Not Us!!!

Romans 10:10-13 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

I know I write a lot about our salvation not coming from what we as humans perceive as good works. Again, the Bible says our works are as filthy rags (this cannot be disputed; God never lies). We cannot do good enough things, be good enough people to please God. The only thing we can do is call on the name of the Lord for this salvation. It is a choice we make, on our own. Many churches don’t teach this. I can’t say why other than possibly a difference in the understanding of the term born again. And because we are a works-based society; always have been. But our working to achieve this salvation makes the work of Christ nothing. Nothing. 

I’d never heard this in the Lutheran Church. I may have been under the idea that because I was baptized as an infant I was in good hands. I do believe some may have a devotion to God and the Lord without knowing what born again is. Only God knows our hearts and motives. It can also be a desire of these people to seek God and live for Him. It isn’t just pastors or priests. And I’m certain not all pastors or priests are born again. We are not to be ashamed of what we believe and be letting others know about the power of God, how He has changed us, not we who have attempted to change ourselves. 

I read this recently. It emphasizes my point(s) that it is not about our goodness or works: Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell—it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes. (Oswald Chambers)

Redemption. It only comes when one chooses to call on the name of the Lord to be saved. Have you actually called out to Him? Have you repented of your sins, whatever they are, either great or small? If one says they have not sinned or not sinned as gravely as another, they lie. No one is righteous without Jesus Christ. Still the hardest thing to explain is this receiving. It comes from the heart, not the head. It’s humbling oneself before God. It comes with our seeking to do this...or sometimes, in our attempt to drive Him away (like me). Our pastor suggested last week that the Bible says we are to seek Him and sometimes we do, but God is seeking us also! Are you resisting? No good will come of that.

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16:30-31)  I questioned this scripture for a time. It almost sounds like if one receives Christ the entire family, because of that one’s salvation, will be saved. Salvation is an individual commitment. It’s between you and the Lord. You can’t skip into relationship through someone else. You must make the choice.

God is always available to listen; He’s never too busy. The Bible shows the love of God for those who love Him. He is merciful. He pours out His grace on the humble and repentant. There is a heaven and hell and there is a narrow road to heaven and a wide road to destruction. The narrow road is less traveled. It is harder; it is less acceptable to others. The wide road is the way of society's standards, which these days are extremely lax. (And just because you don't adhere to their standards doesn't make you better than them.) No one is righteous!

Let the power of God change you. Ask for Him to show Himself to you. If this born again, redemption thing doesn’t sit well with you, consider opening yourself to learning His truth. I had to do it. I survived. I didn’t want to; I rejected God for as long as I could. Then He turned me around in a heartbeat. It’s a glorious thing to be touched so personally by God. Really, it is.

John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Cleanliness and Goodness

Jeremiah 2:22 - For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord GOD.

As I read this verse I thought about cleanliness and goodness. These things do not occur because we think so about ourselves. They are gotten only through salvation and a relationship with Christ.

God doesn’t look at the outside of a person but at their heart. (1Samuel 16:7) That should scare most people! We can fool man (and even ourselves) with our outward appearance and demeanor but God knows the motives of our heart, whether we are honest, truly kind, or putting on airs to make ourselves look good to others. He also knows whether we are right or wrong in our thinking. Do we know what truth is? With all the ideas in the world, some day everyone will know the truth. For some it will be good; for others not.

I’ve said this many times...because it is so true in God’s eyes...we can do no works of our own to receive the grace of God. We must receive His Son Jesus. It’s not about a religion but a relationship. It’s not about the rituals but the sacrifice...of our old lives and thoughts for new ones. I read this somewhere and must have jotted it down: Christianity is not religion. The Latin word from which the English word "religion" is derived means "to bind up." (Those are the rituals.) Jesus did not come to bind us up in rules and regulations or rituals of devotion, but to set us free to be man as God intended. (This comes with a relationship with Jesus.) - James A. Fowler

As was mentioned by a speaker at our annual church women’s retreat a couple weeks ago, sometimes we might think we are searching for God but it is actually He who is searching for us by His Spirit. Sometimes our hearts are opened to receive Him. Sometimes not. It is our choice to make. (I remember turning Him down a few times over the course of a few years. I turned down invitations to go to church. Ugh, what did I need church for?) Do we want to know the truth or do we want to live believing the lies? Remember Pilate questioning what truth was? 

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” ... (John 18:37-38) Truth stood right before Pilate and he missed it. The truth of who He was. Yes, a King; yes, could even have been Pilate's Savior. 

