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

Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear...

" Wherefore gird up the loins OF YOUR MIND, be sober, and HOPE TO THE END for the GRACE that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13

How often I forget the reason for my existence and the purpose for my life on this earth. More often than not, I tend to lose sight of God's reason for placing me on this earth. It's not that I'm not aware of His purpose in my life, but I find my mind  preoccupied too much with the "cares of the world" ... and too little glorifying God. Way too little...

How thankful I am for God's Word that brings me back to the light. Reading through 1 Peter, I was once again encouraged to fix my eyes on the things above.

I am reminded that,

... my existence isn't to fulfill my own pleasures.

... my existence isn't that I run around seeking to fulfill "my life's ambitions".

... my existence isn't for worldly gain.

... my existence isn't that I "be the best that I can be" in the eyes of the world. 

No, my existence is purely to GLORIFY GOD and give HIM PRAISE in all that I do. 

I am to remember that HE brought salvation to my soul and turned me from the pit of darkness to His glorious light.

" But you are a CHOSEN people, a ROYAL priesthood, and HOLY nation, 

His OWN SPECIAL people; 

that ye should shew forth the praises of Him 

who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 

1 Peter 2:9

And so I was thankful this morning for the reminder to:

1) Gird up the loins of my mind,

     ... and be prepared for action. 

                 ( 1 Pet.1:13)

2) Pass the time of my sojourning here on earth... in fear,

    ... laying aside all forms of malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speakings. 

                         (1 Pet.1:17/ 2 Pet.2:1)

3) Believe in God.

     ... that my HOPE and FAITH might be in God. 

                        (1 Pet.1:21)

The Word of God says it best in Ecclesiastes,

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; 

Fear God, and keep His commandments, 

for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgement, 

with every secret thing, 

whether, it be good, or whether it be evil. " 

Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

Lord how we need you! Remind us of your purpose for our lives... and remove from us any selfish ambitions that lead to death. Help us to walk by your Spirit... in the light of your Word. 

May you be encouraged today to "desire the sincere(pure) milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."... honoring and glorifying God.

~Ellie

The KING'S daughter is all glorious WITHIN...

" So shall the KING greatly desire thy beauty; for HE is thy LORD; and worship thou HIM. " Psalm 45:11

As I was reading though the Psalms the other day, I came across Psalm 45.. a Psalm where I stopped a bit and meditated...

The love of Christ, my King.... I was reminded yet again of Christ's work on my behalf... making me a child of God.

And the Lord's desire for me... 

That my garments would smell beautiful. (verse 8)

• " For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ..." 2 Corinthians 2:15

That I might be all glorious from within. (verse 13)

• "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

That my clothing would be of wrought gold. (verse 13)

• "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me..." Job 29:14

What a wonderful reminder the Psalm was to me ... that God has done a beautiful work for me. And I am to reflect the image of  His Righteousness in how I live...

... for I have been given the Royal garments... made a child of the KING.

There's been a change of raiment... a robe of righteousness, a garment of salvation... and a new heart.

"... put on the new man, which after God 

is created 

in righteousness and true holiness. " 

Ephesians 4:24

Therefore, my heart shall rejoice and be glad... for I can enter the King's palace!

May you be encouraged to shine brightly as a child... of a Righteous and Holy King.

~Ellie

... in Him we shall have peace.

"Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" John 11:40

I've always wondered how peaceful my life would be if I'd see things from God's eyes. If I would be totally aware of the Father's plan for me...if I could see how all things would unveil in the end. 

Then..

...I wouldn't worry. 

...I wouldn't be fearful. 

...I wouldn't doubt.

I'd be totally at peace....knowing my Father holds eternity in His hand... and my life. 

And yet God has given us His Word... full of promises... to help us "see" His plan for our lives. He doesn't withhold His knowledge from us.  

Yes, I often struggle. I worry. I'm fearful. I doubt.

Yes, we will have tribulations.

But how wonderful to find peace in God's HOLY Word... to be reminded that not one of His promises will ever fail me. He encourages us  and reminds us that... IN HIM WE SHALL HAVE PEACE.

