That NO flesh should glory in HIS PRESENCE...

" That in EVERY THING ye are enriched by HIM, in ALL utterance, and in ALL knowledge." 1 Corinthians 1:5

Lately, I've been thinking about my need to have the LORD JESUS CHRIST dwell richly in me. I find myself lacking often to " put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh." How easily I fall prey to the flesh.

-Pride creeps in,
-Selfishness abounds,
-and Christ is minimized in my life.

And then I think how perfectly the LORD GOD orchestrated our lives... He perfectly knows us and our tendencies. And how easily we want self glory.

Indeed God knows our tendencies,

"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

And so I think upon my need to glory in the Lord... to glorify the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD, worthy of ALL praise.

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: 

He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice:

 He will not afflict. 

Men do therefore fear Him: 

He respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Job 37, 23, 24

Dominion and fear are with Him...

Job 25:2

How good to remember my  place before a Holy and Righteous God... and to remember that He alone enriches us with the the right words to speak and fills us with the knowledge of His will when we are humble before Him. For I am reminded that I can do nothing apart from Him.

"... for without me ye can do nothing." 

John 15:5

AND in all things, I am to glorify my Father in heaven,

" Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." 

John 15:8

O Righteous Father, help me to fear your name, and flee from self-exaltation. Enlighten my eyes to behold your glory with adoration as you continue your mighty work in me.

May you be encouraged to exalt the Lord on High today.... for in everything we are enriched by Him.
~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

... ye are not your own. For you are bought with a price....

"Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him" Deuteronomy 13:4.

This morning as I was walking,  I happened to hear a song... a song I 'd never heard before. The song brought to remembrance a verse that I don't often dwell on... as I ought. 

Oh, that I would be reminded of it every day! 

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 

which ye have of God, 

and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, 

and in your spirit, which are God's." 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

How often I go through the day... forgetting that a price was paid for my redemption. A price no one could pay that could satisfy our Father in heaven. Only ONE could pay that price ... the Lord Jesus Christ. Blood had to be shed SO that I could partake of the divine nature and be called a child of God. 

And not just a child of God... but an HEIR of God... JOINT HEIR with Jesus Christ. (Romans 8).

That I would walk after the Lord, my GOD...

That I would fear Him...

That I would keep His commandments...

That I would obey His voice...

That I should serve Him....

... and cleave unto Him.

O, Lord help me to live my life... led by your Holy Spirit... and remind me that I am not my own. That you have paid a most precious price... 

... giving me all that I have and am!

May praise be continually on my lips...

Lord, I must be yours alone.

Teach me I am not my own.

Crush and mold this heart of stone.

In your image make it.

Willful, stubborn, Lord, it's true-

I do what I want to do.

Let me learn to follow you.

Take my will and break it

From my self I would be free.

Take all my identity,

Fill with your humility.

Seize my pride and shake it.

When a helpless wreck I am,

Take me and rebuild the sham

To be like the Living Lamb,

My life, on Him I stake it.

Written by: Abigail Miller

May you be led by the Spirit as you seek to honor Him in your life today.
~Ellie

When I awake, I am still with Thee...

 "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!"

 Psalm 139:17

Do you ever read a verse that gives you so much comfort? Well, this past week I was overwhelmed with the verse in Psalm 139... a verse I mentioned in my previous post. 

Even when I awake,  I am still with Thee... Psalm 139:18

Such comfort the verse gave ... such peace. It has been a blanket of comfort and warmth for me these past several days... just to know my Father in heaven shall always be with me.

Yes, even while living here on this earth, in our physical bodies, our God shall encompass us... and what-more... even in the age to come... my God shall still with me be!

There's nothing to fear... when God is near... when our hope is in the One that changest not.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, ... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Romans 8:38,39

Once again, God gives great comfort through His precious Word... reminding us that  nothing shall separate us from His love.

His thoughts are precious to us. 

