The Cross = oneness and giftedness in Christ!

March 19, 2020April 16, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Ephesians 4:4-7 is a beautiful passage to be cherished by believers. We are all called to be a part of God’s family and share in what we have in Christ, and yet God sees us as individuals with different needs.

“For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. ⁷However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.”

God, the creator, who is Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient is our Heavenly Father. He is in everything we do, everywhere we go and in every action we take. We are to be in His presence daily, walking with Him and letting His Holy Spirit guide and direct us. I love the fact that we are individuals before God. He gave us special gifts through Christ when we became believers. Each one of us is seen as useful and productive for the kingdom and are given gifts so we can successfully work and live for Him.

Do you feel isolated or a part of the body of Christ? Are you connected in meaningful ways to other believers? What about your gifts? Are you using your God given talents to accomplish work for the Lord? Lent is a time of reflection. Ponder what your gifts may be, read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 to seek clarity about gifts, think about the things you do for others in Jesus’ name- what brings you the most joy and peace? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we are one in Christ, specially gifted through His grace.

May you be lifted up as you pray and meditate on the power of God’s family in your life and your gifts. Be encouraged as God has special gifts for each of us though the grace of Christ!

Linda

“Masterpieces” by God

March 7, 2020April 16, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I love today’s verses in Ephesians 2:8-10. They bring renewed hope, purpose and clarification from God showing His great love, generosity, planning and sovereignty. I particularly like the New Living Translation as it brings added clarity to the passage. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

What hope we have because we believe in Jesus! We are assured that we don’t have to try and ‘earn’ our way into heaven. God promises us that there is nothing we can do now or in the future to earn our salvation. It is purely a gift from our gracious God. God loves us and we are important to Him. We are His masterpieces. He loves us and has prepared good works for us to do in His name. There are many scriptures that confirm these facts:

John 1:16 “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” His grace is perfectly complete, giving us all we need.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Salvation is a free gift, not earned.

Psalm 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” God specifically created each of us.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God’s plans are complete and for my good, I can place my hope in them.

James 2:14 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? As a believer, genuine faith will cause me to seek to do good works for Jesus.

We can cling to these verses from our loving and gracious God knowing we are here with a purpose by His design. We can trust His sovereignty in all things. 2 Chronicles 20:6 ““O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”

Have a blessed day as you prayerfully consider: God’s grace towards you, His sovereignty over your life and the good works He has lovingly prepared for you.

Linda

2020 A New Year, A New Decade- How will you survive?

January 1, 2020January 2, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Yesterday I was in the look back mode, but today January 1, 2020 I am looking forward. Each year I have a habit of choosing a word to guide my year. Last year God gave me the word Trust and Wow! did I see that word week after week. I learned to lean upon God and trust Him in new, painful, scary and exciting situations. It was amazing how Trust kept coming up again and again, reminding me of who I am and where my Trust needs to be placed.

This year God has given me the word Hope. I have always loved writing and talking about the hope I have in Christ, but I feel His Hope will reach into all corners of my life. So I thought it wise to spend a few weeks looking into HOPE and seeing how hope is described in God’s Word. The verse I found to start with is Psalm 71:14 as it seemed to capture the hope I feel right now as I begin this new year. “But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.” Psalm 71 was written by King David in his old age. He reflects upon God, his dependence upon Him and God’s continuing faithfulness. David resolves to continue praising God just as he has done since his youth. “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” Psalm 71:5

May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
¹⁴But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
¹⁵My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge. Psalm 71:13-15

David knows the ‘world’ will come against him, yet he knows God will deal with them. He has his hope placed in God and will praise Him. No matter what as he knows God is sovereign and in control of all things, people, and places. He vows to continue to proclaim what God has done for him.