Jesus is also the way and the life. Our way, to life. The way of righteousness. The truth of God's Word...Jesus THE Word. I could go on with more...

So, rituals are the works that do not save. A truth. No amount of bringing sacrifices in the Old Testament could save Israel. They still had to come repeatedly to present their sacrifices to atone for their sins. Today no amount of good works, apart from hoping He will accept us, will save us! We must come with nothing to offer but ourselves, broken, filled with humility, needing His help, seeking His forgiveness and repenting of our sins. Then we can be saved. 

We've had several baptisms take place in church recently (and no doubt another one in the near future!). These are not infant baptisms. These are adults or children of the age of reason choosing to live for Christ. Some are just that, children. They have come as little children. The adults have all admitted lifestyles that were taking them down the wrong roads, heading into destruction. They realized a need for Christ to save them, not some 10-step program or psychiatric care or hospitalization. They wanted the healing that only Jesus can bring. They didn't want to just wash the outside, but the inside as well. Physical and spiritual. So they laid their burdens down at the cross.

Jesus seeks us. He doesn't want anyone to perish in their sin. But I know not all will heed His call. I know some so truly believe that they are good without God. This is a lie; probably the biggest lie the devil spreads. "Did God really say...?" (Genesis 3:1)  I pray hearts would soften and take in the words of God.

Matthew 23:27 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

Psalm 19:7-11 - The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. 

I was reviewing a blog from six years ago. I came across this paragraph:

All I know, and it's something that is generally understood by those in relationship with Christ, is we have to know where and who we are, what or Who we stand for and what we as believers in Christ are called to do. We need to be ready with the words to speak when others just don't get what's going on. We need to be strong and secure in our relationship with the Lord first and then help others to see where our strength lies. We have to be willing to share what we know...be a light in the darkness of the world. Jesus was the Light that helped me to see and part of our responsibility is to shine that same light to others. 

This was six years ago. It seems to be a good starting point today! We are seeing uncomfortable and disturbing things occurring in this world. There are uprisings and a so-called need for tolerance for just about everything under the sun. We have a nightmare of a presidential election looming before us. Neither candidate, nor party, at this point, has what this country really needs. 

So...my hope is in God. He raises up and brings down kings. Jesus is the King of kings. Life without that understanding will appear to be so out of control. God…is not the author of confusion. God…brings to light the things hidden in darkness. God…is our salvation. No man or government will settle all that’s going on in this world, in our nation, without first relying on God. Sorry, it’s true! So it ain't gonna happen unless the world completely changes their thinking and I don't think that will happen either.

I stand on the Word of God. I have some understanding of what it says. I know that we are all sinners. I know that government cannot save us, money cannot save us, giving in to and tolerating everyone’s whims will not save us. There is a vast amount of bad in this world, some of which is believed to be good. It appears there is no structure anymore. 

• Life is about self, my wants and needs. 
• If it feels good, do it. 
• Cheat when you have to or if you feel like it. 
• Anything goes. 
• The majority is always right.

Boy, what a far cry from what God says. 

• Life is about dying to self, selfish needs, to follow God (Ephesians 4:22, Luke 9:23)
• You will reap what you sow, a way that seems right, but...(Proverbs 16:25)
• Lies, cheating will be exposed (Proverbs 12:19)
• If we adhere to God’s instructions goodness and life abound. (Psalm 19:7-14)
• It is foolishness to think we are smarter than God. (Proverbs 19:3, 1Corinthians 3:19)

I see all that’s happening in the world through what God's Word has shown us. Every time we hear of another terrorist attack I think of  Matthew 24:3 where Jesus’ disciples ask when the sign of His coming will be. His answer is it all starts with wars and rumors of wars…nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and a beginning of sorrows. 

Aren’t we seeing people rising against people? Sorrows in the form of anger and rebellion? What for? Religious rights, power, and sorry to say, for the right of anyone to do what they desire, be who they desire or say what they desire. Truth sayers are looked down upon while the others are elevated. It’s just a matter of time when truth will come forth. And it’s all part of the very plan of God. 

I sound angry and disgusted. Partly true, but partly I'm sad that many don't know or recognize or even want to know what God's Word says. I stand firm. Some day I believe some people’s eyes will be opened. They will wonder why this is all happening. Hopefully they will know where to turn for real answers. Those answers won’t always be what they want to hear, but maybe some will come around. 

