... I will STAND on the TOP of the hill...

"... I will stand ON THE TOP of the hill with the ROD of GOD in mine hand." Exodus 17:9

Do you ever find yourself in moments of fear, struggles, discouragements, oppositions from all sides? Sometimes we find ourselves so deep in our thoughts that we forget that we have a SHEPHERD who by HIS ROD comforts us in all our trials.

I was so encouraged a couple of days ago when I read the verse in Exodus where Joshua was fighting Amalek... and there Moses raised the "rod of God" to prevail against the enemy. 

I thought about the ROD, representing our God, the great I AM... our stronghold.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to raise and trust in the WORD of GOD as our ROD? 

The great I AM can fight our enemies... and prevail against them.   

Yes, indeed our Shepherd, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, comforts, guides and drives away all our fears... because HE protects us from all evil.

And we also know that when Moses' hands were heavy... Aaron and Hur interceded by holding them up... and Moses' hands were steady. 

" But Moses' hands were heavy: 

and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; 

and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, 

the one on one side, and the other on the other side, 

and his hands were steady 

until the going down of the sun." 

Exodus 17:12

How wonderful to know that we too can ease the "heaviness"  and intercede for those around us who are heavy in spirit and fighting battles of their own.  

PSALM 121

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: 

He that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper: 

the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: 

He shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in 

from this time forth, and even for evermore. 

Heavenly Father, Thank you for being the great I AM in our lives, Thank you for preserving our souls from all evil. We trust in your power and faithfulness to accomplish your purpose and will in our lives for your glory. Help us to raise the rod of your Word continually as we face the many battles that come our way. 

May you be encouraged today to lift up God's name and His promises... for yourself and others. 

~Ellie

And be found in HIM , NOT having mine own Righteousness...

" That I may know HIM, and the power of HIS resurrection, and the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being made conformable unto HIS death." Phillipians 3:10

You know, sometimes it's not the easiest to apply the WORD in our lives. Phillipians 3:10 is a perfect example of a verse that requires us to be conformed to the LORD's death. Have you ever thought about it... to be conformed to HIS DEATH? 

CONFORM (def): be similar in form or type.

synonym: abide by, obey, observe, follow, keep to, stick to, adhere to, uphold, heed, accept,..

To be conformed to His death... would require that we be like the Lord Jesus, and follow in His steps.

I don't know about you... but I often fail to be conformed to His death or to know the fellowship of His sufferings.

• I fail to be a servant... and find myself desiring to place my needs above others. 
• I fail to be made of no reputation... and care too much of what man thinks of me.
• I fail to be humble... and find myself proud, even in the smallest of things. 
• I fail to suffer loss... and  find myself trying to keep worthless things as gain.
• I fail to revile not when reviled against... and can find myself holding a record of wrong, even in silence.

No... to be conformed, ..." unto HIS death." means to die to self... that Christ may live in my stead!

For sure we can never be conformed to Christ's image on our own. I am to have NO confidence in my OWN FLESH, but rather I'm to, 

"....be found in Him, 

not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, 

BUT that which is through the faith of Christ, 

the righteousness which is of God by faith."

Phillipians 3:9

The Righteousness ... which is of God... alone works in us... a walk that is worthy of HIS HOLY NAME.

What blessed thought... to be cleansed from all our unrighteousness and be clothed in HIS righteousness.

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; 

that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 

1 Corinthians 5:21

Indeed we can have VICTORY over our own flesh, our own desires, our own self-workings... because Christ is RISEN...  the power of His resurrection has brought us justification.

"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. "

Romans 4:25

And while I may fail from time to time, I am encouraged that HIS strength is made PERFECT in my weakness.... 

...reminding me that it is best to be occupied in,

 " .... forgetting those things which are behind, 

and reaching forth 

unto those things which are BEFORE, 

I press toward the mark 

for the prize 

of the HIGH CALLING OF GOD 

in 

Christ Jesus."

Phillipians 3: 13,14

How wonderful to know that in the Lord Jesus Christ we have complete victory!

