abandoned to Christ.

Showing posts with label Word-Filled Wednesdays. Show all posts

What does it mean for us to "walk in love"? Does it mean that we should all walk around as if we were floating on cloud 9, filled with romantic and idealistic thoughts about our lives and relationships?

What does it mean for us to be a "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."? Does it mean that we are to abstain from anything and everything that brings us pleasure; wear drab clothes and a permanent expression on our faces that tell the world how miserable we are being children of the Most High God, living in a sin infested world?

Short answer to both these questions are assuredly in Christ - NO!

When I read Ephesians 5:1-2, one of the first things that come to mind is the tabernacle and the altar of incense that was placed on the west side of the Holy Place, and stood in front of the curtain/veil of the Most Holy Place (or the Holy of Holies).

The LORD said to Moses, "Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy...And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the LORD. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people."
~ Exodus 30:34-35, 37-38

Notice that the LORD our God gives us a sharp warning that the combination of theses spices are "holy" they are set apart for God and should never be used for our own personal pleasures.

stacte n. ~ [Hebrew: שחלת (nataph)] one of the components of the perfume which was offered on the golden altar (Ex. 30:34; R.V. marg., "opobalsamum"). The Hebrew word is from a root meaning "to distil," and it has been by some interpreted as distilled myrrh

onycha n. ~ [Hebrew: שחלת (shĕcheleth)] according to Hebrew interpreters, unguis odaratus, prop. the covering or shell of a kind of muscle found in the lakes of India, where the nard grows; which, when burning, emits an odor resembling musk

galbanum n. ~ [Hebrew: חלבנה (chelbĕnah)] A bitter, aromatic gum resin extracted from an Asiatic plant (Ferula galbaniflua) or any of several related plants and used in incense and medicinally as a counterirritant

frankincense n. ~ [Hebrew: לבונה (lĕbownah)] a white resin burned as fragrant incense

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
~ 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

May we all present ourselves as "living sacrifices" to God as we seek to die to self every day; consecrating our lives only for God's purpose and His pleasure, for this is where we will find our greatest joy.

In my next post I will share a diagram of the tabernacle and how Jesus fulfilled every element that was placed in it.

We all want beautiful feet. As women, we love to show off our newest pedicures with cute little sandals in the summer and bright, pretty colors that adorn our toenails. We might even put on a little ring that dangles around our little pinky toe, or a ankle bracelet that sparkles in the light. We consider these things, the things that make our feet beautiful. And we look forward to the pampering of our feet and sigh with satisfaction as we leave the beauty shop or spa with our beautifully dressed-up feet.

But what does God say about beautiful feet? What does the Maker of heaven and earth consider is the proper adornment of our feet that would make them look beautiful in His sight? God is awesome. Just so we would never have to wonder, He made it perfectly clear to us what He considers -beautiful feet.

Are your feet beautiful to God?

You left Your glory
Your seat upon the throne
And You exchanged it
For a Cross
In a place that was not Your Home.

Master, You took my scorn
My guilt and my shame
You redeemed my wretched soul
With Your blood
In Your name.

What awesome gift is this
I have received
That the King of glory would die
For the wicked
And deceived?

Your matchless love,
Your mercy and Your grace
Causes my heart to anguish
The high cost
My Savior paid.

How can I respond
To Christ saving my soul?
I will share His Good News
In every place
That I go.

Jesus, I call You Lord
My Master and my Friend
And will obey You with
All my heart
With every breath You lend.

And what will you do with the time you have left? Will you end your days living for your pleasures? Or will you live out the rest of your days as a living sacrifice to our Captain, Christ Jesus who calls all that are His to answer His battle cry for the souls of those who are still lost?

Remember, the harvest is plenty - it is the laborers who are few. I pray constantly to the Lord of the harvest to send in more laborers. Perhaps I've been praying for you. Won't you come and join in the battle? No longer a spectator, but an active warrior, purposed for the Lord's Kingdom work.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
~ Psalm 23:3

One of the things I love most about God and His word is that He never gets old! He makes all things new, just like He's making me new every day!

Like many of you, I've read Psalm 23 in its entirety, probably about a hundred fifty million times (as you know by now, I like using LARGE numbers ☺). But today, God showed me something new that I had never seen. Before today, I've always looked at this particular verse as looking to God for rest, my hiding place, my source of comfort when I am weary, discouraged or afraid.

