God's Grace In Montana: more than conquerors

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

But thanks be unto GOD, which gives us the victory...

" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE, always ABOUNDING in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is NOT IN VAIN in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Some months ago I read a verse that has stayed with me for a great while. And this morning I was thinking about it... and thought how needful it is for us, that we be not weary in well doing.

I thought about the military men and women, the firefighters, the policemen and all those who have given their lives for us,... so that we might have freedom here on earth. Those that have put their lives in harm's way. Yes, we should be most thankful for the people that gave their lives for us...

And yet, I thought of the verse that spoke to me months ago:

" Men that have hazarded their lives

for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Acts 15:26

Yes, to risk our lives,

... for the furtherance of the gospel,

... for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

... that others might have eternal freedom.

How important it is that we would be devoted to serving our LORD GOD... in good times and in bad... for HE has indeed given us reason to rejoice. The LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who offered/gave His life willingly for us... that we might know the only TRUE GOD and have eternal life.

Oh, that our desire would be for those around us to know the LORD JESUS CHRIST.... that we would be steadfast, unmoveable... always abounding in the work of the Lord.

For indeed He gives us the victory to overcome whatever comes our way, so that His glory might be seen in us and through us.

And so this morning I was encouraged to sing a hymn as a reminder to serve Him in all I do or say.

May The Mind Of Christ My Savior Live In Me From Day To Day

May the mind of Christ my Savior

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and pow’r controlling

All I do and say.

May the Word of Christ dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

Only through His pow’r.

May the peace of Christ my Savior

Rule my life in every thing,

That I may be calm to comfort

Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me,

As the waters fill the sea;

Him exalting, self abasing,

This is victory.

May I run the race before me,

Strong and brave to face the foe,

Looking only unto Jesus

As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me

As I seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

Seeing only Him.

Lord, help us to be devoted to you... that the gospel may not be maligned, but rather be seen in us.

May you be encouraged to stand strong amidst the trials... knowing victory is in the Lord's hands.

~Ellie

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Giving NO offence in ANY THING...

" But in ALL things approving ourselves as the ministers of God..." 2 Corinthians 6:4

This morning I happened to catch a devotional being read while preparing breakfast. Normally my thoughts "run to and fro" while getting things ready for the table... but the radio is still in the background with music or scripture being read. Sometimes I don't always hear everything amidst the noise of preparing breakfast. However, there's always a "nugget "of treasure that keeps me encouraged...

A verse was shared this morning ... and with the verse, the thought that we possess ALL things. How wonderful the thought! I quickly made a mental jot to look up the verse after breakfast and meditate on the treasure given me.

" ... as having nothing, yet possessing All things."

2 Corinthians 6:10

I started reading at the beginning of the chapter to understand the verse a bit better... and how blessed and encouraged I was!

Too often I forget... how RICH I am... and that I posses ALL things... IN Christ!

"... and you are complete in Him."

Colossians 2:10

Have you ever felt yourself lacking? I know most of us often associate richness with material things, but being rich isn't about the things of this world...

Have you ever felt yourself....

without the "means" to get through the day?
at "loss" when it comes to... going the extra mile, showing kindness, applying grace to someone who's wronged you?
"poor" and "hopeless" and "without knowledge" when it comes to applying Christ-like attributes ... be it to others, or in situations where surroundings test our "worth"?

I was overwhelmed with the encouragement I received from the verses I read. Oh, what wealth of knowledge has been given to us... indeed we posses ALL things and we lack NO good thing!

I thought to write down the key points from 2 Corinthinas 6:1-10... as a reminder of what God's power and His Holy Spirit can do in our lives... when we are faced with various trials.

As workers together with the LORD... we are not to receive the grace of God in vain:

Giving NO offence in ANY THING... that the ministry be not blamed.

As ministers of God... approving ourselves in ALL things:

in much patience
in afflictions
in necessities
in distresses
in stripes
in imprisonments
in tumults
in labours
in watchings
in fastings

Working and ministering...

by pureness
by knowledge
by long-suffering
by kindness
by the HOLY GHOST
by love unfeigned (genuine, without hypocrisy)
by the WORD OF TRUTH
by the POWER OF GOD
by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left

In ALL situations...

by honour and dishonour
by evil report, and bad report
as deceivers, and yet true
as unknown, and yet well known
as dying, and behold we live
as chastened, and not killed
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
as poor, yet making many rich

AS HAVING NOTHING, YET POSSESSING ALL THINGS.

Lord, may your power and Holy Spirit work in us to be strengthened with all might... working in us all... a patience and long-suffering... that is accomplished with joyfulness.

May you be encouraged today to give no offence in any thing... and be reminded that in Christ we possess ALL things. We are more than conquerors through Him... who loved us to the the end.

~Ellie

Memory Verses

Ephesians 1: 3-23

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.