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

O God, Thou art My God; early will I seek Thee....

" And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed. " Mark 1:35

While reading through the first chapter of Mark this morning, I was yet reminded of the Lord's need to rise up early and find a solitary place to pray. How important it was for Him to withdraw from the daily activities and be strengthened in the presence of the Father.

Thinking about the Lord Jesus...

... tired and weary while living on this earth, 

... yet finding solace and strength in rising early and praying.

Once again I found encouragement... through the example of the Lord Jesus.

How I need to follow in His steps.

Over the past few years I have been blessed to write my thoughts here... to pray and thank the Lord for His wonderful reminders He gives me through His Holy Word. And while I don't write daily, I continue to set aside time in the mornings to be in the presence of my Lord.

I continue to pray that He would draw me closer and closer to Him. 

For I long to grow  more and more in the knowledge of Him...

... to know His power.

... to know His strength,

... to see His glory.

The world may bring all sorts of  "weariness"... but I want to be able to lay aside every weight that hinders me from setting aside time to be strengthened in His presence.

Psalm 63 says it so well,

1. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: 

my soul thirsteth for thee, 

my flesh longeth for thee 

in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, 

so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, 

my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: 

I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; 

nd my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed,

 and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, 

therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: 

thy right hand upholdeth me.

In the presence of the King...

... I see His might. 

... I feel His peace. 

....I rest... because He works... to complete that which concerns me.

He alone gives strength to the weary . For when I am weak, He is strong.

" GOD hath spoken once; 

twice have I heard this; 

that power belongeth unto GOD. " 

Psalm 62:11

Oh, the need for each of us to set time aside... and be strengthened in His presence.

May you be drawn to the mercy of the Lord... finding rest and peace in His Holy Word.

~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

Be STILL and know that I am GOD...

"Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD GOD of Israel 

in the isles of the sea." 

Isaiah 24:15 

Do you ever have a hard time being still before the LORD? I'll be honest I struggle often to be still. 

Being still before the Lord is one of the hardest things to do, especially when circumstances around us may seem like they need our attention. 

I don't know, but I often struggle with the idea that I need " to do something about it ".  And usually that sense overrides my LORD's desire... to abide in Him... without struggling... and to bring everything before Him.

I thought about the well known verse: 

" Casting ALL your care upon HIM, 

for HE careth for you." 

1 Peter 5:7 . 

HE cares!  The LORD cares about our struggles. He desires that we be still before Him... and allow Him to work on our behalf.

This morning as I was reading through Isaiah, the Lord brought a beautiful verse to my attention. I'm always amazed at God's mercy... and His grace poured forth to us in time of need. It was a verse I truly needed this morning. A verse that I need to apply daily in my life.

" Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, 

even the name of the LORD GOD of Israel 

in the isles of the sea." 

Isaiah 24:15   

The Lord reminded me not only to be still before Him, but to also glorify Him... even in the "fire" or "remotest place" I may find myself in.

Our joy is in the LORD. We find comfort and strength in Him alone. We can triumph through faith in the ONE who is a LIGHT unto our path.

"For with THEE is the fountain of life;

 In THY light, we see light." 

Psalm 36:9

What a beautiful thing it is to see God work... to be still before HIM... even in the midst of fiery trials.  

Thank you, Lord... for the beautiful reminder today... to glorify you in every place, however "hot" or "remote" it may seem.  

" Let us set aside every weight... 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith... 

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. "

Hebrews 12:1,2,12

May you know today...the PEACE the LORD gives... not the "peace" the world gives.

~Ellie

For by Grace are Ye saved... it is the gift of GOD.

" The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. " Ephesians 1:18,19

Thankful to the Heavenly Father for His great gift of salvation to me. 

Today, in my time set apart for memorizing verses from Ephesians 1, I found great peace. 

What great assurance to know that God chose me before the foundation of the world to believe on His Son Jesus Christ. Father, I thank you for revealing your Son to me.

A purchased possession, through the blood of His Son. I'm sealed through His Spirit... forever am His. 

Chosen of Thee

Thank you O Father for Thy gift of salvation,

In Christ we are holy and found without blame.

Ours are the spiritual blessings in heavenly places,

And humbly we bow with praise to Thy name.

*

Our adoption as sons was predestined before,

Thou loved us in Christ, and giveth all things.

Chosen by Thee, made children of God,

Our heart in adoration now joyously sings.

*

Twas your good pleasure that we would be saved,

The eyes being enlightened, made able to see.

Thou drew us to Thee and called us by name.

Redeemed, forgiven all glory to Thee.

*

Bought by the blood of Thy Son, Jesus Christ

Our inheritance in heaven shall not fade away.

Sealed with Thy Spirit, your promise to us,

Awaiting redemption for that glorious day.

~Ellie 7/14/14

May you too know the greatness of His power, His love, His saving grace.
~Ellie