“In the 6th month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'”  Luke 1:26-33 

There are many amazing things about the beginning of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel.   She came from the house of David, she was unmarried and she was a believer in God.   Mary was troubled by the appearance of an angel but was curious as to what God might have to say to her.  The message from Gabriel was one of revelation about Messiah, who she would have known about from Old Testament prophecies.  I am always in awe of Mary who did  not freak out when she was confronted by an angel but waited in wonder at the message the Almighty would be sending to her.  The message was one that would require a great deal of strength and character from Mary, yet held the greatest honor for her and the greatest hope for mankind.

What does this encounter reveal to us about God?  God is omnipotent or all powerful.  He does all he wants and all he intends to do.  God is the source of all power, whether in things made in creation, energy, life or human strength and authority.  Without God’s power, everything would fall apart.  His power holds the stars in the heavens and sustains all life.  Nothing can stop God.  God promised a Savior to deliver us from sin and restore us to relationship with Him and God keeps all his promises.     He showed His omnipotent character in choosing Mary, sending Gabriel to speak with her and the content of the message.  The birth of Jesus was foretold in scripture and God tells here the exact person to deliver the savior to earth, Mary, the name of the child, Jesus, the position He will hold on earth, Son of the Most High, his earthly lineage, the house of David, and the length of his reign, eternity.   Who but an all knowing God could give all those details?  God knew the time, place and people that would be involved in the arrival of His Son on earth.  Praise God for his omnipotent character!

Why does this matter to you and me?  Would you want to love and serve a god that does not know when and how things will be?  Would you want to serve a god that did not have a plan for eternity and the power to execute that plan?  No!  God in His omnipotence knows all things and holds them in the palm of His hands.  He tells us in Isaiah 49:16a “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands”.   He knows me just as He knew Mary and has a plan for my life too.  Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite promises.  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   Praise God, the God I serve knows the beginning from the end and knows all that needs to be accomplished to get there!  Thank God for his omnipotence today!  He is worthy of our praises!

With a mouthful of praises for our Omnipotent God,

Linda

Here are two thoughts to hold in your mind when considering the Omnipotence of God.

Luke 1:18-25   “Zechariah asked the angel,’How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”  The angel answered, ‘I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at the proper time.’  Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.  When he came out, he could not speak to them.  They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.  When his time of service was completed, he returned home.  After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for 5 months remained in seclusion. ‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.'”     Zachariah questioned  God’s messenger and doubted God’s Word.  Improbable as a late life pregnancy was for this aged couple, Zachariah was unable to accept the power of God when presented to him.  His doubt earned him 9 months of silence.  Elizabeth was rewarded for her faith and her shame of being barren was taken away by God’s grace.

What does this tell us about God?  He is the Creator of all life within us and He caused Zachariah to be mute for 9 months for his doubt.  Zachariah learned that the Creator of the universe, the one who spoke the world into existence with His Words is to be believed or there will be consequences.  As Creator God everything came from Him, what we can see and what we cannot see-heavens, angels and the whole spiritual and physical world.  God spoke all these things and they came into existence.  God alone is able to bring something out of nothing.   He brought a baby to Zachariah and Elizabeth when they were aged. He brought muteness to Zachariah for a limited time to teach him obedience and to grow his faith.

What about you?  Do you believe God’s Word and accept His Word, the Bible, as truth?  Or do you doubt?  Unbelief brings severe consequences as Romans 3:23  “The wage of sin is death.” reminds us. Hebrews 3:12 admonishes us “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God?   Will you look to Jesus this season and seek Him in faith?  Belief in the Creator God brings great blessing and hope.

Living in faith and trusting in Creator God,

Linda

Isaiah 64:8 “Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

An ancient prophesy of one who was to come before the Messiah is found in Isaiah 40:3 “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.'”   This prophesy was fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist.  His mother Elizabeth and father Zachariah were an aging childless couple.  Zachariah’s turn had come to serve in the temple and when he was within the temple the angel Gabriel appeared to him with this message.  “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to give him the name John.  He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.  Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the heard of the father s to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  Luke 1:11-17   Both messages tell of one who was going to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus.  John preached repentance and baptized with water proclaiming the coming of one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

What does this tell us about God?  Looking within this miraculous story you find a barren woman, Elizabeth, that longed for a child, an angel delivering a message and a father who served the Lord faithfully as a priest.   The coming of John was not an accident but a well placed event in the preparation for Jesus’ entry into the world.  God is capable of creating and making these events happen. But the attribute I saw today in this story was one of Grace.  God was gracious to Elizabeth by granting her a child in her old age.  He was gracious to both of them by sending them a child with a mission and purpose for His kingdom.  God was gracious to all mankind in sending John to prepare the way for His Son to minister to the world.  He was gracious to John that he was related to Jesus, his cousin, and had a place in the greatest event in history-the coming of the Messiah.

