New Year, New Day, New Life

2Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

New years tend to bring resolutions. Everyone's idea what a good resolution might be will be different. I guess resolutions are okay. There is one that is the best! Later....

It's a new year and a new start at the beginning of the Bible. We know the accounts of Genesis 1. All of creation, newness of life. As I was reading I noticed something I'd not thought about before. God made man in His own image, male and female He made them. It made me pause to think that later it was said that Adam saw that all the animals had mates but he did not. I looked up a commentary on this. 

Though there is a time when God is explaining to Adam that he would tend all living things, Eve was not there. It never clicked that all living beings were created on the same day. It just never clicked that it wasn't days after that Eve was created. As the commentary also suggested...that only one male and one female were created, to show that hereafter a man was to have at a time no more wives than one... And...The Jews give these reasons why man was made on the evening of the sabbath, to show that he did not assist in the work of creation; and that if he was elated in his mind, it might be told him that a fly was created before him... Duh, yah! 

I say all that because it was glorious as it was originally done, in God's eyes it was good. Didn't take long to corrupt...so that throughout the rest of the Bible we are shown our sinful natures, God's redemptive plan, His love, judgment and mercy...so much so that He made a way that we in our sinful natures, received at birth, might be made new, through a new covenant, through His Son Jesus. 

In Chapter 2 it points out that God, the LORD God, had made, made, formed, breathed, planted, took, commanded, said, caused all things. Remember that. It's all about God. 

In Chapter 3 we already see how sin entered the world so quickly after God's glorious creation. All that new life in a short period of time corrupted. All God's perfection. Man's determination to be like God through the temptation of a snake! Which temptations are still going strong today. In our self-centeredness, pride, stubbornness and sinful natures. 

So back to new life which is attainable...only through God's power. 

• We cannot suggest that we are better than someone else. (Remember, He created a fly before creating you!) 
• We cannot think that if we try on our own to be a better person, He will accept us. 
• We cannot compare ourselves to someone else, whether they be better or worse. 
• We are all on the same level. 

But we can attain a new life comes when we enter in to relationship, as the Bible suggests, with Christ, the Lord. 

We just celebrated Christmas, the birth of our Savior. It shouldn't have just been about gifts and food and fun, just another holiday away from work. We celebrated the birth of our Savior, the one who was born to live to die that we might, if we receive Him into our lives, have eternal life. 

There will be a day when all God's perfection will return. And some will be able to enjoy it. Not all, just some. Imagine for yourself, if you do not know this God, a new life in Christ this new year. Today, even. Make this your resolution, to know Him. This new world that will come, God's perfection can be our eternal resting place. This world is not our home. Seek Him and He will be found. Call on His name. Believe. Trust He will come and change you. If you truly want this new life, He will hear your call. 

John‬ ‭17:1-3‬ ‭- Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

All of Creation

Isaiah 40:26 - Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.

I know I can be very simplistic in my view of God. (Come as  little children, Jesus said.) Yet there is a very deep understanding that wells up in my soul.

It is hard for some to understand that all of creation was made by the Lord. Not by His hands but by His very voice. He commanded and it was so. It's something we just have to take at His word. 

If we cannot fathom God creating, it may be that we have missed this point...that all we have, all we are, all we will be given is because of Him. 

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest urges us to look beyond ourselves, our things, our own strengths and look up at Who is the Creator. We can do in our own strength but it is truly God who gives us what we really need. We may be missing out on many things in this life if we have not sought Him in all things.

Do we ask if this is what the Lord would want us to do? Is this the right decision to make? Is this the direction to go? Is this purchase the right one? Do we really need this? 

We can begin to understand God just by taking in all we see around us. Take a good hard look. Don't let another day go by without seriously contemplating just the things of nature. Chambers suggests we turn our imagination "aright:" If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in Nature. In every wind that blows, in every night and day of the year, in every sign in the sky, in every blossoming and every withering of the earth, there is a real coming of God to us if we will simply use our starved imagination to realize it.

