Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me...

" The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: 
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." 
Psalm 51:17

These past couple of weeks I have been memorizing Psalm 51... a psalm where repentance of sins are brought before a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS God.

Do you ever think yourself vile? Do you ever think that you are a sinner?  

I know sometimes we don't want to think we are evil... or wicked... or vile. We like to think that we are alright. We are not bad people. 

But lately I've been dwelling much upon Psalm 51... in relation to the rest of my daily reading in the old testament.... Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel. If you've ever read through the prophetic books, you'll quickly realize and come away with the knowledge that we are a wicked and vile people...

... and that God is HOLY. 

Psalm 51 states it clearly...

  " behold I was shapen in iniquity...and in sin did my mother conceive me." (verse 5).

God's people... be it Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel... all came before a Holy God in humbleness.... seeking God's mercy. 

And we are to do the same...

Isaiah states: " The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day." (2:11)

Jeremiah states: " Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches." (9:23)

Ezekiel states: " That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of His covenant it might stand." (17:14)

Daniel states: " Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten(humble) thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words." (10:12)

O, that our Holy God would have mercy upon us! For His Holy name's sake.

How of utmost importance... to strip away our pride... for we are to come in the presence of our God seeking His mercy. We deserve nothing. 

And so I sat down to put my thoughts in a poem... acknowledging my sinfulness and the need for God's mercy. 

How grateful I am that God does indeed show His mercy...  to those of a broken and a contrite heart.

" from the multide of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."
 Ps 51:1

The Lord God, 
...so tender
...so loving.

Create In Us A Clean Heart

O Lord, forgive us our iniquities,
Have mercy and purge us from within.
Cast us not away from Thy presence,
Against Thee, Thee only, have we sinned.

We have done wickedly and sinned in Thy sight
Thou alone art righteous and just in Thy ways.
We have rebelled, we have not hearkened,
O God, in mercy teach us to number our days.

According to the multitude of Thy tender mercies,
Help us Thy will and truth to understand.
Make us to apply wisdom unto our hearts,
That in Thy presence clean may we stand.

For Thy name's sake, have mercy on us,
And sprinkle clean waters upon us today.
Cause us to hear and walk in Thy statutes,
Thy HOLY name sanctified in us alway.

Have pity for Thy Holy name's sake,
And create in us a clean heart.
Renew and restore a right spirit,
That praise from our lips shall ne'er depart.

Glory and honor be unto Thee, O God,
For Thou delivereth, and Thou rescueth.
Thou art the living God, steadfast forever.
Great is Thy power that continually worketh!

Ellie 2/18/2015

May God's forgiveness bring restoration to you today...
~Ellie

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

For the Lord thy GOD bringeth thee in a good land...

" When thou hast eaten and art full, 
then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which HE hath given thee." 
Deuteronomy 8:11

Do you ever wonder why we go through trials? Do you ever wonder what good is it that GOD would take us through a long "wilderness" in life?

Why do we have to go through times of adversity... where we are tested and tried in various ways? Why are there trials we face that bring about fear and anxiety... or doubt and unrest?

The wilderness for the Israelites brought such trials in their lives... trials for 40 years. But through those 40 years, GOD was faithful.... 

To show His mercy. 
To show His holiness. 
To bring glory to His name.

What may have been a time of rebellion, unthankfulness,  and disobedience for the Israelites, God's merciful hand was gracious to carry them through a wilderness that lasted a long time.

But He provided for their every need... in abundance.

As I was reading through chapter 8 of Deuteronomy, I was so thankful for the beautiful reminder...

Trials are indeed good for us!

I know it isn't the easiest to go through trials... but the more I read of God's Word, the more He reveals to me the need to be still before Him. 

He is at work in me... to test me, to prove me, to make me to know what is in my heart

God knows what is in my heart... but He wants me to know what is in my heart.

My God knows what I need of... and He desires that I might not forget His power, His holiness, His righteousness.  There's lots of things in my life that need to be brought to the obedience of  the Father's will. A ton.

" And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, 
to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart
whether thou wouldst keep His commandments, or no." 
Deut. 8:2
Isn't the verse powerful?

That's why God takes us through the "wilderness"... not just to test us and know what is in our hearts... but to humble us before a HOLY God! 

We tend to think we have all the power... and forget that God is the One who blesses us with all things good. 

We are a proud people. 
We are stiff-necked people.

"And thou say in thine heart, 
My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth." 
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God;
 For it is He that giveth the power..." 
Deuteronomy 8:17,18

But graciously, even through the wilderness, God is still merciful. 

He leads us. 
He carries us. 

