Tag: Hope

God’s Grace in the Stable for Us!

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Today’s scripture reminds us of God’s infinite grace towards us.

Luke 2:6-7 “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.“

Why did I choose Grace as God’s attribute for this part of the Christmas Story? God is gracious and kind to those who do not deserve it. God longs to forgive His people, and reached out to us with the offer of salvation. God is compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. God shows grace to all people and gives good gifts even to those who do not love Him. He is the giver of life and brings families, sunshine, rain, music and hope to all mankind.

God in His grace brought Jesus into this world to save us from our sins and reconcile us to Himself. We did nothing to deserve this, but God in His love sent Jesus for us. Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He sent Jesus to live among us to we could know more about God and learn to trust in Him more fully. He did that even though we were indeed sinners without hope. When I think of his humble birth, in a stable, I am overwhelmed by His love for me. He came and lived here among us in our sin-filled world, suffered and died to I could live in faith believing and knowing His love and care.

God’s grace abounded towards Mary and Joseph that night. There were no rooms to be had but a stable was provided. They were warm and safe as Mary delivered Jesus. There was even a manger, cradle, for Mary to use. God was with them on the journey and was there with them in the stable. John 1:14 tells us Jesus was filled with God’s grace, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” That night in the stable, the grace of God came to us!

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life? Ephesians 2:8-9 gives us a place to start, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” and Romans 3:24 “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Martin Luther discovered God’s grace in Romans and transformed the thinking of His day. My faith and salvation are a gift I did not deserve them and are given by and through God’s gracious heart towards me. The hope we have in Christ is transforming and causes us to live for Him and with Him. In Romans 12:6 Paul reminds us that because of God’s grace towards us, He has given us gifts through His indwelling Holy Spirit, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.”

So how are you using the gifts God has given you through faith in Jesus? Are you seeking to use your gifts of teaching, speaking, writing, helping, carrying or counseling, etc. for His glory? When we use our gifts for His work He blesses us with his love and grace. John 1:16 tells us through faith we receive grace constantly from Him, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” God is constantly blessing us with his unmerited favor which is His grace.

As you go about this busy season, look at things more carefully and see where God’s gracious hand is upon you. It may be in a smile, a welcoming friend, a song, an unexpected gift, but we are blessed by Him each and everyday! God is with you in your ‘stable’ when there was no room at the inn. Rest in Him and know He is with you and loves you!

Linda

Have a Safe Journey with Protector God

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Have you ever considered God’s perfect timing with the events in history? Today’s scripture tells us how God manipulated the scene to make sure that His Son would be born in Bethlehem. The prophet Micah had foretold years before that Messiah would come from Bethlehem. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” Daniel reminds us of how God orchestrates events to His will in Daniel 2:21“He changes times and seasons;  he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;” God moved Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in an amazing way.

Luke 2:1-5 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”

Compelled by the governor’s decree, Joseph and Mary set out for Bethlehem. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 70 miles if they had been able to go in a straight line, but they would have gone around Samaria to avoid hostile Samaritans and through the hill country. The journey would have been arduous for Mary in late stages of pregnancy and the estimated 90 miles would have been on foot or riding a donkey. I marvel at God’s protection for this journey that was upon Mary, Joseph and the unborn baby Jesus. God protected them and He is our protector too.

God protection is evident so many stories in the Bible. God protected David as he fled from King Saul’s hatred and desire to kill him. God protected the Israelites in the desert for 40 years providing them with manna to eat, water and guidance with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God protected Ruth as she gleaned in the fields and met her kinsman redeemer in Boaz. God protected Paul as he was shipwrecked, beaten, flogged, jailed, etc. God desires that His work continue and will always see it to completion. We have God’s promise in Philippians 1:6 to cling to,“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 121 puts His protection this way:
“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalm 91, which is often referred to as God’s 911 calling number, and is one I often claim: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust. 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.“

God is our protector and deliverer just as He was for Mary and Joseph as they journeyed towards Bethlehem. He saw them safely there. He will walk with you through life’s trials, seeing you safely home to Him one day.

Linda

Zechariah ‘Sings’ of Provider God!

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Zechariah was overcome by the power of God when he ‘sang’ forth these prophetic words. Only God knows the future and these words about John and the coming Messiah are amazing.

Luke 1:76-80 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
    in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

When I mediated on these words, I was overwhelmed by God’s gracious provision for us. He provided John to announce the coming Messiah. It had been 400 years since the last prophet Malachi had delivered a message to God’s people. They were hungry for word from God and needed to be turned back and tuned towards Him! The Messiah to come would bring salvation, forgiveness of sin, and light to a dark world. He would show God’s tender mercy towards His children by shining light on their pathways and guiding them in the way of peace. What a wonderful provider God is!!

