Tuesday, December 23, 2014

But we see JESUS... crowned with GLORY and HONOR.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, 
He also Himself likewise took part of the same; 
That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil." 
Hebrews 2:14

I've been thinking much this past several weeks on the birth of our LORD and SAVIOUR. There's lots of glitter and sparkle that's associated with Christmas. And I thought how often the Lord's birth has become "dull" in the presence of other "things" that can easily cloud our minds.

I thought of my own heart... and how I view the Lord's birth.

We're very accustomed with verses that proclaim Christ's birth... and we're accustomed with hymns that sing of God's Son being born in a manger. We hear the Lord's birth being proclaimed on the radio, we hear it in malls, we hear it on the streets sung by carolers.... 

And then I found myself thinking how easily Christ's precious birth can become a commonplace in my own life.

Do I treasure the gift that God so mercifully poured on me? Or do I just sing it? Do I just associate it with Christmas "activities" ? 

The Lord Jesus Christ. Born for a purpose.

And in my thoughts, the Lord directed me to a set of verses that have  been such a blessing to me... verses I normally don't associate with Christmas.

The verses renewed my adoration for the King of Kings this season... 

 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; 
That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
*
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same;
That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
*
 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
*
 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, 
That He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, 
To make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 
Hebrews 2: 9, 14, 15,17

Yes, the Lord Jesus partook of flesh and blood... for a reason... that He would taste death for every man! 

Oh, the joy of the Saviour's birth... that we would be delivered from our bondage to sin and death.

Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... that through the lowly birth of His precious Son... made it possible that we might have eternal life. 

He was made poor... so that we might become rich.

May your heart  today be full of adoration for our Savior's birth.
~Ellie

Friday, December 19, 2014

HIS banner over me was LOVE....

" The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

The love of God....

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Frederick M Lehman ~1917


Nothing can separate us from the love of God... which is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38,39) 
No, nothing.

I live by the faith of the Son of God, 
Who LOVED me, 
and 
GAVE Himself for me. 
Galatians 2:20

May you be comforted in the LOVE OF GOD for you today.... a love that lasts forever.
~Ellie

Monday, December 15, 2014

The GOODNESS of GOD leadeth thee to repentance...

"Oh how great is Thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; 
Which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee..." 
Psalm 31:19 

Reflecting on God's goodness and love this season... and reminding myself how much the LORD has done for me. 

A sinner saved by grace.

It is enough to trust my heavenly Father for all things. His grace is sufficient.

The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation...


THE GOD OF LOVE POURED FORTH HIS GRACE

The God of love poured forth His grace
That we today might give Him praise.
So let us sing aloud with joy,
And honor God in all our ways.

Not one good thing does God withhold,
His steadfast love is all we need.
No, nothing do we find to lack,
When His commandments we shall heed.

Have we indeed shown forth our praise,
In lives reflecting of His grace?
Have we forgotten how to walk,
To love our God, to seek His face?

O, Lord before Thee now we come,
It is enough to know Thou lovingly shall guide,
Thy hand, so good, so constant and so kind.
Shall keep us close and near Thy side.

Yes, our God does pour His love on us,
That we might in His sight be clean.
All dross and filth removed from us,
A perfect work, complete within.

~Ellie 12/3/2014~

May you reflect on God's goodness, mercy and love shown to you today.
Ellie

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Bear ye one another's burdens...

" For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 
"Love your neighbor as yourself." 
Galatians 5:14

Today I'm once again overwhelmed with God's goodness, love and faithfulness.

Have you ever had the privilege to carry another man's burden before the Lord? Have you ever been asked to share in the trials of someone who's hurting and in need?...

It takes a lot out of us to let go of self... to stop and listen... to encourage... and to love.

But, oh the joy, to come before the Father's throne to intercede for someone else.

Last night was a night without much sleep, a turning and tossing, a night of praying and interceding that God's mercy would be shown. The early morning hours brought peace to me... a peace that God gave in His goodness.

Trust in me. Cast all your cares upon me. 

Oh, Lord... you are the God of heaven and nothing is too difficult for Thee.

A peaceful sleep passed over me.  Not much after waking, did God answer. His outstretched arm intervened. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed... because God is so good! He answers in ways we never imagine.

Sharing each other's burdens... what a privilege!

It's easier for us to just sit back and not partake in someone else's hurt... we have troubles of our own. But little do we realize how often we forgo blessings and lose the opportunity to grow and exercise our own faith when we share the load. Our faith gets tried as well. Do we trust? Do we surrender our will to HIS?

Tribulations... are for our own good, even though they are difficult to go through.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: 
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope...
Romans 5:3,4.

The result... a perfect and complete work in us. 

But let patience have her perfect work, 
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 
James 1:4

Let us consider it a joy... to carry one another's burdens... and so fulfill the law of Christ.

May God's love be poured forth in your heart today... for those hurting and in need.

~Ellie

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

"... beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth... from the house of bondage.

" And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD; 
That it may be well with thee... " 
Deuteronomy 6:18

Today is the 17th anniversary of our car accident... the critical car accident my husband and I had during our honeymoon. Has it been that long? Sometimes it feels like yesterday...

I'm thinking about God's goodness towards us today. How our heavenly Father watched over us. Protected us. Comforted us. 

I look back with tears of gratitude... for the accident. Yes, the accident.

I'm grateful for the lessons learned  during a most difficult time in my life. For you see... God, in His love, brought about a trial in our lives... for our own good. And I don't want to forget it. His mercy and steadfast love that carried us through... that brought us together and knitted our hearts to cherish the gift God gave us.

But most importantly, during this time, I'm also thinking about the precious gift God gave us... His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing compares to His sacrificial love... for which I'm forever grateful!

I've been reading through Deuteronomy... chapter 6 to be exact. And I've been touched with a special verse that made me realize how sometimes forgetfulness creeps in my life... 

I forget to have a thankful heart... for the deliverance of my soul... from the bondage of sin. I confess I take it for granted sometimes...

Do you ever find yourself forgetting to have a thankful heart? Not just merely for the physical "things"... but for God's love in bringing us out of our spiritual bondage. Where would we be... all shackled up?  

Reading through chapter 6 in Deuteronomy, I immediately thought of the spiritual application in my life...God's commandments to the Israelites are valid for me as well. 

I am to love the LORD ...with all my heart, will all my soul, with all my might.   

And God warns us not to forget where He has brought us from... 

"Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, 
Which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, 
From the house of bondage." 
Deut. 6:12

Interestingly God uses quite a strong word... Beware

I confess it gets to be quite easy to forget God's blessings... we forget to honor Him with a grateful heart. 

Oftentimes we get caught up with other things that cloud our minds. Sometimes we may even think the blessings we have are deserved. 

And we forget that GOD is the one that preserves us alive. 

It's for my own good.... To fear the LORD. To honor Him with praise. To do that which is right and good in His sight. 

That it may go well with me...

"And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, 
To fear the Lord our God, 
For our good always, 
That He might preserve us alive, 
As it is at this day." 
Deut. 6:24

Nothing we have is ours. God has given us ALL things. 

He alone deserves our gratitude, our obedience, our reverence. 

Our God is mighty... and with His mighty, outstretched arm... has delivered us from the bondage of sin. 

Father, thank you for your mercy that endures for ever!

" And it shall be our righteousness, 
If we observe to do all these commandments 
Before the Lord our God, 
As He hath commanded us."
 Deut. 6:25

May you remember the Lord's goodness to you today... to do what is right and good in HIS sight.
~Ellie