Starved imagination. Wow. Have we come to a place where we have taken nature for granted? Do we look and think, ho hum, when we see something outside even the living room window? Or do we become excited again at even the most common occurrence? Can you quiet yourself at all during the day and think about Him and what He has done for you? Have the things of each day consumed your thoughts? Has something else become more interesting than a relationship with the God who created you and has a great plan for your life, one you cannot imagine? The simplicity of it all...the childlike faith...the enjoyment of the small things. 

If this is you, Chambers suggests we may be caught up in ourselves. Is your imagination looking on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Your work? Your conception of what a worker should be? ...when you are (finally) up against difficulties you have no power, you can only endure in darkness...do not look back to your own experience; it is God Whom you need.

Our lives should be consumed with thoughts of God. Where is He in this circumstance? Did He leave you or might you have left Him? When tragedy strikes where do you first turn? Do you call out to God for strength first? Do you ask for His guidance, peace, comfort? Or do you call on help from family, friends, or even internalize and attempt to draw from your own so-called wisdom or strengths. God will provide what you need but you need to seek Him above all things.

God is real. He is powerful to those who seek Him. He is always there for any need. He may not always answer in the way you would want, but He knows what's best, what we need most. 

Even in the throes of illness we need to focus on what His will is. He can heal if He so chooses, but if the choice is death, He is in that as well. The illness did not come as a surprise to Him. It is our attitude during this time that might be God's test for us. Do we still draw His strength for the moment or the day? If we are His children and in right relationship with Him our greatest assurance that no matter what we endure, we are His.

Are our imaginations starved for God as Chambers asks? Take the time to ask Him directly to help you get a grip on who He is and of what benefit He might be to your life. He is more than willing to listen if you are truly interested in knowing Him. You may not realize it but I think we are all starved for God at some time in our lives. That's when He begins to show up in little things in our lives that don't make sense...yet. The people who are put in your path, the things you begin to hear and might even be annoyed about. It happened to me; it can happen to you.

Let your imagination go and let it consider the truth of who He is, He who was and is and is to come. Start with taking the time to view nature. That's where He began before He created Man. Consider the intricacies of it all. Consider the depth of wisdom it took to create it (which is nearly impossible because of the enormity of it all) and then consider the intricacy of even your own creation, your birth. Nothing was made by accident. Not even you. Rejoice in the fact that being here, today, in this lifetime, can give you the opportunity to know this incredibly awesome God.

Psalm 102:25-28 - Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.

Everything

Colossians 1:16 - For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

I read this scripture this morning and it got my mind to thinking. Everything began in God's mind. Everything. This is not a new thought.

This is a very simplistic view of this idea. I'm a simplistic kinda gal! 

I was looking at an Oriental style rug we have. It started with God. He created the persons who made this rug. He created the minds and gave the gift of creativity to these people. He created someone to come up with the pattern and maybe another who chose the colors. He created the individuals who developed the use of certain materials and another to create the implements or machinery to put this rug together. There was no doubt a pattern. Today there is software used to develop a template for commercially made rugs. God created all the minds who developed all components. 

It all starts with God. The immensity of it all. It's a lot to take in, a lot to make sense of. This God has it all under control. And this is just about a rug!

Imagine every little thing in this world. Who can take in the great number of shrubs or trees? Or flowers, birds, animals, not to mention people. Everything. Created and managed by God. 

And then there’s us! He knew us before the beginning of time. He knew who our parents would be, when we’d be born and what our name would be. He knows how we will live our lives. He knows when and how we will leave this earth. 

So, if He has all of creation in His control why shouldn't we believe He has everything in His complete control? Do we believe He maintains all of life on earth? He knows the mind of man. He knows the goodness and evil within hearts. He knows who love Him and those who reject Him. He knows the seasons and times. He has given us His Book to show us who He is, what He expected, what He expects. He has brought nations up and taken nations down. And though all these things I’ve stated many times, I will repeat this too: He never changes nor does He lie. What He has said about past, present and future either has, or will, come to pass.