" These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. 

In the world ye shall have tribulation: 

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 

John 16:33

So today I was again encouraged to look outside of my struggles and fears... to trust my Heavenly Father and believe in His might... in His wisdom... and in His perfect plan for me.

How wonderful to rely on His Word... knowing that it will stand forever... and  all promises will be fulfilled!

" Heaven and earth shall pass away,

 but my words shall not pass away." 

Matthew 24:35

"For verily I say unto you, 

Till heaven and earth pass, 

one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,

 till all be fulfilled." 

Matthew 5:18

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

 but the word of our God shall stand for ever." 

Isaiah 40:8

God's promises never fail. It is not in His character to say something... and not fulfill it.   

"God is not a man, that He should lie;

 neither the son of man, that He should repent: 

hath He said, and shall He not do it? 

or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" 

Numbers 23:19

Isn't it wonderful to be dependent on God... to allow Him to direct our steps... to believe that His way is perfect? 

For when we believe, we shall see the glory of God! 

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, 

according to the power that worketh in us,

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

to all generations forever and ever. 

Amen." 

Ephesians 3:20,21

May you trust the only wise God to direct your ways... and find peace in Him.

~Ellie

How GREAT is His Goodness, and how GREAT is His Beauty...

" That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life." Luke 1: 74,75

This past week I have been dwelling much on God's goodness. How often I go through the day and not see God's beauty in my life. How easily I focus on the things I need to "attain". How preoccupied I am with things not "going well"...

... that I find myself missing the beauty of God's goodness poured forth(in abundance) on my life.

Murmuring, discontentment seeps in unknowingly.... because I fail to count my blessings.

Do you ever get caught up with negative and critical and judgmental thoughts? Thoughts that take over and cloud our perspective on life? Do you find yourself  "running to and fro" trying to accomplish things that are not lasting?

Motives that are simply empty of  eternal value?

Well, this week I found myself thus... lacking the eternal perspective. Lacking focus on what really matters in life... what really counts for eternity.

The Lord brought some beautiful reminders as I was reading His word. How precious to stop and dwell on the Lord's goodness and beauty.

• For I am to be a witness UNTO HIM...

But ye shall receive power, 

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: 

and ye shall be witnesses unto me..." 

Acts 1:8

• I am to serve Him in holiness and righteousness BEFORE HIM...

"... serve Him without fear, 

in holiness and righteousness 

before Him, 

all the days of our life."

 Luke 1:75

• I am to do service AS TO THE LORD, and not to men...

"...doing service, as to the Lord, 

and not to men." 

Ephesians 6:7

Blessed today with a few verses that encouraged me to bring glory unto the Lord and see His beauty in my life.

 “Honor and majesty are before Him; 

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary,” 

“Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! ”

Psalm 96:6, 9

 “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; 

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

Psalm 29:2

 “And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, 

and establish the work of our hands for us; 

Yes, establish the work of our hands.” 

Psalm 90:17

I often have to remember that my life here is not to serve man, nor myself... but rather to serve the Lord... all the days of my life.

May you be encouraged to see God's beauty and holiness in your life today...
~Ellie

For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity..." Habakuk 1:13a

This past week I was blessed with a verse a brother shared in a recent Bible study on James. The verse  in Habakuk was mentioned in conjunction with the thought that God does not tempt us to do evil. 

There are lots of verses in the Bible that show God's attributes... His holiness, His righteousness, His longsuffering, His mercy, ... and the fact that there is no wickedness in Him. 

But the more I learn about God's character, the more I find myself in awe of God's gift of salvation. 

Such love... that God would provide His Son , the Lord Jesus Christ, to take my place on the cross.

Did you ever wonder why God had to give His Son to die? Why was a lamb without blemish required for the cleansing of sin?

 Because God cannot look upon iniquity! His eyes too pure to behold evil...

The sinner needed a SAVIOUR. 

The sinner needed a cleansing of all form of iniquity.

