Set Apart Christ as LORD

But in your hearts set apart (sanctify) Christ as Lord.  I Peter 3:15   

Greetings Brethren, you who are precious to our Lord,

How often am I deaf to what I read? What does ‘set apart Christ as Lord in my heart’ really mean? Warren Wiersbe defines it this way: “It means to turn everything over to Him, and to live only to please Him and glorify Him. It means to fear displeasing Him rather than fear what men might do to us. How wonderfully this approach simplifies our lives!  It is Matthew 6:33 and Romans 12:1-2 combined into a daily attitude of faith, that obeys God’s Word, in spite of consequences. It means satisfied with nothing less than the will of God in our lives. (John 4:31-34). One evidence that Jesus Christ is Lord in our lives is the readiness with which we witness to others about Him and seek to win them to Christ.”

When ‘self’ acts correctly in difficult circumstances, it is the outflow of my pride, resulting in the sin of self-righteousness. (OUCH!) To have Christ’s righteousness flow through me, the Holy Spirit must hold my old sin nature in the place of death, at the Cross on which I died. I am crucified with Christ, dead to sin, buried, and risen with Christ, covered in His righteousness. Hallelujah!

Compassionate One, help me understand how to reckon myself crucified with You. Bolster me in Your Truth. Teach me to accustom myself, in everything that happens, big or small, as seeing it from Your hand, before I fix my focus on a person. Let me first recognize and surrender to Your will in it. Oh how far I am from living this Truth…change me. Teach me to be still and remember who You are, the Sovereign LORD. Impress on my heart and mind it is You who have allowed this trial to test my faith. And how amazing that as I trust You I bring You glory. Turn my eyes from man and circumstance, to You, for then even suffering unfairly is much easier. I rejoice knowing my sorrows are never wasted when I trust You. Thank You for being such an amazing God. I love You Daddy. I pray in Jesus most powerful, eternal name, amen

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but [set apart] sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. I Peter 3: 14-17

Remember: Jesus suffered as the sinless One for the sinful. Now, my part each day is to ‘put off’ the old man, (Eph 4:22) and put on the new man (Eph 4:24). Daily, each moment, we are to live as crucified with Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to apply the finished work of the Cross to our life. (Rom 6:11) Realize the flesh is not necessarily repulsive or blatantly sinful, indeed it can be very nice, even adapting to church and good deeds. But it is alien and always will be alien, to new life in Christ. It belongs to another race and is not related to the life of the Lord Jesus. Read this amazing scripture and let it give you understanding:

 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:16-17

I remember striving to live this way for may years, until I realized it was only possible to walk in the Spirit as I reckoned myself dead, crucified with Christ. The Holy Spirit will render inoperative anything that is a hindrance to the life of Christ in me. I am called to cooperate with Him in this by ‘reckoning’, for only then will His life be manifested in and through me! This sets my feet to dancing and is creating in me a hunger to glorify Him

  If

If I cannot give You glory, I have nothing to write!

If I cannot give You glory, I have nothing to say…

If I cannot give You glory, I know nothing of life’s purpose,

If I cannot give You glory, I am empty and without hope

O that people would hunger for You, love You, seek You,

Because of what I write, what I say, what I do…

For what is life without You?

I live to bring You glory

As I glory in Your Name.

az

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A Life of Praise

                                                                           March 20. 2012        

 Deliver me….  O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise. Psalm 51:14-15

 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the risen Savior,

“Singing along with the radio, LORD, I lift my voice in praise to You. My hands are open, my palms up, a gesture of surrender.”

