Riding The Storm Out

 

Scripture   Acts 27:20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. Vs 22-26

Observation The storms were intense and prolonged to the place/point of hopelessness.

Application Life can be rough and seemingly hopeless and -rocky  at times but God sees, knows, has a plan in/through it all.

Prayer Father, I am thankful and trusting that even though circumstances can be trying at times and for seasons, You are in control and have an eternal plan and purpose at work in and through it all. So, I will trust You wholeheartedly no matter how stormy this life may get.

REMEMBERING

 

REMEMBERING

  To begin the year of 2006, I sent out a devotional/prayer e-mail on each Monday. These were mainly excerpts from my personal journal. In November of 2007 I wrote my first blog entry. Exposed to only a limited number of viewers since then, it is my prayer that it will now reach out to a larger audience and that what is written and shared here will be a blessing and encouragement to all who partake of it. That it may be food and drink to the soul, delivered to me by the Bread of Life and Living Water to share with you.

"Blessed are all those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be fed"-Jesus

Seems as though the very early, even the pre-dawn moments of the morning are the most precious and intimate with my Father, my Abba. Jesus knew it was a special time, a needed time, and He set an example. Surely if Jesus needed this private time with His Father, then how much more do I? I seem to have a more tender, open spirit in the stillness and quiet and I remember the words of the LORD in Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God..."

 

So, early this morning I listened, and I wrote and now I share.

One Hope, Jesus Christ...

One Lord, Jesus Christ...

One Spirit, Holy Spirit...

 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  This body is Your temple, not mine own...bought at a price  1 Peter 1:18-19 ...therefore to glorify God. Remember the price, remember the passion, remember the cross, remember that Jesus did that all for you, Jesus paid it all for you...look, turn your eyes on Jesus, focus on Jesus, enduring the cross for you, look full into His face and what do you see?

Amazing grace...

Amazing love flowing down,

From hands and feet that were nailed to a tree,

That grace flows down and covers me.

That is why Jesus came...to seek and save, to give His life for me (to me), to willingly lay it down, to ransom my soul, to offer Himself up for me...my Lord, my Savior, my salvation, my Jesus.

Oh, to be one with You,

Oh, to be more like You,

Oh, to be transformed into Your image and likeness,

Oh, to love You more and love more like You,

Oh, to be full of grace and truth,

Oh, for Your glory to shine,

Oh, that others see You in me,

Oh, that others see You through me

At this time of year when I remember Your sacrificial death and celebrate Your glorious resurrection, I also remember anew and afresh the reason You came. You came, Jesus, to pay the highest, immeasurable price that only You could pay, for the greatest, immeasurable, eternal gift ever. .

So, I would live a life of cherishing and sharing the gift, Your gift of grace and eternal life.

So, I would live a life of thanksgiving every moment of every day. Thank You Abba! Thank You Jesus! Thank You Holy Spirit, my constant companion!

Today You minister to me, encourage me, focus me, love me. This day You help me remember...I need Your help, I need You, I need to remember and give thanks!

Lord God Almighty

 

Scripture Revelation 15:3-4 “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You for Your judgments have been manifested.”

Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.

Observation Great, marvelous, just, true, holy is the Lord God Almighty, King of the saints.

Application I will worship, I would praise, I would glorify and honor Your holy name . . . Lord of lords and King of kings, You alone are worthy.

Prayer Lord God Almighty, my King, my Savior, my friend, I would forever worship Your holy Name.

TRUE TESTIMONY

 SCRIPTURE John 19:35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

 John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

OBSERVATION John the disciple gives true testimony that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, that we may believe and have eternal life.

APPLICATION I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Giver of the gift of eternal life. 

PRAYER Thank You Jesus for paying the price so that I may have the gift of eternal life.

Victory in Jesus

 

Today I am THANKFUL for the hymn, Victory in Jesus, and share the story behind the song for the writer and for me with a special THANKS to my mom. Check it out and leave a message about how that hymn has touched your life, too.

“Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood, He loved me…and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.”- E.M. Bartlett- Mr. Bartlett suffered a paralyzing stroke that left him unable to walk or even speak and for the most part, he was bedridden. Many felt the stroke ended his teaching ministry, yet It was during these dark days that Eugene would write his best-known hymn, Victory In Jesus

Thank You Jesus for so loving me. I want to love You more and share Your love. I’m pretty sure I first heard this hymn at Allen Park Church of the Nazarene because my sweet Mom took us, my sister Tina and me, from my earliest memory. Thanks, mom,  I will always remember and be thankful that I first heard about Jesus because of you. This also became a favorite hymn of my Pop who found victory in Jesus at the age of 52.

PEACE IN JESUS

 SCRIPTURE John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. 

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

.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 heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Observation Jesus, is the giver of peace that the world can’t give or take away.

Application I would spend time daily in God’s  Word and in fellowship with Jesus the Giver of peace that surpasses understanding.

Prayer Jesus, today, and each day You bless me with I would live  with peace in my heart that only You can give and that nobody can take away.

BE KIND

 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.-Ephesians 4:32

This verse has been on my heart and mind recently. When we remember the infinite depth of God's mercy and grace and the high price He paid for our salvation, then being kind, having a tender heart, and showing/expressing forgiveness well, it's something we should strive for.

JESUS-THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE

 

SCRIPTURE John 14:6 I AM the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me! John 1:14, 17, 8:32

OBSERVATION There is only One Way to the Father, One Truth, and One Who is the Author of Life, Jesus.

APPLICATION I will Look unto Jesus-The Truth, The Life, The Only Way to the Father.

PRAYER I will fix my eyes on Jesus-The Only Way, Truth, and Giver of Life.