Living in God's Word

Dove’s Eye       4/14/14

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would 
see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27: 13- 14

He chooses our inheritance for us, Psalm 47:4

Is God teaching you to lean hard into Him? Losses have a way of crowding us to

Christ. Psalm 47:4 says:  ‘He chooses our inheritance for us’! 

 Wow! Our Savior tends us with His loving kindness. We learn the sweetness of Him, the sufficiency of Him, the power of Him on our behalf. We do not have an enemy choosing our inheritance, but our loving Father who calls us to ‘Come’…  

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:27-29

“Being conscious of our own folly, we would not desire to rule over our own destinies. We feel much safer … when the Lord steers our vessel than we could possibly be if we could direct it according to our own judgment. Joyfully we leave … the unknown future with our Father, our Savior, our Comforter.” CHS

I have been living in Psalm 27 this past few weeks, especially verses 13-14. The truth of this chapter is profoundly stated in these last two verses. With out faith I would have despaired. Without His promises hope evades my heart. How blessed to be His child and know “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of  the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. (Psalm 18:30 & 32) “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect!”

He chooses our inheritance. Let’s look at the definition of inheritance: something that one receives or is entitled to receive by succession. As from a parent.

He is our Abba. Our Papa!  Look up and cry out ‘Papa, I need You.’ Picture your self, His precious, beloved child,, climbing up on your Papa’s lap.  He looks tenderly into your eyes as you snuggle into the safety of His pure and loving arms. Resting against His chest, you hear His heart beat, the perfect rhythm of His love for you. Pulling His robe around you, He hides You giving you joyful rest. This is He who chooses your inheritance! There are no second causes.  What He allows in your life, He plans to use in your life, for your good and His glory. Choose to trust Him. We walk by faith and not by feelings.

Take time to praise Him. The enemy hates to hear praise from our lips!

Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
    Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
    He is the great King of all the earth. Psalm 47: 1-2

Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.

 For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing to him a psalm of praise. Psalm 47:6-7

Father-God, You who love us more than we can ever understand, You who are filled with compassion toward us, we want to praise You! Bring forth praise through us, by Your Holy Spirit. Fill me faith to walk in a way to please You. Thank You for the Cross, for it makes all the difference. You have chosen me and made me Your child and You choose my inheritance and I  am so very thankful. I pray in my Savior name. amen

 Happy Easter,

az

Thank you LORD: You died, You arose and you are coming again!

 ATTENTION: Gramz Kidz site is temporarily down for up to 10 days. So sorry.

Old Man, New Man

Brothers and Sisters you are loved by the King of kings,

Until we come to the end of ‘self’ and plumbed the depths of our own sinfulness, we are not ready to be used by God to share the Gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

How do we know Him as merciful? Is it not, as He opens our eyes day by day, to see the depths of our utter sinfulness? Yes! As long as we have a pretty good opinion of own strength and capabilities, we will not be cast on Christ or trusted to carry Truth to a lost world. Yea, we must see Him, as the God who is rich in mercy and ourselves as without goodness, but for the goodness of Him indwelling in and through us. We must grow toward Christ-esteem, not self-esteem! Self esteem is most often caught up in living by feelings vs faith.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; II Corinthians 4:7.

God is trusting sinful man with the preaching of the Gospel. But before they can be used, it is necessary to know the wickedness of their own heart and be astounded at the sin they themselves are capable of committing.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

Oh the unlimited heights of God’s glory and grace and mercy toward us.  There is nothing but goodness in our God. He demonstrates His grace in His patient suffering.

The flesh may not appear in an ugly measure for it can be very nice and accepting. The flesh will often fit comfortably in church and serving God. Some preachers know only the power of the flesh operating in them. Remember the flesh belongs to another race and is not the life of the Lord Jesus. We are His treasure, not because we are good, but because He is!

