Some comforting words from God's Word, to start our New Year. These are from The Message,
Psalm 91:1-13.
"God, you're my refuge.
I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right--he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you--
under them you're perfectly safe;
His arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing--not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God's your refusge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can't get close to you,
harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they'll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Gift of God
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.." (II Corinthians 9:15)
God’s ‘unspeakable’ gift to us was His Son, Jesus. Of Himself, Jesus said, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10)
Because of God’s wonderful gift, we can have other gifts such as a ‘gift of a relationship with God’. John 1:12 states that all who receive Him, those who believe in His name, He gives the right to be called the sons and daughters of God.
He also gives the ‘gift of His Grace’. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by Grace you have been saved…" We have received the ‘gift of Eternal Life’, as according to Romans 6:23 "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
One reason I think of God’s gift as being unspeakable, and perhaps part of Paul’s thinking in II Corinthians 9:15, is that it is greater than we can grasp with our finite minds. Jesus is God, 2nd person in the Trinity, totally God. Yet in order to become the propitiation for man’s sin, He had to take on a human body. In doing so He had to become a human being. Now we have something beyond our imagination, something incredible, beyond words, unspeakable. He was still God, just as though He had never been man; yet He was man as though He had never been God.
And He did this as a gift to each of us. "For God so loved the world that He gave (this Unspeakable Gift) His only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him will have eternal life." (John 3:16)
So at this Christmas season as we open our gifts from those we love, let us remember the most indescribable, most unspeakably amazing gift of all, ours just for the taking. This gift is Jesus, all wrapped up in love!
God’s ‘unspeakable’ gift to us was His Son, Jesus. Of Himself, Jesus said, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10)
Because of God’s wonderful gift, we can have other gifts such as a ‘gift of a relationship with God’. John 1:12 states that all who receive Him, those who believe in His name, He gives the right to be called the sons and daughters of God.
He also gives the ‘gift of His Grace’. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by Grace you have been saved…" We have received the ‘gift of Eternal Life’, as according to Romans 6:23 "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
One reason I think of God’s gift as being unspeakable, and perhaps part of Paul’s thinking in II Corinthians 9:15, is that it is greater than we can grasp with our finite minds. Jesus is God, 2nd person in the Trinity, totally God. Yet in order to become the propitiation for man’s sin, He had to take on a human body. In doing so He had to become a human being. Now we have something beyond our imagination, something incredible, beyond words, unspeakable. He was still God, just as though He had never been man; yet He was man as though He had never been God.
And He did this as a gift to each of us. "For God so loved the world that He gave (this Unspeakable Gift) His only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him will have eternal life." (John 3:16)
So at this Christmas season as we open our gifts from those we love, let us remember the most indescribable, most unspeakably amazing gift of all, ours just for the taking. This gift is Jesus, all wrapped up in love!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tea Cups
They mostly just sit in my cabinet gathering dust, but a few years ago I used them every week for awhile. It was after I had retired, and during the day I was home alone most of the time. As I had my devotions one day, I was impressed with the well known verse from Revelation 3:20 that states Jesus said He would come in and ‘sup’ with me; so I decided to provide a place for this. I would set out a couple of my special teacups, fill them with coffee or tea and imagine my Lord sitting with me, to ‘sup’ with me. It was very easy to just tell Him my heart as we had our ‘tea party’.
This brings to mind ‘cups’ that our Savior mentioned in the Scripture. The first one, which stands out to me, was in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before He was crucified. He prayed "O Father if it be possible, let this ‘cup’ pass away from me." I have read different thoughts on this; some say He was afraid of the physical part. I do not believe it was physical at all. I believe it was my sin and your sin that He knew He would bear. He was not to just carry it as a load, He would drink this ‘cup’ of sin, and it would become a part of Him. He knew it was at this point of time when sin and God would clash, and God would have to turn away from His Son. Oh, what a bitter cup!
Jesus accepted that first ‘cup’, and now He can offer us a ‘cup’, the cup of communion as He says "this is my blood which was shed for you, drink ye all of it." Are you ready to drink of that cup? Am I ready to accept what He did on Calvary and give Him my life, and my all? Are you?
