"... beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth... from the house of bondage.

" And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD; 

That it may be well with thee... " 

Deuteronomy 6:18

Today is the 17th anniversary of our car accident... the critical car accident my husband and I had during our honeymoon. Has it been that long? Sometimes it feels like yesterday...

I'm thinking about God's goodness towards us today. How our heavenly Father watched over us. Protected us. Comforted us. 

I look back with tears of gratitude... for the accident. Yes, the accident.

I'm grateful for the lessons learned  during a most difficult time in my life. For you see... God, in His love, brought about a trial in our lives... for our own good. And I don't want to forget it. His mercy and steadfast love that carried us through... that brought us together and knitted our hearts to cherish the gift God gave us.

But most importantly, during this time, I'm also thinking about the precious gift God gave us... His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing compares to His sacrificial love... for which I'm forever grateful!

I've been reading through Deuteronomy... chapter 6 to be exact. And I've been touched with a special verse that made me realize how sometimes forgetfulness creeps in my life... 

I forget to have a thankful heart... for the deliverance of my soul... from the bondage of sin. I confess I take it for granted sometimes...

Do you ever find yourself forgetting to have a thankful heart? Not just merely for the physical "things"... but for God's love in bringing us out of our spiritual bondage. Where would we be... all shackled up?  

Reading through chapter 6 in Deuteronomy, I immediately thought of the spiritual application in my life...God's commandments to the Israelites are valid for me as well. 

I am to love the LORD ...with all my heart, will all my soul, with all my might.   

And God warns us not to forget where He has brought us from... 

"Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, 

Which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, 

From the house of bondage." 

Deut. 6:12

Interestingly God uses quite a strong word... Beware

I confess it gets to be quite easy to forget God's blessings... we forget to honor Him with a grateful heart. 

Oftentimes we get caught up with other things that cloud our minds. Sometimes we may even think the blessings we have are deserved. 

And we forget that GOD is the one that preserves us alive. 

It's for my own good.... To fear the LORD. To honor Him with praise. To do that which is right and good in His sight. 

That it may go well with me...

"And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, 

To fear the Lord our God, 

For our good always, 

That He might preserve us alive, 

As it is at this day." 

Deut. 6:24

Nothing we have is ours. God has given us ALL things. 

He alone deserves our gratitude, our obedience, our reverence. 

Our God is mighty... and with His mighty, outstretched arm... has delivered us from the bondage of sin. 

Father, thank you for your mercy that endures for ever!

" And it shall be our righteousness, 

If we observe to do all these commandments 

Before the Lord our God, 

As He hath commanded us."

 Deut. 6:25

May you remember the Lord's goodness to you today... to do what is right and good in HIS sight.

~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

He appeared to put away SIN, by the SACRIFICE of HIMSELF...

" How much more shall the BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the eternal SPIRIT offered HIMSELF without spot to GOD, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the LIVING GOD. Hebrews 9: 14

My thoughts are on the sacrifice of my LORD today. How often I neglect to stop and thank the LORD for HIS  sacrificial love that brought salvation to my soul. His sacrifice can sometimes become of little importance... way too often.

Reading through the gospels, I stopped to meditate on the passage where the LORD JESUS CHRIST  was in deep agony... for the hour was come to drink the cup of wrath.... and be condemned to death.

HE was alone. The  disciples asleep. HIS soul was exceeding sorrowful. There in the garden of Gethsemane, the LORD  falls on the ground... and prays to the FATHER.

Could it be possible?

" Let this cup pass from me..."

" Abba, Father, ALL things are possible unto THEE, take away this cup from me..."

Who could save Him from the  the cross, knowing what He must endure? Only the Father.

" He offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto HIM that was able to save HIM from death..."

Hebrews 5:7

And yet HE prayed, " Not my will but Thine be done ."

The LORD... in deepest agony. The FATHER... strengthens.

"And there appeared an angel unto HIM from heaven, strengthening HIM."

Luke 22:43

For it was the Father's desire that Jesus Christ should drink that cup. To be that offering for sin. For our sins. For mine.

Thank you LORD... for your obedience to the FATHER... for your blood spilt on my behalf. For eternal salvation.