Suddenly, I stopped singing, and focused on my hands. Were they posturing a mock surrender?  How easily I lift my hands and sing praise, but ‘Lord do I live praise? Does my life praise You? Such as when I am driving; what is my attitude toward drivers that annoy me, like tailgaters? Does my life praise You in my choices of music and movies? Does my life sing your praise when I do not get my own way?  Do I stay inwardly sweet when dealing with self-centered people? Or do I defend myself? Do I express a grateful spirit regardless of circumstances or give in to irritability? Do I share the Gospel for Your glory and praise? Do I ‘die daily’ as Paul states in I Cor 15:31?  Lord, help me deny myself and take up my cross and follow You. This is Your requirement! Only then can I love by Your Spirit loving through me.’ Give me a heart like Paul in Phil 1:21

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

I find it is so easy to sing Your praise in the privacy of my house, but I want my life to sing everywhere I am, 24-7!  I want to offer each note a sacrifice of praise, a dying to my flesh, that by my life-song the world may know You are God and that there is Hope. This thought sets my feet to dancing, hands lifted high!

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15

O Love of God, Do this for me,

Maintain a constant victory! ac

“Everything You do O Lord, is done in love, to the praise of the glory of Your grace, which You freely bestow on me in Christ. Forgiveness, redemption, grace, wisdom, deliverance and abundant mercy, are lavished on me. Lord, restore to me the joy of my salvation and renew a right spirit within me, a willing spirit to fill me, for then my mouth declares Your praise in word and deed and song! “

It’s not my grip of Christ, But Christ’s grip of me! Unkown

You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:28-29

My Deliverer, You who forgive my sins and wash me clean in Your shed blood, I bow and give thee thanks, Lord, You are my song. Thank You I am in your grasp and no one can pluck me from Your hand. How tender Your love. Thank You for defusing my sin and throwing it into the deepest ocean, forever gone! You paid in full, dealing with my sins, large, small and everything in between. All so I could respond and embrace Your love. How can it be that You died for me? How I long to love You perfectly, but I don’t. Even with great effort, I can’t.  Enable me to find ways to remember your great goodness and live praise, today and forever. I pray in Jesus name, who is my life and Truth. I love you Daddy… amen

My prayer for you all is to live a life of praise!!

az

To Heal or Not to Heal?

Be still my soul! The LORD is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain. Be still my soul! Thy best, thy heavenly friend, thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end. kvs

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the faith,

They missed it! They watched and prayed and still missed it. Messiah. Their preconceived ideas caused their blindness. They wanted a reigning Messiah who would come in and crush Rome. But God sent His own Son… a ‘suffering Messiah’ had no appeal to oppressed Jews. They wanted relief. As I contemplated sickness and suffering I thought we are basically no different. We demand healing and refuse suffering.

God can and does heal instantly. God can and does heal through doctors over a period of time. For many of us we have decided it must be healing in Jesus name of else! I wrestled with the obvious Truth that God has great purpose in suffering. And I had to ask could God not be more glorified in the suffering than in the healing?

God cannot be pressured to heal, by striving to believe that something shall be, thinking that if we believe hard enough, it will be. That may be positive thinking but it is not Biblical faith. Remember the flesh always demands healing. I find great comfort in knowing my Savior is teaching me dependence upon Himself when he says no and faith is required every step of the way. God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say and say it deliberately- trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith. Mueller

My Mother had surgery scheduled to remove a hard, palpable tumor. That morning they re-examined her, confirming the previous diagnosis and she went into surgery. When the doctor came to talk to us post-op, he stumbled to find words to explain the unexplainable… there was no tumor. We had asked God, in faith, to heal her and do what would bring His name the most glory. He did.  In contrast, she was not healed years later from the cancer that took her home.

God does not always heal. His purposes are greater than what our small minds can grasp and His ways higher than the heavens! Question: ”Does it take more faith to receive a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ to prayer for healing? Does it take active faith to live day after day, even year after year, in pain and infirmity? Can God be trusted to do what is right and good, even if it remains a mystery to us? Humans would never choose the very suffering, that He uses to produces our need of Him.

Amy Carmichael has enriched believers with her writing, bringing hope and encouragement. She was set aside for God’s purposes as she spent the last 35 years of her life bed-ridden and in constant pain. Those who loved her gathered after fasting to pray for her healing, claiming it in Jesus name. God said no. She received it and endured with joy day after day, year after year. Great faith.

Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

And naked I shall return there.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.  Job 1:20-22

Paul had infirmities not healed.  “you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.“ Galatians 4:13-15

And Miletus: Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.