When we have given Him our life, we will then be able to do as He asks in Matthew 10:42: "whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is my disciple, surely I declare to you he shall not lose his reward."
I may have some lovely bone china teacups, probably valuable only to me, but He provides the blessings to fill my spiritual cup, to last for all eternity.
"Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more—
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
(By Richard Blanchard)
Friday, October 28, 2011
A Worm to a Butterfly
"Strip yourselves of your former nature (put off and discard your old unrenewed self) which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion: And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude), And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24 (Amplified)
For years I had the prayer that God would take me, this worm of a human being, and turn me into a butterfly. Make me what Ephesians 4:24 states, "created in God’s image, in true righteousness and holiness." Then as I began studying God’s Word, I realized, I already am a butterfly. The day I accepted Christ as my Savior, I became a new being. Isaiah 61:3 tells me, He took my ashes and gave me beauty. In Isaiah 61:10 it states "(You) clothed me with garments of salvation, (You) have wrapped me in a robe of righteousness…as a bride adorned with her jewels." II Corinthians 5:17 says, "if any person is in Christ he is a new creation." And in Colossians 3:10 (amplified) "And have clothed yourself with the new spiritual self, which is renewed and remolded into...knowledge after the image of Him who created it."
Wow! I already am a beautiful new creation in God’s sight! I have a new spiritual self! And someday I shall even have a new body, a glorified body, and one like Christ’s glorified body. David is one who realized this when he stated in Psalm 17:15 "I shall be satisfied when I wake in thy likeness." Paul tells us in Philippians 3:21 "(Lord Jesus Christ) shall change our lowly body that it may be fashioned like his glorious body…"
You see, I am already a butterfly, what more could I ask for. My soul is a new creation, and soon, my body will be also.
Thank you, Lord, for taking this worm and making me into a butterfly! Amen
*From the heart of CC
For years I had the prayer that God would take me, this worm of a human being, and turn me into a butterfly. Make me what Ephesians 4:24 states, "created in God’s image, in true righteousness and holiness." Then as I began studying God’s Word, I realized, I already am a butterfly. The day I accepted Christ as my Savior, I became a new being. Isaiah 61:3 tells me, He took my ashes and gave me beauty. In Isaiah 61:10 it states "(You) clothed me with garments of salvation, (You) have wrapped me in a robe of righteousness…as a bride adorned with her jewels." II Corinthians 5:17 says, "if any person is in Christ he is a new creation." And in Colossians 3:10 (amplified) "And have clothed yourself with the new spiritual self, which is renewed and remolded into...knowledge after the image of Him who created it."
Wow! I already am a beautiful new creation in God’s sight! I have a new spiritual self! And someday I shall even have a new body, a glorified body, and one like Christ’s glorified body. David is one who realized this when he stated in Psalm 17:15 "I shall be satisfied when I wake in thy likeness." Paul tells us in Philippians 3:21 "(Lord Jesus Christ) shall change our lowly body that it may be fashioned like his glorious body…"
You see, I am already a butterfly, what more could I ask for. My soul is a new creation, and soon, my body will be also.
"Like developing butterflies,
We are to shed the cocoon
Of our sinful nature that we might
Emerge into the beauty of Christ."
(Unknown)
Thank you, Lord, for taking this worm and making me into a butterfly! Amen
*From the heart of CC
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Hands
Not too long ago, I was looking at my hands. They now have many brown spots, that we call age spots. (Maybe they are sort of like the rings on the tree, the more rings, the older it is; with hands, the more spots, the older the person.) The skin itself is beginning to get that transparent look, and when pinched up, it stays up. I remember as children when my siblings and I would do that to my grandmothers' hands, and we would laugh and giggle.
But these hands haven't always been this way. There was a time very long ago when they were much smaller, chubby and dimpled, and they would reach up and grab the big hand of my father or mother and feel safe. Even when my children were small, these hands were smooth, slender, the skin tight, and there were no spots. They would reach down and grab the small hand of my son or daughter to keep them safe. These hands would throw a ball, color a picture, or wipe a tear. But time brings about changes, and the young become the old. Just as the dark hair turns white, so the hands change and begin to show their age.
