The LORD is God, and HE has given us LIGHT...

" For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

This morning I was truly blessed to think upon the marvelous work of God in my life. What mercy that God would look upon me and bring me to light...  

I marvel at the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and think often of my unworthiness. How thankful I am... that I should taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

As I went about my daily work this morning, I happened to hear this song playing... it was indeed a time to stop and thank the Lord for His unbounded love.

I HAVE COME FROM THE DARKNESS

(M.W. Chaplin)

I have come from the darkness to the light of the Lord,

I have come from the night to the day.

He has guided my footsteps in the truth of His word;

By His love He has shown me the way.

Chorus:

I have come from the darkness to the light,

To the light of redemption from sin.

Oh, my soul will rejoice in His might,

For my Savior dwells within.

In the light of His presence all temptations depart,

And the shadows of doubt are cast aside.

With the radiance of sunshine He has entered my heart,

Where His spirit of love abides.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being GOD and commanding light to shine in our hearts. We praise you for the Lord Jesus Christ who has brought us from death to life and has opened the door to your throne of grace. Our hearts are rejoicing that we would be made children of God and marvel at your holiness. Help us today to be a light that shines for you.

" For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: 

because it hath pleased the LORD to make you His people." 

1 Samuel 12:22

May you be joyful today... offering praise to the Heavenly Father for the Lord Jesus who has brought light and life to us.

~Ellie

Let my mouth be with THY PRAISE and THY HONOUR all the day long.

" I will PRAISE the name of GOD with a song, and will MAGNIFY HIM with THANKSGIVING.

This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs." Psalms 69: 30,31

This past week I was again reminded of how much the LORD is pleased when we put away murmurings, discontentment and discouragement from our lives... 

Oh, that we would fill our lives with songs of praise unto our God and offer thanksgiving to the Lord for all His love towards us. 

You  know, discouragement, murmurings, discontentment flees from us when we sing.  And we all have reasons to be thankful.

" Bless the LORD, O my soul, 

and 

forget not all His benefits." 

Psalm 103:2

Thinking upon this hymn this morning... may it encourage your heart.

REVIVE US AGAIN

author:William P. Mackay

We praise Thee, O God!

For the Son of Thy love,

For Jesus Who died,

And is now gone above.

Refrain:

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Hallelujah! Amen.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Revive us again.

We praise Thee, O God!

For Thy Spirit of light,

Who hath shown us our Savior,

And scattered our night.

All glory and praise

To the Lamb that was slain,

Who hath borne all our sins,

And hath cleansed every stain.

All glory and praise

To the God of all grace,

Who hast brought us, and sought us,

And guided our ways.

Precious Father, May our hearts rejoice today and bring before you our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving out of a pure heart.  

May you be encouraged to think upon the Lord's goodness to you and offer praise to the One who deserves all glory and honor.

~Ellie

... Having FORGIVEN you ALL trespasses.

" Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to HIS cross." Colossians 2:14

Do you ever find yourself unworthy of God's love? Do you ever see yourself a sinner?  

Sometimes our sin is so evident... that we can see our wickedness quite plainly... no one has to tell us we've wronged God in our actions. 

And yet, there are times when we may be unaware of our sin. It may be that we've compromised so much that we are immune to it.... we don't see our proud look, or we may not be aware of the words that come out of our mouths. Sometimes we may even fall prey to doing something that makes "life" easier for us by being dishonest in one form or another.

The truth is that we are all sinners. All of us have sinned. We all have to fight against the flesh. 

And yet, had it not been for God's precious love, we would all have remained dead in our sins. 

" And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, 

hath He quickened together with HIM, 

having forgiven you all trespasses." 

Col 2:13

So I found myself one afternoon reading through Colossians... what joy, what comfort to know I've been forgiven!  

The Lord Jesus Christ - Colossians 2: 13,14,15 

... forgave all my trespasses,

... blotted out the ordinances that was against me, 

... took all my sins out of the way,

... and nailed  them to His cross,

... while making a show of them openly,

... and triumphing over them in it.

Oh, how I should praise Him! I am humbled that Christ Jesus would die for me, have mercy and remember my sins no more. What a Saviour!

" For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, 

and their sins and their iniquities 

will I remember no more." 

