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

... 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

Increase our FAITH...

" So then FAITH cometh by HEARING, and HEARING by the WORD OF GOD." Romans 10:17

Lately, I've been thinking  about how faith plays a major role in our christian walk... and in our spiritual growth.  You know, we often say we want to live to honor our Lord. But I thought how little my faith is when it comes to the testings in my life...

My thoughts went to the disciples in Luke 17. It was a moment where the disciples saw their weakness and their inability to withstand offences on their own. The Lord warns them that offences will come...

" Then said HE unto the disciples, 

It is impossible but that offences will come..." 

Luke 17:1

The Lord's instruction and warning were clear, they were to take heed to themselves... to forgive those who trespass against them... over and over again.

" Take heed to yourselves: 

If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; 

And if he repent, forgive him.

And if he trespass against thee 7 times in a day, 

And 7 times in a day turn again to thee, 

Saying, I repent; 

Thou shalt forgive him." 

Luke 17:3,4

Hearing the Lord's instruction, the disciples find themselves weak and unable to do so on their own.

And thus, they ask the Lord that He would increase their faith.

I thought about what it means to have the Lord increase my faith.... because my desire is that I would indeed  be strengthened by His power to do that which brings honor and glory to Him. 

If the disciples needed their faith to be increased, I need  my faith increased that much more! 

I couldn't but think that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). 

He starts. He finishes. 

What a marvelous act of His faithfulness and love towards us!

And yet, I know that in order for my faith to increase, He has to bring me to His Holy Word.... because faith comes by hearing. 

And through His WORD, the Lord Jesus makes known to us,

... our need for complete humbleness before a Holy God

... our complete dependence on His work, 

... our complete acknowledgement that we are in need of Him, because we can do nothing apart from Him. 

I was so encouraged to be reminded yet again... that in order for my faith to increase, I must be in the WORD!  

It is the WORD, revealed through the Holy Spirit, that enables us to have our faith increased. Only then can we...

trust, 

obey, 

forgive, 

repent, 

grow,

and live a life worthy of His name. 

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, 

ye shall ask what ye will, 

and it shall be done unto you." 

John 15:7

Yes, we too can have our faith increased... when we abide in His WORD. 

Oh Father, how thankful we are for the Lord Jesus Christ. the author and finisher of our faith. Thank you that through Him we have faith to believe and to know you. How precious is your word to us. Help us to abide in your presence, to delight in your word, and to obey it. 

May you be strengthened in faith today, delighting in His WORD... giving glory to GOD.

~Ellie

He hath shewed STRENGTH with HIS arm...

" He that is MIGHTY hath done to me GREAT things: and HOLY is HIS name." Luke 1:49

As I am nearing the end of memorizing Romans Chapter 8, I have been tremendously blessed by it. Oh, the treasures gained by slowly dwelling on God's word... and knowing Him more.

Memorizing has brought much strength and peace to me... not only building me up and helping me to discern His will, but it has been most helpful...

...during times of anxiety, 

...during times of discouragement, 

...during times of loneliness, 

...and during times when I needed strength for the day... or night.... when my thoughts strayed from the things above to those here below.

While memorizing verse 32 of Romans 8, I marvelled at God's love for us:

 " He that spared not His own Son, 

but delivered Him up for us all, 

how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" 

Romans 8:32

Sometimes we know not what we ask for... we want... and want.... and want. Our "needs" are never met.

But as I stayed a bit upon the verse, I realized how often we discount the magnitude of God's love... and His gift for us.

Shamefully, we don't acknowledge God's precious gift for us as being more than enough.  No, not more than enough, but rather,...

Abundant. Overflowing. Plentiful. Bountiful...

Have  you ever marvelled at God's gift for you? For indeed He has given us ALL things through His Son Jesus Christ. 

We lack no good thing.

And as I was reading through the book of Luke, I was blessed with a verse that brought overflowing thanksgiving  in my heart to the Lord... for His goodness to me. 

" He that is MIGHTY hath done to me GREAT things: 

and HOLY is HIS name."

 Luke 1:49

Indeed He is mighty... and nothing is impossible for Him.

Great things has He done for me... and HOLY is His name!

May you rejoice today in the abundance of His love for you... and praise His Holy name.

~Ellie

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

" And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things; may abound to every good work. " 2 Corinthians 9:8

God's Gift. Abundant Grace. All sufficiency. 

Have you ever marveled at God's provision for you? How God is able to make all grace abound toward you? 

I often think how God's provisions to me are minimized by my lack of thanksgiving.  I go through the day focusing on things not being met... because I either ask for the wrong things... or I don't trust my Heavenly Father. 

And the thing is...  He knows exactly what I am in need of. 

God supplies for my every  need.

And in supplying, He equips me for every good work.

" Now He that ministereth(supplieth) seed to the sower 

both minister(supply) bread for your food, 

and multiply your seed sown, 

and increase the fruits of your righteousness, " 

2 Corinthians 9:10

The heavenly Father supplies...

... the seed needed,

... the bread for your food,

... and multiplies the seed sown,

... and increases the fruits of righteousness.

How equipped we are with God's unspeakable gift towards us!

Enriching us in everything... so that we might overflow in thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father.

" being enriched in every thing,

 to all bountifulness, 

which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." 

2 Corinthians 9:12

How thankful I am for God's provisions to me... that I might walk worthy of His name... being fruitful in every good work.

May you be encouraged to have a thankful heart... for God's unspeakable gift to you.

~Ellie