As I sit here musing over my hands, I am reminded of another pair of hands, the hands of our Savior. He used his hands to touch the blind, the sick, the dead; bringing healing and life. It was His hands that were nailed to the cross in my stead. It is His hands, His precious hands that hold me. He has said "He holds me in the palm of his hand" and "No man can pluck me out of His hand". Jn 10:28. Thank you , Jesus, for your blessed hands.
But these hands haven't always been this way. There was a time very long ago when they were much smaller, chubby and dimpled, and they would reach up and grab the big hand of my father or mother and feel safe. Even when my children were small, these hands were smooth, slender, the skin tight, and there were no spots. They would reach down and grab the small hand of my son or daughter to keep them safe. These hands would throw a ball, color a picture, or wipe a tear. But time brings about changes, and the young become the old. Just as the dark hair turns white, so the hands change and begin to show their age.
As I sit here musing over my hands, I am reminded of another pair of hands, the hands of our Savior. He used his hands to touch the blind, the sick, the dead; bringing healing and life. It was His hands that were nailed to the cross in my stead. It is His hands, His precious hands that hold me. He has said "He holds me in the palm of his hand" and "No man can pluck me out of His hand". Jn 10:28. Thank you , Jesus, for your blessed hands.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Common Sense
Recently I received an e-mail about an OBIT of the late Mr. Common Sense. I will give some of it here so you can get the gist of it:
"Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. …He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault….. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. i.e. A 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses…Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. "
Just what is Common Sense that it could so easily slip away and so few notice?
Webster’s Dictionary definition is: "Ordinary good sense or sound practical judgment."
Here is what the Bible says about it, found in Jeremiah 10:23: "…It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." To me this is saying it is just not in us to have sound practical judgment or ‘Common Sense’. Proverbs 16:3 gives us instructions on how to have this "Common Sense" however: "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." So when one stays close to the Lord, He will help our thoughts to be as with ‘Common Sense.’ If we will stay tuned in to the Lord, we will hear a word behind us say ‘this is the way, walk in it’. (Isaiah 30:21).
Our Lord will guide our steps, direct our path, protect us from harm when we establish our thoughts on Him, and he will give us ordinary good sense known as "Common Sense".
*Webster New World Dictionary
*From the heart of CC
"Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. …He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault….. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. i.e. A 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses…Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. "
Just what is Common Sense that it could so easily slip away and so few notice?
Webster’s Dictionary definition is: "Ordinary good sense or sound practical judgment."
Here is what the Bible says about it, found in Jeremiah 10:23: "…It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." To me this is saying it is just not in us to have sound practical judgment or ‘Common Sense’. Proverbs 16:3 gives us instructions on how to have this "Common Sense" however: "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." So when one stays close to the Lord, He will help our thoughts to be as with ‘Common Sense.’ If we will stay tuned in to the Lord, we will hear a word behind us say ‘this is the way, walk in it’. (Isaiah 30:21).
Our Lord will guide our steps, direct our path, protect us from harm when we establish our thoughts on Him, and he will give us ordinary good sense known as "Common Sense".
*Webster New World Dictionary
*From the heart of CC
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Intervention
I just can not seem to stay away. When God gives me a thought I love to write it down, and then as I look it over I think "I must share this"; so what better way than to put it in a 'blog'. I am also changing the name to "Gens from the Heart". Or maybe later I will think about something else, like "Gems from the Word". After all, the gems I find are found in God's Word, and then he speaks them to my heart.
Recently I came across a new thought on the word "Intercession". The verse is from Hebrews 7:25 (KJV):
Recently I came across a new thought on the word "Intercession". The verse is from Hebrews 7:25 (KJV):
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,
seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."
The word for 'intercession' in the Greek is 'intugehano'. This word 'intugehano' actually means 'intervention'. In the verse in Hebrews where it says Jesus is in heaven 'interceding' for us, he is actually 'intervening' for us. He is coming between my sin and the Holy Father.
Our Father in Heaven cannot look on sin, yet he can look at me because He sees me perfect because Jesus 'intervened' for me. He sees the perfection of Jesus, the Holy and perfect Son, because Jesus intervened and took the fall. Because of Jesus, God the Father now looks beyond my faults, beyond my sin, and sees the one who 'intervened' now sitting at His right hand 'interceding' for this unworthy sinner who is saved by Grace. What a God!
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