" But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

1 Corinthians 15:57

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"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: 

and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 

1 John 5:4

Oh, that I would be occupied with knowing more and more of my Saviour... that I would be able to count all things as loss... that I may indeed be conformed unto His death.

Holy Father, help me to walk worthy of your calling... and do nothing through strife or vainglory.

May you be encouraged today to KNOW the Lord Jesus... and " press toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH CALLING OF GOD  in Christ Jesus."

~Ellie  

Let your loins be girded about, and your LIGHTS be burning.

" No man when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the LIGHT. " Luke 11:33

Have you ever wondered if the LIGHT in you is burning brightly? Can others see Christ living in you? Are you a witness for Him?

I asked myself these questions as I was meditating upon several verses in my daily Bible reading. 

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; 

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." 

Matthew 5:15

I was really struck when I read the verse again... the light... it gives light to ALL that are in the house.

For in a room, none can help but notice the light when it shines....

You know, I've known this verse since childhood.... heard it in Sunday School.. and heard it being preached upon. But recently I saw something a bit different, something I had missed before.

This LIGHT dwelling in us should give light to all that are in the house.

Have you thought about the importance... of being a light in our own homes... that our own family see Christ living in us? Sometimes we forget to shine brightly in our own homes... where those closest to us know us best. It's there, though, where it comes most easy to... simply dim the light, place it in a secret place... or even hide it.  We often become weary in well doing...

However, we are reminded to have our loins " girded about " and to keep our lights burning.

But I didn't stop there, because after being blessed by the verse in Matthew, encouraging me to shine brightly in my own home, I decided to look up the same verse in a different gospel...

" No man when he hath lighted a candle, 

putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, 

that they which come in may see the LIGHT. " 

Luke 11:33

Luke says it a bit different... that those who come in, ought to see the Light. We are to be a light even to those that come into our homes...

Do we shine and direct others towards the ONE who is the true Light?  Can those near and around us feel the warmth and see our lights burning brightly?

I realized one thing of importance...  when Christ rules in our lives...  when we are led by the Spirit... our lives will bring Light to those around us... 

... in our homes 
...and to those that come in.

The Light... Christ Jesus... the One who lights our candles.

What a blessed reminder that we are not to cover the light, so as to hinder its brightness or usefulness... but rather to be a vessel used of God... to bring light to those around us.

Oh, that our deeds might manifest His working in us. 

" But he that doeth truth cometh to the light 

that his deeds may be made manifest, 

that they are wrought in God." 

John 3:21

Could we, too, be a witness... as John the Baptist was for the coming of the LORD JESUS CHRIST...

...and can the LORD GOD say the same of us?

" He was a burning and a shining light..." 

John 5:35

May you be encouraged to shine brightly in your home... that those therein and those coming in... may see Christ living in you.

~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

But we see JESUS... crowned with GLORY and HONOR.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, 

He also Himself likewise took part of the same; 

That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil." 

Hebrews 2:14

I've been thinking much this past several weeks on the birth of our LORD and SAVIOUR. There's lots of glitter and sparkle that's associated with Christmas. And I thought how often the Lord's birth has become "dull" in the presence of other "things" that can easily cloud our minds.

I thought of my own heart... and how I view the Lord's birth.

We're very accustomed with verses that proclaim Christ's birth... and we're accustomed with hymns that sing of God's Son being born in a manger. We hear the Lord's birth being proclaimed on the radio, we hear it in malls, we hear it on the streets sung by carolers.... 

And then I found myself thinking how easily Christ's precious birth can become a commonplace in my own life.

Do I treasure the gift that God so mercifully poured on me? Or do I just sing it? Do I just associate it with Christmas "activities" ? 

The Lord Jesus Christ. Born for a purpose.

And in my thoughts, the Lord directed me to a set of verses that have  been such a blessing to me... verses I normally don't associate with Christmas.

The verses renewed my adoration for the King of Kings this season... 

 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; 

That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

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Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same;

That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

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 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

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 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, 

That He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, 

To make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 

Hebrews 2: 9, 14, 15,17

Yes, the Lord Jesus partook of flesh and blood... for a reason... that He would taste death for every man! 