The Bible has clearly shown us what will come. It’s why it was written. If we follow this Book, know this Book and believe it, none of what’s happening should be either frightening or a surprise. Those in Christ just keep plugging along hoping changes of heart and mind will occur.

The world is very dark. But there is a very real Light, one who exposes all darkness, who is real, tells the truth, strengthens, comforts, protects. His name is Jesus Christ. It’s where I put my trust. I see the world growing darker and more corrupt in so many ways. Jesus is the only Person left I cling to for hope, truth and the realization that someday, in Him, through Him, there is a better life for me and anyone else who proclaims His name. 

Some people consider the things of this world of much higher significance than the things of God. As the Bible says, Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)  I await the Lord.  I am content with the things I have but I know that much better awaits ahead. 

I’ve learned this through a relationship with Christ, through His Word, through His testimony, His commandments, statutes and laws. I know that without Him I would be nothing. I know that I am not where I should be. I also know that I trust Him. I trust Him with my life. I trust Him with my future. I trust that at the moment I need Him most, He will be there. I know that I could not fathom a life of trial without knowing Him. That day will come. His grace will be sufficient for each moment. 

Ask me and I will tell you what I know. Ask me how I found my hope. Ask me if I mean what I say. Ask me what the disciples asked Jesus about when He will return. My prayer is that the Lord would give me a voice other than a blog. I pray for the opportunities to share. 

May our hearts be much affected with the excellence of the word of God; and much affected with the evil of sin, and the danger we are in of it, and the danger we are in by it. - Matthew Henry

Psalm 18:30 - As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Israel's Resistance

Micah 6:2 - Hear, O mountains, the LORD's complaint, and you strong foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a complaint against His people, and He will contend with Israel.

Jesus has done a great thing for us. He has died for our sins to restore our relationship with the Father. We are counted as His people if we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, if we have decided to be content in Him, follow Him and His commands, trust in Him and remain in Him.

The Old Testament talks all about Israel, the LORD and His people. If we are in Christ we understand that anywhere these words are written they are words for us also. Israel is a nation, a people. They are the LORD's chosen people. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. (Exodus 19:5). In the New Testament that relates to anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. We have become part of His chosen people. The entire Bible is intertwined. 

So this complaint in Micah...is a complaint even today, for the nation of Israel and for all His people. God is not done with Israel. There will still be a struggle ahead for this nation and these people. When things look like the very end of this nation, which seems to have been in the crosshairs of many enemies over the years, God will intervene. The Bible tells us there will be a time when even the Jews will look and see and realize that Jesus IS and was the Christ they rejected so many years ago.

Here the LORD continues to speak through the prophet Micah. God asks what has He done to us (that we should reject Him). I ask, what has He done for us? In Micah the answers are He has delivered them out of Egypt, captivity. In the New Testament He delivers us out of the sin of this world, those sins we are trapped within until we receive Christ. In both cases He has allowed us to know His righteousness in our lives. (Micah 6:5)

The other day I mentioned that so often people want to prove in and of themselves that they are good before God. But God does not recognize that. What He wants more than anything else is our humble devotion to Him. (Micah 6:6-8)

  

One can't know God without spending time with Him in prayer and in the Word. That's how He communicates to us. It's how we know what our future holds. We learn from the past. Further in Micah 6 the LORD has the prophet suggest that without the righteousness that comes from Him He cannot stand with them. He does not recognize the things of the world which is filled with wickedness, deceit, lies and abominations. It's not about flesh and blood but those spiritual things unseen in the heavenlies. Only through Him will all things be good and secure.

We learn from the Old Testament. Things are no different today than back then. There are followers and non-followers, His people or the world's people. There is life or death. There is humble submission or proud/rebellious resistance. God loves us all but He has His standards. They are all set forth in His Word. Do you know them? Do you know His desires for you? There is only good for you when you do. You too can be part of His chosen people. To be set apart by God is a privilege. 

There will be a remnant in the last days, those who have stood by God and refused to be swayed by the world views, which are becoming greater each day. You can be part of that remnant. He will watch over you. The rewards are great, the promises sure. You know the phrase that's so popular these days, life is good. In Christ it is better than good. Can you say you are part of His people? Remember, Israel = all His followers.

Isaiah 43:1-3 - But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... 

Thanksgiving

Psalm 107:21-22 - Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.

