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

And the servant of the Lord must not strive...

"... let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. " 2 Timothy 2:19

These past few days I've been thinking about my need to follow unto righteousness.... by putting aside iniquity and striving to be a vessel of honor unto the LORD. 

Iniquity comes in all forms... discontentment, unthankfulness, pride, selfishness, lying, evil thoughts, judging, etc.

A vessel of honor. Meet for the Master's use. Prepared for every good work.

 My thoughts have been much on a recent verse I read in Matthew, where it says,

" And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." 

Matthew 24:12

Why do we even allow iniquity to dwell in our hearts? Why do we even strive? Why do we want to be the greatest? And why do we not grow in love, rather than wax cold?

Is it because we do not purge away the "leaven" or evil from our lives... and depart not from that which is iniquity in God's eyes? 

Being a servant of the Lord requires that we flee from all that is unrighteousness... and pursue or follow after godliness. 

This of course means that we keep our peace even when we are being reviled. It's not easy... to not lash out when a comment is made against us. Our nature is such... that we want to defend ourselves. Yet we have the Lord Jesus Christ as a perfect example,

" For even hereunto were ye called: 

because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, 

that we should follow in His steps:... 

Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered He threatened not; 

but committed Himself to Him that judgesth righteously." 

1 Peter 2:21,23

How important it is for me to not render evil for evil, but rather bless... in humbleness. Being humble is probably the hardest thing to implement. And yet, if I am a child of God, I am called to be gentle unto all men... and in  meekness correct or instruct those that oppose.

 How often I find  myself correcting with an ungentle spirit. Or uttering that unkind word when hurt...

Only when I purge away the fleshly desires will I ever be a vessel of honor... meet for the Master's use... prepared for every good work.

... growing in love.

May you be encouraged live as a servant of the LORD... 

~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

And HOPE maketh not ashamed...

" His delight is in the law of the LORD; 

And in HIS law doth he meditate day and night." 

Psalm 1:2

I've been thinking of the great joy we have when we abide in God's presence. There is FULLNESS of joy.

How often I've taken for granted... the privilege we've been given ... to come before the heavenly Father. 

What joy unspeakable is gained in the presence of the KING. Blessings and riches untold. 

The HOPE... that one day we shall behold HIS glory.

Happy are we when we bow before the King. Happy are we when we abide and give honor to the ONE and only true GOD.

"We shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water... that bringeth forth his fruit in his season... his leaf also shall not wither..." 

Psalm 1:3

So this morning I took time to jot down a simple poem... as a reminder that we are most happy when are eyes are fixed on the LORD. 

True joy is found in the presence of the KING...

LORD, HAPPY ARE WE 

Lord, happy are we,

When our delight is always in Thee.

By rivers of waters our lives are enriched. 

For in due season fruit shall we see.

O Lord, indeed happy are we,

When all honor is given to Thee.

Yes, happy are we,

When like Thee we desire to be.

O Lord, in Thee do we trust,

To guide and direct our way.

For in Thee do we find,

All peace and contentment alway.

Lord, in Thy presence alone

Are riches and blessings untold.

Thou art the hope that fades not away,

As Thy glory one day we'll behold.

Ellie 10/23/2014

May you delight in God's presence... and meditate on His goodness.

~Ellie

Praise Ye the LORD... Praise the NAME of the LORD.

 "Blessed be the NAME of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore." Psalm 113:2

These past several weeks my husband and I have been reading through the Psalms. We like to read  the BIBLE in order, it's something we've always done. So throughout our marriage we've read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation a few times. But I am always blessed to see how the WORD of GOD is always new... there's always something new the LORD reveals.  If only we have ears to listen.

While reading through the Psalms this time around, I've especially noticed how God desires that we praise HIM. Many, many psalms start out by exhorting us to praise  GOD'S HOLY NAME.... urging us to give thanks to God: " Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord."

And why should we praise HIM?

Because HE is GOOD ... and HIS mercy endureth forever!(Ps. 106:1). That's enough to praise HIM all day long!

But can we praise HIM all day? I mean, even when we are going through trials, or when discouraged? God says we can... because we are to give thanks in ALL things. But not of our own strength. For when we are weak HIS strength is made perfect in us.