The sinner needed to be clean in order to stand before a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS God.  

And so, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the Father's requirement... that blood be shed for us... so we would have the cleansing and forgiveness of sins. 

Isn't it marvelous!

He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: 

by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; 

for He shall bear their iniquities. "

Isaiah 53:11

Yes, God's eyes... too pure. 

I was so blessed with the verse! How wonderful to be given another bit of information to help us in our walk before a HOLY God...

 " But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." 

1 Peter 1:15

O, Lord God, thank you for being Holy and Righteous... and Merciful. Help us to put away and make no provision for the flesh.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. " 

Romans 13:14

And so this past week, I made it a point to memorize Romans 13:14 and Habakuk 1:13 as a reminder, to myself, to put away all form of iniquity in my life... and desire His face to shine on me.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: 

But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. " 

1Peter 3:12

It's easy to compromise our Christian walk... saying,

Oh, God will forgive. God will have mercy. 

Yes, He does forgive. Yes, He does have mercy. But we are to walk in obedience and not be hearers only... but doers. How often I fail.... to do.

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." 

Colossians 1:10

May you indeed be blessed by our Father's holiness... may it give you strength to obey and live victoriously through Christ Jesus... the author and finisher of our faith(Hebrews 12:2).

~Ellie

" ... the Lord Thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself..."

And I will put my spirit within you 

And cause you to walk in my statutes, 

And ye shall keep my judgements, 

And do them. " 

Ezekiel 36:27

Lately I've been dwelling much on God's purpose for us. I've thought about His choosing us to be a people that is special to Him. 

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: 

The LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, 

Above all people that are upon the face of the earth." 

Deuteronomy 7:6

I've been pondering on the word "special". Why are we "special" to the LORD? Is it because of something we have done? 

No. None of us deserved God's mercy. 

Ecclesiastes says it best...

"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."

 Ecclesiastes 7:20

Then why did God show mercy to a people that disobeyed from the beginning?

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, 

and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart 

was only evil continually."

 Genesis 6:5

Why Lord, ... why did you choose us? Why,... when we've profaned your name... in our actions, in our thoughts?

Then I found a verse that has been with me for the last couple of weeks... I've never read it in such a way before. 

"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; 

I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, 

But for mine holy name's sake..." 

Ezekiel 36:22

Because of His HOLY name... His Holy Name.

" And I will sanctify my Great name, which was profaned among the heathen... "

Ezekiel 36:23

For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: 

For how should my name be polluted? 

And I will not give my glory unto another." 

Isaiah 48:11

God's love for us. How good He is... to make us a special people unto Himself. All because of His love and faithfulness.

Today I'm grateful for the beautiful reminder that God chose me... not because of my righteousness, not because of my love for Him, not because of anything I have ever done to deserve His love,

... but because of His Holy name. Because He chooses to make me clean. 

He sprinkles clean waters upon me... He gives me a new heart... He gives me a new spirit... He takes away the stony heart... and gives me a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:25,26)

"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, 

And will not remember thy sins. " 

Isaiah 43:25

Isn't it beautiful, what He does for us? 

And in the process of God's cleansing of our sins... we are to walk in His statues. Our new life would be one of obedience... to sanctify His name in our lives. 

For His glory. For His honor. 

May you give unto the LORD... the glory due unto His name.

Ellie

When I consider THY heavens, the work of THY fingers...

" What is man that THOU art mindful of him?... 

Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor...

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of THY hands; 

THOU hast put ALL things under his feet..." 

Psalm 8: 4,5,6

Lately I've been thinking about my worth in the eyes of God.  Who am I... that God would humble Himself to even look at me? Have you ever realized how much worth we have in God's eyes?

"Who is like unto the LORD or GOD who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! " 

Psalm 113:5,6

I know we tend to think about God's goodness from time to time. How we don't deserve His grace. How merciful He is with us. But you know, seeing God in the light of the Scriptures really makes you appreciate and hold fast to what God has done on our behalf... and to praise Him. 

