"... He LOVED them to the end."

" If I then, your LORD and MASTER have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. " John 13:14

As I have started reading through the gospel of John for my daily Bible reading, I have been tremendously blessed by  it ...

 ... precious and comforting are the words of the Saviour's love for us. 

"Greater love hath no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life for his friends." 

John 15:13

Such sacrificial love... 

These past few months I've worked on memorizing Romans chapter 8. And since finishing the verses, I have looked for another passage that would strengthen my walk with the Saviour. For some reason I was drawn to memorize John 17, a chapter I've loved since childhood. 

The Lord's prayer to the Father always makes me teary... it never fails to remind me of Jesus' love for His disciples... and for  those of us who would eventually come to know Him. 

Reading the Lord's prayer has always brought about a renewed adoration for my Saviour... knowing He prayed for me with such tenderness. It comforts me to no end! 

Do you ever get touched when someone shows kindness to you... when someone cares for you? You know, those special times... when someone takes what matters most to you and bears the load with you. It's when you become so important to them, that they go the extra mile... to have patience and listen to you... to understand your fears, partake of your joys or simply make an effort to understand the trial you may be going through. It's those moments when you feel so loved... simply because someone has thought of you and placed your needs above theirs. 

Such love is only a minute glimpse into understanding the love our Lord Jesus had for us...

As much as we may feel loved and cared for by others from time to time, there are moments when even those that love us here on this earth...  fall short. We've all experienced it.

But it was never so with the Lord Jesus Christ... our need was always before Him. It was evident in His prayer to the Father...

He desired that I would be PROTECTED from the evil of this world.

He desired that I would be SANCTIFIED through the TRUTH.

He desired that I would have HIS JOY fulfilled in me.

HE desired that I would be ONE with HIM.

HE desired that HIS GLORY would be on me.

Oh, such love and tenderness... poured out moments before the Lord Jesus Christ would give His life as a ransom for my sins... for your sins.

As the Lord Jesus nears the end of His prayer to the Father, He asks the Father  a precious request... 

... a most precious request,

" Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, 

be with me where I am..." 

John 17:24

I'm always humbled that my life was of such utter importance to the Lord Jesus, that He would die for me... and with joy... endured the cross that I might dwell with Him for eternity.

Yes, the Lord Jesus was the perfect example of LOVE... the ONE who cared for and loved us... to the end! 

And He left us an example,

" Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; 

ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 

For I have given you an example, 

that ye should do as I have done to you. " 

John 13:13-15

Lord, help us to serve you and live for you... with humbleness and meekness of mind.... esteeming those around us above ourselves. 

May you be encouraged to follow the Lord's example... and love those around you a with servant's heart... all for His glory.

~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

... that the man of God be perfect...

" All scripture is given by inspiration of God... that the man of God be perfect, throughly furnished..." 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Do you ever find yourself failing... in your walk with God? In not manifesting the fruit of the Spirit... nor manifesting to others that you are a child of God?

Recently I was convicted of my wickedness through my words and deeds... idle/unkind words said at the expense of others... and even impatience, along with a disdainful look. Sometimes I am aware of my wrongful actions straightaway... other times I let it go for sometime, thinking nothing of it, only to feel the nudging of the Holy Spirit bringing my failings to my attention.

" Be ye therefore perfect, 

even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." 

Matthew 5:48

Striving for perfection. The ups and downs of our spiritual walk. " All things work together for good to them that love God..." Rom 8:28 

As I was acknowledging my sins before my Father, I was thankful for His forgiveness, for His love...

... a love that brought His Spirit in my life to convict me of sin... and guide me in all truth.

" ...because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts 

by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." 

Galatians 5:5

I thought about how the Lord tells us to be perfect, as He is perfect. 

Can we actually be perfect? 

Then the Lord showed me that His Spirit in us ... indeed is perfect. That is why we are to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit... (Romans 8).

So yes, the man of God may be perfect when we walk in the Spirit... For we are furnished unto all good works... made possible through ALL the scripture that is given by the inspiration of God. (2 Tim. 16,17)...

Oh, the magnitude and the power the WORD OF GOD has on our spiritual walk.

How important to know His Word... it does us good!

" ... do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? " 

Micah 2:7

I was so thankful for God's direction towards a verse that gave me much comfort after acknowledging my failings before Him.  It is the HOLY Spirit dwelling in me that continues to help me in my infirmities... 

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities..."

Romans 8:26

How precious the WORD... the comfort it gives us! 

