that the Lord wants to take from you only those things that cause you unrest and weariness or keep you from drawing close to Him. Remember that when you find yourself in a battle with God.  I love what J.H. Jowett says:

"The fatal mistake for the believer is to seek to bear life's load in a single collar. God never intended a man to carry his burden alone. Christ therefore deals only in yokes! A yoke is a neck harness for two, and the Lord himself pleads to be One of the two. He wants to share the labor of any galling task. The secret of peace and victory in the Christian life is found in putting off the taxing collar of “self” and accepting the Master's relaxing “yoke.” "

Love
Mom

Don't Shoot the Messenger....

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I am studying Jeremiah 26, because that is where Pastor Ed will be this Sunday in his verse by verse teaching.  I also followed it through verse by verse.


Jeremiah 26:1-4  In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying,  “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.  Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.’ And you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you  to heed the words of My servants the prophets whom I sent to you, both rising up early and sending them (but you have not heeded),  then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

God tells the people that He will turn from His discipline if they will hear and repent.  This is the same speech to the people talked about in Jeremiah 7.  Jeremiah is speaking at the gates of the Lord's temple to the people, who have come to worship at the Lord's house.  This took place during King Josiah's time...one of Judah's greatest most godly kings.  Josiah called the people back to God.  Now some of the people might have had hearts for the Lord and His ordinances like Josiah, but the majority did not. They did it because the king commanded it and it was outward only. The people  might have been celebrating and sacrificing, but their hearts were far from the Lord.  God wants the inward response of the heart. The outward without the inward heart behind it, is an abomination to Him.  James tells us that even the demons acknowledge God but true belief stems from the heart and will...make no mistake....affect our behavior.

Jeremiah 26:7-11 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.  Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You will surely die!  Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without an inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
 
When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat down in the entry of the New Gate of the LORD’s house.  And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and all the people, saying, “This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.”

So as Jon Courson puts it: ""Rather than grab the message of grace and mercy God offered the priests and the prophets and people of Judah chose to grab Jeremiah and tell him he must die.

My daughter, Rebecca, recently wrote a devotional on Acts 6.  The people did a similar thing to Stephen...here is a portion of her devotional: 

" But when they did look steadfastly, they recognized something about Stephen that was not of man. They looked at Stephen and they saw, not a sinful human, but Christ in that sinful human. The truth about Jesus and His saving work was right there before their eyes, in an earthen vessel named Stephen.
So they killed him. The Freedmen couldn't disprove the truth, so they resorted to lies; the council could not bear Stephen's witness, so they created a mob. Acts 7:58, “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.”
They stopped their ears. They wouldn't hear. They wouldn't see. They refused to understand. They hardened their hearts. Doesn't it make you cry? How many people do you know who stop their ears to the Lord? Who shoot the messenger because they can't bear the truth? Who are so lustful for their own way that they pull down whoever and whatever they must to have it? And what if YOU are that person? 

The truth is right in front of you. It always is. It cannot be rationally or objectively resisted, but it can be denied. The choice is yours. What are you going to do with the truth?"

Jeremiah 26:12-15   Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard.  Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you. As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you.  But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Even though his life was threatened, Jeremiah was not going to change his message.  He just tells them that if you kill me your judgment will be greater.... I love it!

Jeremiah 26:16 So the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve to die. For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

Even though the priests and the prophets still wanted him dead, the people and the princes decided not to kill him. They spared Jeremiah's life but still did not repent. The people ignored his message and would lose their lives for it.  They had rejected the Lord and His Word.  They had rejected His mercy and His grace.

Jeremiah 26:17-24 Then certain of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying:  “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts:

      “ Zion shall be plowed like a field,
      Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins,
      And the mountain of the temple
      Like the bare hills of the forest.”


Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah ever put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and seek the LORD’s favor? And the LORD relented concerning the doom which He had pronounced against them. But we are doing great evil against ourselves.”

Now there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.  And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid and fled, and went to Egypt.Then Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor, and other men who went with him to Egypt. And they brought Urijah from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

The elders use two prophets who prophesied very similarly to Jeremiah as precedents for the decision not to kill Jeremiah.  The first was, Micah,  who prophesied to Hezekiah and as a result Hezekiah and the people sought the Lord and repented. The Lord then turned from the evil prophesied against them. The other was Urijah who prophesied against the city according to all the words of Jeremiah and whose life was also threatened.  Unlike Jeremiah, however, he ran away and was captured in Egypt.  He was then brought back to Jehoiakim , who put him to death.  Jeremiah stood his ground and put his life in the hands of his God.  His life was spared. 

