Not Just "In the Beginning"....

And God said, “Let us make man in our own image.” Gen 1:26   

Brothers and Sisters in our LORD,

Filing this verse away in my memory-folder “Creation,” it was segregated to how things began; until I realized it is not only truth of our beginnings, it is active truth for us today. God is still today about creating man in the likeness of His Son. Isn't that amazing? The first Adam, the head of the human race, was made in God’s image. His intellect, emotions, will and personality, was in the Creator’s image, so there could be communion and a spirit of cooperation between man and his God. This of course is with God Sovereign and man subject to God’s will. This is perfect freedom!!

Just as Adam was tempted to choose his own way, rather than God’s way, so is everyone born in the human race. We naturally rely on ourselves. This dramatic change from original creation, affects the whole world every minute of every day. We are a world populated by self-centered people. We all know this is true because we often experience a battle within our own flesh. We want our own way. Many a magazine title and its content aim directly at ‘self’. We experience anger, unkindness, selfishness and even hatred at some time in our lives. When a person repents and places faith in Christ’s work on the Cross, inviting Jesus to save them, things often get worse. That is when the battle is really felt between the old sin nature and the new nature now living in them. This is war. We will be tested and tried, all with great purpose! God is working in us, creating the likeness of His Son Jesus.I am dancing!

In these last days God has spoken to us by his Son… the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:1-3

God visited earth, with great purpose, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Last Adam. Our natural birth made us members of the sinful race of Adam. When we are born again, into Christ, we become members of God’s family eternally, grafted in and made righteous. And all through our time here on earth God is working His purposes; creating the likeness of Jesus in each of us.

Paul says in Galatian 4:19:

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. II Corinthians 3:18

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

There is a great difference between knowing what God’s purpose is and entering into its truth in your daily life. One of God’s most effective means in bringing this about is failure. Many get in a panic over failure and will try and hide it, deny it or rationalize it. They become focused on living victoriously and become occupied with failing to do so. Failure is God’s tool and thankfully He engineers it to work His purpose in us. OUCH!

I have learned a simple principle, that God has a natural law in affect over mankind, and here it is: we are conformed to that on which we center our interest and love. We become conformed to what we focus on.

…brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2 (the mind is renewed in God’s word!)

…think of Germany some years ago, full of little Hitlers all because of fanatical devotion to a second-rate paper hanger! …. H.

Today a generation is being shaped by accelerated communication with electronics; defining our lives more than any previous generation! The Internet has made pornography and evil readily available and difficult to monitor. The social media has made a huge impact in this world. The speed with which we communicate is mind boggling! We, who grew up without cell phones, can touch a button and send an email across the world in seconds. Lives have forever changed, albeit for good or evil, some damaged beyond repair by cyber bullying and by those who prey on others through the Internet.

TRUTH: If I am to be like Jesus, then God in His grace must do it in me. The sooner I accept this and surrender to His Holy Spirit, the sooner I will be delivered from another form of bondage.

“Throw down every endeavor and say, ‘ I cannot do it, the more I try the farther I get from His likeness. Don’t try to be like Him, just look at Him. Just be occupied with Him. Forget about trying to be like Him. Instead of letting that fill your mind and heart, let Him fill it. Just behold Him, look upon Him through the Word. Come to the Word for one purpose and that is to meet the Lord. Not to get your mind crammed full of things about the sacred Word, but come to it to meet the Lord.” ND

 This truth has changed my life dramatically, beholding Him through His Word.

…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil 2:13 

For to me, to live is Christ… Phil 1:21  (hear what you are reading)

LORD of angel armies, Creator God… You who walked down here and know how hard life can be. Teach us to behold You! For in beholding there is rest. I pray in Jesus Holy and precious name. amen

Love to you all,

az

  email devotional: http://az-doveseye.blogspot.com/

http://www.gramzkidz.com   Check out the Lion in By Design!

The Simple Gospel (Good News) Message

The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it almost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video  Watch

Dance with Me in the Fire

 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad…  Matthew 5:12a

Dear Brothers and Sisters in our glorious LORD,

We all have people in our life I refer to as ‘extra-grace-needed’ people. I was scheduled to meet with such a student this week to explain some things to help her get over being offended last Thursday. All week I prayed over this strained situation, knowing I have an inborn ‘need’ to be understood. I expecting God to be my defense and do something amazing!!