Hebrews 8:12

Holy Father, Thank you for your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. How thankful we are that we have been forgiven of our trespasses and that the Lord Jesus has abolished in His flesh the enmity, bringing peace to us. 

May you be encouraged today to thank God for His goodness to you... in offering forgiveness of sins through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

~Ellie

From the place of HIS habitation HE looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth...

" Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments." Psalm 119:73

Sometimes I forget how much the Lord God loves me... and how beloved I am to Him.

Do you ever think that you are not that important? Do you ever find yourself dwelling on the fact that you are "forgotten"... and are "alone"? Do you ever doubt the Father's love for you?

I think most of us have moments where we feel discouraged... sometimes the trials of the day overwhelms us so much, that we think nothing, or very little of our importance in the eyes of our heavenly Father. That He cares and watches over us... 

But think about it. The Lord God created us... He made us and fashioned us. 

He knows our hearts. 

He knows our cares. 

He knows our thoughts. 

He knows all things that concern us.

Our heavenly Father made us for a reason... for Himself! 

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, 

O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, 

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, 

I have called thee by thy name; 

thou art mine." 

Isaiah 43:1

We are His... the God of heaven and earth! Doesn't that just give you so much hope and joy? 

Oh, what honor to be His... and knowing that He cares and loves us with a love that never fails! 

" I am my BELOVED'S, and HIS desire is toward me." 

Song of Solomon 7:10

I couldn't but think upon a well known hymn that brings so much reason for us to sing today...

Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; 

Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; 

I know that the light of His presence, With me doth continually dwell.

Yes, we have importance in His eyes.... so much so, that God gave His Son to die for us... and redeemed us to Himself!

Oh, wonderful, heavenly Father, we realize our failings and admit our lack of faith in times of testings. Thank you for your precious Word, that reminds us of your unfailing love towards us. We thank you for your presence in our life and redeeming us unto thyself.  Thank you for knowing what we need, be it trials or afflictions. Strengthen our faith and give us understanding that we may learn to do that which pleases you.

May you be encouraged today, knowing that the Lord God watches, and cares for His own.

~Ellie

Teach me to do THY will, for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is GOOD...

" And He that is MIGHTY has done to me GREAT things, and HOLY is His name." Luke 1:49

While December is quickly flying by, I've wanted to stop a bit from the busyness of life and reflect on God's ongoing goodness towards me.

This past year has been full of learning. Learning to be dependent on the Lord's working in my life. To see His hand in each and every detail of my life...

“And we know that all things work together for good 

to them that love God, 

to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Learning....

To be still 
To KNOW that He is God. 
To trust Him as He works 

That in the end, I would praise Him for His mighty acts.

Yes, there have been moments of heaviness, moments of discouragements, moments of fear and anxiety...

Yet, throughout all my trials the Lord has sustained me!

And while the trials in my life haven't been easy, I've learned to thank the Lord for them. Each and every trial has worked in me a far more better outcome than I have ever imagined.

You know, we tend to run away from trials... but trials are needful in our lives. And as I am writing this, I know in my heart the tendency to run away from them... I want to be free of trials. I'll be honest, I don't look forward to them.

However, I know that God has a perfect purpose for the afflictions and trials we are to undergo here on this earth...

Trials test our faith. They have a purpose.

"But we glory in tribulations also: 

knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed;  

Romans 5:3,4,5

And so, I thank the Lord for His love poured forth in my life... through trials.

Yes, through trials...because His trials are never without GRACE and MERCY !
The Lord's grace and mercy are always poured forth in ABUNDANCE and His PEACE is always with us. The peace that passeth all understanding.

I know that trials are for my own good. They are there to perfect that which concerns me.... so that one day it would bring praise and honor and glory to the ONE who is worthy of ALL our adoration.

" That the trial of your faith, 

being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, 

though it be tried with fire, 

might be found

 unto praise and honour and glory 

at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 

1 Peter 1:7

So today, as I am reflecting on this past year, I have much to thank the Lord. His goodness towards me continues to build and strengthen me to look upwards in full dependence on a God that changest not!

Father, how thankful I am for your provisions in building me up in faith so that I might be more like the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach me to do Thy will that I may walk in humbleness of mind with reverence and godly fear.

May you be blessed and encouraged to thank the Lord for His abundant mercies and His lovingkindness to you throughout this past year.

~Ellie