God is our Provider. God provides for every creature He has made. He feeds the birds and gives us our daily bread. God gives us strength and goodness through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit to enable us to live for Him. Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. I love Romans 8:28 and the truth I can claim about His power of goodness in my life. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” He provides a way out of temptation and protects us from evil. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a key verse to claim,“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” David knew the protection of God first hand as he claimed it in Psalm 140:1-2 “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men 2 who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.” God provides salvation through our faith in Jesus and He assures us that we cannot be snatched away from Him!! John 10:28“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” God’s provision of His Son was His greatest gift to us. Paul describes this gift in 2 Corinthians 9:15“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

When you look at all these provisions past and future, you can only marvel at the power and love of God!

Linda

Peace through His Omnipotent Power

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This Second Sunday of Advent we light the purple candle of Peace. The peace here is the peace we have in Jesus. Jesus’ coming brought peace to the world and to each of us as believers. The attribute for today is Omnipotent. Only God in His great power could bring peace to the world and reconcile mankind to himself. God is all powerful meaning his power, authority and influence are unlimited. God is the source of life, energy, power and hope. All things would fall apart without God’s power. Nothing can stop God and evil and death will not win!

Only God could have brought about bringing His Son to earth with a mission to redeem us. Job reminds us in Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” The passage in John 3:16-18 is very familiar and reminds us of why God sent His Son on this mission, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

So this second Sunday of Advent as we light the Peace Candle, do you have the peace of Jesus in your heart? John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Will you take His peace today and place your trust in our Omnipotent God? Remembering Matthew 19:25-26“ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, , “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” and Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Revel in the God of peace today and the one who came to reconcile us to the Father and bless us with His peace! Salvation in Jesus brings PEACE!

Linda

Waiting with Anticipation

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Today we see Zechariah returned home, Elizabeth becoming with child and the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. Luke 1:23-25  “When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “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.”

God had granted Elizabeth the desire of her heart- a child. Being older, she was careful with her health and stayed in seclusion. Scholars are not sure why she did this but it allowed her time to honor God, worship him and revel in the miracle God had brought into her life. Her life had been one filled with disgrace due to barreness. I can’t even imagine the joy that possessed her with her pregnancy and the loss of her shame. She undoubtedly looked forward to the child and what God would do in and through him.

The attribute that I chose for today is Righteous. God is right in all He does. He has always been right and always will be right. His Words and actions are right. God’s timing for Elizabeth and Zechariah to have a child that would be the forerunner to Jesus was fixed by Him. So that it would be a special child of great significance, it needed to be long awaited and desired. God knew the love and devotion that John would receive from Elizabeth and Zechariah as their longed for child. He would need all the love and nurturing that they could give. I don’t know about you but when I wait for something a long time, it seems all the more precious. I cherish what I waited for and praise God over the rightness of His timing in my life.

During this waiting time, Zechariah could not speak. That would have added anticipation to their wait as they knew God had something special for both of them when the child arrived. I’m sure that Zechariah’s waiting time turned his doubt to belief that resulted in praise when the child arrived.

Do you doubt the rightness of God’s plan for your life? I know we all have times like Zechariah that we question God. The verse I claim when doubting the rightness and timing of God’s plan is Jeremiah 29:11. “ 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.” I know that God keeps His promises and has plans that are for my good and His glory. God’s plans are perfect and right. Remember He is righteous and we can trust in Him always. Psalm 116:5 “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” God’s rightness, grace and compassion are without limit. How fortunate are we to be a child of His!

Linda

Zechariah Learns a Lesson

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Today’s portion of scripture is taken from Luke 1:8-20. We see Zechariah in the temple doing his priestly duties and is interrupted by the angel Gabriel who has a message from God. God knew it was Zechariah’s time to serve and He wanted him for a specific mission.

“Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was” serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 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 before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “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. 20 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 their appointed time.”

The attribute I have chosen for this passage is Perfect. God is Perfect in all He does and says. In this story we see God’s perfect timing. He sent the angel Gabriel at the specific time in Israel’s history to bring good news of this son that Zechariah and Elizabeth would miraculously have, even though they were older, to be the forerunner of Jesus. Zechariah’s son would be filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth and live a righteous life leading many to repent and turn to God. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the perfect parents to train and teach their young son about God and His Word.

I am always amused when I read about Zechariah’s boldness in questioning the word of the heavenly being Gabriel. His unbelief moved him to ask, how can I know this to be true? It is not surprising that Gabriel was offended at Zechariah questioning his integrity and his message from God. The punishment was also perfect. It was severe but not harmful to Zechariah’s person but to his pride. It also allowed others to see that he had indeed had an encounter with a God. Gabriel made the punishment time limited so that he would again have the message confirmed when it came to pass and know the power of God. God is perfect in his ways and they are not our ways as we are reminded in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God always has the perfect solution and His timing is flawless.

This coming John would be the forerunner, proclaiming the glory of God to come. Later when both men are grown, John has the privilege of baptizing Jesus and proclaiming Jesus’ purpose in the world. John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

I can rely upon God’s perfection in all His ways, plans and timing. I may not see or know the plan, but I can trust the planner. I don’t’ need to question the truthfulness of God’s Word as I know it is flawless and true in its perfection. Lean into God and trust His Word in a new way today.