Just very simple words. A simple kinda gal who believes a very simple truth but one which doesn’t jive with some people. 

Then there's His Son, Jesus! The Word states:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

There will be an end just like a beginning. God created and it was good. Man messed things up, chose not to obey God and later not to hear Him, and evil stepped in. One day He will come to remove evil to make this world good again. And it’s all in His complete control...according to His Word, which is the truth because God cannot lie. His Word, which shows us what we need to know. 

It’s all about the minute details. God sent His Son, who is also God, to this world to save all of our wretched souls! We all are wretched souls until we know Him, until we humbly, spiritually, bow before Jesus and ask Him to open our eyes to His truth, change   us, but most of all save us. 

Save us from what? The evil in this world. While the Bible says the world, as we know it today and tomorrow, will end, it will be a changed world. Evil will be removed. If one has not chosen to follow Christ, he or she will be removed also. There’s all this talk about global warming, oh, climate change. No one has seen climate change like there will be when the evil in the world is sent to the Lake of Fire. 

Jesus is our hope for our future. The hope for tomorrow. The hope for the next hour. He is in complete control of all things and His plans will prevail. In the beginning He was involved in creation. In the end He will bring about destruction on earth and defeat of evil and then an even better plan, a new Earth. We can all be part of this if we call on Him and seriously follow Him. He holds our lives in His hands. He came to remove our sins. He wants to do this. 

In complete control! He created. We were created to know Him and give Him all glory and honor. Will you do this? He is waiting if you have not.

Nehemiah 9:6 - You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.

Creation vs. Evolution

Psalm 139:14 - I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. 

Ah, tackling a touchy topic! I was watching a program on creation. (Sorry, specifics about the program and the narrator have left the building!) The man narrating was once an agnostic science teacher who taught evolution until one day two of his students questioned his theory and he did some research...no doubt to debunk their theory. Long story short, his research drew him into relationship with Christ and opened his eyes to the truth.

Throughout the program he described various creatures and the complexity of each of their bodies, structures and natures. Each one was so very unique. He stated that there was no way all the hundreds of thousands of creatures could possibly have evolved from one single organism like the Big Bang theory supposes. They each had to have, from the very first egg, every component specific to their species.

The Word of God says: So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21)

At the end of the program we were shown a small airplane. We were told that "it seems clear that someone or a design team designed it for flight. But when some people consider how some creatures function, it seems strange to me that they don't acknowledge that same principle. When you look at these amazing animals and insects, it's clear they were remarkably and carefully designed."

This reminded me of Psalm 139 above. Each of us was uniquely designed. When we were conceived, every part of our structure was made to make us different from one another (even in twins, triplets, etc.) And we are unique even though we carry the same design parts as both our parents. Not even two fingerprints are the same. How can that be?

"What I see is art, creation, not a mindless random chance process that produced this thing," this man said. Here is a God who created and eventually came down from heaven into His own creation as the man Jesus Christ, that through His words and the great things He did we might even more realize what He did to create...and cause us to believe...and cause us to look to someone greater than ourselves for our salvation.

Creation happened that we might recognize this Creator, to see that the intricacies of each part of creation can only be designed by a super intelligent Designer. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20). When this is realized, we can only be completely taken aback, amazed that He does exist.

He exists that we might realize His incredible power, intelligence, even love for us that He would give us the things we sometimes might take for granted each day. Through His creation we can know Him, worship Him (not that we worship the creation over the Creator) and exalt Him for the greatness of who He is and what He has done. I thank God for what I am able to see each day.

We do not breathe apart from Him. We did not evolve into this world. We were uniquely created...by His hand. Although He might have created for His own pleasure, it's more about our recognizing Him and that He might draw us into a relationship with Him. He did it for us. He is more than able to provide us with just what we need. So thankful for His creation, His love, His wooing us into redemption. Thank You Jesus.