As I meditated on this Scripture today, I realized I didn't fully understand what the word restore means. This is what I found on Dictionary.com:

restore v.
1) to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish: to restore order. 2) to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition, as a building, statue, or painting. 3) to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor. 4) to put back to a former place, or to a former position, rank, etc.: to restore the king to his throne. 5) to give back; make return or restitution of (anything taken away or lost).

God alone is my Savior. He alone can and will make me new in Christ and give me life. I was once dead and useless. But now, I am whole, alive and created to be one of God's ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)....just like all of you! ♥

I realize now that Psalm 23 is not about personal comfort, but about our eternal salvation. In Psalm 23, God is telling us that He alone is the Good Shepherd, who will feed us Bread from Heaven (Jesus Christ), allow us to drink from the from the Living Water (the Holy Spirit) and will restore our souls, by saving us and making our spirits that were once dead in sin, alive in Christ Jesus. And why has He done all this? Because we are good people? Because we do nice things for each other? No, because of His righteousness and for His name's sake (Deuteronomy 9:5).

For those of you who are visual, come back tomorrow. I'll have a picture to demonstrate how we are made in God's image; we'll talk more about what that really means and why it's possible for us to be alive in Christ, and dead to our flesh.

for more inspiration from God's word today please visit Amydeanne at:

Here's the picture of all the elements (Valentine's tract, candy & crinkle paper) as well as the picture of our family's Valentine's Neighborhood Evangelism Gift bags.

Please feel free to share this idea with anyone and everyone you know that loves our Lord Jesus Christ and who deeply desires this to be said about them:

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."
Acts 4:13
(NKJV)

Some interesting facts about our life.

IF YOU ARE:	YOU HAVE:
The average person dies at 70 years old.
20 years old	2,600 weekends left
30 years old	2,080 weekends left
40 years old	1,560 weekends left
50 years old	1,040 weekends left
60 years old	520 weekends left
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 150,000 people die every 24 hours.

According to this chart, and as of next month, I only have 1,560 weekends left. That's not a lot!

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
~ Psalm 90:12

This is something I pray for myself daily as I consider how I've already spent the days the Lord has given me (and I must say, it hasn't always been focused on Christ), and how I will spend the rest of my days.

Will I spend my weekends on what I want to do for my personal pleasures? Or will I spend them remembering the mercies of God poured out to me, and present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God by leaving my comfort (like Jesus left Heaven) and choosing to live as Christ: dying to flesh daily so that I might share His life with others.

I pray daily that the Lord will help me stop being so scared of what others think and what they might do to me. I felt so rejected and embarrassed the other day when I was at WalMart and the clerk refused the tract I gave him. But when I remembered Jesus, I prayed and asked Him to help me and He gave me strength to turn around, look at the person who was standing behind me in the check-out line and say, "Well, I sure don't you to miss out on a gift. Would you like this?" With a huge smile, she answered, "SURE! Wow, thank you!"

While the world is celebrating their love for one another, won't you join me this Valentine's Day in sharing the love of Christ with anyone and everyone the Holy Spirit brings to mind?

Gracious Lord God in Heaven, I ask you to go before us and prepare the way. Guide us Father God with Your word that lights our path so we may walk as Jesus did. Just like the pillar of cloud You put before the Israelites to lead them into the Promised Land, will You also go before us and prepare the hearts of those You send us to? Will You also Lord, then go behind us, like the pillar of fire, to protect our work from the enemy? Please Father, do not let our enemy snatch up the Good Seed You've given us to share, but bless it and let it take root in the hearts of all those whom You've called to salvation in the name of Jesus. Amen.

for more inspiration from God's word today please visit Amydeanne at:

This is a picture of our youngest son, joyfully looking forward to his first Christmas! He was eight months old when this picture was taken. Time has flown, and he will be fourteen years old, in just five more months.

We've been witnessing to our sons and teaching them the ways of God, pretty much since they were conceived. We'd pray for them, read Scripture to them and tell them how much God loves them. I don't believe it's ever too early to teach our children about God, His saving grace and His merciful love, fully demonstrated in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-4

"And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said,
'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.' "

So often we all want to feel like we matter, like we have purpose and like we're special. Although on the surface, there seems to me nothing wrong with this thinking, when we dig deep into God's word, His brilliant light of truth, love and righteousness reveals to us the error in this logic.

When we allow the tiniest seed of self-importance rise up within us, it will only be a matter of time before it becomes a full-fledged tree, bearing much fruit - the fruit of selfish ambition. The poor man who has decided he is nothing and has nothing, fears not what he might lose before setting out for the day. It is the rich man who deems he has a reputation to keep, earthly possessions to care for and is constantly tormented by thoughts that someone might steal all that he has.