We must be cautious not to throw around the Holy Name of Jesus, as though it were magic and push our quarter prayer into this divine vending machine and get what we choose at our pleasure, as though we were not foolish, shortsighted and afflicted with our selves. His name is not a holy incantation to be applied over every difficulty and to call down curses on those who irritate us.

The times I have been healed instantly have not taught me the powerful lessons, of Love and Grace, which suffering and infirmity, have rendered. My healing resulted in rejoicing with awe and thanksgiving…  the ‘no’ to healing, proved Him faithful and filled my cup with grace. He invited me near to ‘know’ Him intimately and take up my cross, resulted in worship…. Like Job: Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. (1:20) This is great faith.

Father of life, thank you for sending Your Son to suffer. On Him your mighty vengeance fell, that would have sunk the world to hell. Thank You Jesus chose to suffer. Thank You for grace to bear my sufferings with strength and faith, to believe You are using trials for Your glory. I bless Your Name great Sufferer. The world quickly tires of one’s suffering and so I find great comfort in knowing You understand my every tear and pain. You will never leave me nor forsake me. I praise You in Jesus Name

 praying for each one of you,

az

Greatness and Grace

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Brothers and Sisters in Truth,

Never should we think we suffer for no purpose or that we suffer alone. Job suffered leaving us with words of wisdom and comfort. And far greater, Job demonstrated how to worship when you lose everything. Job’s trials reveal his character and his faith shouts of the greatness of God. We who know this great God, can live courageously because of Him .

A woman was known for her faith. When complimented about her great faith she replied, “ It is not that I have great faith, but that I have faith in a great God!” amen

 Cancer? Choose to trust Him. Loss of a job? Choose to trust Him. Are you lonely, rejected, fearful, or have failed? Choose to trust Him. Trials rush in and leave us dizzy, but we have a choice to trust or not trust. The enemy hates it when we sing songs of praise and deliverance in the middle of our trial. It is so difficult to choose not to live by feelings but instead, to choose with your will to trust, as circumstances scream ‘Do something’…

“There is no way of learning faith except by trial. It is God’s school of faith, and it is far better for us to learn to trust God than to enjoy life.” unknown

His grace is poured out in our sufferings. God’s grace is a sweet elixir, more to be desired than all the world offers. Christ, Himself is our exceeding and great reward now and eternally. Jim Elliot is credited for this truism:

'He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.'

It is when you are in the midst of trials that bring you prostrate before His throne and you drink the wine of His grace; tasting the warmth of His love, then you know its worth. For in the trial, He makes Himself known most fully, not on the mountain top, but in the wilderness. Our gain far outweighs our pain.

Consider His greatness: He was never created. He created all things. He has neither beginning nor end. He is the Eternal God. Deut33:27

 He is alone in His greatness. There is no one like Him. “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Exodus 15:11

He is so high above us we are like grasshoppers. See Isaiah 40:22. I Timothy 6:15-16 He is to be revered adored and worshiped. He alone is majestic, He is peerless in beauty and in His perfection. Everything is sustained by Him. That thought alone causes me to tremble and cry,  “Holy, Holy. Holy!

It is impossible for Him to be brought under obligation to anyone. He is never indebted or under the power of anything or anyone. He owes His creatures nothing. Anything He does for us is pure grace! Hear this my brothers and sisters: God’s knowledge is unsearchable… past, present and future. He forgets nothing and nothing is hidden from His sight! He never had a teacher. He never made a mistake or failed at anything. He is Sovereign over all of His creation and can do as He pleases! He is in control over the circumstances of life, right now.

Such truths are enough to change the way I think about life. It is impossible to measure the Savior. He is all wise, all-powerful, full of merciful and He loves. This sets my feet to dancing. He loves!! Perfectly, eternally, profoundly and unconditionally. Raise Your hands in awe and bow in adoration. He alone is worthy of all praise.

He will use every trial to benefit you now and eternally. I have tasted and know it to be true.