Jeremiah 10:12 - He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. 

In Him Is Light

John‬ ‭1:1-5‬ ‭- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Science would say there was a big bang and the universe was created. If one believes in God and in His Word, one knows the truth and knows this to be a lie.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis‬ ‭1:1-2‬)

When I once again read the opening passage I also realized, again, the wealth of information here. In the beginning...the Word. Broken record here... The Word was. The Word has always been. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬) 

This is all Bible Basics 101.

Jesus Christ is one with the Father, therefore He always was, always is and will always be. He was in the beginning, is here now and will always be. (And as Genesis 1:2 shows, the Holy Spirit was in the beginning too. We see the Trinity right from the very beginning of time and the Word.) 

The Word is God, Jesus, and the Word of God in His book. To believe in Christ is to believe the Word. If one doesn't believe everything in His Word is true, one doesn't truly believe in Christ. Truly believe...not just know who He is. Huge difference. If one only wants to hear the Word spoken through someone else, one is missing God speaking directly to them. God speaking! A novel concept. Through a Book. Who would have thought? 

Then there is the life issue. God brought life to this universe through His creation. He also brought light into the world. Then He brought life into the world and man. And eventually He brought the Light of the world, Jesus, for the eternal life of man. 

And darkness did not comprehend...does not still comprehend. Darkness will never comprehend. Oh, I believe the devil knows but his pride and jealousy will not allow him to submit. No Light in one's life means living in darkness. I was there; I didn't care. It's the way many are for a time until the Light makes Himself known. Then, poof, out of the darkness and into the light. And the Word now is in our lives. Yet some still will not submit. 

I chose life one day. I didn't just tell self I would, but the Spirit of God nudged me and it happened. I was in the right place at the right time in the right frame of mind...in need of help. I was told Jesus could help. I was ready for His help...as the only one who could. 

I had not expected to write such a convoluted blog! Even I had to read it a few times. Just being honest here...

Luke‬ ‭1:78-79‬ ‭- Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

‭‭

Not One Thing is Missing

Isaiah 40:26 - Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might, and the strength of His power; not one is missing.

Sometimes I think I can be very simplistic in my view of God. Yet there is a very deep understanding that wells up in my soul. 

It is hard for some to understand that all of creation was made by the Lord. Not by His hands but by His very voice. He commanded and it was so. It's something we just have to take at His word. The part of the beginning verse that stands out is: not one is missing. Nothing is missing. Can we comprehend that? Not one star, not one tree, flower, fish, etc. Not one.

A friend came over one day and we took a walk. We talked about the immensity of God and His creation, the intricacy of it all. Every time either of us thinks deeply on this glorious creation we get to a point where we just have to stop...and just know that He is God. That He is greater than we can imagine. That He spoke and things came into existence.

Not one is missing. Not one of us is missing in His plan. We have all been created for something. Like the hosts of stars in the heavens. They were placed there and hung there by our God. He will keep them there as long as He chooses. Like us, He placed us here and we will be here as long as He chooses. 

If we cannot fathom God creating, it may be that we have missed this point...that all we have, all we are, all we will be given is because of Him. Nothing will be missing for us either, if we stay focused on Him, if we look up, instead of at eye level or even down, at our own daily circumstances. 

It is vital that we look beyond ourselves, our things, our own strengths and look up at Who is the Creator. We can do in our own strength but it is truly God who gives us what we really need. We may be missing out on many things in this life if we have not sought Him in all things.

Do we ask if this is what the Lord would want us to do? Is this the right decision to make? Is this the direction to go? Is this purchase the right one? Do we really need this? 

We can begin to understand God just by taking in all we see around us. Take a good hard look. Don't let another day go by without seriously contemplating just the things of nature. Oswald Chambers suggests we turn our imagination "aright:" If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in Nature. In every wind that blows, in every night and day of the year, in every sign in the sky, in every blossoming and every withering of the earth, there is a real coming of God to us if we will simply use our starved imagination to realize it.