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:17

“The more useful anyone is, the more he requires to be brought to an end of himself, and to find, that his all is in the Lord Jesus. We find some of His servants deeply chastened at first, in order to prepare them for a useful course; and some after a useful period are brought low and afflicted in order that they might learn how truly and fully our Father is sovereign. JBS

Run to the Cross! We are to put off the old sin nature and put on the new nature.  We are in Christ and that changes everything.

Positionally, in the finished work of the Cross and resurrection, we have been cut off from the old man through death, and have been born into the new Man by the new birth. “Ye have put off the old man...and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him”

(Col. 3:9, 10).  MJS

The Holy Spirit stands with His great weapon the Cross and renders the flesh inoperative! Experientially, day by day, our part is to choose against the old (“put off”) in favor of the new (“put on”), thus allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to apply the finished work of the Cross (Rom. 6:11). “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20,

To read further: Romans 6-8.Eph 4:22-24, II Cor 4.

This is the life God planned for us. It is here we experience rest unshakable, joy unspeakable, hope that lives and a future that is the untouchable promise of the living God. Even better is as He allows us to ‘know’ Him more and more. There is an intimacy He gives that is sweeter and more fulfilling than anything the world offers. We can know a satisfaction available only as we leave all in God’s hands, moment by moment. We are safe with Him.

Gracious One, You who feels our pain and put our tears in a bottle, You who are the compassionate Creator, our Savior. Your plan is good. Give us understanding and reveal to us the daily bread of Your will as You enable us to release all into your care each moment. Denying ourselves we choose to take up our Cross and follow where You lead. You are all we need and You are enough. My eyes are turned from man to You, for You set my heart to dancing and fill my mouth with praise and I am so very thankful.

Blessed be Your Holy name,

az

http://www.gramzkidz.com   a slug? A snail? Slimy?  Actually an amazing creation of God! Go to Gramz Kidz (website for 8-12 yr olds) and click on ‘By Design’  and be amazed!

 Dove’s Eye email devotional: http://az-doveseye.blogspot.com/

 

a2zimmy has shared a video with you on YouTube:

“The Presentation of the EvangeCube” — This cube has been used widely in many missions across the world to simply sh...

Woe!

TEARS

Jesus words:

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Luke 6:24-25

Brothers and Sisters who long for the LORD’s return, Christ’s love to you!

Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort and yet we seek riches, yes, we long for riches. Then in what we think a contradiction Jesus adds, “ Woe to you who laugh now- for you will morn and weep. Laughing is healthy and good. Right? Jesus said “Blessed are you who weep now…. For you will laugh.

We hang onto this life like this were heaven. Albeit we have plenty reason on earth to weep. Think how disappointment and loss are so devastating because we do not count it as ‘His appointment.” Are we being honest with ourselves about the pain and endless reasons to weep? We get a bad report from the doctor or experience pain or loss of a loved one and we weep as though God had revoked our salvation! Leaving faith on a shelf under the dust, we run blindly weeping unable to answer the ‘why’ in our heart. We can’t see past the tears. We refuse to walk by faith and insist on living by feelings. We love this world and the lusts it offers and ignore that this world is passing away. This means we magnify our troubles and self pity fills our heart. Do we need to adjust what we really  believe? Is God good? Is He in control? Is He faithful? Why do we continually avoid tears and count them as negative, even harmful.

“the thing we are most afraid of is to weep. F.F.

Is He not our All-wise, Loving, All-powerful God? Always faithful. Always. We are not even faithful for one day. We ignore the dangers and failings of our sinful condition and somehow are deceived into thinking God will rescue us and clean us up, forgive us and improve our OSN. No! He has one plan, crucified with Christ, Risen with Christ for all those who have believed and been forgiven and belong to the Savior. He is the new nature living in us. For His blood alone is the acceptable offering to satisfy God’s anger over our sin.