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods. I Chron 16:25

Father God, You whose ways are higher than the heavens, You who have kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, I  bow before Your greatness to give thanks and to praise Your Holy Name for all Your goodness to me. I thank You that You cannot be put in a box or dictated to, neither can You be defined or measured. You are greater than I can comprehend.... and when I trust You and walk with You in faith, You allow me to 'know' You as You make Yourself known to me.  This sweetness is mine in Jesus and I thank You for loving me so perfectly. I know the sweetness of being carried by the King, cared for by the Shepherd and comforted by You who are filled with compassion for me. Blessed be Your Name, in which I pray, amen

Bless each one who Loves the King! Praying for you all.

az

Grace is Powerful

     In all their distress he too was distressed… 

     In his love and mercy he redeemed them;       

     he lifted them up and carried them 

     all the days of old. Isaiah  63:9

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you…  II Cor 12:9

      Greetings in the name that is Peace,

As I read scripture this week, I struggled with divine lessons intended to move me from self-dependence, to Christ-dependence, The thought that kept surfacing was ‘grace’. As I reflected on what God wanted to teach me about grace, my emotions were a roller coaster of fragmented thoughts and they, like unruly children, refused to quietly move me to understanding. What was I not hearing? I was in deep need of His comfort and I wanted to His tender words meant for me.

I happened across a small booklet about God’s grace. It was something I acquired from my Mother, after her death. In it, I have found treasure… it set my feet to dancing! Treasure that blessed my heart and encouraged my understanding of His infinite, powerful, gift of ‘grace’.

“Suppose you have a young child who is the joy and delight of your life. Suppose too, that this child was cruelly murdered. What is your attitude toward the killer?

1.    If you use every possible means to kill him for his crime,  it would be vengeance.

2.    If you sit back and watch the civil authorities convict him and execute him, it would be justice.

3.    But if you pardon the murderer, invite him to live in your home and adopt him as your son, that would be grace.

Not realistic? Well, let’s look at another illustration. I have sinned against a holy God. And by God’s law I am guilty. Consequently my sin has brought on me a sentence of eternal Hell. If God allows my sentence to be carried out, I could not rightfully complain because I am receiving what I deserve according to the divine law, of the Omnipotent, infinite, and Holy Creator-God.

The gavel sounds and as they start dragging me away, God intervenes, providing my substitute, His only Son! The One who is perfect in righteousness, becomes the sacrifice Lamb! He will die in my place. A tortuous death on the Cross as He becomes my Sin-bearer!

Then God turns to me and offers to forgive me and give me everlasting life, as a free gift! To my utter amazement, the LORD then offers to make me His child and take me home to live with Him eternally. What would you call this unmerited favor to me a sinner? I who deserves the very opposite? Only one word describes such treatment: Grace.

A young girl was sitting in her room singing when 2 shots were fired outside her home (because a man was angry with two women who lived there). The shot severed her spinal chord leaving this 3 yr old a paraplegic. Two years later, sitting in the Suffolk County courtroom, she faced the man who took away her ability to walk and run and play as other children. Kai began to cry as she spoke these words: “What you did to me was wrong!” But her next words surprised everyone hearing her, even her mother. “ But I still forgive him,” she said softly as she looked around the courtroom. This 5 yr old girl was dealing with a very present evil done against her, changing her life forever. This act of forgiveness puts flesh on Jesus words.

But Jesus was saying, “ Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

 Yes, Jesus asks much of His followers, but He gives much. He gives grace to do what is right, in all circumstances.

“If I do not give thanks, I deny God’s Sovereignty.” Kay Arthur

Also true: unforgiveness denies the grace God offers. Let this truth sink in and mold you into a vessel of praise and thanksgiving! . I must stay in His word and stay close to His grace, for it cannot be phonied up to impress anyone. It is as daily as manna, for is it not a mark of all who call Jesus ‘Lord and Savior’?

