Tag: God

Keeping Eternal Pleasures in Mind

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Today we are looking at the remainder of Psalm 16 verses 7-11. I read this in various translations but I really felt the Message was the most direct.

The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
    is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. Do you ever go to bed with a problem and think you’ll sleep on it and maybe in the morning you will know your mind and decided what to do? The psalmist is identifying with this, saying God is directing him during the day and then confirms his directions while he sleeps. So night and day, God is his guiding light. I find this both comforting and encouraging and it reaffirms Deuteronomy 31:6 “ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” That means God is with us day and night!

9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
    and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
    that’s not my destination! David, the psalmist, was convinced that God had his eternity secure and that he had a heavenly home with God. His faith in God had cancelled his sin and assured him of a heavenly home. We can be assured of this too as faith in Christ and his work on the cross confirms our gift of eternal life with Him. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
    all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
    I’m on the right way. David knows his pathway is assured and it is lifelong. He is on the right pathway in life walking hand and hand with God.

We too can say we have a heavenly home, God is our light and guide, and we do not need to fear death and punishment in Hell. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured of life eternal and walking with him day by day. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Looking for God’s Pleasant Lines

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I plan to take Psalm 16 in two pieces. Today verses 1-6 and tomorrow the remainder of the psalm. Psalm 16 has one of my favorite verses,6, which holds a very dear promise.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

Jesus said this too in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Without Christ me can accomplish nothing with eternal value.

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips. Are you seeking to please God and be his delight or are you chasing after other gods? 2 Corinthians 1:19-21 “ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,” Christ is the answer all else leads to No’s.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Can you say this promise is true for your life? Do you see lines drawn in places, relationships, jobs, etc. that were of God’s making? What would be a pleasant place for you? Does it involve a beautiful climate? Does it have perfect relationships? Is it driven with excellent purpose? All of those can be said of the Christian life. Our climate is with Him. His Holy Spirit indwells us and can and will work in all our relationship and jobs. What of our inheritance? Ephesians 1:13-14 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Our purpose it to glorify God as David expresses in Psalm 86:12 “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” We also have a commission from the Lord Jesus given in Matthew 28:19-20  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Glory is the sum total of all God’s attributes. So showing mercy, compassion, love, humility, patience, hope, etc. in His name brings Him glory. Telling other about Jesus also brings Him glory.

So, if following Jesus is your chosen ‘cup’ as the psalmist says, then look for God’s lines to be drawn in pleasant places in your life now and into the future! Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can be assured of pleasant lines of God in our lives. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Is Being Good Enough?

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We’ll start our week with Psalm 15 in which David describes what defines the actions of a man who could live with God.

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.

We know David’s picture of the ‘good’ man is well defined by how they act towards others. Micah 6:8 describes one who God loves as “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” David’s good man would live up to the Micah 6:8 criteria.

However, Hebrews 11:6 adds another dimension this as it is not all words and actions but has to involve faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” One cannot ‘earn’ your way to heaven to live in his presence without faith and it is specific faith that is outlined in 1 Timothy 2:2-4 , “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Faith in the truth of Jesus is what is needed. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is our only access to the Father.

One can have all the ‘right’ actions and word and yet without faith it is impossible to please God, and without Jesus and his work on the cross you are still sinful. Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Today consider your actions, words and faith. Do you act rightly and seek to do good towards others? What about your faith? Is your faith firmly placed in Jesus? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be clean before God. Good deeds and great words need faith in Jesus to make a difference for you in God’s eyes. Remember without faith in Jesus it is impossible to please God. Take that leap of faith today and trust in Him.

Linda

Realigned Focus during Adversity

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How do you deal with Nay Sayers or those that would desire to cast doubt on your faith? Believe it or not, the psalmist David had the same issues when he wrote Psalm 3. He did not want to listen his many foes who were telling him God was not going to rescue him or do anything to help him solve his problems. This was written when he was struggling with his son Absalom who was trying to take over David’s throne and kill him. David talked to the Lord about this, laying it before Him. Then, he set about remembering the times God had rescued him!

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.
2 So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” Interlude

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
4 I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

5 I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.

7 Arise, O Lord!
    Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
    Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
8 Victory comes from you, O Lord.
    May you bless your people. Interlude

David’s conclusion, after remembering who God is and what He had done for him during his lifetime, was that God holds the victory. Victory comes from Him. He can defeat any foe as He is sovereign. David was reminded that God will bring victory and blessing.

David is our example for how to react to those who would discourage our faith saying it is worthless, that God will not help us. We too can change our focus from the Nay Sayers to Jesus. The right perspective will bring us to Jesus. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have a permanent advocate in Jesus. He intercedes for us and sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us. Romans 8:27 “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Focusing on Jesus will put everything in perspective as it did for King David.