When one becomes a born again Christian one looks at life differently. While I am thankful for the freedoms we have had in the United States, I realize they can be taken away...which we are seeing. I'm still thankful for what we have left. If we live to see more erosion, will we still have something to be thankful for? If life becomes harder for whatever reason, will we still have something to be thankful for? If we call ourselves Christians, disciples of Christ, we should.

So what is my view of Thanksgiving? For some Thanksgiving is just another day off work, food, drink, football and family. Others will celebrate this year and truly will be thankful for God's goodness toward them. A very good friend of mine will testify to this through her waiting on God without any inkling of what she would be facing. And for some, her in particular, He has proven what trusting in Him is all about. (I may post this testimony in time!) I am thankful most of all for God's love, grace and mercy to me. Without Him there is no hope. In Him I have a freedom that cannot be taken away at someone else's whim.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. Thanksgiving is thanking the Lord...that He chose me, redeemed me, guides me...and it is He I can put my trust in.

I recently found out that Thanksgiving as we may know it didn't really happen the way we think. If you are interested in what it might have been, you can research yourself. It was not as Christian a day as we all believe it to be, sad to say. It may have been thanksgiving for lives saved, but not so much for the way of life they lived.

Putting the real story aside, and coming to what we can truly be thankful for...we can thank God today for the physical blessings He has given us. But it's so much more than the physical blessings, or possessions. The biggest thanks we can have is the thanks for our salvation. Two verses prior to the ones above say this: Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Not a new story as far as my posts! When we come to the end of ourselves, can't possibly imagine how we will get through something, we CAN cry out to the Lord and He will heal and deliver through His Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. We can be thankful, truly thankful, if we have received Christ.

He offers the greatest blessing of all time. If we have called on Him for forgiveness of our sins and have continued to follow Him and trust in Him, we can lift up our voices in the most amazing thanksgiving. It's not always about the possessions we have or our freedoms but our spiritual condition, our rightness with God or relationship with Christ. Nothing is more important to God than that.

I am thankful for His sacrificial love for all of us. None of us deserve eternal life. But He offered up His life anyway so that all men who would call on His name, receive Him and wait on and trust in Him would have this eternal life. He gave His life for us. How can we not be thankful for that? When we are at the place where we can thank Him for this, then His hand will be upon us. But how do we live that out? By loving Him first, or what the world believes is important? Think about it...

Oswald Chambers wrote this: The religion of Jesus Christ is a religion of personal relationship to God and has NOTHING to do with possessions. Professional Christianity is a religion of possessions that are devoted to God. The disciple realizes that his life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses, because what we possess often possesses us; we are possessed by possession.

Look at it this way, though. If we have Christ we have the greatest possession. He is the greatest treasure. He will not leave or forsake anyone who claims this possession. Matthew 6 tells us Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

There are many verses on thanks and thanksgiving to God. He is a great and awesome God who gives generously to those who trust Him. Sometimes what He gives isn't in ways we would expect. We might not even be able to put a finger on what He gives; sometimes it's just in the peace and contentment we feel. Then at other times, because He knows what we have need of (not want of) He provides. And He knows each one of us has need of a Savior. We should be thankful He provided His Son to be that Savior. We should be thankful for the freedom we have in Christ. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36) Do you know this freedom?

Psalm 100: Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. - A Psalm of Thanksgiving

It's Our Choice to Make

Psalm 33:4-5 - For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

These two verses cover a lot of bases. First of all it's all about God!

The word of the LORD is right. His Word is straight, upright, correct, pleasing; to be right, level, just, lawful and smooth, as Strong's Concordance tells us. Of course, one has to believe in His Word to start out, or be interested in learning from it. The Word of the LORD is His Word and His Word is His Son, the Word made flesh. And Jesus is truth.

His work is done in truth. There is no falseness in our God. He is all truth and honesty. He is, after all, Almighty God and why would He lie? That's what we have a devil to do, and he's good at it.

He loves righteousness. That's why He sent His Son to die for all mankind. His desire is for all to receive His gift of salvation. ALL. He wouldn't choose one and not another. We are all steeped in unrighteousness and sin. ALL. He would love to see all become righteous, through Jesus...only through Jesus. Jesus, the only Mediator between God and man.

He loves justice. He will not let those who do not receive the gift of His Son go unpunished. It wouldn't be fair. Yet there are some who will totally reject Him. So if one thinks that all people will go to heaven, they are mistaken, believing satan's lie. Remember, He is truth, His Word is truth, His work is truth. His Word shows us, if we search the scriptures, what happens to those who reject the truth of His Word...Jesus.

