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

I will bless the LORD at ALL times: HIS praise shall continually be in my mouth.

"What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? " Psalm 34:12

This morning while I was reading through Psalm 34, I found real peace and joy in knowing that the Lord God delivers the righteous out of many afflictions (verse 19).

I stopped and meditated on the goodness of the Lord towards his people. How often we forget His goodness and his protection over us. 

And as I was reading, I felt such peace and calm flow over me... what joy to be in the presence of my God... knowing that He alone hears me and delivers me from all my fears.

Psalm 34 is loaded with the God's promises and goodness to us...  

I sought the Lord 

... He heard me

... He delivered me.

They looked unto Him

... and were lightened

... and their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried

... and the Lord heard him

... and saved him out of ALL his troubles.

The angel of the Lord 

... encampeth round about them that fear Him

... and delivereth them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

There is NO want to them that fear Him. (v.8)

The eyes of the LORD

... are upon the righteous; 

His ears 

...are open unto their cry.

The righteous cry

... and the Lord heareth

... and delivereth them out of ALL their troubles.

The Lord is near

... unto them that are of a broken heart.

and saveth such

... as be of a contrite spirit.

MANY are the afflictions of the righteous:

... but the LORD delivereth him out of them ALL.

"The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants, and NONE of them that trust in Him shall be desolate." Psalm 34:22

Aren't God's promises full of peace and comfort? Oh, the importance to place our trust and faith in Him! He alone deserves all the glory and honor.

Father, how we thank you for  your never-ending love towards us your people... even when we are weak. We thank you for your protection, and for reminding us that we shall lack no good thing. You alone deliver us from all our afflictions. Help us to magnify your Holy name today in thought and deed and keep us dependent on you.

May the Lord be magnified in your life today, knowing He watches over you... O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:3

Ellie

Christ Has Redeemed Us From The Curse... being made a curse for us.

" I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I , but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Have you ever known the love of God? Have you known the forgiveness of sins? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?

... if yes, then you and I have reason to rejoice today. 

We have hope for the future.... and a reason to praise the God of Heaven for giving us His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

You know, with all the hustle and bustle of the season I was reminded yet again of the importance to have thankful hearts for the Child that was born and Son that was given unto us... for without the Lord Jesus Christ we could never have access to the Father or have eternal life in His Holy presence.

Ought we not to praise Him... and rejoice evermore?

" For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: 

and the government shall be upon His shoulder: 

and His name shall be called 

Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." 

Isaiah 9:6

And you know, the love of the Father... which was poured forth in His Son... is the same love with which He loved us! 

"...that the world may know 

that thou hast sent me, 

and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." 

John 17:23

Hearing this wonderful hymn on the radio today, I was blessed to thank the Lord for His sacrificial love on my behalf.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

When I was sinking down, sinking down;

When I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown,

Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

~Anonymous

O Father, How we thank you for giving us reason to rejoice! Thank you for the privilege to come before you in your presence... with praise and honor and glory that is due unto your Holy name.

May you know the love of God that is found only through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
~Ellie

The LORD shall open unto thee His GOOD TREASURE....

" This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein..." Joshua 1:8

This morning while reading through Ephesians chapter 5, and while undergoing a trial that brought about unrest, I found joy and kindness from a loving Savior who desires to pour out His good treasure upon His children that hearken and obey His voice...

Such peace we gain from God's HOLY WORD... that I felt the need to write down a few points that encouraged my husband and I this morning....

Because it's not always easy to accept a trial in our lives with joyfulness... nor is it easy to give thanks for a hurt you are experiencing... I found God's gentle encouragement in His Word to be the nourishment we needed  this morning... to lift our eyes above the clouds and give thanks in ALL things.

Yes, God is faithful!

And so, chapter 5 of Ephesians was loaded with a list of reminders for us to follow...

...for just as in Joshua 1, if we observe to do according to God's Holy Word, ..." thy way shall be prosperous and thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8b

Encouragement that gave us rest from the unrest:

EPHESIANS 5

• Be ye therefore followers of God (v.1)
• Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us (v.2)
• Ye are LIGHT in the Lord, walk as children of light (v.8)
• See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (v.15)
• Redeem the time, because the days are evil (v.16)
• Be filled with the SPIRIT (v.18)
• Sing and make melody in your heart to the LORD (v.19)
• Give thanks ALWAYS for ALL things (v.20)
• Submit yourselves to one another (v.21)

If we think on the things above... the things below will slowly fade away.

Father, How gracious you are towards your people. You rejoice over us to do good to us when we obey you. Help us to serve you with joyfulness and gladness of heart for indeed you've poured your abundance upon us in all things.

May you be encouraged today to put your faith and hope in a God that changest not... a God that is mighty to save.
~Ellie