His ways marvelous. 

His love infinite. 

And so I rest in His love for me...

How Marvelous Are Thy Ways 

How precious are Thy thoughts to me,

Thou understandest and knowest me well. 

Even in my lying down, Thou art with me

And when I wake, Thou still with me dwell.

There is not a word on my tongue,

Each thought altogether known unto Thee.

Where shall I flee from Thy presence?

For Thou art with me e'en to the uttermost sea!

How marvelous are Thy ways, O Lord.

Even when darkness shall 'compass me,

Thy Hand will lead and guide me alway,

For night shall be as light unto Thee.

O Lord, I am fearfully and wonderfully made,

So skillfully wrought in the most secret of place.

All members in Thy book were written therein, 

Knowledge too wonderful, such marvelous grace!

  Thy thoughts more numerous than sand unto me,

Acquainted with all, Thou indeed art my King!

Search me, try me and know my heart today,

And lead me in the way everlasting. 

Ellie 1/12/2015

May you be blessed by the Lord's promise... for He shall never leave, nor forsake us!

~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 

Therefore it is of FAITH, that it might be by GRACE...

" ... In the shadow of HIS hand hath HE hid me, and made me a polished shaft..." Isaiah 49:2

Today I felt like the LORD has a ton of work to do in my life. I am constantly reminded of my weaknesses throughout the day. My thoughts wander from the LORD as I focus on things below. Always concerned with doing things in my own strength...

It is a constant battle to get still before the LORD.... to allow the "dew" of HIS WORD to refresh me.  I quickly rush though the day and stop not to contemplate God's goodness to me... His faithfulness. His Mercy. His Grace.

Haste. Haste makes me miss the beauty of HIS presence in my life.

Last week as I was finishing a lovely visit with an older friend, I started gathering my things and was rushing to head on out. Lots of things awaited me... and  I needed to pick up my husband from work. My friend offered to walk me to my car.  Would I mind if she'd come along?  It was such a lovely day.

As I waited for her to find her key, then her cane, I thought of the fellowship we had enjoyed together for a couple of hours. It had been good to encourage each other from God's WORD...

We slowly made our way along the small path that led to the car. I in a hurry...  and my friend enjoying the bright yellow dandelion flowers that had sprung up so brightly in the heat of the day.

I was focusing on my need to hurry up. My friend stopped.

" Have you ever seen how perfectly the dandelion is made ? "  No. Not the dandelion. Why would I look intently at the dandelion? It's not the prettiest of flowers. And they are a bother. I suppose if they were a rose...

I went home. But I thought about the dandelion. How I treat God's blessings in my life as dandelions. They are perfect. But I rush and hardly pay attention to them. I see them...but sometimes consider them a bother. It can be a friend, a husband or wife, a sibling, a child in need... it can be work or chores that have to be done.... or it can be anything we take for granted, yet we cherish it not. We may even "trample" on them. But all are blessings from above...

How often we may consider God's blessings as "small and insignificant" . We want blessings that are big. We want to see God answering "beautifully". We want our prayers answered... immediately and in our own way.

I admit I don't always "see"  the LORD working in small things... but HE worketh.

HE perfectly polishes me... in HIS way, not mine. Through pain. Through trials. Through afflictions. Through times of loneliness, through times of fearfulness, through times of need.

I am weak. But I pray I might  show forth HIS glory.... through FAITH in HIM... and all by HIS GRACE.

Truly, HIS grace is sufficient.

" He staggered not at the promise of GOD through unbelief; but was strong in FAITH, giving glory to GOD; and being FULLY persuaded that, what HE had promised, HE was able also to perform."

Romans 4:20-21   

Lord, help me to have FAITH even in the smallest of things... and may I be still as you work  to polish and perfect your work in me. Thank you for your GRACE that carries me through the day.

May you see God's hand in your life as HE works on your behalf... trusting Him, loving Him, praising Him.

~Ellie