As He takes care of us through the wilderness, God sees that:

Our clothes wax not old... 
when we " clothe ourselves with humility"(1Peter 5:5)

Our feet swell not... 
when our feet are "shod with the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15)

We are fed with manna from above...  
when we live by "every word that proceedth out of the mouth of GOD" (Deut 8:3)

And He chasteneth us a Father would... that we would learn to walk in His ways... in obedience.

Through the trials that I face, God feeds me through His word, to humble me, to test me... and in the end...

... to do good unto me.

"  Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, 
that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee,
 to do thee good at thy latter end." 
Deuteronomy 8:16

What love! The love of the Father... to do us good in the end! 

And so today I'm thankful for the Father's reminder that my "wilderness" is there for me to accomplish His purpose... 

... to humble me before a Holy God... to test my heart... and do me good. 

The "wilderness" is a good land!

May the word of God be the "manna" for your soul as you face the trials of the day... and know the Lord God is working to perfect that which concerns you.
~Ellie

Monday, February 9, 2015

My strength is made perfect in weakness...

" But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. " Ephesians 4:7

Do you ever marvel at God's perfect ways... to encourage us in our daily walk? How the LORD so graciously provides for our spiritual needs?

As I was preparing breakfast, the radio played softly... hymns being sung, scripture being read. 

I cherish these moments where I can go about my daily activities and be blessed in the hearing of God's word.... and be encouraged to lift my thoughts on the things above.

You know, God's beautiful reminders are given to strengthen us... through song, through His word... reminding us that we are not alone.

"... If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, 
let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; ... 
and pardon our iniquity and our sin, 
and take us for thine inheritance."
Exodus 34:9

God's grace sufficient for my days...

I stopped a bit from preparing breakfast and was uplifted through the song playing... decided to post it in the hopes that it encourages you as well.

GIVE ME GRACE FOR THE LIVING OF THESE DAYS

Lord, when I face the far horizon, and I see just how far I’ve still to go
Lord, when I’m weary with the journey, give me grace for the living of these days.
Lord, when the plains are green before me and I’m lost in the wonder of the view,
Lord, keep me moving ever onward, give me grace for the living of these days.

Lord, when the mountain that I’m climbing seems too high and I cannot reach the crest,
Lord, when my spirits are declining, give me then your inner rest.
Lord, when the sunshine beams upon me in a time that is peaceful, serene,
Lord, when I think I do not need you prompt my spirit from within.

Lord, when I carry heavy burdens and concern for my brother weighs me down,
Lord, when my prayers are not yet answered, give me grace for the living of these days.
Lord, if the time should be disjointed and I’m tempted by fear and dismay,
Lord, when my dreams are disappointed, give me grace for the living of these days.

Lord, when the battle rages ’round me and I know I must stand there on my own,
Lord, may your inner strength remind me I must strive – but not alone.
Lord, when the suddenness of sorrow leaves me faint with despair and with grief,
Lord, may your mighty love console me, give me grace, my God, and your peace.
Bryan Jeffrey Leach


We are not alone...

May God's grace be upon you as you serve Him today...
~Ellie

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

When I awake, I am still with Thee...

 "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!"
 Psalm 139:17

Do you ever read a verse that gives you so much comfort? Well, this past week I was overwhelmed with the verse in Psalm 139... a verse I mentioned in my previous post. 

Even when I awake,  I am still with Thee... Psalm 139:18

Such comfort the verse gave ... such peace. It has been a blanket of comfort and warmth for me these past several days... just to know my Father in heaven shall always be with me.

Yes, even while living here on this earth, in our physical bodies, our God shall encompass us... and what-more... even in the age to come... my God shall still with me be!

There's nothing to fear... when God is near... when our hope is in the One that changest not.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, ... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
Romans 8:38,39

Once again, God gives great comfort through His precious Word... reminding us that  nothing shall separate us from His love.

His thoughts are precious to us. 
His ways marvelous. 
His love infinite. 

And so I rest in His love for me...

How Marvelous Are Thy Ways 

How precious are Thy thoughts to me,
Thou understandest and knowest me well. 
Even in my lying down, Thou art with me
And when I wake, Thou still with me dwell.

There is not a word on my tongue,
Each thought altogether known unto Thee.
Where shall I flee from Thy presence?
For Thou art with me e'en to the uttermost sea!

How marvelous are Thy ways, O Lord.
Even when darkness shall 'compass me,
Thy Hand will lead and guide me alway,
For night shall be as light unto Thee.

O Lord, I am fearfully and wonderfully made,
So skillfully wrought in the most secret of place.
All members in Thy book were written therein, 
Knowledge too wonderful, such marvelous grace!

  Thy thoughts more numerous than sand unto me,
Acquainted with all, Thou indeed art my King!
Search me, try me and know my heart today,
And lead me in the way everlasting. 

Ellie 1/12/2015

May you be blessed by the Lord's promise... for He shall never leave, nor forsake us!
~Ellie