" Though He were a SON, yet learned HE obedience by the things which HE suffered; And being made perfect, HE became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey HIM."

Hebrews 5:8-9

How can I thank you?  My debt was paid. Purge my conscience from dead works... that I may serve you... and glorify THY name.

MY SAVIOUR SET ME FREE

*

Do you know my Saviour? 

Have you heard HIS love for you?

How HE came to live a sinless life

And shed HIS blood for you.

*

A sinless man, the SON of GOD

Come down to save the lost.

To die a shameful death upon the cross,

That we might live at HIS dear cost.

*

My LORD, How hard it was for you,

To take the cup of agony on THEE.

In deepest sorrow you asked the Father,

'Tis possible may this cup pass from me.

*

The three you took with you to pray

Could not keep watch not e'en an hour.

Twas Peter, James and John

Who fell asleep and had no power.

*

With tears and strong crying THOU didst pray again

And sweat like drops of blood did shed

"Not my will but Thine be done."

Was what you prayed instead.

*

And as your hour was come

To Caiaphas you were led

Betrayed by Judas with a kiss

Forsook by all, as all had fled.

*

Are you the Christ, the SON of GOD? 

You spoke no word, Thy peace you held.

With two false witnesses against THEE

You answered, " Thou has said."

*

And with those words you were condemned,

To die the death 'twas meant for me.

Upon the cross at Calvary,

You took my guilt and set me free.

*

So now I ask you yet again,

Has Christ been merciful to you?

Is HE your SAVIOUR, LORD and KING?

Then give Him praise in all you do.

    Ellie 5/30/2014

May you dwell on God's sacrificial love for you today... and praise Him for the gift of salvation.

~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

He maketh the STORM a CALM, so that THE WAVES therof are STILL....

" They reel to and fro... and are at their wit's end. " Psalm 107:27

I've been trying to memorize my verses in 1 Corinthians 13. The chapter that is so well known. But it's hard. Awfully hard.

LOVE. What is love?

Lord, do you mean I am nothing... if I have not love? It's hard to be nobody in the eyes of men. To seek not mine own. That's hard.

All the knowledge, all the understanding, all the work I do... is it for nought... if I have not love?

How can I be happy for someone else who gets to have everything so easily... they've been blessed far more than I have. They are talented, wealthy, ... and their life seems so in order.

How can I just look past someone's hurtful remark and not withdraw. Don't they know how I feel? Don't they see how hard I  try.

I've run to and fro... and sometimes was at my wit's end... trying to show love and kindness and been bruised instead. All for man's approval.... but where were YOU in all my running?

" For do I now persuade men, or GOD? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

Galatians 1:10

It's not easy to love. It's not easy to forgive, It's not easy to think no evil. If only I can be STILL... and allow the LORD to calm the waves in my heart.

I know God has a work to complete in me. My desire is to live the LOVE chapter... not to simply memorize it. It may take me some time, but I know my faithful LORD will perfect that which concerns me today. HE will try me. HE will bring about trials that will test me.... but HE will also help me to know HIS word and lead me by the hand... so that one day I may know in full, Him who loved me as HIS own.

The LORD was so gracious to send a song to me this morning as I was listening to the radio and preparing breakfast... I stopped and listened. It became my prayer.

Make me an instrument LORD... for your kingdom . Make me to love, as you love.... for you are LOVE.

Take Me, Lord

Take me, Lord, use me now.
Draw me close, O Lord.
Give me godly understanding of your Holy Word.
Let me live so close to you
Others, too, may see
Jesus’ love and great compassion
Shining forth in me.

Chorus
Use me, Lord Jesus,
Now for your glory.
May all I say and do
Glorify your name.

*

When my heart suffers pain,
Jesus lingers near.
He will give me peace within
And whisper, “I am here.”
When I falter on my way,
He will take my hand.
Then, so gently He forgives me.
He will understand.

*

Take my life day by day
Yielded Lord to you.
Take my hands to labor gently
Bringing others, too.
Take my lips to sing Your praise
Worship only You.
Showing love to those
Who need the love of Jesus, too.

By Roma J. Schankweiler

 

May God's perfect LOVE dwell richly in your heart today... and may you please God above all else.