What comes to mind when you reflect on grace? I like this acrostic:
GRACE:   God’s   Riches  At  Christ’s   Expense

Grace is the riches of all that is mine in Christ. Grace is a Light for my path. Grace is Love lavished upon me. Grace is letting the Lord Jesus pour His love through me to others. Grace is humbling. Without grace I cannot live the Christian life. Almost every New Testament letter begins and ends with words on Grace. Ephesians is rich with the truth of grace. How precious our Lord is to meet our every need with grace.

…who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 2 Timothy 1:9

Almighty One, Giver of grace, Provider of all my needs, I want to sing my thanksgiving to You. You know I cannot carry a tune and yet my heart sings your praises. Thank You for the rich store of old hymns that reflect on Your grace. You are a wonderful Abba. You taste my distress and are distressed. You pour out your grace in love and compassion on me. Hallelujah to my God and King. Your Word is true. Your grace is perfect….  I love You dear Lamb of God, my sacrifice. It is in Your Name I come boldly, before the throne, to find mercy and grace to help in time of need. Meet each sister and brother today, in grace and love. In Your name I pray. Amen.

By His Grace,

az

My Light

  The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1

Dear Sisters and Brothers who are precious to the LORD,

Light keeps us from walking in darkness. He is Light. His word is Light. His word is mine for the taking! In my dark times it is life and breath and strength; as welcome as the sunrise after the darkest night.

Neck deep in Psalm 18 and 27, this past month, has been a  source of strength and encouragement. When trials invade, cloaked in darkness, the Lord is my Stay. He is alive as my Shield, my Deliverer, and my Refuge! These are but a few descriptors the Lord put in Psalm 18! Each one is a treasure of rich meaning. I elected to compile a list of ‘who He is to me’ and another list of ‘what He has done’ (and is doing) in my life, plus a third listing of His worth. During this exercise, the warmth of His Love washed over me and left me in awe of His provision for me! It was then I heard Him whisper: “Arlene, hear my love for you in these words.”

Want a blessing? Take time to prayerfully read Psalm 18, meditatively as you list the descriptors included. I promise you will be lifted up, for His Truth will permeate and fill your being.

His Words for me this morning were in verse 18: ‘But the LORD was my stay’. Trials that shake our foundation can intimidate; replacing faith with fear. David proclaimed God was his ‘stay’ when Saul was pursuing David unto death.

stay: remain in the same place

stay: a device used as a brace or support.

God brought David forth and rescued him from all his enemies, because He delighted in him. When Christ and His word are our stay, firstly, we can stand strong in the LORD, unmoving, refusing fear; choosing instead to believe God is Sovereign, good and all-wise.  Secondly, we can know a peace which passes all understanding, even though tears drip from our chins; for Christ is more than our stay, He is our strength and support. Our cry comes into His ears. And what sets my feet to dancing is next: (v19) He delights in us. Grab this Truth and dance in praise!! He absolutely loves us beyond measure! Is there not unmeasured ‘rest’ in this?

The very fact of trial proves that there is something in us very precious to our Lord; else He would not spend so much pains and time on us. Christ would not test us if He did not see the precious ore of faith mingled in the rock-matrix of our nature; and it is to bring this out into purity and beauty that He forces us through the fiery ordeal. Be patient, O sufferer! The end result will more than compensate for all our trials, when we see how they wrought out, the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. To have one word of God’s commendation;  to be glorified in Christ, so as to glorify Him…ah! That will more than repay for all. unknown

And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5

Daddy, You who deliver me and comfort me and hear my brokenness, I bow before You in surrender and worship. How beautiful You are to me. Thank You for the intricate word pictures that draw me to You. I am comforted. I am encouraged. You are strength and hope. Because of You I am still standing! How amazing to know you as my ‘stay’! Only because of You can I stand at all. I know Your Word says ‘If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ (Isaiah 7:9 niv) Because You are my stay, I am standing, I am blessed. I look forward to eternity with You where there will be no darkness, because the lamp is the Lamb!! Bless each sister and brother who reads my words about You. May You be glorified ‘now’ and forever. amen

Walk in the Light as He is in the Light... much love to you sisters and brothers,
az

Forever Young!