God is gracious which means He shows kindness to those who do not deserve it.  He is slow to anger and longs to forgive people.  God shows grace to all people.  He gives life, families, sunshine, rain music, talents, etc. as good gifts even to people who do not love Him.  Elizabeth and Zachariah were chosen by God’s grace to be the parents of John, the fore-runner of Jesus who would bring life and hope to all mankind.

How have you felt God’s grace in your life?  Has He favored you in ways you do not deserve?  Use this example of Grace to spark your thinking about how He has been gracious to you.  Begin this Advent season with an attitude of Thankfulness for the God of all Grace that loved you beyond measure and sent His son to save you.  God is indeed gracious.

Living in a state of Grace,

Linda

December 1 is a day I will never forget.  It is the day our daughter arrived from Korea at the hands of a HOLT International Children’s Service volunteer.  As I took her in my arms, I was filled with fear and anticipation for what lay ahead for all of us.  It was the best Christmas ever to receive such a precious gift into our lives.  Life, that of a child, holds such promise and hope as we gaze into their eyes and try to envision the future God has planned for them.

Today as we begin our journey towards the celebration of Christ’s birth.  Let us gaze at the Christ child with that same anticipation and hope that I described upon seeing my daughter for the first time.  Consider Micah 7:7  “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”   As the prophet Micah foretold, God had a plan to send a Savior.   Micah knew that only God could provide the answer to our separation from Him due to sin.  We needed a Savior to restore our relationship with God that was broken in the garden by sin.    Micah waited with hope for the Savior.    The hope that Micah waited for is described in 1 Timothy 4:10  “that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.”   Christ is the living God who came to save us and redeem us through His sacrifice on the cross.  Laying aside His heavenly position and power, He came as a baby to bring us HOPE!

What does this tell us about God?  He reached down and rescued sinners from the penalty of death and hell that our sin deserves.  We have no power to save ourselves from sin because we are dead in our sin.  God  has planned from eternity past to save His children fully from sin-the penalty, power and presence. Because He came, died on the cross and rose again,  He saved us completely.  His sacrifice allows us to be presented to the Father through faith in Him.  Savior is our attribute as we begin Advent.  Without Jesus coming as a baby on Christmas, we would not have a Savior.

Thank Him today for this wonderful gift that gives us hope and is full of expectation.  Have you thought lately of your need for a Savior?  All of us need a Savior.  Look with expectation this Advent season towards the manger and see if you don’t find that Savior you are looking for and needing.  He promises ,“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7.  Will you ask this season for the Savior to visit you?  Will you seek Him?  As promised He will be open to you if you do.

Awaiting the birth of our Savior,

Linda

I know these words were written about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem but they also apply to His entry into our world at Christmas.

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  Luke 19:38

As we await the celebration of Christ’s arrival on earth, the Christmas Season known as Advent, let us daily ponder God’s gift to us and the outpouring of His character in Jesus.  Each day during Advent, from December 1-25, I will be posting a blog.  The theme God has laid on my heart this year is how the Christmas season reveals God’s great character to us.  Each day I will link an attribute of God with his work at Christmas.  I pray that my daily devotions will provide you with focus and blessing as we traverse this busy season so that we do not lose touch with the true meaning and purpose of Christmas.  Know that I write words for you and for me.  This is the third year I have done this and it has increased my love and joy at this season tremendously.

Blessings to you as we move from December 1-25!  Merry Christmas!

Linda

I thought it appropriate on this annual day of Thanksgiving that my mind turned to the attribute God would like to see in all of us- thankfulness.

To begin being thankful, we have to think about why we are thankful.  Scripture gives us many reasons to be thankful.  Here are a few I found and I hope you find that they give you ways to be thankful that you had not thought about.  I love God’s Word- it is so complete.

1. Here are King David’s words from 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.   David reminds us to praise and thank God for all He has done for us.
2. David also writes in Psalm 7:17  “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High”.   Psalm 100:4-5  “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations”.    We are reminded to be thankful for the very character of God– his faithfulness, righteousness and eternality.
3. Psalm 118:28  “You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.”   David is thankful that God is a personal God and desires a relationship with him.    Is God personal for you?
4. In 1 Corinthians 15:56-57  Paul reminds us to be thankful for the victory we have over spiritual and physical death through Jesus.  “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory though our Lord Jesus Christ.”
5. In 2 Corinthians 2:14  Paul reminds the Corinthian believers to be thankful that their faith in Christ is a powerful witness to the world. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
6. 1 Thessalonians 3:9 “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? “   Do you thank God for other believers and the impact they have in your life?
7. God’s eternal kingdom is coming.  “Therefore, since we are receiving kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.'”  Hebrews 12:28-29    I am so thankful that God’s kingdom is sure, coming and guaranteed by our all powerful, consuming  God. 
8. Lastly, of the greatest importance to us, 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”   God’s greatest gift to us was Jesus.  He sent Jesus to save us from our sin filled state and restore us to relationship with Him!!

Considering all these reasons- which speaks to you today?   Hopefully, God’s Word reminded you of reasons to be truly thankful today!!   Blessings to you as you mediate on God’s Words, give thanks to Him and enjoy the blessedness of friends and family.