Maybe "appreciate" and "hold fast" are not the right words. Sometimes I feel there are no words to describe God's goodness to us.

This past week I've been thinking how God, from the beginning, made us to be a people worthy of His blessings towards us. 

And then I thought how sin made us to depart  from God... bringing death... and death brought separation from God.

So I began reading Psalm 113... and was amazed at God's love and mercy shown to us.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust...

He lifteth the needy out of the dunghill...

WHY? 

"That HE may set him with princes, even with the princes of HIS people." 

Psalm 113:8

Oh, what a merciful and gracious God! He restored us from our fallen state... to one of glory!

How can I ever thank Him... for making me have worth in His eyes...  all because of His precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, 

And hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, 

Not imputing their trespasses unto them; 

And hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." 

2 Corinthians 5: 18, 19

He took my iniquities away... did not impute my trespasses against me! 

I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart...

May you take time to praise and thank the Lord for all  HIS benefits to you today.

Have a most blessed Thanksgiving!

~Ellie

I even I am the LORD, and beside me there is no SAVIOUR...

"... He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: 

These forty years the LORD Thy God hath been with thee; 

Thou hast lacked nothing." 

Deuteronomy 2:7

These past several weeks I've been reading through Isaiah... and oh, what a blessing it has been to me. As much as I've read through Isaiah many, many times the Lord always seems to reveal new truths and comfort through His word.

The book of Isaiah clearly lays out the importance of knowing who God is... clearly there is NO other God in heaven but HE alone... 

" ... I am the first , I am the last; and beside me there is no God."

Isaiah 44:6

And yet again, 

"... Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any."

Isaiah 44:8

What really stood out for me while reading through Isaiah was how God relates His steadfast love to us ... over and over again. It's His desire that we might  know Him and that we would give Him glory and be a witness for His name. 

" Ye are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have chosen: 

That ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am HE: 

Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."

 Isaiah 43:10

The really neat thing is that God cares for us His people. He has formed us. He has blotted out our transgressions. He has redeemed us... a people for Himself.

And how beautifully He takes care of us. Even  through the wilderness... He gives us water. And in the desert... He gives us rivers.    

" I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, 

to give drink to my people, my chosen." 

Isaiah 43:20

All this... so that we might show forth praise unto our God. Our God who has formed us and has called us by name.  

It's such a comforting thought that my God has been with me all these years, through the "wilderness, through the "desert" ... and I have lacked nothing!   

O, Lord... help me to show forth your praise and be a witness for your name. Indeed you are the only true God, the Holy One, the Creator of heaven and earth... my KING.

   " Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory..."

 Isaiah 43:7

May you show forth God's glory in your life today and be encouraged to give Him praise.

~Ellie 

I will come into THY house in the multitude of THY mercy...

" For Thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; 

with favour wilt THOU compass him as with a shield." 

Psalm 5:12

As I was reading through Psalm 5 a few days ago, I was amazed at God's goodness in revealing an important truth to me... one I often neglect to do.

I  started reading the first couple of verses with familiarity. They were verses I knew quite well. But as I was reading, I stopped a bit to reflect on verse 3:

" ... in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee..."

How often I've taken those words as my own, and yet have not always applied those last 4 words of the verse. 

"... and will look up."

I confess I sometimes finish my prayer and am... still burdened, still faithless, still fearful. I forget to look up and trust my heavenly Father who knows ALL things. Do you ever do that? Do you still latch on to your problems and think God can't possibly resolve the issues of the day? Do you have a slouched posture, and look down because of the burdens you still carry? In reality, that's exactly what we do when we worry.

  

Yet it is in looking up that we can see God's strength and power.... that holds us, that keeps us, that protects us;

" Lift up your eyes on high and behold... He is strong in power."

 Isaiah 40:26 

How comforting it is just to ... "look up". Isn't it wonderful to be able to come before the throne of grace... where we find abundant mercy?

" But as for me, I will come into THY house in the multitude of THY mercy..." 

Psalm 5:7

  

We have reason to rejoice.... to rest in His presence. Indeed the LORD worketh on our behalf....

" Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, 

That the everlasting God, 

The LORD, 

The Creator of the ends of the earth, 

Fainteth not, 

Neither is weary?" 

Isaiah 40:28

And as I read through Psalm 5, I not only came away with the thought that God is merciful... but God is also a HOLY God.

" For Thou art not a GOD that hath pleasure in wickedness; 

Neither shall evil dwell with Thee." 

Psalm 5:4    

He desires that we, too, have NO pleasure in wickedness... He calls us to righteousness! To put away all form of evil.

Lord, lead me in righteousness for your name's sake..  and make my paths straight.

I Shall Look Up

LORD make me to know Thee as Thou art,

Holy and righteous and sufficient for me.

Indeed in wickedness Thou shalt never delight,

Nor will evil dwell ever with Thee!

Into Thy house I come where mercy's abundant and free.

Unto Thee do I look up and ask Thee to stay,

My Master, My God, Deliverer and Friend.

O lead me in righteousness and straighten my way. 

My joy is in Thee and trust Thou shalt work,

A plan that shall glorify Thy power in me. 

For Thou encompass me with protection from on high

And nothing shall I fear when Thy face I can see.

~Ellie 9/16/2014

May you delight in the LORD's mercies and flee from unrighteousness... and He shall lift you up.
~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

Come unto ME all ye that LABOUR...

" The servant of the LORD must not strive; but be GENTLE unto all men..."  2 Timothy 2:24 

Lately I've been thinking about what it means to be like the Lord Jesus. And for some reason I ended up thinking about gentleness. 

Gentleness. A fruit of the Spirit. A trait that's often lacking in many of us. But how do we get gentleness?

A gentle person suffers long. I suppose a gentle person has to go through the "school of suffering "... because I think you have to learn to let go of self before you can ever be gentle. Gentleness requires crucifixion of all pride.

" I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." 

Galatians 2:20

It's quite humbling not to live for yourself. The flesh seeks glorification. But in order for God to have His perfect work in us, the "me" needs to be abased. 

" He must increase, but I must decrease." 

John 3:30

Only then is the character of the LORD JESUS CHRIST in full glory. 

I thought about the 2 disciples following the LORD when John the Baptist points them to the LAMB of GOD. The Lord Jesus turns and asks them,

" What seek ye..." 

John 1:38 

They wanted to see where HE dwelt. 

And the LORD tells them, 

"Come and see." 

John 1:39

They saw where He was living and they abode with HIM that day.

I thought of the spiritual application and how the LORD desires us to seek Him, to come unto Him... to abide with Him all day.  

A gentle person walks daily with the MASTER... and learns from HIM.

" Come unto me , all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and gentle in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Matthew 11:28-30  

Lord, make me a servant that's gentle. May my calmness and peace be dependent on the ONE who walks beside me.   

May you seek the LORD and desire to abide with Him all day.

~Ellie    

God THUNDERETH marvellously with HIS voice...

" Hast thou an arm like GOD? OR canst thou thunder with a voice like HIM? Job 40:9

Last night, or more like the early morning hours, while lying in bed with some body pain  and not being able to sleep, I suddenly heard the beginning of a hailstorm. The hail came quickly with a loud noise pounding the roof.

The wind picked up and the hail was heard bouncing off the windows. Shortly thereafter, lightning lit the skies and loud peals of thunder was heard. The thunder at times was quite loud shaking the house with much force.

Then the heavy rain started to fall... and I was in deep amazement at the power of GOD. Who is like our GOD that can create such marvel?  

How can one not know that GOD reigns in the heavens?  

" God thundereth marvellously with HIS voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.

For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth, likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of His strength. 

He sealeth up the hand of every man;that ALL men may know HIS work." 

Job 37:5-7

After breakfast, I immediately went to a favorite passage in Job where God's power is explained in such detail. I read a few verses and thought to sit a bit, look out the window, watch the rain... and put my thoughts in a poem.