Let thanks be on you tongue and praises in your heart as you look to Jesus. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Living the Life God Intends

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I am so looking forward to our Lenten Journey through the Psalms. There will be much to reflect upon as we dive into these precious poems or songs, as many were sung in the temple for worship. We too can worship God as we read them. Let’s begin at the beginning with Psalm 1. It is truly as favorite of mine as it clearly shows the contrast between the believer and the unbeliever.

It is a bit unconventional but the Message translation hits the mark and the words jar us into understanding God’s intended message.

How well God must like you—
    you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats,
    you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings,
    you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.

2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.

4-5 You’re not at all like the wicked,
    who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
    unfit company for innocent people.

6 God charts the road you take.
The road they take leads to nowhere.

God shows us how fortunate we are to know and follow Him. We are refreshed by scripture continually, bear fruit for the Lord and are always blooming. Jesus shows this contrast in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Life with Christ is meant to be full and abundant. He allows us to bloom right where we are. I love the picture from Isaiah of us as a well-watered garden. Isaiah 58:11 “The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,  like a spring whose waters never fail.“

The contrasting life, the one of the unbeliever is also pictured here.  They have no anchor, no defense and their road leads no where. Jesus told us in John 15:5 that unless we are connected to Him we can do nothing of eternal value. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  Many unbelievers have very productive lives accomplishing much good. However, their accomplishments apart of Jesus have no eternal value and will ‘burn up’. You cannot earn your way to heaven with good works. Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.“ 

With a life based on faith in Jesus, we can know His abundance. We can read and understand scripture. His Word will enrich and guide our lives. Our works done in His name have eternal value and bring honor and glory to God. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can live with an abundance of love, hope and peace. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Beginning Lent with LOVE!

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I love this Valentine and see it as a fitting way to begin our Lenten Journey. We received this love gift from God our Father. Our response to His love is partly what Lent is about. How grateful are we for His extreme sacrifice to send His only Son to save us? 

Shouldn’t we pause our day, more than once, to say I love you to the ones we care about? We could all use a valentine, to be loved and cherished by someone. We are very fortunate that we all have our heavenly Father who loves us beyond measure and expressed his great love by sending Jesus. Jesus explained God’s love in John 3:16-17.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For He did not sent his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17  

How much more love could God show towards us than sacrificing His only Son on our behalf?  He loved us that much.   He sent Him so that through faith in Jesus we could be saved and not condemned.  Only sinless Jesus could erase our sin and present us whole and perfectly clean before our Holy God.

valentine

When you say ‘thank you’ today for a Valentine gift you receive, a card, note, flowers or someone simply saying ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’, think about thanking God too.  Thank Him for sending Jesus.  Thank Him for making a way for your salvation and eternal life with Him.   That is the best Valentine I can think of that is filled with all of God’s love for now throughout eternity.

Blessings on this Valentine’s Day.

Linda

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have an eternal Valentine in Jesus. Praise God for His abundant and abounding LOVE!

Getting Ready for Lent 2024

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I love the Lenten Season as it causes me to focus on the great price Jesus paid for my freedom. The access I have to the Father and the relationship I have with Him was restored by Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Jesus conquered death so I can live. The debt I owe Jesus can never be paid in full, but the marvelous thing is He gives it to me as a gift. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” Praise God!!

This year I will be blogging daily using passages from the Psalms. As I was reading through the Bible last year, I made note of psalms that spoke to me. When I looked at the list, I saw a perfect list of reflection to use during Lent. I hope you will join me for the daily focus on who Jesus is and what His death and resurrection means to me- right now, right today!

Lent begins on Wednesday- Valentine’s Day and I will begin with a perfect Valentine for you and me.

Join me daily during Lent. Wednesday February 14 to Easter Sunday March 31.

Linda

My Word- More Scriptures

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When God gives me a word for the year, I select scriptures to solidify the concept God has laid upon my heart. The first verse I mentioned in my last blog, Psalm 37:5-6. The other two verses God gave me are Proverbs 16:3 and 1 Peter 4:19. What truths do these verses add to my word- Commit? I looked each up in various translations to seek clarification and improved understanding.

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” ESV     “Commit your actions to the Lord,  and your plans will succeed.” NLT            “Put God in charge of your work,  then what you’ve planned will take place.” Message   Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.” NKJV

Each of these translations adds something new to the concept of committing everything I do to God and the promise He gives. The New King James Version adds thoughts to the work one does. That new dimension challenges me to put all my doing, acting and thinking into God’s hands. Commitment at this level is total, complete and focusing on what is important for success in life. These are sobering reminders of what God desires of each of us. Doing things, thinking Biblically about what I’m doing or going to do is essential for plans to be accomplished. Committing my work to God and following through for Him brings success. It also tells us that God is the driving force behind successful work for Him.