Starved imagination. Wow. Have we come to a place where we have taken nature for granted? Do we look and think, ho hum, when we see something outside the living room window? Or do we become excited again at even the most common occurrence? Or has something else become more interesting than contemplating the God who created you and has a great plan for your life, one you cannot imagine? Can you quiet yourself at all during the day and think about Him and what He has done for you?

If this is you, Chambers suggests we may be caught up in ourselves. Is your imagination looking on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Your work? Your conception of what a worker should be? ...when you are (finally) up against difficulties you have no power, you can only endure in darkness...do not look back to your own experience; it is God Whom you need.

I couldn't have said it better. Our lives should be consumed with thoughts of God. Where is He in this circumstance? Did He leave you or might you have left Him? When tragedy strikes where do you first turn? Do you call out to God for strength? Do you ask for His guidance, peace, comfort? Or do you call on help from family, friends, or even internalize and attempt to draw from your own so-called wisdom or strengths? God will provide what you need but you need to seek Him above all things.

God is real. He is powerful to those who seek Him. He is always there for any need. He may not always answer in the way you would want, but He knows what's best, what we need most. 

Even in the throes of illness we need to focus on what His will is. He can heal if He so chooses, but if the choice is death, He is in that as well. The illness did not come as a surprise to Him. It is our attitude during this time that might be God's test for us. Do we still draw His strength for the moment or the day? If we are His children and in right relationship with Him our greatest assurance that no matter what we endure, we are His.

Are our imaginations starved for God as Chambers asks? Take the time to ask Him directly to help you get a grip on who He is and of what benefit He might be to your life. He is more than willing to listen if you are truly interested in knowing Him. You may not realize it but I think we are all starved for God at some time in our lives. That's when He begins to show up in little things in our lives that don't make sense...yet. The people who are put in your path, the things you begin to hear and might even be annoyed about. It happened to me; it can happen to you.

When I came to Christ and began to know Him, His ways, I looked back and saw clearly times when, though yet a person in the throes of sin, He was protecting me. Coincidence? I don't think so. 

Let your imagination go and let it consider the truth of who He is. Start with taking the time to view nature. That's where He began before He created Man. Consider the intricacies of it all. Consider the depth of wisdom it took to create it (which is nearly impossible because of the enormity of it all) and then consider the intricacy of even your own creation, your birth. Not one thing is missing. Nothing was made by accident. Not even you. Rejoice in the fact that being here, today, in this lifetime, can give you the opportunity to know this incredibly awesome God. 

God's goal has always been for mankind to know Him. His creation happened that we would see His character and wisdom in all He has made...and for our pleasure...that we might contemplate His beauty and character. Even manmade creations are possible only through His creating individuals who knew, through knowledge imparted to them by this amazing God, how to make them. It takes some amount of humility to contemplate the greatness of our God compared to who we think we are! And that is just fine. I'm okay with my plainness in this life. It's not about me, or you, anyway. 

Isaiah 66:2 - "For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."

Sovereign

Revelation 4:11 - You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.

Oh how we can take all of creation for granted sometimes. I find it hard to believe someone could look at something in nature and not think of God. He created all things. All of His attributes are displayed for us to see: creativeness, power, beauty, perfect timing. When we look at these things do we thank Him for creating them?

He is a sovereign God. Everything exists just because He is! We are having this knowledge seared into our hearts in our study on Revelation. It is a reminder of who holds the world in His hands, who is in control AND who we should look to in times of trouble, trusting in Him alone. These are a few sentences from our study through Bible Fellowship Study, Lesson 10:

As Creator, God is worthy of all glory, honor and power. God's sovereign rule and creative work are inseparable. Because God made this world, He is sovereign over it. No human government or kingdom could ever rival that claim. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of all creation. He established the universe; He holds it together; and He will bring it to consummation according to His purposes. (Psalm 33:3-9, 136:4-9; Ephesians 1:9-10)

It goes on to remind us of the totality of God. He was, is and is to come. He has always been and will always be. He is eternal. Who else can make that claim? We have a beginning and an end. Plants, trees and animals have beginnings and ends. But in Christ we become eternal. Eternal.