THY WONDROUS WORKS IS PERFECT IN KNOWLEDGE

Who but Thee knows the ordinances of heaven?

Thou hast laid the foundations of the earth,

And made the cloud as a garment for it.

With Thy voice You thunder and rain does come forth.

*

Who is like unto Thee, O Lord?

In whose hand lies all might and power.

Thou givest the earth due rain in its season,

And causeth the tender bud to bring forth its flower.

*

Thy wondrous works is perfect in knowledge.

Great things Thou doest, we cannot understand.

By your counsel the bright cloud is turned,

And cause it to come for mercy, correction, and even the land.

*

Thy voice is heard upon the many waters,

For the sea is Thine and Thy hands has formed the dry land.

You make the desolate ground to be continually satisfied,

And uphold all things by Your righteous right hand.

*

Who has an arm like our God and can save?

  We call unto Thee in trouble, for Thou dost surely hear.

From Thy secret place of thunder, Thy people you answer.

Yes, I will help you, for I'm with you and you shalt not fear.  

~Ellie 6/13/14

May you praise the LORD on high today... for His mercy endureth forever.

~Ellie                                            

Above ALL things have FERVENT CHARITY among yourselves...

" As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the WORD, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2

This week I've been able to finish memorizing chapter 13 of first Corinthians. It's been quite a few weeks, but what a blessing it has been to me! 

When I first started memorizing the well known love chapter I honestly didn't know what the LORD had in plan for me. What would HE reveal to me? It was my desire to be fully acquainted with GOD'S LOVE for me... and in turn gain a deeper understanding of how HIS love could work through me.   

The LORD, in HIS love and faithfulness,... made something quite clear to me. It was almost towards the end of the chapter...

But until coming to the end of the chapter, I realized a few things about LOVE. 

Love puts away all form of selfishness.  I suppose I knew that. But it's something else to apply it.... to let go of self. 

Can we truly love without having God's love in us? We might fool ourselves, but I don't think we'll go very far. Since GOD is LOVE, we need His Holy Spirit to abide in us.

"... because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5

Isn't it beautiful to know that LOVE comes from GOD? And nothing we do can substitute for the love of GOD. 

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." 

Isaiah 64:6

And so, as I was nearing the end of the chapter, one of the verses made me stop a bit. 

" When I was a child, I spake as a child I understood as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11

Am I like a child most days? 

I suddenly realized that, yes, I'm often childish when I don't show God's love in my life. I'm just like a child who wants things her own way... by not suffering long, by being unkind, by seeking my own, by envying, by being proud, by thinking evil... or even being provoked when I think I'm right.

Does that mean that when I'm tired of "bearing it all" and fall short of applying love in my life... that I'm being childish? Why do I feel hurt? Why do I keep record of wrongs? Why do I give up showing kindness?

Have I not grown in the LORD? Have I not put away childish things?

And so I came to the understanding that desiring and having GOD'S WORD in my heart will make me to grow and bear fruit. We are to live outside of our fleshly desires... or childishness. We are to grow. 

    

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. "

Romans 8:5

I remember a verse I had memorized not too long ago... how much strength it gives me to put away childish things:

" But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? "

Galatians 4:9

Lord, help me to turn away from self... be my strength from day to day.

The chapter does not end there. Yes, we may know what love is... in part. The LORD reminds us not to be weary in well-doing. Yes, we struggle. Yes, we fall. We have the flesh that is enmity to GOD. 

But God's gentleness is quite evident in the last verses, reminding us that one day, 

" ... that which is perfect will come, and that which is in part shall be done away." 

1 Corinthians 13:10

Our life here on earth is for a moment.... sometimes we don't understand... we see darkly through a glass.  We may know in part. But one day, we shall soon know... even as we are known! What a wonderful promise.

LOVE. It is the greatest gift. Given to us freely from above in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

HE was the perfect example. And He desires that we should walk in HIS ways.  

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." 

John 15:9

May you be encouraged to exercise God's love in your life... by desiring HIS Word, so that you may grow thereby.  

~Ellie