My final verse 1 Peter4:19  “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” NIV    “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” ESV    “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” NLT      “Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with the will of God must [continue to] do right and commit their souls [for safe-keeping] to the faithful Creator.” Amplified     “So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.” The Message

It also helped me to look at this verse in various translations. The suffering is expanded in the Amplified to mean ill-treatment and suffering for doing God’s work. Our response to suffering is to continue onward, continue to commit to God, trust Him and what He has for our future. I like the word the ESV version uses for commit- entrust. I am to entrust my life to Him in these trying times and He will see me through because He is the faithful one the faithful Creator.

I love the Word, Commit, God has laid upon my heart for 2024 and the verses He has shown me. I am looking forward to the adventure of 2024 with Him

Linda

P.S. Please let me know what word you have chosen for 2024 by responding. Thanks.

Scripture and My Word

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After God has laid upon your heart the word He has for you, you choose 8-10 related words to help you clarify and broaden the scope of the word in your mind. The next step is to go to scripture and search for your word. Most often there are many verses using your word and you need to read through them to see which ones resonate with your heart and capture the broadened meaning of your word. This year’s word for me, Commit, was used over 150 times in the Old and New Testaments. I sifted through and saw various meaning’s or uses of the word. As I studied the passages I began to focus on 3 different scriptures: Psalm 37:5-6, Proverbs 16:3 and 1 Peter 4:19. 

Psalm 37:5-6 ”Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.” 

I love these verses and included them in my book Promises for Dynamic Living. God promises that committing your way to Him and giving Him your trust allows Him to act on your behalf. He will bring forth good things, help you to shine for Him and see that you are treated justly. Those are mighty returns for your commitment and trust! There are principles about God and His character embedded within theses verses. 1. God is good and wants only good things for me. Those things brought forth through our trust and commitment are in the light, righteous and just.  2. Following God requires trust and commitment. God promises action only if we do our part- trusting and committing. We know God keeps His promises so to receive his blessings we need to commit and trust in Him. Blessedly God knows us and our weaknesses and often acts in spite of what I do. Then I thank God for his boundless grace towards me.  3. God has the power to mold and shape my character. His actions will bring forth from me new light and righteousness in Him. God desires to make us more and more like Jesus as we walk with Him daily. 4. God is just and righteous. These attributes are an intergyral part of God’s character and who He is.

Here are 2 verses from Isaiah about our Just God. 5:16 “But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.” 30:18 “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” 

Here are 2 verses from Psalms about our Righteous God. 71:19 “Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?” 145: 17“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”

I pray you will find just the right verses to go with your word so that God can use them to imprint Himself upon your life this year.  The other verses I’ve chosen will be written about in future blogs.

Linda

Picture My Word for 2024

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I have been praying and asking God for a new word for this year. He has impressed upon me the word ‘commit’. The dictionary defines commit as to pledge with purpose, to do, to preserve- like to your memory, to trust or charge with safekeeping, to send into battle….  Reflecting on this definition, is would seem that people in our day and times have difficulty committing to relationships, jobs, pursuits to reach goals, and/or to joining or serving and sticking with it. 

Biblically commit is used over 150 times.  Exodus speaks of commit in the 10 Commandments- as in what not to do. ”Do not commit ____.”  Leviticus speaks over and over about the sins people were doing which were committed against God and His laws. 1 Samuel and 1 Kings speak of committing your way to the Lord. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:” David also spoke of committing his spirit to God in Psalm 31:5 “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” Solomon added in Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” In Luke 23:46 Jesus spoke from the cross of committing His spirit to God. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” Paul speaks of us being committed in 2 Corinthians 5:19 “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” Peter speaks of our commitment in 1 Peter 4:19 “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 

We are exhorted in the Old and New Testaments to NOT commit sins- adultery, stealing, lust, etc. In addition to striving to put sin aside we are asked to commit our way, our spirit, our being, our resolve, our faith to God and follow Him. Our job is to commit our ways to Him and then He will lead and bring about things for our good and His glory. 

The related words to commit that I have chosen are: persevere, submit, act, do, support, pray, study, write, serve and join. It will be interesting, as in an adventure, to see how God uses this word in my life in 2024. Here are the verses I am using to guide me: Psalm 37:5-6 “Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” 

1 Peter 4:19 “ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” The suffering here is not so much bad things but committing to God and walking away from worldly pursuits.

I pray God has given you a nudge towards a particular focus word for 2024. I will expand on these verses in days to come as I mediate upon the word and verses God has provided.

Linda