Oh, the joy of the Saviour's birth... that we would be delivered from our bondage to sin and death.

Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... that through the lowly birth of His precious Son... made it possible that we might have eternal life. 

He was made poor... so that we might become rich.

May your heart  today be full of adoration for our Savior's birth.

~Ellie

The effectual FERVENT prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man availeth much....

" Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." 

Ephesians 6:18

Sometimes the power of prayer has to be seen in our own lives before we can truly embrace it as a means to intercede for others.  

Have you ever cried unto the LORD... and been heard? Have you ever experienced someone else's prayer being answered on your behalf? 

Prayer. What a powerful tool. A privilege. A means to glorify the Father through the Son:

"Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." 

John 14 :13 

This past week I was again reminded of God's mercy in answering our prayers. A mother's prayer on behalf of someone who was sick. How in a matter of hours God graciously answered and healed.... My mother's faith in her heavenly Father was unwavering. It was fervent.

The effectual fervent prayer brought about a miracle... seen before my very eyes. My loved one healed... when all else looked dim.

I praised God for His love that brought me to realize how important it is to persevere with supplication for all saints. 

We have a MIGHTY God who desires that we glorify HIM... not ourselves. No pride, no glory for our works.... but all praise be unto HIS name. 

 How much the Lord desires that we go before Him ... with a HUMBLE and a CONTRITE heart. 

We need to lay aside all pride. ALL.

For as long as we come before God with pride, we won't have our prayers answered. Did you know that? 

" ... HE respecteth NOT ANY that are wise of heart." 

Job 37:24 

If the LORD JESUS became of no reputation, shouldn't we?

Lord, help me to put aside all manner of pride and evil from my life... that the FATHER may be glorified.

" Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocricies, and envies, and all evil speakings." 

1 Peter 2:1

May you persevere in prayer on behalf of the saints... and glorify the Father through faith in the Son.        

~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

Put on the WHOLE armour of GOD...

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." Luke 11:21

I woke up this morning with a simple thought... Put on the whole armour of God. 

Now, I don't exactly know how the thought came about, but I know it was the Holy Spirit reminding me to keep watch. And I was truly thankful to the LORD for His kind reminder and faithfulness to me. He is so gracious! 

It's interesting, but sometimes I wake up excited... ready to face the day. The sun may shine brightly and we may think that "all is well".  That's when we can easily get lost in the "tasks" of the day and let go of the guard. Sometimes pride creeps in... making us think "we can handle it all".

Such was the feeling I had this morning. It was beautiful and sunny outside... and I had all sorts of plans for the day. But the Lord gently reminded me... Put on the whole armour of God. 

The armour of God is always needed.... for it helps us to stand against the wiles of the devil. Without the armour we are open to all sorts of attacks that cause us to stumble and fall.  

" Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 

James 4:7

How gracious the LORD was this morning. It suddenly reminded me of the Lord Jesus' tenderness in His prayer to the Father, 

" I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil one."

John 17:15

We have been thoroughly equipped. God's armour is strong enough for whatever may come our way.  

     

Put On The Whole Armour Of God

Put on the whole armour of GOD,

And go out in the power of HIS might.

To ward off the wiles of the devil,

Make sure the belt of truth is buckled on tight.

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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

But against powers and spiritual wickedness in places on high.

So wear your breastplate of righteousness,

To quench all the fiery darts that fly.

*

Be strong and put on your armour,

Make sure your feet are shod with the gospel of peace.

Above all don't forget to pick up your shield,

For by faith you shall thereby increase.

*

Take courage for salvation is your helmet.

So keep the WORD of GOD as your constant guide,

And as you fight against the darkness of this world,

Allow not the sharpened sword to fall from your side.

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With all perseverance be watchful and pray.

As you run the race, make sure your guard is not down

For with God's armour your battle is won, 

And what joy in the end when you give Him your crown.

~Ellie 6/16/14~

May you be reminded to put on the whole armour of GOD... whereby you may stand.

~Ellie