This is a challenge as we face a New Year. We know for certain that things will come against us-as they always do. What we know, like David, is that God is faithful and will stand with us. We need to trust in His sovereignty and mercy and cling to Him in HOPE. That is my answer to, How will I survive in 2020? I will cling to Him in HOPE knowing with absolute faith that God is faithful, loving and merciful. He will be gracious to me as I place my HOPE in Him.

Looking forward to 2020 with HOPE,

Linda

Bethlehem reveals God’s Omnipotence!

December 15, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

We have seen the power and might of God, His knowledge of people and His choices of who He would use to bring about His plan for our redemption. Today we see His sovereign power and His control of places and world events.

Luke 2:1-4 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And 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,”

It was no coincidence that the Roman emperor had a census taken and that Mary and Joseph would need to travel to Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home. He was in the line of David and David’s home had been in Bethlehem in Judea since he was of the tribe of Judah. In addition, God knew this ahead of time because the Old Testament prophecy regarding where the Messiah would be born was given hundred of years before the event in Micah 5:2

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.

God knew when and where His Son would be born, and it happened exactly when and where God designed it. Not only do we see God’s sovereignty in the choice and control of people and places but we see His Omnipotence. God is All Powerful as He has unlimited power and influence. He does all He wants and intends to do. God is the source of all power and without God’s power everything would fall apart. His power holds the stars in place and sustains life. Having Mary able to travel, Joseph having to go to Bethlehem, the Roman government requiring a census are all evidences of God’s Omnipotent power. His power and influence extends to His whole creation and nothing happens by chance.

Where do you see God’s Omnipotent power in your life? Nothing happens that is outside His control. His will cannot be thwarted and He will see all to completion. No earthly leader or worldly power can stop God’s plans. Daniel expressed his awe at God’s power in Daniel 2:20-21 ““Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
²¹He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding; Daniel knew that God had power over all things, people and places. Job also knew of God’s Omnipotent power as he states in Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Look for God in the little things in your life and soon you will see His presence everywhere. God’s providential care of those who believe in Jesus is a blessing beyond measure.

Linda

Sovereign God, see Him today!

December 13, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Joseph’s story inspires me in several ways. He was an ordinary carpenter, a working man, righteous in God’s esteem and used by God to complete His plan for bringing His Son to us. He was completely obedient to God’s directions-he did as the Lord commanded. He was compassionate as he respected Mary and sought to divorce her quietly not bringing further embarrassment because of her situation. Here is his back story of how this happened to him, Matthew 1:18-25.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

²³“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). ²⁴When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Where do we see God in this event? For sure God’s power and might are displayed in the angel and the dream. The choosing of the ‘right’ man for the job shows the knowledge of God and the exact timing of the events in the course of time-His sovereignty.

Today as I look at this I am struck by the Sovereignty of God. What does God’s sovereignty cover? God controls all things. There is nothing outside of God’s wise control, even the exact time and place for each person to live. No one tells God what to do. What God plans, happens. No event, not natural disaster, no person, not even Satan can stop God’s plans. God planned the time for His Son to come and He will return exactly as God plans in the future. Do you see sovereignty here? God chose the exact type of earthy father He desired for His Son-the right mother, the right home and time. He placed him with a compassionate, righteous father giving Him exactly what Jesus needed to grow in wisdom and truth to accomplish His plan for our redemption.

What about you? Do you trust wholly in God’s sovereignty? Do you believe that He has the right place, plans and purpose for your life? Joseph did not question God as He trusted in His wise judgement, plans and purposes for His life. He was obedient to God-no doubting of God’s plan or power like we saw in Zachariah when the angel appeared to him. No questioning of the incomprehensibility of the situation like Mary first did when the angel told her she would bear a son even though she was a virgin. No, Joseph’s obedience and acceptance of God’s plans for his life are impressive and humbling. He trusted totally in Sovereign God.

Pray about Joseph’s example today as you seek to make obedience, compassion and integrity a part of your character. God is sovereign and will lead you to serve Him exactly where He needs you to be. Trust Him and He will grow and develop your character.

Linda

I don’t get it? Why this way God?