Why not want to know this God? Why be afraid of Him or His sovereignty? He makes one realize the inferiority of one's self. Being human some can't stand that. I have finally found the comfort in knowing there is One greater who holds my life in His hands, who cares so much, shows me daily, even just through nature, but not solely, who He is. So how can we sometimes fail to see it? I

There isn't a day I don't recognize Him. Maybe it's why I take so many photos. It's like wanting to cling to the things He has created. It's kind of silly. I will still wake up tomorrow and His creation will still be there. But for me every time I look I see something different. It's like seeing a new side to Him. It's absolutely endless. (This goes for His Word too!)

This is what He does. It's who He is. He longs for everyone to see, know, recognize, worship and submit to Him. Like we (sometimes) admire and respect others for something they have done (especially those who have done something worthwhile, like veterans) we should be doing the same for God. He is, after all, greater than all people. 

Here are just a few more words from our lesson: 

Everything exists in heaven and on earth because God made it; everything continues to exist because of God's sustaining provision. ...Throughout history, mankind's refusal to recognize God as Creator and Sustainer reveals a deliberate Declaration of Independence and self-rule. This song [Revelation 4:11 above] of creation intentionally assaults opposing views by showing God orders every detail in the world He has created. 

How do I convey the idea that He is to be worshiped and received, that He is holy and sovereign over all, even over you? Think this world is in trouble? He's still sovereign. He knows. Fearful about it? He's sovereign. He knows. Afraid to give in to Him? He's still sovereign. He knows. One day every knee will bow before Him. All on earth will see His sovereignty. I so look forward to that day. 

There are times when I long to feel with much emotion. I have to remind myself, or maybe He is, that it's not just about an emotional feeling. He may be appreciative of just these words I write because they come from a heart who wishes others could share the excitement, the thoughts and sometimes excitement, I have for God. 

We have a God who loves us and wants us to know Him. Not in our heads but in our hearts. We just don't get how much. And when we turn away from Him and give no credit to Him or do not acknowledge Him daily, He is grieved. He created us way back in Genesis for His good pleasure. And we turn our backs on Him to suit our own lifestyles. 

We've all been rejected by someone. We've all been hurt by someone. How have we responded? Have we put up walls around our hearts vowing never again to let anyone hurt us? Have we kept everyone, even those closest to us, at arm's length so if they, in their human weakness hurt us, we will not let it bother us? Yet it still does. In turn we can treat God the same way. Don't let Him near; He may turn on me too. NOT!

We have a God who is greater than all those hurts who wants to heal us of them. But we have to turn to Him, not run from Him. I don't get running from Him. I did it and looking back I don't know why I did. I think it's that self-righteousness we carry. Or maybe a fear that He couldn't love me. Or who needs Him? We want what we want. We don't want to have to rethink or relearn our lives. We don't want to know how wrong we've been. 

It's not so hard to look to Him. He gives us grace to make mistakes and balk sometimes at the changes He wants to make. He's only trying to improve us, not rip us apart. He disciplines out of love. He sanctifies us. He gives us His righteousness. Foreign words? Think you're good enough as you are? Without the Lord, you are nothing! A hard word? Yes. But it's biblical. Turn to Him and He'll cause you to think differently and it won't hurt. It's why Jesus says, And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ‭‭(John‬ ‭8:32‬) 

God is amazing. Our future will be in His hands no matter what we decide. It's beneficial, though, to be on His side. I coined a phrase years ago when I began to suspect God was trying to get us to get the world's attention: Something's brewing in God's atmosphere. It truly is. We see it daily. Who would have guessed five years ago we'd be where we are today? How about just the past few months? If we have received and know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we have nothing to fear. It won't always be easy, but you'll be secure. Have you confessed Him? Have you allowed Him access to your heart and do you learn about Him...on your own, letting the truth of God's Word permeate you? Do you meditate on Him? Do you even think of Him......

