Yesterday I looked at the good news of the gospel of peace in Isaiah 52:7.  Looking further in Isaiah 52 you come to verses 10 and 12.  “The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” (52:12)  Jesus returned to heaven after His time on earth and is seated at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19, Luke 22:69)   He is the holy arm of God that brought salvation to us through His death and resurrection.  That salvation is for all mankind who will believe.  Looking to Jesus we see the salvation of our God.  Verse 12 “But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”   I love this image of God being my rear guard.  As the children of Israel were leaving Egypt, God protected them from behind as the chasing Egyptian army was unable to catch them because of God’s protection.(Exodus 14:19-20)  

How do you need the message of Jesus today?  Do you need to focus on His grandeur and position in heaven?  Does this give you assurance of His power and might? Or do you need protection and someone to guard your back?   Are you worried about things in the past and keep looking back?  Jesus can and will do both of these things for us.  We just need to trust Him.

 

Prayer:  Lord, You are all powerful,  Lord of heaven and earth.  Give me a glimpse of your majesty so that I may reflect your glory in what I say and do.  Protect me as I walk in the minefields of work and relationships.  I know and trust that you have my back and are with me 24/7.  Guide me in your way.  Amen.

Striving to reflect the majesty of Christ,

Linda

When you have good news, how do you share it?  By phone- you call family and friends. By internet- you post it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.  Not so long ago, people wrote letters or cards to send news or greetings to those not living with them.  In Biblical times, they had runners that would run from the battlefield to deliver the good news of the battle to the king and the people at home.  Isaiah 52:7 captures the expedience and joy of such a runner.

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
    the news that the God of Israel reigns! (NLT)

This good news spoken of here has many meanings- joy for the captives in Babylon that their time in exile was coming to an end, joy that Christ was coming bringing deliverance from sin, joy that our salvation brings  us peace and the joy that God is sovereign over all.  Where do you need good news today?  Is God bringing you back from hard times?  Are you looking to Jesus for good news in a hard situation?  Is the news of peace and salvation sufficient for today’s problems?  Do you know for certain that God is in control?  This verse has the answer to all these questions.  The good news of Jesus’  death and resurrection brings hope, salvation, restoration and peace into our lives.  The cross of Christ is good news indeed!

Prayer:  Lord, the good news of the gospel of Christ has the power to transform me.  Thank you for loving me so much that you sent Jesus to save me and make me more like Him.  Use me today to share Christ and His love with others.   Amen.

Loving the good news of the gospel and the power of Almighty God,

Linda

Psalm 103:8-12  (NIV)

Good Morning!  Reading Psalm 103 always brings a smile to my face and hope to my heart. Try it right now- verses 1-5.

Psalm 103

A psalm of David.

What do you do when you have a hard day?  Yesterday was one of those for me.  I am not prone to tears but cried at least 3 times.  The source of those tears was disappointment, anger, frustration and pity.  Each time the tears would come I cried out to the Lord and released those feelings to Him.  I was reminded of God’s goodness and sovereignty.  I know there is no hole to deep for God to see the bottom and provide a way out.  When you experience a day like I had yesterday- here are verses to hold onto.

1 Chronicles 29:12  “Wealth and honor come from you, you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”   God is in control of all things and will work them to my good.  Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for that good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  I also claim Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in him.”

When we have those days that try us, I’ve found that with an attitude of prayer I hold onto the promises God has given me in His Word.  I know that no matter what it seems or looks like- He is in control and has good planned for me as I trust in Him.  I pray that these verses meet you where you are and give you encouragement.

Prayer:  Lord take me where I am and move me into a closer walk with you.  Encourage me today as I claim your promises  and lean on your strength.  Amen.

Walking with Jesus,

Linda

Our Lenten journey is a time of reflection, prayer, fasting, renewal, casting off old habits and stepping out in faith with Jesus by our side.  I feel this is a mirror of my life right now. I’m moving after 7 years in one place and going to a smaller home. I’m having to sort, give away, sell and part with those things I will not need anymore.  It is painful at time and yet cleansing to be shed of ‘things’ that were weighing me down.  This passage in Romans came to mind as I am reminded that beginning anew with Christ, starting fresh with new habits and thoughts is what He wants for me.

