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

But thanks be unto GOD, which gives us the victory...

" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE, always ABOUNDING in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is NOT IN VAIN in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Some months ago I read a verse that has stayed with me for a great while. And this morning I was thinking about it... and thought how needful it is for us, that we be not weary in well doing. 

I thought about the military men and women, the firefighters, the policemen and all those who have given their lives for us,... so  that we might have freedom here on earth. Those that have put their lives in harm's way. Yes, we should be most thankful for the people that gave their lives for us...  

And yet, I thought of the verse that spoke to me months ago:

" Men that have hazarded their lives 

for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

 Acts 15:26

Yes, to risk our lives,

... for the furtherance of the gospel, 

... for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

... that others might have eternal freedom.

How important it is that we would be devoted to serving our LORD GOD... in good times and in bad... for HE has indeed given us reason to rejoice. The LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who offered/gave His life willingly for us... that we might know the only TRUE GOD and have eternal life. 

Oh, that our desire would be for those around us to know the LORD JESUS CHRIST.... that we would be steadfast, unmoveable... always abounding in the work of the Lord.

For indeed He gives us the victory to overcome whatever comes our way, so that His glory might be seen in us and through us.

And so this morning I was encouraged to sing a hymn as a reminder to serve Him in all I do or say.

May The Mind Of Christ My Savior Live In Me From Day To Day

1

May the mind of Christ my Savior

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and pow’r controlling

  All I do and say.

2

May the Word of Christ dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

  Only through His pow’r.

3

May the peace of Christ my Savior

Rule my life in every thing,

That I may be calm to comfort

  Sick and sorrowing.

4

May the love of Jesus fill me,

As the waters fill the sea;

Him exalting, self abasing,

  This is victory.

5

May I run the race before me,

Strong and brave to face the foe,

Looking only unto Jesus

  As I onward go.

6

May His beauty rest upon me

As I seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

  Seeing only Him.

Lord, help us to be devoted to you... that the gospel may not be maligned, but rather be seen in us.

May you be encouraged to stand strong amidst the trials... knowing victory is in the Lord's hands.

~Ellie 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...

" I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust." 

Psalm 91:2

I heard this song this morning and was encouraged yet again... to look upwards. To gaze on the beauty of the LORD and not on the things around me.

Oh to depend on the ONE who alone can lift us up and take away our fears, grant us joys unspeakable and lavish us with grace abundant. 

I hope it encourages you as it did me.... to run always to Him... and desire to be in HIS presence.

 Lord I need You

Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings flood my way,

I turn my gaze away from You and soon forget to pray.

But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear,

My anxious voice cries upward with words You long to hear.

Chorus: 

Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.

O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.

Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.

Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Lord help me to remember I'm weak but You are strong.

I cannot sing apart from You, for Lord, You are my song.

Though I'm prone to wander and boast in all I do.

Lord, keep my eyes turned upward so I depend on You.

written by Ron Hamilton

May you draw strength from God alone and depend on Him to guide and direct your paths today.

~Ellie

Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever....

" They shall perish, but THOU remainest... and they shall be changed, but THOU art the same." Hebrews 1: 11,12

Coming back from a recent trip visiting family and friends, I was welcomed home by an early morning call from a dear friend. " How was your trip? I couldn't wait  and called to see how you were doing." 

What a friend! 

"How have you been? Are you well?" 

In the few days that I had been away, my friend had started to experience some back and leg pain. The pain was making it difficult to walk,  It also made it difficult to sleep. But she wasn't complaining. 

And as our conversation continued, she shared how one night in her pain she had picked up the hymn book and came upon the song, "Blessed be the name of the LORD". The scripture reference brought her to Isaiah 9:6.

As she read the verse she was overwhelmed with the thought that God is everything to us... and we don't need anything else. 

His name alone brings peace and comfort.

"... HIS name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, 

the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

 Isaiah 9:6

" Isn't it wonderful?", she said. "God is everything we'll ever need." That thought brought sleep to her heavy eyes. Peace from the Heavenly Father.

And as she shared the verse with me, I  thought how easily I've read over the names... many, many times. 

Indeed it was good to be reminded of God's attributes.

God IS: Wonderful. Our Counsellor. A Mighty God. The Everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace.  

What else do we need? 

Even when... 

~everything around us may look dim.

~when everything may perish. 

~when everything may change. 

GOD is still the same. 

HE remaineth... when all else around us perisheth. HE is the same... when all else around us changes.

And HIS throne is for ever and ever. Blessed be HIS name!      

"... let them also that love Thy NAME be joyful in Thee." 

Psalm 5:11

May you be reminded of God's never-changing character... and praise His HOLY name.

~Ellie

TURN AWAY mine eyes FROM beholding VANITY...

" TEACH me O Lord the way of THY statues... Give me UNDERSTANDING, and I shall keep THY law... Make me to go in the path of THY commandments... Incline my HEART unto THY testimonies, and not to covetousness... STABLISH THY WORD unto thy servant." PS. 119: 33-38.

Lately I've been thinking about our role here on this earth. What is the meaning of our salvation? As I was memorizing a few verses from Psalm 73, I came to the last verse, where it says, " But it is good for me to draw near to GOD, I have put my trust in the LORD, GOD... that I might declare ALL THY works.

I guess it's real simple. We are to show forth God's work in us. We are to live for HIS glory. And we are to imitate the LORD JESUS CHRIST through our actions.

Last night while getting ready for bed, my husband and I took a few hymns to sing together. And while he was still brushing his teeth, I was flipping through the hymn book, looking for a few hymns we could sing together. That's when I ran across a hymn I didn't seem to recognize... and I wasn't familiar with the melody either. But I loved the words!

It's not about us. We are to have the mind of Christ in us always... in our actions, thoughts and deeds.

I'm posting the words, not only because it's such a beautiful hymn, but I'm hoping it will encourage you as it did me.

O I want to be like Jesus,
As I walk along this pilgrim way;
O I want to live like Jesus,
Showing forth His beauty every day.
This my prayer and deepest longing -
To be pure without, within.
O I want to be like Jesus,
Cleansed from dross and free from self and sin.

O I want to talk like Jesus,
Gracious are the words from Him we hear:
Words of life and hope for sinners,
Tender healing words of love and cheer.
O the power and the value of a fitly spoken word!
O I want to talk like Jesus,
Any time or place my voice is heard.

O I want to serve like Jesus,
Willingly He came from Heaven above;
On the earth He lived for others,
Spent His life in kindly deeds of love.
I would follow where He leads me
And His bidding always do.
O I want to serve like Jesus
Till my traveling days on earth are through.

John W. Peterson

I'm again reminded of the LORD JESUS CHRIST... who came as a servant, not to to be served, but rather to serve... and in the end, gave HIS life that we may live.

We are to live for God... and to be free of self.

"And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto HIM which died for them and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:15

May you be strengthened in the thought today... to live for Jesus... to talk like Jesus...and to serve like Jesus.

~Ellie