"I the LORD do not change. So you are not destroyed." ~ Malachi 3:6
I am infinitely thankful for this truth! I know that, if not for this fact, I would certainly have been destroyed because of how overtly sinful, blatantly stubborn & willfully disobedient I have been over and over again.
God remains full of mercy and grace every single day, so that we are not destroyed. What a magnificent gift! He won't change His mind about extending His grace to me---EVER! Thank you Lord.
"He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; He is not a man, that He should change his mind."
Monday, June 10, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
My Restorer
I am completely grateful that Jesus is my Restorer. He restores my dignity when circumstances in this fallen world remand it from me. What's more, He restores my dignity even when I have willingly dragged His name to some very UNdignified places. Praise Him!!
A week ago our Associate Pastor preached from Mark 5 about the woman who was healed after she touched the hem of Jesus' cloak. I have always admired her incredible faith. But, God shed some light on a while different aspect of this story, this time.
"At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched me?" .......Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear, told Him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." " ~ Mark 5:31, 33-34
This woman was healed immediately. Jesus could have easily let this be and gone on His way, but He didn't. After all, she was "unclean" and probably had such a stigma attached to her in the eyes of her community. Thankfully Jesus doesn't allow stigma to silence Him. He calls its bluff and nixes it as soon as we cry out to Him. Only Jesus can cleanse me of the filthy stigma and disgrace that tries to brand me with shame & condemnation. He restores my dignity, heals my scars, and strengthens me to walk in a renewed, deeper faith. Thank you, LORD.
A week ago our Associate Pastor preached from Mark 5 about the woman who was healed after she touched the hem of Jesus' cloak. I have always admired her incredible faith. But, God shed some light on a while different aspect of this story, this time.
"At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched me?" .......Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear, told Him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." " ~ Mark 5:31, 33-34
This woman was healed immediately. Jesus could have easily let this be and gone on His way, but He didn't. After all, she was "unclean" and probably had such a stigma attached to her in the eyes of her community. Thankfully Jesus doesn't allow stigma to silence Him. He calls its bluff and nixes it as soon as we cry out to Him. Only Jesus can cleanse me of the filthy stigma and disgrace that tries to brand me with shame & condemnation. He restores my dignity, heals my scars, and strengthens me to walk in a renewed, deeper faith. Thank you, LORD.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Unworthy....but never unloved
This morning finds me enormously grateful that despite my unworthiness, God loves me.....even when I am at my very worst!
It never ceases to amaze me how spiritual warfare can rock my world, sometimes. It's no secret that satan will try incessantly to convince me that I am UNworthy of Christ's love and mercy. But here's the thing....he's right! I am unworthy. I've always been unworthy. My unworthiness was not enough to keep God from reaching out to love me. God chose me inspite of my unworthiness. Praise Him!
My unworthiness (and yours) has never been an obstacle to keep our Savior from completely loving us. In fact His love for us was so great that He literally laid aside everything to prove it and rescue us from the demise of our unworthiness.
He chose me. He called me out of the darkest dark. He personally secured my forever with His very life! Thank you Jesus!
"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." ~ 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
It never ceases to amaze me how spiritual warfare can rock my world, sometimes. It's no secret that satan will try incessantly to convince me that I am UNworthy of Christ's love and mercy. But here's the thing....he's right! I am unworthy. I've always been unworthy. My unworthiness was not enough to keep God from reaching out to love me. God chose me inspite of my unworthiness. Praise Him!
My unworthiness (and yours) has never been an obstacle to keep our Savior from completely loving us. In fact His love for us was so great that He literally laid aside everything to prove it and rescue us from the demise of our unworthiness.
He chose me. He called me out of the darkest dark. He personally secured my forever with His very life! Thank you Jesus!
"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." ~ 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Jesus laid down His life....willingly & deliberately
To say that I am grateful for Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross is really a masterpiece of UNDERstatement....but I will say it over and over until the day I breathe my last breath!
As we are quickly approaching Good Friday, my heart and mind are very in-tune with Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Even after 33 years of walking with God --I will never fully comprehend the love or the grace that Jesus showed that day when He laid aside everything and submitted to God's miraculous plan to redeem mankind.
It's remarkable....nobody could take Jesus' life for just reasons, not the political structure nor the religious elite, for He was innocent of any wrongdoing. So they killed Him for unjust reasons. But even more incredible to me, is the fact that no one could take Jesus' life from Him by force --- unless He had willingly submitted Himself to die. A mere man would've had no other alternative but to be forced to die on the cross. But, Jesus had all the power in the universe at His disposal.....He had every possible "out" and could have removed Himself from the unjust hands of those carrying out His sentence to the cross. Yet, He willingly surrendered Himself to sinful men who took pleasure in torturing Him....mocking Him....and even killing Him on that shameful cross.
The injustice of the cross is my lifeline ---- without it I would still be hopelessly living in sin and shame, with no way out of it. So yes, again I will say it --- I am grateful....beyond the ability of words to express gratitude...for the sacrifice Jesus made on my behalf.