I know it's hard to apply a thankful attitude and to have praise on our lips even when... deep in hurt, deep in discouragement, deep in pain, deep in loneliness, deep in abandonment. But He is our strength even when our flesh and heart faileth! Psalm 73.

Blessed be HIS name, for:

" HE raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill."

PS. 113:7

And God doesn't just stop there:

" That HE may set him with princes, even with the princes of HIS people" 

Isn't it beautiful where He places us? Oh, that I might praise HIM in ALL things!

Today was such a beautiful reminder for me. To PRAISE HIM... ALL day long. I don't know about you , but when I take a hymn and sing, I find my heart at peace. There is something that happens when we sing a song of praise to our GOD almighty... it brings wonderful peace.

And today this verse in Psalm 113:3 made me aware of praising GOD even more so than before.... because He desires praise... for our good and HIS glory!

" From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name IS to be PRAISED."  

May you praise our Heavenly Father today... trusting that HE is at work even when we are deep in discouragement or when we are full of joy.

~Ellie

That ye might be PARTAKERS of the DIVINE nature....

 

" For if these things be in you, and ABOUND, they make you that ye shall NEITHER be barren NOR unfruitful in the KNOWLEDGE of our LORD JESUS CHRIST," 2 Peter 1:8

Last week I visited an older sister in the the Lord and we had a wonderful time reflecting on God's word. One day a week we like to get together and share scripture with one another... it may be a verse or chapter that we have read in the course of the previous week, or it could be a passage form a devotional or  even a hymn that has brought praise in our hearts. But we always manage to encourage each other through God's WORD... and it's always a delight to stop and think on the things above...  in the process, God blesses, and we are always uplifted .

So this past week we managed to read from 2 Peter chapter 1. What a joy and encouragement the passage was for me. I have meditated on it these past several days. And I've been most blessed.

Did  you ever realize that we can be partakes of the DIVINE nature of God?  When I read verse 4, I was just overwhelmed at our position in Christ. I mean, we have been given GREAT and PRECIOUS promises that we can call our own! We are equipped with a divine nature. How wonderful is that!

We have the HOLY SPIRIT dwelling in us... and we are to abound in the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is not enough, rather we are to add to faith: 1) virtue 2) knowledge 3) temperance 4) patience 5) godliness 6) brotherly kindness and  7) charity.

And so, if these things are in us.... and we abound in them(that is key).... then they will make us so that we be: neither 1) BARREN nor 2) UNFRUITFUL.... in the knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. We can truly know HIM as HE is!

You know, sometimes we may wonder why we don't know God's will for our life... well, we may simply lack knowledge of Him. His ways are not our ways.... however, we know God desires our good. So if we abound in the character of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, well, it would mean that we would be in HIS will.... and that HIS will would be good, acceptable and perfect . (Romans 12:2). Of course that would mean that we would be transformed by the renewing of our mind... bearing the character of  our LORD.

It's not always easy to show brotherly kindness, to have patience, to have godliness or show charity. But we know know that he that lacketh these things is:

1) BLIND, 2) CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF, and 3) HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS.

We can see that for our own benefit we ought to give diligence to make our calling sure: " For if ye do these things, YE SHALL NEVER FALL." vs.10.

And abiding in Him will reward us with an entrance into God's kingdom. What a joyous reward! Verse 11 says it so beautifully,

" For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you ABUNDANTLY into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD JESUS CHRIST."

LORD, help me to abound in a Christ-like character! 

May you, too, abound in the knowledge of the SAVIOUR today... and be fruitful for HIS kingdom.

~Ellie

Who is so GREAT a God as our GOD?

" Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? "  Ps. 71:19

After reading Psalm 77 this morning, I stopped a bit and reflected on the verse that asks the question, " Who is so great a God as our GOD?" vs. 13. I meditated on God's power seen in everything around us... the nature is full of HIS glory. And I also reflected on HIS faithfulness to HIS people.... throughout all generations. OH, how true... there is none besides HIM!

Before stepping out to face the day, I began singing a few words of praise to my LORD... before long I thought the words went so well, that I took a pen to jot down my thoughts in free prose. In a matter of minutes I wrote a 4 stanza song as a praise to GOD... who is the only one deserving of our praise.  May HIS great power be enough for us today, for HE carries us in the palm of HIS hand.