December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I have been pondering today’s scripture for several days. Luke 1:34-38 continues the encounter of Gabriel and Mary. She begins with a question and listens as the angel explains how and why Mary will become pregnant. Amazingly Mary states her unwavering obedience to God before Gabriel leaves her.

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Where is God in this encounter? God is the Sovereign force behind the events happening right then. He is All-Powerful, Omnipotent God who can make the impossible happen. But, the attribute that has stuck in my mind is Incomprehensible. Not in our wildest human plans would we have come up with a miraculous birth by a lowly young Jewish maiden to save all mankind. We cannot understand God’s thoughts, plans or ways with our finite minds. His ways are always righteous and good for all people. His ways and plans bless us and glorify Him. Here are a few verses that speak to the incomprehensibility of God:

Job 5:9 “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”

Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”

Isaiah 55:8 ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.”

Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “

How big is your God? Mary knew God could do great and impossible things in the world and in her life. She experienced the incomprehensibility of God in her life and accepted it on faith. Can you do that too? When you face hard to deal with questions or situations in life, can you trust in Jesus anyway? Walking with Jesus is a life long journey of learning and discovery as no one can plumb the depths of God’s Word or fully know His character. He wants to teach us to love and trust Him realizing He is incomprehensible and His ways are not our ways.

Linda

God’s Power in our Lives!

December 2, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Our story of Advent began even before Gabriel approached Mary and Joseph as it was in the mind of God from the beginning of time. The arrival of the Messiah, one who would save mankind from their sins, was told throughout the Old Testament. Scripture also mentioned one who would come before this Messiah, Savior, and prepare the way for His arrival. Today in Luke 1:11-17 we find two people, Zechariah and Elizabeth who were consider devout and blameless (verse 6). This didn’t mean they were sinless, but that God recognized their devotion and love for Him. They had been married many years and had no children. Zechariah was a priest and Elizabeth his wife was called barren. They were both considered old, and she was beyond child bearing age.

Zechariah was serving in the temple and an angel appeared to him. “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³But 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. ¹⁴He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” The angel told Zechariah their prayers for a child had been heard and would be answered with a son he was to name John. Then the angel continued and told him about this unusual child, what he would be like and what purpose God had for him. “He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷And 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.”

Can you imagine Zechariah and Elizabeth’s surprise at hearing this news? Their prayers had been heard and the answer was forthcoming. It was not only their prayers but the prayers of the nation of Israel for a Savior, Messiah, that would to come and save them from their sins. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son would go before this coming holy one and prepare the way for Him. What honor and joy they must have felt!

How do we see God in this portion of our Advent story? As I began yesterday, knowing that God would hear my cry for understanding through His Word so Zechariah and Elizabeth were assured by Gabriel that their prayers had been heard for a child. They had prayed for years for a child to raise and love. God had chosen them to parent this coming one who would proclaim the Messiah. What joy they must have felt at knowing God heard their prayers and that they would have a child. On a bigger scale they would have understood that they would all be part of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.

This reveals that God is accessible to us in prayer. He hears us and responds in His own way and in His own time. All God’s plans are for His glory and our good. I also see God’s infinite grace in revealing His plan to them, showing them how He was going to use them and their son. God did not need to tell them all these things but showed them His grace in revealing it to them. Grace is God showing us kindness or favor we do not deserve. One does not earn grace, it is freely given by God. Psalm 84:11 says “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” We also see God’s ability to know the future and have all things under His control, Sovereign. His supernatural power to provide an impossible child for Zechariah and Elizabeth also shows His love and care for us as individuals.

May you see our Accessible, Gracious, Loving, Caring and Sovereign God at work in your life today.

Linda

Worthy of our Praises? You bet!

November 24, 2019 nofearlinda1 Comment

Let Psalm 95 speak to your heart today as you worship the Lord this Sunday before Thanksgiving. Think about God, who He is and why He alone is worthy of praise.