~Ellie

 

You are the GOD of heaven, not?

" Praise the LORD; for HIS mercy endureth forever."  2 CHRONICLES 20:21

While  meditating on the 20th chapter of second Chronicles, I was deeply touched at God's provision for His people. Even when the people were in the midst of fear from their enemies, God was merciful. At first glance, victory over the enemy was quite impossible... the numbers were against them. How often I find myself in the same situation... fearful in the hand of the enemy. But God reminds us to be still. He will fight for us... and win the battle!

In my thankfulness to God, I decided to jot down a poem of sorts. He is the God of heaven, is He not? He can do ALL things!

YOU ARE THE GOD OF HEAVEN, NOT?

*

When everything around us seems to sway

And fears arise within our hearts.

We see our strength can sometimes falter,

From many swift and flying darts.

*

And thus we find ourselves no longer strong

With things that come and cloud our way.

Amidst it all we lift our eyes on thee O Lord,

And bow accepting what ever may.

*

You are the God of heaven, not?

And in Thine hand is there not might?

We cry to Thee and Thou wilt hear

For we by faith shall live, and not by sight.

*

In our affliction Thou art always near,

You ask  of us to  just be still.

In truth , salvation comes from Thee,

And so we kneel and  bow before Thy  will.

*

You have  a plan to rescue us

Thy Word is true, we can be strong.

"The battle is not yours, but mine."

O Lord forgive, for we've been wrong!

*

We praise your name, O Lord

Our way's  established from all ill

To Thee be glory, praise and honor 

As we abide before Thee still.

*

In Thee is victory indeed,

Our battle has been won.

We put our trust and hope in Thee

To find all  fear is slowly gone. 

~Ellie 5/6/2014

May you know the God of heaven and rejoice that we have victory  through Him.

~Ellie

TURN AWAY mine eyes FROM beholding VANITY...

" TEACH me O Lord the way of THY statues... Give me UNDERSTANDING, and I shall keep THY law... Make me to go in the path of THY commandments... Incline my HEART unto THY testimonies, and not to covetousness... STABLISH THY WORD unto thy servant." PS. 119: 33-38.

Lately I've been thinking about our role here on this earth. What is the meaning of our salvation? As I was memorizing a few verses from Psalm 73, I came to the last verse, where it says, " But it is good for me to draw near to GOD, I have put my trust in the LORD, GOD... that I might declare ALL THY works.

I guess it's real simple. We are to show forth God's work in us. We are to live for HIS glory. And we are to imitate the LORD JESUS CHRIST through our actions.

Last night while getting ready for bed, my husband and I took a few hymns to sing together. And while he was still brushing his teeth, I was flipping through the hymn book, looking for a few hymns we could sing together. That's when I ran across a hymn I didn't seem to recognize... and I wasn't familiar with the melody either. But I loved the words!

It's not about us. We are to have the mind of Christ in us always... in our actions, thoughts and deeds.

I'm posting the words, not only because it's such a beautiful hymn, but I'm hoping it will encourage you as it did me.

O I want to be like Jesus,
As I walk along this pilgrim way;
O I want to live like Jesus,
Showing forth His beauty every day.
This my prayer and deepest longing -
To be pure without, within.
O I want to be like Jesus,
Cleansed from dross and free from self and sin.

O I want to talk like Jesus,
Gracious are the words from Him we hear:
Words of life and hope for sinners,
Tender healing words of love and cheer.
O the power and the value of a fitly spoken word!
O I want to talk like Jesus,
Any time or place my voice is heard.

O I want to serve like Jesus,
Willingly He came from Heaven above;
On the earth He lived for others,
Spent His life in kindly deeds of love.
I would follow where He leads me
And His bidding always do.
O I want to serve like Jesus
Till my traveling days on earth are through.

John W. Peterson

I'm again reminded of the LORD JESUS CHRIST... who came as a servant, not to to be served, but rather to serve... and in the end, gave HIS life that we may live.

We are to live for God... and to be free of self.

"And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto HIM which died for them and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:15

May you be strengthened in the thought today... to live for Jesus... to talk like Jesus...and to serve like Jesus.

~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