12 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)

Knowing all God has done for me– Am I trying to please Him in all I say and do?  Am I stepping away from the things of this world that would weigh me down and seeking to do things that Jesus would do?  What about my mind, am I seeking the mind of Christ and holding all thoughts captive to Christ?  These verses promise that if we do we will be able to walk in God’s will which is perfect for each of us.

Our Lenten journey helps equip us to abide and walk with Him daily.  Meditate on Romans 12:1-2 and ask God to reveal His perfect will for you for today as you walk with Him.

Prayer:  Lord, transform me into the person you want me to be.  Take my mind and clean out the old habits and ways of thinking and replace them with your thoughts and ways.  Give me positive words to speak that will glorify you and encourage those around me.  Show me your will as I walk with you today.  Amen.

Seeking a fresh start with Him today,

Linda

As we worship today, keep Philippians 2:5-11 in your mind.

⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

God desires that we imitate Christ as He is the perfect example of self-sacrificing humility, love and obedience.  Someday we will bow before Him and confess He is Lord bringing glory to Father and Son.

Have a blessed Sunday worshiping Jesus,

Linda

I was thinking about God and how He alone is worthy of our praises.  This prayer found in Nehemiah 9 shows God’s glory and commands us to stand and proclaim Him God Almighty.

“On your feet! Bless God, your God, for ever and ever!”

Twice in one week I have been reminded that who I really am is not Linda by myself but Linda- the daughter of the King, loved by God, an ambassador for Him, united to Christ and so much more.  My true identity as a believer is bound up with Christ.  Colossians 1:21-22 tells me how this happened. “And you,who once were alienated and hostile in mind doing evil deeds”. (That was me before I believed in Jesus and gave my life to Him.  I was not in sync with Him or filled by His spirit and those things I did were not for His glory.)  “he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” (His death on the cross brought me into a right relationship with God and placed me holy and without sin before God.  Jesus made me worthy, pure and holy by His blood.)  So, who I am is now covered by Jesus and infused by Jesus.  My identity is His identity within me.  This happened when I accepted Jesus and believed in who He is and what He had done for me through His death and resurrection.  Learning to live in this new identity is the challenge.  Our old nature and ways constantly war within but we are promised that “He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world”. (1 John 1:4)  Live today as a son or daughter of the King.  Think about how precious you are to Jesus and let that give you confidence and hope as you go through your day.

Learning more each day about my identity in Christ,

Linda

 

 

 

 

Since we are looking at the cross during Lent, this morning I awoke thinking about Righteousness- who has it and who doesn’t.  Psalm 145:17 says, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.”  In His Righteousness love, He sent Jesus. “For God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”John 3:16.   God loved us so much that He sent His perfect, sinless Son to die for my sin and yours.  He wanted to be able to have a relationship with us again, like in the garden.  Because of our sin and His holiness, that relationship was not possible. Through Jesus it all became possible again.  2 Corinthians 5:21 brings it all into perspective for me.  “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  When did this happen?  Jesus took all our sins upon himself at the cross.  1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness by his wounds you ave been healed.”  Why did it happen?  Because of His great love for me.

So to answer my questions- who has righteousness and who doesn’t?  God is righteous in all ways.  Jesus is righteous in all ways.  I am not but I can be through Jesus.  He died to bring me into that right relationship with God.  Looking at the cross today, I see Jesus’ righteousness covering me.  His blood covers all my sin, and I then become righteous in God’s eyes.  I owe it all to Jesus and His atoning work on the cross.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to see Jesus today and to reflect His righteousness to the world.  Forgive my sin of arrogance and pride.  I can not be good or righteous on my own but only through Jesus.  Thank you for sending Jesus to save me from my own sinfulness. Amen.

So thankful for His healing sacrifice,

Linda