Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear...

" Wherefore gird up the loins OF YOUR MIND, be sober, and HOPE TO THE END for the GRACE that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13

How often I forget the reason for my existence and the purpose for my life on this earth. More often than not, I tend to lose sight of God's reason for placing me on this earth. It's not that I'm not aware of His purpose in my life, but I find my mind  preoccupied too much with the "cares of the world" ... and too little glorifying God. Way too little...

How thankful I am for God's Word that brings me back to the light. Reading through 1 Peter, I was once again encouraged to fix my eyes on the things above.

I am reminded that,

... my existence isn't to fulfill my own pleasures.

... my existence isn't that I run around seeking to fulfill "my life's ambitions".

... my existence isn't for worldly gain.

... my existence isn't that I "be the best that I can be" in the eyes of the world. 

No, my existence is purely to GLORIFY GOD and give HIM PRAISE in all that I do. 

I am to remember that HE brought salvation to my soul and turned me from the pit of darkness to His glorious light.

" But you are a CHOSEN people, a ROYAL priesthood, and HOLY nation, 

His OWN SPECIAL people; 

that ye should shew forth the praises of Him 

who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 

1 Peter 2:9

And so I was thankful this morning for the reminder to:

1) Gird up the loins of my mind,

     ... and be prepared for action. 

                 ( 1 Pet.1:13)

2) Pass the time of my sojourning here on earth... in fear,

    ... laying aside all forms of malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speakings. 

                         (1 Pet.1:17/ 2 Pet.2:1)

3) Believe in God.

     ... that my HOPE and FAITH might be in God. 

                        (1 Pet.1:21)

The Word of God says it best in Ecclesiastes,

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; 

Fear God, and keep His commandments, 

for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgement, 

with every secret thing, 

whether, it be good, or whether it be evil. " 

Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

Lord how we need you! Remind us of your purpose for our lives... and remove from us any selfish ambitions that lead to death. Help us to walk by your Spirit... in the light of your Word. 

May you be encouraged today to "desire the sincere(pure) milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."... honoring and glorifying God.

~Ellie

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous....

" What shall I render unto the LORD for all HIS benefits toward me?" 

Psalm 116:12

You know sometimes it's rather hard to get spiritual encouragement from passages in the Bible that are difficult to understand. Sometimes the difficult passages tend to be skipped over or  maybe they are read over with much speed.

Do you ever do that? Skip over a passage... or read over words with such speed that nothing is implanted in the heart or mind?

Well, today while reading through Jeremiah chapter 2, I felt that way.

It wasn't that the passage was difficult to understand, but my mind had a difficult time grasping the many admonitions of the LORD against the people of Judah. They were many!

You know sometimes you feel like the passage you are reading doesn't really relate to you. And I think that's where we often go wrong. We treat the words as mere "history"... facts that happened in the past.

But as I kept reading through the chapter, the LORD spoke to me as I neared the end. A verse spoke to me so strongly that I stopped to meditate on it for a long time.

" Can a maid forget her ornaments, or the bride her attire? 

Yet my people have forgotten me days without number." 

Jeremiah 2:32

Wow. God is so clear and detailed.

Have you ever thought of that? Can a bride forget her attire? We would instantly think, " Of course not!" Impossible. I mean,really, how can a bride forget her dress?

And yet... we forget God. And think nothing of it.

That's when the spirit of God made me stop. I thanked the Lord for His faithfulness.... for even when I am unfaithful, He remains faithful!

It makes me so sad to know how often I've grieved the LORD... through my lack of placing Him first, or forgetting His benefits because things "are going well".

Not to mention how I grieve Him when I take things in my own hands... thinking I can make it "all better"... all by myself. Because in reality that's what I do when I don't trust the LORD... when I fret or am anxious.

You know, it isn't just the people of Judah... that have grieved the LORD.

"For my people have committed two evils; 

They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters..." 

Jeremiah 2:13

The verse applies today to us as well... to me.

I'm grateful for the wonderful reminder today... to give the Lord God due honor and glory in my life... in trusting and obeying His word... in forgetting not His benefits.

Thankful for the Lord's mercy that endureth forever!

"...yea, our GOD is merciful." 

Psalm 116: 5

May you be encouraged to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving... and call upon the name of the LORD always.
~Ellie

How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?

" For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song..." Psalm 137:3

This morning as I read psalm 137, I immediately thought, " What can I learn from this psalm today. It's so difficult to understand. "  My attitude was one of  a deep sigh. I wanted something easy to understand at the moment. Something that was plain and simple... with words that would immediately encourage me and give me the strength I needed for the day. I even thought to jump to the next psalm. Surely it would be more promising than the one I read...

Do you ever get the same thoughts as I do? Where you want to skip over a section ... because "there's nothing there"?

Ashamed, I went back and  started re-reading the psalm. Surely God's WORD never fails.

As I began to meditate on the words I was reading, the LORD in His mercy brought food for my soul. There was  a treasure I had quickly read over and completely missed the first time around.

Is it possible to sing a song ... in a strange land? In moments when held captive? Do we opt for "hanging up our harp" because we feel sad and helpless?

" We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof..."

Psalm 137:2

Do we cry and weep when we remember moments in our lives when "everything was well"? Do we give up and forget God's goodness to us...

Such was the case with the Israelites... such is the case with us today. Woe to us if we forget God's lovingkindness...

" If I forget Thee, O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her skill.

If I do not remember Thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy...."

Psalm 137: 5-6

And so  I was deeply encouraged by a Psalm I had "given up" on. How grateful I was to God  who opened my eyes... to see my need to sing a song of praise... even in the midst of adversity. And to prefer Him above all chiefest earthly joys.

Thank you Lord... for your patience with me... and for steering me  ever so gently to see the light.

Never hang up the harp...

And may you be encouraged today to lift your voice on high and praise the LORD with your whole heart.

~Ellie

 

 

Give your BEST to the MASTER...

"A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a FATHER, where is mine honour? and if I be a MASTER, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts..." Malachi 1:6

Listening to a sermon this past weekend, I heard the above verse from Malachi being read and I immediately sat up. The verse  had touched my heart. Oh, how I must grieve the Father... how little honor I give to the ONE who gave me life.

I meditated on the verse and realized how often I dishonour my Heavenly Father . It may be that I dishonour HIM through my speech, my actions, my thoughts... or my lack of faith, my lack of esteeming HIM above all else.

My faith fails often , I lack trust in HIS might, and I don't give HIM my all.  I may hurriedly rush through my Bible reading, or my prayer... because "other things are waiting for me."

Where is my reverence to my Father?  Where is my honor to my Master? Oh, LORD forgive me ! Help me to honor and fear your HOLY name.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.

Howard B. Grose 1902

May you  honor  the Father,  and fear His HOLY name today.

~Ellie