"Christ Jesus......made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness......He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death ---- even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:7-8
"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5
As we are quickly approaching Good Friday, my heart and mind are very in-tune with Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Even after 33 years of walking with God --I will never fully comprehend the love or the grace that Jesus showed that day when He laid aside everything and submitted to God's miraculous plan to redeem mankind.
It's remarkable....nobody could take Jesus' life for just reasons, not the political structure nor the religious elite, for He was innocent of any wrongdoing. So they killed Him for unjust reasons. But even more incredible to me, is the fact that no one could take Jesus' life from Him by force --- unless He had willingly submitted Himself to die. A mere man would've had no other alternative but to be forced to die on the cross. But, Jesus had all the power in the universe at His disposal.....He had every possible "out" and could have removed Himself from the unjust hands of those carrying out His sentence to the cross. Yet, He willingly surrendered Himself to sinful men who took pleasure in torturing Him....mocking Him....and even killing Him on that shameful cross.
The injustice of the cross is my lifeline ---- without it I would still be hopelessly living in sin and shame, with no way out of it. So yes, again I will say it --- I am grateful....beyond the ability of words to express gratitude...for the sacrifice Jesus made on my behalf.
"Christ Jesus......made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness......He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death ---- even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:7-8
"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5
Friday, March 22, 2013
My HOPE is in my God, the Sovereign One
"Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.....May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in You." -Psalm 25:5, 21
I am incredibly thankful that I can confidently put my hope in God and know without a doubt that my hope will never be shattered.
Hope is hard thing to come by in this day and age. It is often dashed, deferred and even crushed because we tend to put it in things (or people) that can never uphold it. How fitting that David said that no one who hopes in God will ever be put to shame. He is truth, He is mercy and He is love. He will always uphold those who put their trust in Him. Hallelujah! What precious words of comfort and peace for my anxious heart.
"Why so downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God!" - Lamentations 3:20
I am incredibly thankful that I can confidently put my hope in God and know without a doubt that my hope will never be shattered.
Hope is hard thing to come by in this day and age. It is often dashed, deferred and even crushed because we tend to put it in things (or people) that can never uphold it. How fitting that David said that no one who hopes in God will ever be put to shame. He is truth, He is mercy and He is love. He will always uphold those who put their trust in Him. Hallelujah! What precious words of comfort and peace for my anxious heart.
"Why so downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God!" - Lamentations 3:20
Friday, March 15, 2013
The Blessing of an audience with The King
I am grateful that I have access to the very presence of God almighty at any time of the day. Prayer is truly a gift that I should never take for granted...it is power....it is peace....it is joy.....it is release...it is tender communion with my Savior.
I am guilty of distracted prayer, at times. It is deeply saddening when I catch myself in the act. I love the way Charles Spurgeon puts it ---"What should we think of a petitioner who, while being blessed by an audience with the King is then so UNfocussed as to be playing with a feather or chasing a fly?".
I need more sincerity in my prayers. Earnest conviction from a genuine, devoted heart that seeks to pray in tune with the Holy Spirits prompting. That is impossible if I am distractedly half-hearted in my prayer time.
LORD, give me Your grace to honor You by coming into Your presence with an undivided heart that recognizes the privilege of being ushered into Your presence.
"Fervent prayer, like a cannon stationed at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open." -James 5:16, KJV
I am guilty of distracted prayer, at times. It is deeply saddening when I catch myself in the act. I love the way Charles Spurgeon puts it ---"What should we think of a petitioner who, while being blessed by an audience with the King is then so UNfocussed as to be playing with a feather or chasing a fly?".
I need more sincerity in my prayers. Earnest conviction from a genuine, devoted heart that seeks to pray in tune with the Holy Spirits prompting. That is impossible if I am distractedly half-hearted in my prayer time.
LORD, give me Your grace to honor You by coming into Your presence with an undivided heart that recognizes the privilege of being ushered into Your presence.
"Fervent prayer, like a cannon stationed at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open." -James 5:16, KJV
Monday, March 11, 2013
Always by my side...forever!
I am especially thankful that Jesus is always by my side...He doesn't check out from time to time and leave me to try and fend for myself through life.
There are times when I feel like I've been forgotten by God. That's when I am falling prey to one of satans oldest tricks --- thinking that God has abandoned or given up on me entirely! Life gets complicated and messy at times, and when it does we frequently begin to worry that God has become indifferent to us or has just plain lost His patience with our struggles. But in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus promised us that we could be certain He would be with us until the end of time. That's one promise I cling to with all my might! I cannot thank Him enough for His incredible faithfulness....It is everything to me!
There are times when I feel like I've been forgotten by God. That's when I am falling prey to one of satans oldest tricks --- thinking that God has abandoned or given up on me entirely! Life gets complicated and messy at times, and when it does we frequently begin to worry that God has become indifferent to us or has just plain lost His patience with our struggles. But in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus promised us that we could be certain He would be with us until the end of time. That's one promise I cling to with all my might! I cannot thank Him enough for His incredible faithfulness....It is everything to me!
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