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:7

He creates the likeness of His Son in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what prepares us for eternity with Him. As we count ourselves crucified with Christ His rule is strengthened in us. As Paul states, ‘I die daily’. I Cor 15:31 This is another way of saying that you are taking up your Cross, denying yourself and following Him, daily.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

Real life begins as we experience death to our flesh and believe we are risen with Him! Only then can we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, reach a lost world with the Gospel.

Everything that surrounds us inside and out, comes with affliction. Still we romance this life as if it satisfied our deepest longings, we love it as if this were our heaven our happiness. Yet, everywhere there is cause for tears.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. I John 2:15-17

“How truly terrible it is to love the things that are so unworthy of being loved. Now that is a reason for weeping.”f.f.

Does loving this world not hurt our Savior who paid the ultimate cost to provide the way of salvation? He knows our hurts and struggle and is right there to carry us through. Always faithful. Always!

Here is a PLUS!

 “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin….  I Peter 4:1 Sin loses its pull on us, it is no longer so attractive!) This sets my feet to dancing.

Blessed are the tears that Grace and Truth, and yes, even suffering, bring to us. For they cause us to lose our desire for things down here, divorcing us from the temporal and unprofitable and establishing in us that which produces reverence for God and a desire to please Him.

Read and believe! The thought is: Christ is our example. We are to arm ourselves with the same attitude Jesus took toward suffering, which is to accept as part of life in the will of God. Then sin loses its grip and the dominion of sin is broken in the practical experience, as we count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. That is when God’s Spirit has freedom to move in power in us. Hallelujah!

You may want to paraphrase these scriptures and pray them for yourself and even memorize them.

Isaiah 26:8 “Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O Lord, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls.”

“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Our Joy is coming!

az

 http://www.gramzkidz.com  Ever think about how amazing a slug, a snal is? Amazing creation of God! go to Gramz Kidz and click on 'By Design"

Faith From Beginning to our last breath!

 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

I grew up religious. I didn’t smoke or drink or party. I taught Sunday school and read my Bible and prayed. I remember memorizing Psalm 139. Church was something I looked forward to. What amassed to the point of an intolerable weight to bear, was all my efforts to be good enough to get to heaven! Oh how often I wondered how good is ‘good enough’?

A miserable marriage and two children later, I fell at His feet in utter reliance and repentance and found He was all I ever wanted. No wonder I was profoundly disappointed in this life! I was created to fellowship with the King of kings and LORD of lords and did not know Him.

 A miracle happened: Now I was able to understand what I was reading. It was like His love letter to me! Before when I read my Bible, it sounded good, but it was like reading someone else’s mail. I was shocked to realize and admit I was without Christ and without hope in a world without a welcome matt. Oh the amazing wonder of now having hope and finding I was loved by Creator-God.

Born again and washed in the blood of the Lamb I believed He died for ‘my’ sins. He gave me all His righteousness and took upon Himself all my sin. Hear these words!!

God made him who had no sin to be sin  for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. II Cor 5:22.

                 That should set your feet to dancing!

I not only believed by faith, receiving Christ as my Savior, but I am to walk by faith daily. My sin-debt was paid in full at the Cross and I was set free. Religious no longer, I am free in a way I have never knew existed. The chains of legalism and religion fell off and I was given a heart that desires Him and want His will. I realized that I had fallen in love with Jesus! His Presence was now so real, I was uncomfortably, wonderfully aware of Him. After all the years of loving Him without knowing Him personally, I was made new inside, old things passed away and the new took root. I couldn’t get enough of His word and miracle of miracles I found Jesus loving my husband through me leaving me surprised and with questions. I hadn’t expected this!

So many trust Christ completely to save them, (knowing everything depends on Him) but then once saved they live like everything depends on them and fail to see the greater Truth… ‘the just shall live by faith’ and they move through the day trying to live the Christian life in their own strength. It can take many years to realize it doesn’t work that way.

   “They know not that the life of grace is always and only a life of faith, and that in their relationship to the Lord Jesus, the one daily and unceasing duty of the disciple is to believe, because believing is the one channel through which Divine grace and strength can flow into the heart of man.’ a.m.