Thursday morning God met with me in my quiet time and later as I was in the kitchen, I suddenly felt the need to get on my knees and cover my face. What I did not expect I was to hear Him speak, “Arlene, Today you will share My sufferings.” My response was silence as I struggled to understand. Even as I pondered what I heard, I knew. This was a holy invitation, but it didn’t seem to fit with my morning?

“Wait a minute, Lord, what about this morning and my sweet time with You? You allowed me to feel Your pleasure and the sweetness of Your Spirit! I treasure those moments, Lord.” As I questioned His words, I knew He was inviting me to dance with Him in the fire. “God, I am yours.” I had peace all day, along with the niggling curiosity of what He might allow. Was He asking, “Arlene, are you willing to be misunderstood? Are you willing to dance with me in the fire?”

I went to meet my student as soon as she entered the foundry. I thought, ‘now what Lord?’ But in my knowing I determined to obey God’s promptings, even if it meant being wounded in the process. This was not about who is right or about being exonerated, but obedience! As I approached her, again I heard, “Today you will share my sufferings.” And I had a niggling feeling this did not include her being open to Truth. I knew I was going to be skewered.

We locked eyes and I softly said, “We need to talk.” Her eyes lit up and there was no turning back.

I apologized for shortening her first name and I ask why she did not make clear what she preferred to be called, before this. She said she did. I responded that I had not heard her, but she did not accept this. Then I began to explain about the class demo that offended her last week. It was designed for the whole class, but because she was leaving early, I wanted to quickly cover some class disciplines. As I attempted to explain, she cut in and accusing me of treating her as a child and of being harsh with her and she didn’t understand why I would treat her this way. She even claimed she had ‘witnesses’. I tried one more time to ask if it could just be ‘her perception’. But she was not finished. Then God told me to be silent and I understood she was not about to listen. She continued in a sugar-sweet voice chiding and accusing. Finished, she pronounced me forgiven of my many offenses, quoting scripture at me, as if absolving me from all my sins. “I forgive you.” She proudly announced.

I was unfairly judged by one who could not or would not see my heart attitude. The confrontation railed against my need to be understood and threatened to undermine the peace of His Presence. I stood silent and wounded. I did not expect what happened in the next instant!

 The power of my God, as He drew me near, wrapped me in joy unspeakable!! There are no words to explain! One must experience it for themselves. I danced with my LORD in the fire. And there is no where I would rather be.

Suffering isn’t just something to endure; it’s something we can trust God to use for His purposes RA

  Emmanuel Ndikumana suffered much. He stated that in our suffering, it is disobedience we should fear, not death. We are to die daily, instead most of us live in a half obedience.

As I moved to other students, I thought immediately of King David fleeing Jerusalem and Absalom his son. Shimei, hateful toward David, walked along side the fleeing, dethroned, King and his entourage, throwing stones and curses, and heaping insults on him. David’s man Abishai wanted to cut off his Shimei’s head. Read and receive David’s response:

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him. Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him.

David’s words can only come from the heart of a God-lover, a God-follower, one who is more concerned about obedience than safety. Are you in the fire? We are never alone in the fire. Think of the three Hebrew captives in the fiery furnace!

When we pray directing God to move in a specific way and God answers in His way, we often perceive it as failure. Could it be our definition of success is skewed?

What actually requires more faith? If we get a no or a yes to our prayer? Scripture is about walking by faith, not name it and claim it. Some people are healed from cancer, some are not. Is it their lack of faith or God’s sovereign, loving answer, because He has a higher plan? We must understand scripture as a whole and not take it out of context. I have found Hebrews 11 a wonderful focus. Faith is not Fi God has given us to manipulate or control Him. He is God and we are not.

 David not only trusted in God, he trusted God. It’s not for me to keep safe or to please others or strive to be understood and accepted, it is for me to please an audience of One. The rest falls into it’s proper significance. 

Psalm 65:4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You

Father, Thank You for inviting me to dance in the fire with You. You were misunderstood, accused, and You remained silent. You promise suffering and you fulfill that promise. Use our suffering to enlarge our testimony that our life may shout your great goodness and glory! Tune our hearts to live to please an audience of One, you. Thank You too, we are never left alone to suffer or to figure out life; we are not even expected to produce strength to endure it. It is hard to settle for anything less than sensing Your nearness, though I know You are with me always, Thank You for never making a mistake. I pray in Jesus name and for His glory. Amen

…  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. II Cor 5:7-9

much love, az

 email devotional: http://az-doveseye.blogspot.com/

http://www.gramzkidz.com    Coming soon in Gramz Kidz by Design will be the King of Beasts, the Lion.