Our emotions, our families, our acquaintances, co-workers and even Satan himself, cannot take anything away from the one who claims nothing for himself, except the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of his/her soul. And who can take Christ and His Holy Spirit away from anyone who has repented and trusted Jesus to save them? No one can.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will 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 the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
~ John 10:27-30

Little children don't have much selfish ambition. They just want simple things:

love;
peace;
laughter;
family;
hugs and kisses;
food, something to drink, and sleep;
giving something to those they love, just to make them smile.

I'm going to be a little child today. A child of the Most High God. And I'm going to seek only to love, sow peace, enjoy laughter, enjoy my family, give lots of hugs and kisses, thank God for food that is nutritious and taste good, rest and hopefully by the end of this day, I will give something to someone I love, just to make them smile....I think I'll start by giving my Father in Heaven, my undivided heart and abandoned love. I sure hope this makes Him smile!

Won't you join me today at Word-Filled Wednesdays? Let's make God smile together...through worship!

Regardless of who you voted for, as Christians we have the privilege to honor our Lord God, not only with our lips, but with our abandoned hearts, to pray for our new President God raised up - and allowed to take office.

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
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;
He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him."
~ Daniel 2:20-22

God's word does not return to Him void, but surely accomplishes the purpose in which He sent it. And we trust in the LORD God Almighty; not in personal comforts, fears, anger, disappointment or the opinions of men.

But in all things, as children of the Most High God, we are confident, no matter our circumstances, for our lives are not held by the decisions of mere men, but only by the good and sovereign will of the Lord of Hosts.

"Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before You!
Put them in fear, O LORD!
Let the nations know that they are but men!"
~ Psalm 9:19-20
(emphasis added)

Therefore, we ought to restrain ourselves from slander or any other form of malice regarding our new President, Barak Obama. And we must commit to pray for him. Pray for the salvation and protection of him and his entire family. Pray for God to give him wisdom to lead this great nation. And pray that every believer in Christ, take more seriously and appreciate more deeply the freedoms we have to worship our King Jesus.

Remember dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, why we are here. We are visitors, sojourners; not permanent citizens of this world. We are not here to become so passionate about all that is temporary. But instead, we are to strive for that which is eternal - salvation in Christ Jesus; and sharing our hope in Him with the world.

With this in mind, will you join me in prayer for our new President and not against him?

For more inspiration from God's word today, please join me at:

This is a picture I took of my boys last week.

Michael, my oldest, just got home from Cross Country practice and was tired.

In this picture Michael and his precious little brother (Kevin) who is his best friend, are lying on the floor just sharing with one another all that happened during their day at school.

I wanted to share this picture today because this has been a daily occurrence since the day Kevin was born.

My oldest son, whom I love dearly....well, is quite a handful to say the least. He's the child who put the word "strong" in strong-willed. I didn't know much about having children before I had them and all the people around me at the time, who had kids, only had girls. So I just assumed that only boys were so demanding, time-consuming and just, well...a mighty challenge.

When we found out we were having another son, I literally had a panic attack, right there in the doctors' office. The first thought that ran through my mind was that there was only the two of us (Jim and I) and we were barely enough for Michael. How in the world was I going to have any time, any, anything for another boy?! Also, flashes of typical brotherhood filled my head, as I envisioned, knock-down, drag out fights, throwing little brother in the closet and all the other brotherly horror stories I heard from other parents.

With all this going through my head, I prayed. I prayed that God would make this son different. I prayed that God would make their relationship different. I prayed that their relationship would be something God would use to be bear testimony to Christ and His sacrificial love for us. I prayed their relationship would honor God and also point others straight to the loving, merciful, gracious and righteous arms of our Savior. And I found great comfort when I remembered that God would surely not give me more than I could handle.

So, I got another strong-willed child...and they are both strong in the Lord. And for that, I am eternally grateful! Through all this, God revealed to me something I had not considered about myself....I'm much stronger-willed than the both of them put together! For those of you who read my "At The Well" post regarding the whole hair and bedsheets incident, can surely say an AMEN to that! :-)

Our boys are now in the 10th and 8th grades and still, best friends...who love the Lord...and only by God's grace, get to live in the same house! I mean, who doesn't want their best friend to live with them?!

I am eternally grateful for this miracle of the Lord I get to witness every day!

By the way, the reason why their laughing is because I'm standing right over them saying, "Okay, just do what you're doing and pretend that I'm not here!" Yes, I 'm a silly Mama! But it's only because Christ has given me so much joy!