We cling to things in this world and they become idols. They become our lives. God wants to become our life. He alone is worthy of our praise and attention. None of these idols have an eternal purpose, but He does. While there are scriptures of admonition, there are also scriptures of peace, love, hope and assurance. He asks us to search for Him who offers eternal life in Christ. But it means letting go of the things that hinder us from knowing Him. What keeps you from seeking Him? You know there's something! 

Acts‬ ‭14:15‬ ‭- ...“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them...”

He Is Mindful

Psalm ‭8:1,3-4,9 - O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!

As I feel the effects of yesterday's very early morning travel, time zones, last night's early bedtime and finally awaking at four in the morning, I stepped outside into the early morning darkness. Oh, what I saw! A bazillion stars. I thought of God's promise to Abraham to be the father of many nations and descendants, and how God ...brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (Genesis‬ ‭15:5)

And then later in the morning my husband and I took a drive to view mountain after Arizona mountain. The amazing beauty of range after range heading off into the distance. Who can fathom the greatness of it all? 

Sometimes it's all I can do, this praising God for all He is, what He has created, what He has done and will do, to think on His authority and sovereignty. How excellent is His name!

As this psalm says, what is man that He is mindful of him, that He visits us? When we take the time to see just the early morning stars, I believe even if one does not consciously think of Him, He is visiting us. He is showing us His glory. He is longing for all to recognize Him and His creation and power and sovereignty. Oh, He doesn't need us...but He desires that we recognize our need for Him. 

He created all things...try to wrap your head around that. Really, try it. The stars hang in the sky because He has ordained it. The sun rises and sets, as does the moon, at His will. There is a purpose, as Ecclesiastes says, a time and a season for all things. And all things are under His will. Who can comprehend this? 

And yet, He is mindful of us. Of us! He created us for His pleasure...that He could bless us with so much of what truly counts...most importantly eternal life. So why shouldn't we recognize Him fully in our lives? It's what He desires. More than all these things, He wants us to know Him. Job asks, What is man, that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart on him, that You should visit him every morning, and test him every moment? I think anyone who has known God has wondered this. And, yes, He does test us. He tests us to see if we will trust in Him, will continue to follow Him in our trials.

I can't wrap my head around all He has created or how. I come to Him in that childlike faith, acknowledging His greatness. How else can one come to Him with humility for who He is? But get this: not all these descendants God promised Abraham will become children of God. Galatians 3:29 tells us that. We must belong to Christ or we will not become part of that seed of promise. What a privilege to become one of those descendants from Genesis!

In the Book of Revelation study I am doing, in Chapter 1 it states that John, the disciple who wrote the book, per God's instruction, saw One like the Son of God...and fell on his face as if dead for the incredible vision of who He was. I seriously doubt that we will be able to do anything else but fall to our feet before Him some day. Scripture says every knee will bow...and every refers to those who have received Him and those who have not. Yet, here in Revelation, it also states that Jesus placed His hand on John and told him not to be afraid. While He is Alpha and Omega, First and Last, if we have humbly given our lives to Him and trusted Him, we need not fear because He is also our Beginning and End, the Almighty.

Jesus counts those who have received Him, who have been born again in the Spirit, as part of the numerous stars in the sky. We are part of the great inheritance. We are sinners yet we are His friends, bought by His blood. To think that in the beginning, even before then, when He created all things, He knew us, He knew who would follow and who would not. It's a mystery to be sure. 

How excellent is His name. Do you know this amazing God? This God who knows you...and is mindful of all His creation.

Psalm 111:2-5,9-10 - The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.