Est.

"We must meet the present emergency with a spirit of optimism. This is no time for repining, no time for looking backward, no time for self-pity or defeated complaining. We are on the winning side and we cannot lose. “Lo I am with you” makes ultimate defeat impossible. Surely the days are evil and the times are waxing late, but the true Christian is not caught unawares. He has been forewarned of just such times as these and has been expecting them. Present events only confirm the long-range wisdom of Jesus Christ and prove the authenticity of the prophetic Word. So the believer actually turns defeat into victory and draws strength from the knowledge that the Lord in whom he trusts has foretold events and is in full command of the situation. Let us beware allowing our spiritual comforts to rise and fall with world news or the changing political and economic situation. We who leaned Upon Jesus and Trust in the watchful love of a Heavenly Father are not dependent upon those things fo...

When things don't seem to be going the way you hoped they would, or problems have come, and there's distress and uncertainty within and without, this verse is a comforting one to hang on to.  Nothing can ever take the Lord by surprise.  He knows exactly what He's doing.  Whether it feels like it or not,  His plan for your life is the best possible! (yes I'm preaching to myself again!)  He only always does what is right.  It's so good to remember He will reign forever. Nothing will ever change Him.  He will always be faithful. 

I keep coming back to this verse.  I find great encouragement here .  When I am guilty and need His grace and mercy, I have His promise here in His Word: He is gracious.  When sad news abounds, He is full of compassion.  Though I have been unrighteous, His work on the Cross paid my debt and He imputes His righteousness to me when I confess and forsake my sins.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 In Him there is no darkness at all.  When we come to Him, He shines His light. We can either walk in it,  or choose to reject Him.  Why would anyone choose eternal darkness and misery  over eternal light and joy and glory?  Thank You Lord for Your light, Your grace,  Your compassions which never fail, and Your righteousness. Please help me always  to choose to walk in Your light. 

Did a quick e-Sword search of the things Scripture says God is God of and I found the results quite interesting. God of : Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jeshurun, Elijah, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego God of heaven God of heaven and earth God of Israel (most often repeated) God of the Hebrews God of the spirits of all flesh God of your fathers, their fathers, our fathers God of gods God of truth God of knowledge God of the armies of Israel God of hosts God of the rock of my salvation God of the land God of our salvation God of Jerusalem God of my righteousness God of glory God of my life God of my strength God of my mercy God of my praise God of judgment God of the whole earth God of all the families of Israel God of all flesh God of recompences God of the inhabitants of Jerusalem , of the land of Israel God of the living God of the Jews and of the Gentiles God of patience and consolation God of hope God of peace ...

Aren't you glad that the earth is full of His mercy?  and that His words give light (and life!) and that His righteousness is everlasting! Who knows which Psalm these are from? (No prizes, just curious.)

So I was pondering these verses today. I think they're pretty amazing and it's definitely worth paying attention to them. Don't you want to declare righteousness, promote health, be established forever, have joy, and delight the Lord? It seems simple: Love Him, Obey Him, Speak the truth.

Aren't you glad that the Lord is so merciful?

"He is Jesus, easier to approach than the humblest friend you ever had! He is the sun that shines upon us, He is the star of our night. He is the giver of our life and the rock of our hope. He is our safety and our future. He is our righteousness, our sanctification, our inheritance. You will find that He is all of this in that instant that you move your heart towards Him in faith! This is the journey to Jesus that must be made in the depths of the heart and being." A. W. Tozer

(I haven't quite finished the book, but I'm really enjoying it so far.) "In life," said the preacher, "it isn't enough to be a signpost, just pointing the way to righteousness. We have to walk that way ourselves." "Perhaps I'm a bit old-fashioned," she said quietly. "But I feel His presence so wonderfully. He often comes into the scullery with me. I never feel ashamed of His seeing me with my coarse apron on. He understands. You see, I just trust Him, so I know it's all right. I used to worry a lot years ago, but now I find it all so simple. All you have to do is to take Him at His Word." "And for myself, sir, why every day I take out of my mind whatever is unwholesome - or I should say I have it taken out for me." "How?" "By prayer. Every night I am still for a bit." "But it is not always easy to be still. I have little time for doing nothing." "Ah, but a man isn't ...

Today I was challenged by the account of Balaam in Numbers 24. He is called "the man whose eyes are opened, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, and who has knowledge of the Most High." Balaam was one of the "baddies". How much more should we, as Christians, be those whose eyes are opened, hearing God's words, seeing the vision of the Almighty and having knowledge of the Most High? I was also challenged from 1 Peter 2. Personalizing the verse makes it "hit home harder". "Christ suffered for me, leaving me an example that I should follow His steps." and "He Himself bore my sins in His own body on the tree, that I, having died to sins, might LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS- by whose stripes I was healed." Linking that with 1 Corinthians 1:30,  " But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:" (World English Bible)  we see t...

Here's a challenging sermon for everyone! What Gospel are we sharing?  We need to make sure its the True Gospel!