The earth is filled with His goodness. Goodness comes from God. He created this earth that we might see His goodness, know the wisdom and power of our Creator, be awestruck by it all, live in it and with it. But man chose and still chooses to believe he can be like God. If one sees poverty, oppression, death, destruction, it is not caused by God. It is a result of man making the wrong choices over so many years, with it escalating today, choosing self or stuff over God...being separated from Him. He does not want to see these bad things happening.

However, we can live amidst the trauma of this life with peace in our souls if we know that we know the God who created all things, including us. Created...not evolved. That revelation, that truth, will be revealed when seeking His Words of truth and by living an upright life in Christ, bearing the title of righteous...only because of Jesus.

It all starts with God and will one day end with Him. We are either for Him or against Him. We either worship Him or other idols/gods. Choose this day whom you will serve: God or gods, spiritual life or physical life (life or death), truth or lies. Remember, He is eternal, no beginning, no end, life started with Him, it will end with Him. But eternal life begins and ends with Him also! Praise God. He wishes none to perish but that ALL would have eternal life. It's our choice.

Psalm 33:11 - The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

The Word is Life

Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

In prayer the other morning I was overcome with the words that came to me. 

These words were that His words as written in the Bible are life giving. I’ve known this a long time and probably wrote it before; sometimes He just wants to bring a recollection. His words can speak to any one of us if we take the time to read them. They are like bread and water. They sustain. Jesus is the Bread of life. He is the Fountain of living water. Eat and drink of these words written just for us that we might know Who Jesus really is and can be in our lives.

Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). His Word should cause us to be hungry for more. We can believe all we want that this earthly life has all we could need, if things are going good for us. But what happens when there's a hiccup in our life that sets us reeling? How's this earthly life doing for us then?

With Jesus by our side we have full assurance that whatever life on this earth doles out, we are safe in His arms. Picture the drawing, if you will, of Jesus carrying the sheep. That sheep could be you or me. We wander aimlessly on this earth and He searches for us until He finds us. He will take us into His arms because we know He is the Good Shepherd.

That sheep was me and countless others who were in a place of restlessness, unhappiness or addiction. We recognized...and that is the key word...that we were lost and in need of saving. When we saw our Shepherd approaching we allowed Him to gently...and it was gently...pick us up and carry us in His arms to safety.

The Bible points to Jesus in every book. You will find Him in Psalm 23 as the Good Shepherd. You will see Him in the sacrifices and feasts, like mentioned the other day.

Every book speaks about the soon coming King. It's all about blood. Sacrifices were made in the Old Testament for forgiveness of sin...day by day. Those sins were new every day and needed to be atoned for. Jesus came to be that same sacrifice, but upon His death He took away that constant need to sacrifice. His death was once for all. Nothing else we can do but receive Jesus as our own personal Lord and Savior will allow us access to heaven. No works, no sacrifices. Just as the sins had to be atoned for every day, Jesus' mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:31-32)...when we have received Him.

He's the Passover lamb, the High Priest, the Cloud and the Fire, Kinsman Redeemer, our Shepherd, the suffering Servant and weeping Prophet, Son of God and Son of Man, the Messiah, the Miracle Worker, the One who sets us free, a Friend, our Great Physician, our Savior and most important, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Search the Scriptures. Seek the Lord your God. He is everything anyone could need. Let His voice be heard in His Book. The Book is life, the Book is wisdom. The Book is encouragement and admonition. The Book is filled with promises...both good and bad, depending on whether you choose to listen or choose your own way in life.

His Word judges a person's thoughts and intentions. It shows us the right way to walk. It admonishes and praises based on what we do.

Lord, I thank You for Your Word that brings life. I thank You that Your promises are yes and amen. I thank You that You are the great and loving God as well as the judge of all humanity. I thank You that nothing is impossible with You, that You are holy, that You truly care about the people of this earth who have not bowed before You and received You as their Savior. You search to and fro for those who are fully committed to You. And You bless them who are...with blessings that go far beyond our earthly needs.

Your Word is life. It is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. Without that light, the Light of the world, we only live in darkness to the things You have for us. Praise You Lord for this awesome Word, for Your testimony in 66 chapters. Soul saving, life giving. That's who You are...the Word that became flesh so You could live and teach us about Yourself, so that You could die for our sins...so that we in turn could have life. Praise You! Bless Your holy name. Help us, O God, to hide Your word within our hearts that we might not sin against You.

1Peter 1:24-25 -  All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.