It flows from the Cross. We are to remember Jesus death and resurrection until He returns by taking communion….

…do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Our old nature remains evil and sinful to the last. It is only as we daily come empty and helpless, to our Savior, that we receive from Him, life and strength, and the results is that we then produce fruit to the glory of God. a.m

So I too must come to my Savior, casting all my cares and failure on Him, that I may receive from Him all I need. He meets me at my weakness and my heart cries out for the bread of His will, His life, His strength, His wisdom, and His love.

Outward imitation, though it be the perfect Example will fall far short, unable to replace true spiritual growth!! To abide in Christ is the only secret of Christ-likeness. God will expose our empty, fleshly efforts by teaching us the truth of, ‘For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. Romans 7:18 Do we really believe this?

Abba, You who became sin for me, I bow and cover my face with my hands. My whole being is aware of Your Presence. Your nearness is my good but  troubling too, for You are the Living God and never to be taken lightly. I pray You will teach me and each heart, the Truths that are the foundation and basis or our daily walk with You. Oh God change me and let me know you more and more deeply. You are an awesome and glorious God. To abide in You is is the secret of Christ-likeness. Blessed be Your holy name.

Thank You heavenly Father for leaving me in utter reliance on You,

az

 http://www.gramzkidz.comWhat do you think of when I mention 'snails'? Slime? Slow? Oh there is sooo much more! Go to gramzkids by design

 

 “The Presentation of the EvangeCube” — This cube has been used widely in many missions across the world to simply sh...

http://youtu.be/GhVldzsGEck

The Peace of Christ is Ours

Peace in Suffering

He (Christ) Himself is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

Brothers and Sisters,

I heard said this past week that,

“Peace doesn’t reside in circumstances; peace resides in the heart.” 

Thankfully this is true. I thought of the apostle Pau. Even with all he suffered in life, He trusted God to be with him, and lead him every step of the way. Read this next paragraph and really look at each trial Paul lists. Stop and mentally put yourself in his place…  for we know how easily we stop thinking and fall into just reading words!

 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Paul had little reason to have peace. But that is exactly what He had, “A peace that passes all understanding.” We are all learning to choose faith and endure.

  Always be full of joy in the Lord. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

In all but one of Paul’s letters to the churches, his salutation is “grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. He knew the struggling churches needed exactly that, supernatural grace and peace. But look at verse 4 it speaks of joy! “Always” be “full” of the JOY of the Lord. Now that is asking the humanly impossible! “Always” is asking too much right?

Quite!

Seldom does a human being humble himself and run to Yaweh for help unless he has no where else to go. The impossibility of working up any level of joy should do just that, exposing our need for His help! Just as surely as we cannot manufacture our next breath, we cannot make joy happen. It is a gift. It is fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is ours to ‘receive’!

We talk about loving Jesus and usually it’s in reference to our ‘feelings’ about Him. Our emotions can be stirred but it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to embrace seriously Luke 9:23 “If anyone will come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Christ’s stirring words challenge me. Not an emotional ply! Jesus own words say distinctly to each one of us: Jesus is our peace.  Ephes 2:14 Am I trusting Him to be my peace no matter what threatens? even suffering? Great pain or death? Paul said, “I die daily!” God could use Paul because he denied himself, taking up his cross daily and following.

People will volunteer to serve and many will give financially to help others and support missionaries. Less will share the Gospel with others and far less will be willing to suffer. Has called you to suffer? Paul was. And because Paul loved what God told him and believed God’s word to him, Paul stood strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. When in jail again and again, Paul used this time to record God’s words to His church, through the Holy Spirit’s revelation. I for one am thankful. It sets my feet to dancing from the wonder of it all. Paul stood strong by the power of the Holy Spirit in him, for this produced the fruit of the Spirit in Paul…. Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Will I trusting Jesus enough to stand strong, letting the Prince of Peace reign in my heart? Paul could have given up, given in, quit, given into discouragement and self-pity, but he chose to trust God was with him and would never leave him or forsake him. We too, must make the same choice. When the battle rages speak it aloud: “Lord Jesus You are right here with me. The battle is Yours. I choose to trust You right now.” Then praise Him.