Happy Word-Filled Wednesday everyone!

Don't forget to head on over to Amydeanne's @ The 160 Acre Woods for my encouragement from the Word of our Lord!

(This is an aerial view from the aircraft my husband was traveling in during his tour in Iraq.)

"...and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.' For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 'This is my beloved Son; listen to Him.' And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, He charged them to tell no one of what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead."
~ Mark 9:3-9
(emphasis added)

I know the picture I chose to share today is not of a mountain (as the Scripture I chose to share refers to)...or rather, it doesn't look like it from our point of view...down here in the valley. But since we really can't see the mountains from Heaven's view, like God, I thought this aerial photo would suffice, as this is the closest we can get to seeing how very small the mountains must seem to God.

A couple of things struck me today about this passage. The first is that we see what Peter (don't you just love Peter?) suggested to Jesus as he was just in awe of what was happening and obviously didn't want it to end, so he asked Jesus if He approved of them making tents for Him, Moses and Elijah, so they can stay, sit and chat a while. You notice, Jesus didn't answer Peter. Instead, He continued with the business He had with Moses and Elijah. The other thing I found peculiar is, this passage said that Peter asked this question, and he asked this because he didn't know what to say. Don't you find that rather humorous?

The first thing I thought is "Boy, I sure love that Peter! He reminds me of me!" How often do I say, "I don't know what to say." Then I go ahead and say something! Have you ever done this? Oh, how gracious and patient the Lord is with me!

The second thing that struck me in this passage is that our Lord Jesus, after allowing Peter, James and John to witness this awesome work of Heaven, right before their eyes, Jesus took them back down the mountain. And for what? Well, we see right after this, they were casting out a demon from a young boy. Which brings me to what Oswald Chambers so wisely wrote:

"We have all had times on the mount, when we have seen things from God's standpoint and have wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there. The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have power to rise only, something is wrong. It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, but a man only gets there in order that afterwards he may get down among the devil-possessed and lift them up.....The times of exaltation are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time."

~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Mark 9:2 ~ October 1

I am very convicted this morning as I take heed to this warning from my brother, who penned this hundreds of years ago: "but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time." I so often don't want to deal with people (God is so much easier to be with, isn't He?), that I don't want to reach out to anyone. I would much rather have "quiet time" all day, never answer the phone, never leave the house, never share on a blog, or anything that would cause me to open up and love others as God loves me....for fear of being hurt, rejected and humiliated.

This is a sad fact about me, but it is also very true.

I share this in hopes that it will comfort and encourage some of you who may have, are now doing, or will come to this point in your life where you so enjoy your time with God, that you grow spiritually selfish, like I have, and no longer want to share Jesus in you, with anyone. When I behave this way, I apologize to those I've neglected by saying, "I'm sorry I'm not working out my faith and being such a spiritual pig and hoarding Jesus all to myself!" And what foolishness this is anyway! As if any person could contain (limit) Christ at all, in any manner!

I'm just a silly girl, totally in love with my Savior!

Don't forget to head on over to Amydeanne's @ The 160 Acre Woods for my encouragement from the Word of our Lord!

"Here was sovereignty. Impatient spirits may fret and fume, because they are not called to the highest places in the ministry; but reader be it thine to rejoice that Jesus calleth whom He wills. If He shall leave me to be a doorkeeper in His house, I will cheerfully bless Him for His grace in permitting me to do anything in His service. The call of Christ's servants comes from above. Jesus stands on the mountain, evermore above the world in holiness, earnestness, love and power. Those whom He calls must go up the mountain to Him, they must seek to rise to His level by living in constant communion with Him. They may not be able to mount to classic honours, or attain scholastic eminence, but they must like Moses go up into the mount of God and have familiar intercourse with the unseen God, or they will never be fitted to proclaim the Gospel of peace. Jesus went apart to hold high fellowship with the Father, and we must enter into the same divine companionship if we would bless our fellow-men. No wonder that the apostles were clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where Jesus was. This morning we must endeavour to ascend the mount of communion, that there we may be ordained to the life-work for which we are set apart. Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus."

~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
Mark 3:13, September 10

I was reminded of this very thing yesterday and again today during my quiet time. A dear, sweet sister in the Lord, whom I've never met in person, but dearly love said something in an email that blessed my heart in a way that she was completely unaware of. She wrote:

"I hope to call you in just a few minutes....I haven't had much time with the Lord, yet this morning so I felt it important I "call" Him first."