The Simple Gospel (Good News) Message

The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it almost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video

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FEAR NOT

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

Fellow Lovers of our King, Jesus,

Someone knocks on your door to hand deliver a letter from an attorney’s office. It looks important. As you quickly scan the contents it informs you that an uncle, you never knew existed, has put you in his last will and testament. You are astounded and excited to find out, at the reading of said will, that you have inherited a lot of money and a house in the country.

Good News! I thought of how our king, Jesus, put us in His will. We are His heir, inheritor, legatee, recipient, receiver, and beneficiary for all eternity! Not just a friend, but His child! Placed in Christ the moment we believed. There is no safer place.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into aninheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you… I Peter 1:3-4

An inheritance no one can revoke and thieves cannot break in and steal. And it is ours! An inheritance is being kept, just as you are being kept, by the power of God until that day He brings you home. I am dancing. O glorious day! Let this meld into your heart.

We are beneficiaries of precious things eternal. People get excited when an uncle leaves them something in his, but no matter what its value, it is temporary and will fade, be lost, rust, be stolen or even squandered and it will definitely be left behind. What King-Jesus has for His beneficiaries, and greater still, for His children, will never fade, grow old, be misplaced or stolen. Let’s not be entangled in the snares and reasoning of this world, for that invites  fear to take root and multiply and we become  unfruitful.

Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of what we choose to do with it! (our attitude)

Unlike the world, I have no impetus to live in fear. Fear is crippling and robs me of clarity, stifling my ability to think and act. Any fear I allow warps my God reality. Stealing my joy, peace, contentment and highly affects my spiritual growth. The first step for me is to consciously recognize the fear. Speak it aloud and lay it at the Cross. ASK: Why am I afraid? Where did it come from?

I must choose to refuse fear and run to the word of God, no matter how I ‘feel’. Run to the Truth and refuse any lies. God’s word tells us again and again not to be afraid. Fear is part of satan’s arsenal to defeat me, but God has already defeated my enemy. I am not told to fight satan; I am to resist him strong in my faith! My fight is the good fight of faith’. Believing faith will ‘receive from God, His Victory. When I am in the fog of fear, it is very hard to act against my feelings and choose with my ‘will’ to focus on the most powerful weapon I have: God’s word. I know it delivers, for I have proved it true over and again, but it never gets any easier.

Charles Stanley shared thoughts on fear: Besides the obvious fears there are others we do not label as fear, for they have an alias. Such as:

Greed: my fear of going without.   

 Rejection: my fear I will not be accepted

Indecision: my fear I will make a wrong decision

Procrastination: my fear of failure

Guilt and shame: my fear of being found out

Anger and anxiety: my fear of not being in control

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers and decided to go forward anyway.” Jm

Another way of saying ‘Fear not” is found in Philippines 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We guard our minds with Truth. Our mind is the main artery the Holy Spirit uses to work His will and purpose in our lives. He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. Our mind is the main vehicle to feed the ‘new man’ living in us, with God’s word and thereby receive wisdom and strengthening of our faith.

“You've gotta dance like no one’s watching,
Love like you have never been hurt,
Sing like there is no one listening,
And live for the Savior here on earth.”  (My paraphrase)

“It is not about reading the Word. It is about obeying the Word.” JM

“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” CSL

Happiness is not a feeling, but a choice. We choose how we will respond to our circumstances. We cannot walk in fear and faith at the same time. Refuse fear. Focus on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute, if there is any excellence and I anything is worthy if praise, think on these things. (excerpts: Philippians 4:8)

Precious Father, You who keep and deliver and save! I bow in awe that You love me so deeply and have given me an inheritance I cannot begin to understand. My name is in the book of life. I inherit all I do not deserve and You have removed the hell I do deserve by Your holy sacrifice. You are teaching me to walk by faith and these lessons are difficult to say the lease, but they are laced with Your lovingkindness and mercy and grace. Thank You for your patience and tender watch-care over me. I pray in the name of my Savior and King, Jesus. Amen

“I, even I, am he who comforts you.
  Who are you that you fear mere mortals, that you forget the Lord your Maker,
  who stretches out the heavens  and who lays the foundations of the earth, Isaiah 51:12-13a

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

Child of the King of kings,

az

http://hopeshining.blogspot.com/

 email devotional: http://az-doveseye.blogspot.com/
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The Simple Gospel (Good News) Message

The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it almost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video

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Give Thanks to the LORD, for He is good.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

‘For His lovingkindness is everlasting.’ Psalm 118:1

My Precious Brothers and Sisters, you are loved!