“LORD, make me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.
Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. Psalm 39:4-5

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

There are times in our life when we deal with physical issues that limit our activities and change our routine. Inability to exercise or attend church is a huge test for me. These very important activities were replaced with doctor appointments and meds. (I rarely take medicine) Under this umbrella of infirmity, many things were revealed to me, which I often take for granted. Like breathing or the wonder of going through a day, unaware I have lungs! This was replaced with gasping for breath and very nearly calling 911. Add to this endless coughing, steroids, and an inhaler. Weary enough to complain and feel sorry for myself, i was reminded of my precious friend, who is struggling with cancer daily. A cancer that will too soon take her life. (It is always too soon to let go of someone you love.) She is such an inspiration. Courage flows out of her making me ashamed of my sniveling and grumbling. My complaining does not honor God. She is filled with joy and in her suffering she brings Him glory! Praise His Name... I too want to bring God glory, but here is the catch... I want to decide what qualifies as a ‘glory-bringer’.

I questioned, as I contemplated this, “who am I to decide what brings God glory? I want to be strong in faith and let God be God, but my flesh wants input into deciding what will bring Him glory. Short-sighted me has a very different picture of a ‘glory-bringer’. Could glory be found in circumstances which i deem as weakness, failure, and disappointments? He redeems all things, for ‘all things serve Him’, but failure seems counter productive!  Shouldn’t something wonderful be planned to bring our amazing God the glory due His name? It was then I saw the truth, it was my own chagrin over failure, my perfectionist nature, causing me to have a skewed view. The saints, who wrote the classics, saw their trials and failures, as something God used to humble and strengthen faith and as such they embraced their suffering. Coast to coast, I believe God is purifying His body the Church. I heard one sister say this past couple years have been the hardest yet.

We are called to glorify God. If we evaluate God’s calling by our gifts rather than by the call, we fall into legalism and we enlist our own strength to serve Him. Our failure does not disqualify us from serving the King, but our pride will set us aside, unfit for service.

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,  so that no one may boast (glory) before him. ‘ I Cor 1:28-29  This is freedom, because we have nothing to prove! It is not about us.

It is a great sadness to be surprised by suffering. For God faithfully prepares His saints to suffer. When life becomes easier we tend to rely on ourselves and take His good gifts for granted go through a day without bowing our hearts in gratitude.

Franciscan friar Brother Giles said, “It is impossible to acquire virtues without trouble and effort.” Our brothers and sisters facing serious health issues know what it is to have suffering embedded into each minute. Death moves ever closer and we deny its presence. Would we not live better lives if we stopped denying the inevitable and lived like we were mortal? Ask yourself : ‘Do I know anyone who is not dying? including myself?’

Death doesn’t ask questions; it doesn’t review resumes It just comes. GT

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

Our days are filled with God’s great goodness, His loving kindness, and His faithfulness; even if we do not acknowledge it. Psalm 103 says; God satisfies our lives with good things. The word good infers a wide meaning: beautiful, best, better, cheerful, precious, sweet joyful. The word ‘things’ means: a word, advice, commandment, work. Put  these together and  may it bump your heart to praise Him! His Spirit and His Word satisfy us with that which is good, beautiful, gives joy, and strengthens us for His glory. How good He is to satisfy us with good things, especially Himself and His word. We will be forever young, this sets my feet to dancing.

Great God, You are Faithful and filled with compassion, for us who are your purchased possessions. We want to bring You glory and trust You for every trial, but we fight against the trials we must face to have our faith strengthened. Thank You no trial will last any longer than You determine. You are Victory. You know that unless we stand firm in our faith we will not stand at all. Create a deep hunger for Your word in each of our hearts, so we will seek You daily, praise You daily, trust You daily. Remind us as often as necessary that “the battle is the LORD’s”. And today LORD let each one of us bring Your Name glory. amen and amen in the Name of Jesus, Lord of all.

I have been embraced by God’s undeserved goodness this week and the wonderful part was that I wasn't so occupied that I missed it! I was receptive to His sweet love and it truly is better than life! Thank You LORD.

az