Thank you Lord for your continual working in my life. Help me to lay aside that which displeases you. Help me cling to that which is good and perfect in YOUR sight.

May you hide God's word in your heart and walk in the Spirit... that you might not sin against Him.

~Ellie

Ye that seek the LORD, look unto the ROCK whence you were hewn...

" Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; 

Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. " 

Isaiah 51:7

As I was reading through the 51 chapter of Isaiah this morning I suddenly read over a couple of verses I had memorized not too long ago...

It was about a year ago, or maybe even two, when I struggled with a huge bout of anxiety. It wasn't the normal anxious feeling that we all get... fears that come about and quickly go. This was much stronger. I was struggling to find peace within, from fear that  almost paralyzed me. What was I fearing? I had never experienced such anxiety...

Have you ever struggled with anxiety? Have you ever been fearful of the  future? Have the momentary struggles weighed heavily upon you that you felt you would lose control?

I remember my anxious heart weighing heavily upon me one day. My strength was weak. I was helpless. Yet in my struggle I knew my hope could only be found in my LORD. I couldn't do it alone. I needed HIS help. His power alone could deliver me. I could never have the power I needed to "get myself up" and free myself from the clutch of fear. 

There were no words that I could utter in my state of helplessness except, "Lord, please help me!"  The simple words of dependence on HIM  brought all the peace I had ever needed. A wave of calmness washed over me. And in His faithfulness, He directed me to a couple of verses in Isaiah that I took to memorizing... and repeated day in and day out.... even through the night. 

" I, even I, am He that comforteth you; 

Who art thou, that shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man which shall be made as grass;  

And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens , and laid the foundations of the earth; 

And hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor as if he was ready to destroy? 

And where is the fury of the oppressor " 

Isaiah 51: 12,13

The fear that comes from the evil one... can debilitate us. But all we have to do is to look to our maker. HE alone comforts us. He alone delivers us from the hand of the oppressor. He alone strengthens us. 

Let us look unto the ROCK.

" The LORD is my ROCK and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, 

In whom I will trust...

For who is GOD, save the LORD? Or who is a rock, save our God? 

The LORD liveth , and blessed be my ROCK, 

And let the God of my salvation be exalted." 

Psalm 18:2,31,46

With thankfulness I read through Isaiah 51 today... thankful for the Lord's mercy... that endures forever. 

" Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted... thus saith thy Lord the Lord, 

and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, 

Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling... " 

Isaiah 51:21,22

Even in times of distress, our God is faithful!

May you be encouraged to cry out to the ONE who alone can save.

~Ellie

O, LORD... Thou hast redeemed my life.

" And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion,

THOU ART MY PEOPLE."

 Isaiah 51:16

Looking to start memorizing another set of verses, I was drawn to a few verses in Lamentations that are very familiar to many of us...  verses that speak of God's faithfulness and mercies towards us His people.

I need to be reminded that God's mercies are new to me ... EVERY morning. It becomes so easy for me to dwell on the past... or the future... and look with fear, disappointment, discontentment and even unthankfulness... and forget His faithfulness. 

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He never changes!

His mercies are new every single morning... and that's enough to give us hope in our Creator who knows what we need for the day. No need to look back at  the past or fear the future. God's compassion never fails. It sustains us for the moment. And His mercies are renewed every day. What hope! 

So I felt it necessary to re-learn verses that have been of great comfort to me in the past... but somehow been "forgotten". 

I think it's of utmost importance to recall to mind my Lord's faithfulness to me... and my need to place all hope in HIM who is merciful... each and every morning.

I need to start EVERY day right... in thankfulness;

... to the ONE who is always faithful. 

... to the ONE who has redeemed my life. 

... to the ONE who draws near to me when I call out to Him.

" This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. 

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 

They are new every morning: 

Great is Thy faithfulness. 

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. 

The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. 

It is good that a man should both hope and wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee, 

Thou saidst, Fear not. 

O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul;

Thou hast redeemed my life."

Lamentations 3:21-26; 57,58     

May you be reminded today of God's faithfulness to you ... and that His compassions are new EVERY morning.

~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

For the LORD giveth WISDOM...

"  When WISDOM entereth into thine heart, and KNOWLEDGE is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, UNDERSTANDING shall keep thee." Proverbs 2: 10,11

Sometimes I'm void of understanding. I lack knowledge... and wisdom. There are moments when wisdom is needed in my life. Much widsom.

How do I  answer someone who is in need. How do I react when criticism comes my way. When should I be silent. When should I speak up.