On the surface this statement doesn't seem so grand. But let me share with you why it is. You see, our precious sister was in the midst of battle when she wrote this. She was in much need of reprieve, rest and a kind word. But yet, instead of hastily and quickly searching this out from another human being, she went to the throne of God first...to be disciplined and refined, not to be comforted and reassured.

How often do we do this? I know I don't do it often enough. As a woman, I so often "need" to hear words of encouragement, of comfort, just a simple, "It's okay, I've been there . The Lord has brought me through it and will bring you through it as well. You're not alone." I'm not saying this is a bad thing, what I'm saying is that, like Mary of Bethany, our sister chose what was better (Luke 10:40-42).

Like Martha, I find myself so often, rushing about trying to do something for Jesus (i.e., something colossal: run a ministry, feed thousands, write a book, etc.), or looking to receive something from Jesus (i.e., blessings, comfort, etc.) when all He wants me to do is BE with Him, like Mary. I'm realizing that just being with Jesus automatically guarantees me all that I need (i.e., blessings, comfort, peace, etc.) and more than I could have ever asked of Him.

I'm always looking to do something "important", something I think will matter the most to God, much like Martha, instead of being overwhelmingly satisfied with being in His awesome presence....even if it's as a simple doorkeeper.

Have you BEEN with Jesus today FIRST? If so, was your time with Him a monologue as you laid out all your request and anxieties, or was it a dialogue where He spent time listening to you and you spent time listening to Him?

If you haven't had a dialogue with Christ today, I've got GREAT news for you...THE DAY AIN'T OVER! So get off of here and go up to the mountain where He's called you, so that He may tell you "great and hidden things that you did not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

When you're done, go visit our precious sister Amydeanne at The 160 Acre Woods for more "filling" from the Word!

sitting at His feet,

(thank you Meri for taking this beautiful picture for me to use today!)

"Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.' Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, 'Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?' "
~ Ruth 2:8-10

The Lord recently brought me to this passage again. Yes, like many of us, I've read the book of Ruth about a million times. And a million times, the Lord opens my eyes to truth He desires to reveal to me as I come to feast at His table.

As I studied and meditated on what Boaz had done and what Ruth's response was, God asked me, "Would you, dear one, have responded the same way?" And I could honestly answer, with a resounding, "NO, I absolutely would have not. My response would've been: "Really?! Honestly?! WHOOPEEEE!!!! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you Boaz! Thank you! How kind and gracious of you! I'm so excited I just can't believe your kindness to me! Praise the Lord God Almighty, He has seen my destitute state and has provided for me, just like my mother-in-law Naomi has told me! Oh, it's all true! WHOOPEEEE! Thank you, thank you!" And during all this, I would've been doing my "happy dance".

Then I was sobered with our Father's words to me, "I know daughter. That's why I asked you. Although you have much gratitude in your response, do you not see how self-centered that gratitude is? Instead of being humbled and soberly aware of your destitute and repulsive state, you were merely overjoyed with the gift, more than being humbled to be in the presence of the gift giver."

This is how I always respond when good things happen to me. I'm overjoyed for myself and the blessings so graciously bestowed upon me by my Father, who Is in Heaven. Basically I'm always cheering "Yay me! Look what I have! Look what God has done for me!" Rather than being like Ruth, who soberly saw who she was, a foreigner, filthy, and repulsive in the sight of Boaz. She was not an Israelite, no longer a relative, therefore unworthy to even be gleaning from his field, let alone be before his presence. And how did Ruth respond to the gracious way Boaz treated her? She responded with a godly attitude - one of humility - one like Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ruth's humility so moved the heart of God, that through Boaz was accepted as a family member as Boaz became her kinsman-redeemer, though she was not qualified to have one. Because of her humble gratitude towards God, He chose to make her part of His Family through Boaz and she became the great grandmother of King David; from who's family lineage was born, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ruth 4:13 & 17-22, Matthew 1:1-6)

Ruth didn't do a "Yay me!" dance and glory in the gift, but she fell down, bowed and was humbled by the gift giver, understanding that she was so unworthy of such favor.

Ahhh, the power of humility. The sobriety of Christ's love and His sacrifice, His kindness, His grace He bestowed upon us - foreigners, living against God, not part of the Family, but yet, regarded as such and adopted into a holy priesthood, made presentable, holy and pure before the presence of the LORD God Almighty, through Jesus Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer.

Ruth was the a Proverbs 31 woman before any woman ever knew to be one! I wonder if King Lemuel's mother heard about Ruth and based her acrostic poem of the kind of woman Lemuel should seek for a wife. Hmmmm...I wonder. I guess we'll all find out when we get Home!