Recently, I find myself running again and again to Psalm 118 and the message to my heart is ‘Give thanks’. One of those lifelong lesson we continue to learn, albeit slowly, as we grow in faith. I found it interesting that verse one of Psalm 118, also ends the Psalm. In verse two it speaks of what Israel should declare repeating this phrase ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; ‘For His lovingkindness is everlasting.’ Three more times this is repeated. When the scripture says something once it is important, but when it is recorded more than once, we should sit up and take notice.

Anyone suffering will find there is great comfort in the Psalms. I believe it bolsters our faith and comforts abundantly because it overflows with encouragement to give thanks to the LORD. There are more verses on giving thanks to God in Psalms than any other book of the Bible.  Giving thanks does not come naturally! We are more inclined to complain and grumble and fret. Giving thanks enables us to turn in faith to the Creator, rather than be swallowed up by negativity. Where grumbling pulls us under; praise and thanksgiving lifts us up.

 A thankful heart is a singing heart. And according to Colossians 3:14 a singing heart is the result of ‘Letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...’ If we are deep in Him who indwells us, then we know Him as our daily strength, our joy and our song. Do I hear some ‘amens!’ ?

The Lord is my strength and song…. Psalm 118:14

Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter through it. I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation. Psalm 118:19-21

True thanksgiving is choosing to allow Christ Jesus to live through us in His righteousness.  The best training is to learn to accept everything as it comes, as from Him whom our soul loves. ac  My mentor taught me the same thing in a slightly different way: “Acceptance is half the battle.”  Acceptance can be the most difficult thing we do; the letting go, the shaking free of our consuming need to control and the deliberate choice to refuse to fight what God allows in our life!  Only grace can carry us through.

 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

The little tests can be the ones that undo us. As Amy Carmichael puts it, “ the common little rubs of life, silly little nothings, things you are ashamed of minding one scrap. Yet they can knock a strong man over and lay him low“.

My mentor and I were out to have lunch. While glancing at our menu, a waitress was threading her way through a busy section as she balanced a heavily laden tray. A man stood abruptly, bumping her arm and she almost dropped it all. My mentor looked at me over her menu and ask a strange question: “What spilled when she was bumped?”

I gave the obvious answer, “the soup of course.”

She responded with a ‘yes’ and then explained, “ It is a picture of life. When we get bumped, the only thing that spills is what is in our heart.”  I understood that when life bumps me and my reaction is negative and complaining, it is a red flag to lead me to repentance. When Jesus is filling me with His Holy Spirit, He is in control and no sin can spill out. Sin tells me something very important, that I am on the throne of my heart, rather than the Lord. I need to confess and receive the forgiveness awaiting me.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

Feelings can shake us up but good! Living by our feelings is like inviting the enemy in to have a cup of tea. We are instructed not to be surprised by trials, but notice it takes us further!! My feet are dancing….  We are to do more than ‘not to live by feelings’, we are to rejoice that we are privileged to share His sufferings. Do you know anyone who is rejoicing in their suffering? Read the following verses, as if for the first time dear ones…

Answer: ‘Is suffering ever God’s will?”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. I Peter 12:13-14 & 19

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. I Peter 12:13-14

Do you hear thankfulness in the words: “but rejoice”?  Let’s use the ‘great exchange’ and turn it into a blank to be filled in by you. Put the numbered words in the blank.

      1.  give thanks  2. worship 3. count it all joy 4. sing His praise

But __________________ inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 

Remember Jesus endured great suffering for the joy to come! We are to rejoice and endure now to be overjoyed when His glory is revealed! Hang on He is coming.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

We endure, by considering Him (Hebrews 12:3, our focus on Christ)

If we focus on circumstances it will wear us to a frazzle. Consider Him, make Him your focus. Sing, praise, give thanks, rejoice, dance, worship… God is forever worthy!

ADVERSITY WITHOUT SURRENDER IS MISERY!

Thank You Father that this is the only Hell I will ever know! Thank You for every trial, no matter how bitter. Whatever You allow, you will use for Your good purposes in my life. Teach me to give thanks because You are good. Keep me faithful. Thank You that even my sorrows are not wasted, but all things serve You. Your provision is enough. Blessed be Your Name. Thank you for coming to live, die and rise from the dead to save me. I give thanks in your Holy name, amen 

You are in my prayers, az

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The Simple Gospel (Good News) Message

The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it almost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video

Waiting

Oh my soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him. Psalm 62:5

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

If I handed you a pencil and paper and instructed you to write down all your expectations for this week… what would you write? How long would you have to think about it before you knew what to put on your list?