Quite a lesson for us here in comparing the reactions of Jeremiah and Urijah. Did you remember what Jeremiah said in verse 14.  "As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you."  Jeremiah knew that his life was in the hands of the sovereign God.  There was nothing man could do to him outside of God's will.  If they had decided to put him to death, he knew where he was going.  Jeremiah did not equivocate out of fear...he obeyed and spoke exactly what the Lord had put on his heart.  Urijah ran to where he thought he would be safe and was captured and brought back and killed. No one could miss that Jeremiah was willing to die for what he believed.  That spoke volumes, I am sure, to all around him.  Jeremiah's words were not empty, they carried the weight of the Living God of the Universe and reflected what he believed.  His heart was behind what he spoke and his actions followed.

Psalm 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

 Love
Mom

Beloved of the Lord - Sleep in Peace

Psalm 4

 ¹ Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

         You have relieved me in my distress;

         Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

 ² How long, O you sons of men,

         Will you turn my glory to shame?

         How long will you love worthlessness

         And seek falsehood?  Selah

 ³ But know that the LORD has set apart^[a] for Himself him who is godly;

         The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

 ⁴ Be angry, and do not sin.

         Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Selah

 ⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

         And put your trust in the LORD.

 ⁶ There are many who say,

         “Who will show us any good?”

         LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

 ⁷ You have put gladness in my heart,

         More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

 ⁸ I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

         For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.--Psalm 4:8

This is the final installment of Psalm 4.  I was so blessed in the meditation and memorization of it.

Lying down in peace and sleeping was quite a feat for someone going through all that David was going through. It is also quite an accomplishment today.  If we are thinking human beings, there is truly much to be concerned about...much to keep us awake at night fretting.  When we know, however, that our peace, safety and sufficiency comes from our sovereign God we can relax.  Psalm 94:19 says "In the multitude of my anxieties within, your comforts delight my soul."  Another one I love is from Psalm 138.  "The Lord will perfect all that concerns me." Or Psalm 57:2 "I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me." 

Reassured, the psalmist's turmoil subsides. He can now lie down in peace and sleep, knowing that it is the LORD who makes him dwell in safety.  I looked up the word safety in the Strong's.  Here is what it gives the idea of: a place of refuge...the fact and the feeling of security and trust...someone who can have assurance and be without care...wow!!  That is quite a change in attitude from the 1st verse.

Memorize this Psalm, girls,  Recite it when you can't sleep or wake up in the early morning hours with your mind racing with concerns.  It has been spoken of as God's tranquilizer. I am so glad I am the Lord's beloved...truly the antidote for anxiety and a lack of peace is the Lord and His Word.  Jehovah...the Becoming One...He Becomes whatever we need...so glad He is mine.

Deuteronomy 33:12 "“The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long;  And he shall dwell between His shoulders.”

Love
Mom

Philippians 4:6-8 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."


Psalm 3:5 I lay down and slept;  I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

On Being a Bondservant...

James, a bond servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.---James 1:1

Dear Girls,

I was preparing for a study I am doing at the nursing home tomorrow and this first verse in James kept going through my head after I had finished.  I started to meditate on what it really means to be a bond servant. What would being a true bond servant of Jesus Christ look like in my life. For James ultimately, it meant  martyrdom.

James introduces himself as the bond servant of God and of Lord Jesus Christ. If I were James, I would have introduced myself as the Lord's brother or the head of the church in Jerusalem but that is not how James thought of himself.  He humbly spoke of himself as a bond servant of Jesus.  It's a title that most of the apostles delighted to take.  They renounced any claim for any rights turning their lives over to God and to the Lordship of Jesus.  They were bereft of ambition in a personal way.  They lived solely to serve the Lord and to please Him. No rights of ownership, no title to anything, everything they had belonged to their Master.  A bond servant's job is only to obey.  The responsibility for the decisions and the results of their actions directed by their Master are not theirs.  Do you see the beauty in that.  How simple your life becomes.  How most decisions you face have already been made.


Taking that word bond servant and making it personal...applying it to me and to my relationship with the Lord, would mean that I do not own anything...not my house...not bank account...not my talents....not anything.  It also means that my children do not belong to me...They are in my care but they are the Lords and they are His to do with what He would do.  As are my grandchildren....they are all ultimately in His hands.  My time is not mine...it is the Lords...my priorities are not mine...they are the Lords.  Are you getting the picture? 

Job said, "Though he slay me yet I will trust in Him" and "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." . My job is to surrender to His Spirit and be a faithful servant.  Read the Word, girls, with this verse always in mind. If God is our Master, we must obey willingly. We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Our time, abilities, money...our very lives are not our own.  We are caretakers, not owners. Remember that as a good servant, a faithful servant our job is to be obedient and leave the results up to Him. Live radically for Him...be blessed here and when your earthly life is ended your Lord will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Love
Mom

Some encouraging verses for servants of the Lord...