Don't forget to head over to The 160 Acre Woods for more:

humbly grateful to our King, Jesus Christ,

(this picture was taken by my husband during his tour in Iraq 2 years ago)

" 'Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.'

And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, 'I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear Me and to keep all My commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!' "

~ Deuteronomy 5:25-29
(emphasis added)

My sister-in-law has this fabulous plaque over her kitchen window. It says, "God Is. Therefore all is well." I don't know if I got all the words right (please correct me if I'm wrong sis *smiles*). But you get the meaning.

I find that I when I'm reading Scripture, I'm often looking for verses in the Bible that comfort me, make me feel better about something or teaches me a new attribute about God I'd never known before. But today, as I was having my quiet time with our awesome Father in Heaven, He reminded me about something it seems I often forget. And it's simply:

God Is. Therefore, all is well.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses spends most of his time recapping all that God has done for the Israelites since the LORD delivered them out of the land of slavery in Egypt. It's kind of Moses' "farewell" letter as he passes the torch to Joshua. In this book, Moses is extremely passionate for God's word and repeats almost all that he wrote in the book of Exodus. Moses not only repeats the Ten Commandments, but also all of the commandments that the LORD gave Moses to teach His people Israel how to live holy lives, pleasing to the LORD.

In the passage of Scripture I noted in the picture and under the picture (Deuteronomy 5:24-29) God reminded me of something a lot of us in the Church forget to do these days: Fear the LORD our God. Satan has used our amnesia of this area, as a catalyst to create the common practice of casual Christianity. All because we've forgotten to fear God first, as it is repeated often in Scripture like this one:

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."
~ Proverbs 9:10

One of the reasons why I love CWO and all the ministries affiliated with it (Live Well, Internet Cafe, WFW, At the Well) is because this is where I've found wonderful sisters in the Lord who are passionate about Who God Is and not just what He can and will do for us. I have be inspired and encouraged to press on daily to live as a stranger in this land, a sojourner - just passing by. I've been reminded of who God is and to fear Him always because this keeps me in constant humble gratitude of His Gift of love perfectly demonstrated to me through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. 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."
~ Romans 5:6-10
(emphasis added)

Oh, glory be to the LORD God Almighty who has saved my wretched soul from justified and well deserved eternal damnation! For I have grieved my Maker and sinned against Him by practicing lawlessness! I have broken the perfect commandments of the LORD, yet He looked upon my destitute and humble state and had compassion upon me. He gave me the gift of repentance that works salvation that I might be reconciled to Him as His child and no longer considered His enemy. By the blood of the holy Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ I am no longer a slave to sin, but have been freed to become a slave of righteousness, that I might offer myself as a living, holy and pure sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to the Lord our God! (Romans 12:1-2 and Ephesians 5:1-2)

When I remain in the position I always ought to - in the holy presence of my King, my Creator, my God and Father, then I find it very difficult to find anything about me to boast about or even like very much. Instead my flesh is repulsive to me in the glorious light of my righteous God and Savior...as it should be. And this causes me to greatly desire to die to self and live only in Christ Jesus (Galatians 2:20).

"Nor is there aught in ourselves in which we may glory; for who maketh us to differ from another? And what have we that we did not receive from the God of all grace? Then how careful ought we to be to walk humbly before the Lord! The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High."

~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
August 16, Morning - Psalm 29:2

And what does all this work? It's works in me holy gratitude to our holy and awesome God. It works His compassion in me, given freely to me when I didn't deserve it, so I can freely give it to others without finding fault in them. For if I can not freely offer someone full forgiveness for their sins against me, then I am standing in judgment of them, setting myself up as God's rival - as there is only one Judge, and I am certain I am not Him! (James 4:11-12 and 1 Peter 2:23)

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
~ Luke 6:35
(emphasis added)

Who are the ungrateful and evil Jesus is referring to in the Scripture above? We all are. But He saved us anyway. So how much more ought we bear with one another and forgive (Colossians 3:11-13)? How much more ought we, equal sinners, offer God's love to those who have sinned against us without expecting any kindness in return?

Is there someone you need to fully forgive TODAY? And possibly, humbly ask for forgiveness from them as well? If so, do not sin again - but be quick to do it! (James 4:17)

Be sure to hop on over to the 160 Acre Woods for more inspiration from God's word today!

Beloved sisters, it just doesn't get any better than this:

We are loved by God!

freely giving, as I have been given freely,