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.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

 

SCRIPTURE John 10:9-11,14-15,27-30 I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. . . . I AM the good shepherd; and I know My sheep and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. . . . My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

OBSERVATION Jesus-I AM the Door to salvation . . . I AM the Door to abundant life . . . I AM the Good Shepherd Who gives His life for the sheep, Who gives them eternal life . . . I AM the Resurrection and the Life.

APPLICATION Salvation is mine . . . abundant life is mine . . . eternal life is mine all because of Jesus, my Good Shepherd.

PRAYER Thank You Jesus for opening the door to salvation, abundant and eternal life.

I AM THE LIGHT

  SCRIPTURE John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

John 8:31-32 36 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

OBSERVATION Jesus declares Himself as I AM, ONE and the same as the I AM Who spoke to Moses in Exodus 3. I AM Who spoke light into being. I AM Whose word is Truth. I AM Who has, can, and will set people free.

APPLICATION Jesus, the Great I AM, is my Lord, my Light, my Savior, the only True God.

PRAYER Thank You, Jesus, for coming to this Earth for me. The Great I AM, my Lord, my Savior, my Light, my freedom

Peace through the Cross

Each Friday between now and Easter I will remember the cross and Jesus' sacrifice. . . . Jesus, today I remember and give thanks that I have peace with the Father through the blood of Your Cross.-Colossians 1:20

THE BREAD OF LIFE

 SCRIPTURE John 6:33-35, 47-48 I AM The BREAD of LIFE-For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. . . . Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.

OBSERVATION Jesus, the bread of God, the Bread of Life came from heaven to be broken, to give His life for me that I could have everlasting life.

APPLICATION I would share this bread, this everlasting life-giving bread.

PRAYER Thank You, Jesus for coming to give Your life for me that I may have the gift of everlasting life.

GOOD NAME

 

Men talk too much of gold and fame, and not enough about a name; and yet a good name’s better far than all earth’s glistening jewels are.-

Edgar Albert Guest

- A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.-Proverbs 22:1

Both my parents are covered by this scripture-love and miss them both.

LOOKING TO JESUS

 

Scripture Hebrews 12:1-4 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the  author and  finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Observation This life of faith is one of endurance and focus.

Application Keep my eyes, my  focus, on Jesus and that victory which is guaranteed because He endured the cross and defeated death and reigns forever at the right hand of God.

Prayer Thank You Jesus for enduring the cross and defeating death for me. I would run this race with endurance, laying aside that which would weigh me down, and keep my eyes, my focus on You.

NATIVITY-IMMANUEL

 "For unto us a child is born . . . "My mom stained these in ceramics when we were children, lots of hard work but will always be a family treasure, as she was and will remain-LOVE AND MISS YOU MOM

ADVENT-The Coming Messiah-So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matthew 1:22-23

ADVENT-The Journey to Christmas

 

God isn’t in the business of meeting expectations. He’s in the business of blowing them out of the water. Jesus is an incredible example of God’s exceeding goodness. Through Jesus, God met needs the Jewish people didn’t even realize they had. He provided much more than the fleeting prosperity of an earthly kingdom. He established His eternal kingdom, provided salvation, reconciled humans to right relationship with God, and brought hope to a broken world.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence things not seen. Romans 8:24; (2 Cor. 4:18; 5:7)

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

GOOD NEWS-From a Full Cradle to an Empty Tomb

 

Just as there was an angel of the Lord who announced to the shepherds that their Savior Jesus Christ was born, so, too, there was an angel of the Lord that descended from heaven and appeared to the Mary’s, rolling the stone away from the empty tomb and announced the good news that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead. Both at His birth and resurrection, the announcement was the same, “Fear not . . . do not be afraid.” GOOD NEWS the Savior of the world is a baby, born unto you, and lying in a manger . . . GOOD NEWS the crucified Savior is no longer lying in a tomb, He Is Risen . . . GOOD NEWS the gift of God, eternal life is ours! This Christmas let us celebrate the greatest gift and the greatest gift giver!

Luke  2:8-12 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Matthew 28:1-3, 5-6 As the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb . . . behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow . . . the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ”

FOREVER KING

 

 

 

In addition to being the moment the Savior came into the world, Christmas marks the beginning of the legacy of eternity's greatest King. Jesus will continue to reign long after the kings and kingdoms of this world pass away, and we will get to live under the covering of His perfect love forever. Thank You for coming to earth and beginning Your journey to the throne among us. I’m so grateful You care for me deeply and will always advocate for me as my King.

Solid and Surrounded

 

 Scripture Psalms 125:1-2 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.

Observation Those who trust in the Lord are on solid ground which cannot be moved.

Application My faith and trust is in the Lord, my solid rock and surrounding mountain.

Prayer Thank You Lord for being my solid ground and surrounding mountain.

Ransom Paid

 

Scripture Matthew 20:28 the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Observation Jesus came to serve and lay down His life to ransom lost souls.

Application Jesus came to lay down His life to pay the ransom for my soul.

Prayer Thank You Jesus for coming to Earth to lay down Your life for me.