Reading through the Proverbs, one can easily find plenty of wisdom. God's WORD is never void of knowledge. But I stopped abruptly when I recently read verses 10 and 11 of the second chapter of Proverbs. It suddenly hit me. " When wisdom entereth into thine heart..." 

 Much of our lack of wisdom may spurn from lack of knowing GOD. Knowing HIS WORD.

" A wise man will hear, and will increase learning..."

Proverbs 1:5

Oh, to delight in HIS WORD! Can I truly say that the WORD of GOD is pleasant unto my soul? Do I seek being in HIS WORD more so than seeking earthly treasures? Where can I find wisdom... but in GOD alone.

" For the LORD giveth wisdom: Out of HIS mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. "

Proverbs 2:6

Today I am overwhelmed with GOD'S GOODNESS. He alone does the work in us... so that WISDOM can enter our stony heart.

"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

"For God giveth to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy..."

Ecclesiates 2:26

 There's so much sound wisdom in God's WORD. We have the answers to ALL our problems.... if we seek Him we shall find Him.

" If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

James 1:5

What a gracious and loving Father we have... who loads us with the benefits of HIS wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Oh, that I might be diligent to grow in WISDOM. To keep my heart filled with HIS WORD.... for it shall keep me, preserve me, and give me life.  LORD, help me to lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways acknowledge you...

 "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established."

Proverbs 24:3

May you seek WISDOM and delight  in HIS WORD today.

~Ellie

The importance of memorizing verses...

"Thy WORD have I hid in my heart , that I might not sin against THEE." Psalm 119:11

This past year and a half I have been trying to memorize God's word. I'll be honest, in years past, memorizing verses was not part of my fellowship with my KING. Oh, I knew some verses here and there... but I never made it a practice to faithfully memorize verses from the Bible.

I always seemed to have an excuse... but the one I really held fast to was a good one, " I'm too old, nothing will stick now." It was always easier to blame it on age. Until one day...

You see, I had been visiting an older Christian sister... I remember making it a point to spend some time with her, as she was alone. I wanted to be of encouragement to her. So when we met, maybe once a week or so, we would often talk about things that mattered to us... about things that had happened that week, or maybe about projects we were both working on, or we would share things about our families, or simply reminiscing on past life experiences.

We always enjoyed getting together, mostly because we both loved the LORD.  The LORD was our common ground. So we often found ourselves sharing scriptures... maybe a verse that especially encouraged us that week. But I remember her  telling me often the joy she found in a passage of scripture she was currently memorizing. I never thought too much about it in the beginning. However, it seemed that every visit I made, she would joyously share her love for memorizing God's word, and what a blessing it was to her. She was convinced we needed to be in GOD'S word daily. I agreed with that, but memorizing, well, I still thought I couldn't do it. Unbelievable, right? How we stick so faithfully to our excuses. But I was blessed to hear her often remarking  what a joy it was to think on the LORD throughout the day ... and  finding such comfort at night, meditating on scripture.

Over the weeks that I spent visiting her, God's Holy Spirit slowly began working in my life. Why couldn't I memorize scripture? There really was no excuse, I shamefully accepted the fact that I really didn't want to... because that really was the reason.  Age had nothing to do with it. My friend was 85 years old, and she was memorizing passages! What was my excuse?

I remember one day, thinking that I ought to start memorizing... I'll be honest it was a long struggle. But the LORD put it on my heart to start small... with a verse I was familiar with. Before long, I was memorizing passages! I couldn't believe it! I really could memorize. And oh, what a blessing it has been for me... words can never express my gratitude to GOD'S gentle ways with me! Through days and weeks of going through anxiety attacks, GOD'S word was my only hope and peace. What peace memorized verses brought to my anxious heart!

Throughout my memorization, I learned that you don't quickly read through a verse... but rather, you slowly meditate on it, because it needs to sink in the innermost being. And it is in memorizing, that GOD graciously reveals SO many jewels. Tidbits that are often missed when  we hurriedly read through a passage. Tidbits that change our lives. Tidbits that keep us thinking on things above.

Do you memorize verses? Do  you know the power of GOD'S word in your life... I urge you to memorize. You will only reap benefits from filling your heart and mind with the TRUTH.

God's WORD brings peace, comfort and  wisdom. It also protects us from the wiles of the devil and shield us from temptations, or from sinning against God... but ultimately, it gives us LIFE.

"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom." PSALM 51:6

Isn't it amazing, GOD desires it as well... HE desires that truth would be in our inward parts!

May you know the power of GOD'S  HOLY WORD in your heart today.

~Ellie