Stop trying to fix it or insist on understanding ‘why’ it has been allowed, instead start trusting! My mentor said, “If you are trying, you are not trusting”. God is there for you just as He was for Paul. God will lead and strengthen you. Make Christ your focus. He gives hope. He sees the tears you shed, the tears you have not shared with anyone else. He loves you immeasurably. He will carry you through.

I love this verse: Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Every believer is accepted by God the Father. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:1) The peace is God’s toward us, through Christ. Our peace is based upon this alone! Jesus made peace through the blood of the Cross. (Col 1:20) We must never forget that His peace is founded solely upon the work of the cross, totally apart from anything whatsoever in or from us (mjs), since God commendeth His love toward us, in that , while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)

Be reminded God will never leave you nor forsake you. Hallelujah! He invites you to give Him all your worries. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:6-7 The Prince of Peace will guide you and give you peace. Peace is not something you work up by trying, but something received by faith. There is a battle for your mind.  Guard it. Put on the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8 & 9b

I will leave you with one final thought: God’s word is the key to enduring suffering and the key to 

Peace for Christ Himself is our peace!

Praying for all, near or far, whether it is places I have never been or those who are denied freedom to have a Bible or worship. O God, Remind them You love them and are right there with them in the thick of the suffering. I pray my brothers and sisters will stand strong in You Jesus. Give endurance to those who suffer greatly. Remind them they are not home yet. Come soon Lord Jesus, prince of Peace. amen

Until every knee shall bow,

az

http://www.gramzkidz.com    Creation is amazing! Check it out at Gramz Kidz

Evangecube

  “The Presentation of the EvangeCube” —

A Short Walk

Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village… Mark 8:23

Brothers and Sisters, warm greetings in Jesus name,

Imagine for a moment, that you are this person who took a walk with the Lord of heaven and earth! A short walk. A life-changing walk. A walk that changed everything. A never go back or be the same again walk. Do you feel the warmth of Jesus hand as He takes your hand and leads you out of, and away from, whatever is hindering you or lying to you or pulling you down?

Why did He lead the man out of the village? I believe it was because Bethsaida had already been judged for its unbelief. (Matt 11:21-24) He was separating him from a place, that was for him, a place of temptation.  A place that would bind him and blind him and hinder him from being in the center of God's will for him and succumb to a sinful life. Oh how we need to come to a place where Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us out of and away from all that hinders and leads us to His will for us. O that we would long for a heart that longs for His will in our lives.

Nothing happened for this man until he looked up! I was so moved reading this passage. Do you go through life looking down, looking at all the world has to offer you when God wants you to look up? I could feel His hand holding mine and leading me to Himself in a deeper way.

Another unusual thing is it took two tries to heal the man from blindness. It was a gradual healing. So much unbelief hindered Jesus from doing many miracles.

Was Jesus protecting the blind man when He instructed him not to return to the village, not to even enter it? I believe He was.

 Reach out your hand in faith and choose this day, whom you will serve. Let Jesus take your hand and lead you to Himself in a life changing , never go back again, never be the same again walk! He will restore your eyesight spiritually and heal your soul.

Following the scripture about the blind man Jesus continues to teach His disciples. “And He was stating the matter plainly.” This refers to verse 31 of chapter 8 ’And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Now Peter steps in and tries to help the LORD see that it couldn’t and shouldn’t happen. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Jesus helps Peter see it not only could happen, but should happen and will happen.

Do not miss the powerful closure in verses 34 and 35 of chapter 8. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 

Then He addresses the crowd including them in His teaching and this includes us. Are you walking with Him? Are you hearing Him? Are you longing for Him? Does He hold your hand? Are you denying yourself and taking up your cross daily? This is our invitation to crucifixion. See Galatians 2:20 also.