Linda

Start this today!!

 

 

 

 

Obedience is one of those words and actions we like to think is just for children.  We want our children to be obedient, follow the rules and grow up safe.  We know that obedience goes hand in hand with respect.  Do you ever think of obedience as applying to you?  God’s Word has a lot to say about obedience in our Christian life.

In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, the priest Samuel was talking to King Saul and told him, “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22.  He was telling King Saul that God loved and desired his obedience over all his religious works and deeds.    Jesus told his disciples in John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”  and in 14:23 “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” Obedience is an expression of love and respect and God desires us to be obedient.

 

The Bible also tells us that obedience brings blessings into our lives.  Jesus said in Luke 11:28 “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”   Obedience will also result in our remaining in God’s love and having joy.  John 15:10-11 “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  Hebrews 5:8-9 adds that we learn from obedience and through Christ’s obedience on the cross we gained eternal life through faith in Him.  Christ is our perfect example of obedience and a life lived with devotion and love to God.  We are given several promises about living in obedience that are encouraging.  1 John 3:24 “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.  And this is how we know that he lives in us:  We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”   The indwelling Holy Spirit we receive when we profess faith in Jesus-lives within us to testify to our love, life and obedience to Him.  1 John 5:3 “This is love for God: to obey his commands.  And his command are not burdensome for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”  How wonderful is that!  Loving God, obeying his Word brings us victory in Christ and is powerful enough to overcome the sin filled world we live in!

Obedience is key to living the Christian life with power and love.  I pray that as you mediate on your need to be obedient to Christ, He will reveal what you need to do today to please Him.

Striving to live in obedience to Christ.
Linda

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Here are some pictures of the beaches and cemetery at Normandy.  This was place of great sacrifice during World War II.  Thank you to each Veteran on this Veteran’s Day for your service and the sacrifice of all those who have died to preserve our freedoms.  I am most grateful.

In John 15:13 Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. (NIV)  These brave men and women paid the ultimate price and they did not even know me.  I am humbled by their patriotism and sacrifice on my behalf.

Gratefully,

Linda

When I think of the word friendliness, I think of cheerful actions and someone who outwardly welcomes others.  The dictionary defines friendliness as having the characteristic of a friend.  A friend is one who knows you, is fond of you, stands with you on the same side of a struggle, supports, helps and is considered reliable.   Scripture gives us several examples that align with this definition of being a friend.

One example that comes to mind is the friendship between David and Jonathan.  David was the future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel the prophet and pursued by the current king, Saul.  Jonathan was Saul’s son and David’s friend.  They protected each other and knew God had a specific plan for each of them.  In spite of all the turmoil surrounding Saul’s pursuit of David and trying to kill him, Jonathan remained David’s faithful friend.  Their story is recorded in 1 and 2nd Samuel.

Scripture also speaks of friendship with God.  Abraham was described as a friend of God in James 2:23.  “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.”   Jesus named us as friends, too.  John 15:13-15,17 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you…. This is my command: Love each other.”    In addition, Proverbs 17:17 gives us when and how long we are to be friends.  “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

What am I to take away from these examples of friendliness?  God wants to call us His friends but it requires that we obey Him and seek His righteousness.  We need to be about God’s business with our lives- loving, helping and supporting others.  We need to stand with each other in times of adversity-hand in hand as brothers.  This is certainly more than having a cheerful attitude.  I need to ask myself, am I being a friend and exhibiting friendliness towards my brothers and sisters in Christ?  Am I being friendly to others in His name?  Hebrews 13:1-2 reminds us “Keep on loving each other as brothers.  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels with knowing it.”

Look for those angels today as you serve Him striving to walk in friendship with Almighty God,

Linda

 

Moses told the Israelites to ‘remember’ the conditions that God rescued them from.  Deuteronomy 5:15  “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.”   David states his resolve in Psalm 77:11-12 to remember what God did for his people in the past and what God did for him.  “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”    Jesus asked us to remember His sacrifice as we observe communion.  “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24   We are reminded to ‘remember’ who God is, what He has done for us and how Jesus’ work on the cross brings us to Him.  God knows we have short memories and easily forget what great things He has done in our lives- for us and through us!  Lastly, I want to mention what God has in mind for His memory. Hebrews 8:12 God says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  This truth is stated throughout scripture that God forgives completely and will not see our sin when we stand before Him because of our faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross.   Praise God!!

What brought this word ‘remember’ to my mind today is that I am planning to attend my 50th High School reunion this weekend.  Memory is a funny thing.  We often remember only the good things that happened and gloss over them or see them through ‘rose colored glasses’ so to speak.  God encourages us to see things truthfully and look at the things we did, their consequences and then what He did for us in spite of our circumstances.  He wants us to view things through ‘His lens’ and know we are loved, saved and forgiven.   Our past does not have to define us but it helped shape us and  bring us to where we are today.

Looking forward to viewing the past and thanking God for all those things that helped bring me to where I am today in Him.

Linda     Found these cartoons and could not resist adding them.