Come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. He provides salvation.
²Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
    Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
³For the Lord is a great God,   He is completely Sovereign.
    a great King above all gods.
⁴He holds in his hands the depths of the earth He is creator God.
    and the mightiest mountains.
⁵The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
    His hands formed the dry land, too.

⁶Come, let us worship and bow down.
    Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
⁷    for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over, He watches over and cares for us.
    the flock under his care. We belong to Him.

Praise God for His love, sovereignty, omnipotent power, creating all things, protecting, watching and caring for us. We are so blessed that we belong to Him.

Have a great day rejoicing and being thankful in His presence.

Linda

All-Knowing God provides Victory!

November 18, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Daniel 2:20-23 gives Daniel’s praise to God after having received the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel and all the wise men of the kingdom were going to be killed if the meaning of the King’s dream was not revealed. Upon receiving the King’s death threat, Daniel went to his believing friends in the palace and asked them to pray concerning this mystery asking God to reveal the meaning of the King’s dream so they might be saved. Here is Daniel’s response after God revealed the dream’s meaning to him in a vision. Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
²¹He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
²²he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.
²³To you, O God of my fathers,
    I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
    and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
    for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Daniel begins by praising God for who He is- the Sovereign Eternal God of the universe with all things, people and circumstances within His control. He praised God’s knowledge and wisdom and His ability to reveal things to those who love Him. He praised God’s purity, and that in Him there is no darkness. Daniel thanks God for revealing His wisdom to Him and for letting him know what the King’s dream was about, thereby saving him.

Do you know who God is? Do you praise Him for His glorious character and for how He has kept all His promises? Try incorporating praise for who God is into your prayers today. List His attributes so you can think about Him as you pray. The more we love and know God the greater our trust in Him will be.

Linda

Are you ready? Jesus calls us to be part of His Plan “A”.

May 28, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s meeting with Jesus took place on a mountainside in Galilee. I had always associated this scene with the ascension, but it is a separate incident. Jesus did give the ‘Great Commission’ at His ascension but he also gave it here sometime before the ascension.

Matthew 28:16-20 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There were 11 disciples because Judas had betrayed Jesus and hanged himself. However, there were probably others along with them as in verse 10 earlier in the chapter Jesus had said to the women at the tomb garden, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Scholars think that the people Matthew is referring to as ‘doubting’ are the other brothers who also accompanied the 11 to the mountainside and does not refer to the disciples. The heart of Jesus’ message is He wants the message of salvation and redemption to go out to all the world. It is their job to spread the ‘good news’ to the world. He promises to go with them (and us) throughout all the ages to come.

Have you ever considered that you are God’s plan A? There is no backup plan for spreading the news of redemption to the world- we are it! God promises that His word will not return empty or without use, Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God also promises that His will cannot be thwarted, Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Jesus did His part- He came to earth, lived, died on the cross to redeem us and rose from the grave conquering sin and death. We have our part to do now- tell others about marvelous, amazing, redemptive Jesus! Since you are part of plan A, whom will you tell today? Remember there are many ways to tell others about Jesus. Yes, you need to be able to give a full account of the gospel which according to 1 Peter 3:15, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,“ However, you can witness each day to the power of the risen Christ in your life by what you say, how you respond, who you help, what you do for others, how you treat them, etc. Our lives speak for Jesus along with our mouths. We can give a word of praise to God for little and big things in our lives and others will hear it. We can mention a verse of scripture and how it applies to our circumstances, we can offer to pray for a colleague or neighbor who is in need or lend a helping hand without being asked. There are many ways to show you love Jesus and that He is the driving force behind what you say and do. All of these witness to His power of redemption. At any point you are asked, you need to be willing and able to give words to your faith as 1 Peter 3:15 tells us- the reason for your hope.

Be encouraged today and mindful of the position and commission Jesus gave to me and you. Be bold for the gospel and let the gospel drive you thoughts, actions and words today.