Jesus stated the matter plainly that we too might hear and see…. He healed a deaf man (ears) and then a blind man (eyes). Isn’t it obvious He is making a point? He asks his disciples in verse 21 of chapter 8, “Do you not yet understand?”

This is also a question we need to answer. Do we not yet understand?

 The Cross expresses my love for you. Come take my hand…trust me.

Love in the LORD,          az

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Refrain

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:

            Words: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932.

http://www.gramzkidz.com

Evangecube

God's Perfect Way

-->

 As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God, The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect? He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places. Psalm 18:30-33

Brothers and Sisters, all who trust in our precious Lord Jesus,

Do you have a favorite Psalm? The 18th is one of my favorites. As I read verses 30-33 and I was stopped. Arrested as if I had not read them before. And this question pulsed in my mind: “Do you really believe what you have just read?"

His way is perfect?

I know how easily it is to slip into praying our ‘will’, or our opinions or we stubbornly insist on understanding why God allowed our trial. Believing His was is perfect leaves no room for fears, doubts, anxiety or complaining! To coddle our fears and give into our imaginations is more than unsettling, it is an insult to the LORD who’s ways ARE perfect whether we truly believe it or not.

Believing, or not believing ‘truth’, doesn’t change the truth. And thankfully it doesn’t change one very important truth, ‘God loves us and continually pours out His grace and mercy on us’. But believing He is all that He claims to be changes us! We know His rest and His peace. Every day we have a choice to believe God is perfect, His ways and His words are perfect and, (this is most often the hard part) believing that He arms us with strength and makes our way perfect. (perfect, not easy) That He never makes a mistake! Never! I needed to be reminded about this ‘truth’ again this week.

He makes our way perfect. How can that which tears you apart, leaving you shaken, fearful, grieving or rejected, be perfect?  Because of who He is! If He has allowed it in your life, He will use it in your life for good (Romans 8:28-29). That good is to create the likeness of His Son in you, as you trust Him. And trusting Him is always a ‘choice’. In fact I think it seldom ‘feels’ like the right thing to do. Why? Because our choice requires dying to our flesh.

I realized that in order to grow spiritually, I must recognize my unbelief as sin and deal with it! As a child growing up, my father often said, in his no-nonsense manner, “Call it what it is.” No matter the trial, I am determined not to pretend that panic, worry and anger are a normal Christian response to stress and to be expected. We are not to live natural lives, but super-natural! Then there is the mind set that states: ‘I just can’t help it. That’s just how I am!’

Let’s refuse to stumble along in unbelief; rationalizing that God understands our sin. Every time I rationalize, I believe I have missed out on some wonderful aspect the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal to me about my heavenly Father. God longs for us to rest in Him, trust Him! Our hope is in Him.

“Hopes have precarious life;

They are oft blighted, withered, snapped sheer off

In vigorous youth, and turned to rottenness;

But faithfulness can feed on suffering,

And knows no disappointment.”

One second into heaven we will wonder how we could have every doubted our precious Savior. We will lock eyes with the One who loves and cherishes us and we will realize how immeasurably precious we are to Him. Do you believe that? Then your feet will be dancing or you will be flat our on your face before the throne of grace, in awe of Yeshua.

Unless believers are crucified people, there can be no true expression of Jesus in their life. Where there is no Cross there is no life. The object of suffering is to bring about in each believer an abundant, Holy Spirit dependent life, which produces much fruit, and thereby glory to God.

Rejoicing in my Savior’s perfection I am freed from trying to be perfect and rest in His perfection, for His perfection alone is acceptable to God.

Prayerfully,

az

 
http://www.gramzkidz.com 

Watch next week at Gramz Kidz the amazing Dromedary. God's creation leaves me in awe!!

Evangecube

http://youtu.be/GhVldzsGEck