O, LORD you are mighty 

O, Lord you are great 

 You are the only one

 Deserving of our praise

****

Your hand always protects us,

You guide us on our path,

To keep us from all ill

And satisfy our hearts.

***

O, LORD you are gracious,

O, LORD you are faithful,

Your mercies never fail

We honor you today.

***

Thank you Lord Jesus,

For dying on the cross

Redeeming us forever

To thine eternal care. 

~Ellie 3/13/14

May you know how GREAT our GOD is today... HE can accomplish anything that comes your way.

~Ellie

REST in the LORD, and WAIT patiently for Him...

" Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God; and the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will GUARD your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6,7

Today is a hard day for me. And yet it has been good for me. How can the two go together... ?

I've been anxious, fretful, and fearful. My husband needed to make a long drive for work... under very cold temperatures, lots of snow and ice. I wished he didn't have to drive these days.  I let him go this early morning... fearful, fretful and quite anxious. I'm always nervous that he'll have an accident. One might think it's silly of me to think that way. But 16 years ago my husband and I went through a terrible accident on our honeymoon... black ice was involved, and my husband was critically injured.

That memory of seeing an 18 wheeler slam into us will never go away for me.  And the long recuperation  that followed will always be a part of me. Yet besides those memories, I will never forget  GOD'S FAITHFULNESS and seeing His hand of healing and deliverance. That I will treasure most... for HE alone healed us and placed us on a solid foundation from the beginning of our marriage. I will always be THANKFUL to my heavenly Father who always watches over HIS own.

Today is a day when God is testing my faith in Him... and mercifully continues to show me HIS love. After reading through the scriptures  today,  He again has given me peace... peace which surpasses ALL understanding.  GOD will take care of us today... as He did yesterday... and will take care of us tomorrow.

So far, as I am writing this today, my husband has made it safe for half the trip... am waiting patiently on the LORD to fully take care and protect him on the way back.

Lord, increase my faith... and let me see your hand at work, that your name might be glorified in our lives!

The refrain to this song came to me as I was praying for my husband's safety; What a blessing it has been to me! It has been good for me to trust in my Father's wise bestowment... even in my anxious thoughts.

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Refrain

Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear,
Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
Moment by moment, I’m under His care.

Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a teardrop and never a moan;
Never a danger but there on the throne,
Moment by moment He thinks of His own.

May you feel encouraged to WAIT patiently for the LORD.

~Ellie

Lead Me to the ROCK that is Higher than I...

" From the end  of the earth will I cry  unto THEE, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the ROCK that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2

I am so thankful to have such a loving heavenly Father that cares for me today... and each and every day! Have you ever felt your heart overwhelmed? Do you have a safe haven where you can turn to?

Oh, what a joy to have a permanent unchanging shelter... a shelter you can run to from the overwhelming pressures of today. My heart was filled with joy as I read this psalm... Psalm 61. A psalm where each Christian finds rest for their weary soul.  Trusting in the shelter of the Almighty.

God alone is the strong tower, the ROCK in whom we trust.  What peace we have when we trust in our Heavenly Father. Trusting that HE will make us rich in mercy and truth...

We can be confident, as His children,  that we are most rich... rich in HIS unbounded love for us. And what a delight to be given the inheritance of salvation. "  The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Psalm 16:6

Let us be confident and wait on the LORD ... for from HIM cometh our salvation! So let us  sing praises unto HIS name for ever and ever.

When my heart is totally overwhelmed,

Lord, pick me up and help me stand.

Give me strength and take me by your hand,

Heal my heart  you alone can mend.

~

Help me to know by your mercy I stand,

Every moment every hour you show your power.

You are the fortress, the shield, my strong tower,

The horn of my salvation, held only by your hand.

~

I sing my praise to you, 

My rock and my deliverer.

You are the strong tower,

My hope is in you .

~

I can trust in your mighty wings,

To shelter me from the storm.

For when  the waves begin to form,

My heart  finds peace under your Almighty wings.

~Ellie~ 2/25/14

May you cry out to God . When your heart is overwhelmed, trust in HIM.

~Ellie