Linda

Here Comes Advent… 1st Sunday of Advent 2025

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I am just like a little kid and have great anticipation when we enter the advent season. I love the lights, trees, decorations, gift giving, etc. but most of all I love the meaning for this season. Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God. He gave us a way to be right with Holy God and have a way to live with purpose that glorifies Him. This first Sunday of Advent we light the Hope candle. It speaks of this promised hope the Jews knew was coming in Messiah, Savior. They were looking forward to His coming and we are looking back as we know He has come.

Each day during the Advent Season, I will be blogging about scriptures that tell the Christmas Story. Each scripture tells us something about God and reflects His character. We can see God had a hand in the entire story and He is alive in each detail. As you read the scripture, ponder what attributes you see revealed. I have done so also and will be highlighting an attribute I saw. There is no right answer here as God’s character is vast and varied and He may show you a different aspect of who He is- that is good!

In the lighting of the Advent candle of Hope, I saw God’s patience and long-suffering towards mankind. The Jews were patiently waiting for God to appear. We know He has arrived when He sent His son Jesus. Jesus fulfills our greatest hope for mankind and the future we will have with Him. God patiently waits for as many as possible to turn to Him. While we wait, we are to tell others about Jesus so they too can partake in the Hope he provides. I claim 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” I claim this truth about God as I know God wants all to come to know Him.

As we enter this Advent Season, who do you know that needs Jesus? Perhaps this is the time to drop a well placed word, a card, or an act of kindness their way. God is patiently waiting for them to come to know Him. Be bold for Jesus as He is the reason for this season!

Linda

Reconciliation, an Amazing state of Being!

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Have you ever tried to reconcile a broken relationship or even your bank statement? Sometimes it can be trying and almost impossible. Consider trying to make yourself right with God? Can you ever be good enough? Can you ever wipe out your sin or make yourself clean? NO you can’t. Unlike relationship the reconciliation of your bank account or a personal relationship, there might be a way you could achieve it. But making yourself clean enough to stand before God, there is no human way to do this. So where does that leave us? Without hope? Stuck in our sins forever? No, Jesus is the answer.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am reconciled to God through faith in Jesus.  To be reconciled means to be brought into a right relationship with someone that you had been in opposition to or opposed to for some reason.  The reason we were in opposition to God is because of our sin.  God is pure and holy and cannot have a relationship with anything that is unholy or sinful.  In Romans 5:10-11 Paul puts it this way, “ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   Through Jesus’ death on the cross he made it possible for us to be reconciled to God through faith in Him.  He returned us to a place of favor in God’s sight.  What a wonderful Savior we have in Jesus!

Romans 5-11 We Exalt In God Through Our Lord Jesus Christ gold

Does your life reflect the reconciliation made possible by Jesus? Do you cherish the relationship you have with God?  Do you seek to know Him through His Word and talk with Him each day in prayer?  It is an amazing fact that the God of the universe desires to have a relationship with you.  Thank you Jesus for making this possible.

Eternally grateful for Jesus’ work of reconciliation,

Linda

What does it mean, “I’m indwelt”?

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Have you ever considered how and why you are able to live successfully and faithfully for Jesus? We are not perfect this side of heaven but we have the desire to live for Him once we come to know Him. God did a very special thing for each and every believer when He sent His Holy Spirit to live inside of us. His indwelling spirit gives us the commitment and power to set aside sin and look to Him. He helps us to live for Jesus. He is why we can be successful.

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit when I step out in faith to believe. This fact permeates the life of every believer. Thus, we are all His and belong to one another. Paul sated in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” Because we have God’s Holy spirit inside of us, guiding and directing our hearts, we are can be loving and united in faith and purpose. Romans 5:1-5 explains this in more detail. “ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” We know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Paul makes it clear that we are made right with God through Jesus and that He loved us so much He gave us His Spirit to indwell us. His Holy Spirit works from within- guiding, encouraging, molding and shaping our character thus giving us the power to live for Him each day.

What a wonderous provision we have in the indwelling Holy Spirit. Study the graphic below- prayerfully thank God for His Holy Spirit’s work in your life.

Linda

Easter, The Best Promise Yet!

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After 40 days of promises the Bible still has more. One of the most significant promises Jesus made comes from Matthew 12:40 “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The scribes and Pharisees had just seen Jesus heal the man with the withered hand and were still demanding signs to prove who he was. They did not understand his promise to rise from the dead after 3 days. His disciples remembered it later after his crucifixion.

Luke 24:5-7 tells of the scene at the tomb where the women encounter the angel. “And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” Later in that same chapter Luke 24:34 the men on the road to Emmaus encountered Jesus and quickly returned reporting to let the disciples know. Eleven of them were gathered and when they heard their story they agreed “saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

The ultimate sign or proof of who Jesus was, the Son of God, came with his fulfillment of his promise to rise from the dead. If he had not been risen we would not be forgiven and would still be dead in our sins. The sacrifice on the cross is meaningless without the victory in the resurrection! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am free from sins bondage and victorious with Him.

Jesus promised to rise from the dead and He did! He is risen indeed!

Have a glorious Easter celebration as you worship Him.

Linda