Category Archives: Bible

Tuesday In Other Words…

 

“In our lives the darkest times, the days that are bleak and black, add depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture.”~ Amy Grant~
Mosaic: Some Pieces of My Life so Far

 

 Romans 8: 18-25 (ESV)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it , in hope that the creation itself will be set free from it bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with patience.”

I am looking forward to seeing the big picture of our lives when we meet Christ face to face in Glory. I can only hope that what happens to me on this earth and my reaction to it will be something that glorifies Christ. For sure I do not and can not see the whole picture. My hope is getting to my final home with something to offer Christ. I hope that when I do suffer it’s for the sake of Christ and his glory and not from my own stubborness and stupidity.

For more In Other Words click on Extravagant Grace.

 

Thankful Thursday~ Spiritual Blessings in Christ

This is an amazing passage of how much we are blessed in Christ Jesus. What amazing blessings to be thankful for. Hopefully as the years go on I’ll understand it more and more and be more thankful.

Ephesians 1: 3-10 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of or Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

For more Thankful Thursday click here.

In Other Words Tuesday ~ Oct. 30

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection.  And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” ~ A.W. Towzer ~

I really don’t have anything profound to share as I consider this quote. It was suggested to me that the very shortest route to spiritual perfection for a believer saved by grace would be death, but I digress….

A suggestion that I do have that is helping me in a profound way this year is my Bible reading strategy. I’ve read the Bible through a couple of times and this year it was suggested to me to take a different approach to my Bible reading. This year I started with the shortest books of the Bible progressing up to the longer books and I read each book 20 times before I move on. First I just read it straight through. Then further into my 20 times I begin to dissect and break down each paragraph or chapter to get a deeper understanding of what is being revealed. I have found that with this approach I can remember themes in a book better. It helps me get the big picture. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to teach us and to guide us into all truth. For me spiritual growth has not been short or quick. It has taken years of plugging along for me to get to where I am today, which is no where near perfection. I thank God that He is the one that brings me along by His grace to spiritual growth in Him. I want to be ready and willing to receive His grace and his teaching and respond in obedience and perseverance. This reading the Bible approach I’ve started in 2007 will probably not be completed till I die 🙂

Be encouraged to keep moving forward in your walk with the Lord. Ask Him to teach you and lead you in your Bible reading and studying. Each day is a new day with the Lord. Open his word and enjoy it and Him.

To see more In Other Words click here.

 

Thankful Thursday ~ Psalm 19: 7-11

I am so thankful for God’s word and the power it has in a believer’s life…

Psalm 19: 7-11 (ESV)

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the  commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

I am also so thankful that the winds in Southern California have died way down and the firemen are able to get a better handle on controlling the remaining fires out here. Still praying for the thousands of displaced people and the heartache that losing everything brings, especially losing the place where you laid your head each night!

For more Thankful Thursday Posts head over to Crystal’s who is graciously hosting today…

Philippians 4: 6,7 ~ Do Not Be Anxious

In my Friday Bible Study we have memory verses each week. Boy the old brain ain’t what it used to be! My verses for this week are these that you are probably familiar with…

Philippians 4: 6,7 (ESV)

“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Don’t be anxious about anything…

Pray about everything…

The peace of God surpasses all understanding…

The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus…

John 14:6 ~ Psalm 19: 7-11 ~ The Power of God’s Word

John 14:6 (ESV) , Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Psalm 19: 7-11 (ESV),

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

The Word of God brings us back to who we are supposed to be.

It restores our soul. It makes us wise. It brings joy to our heart and it enlightens our eyes. Those are just a few of the amazing benefits of spending time in and meditating on God’s word.

If you don’t have a regular Bible reading choice for today may I suggest you read Psalm 19 and meditate on it throughout this week. You will be blessed…

Ht: Steve Larson E.V.Free Conejo Valley

Choose Joy! ~ Carnival of Beauty

This Friday Vicki at Windows to My Soul is hosting the Carnival of Beauty with the Beauty of Joy as the theme.

I am so pleased that the theme of Carnival of Beauty is the Beauty of Joy!!

I have a dear friend Jody who has always given her children and friends the encouragement to “Choose Joy”!  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have every reason under heaven to be filled with JOY!

Nehemiah 8:10, “…And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 4:7, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

Habakkuk 3:18, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Luke 2:10, “And the angel of the Lord said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Our Savior is the author of our Joy. He is the one that has put joy in our hearts by redeeming us with His blood. We have every reason to shout for joy to our Lord. The good news was for us and we need to choose joy! Even in the midst of struggles and defeat the joy of the Lord is our strength. We look ahead to the Hope that is set before us with joy for what has already been done for us and for what is being prepared for us in Heaven. This kind of joy will make us beautiful on this earth. When we reflect the joy of the Lord to those around us they will have joy, too!

So dear friends in Christ “choose joy”!

On Friday you’ll be able to click here and see more entries on this theme…

Thankful Thursday ~

 

 

Psalm 79:13, “But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Psalm 145:10, “All your works shall give thanks to you O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!”

I Chronicles 16:8, “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!”

I give thanks today to my LORD for saving me and for his work of sanctification in me and my family all these years. Our God is good and He has been so good to me. Thank you LORD!

To read more Thankful Thursday Posts to to Sting My Heart…

 

I Belong to the King ~ Hymn

 John 3:1 ~ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

I BELONG TO THE KING

I belong to the King; I’m a child of His love,
I shall dwell in His palace so fair,
For He tells of its bliss in yon heaven above,
And His children in splendor shall share.

Refrain

I belong to the King; I’m a child of His love,
And he never forsaketh His own.
He will call me some day to His palace above;
I shall dwell by His glorified throne.

I belong to the King, and He loves me I know,
For His mercy and kindness so free
Are unceasingly mine wheresoever I go,
And my Refuge unfailing is He.

Refrain

I belong to the King, and His promise is sure:
That we all shall be gathered at last
In His kingdom above, by life’s waters so pure,
When this life with its trials is past.

Refrain

Words: Ida L. Reed/ Music: J. Lincoln Hall

I John ~ Walking in the Light

I John 1: 5-10 ~

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

This morning at 6:30 A.M. the power in our neighborhood went out. Our one bedroom condo was very dark. We only have 2 sets of windows in the whole condo. I had to find my little purse flashlight to find the power bill to phone the power company, etc. etc. Then I rounded up the candles and lit them. I did not enjoy being in darkness. I wanted my light back.

My Bible reading these days is I John. While waiting for the power to come back on I used my trusty little flashlight to read Ist John. It was pretty classic reading about light and darkness sitting in the dark. It is amazing to try to comprehend that there is not a stitch of darkness in God. No shifting shadows. He is LIGHT.  I’ll be chewing on this truth for a while. Until I comprehend it all one thing I know. I do not like being stuck in darkness. I’d rather be in the light.