Psa 16:10  For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
Psa 16:11  You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
John 12:26  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Joh 17:24  "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Php 1:23  For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better
2Ti 2:12  If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
Heb 12:2  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.
Rev 7:17  for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

John 20:11-12 The Mercy Seat

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain--John 20:11-12

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.  Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat.  And there I will meet with you,--Exodus 25:17-19,22

Dear Girls,

When I read this I was so blessed. I am reviewing and studying John 20 for the bible study that Mary is doing this Thursday and looking at verses 11 and 12. The word tells us that Peter and John had left the empty tomb and had returned to their homes.  Mary stays by the tomb weeping. Here is what John 20:11-12 says:  "But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet,"  She looks in and sees two angels. Now she didn't recognize that they were angels. Mark Chapter 16 tells that they were in the form of a man, Luke 24:4 also says that there were two men. Angels took on the form of young men. Here were two angels in the form of young men sitting at either end of the slab in the tomb where Jesus had lain. 

Turn to Exodus Chapter 25.  God is giving instructions here on the building of the Ark of the Covenant. God dwelt in the tabernacle and His presence was between the Cherubim and it was there that He would meet Moses. Here is what Exodus 25:17-19 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat." Wow!! Are you seeing the similarities between the two pictures?

Now once a year the high priest would take the blood of the sacrifice and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat. This was where God met man.  God met man at the Mercy Seat by the faithful shedding of blood. Hebrews 9:22 says "For without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins."

Verse 22 of Exodus 25 begins "and there I will meet with you". In the Old Testament God met man between the Cherubim at the mercy seat. The empty tomb of the resurrected Christ, the lamb slain before the foundation of the world, has become the mercy seat of the New Testament. God meets us on the basis of the resurrected Christ. 

Such precious precious truths concealed in the Old Testament and clearly revealed in the New Testament... I am including Hebrews 9 below.




Love
Mom

Hebrews 9

The Earthly Sanctuary

 ¹ Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. ² For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; ³ and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, ⁴ which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

⁶ Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. ⁷ But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; ⁸ the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. ⁹ It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— ¹⁰ concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

¹¹ But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,^[a] with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

¹⁶ For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”^{[b] 21} Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

²³ Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— ²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Rejoicing in Weakness

Isaiah 40:27-31

Why do you say, O Jacob,
      And speak, O Israel:

      “ My way is hidden from the LORD,
      And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
²⁸ 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.
       ²⁹ He gives power to the weak,
      And to those who have no might He increases strength.
       ³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
      And the young men shall utterly fall,
       ³¹ 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.

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
 

Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: "My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God"?  Sometimes I feel like saying yeah I know God holds the whole world in His hands and He spoke the universes into existence, but what about me? Is He really interested in me and does He really care.  I mean He has so much to do controlling the universe. Does He really hear me when I call to Him? This is foolish thinking.  We have such powerful evidence of His love and concern right in front of us all the time.   God anticipates our thoughts and look what He says in the next verse.

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. God does not live in the confines of time...He does not face the restrictions that we face.  He has unlimited time, unlimited energy and unsearchable understanding.  Why would we go anywhere else? Examine your thoughts and your words... don't limit your understanding of God by comparing Him to what you experience here on earth. Your God is from everlasting to everlasting.   He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings...the One who will reign forever and ever.  He can handle whatever you might throw at Him.  He is sufficient to silence all fears and doubts.  Be still and know that He is God.

"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."  These last few verses are some of the most beautiful in Scripture.  What a promise!  We do not have to be strong...Jesus tells us to come to Him when we are burdened and heavy laden and He will give us rest. Our God promises us that He will give us power when we are weak. Galatians 2:20 says that it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us. Because believers are in Christ, He infuses them with His power to sustain them. We are strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. Our outward man may be perishing but our inward man is being renewed every day.

Believers who wait on the Lord are blessed and receive strength in their trials.  I need this so much especially as I realize more and more with heart knowledge that I can do nothing without Christ. Girls, weakness is truly the place to be.  In weakness we look up.  In weakness we acknowledge our need for Him.  In weakness we can be strong in His grace! In weakness we are nigh unto Him and can be used mightily.  Look at the cross of Christ as your example!

Second Corinthians 12:9-10 says "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." John MacArthur says the present tense of the verb translated "is sufficient" reveals the constant availability of His grace.  He continually supplies us with the grace to endure. The weaker the human instrument the greater His grace can shine through.  How wonderful is that.  The world views weakness as a disadvantage and something to be avoided at all costs.God views it as an opportunity for us to shine brighter for Him.  Not that we rejoice in pain and suffering but we can rejoice in that the power of Christ can be revealed in us.


Here is how I will end...here is what is absolutely priceless...available for the asking...


"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."--2nd Cor 4:7-11

John Wesley says: "But we - Not only the apostles, but all true believers. Have this treasure - Of divine light, love, glory. In earthen vessels - In frail, feeble, perishing bodies. He proceeds to show, that afflictions, yea, death itself, are so far from hindering the ministration of the Spirit, that they even further it, sharpen the ministers, and increase the fruit. That the excellence of the power, which works these in us, may undeniably appear to be of God."

Love

Mom