Many years ago, frustrated in my relationship with another person, I experienced memorable disappointment.  I did not know what to do about it. Relying on my need to work out an answer that would satisfy me, I was not aware that I relied on my ability to manipulate people, until God held up his holy mirror and stopped me in my tracks! A revealing light brought me to my knees, and in His sweet Presence I wept, but not out of disappointment. It was seeing myself as I am. God’s light revealed my manipulation in all its ugliness, all that was flesh about it. Manipulation is what our osn falls into as we strive to ‘control’ situations and other people. Where is our trust in God in our trials? There is none. Manipulation is another word for ‘unbelief’. That is what broke my heart. Instead of trusting God, to work it out in His time, in His way,  I, in putrid unbelief, grieved my Savior. Where was the waiting?

 After the believer enters into the faith-life, he wonders why it was so difficult for him to understand that it was all of Grace- a humble reception of a finished work. And yet he goes through the faithless struggle once again before he sees that his daily Christian life is also a ‘finished work’, complete in Christ! mjs

Have you ever had success trying to change another person? Moving to the spiritual realm, what is our response to what life has dealt us? Have we grabbed control and told God exactly how He is to answer our prayers? We short circuit waiting on the LORD and replace it with controlling and manipulating to get relief or gain control. We are instructed to ‘wait’ on God. Jesus is the answer to every need and every trial. Waiting requires faith. Waiting requires death to the osn, the flesh. Waiting is hard. It feels like you are not doing all you can. Waiting will always reveal a lack of faith in the One who has never failed or made a mistake.

When people get married they expect the person they wed to make them happy. Instead they find themselves in a constant struggle for control. It began in the garden. We expect our spouses to do and be what we feel is right. We come into the world, with our entitlement list clenched in our small, wet fist. We are born with a self-centered attitude. We may not admit it, but our list is comprehensive: a pain free life. Health. Wealth or win the lottery, control over all that happens to us and others are to serve us. We are here to be happy!

When Corrie ten Boom was asked ‘what’ enabled her to endure the horrors of the concentration camp, she amended, not ‘what’, but ‘Who’.” She then added, “The devil is strong, but his power is limited; Jesus’ power is unlimited.” Jesus sustained Corrie in Ravensbruck. She believed His words, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me.”

We unfairly place expectations on others; intentionally or subconsciously. Our attitude is the same as if we were trying to fix everything about them that bothers us! Damaged relationships result in people being handicapped. The feeling of never measuring up, never being good enough, robs us of dignity and fills us with shame. Shame is abrasive, not a positive catalyst to bring about change. Christ gives grace, the freedom to mature in faith and fully surrender to God. God gives us grace and we are to give others grace. Only God is good enough, wise enough, and holy enough to ‘fix’ anyone. Only God can meet our deep need to be loved and have purpose. Only God has power to change us and redeem our wounds and failures. We will know rest and freedom as we surrender our expectations, waiting on Him. But in the waiting is the knowing. Imagine knowing Him more and more intimately! O how He loves you.

A person may easily know his sins are forgiven, but it is a further truth to know that he himself has ‘died to sin’. He finds this conflicts with his experience. Suppose I tell you, a great $ debt you owed was paid by someone, it would not be a question of experience, but of simply believing my statement. Just so with God, He tells us our sins are forgiven, and it is question whether we believe Him. But when He tells us we have died to sin, we look inside and say,

’Ah, sin is still at work; how is that?’ A person must be taught of God to really know the truth that he has died to sin.” JND

 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, because my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I won’t be moved.

My safety and honor rest on God. My strong rock and refuge are in God.
Trust in him, people, at all times; pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. (Selah)  Psalm 62:5-8

Doesn’t it just bless your socks off! Let these truths warm your soul and fill you with AWE!  My feet are dancing…

Yeshua, Keeper of my heart, full of grace and Truth, You who are Eternal Light, I am in awe of You. My heart cries “Change me, Lord”. And you gently and tenderly transform me like a silver smith, who heats the metal until it is pure and his reflection can be seen! So You allow our trials to heat our metal, purifying us until the likeness of Jesus can be seen. Establish us in simple faith. And free me from placing unfair expectations on others. It’s grace that humbles us, not our sin. Shame doesn’t move us to change, but Your grace transforms. Thank You for who You are, unchanging, faithful and good. I pray in your Blessed Name of the LORD,

May you be encouraged to ‘wait’ on the One who is waiting for you, list and all. 

  

Much love,

 az