Who shall separate us from the LOVE of Christ?

" Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Romans 8:37

Lately I've been thinking much on my unworthiness... how little I deserve God's love to be poured forth on me.

I am ever so grateful for the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for me, that I might have eternal life. 

Sometimes I go through the day without dwelling much on the "seal" that was placed on my life... granting me eternity forever in the presence of the King. 

I didn't deserve such love.

"... in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." Ephesians 1:13

The Holy Spirit of promise...

I often forget to look up when trials come my way. I often forget that my God has once and for all purchased me for His own... and nothing shall touch me.

"... for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." 

Zechariah 2:8

What a promise!

So this morning, I was once again encouraged to look unto the Lord Jesus Christ for strength. He alone keeps me in His hand. And nothing shall separate me from His precious love!

When  when all around may crumble. When fears arise. When I falter....  I am reminded that a promise was made to me though His Word.

... that NOTHING shall separate me from His love.

And the life I now live...

"... I live by the faith of the Son of God, who LOVED me, and GAVE Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Are trials in your life encompassing you? Remember that nothing is too difficult for God.

"God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 

Matthew 22:32

May you be encouraged today to draw strength from the living WORD... which alone can save... and bring hope through His precious promises.

~Ellie 

Be of good courage; IT IS I; Be NOT afraid.

" And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased." Matthew 14:32

In this morning's Bible reading I was blessed yet again when I read the marvelous and mighty acts of the Lord Jesus being performed. And yet this morning I stood a bit to meditate...

I thought about what it means to be in the presence of the One who could heal, give faith and strengthen. 

Have you ever felt the "wind being still" when in the Lord's presence? Do you find strength in His presence... in His Word... when everything around you is tumultuous?

Who can calm your soul when  "high winds" and "waves so big" make you feel utterly helpless and ready to sink?

Such thoughts crossed my mind while reading through chapter 14 of Matthew. I marveled when reading through the account of the Lord Jesus being followed by a great multitude. I thought of the people longing for healing. 

One thing the multitude knew... they knew the Lord Jesus could heal. 

The Lord's compassion  and care was evident upon all... not just a few, but the whole multitude... 5000 people! And He knew their needs...

" They need not depart; give ye them to eat. " 

Matthew 14:16

 and, 

"Bring them hither to me." 

Matthew 14:18

O, what calm and peace when in the presence of the One who takes care of our needs... physical and spiritual!

And as I read of the disciples' fear when encountering the tumultuous waters about them...  tossed about from high winds and waves... I thought again of the peace found only in the presence of the Lord.

How calming and assuring the Lord Jesus' words were,

" Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." 

Matthew 14: 27

Peter's desire to walk on water, right along with the Lord, shows how he placed his trust and hope in the One who alone could save him from the tumultuous seas. 

And yet the minute Peter took His eyes off the Lord... fear crept in. However, the Lord never once left Peter...

... and He never leaves us!

It was so very comforting to me when I read that the Lord immediately reached forth to take Peter's hand ... AND CATCHES HIM... before He could ever sink. 

 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, 

O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" 

Matthew 14:31

How important it is for us to trust and not look away from the One who is our strength.

The wind ceased ... when they were all in the ship with the Lord Jesus.

What a beautiful reminder for me this morning... in the presence of the Lord Jesus... all waves cease!

Oh that I would desire to be in His presence. He alone controls and calms the winds that come in my life...  no harm can come upon me when I am in His presence.

And when I lack the faith needed to stand, He immediately takes hold of me... and catches me... so I would not sink. 

Isn't it marvelous...the Lord's tender care for us?

May you be encouraged to rely on the Lord Jesus to calm the winds in your life.

~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

... ye are not your own. For you are bought with a price....

"Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him" Deuteronomy 13:4.

This morning as I was walking,  I happened to hear a song... a song I 'd never heard before. The song brought to remembrance a verse that I don't often dwell on... as I ought. 

Oh, that I would be reminded of it every day! 

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 

which ye have of God, 

and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, 

and in your spirit, which are God's." 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

How often I go through the day... forgetting that a price was paid for my redemption. A price no one could pay that could satisfy our Father in heaven. Only ONE could pay that price ... the Lord Jesus Christ. Blood had to be shed SO that I could partake of the divine nature and be called a child of God. 

And not just a child of God... but an HEIR of God... JOINT HEIR with Jesus Christ. (Romans 8).

That I would walk after the Lord, my GOD...

That I would fear Him...

That I would keep His commandments...

That I would obey His voice...

That I should serve Him....

... and cleave unto Him.

O, Lord help me to live my life... led by your Holy Spirit... and remind me that I am not my own. That you have paid a most precious price... 

... giving me all that I have and am!

May praise be continually on my lips...

Lord, I must be yours alone.

Teach me I am not my own.

Crush and mold this heart of stone.

In your image make it.

Willful, stubborn, Lord, it's true-

I do what I want to do.

Let me learn to follow you.

Take my will and break it

From my self I would be free.

Take all my identity,

Fill with your humility.

Seize my pride and shake it.

When a helpless wreck I am,

Take me and rebuild the sham

To be like the Living Lamb,

My life, on Him I stake it.

Written by: Abigail Miller

May you be led by the Spirit as you seek to honor Him in your life today.
~Ellie

How GREAT is His Goodness, and how GREAT is His Beauty...

" That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life." Luke 1: 74,75

This past week I have been dwelling much on God's goodness. How often I go through the day and not see God's beauty in my life. How easily I focus on the things I need to "attain". How preoccupied I am with things not "going well"...

... that I find myself missing the beauty of God's goodness poured forth(in abundance) on my life.

Murmuring, discontentment seeps in unknowingly.... because I fail to count my blessings.

Do you ever get caught up with negative and critical and judgmental thoughts? Thoughts that take over and cloud our perspective on life? Do you find yourself  "running to and fro" trying to accomplish things that are not lasting?

Motives that are simply empty of  eternal value?

Well, this week I found myself thus... lacking the eternal perspective. Lacking focus on what really matters in life... what really counts for eternity.

The Lord brought some beautiful reminders as I was reading His word. How precious to stop and dwell on the Lord's goodness and beauty.

• For I am to be a witness UNTO HIM...

But ye shall receive power, 

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: 

and ye shall be witnesses unto me..." 

Acts 1:8

• I am to serve Him in holiness and righteousness BEFORE HIM...

"... serve Him without fear, 

in holiness and righteousness 

before Him, 

all the days of our life."

 Luke 1:75

• I am to do service AS TO THE LORD, and not to men...

"...doing service, as to the Lord, 

and not to men." 

Ephesians 6:7

Blessed today with a few verses that encouraged me to bring glory unto the Lord and see His beauty in my life.

 “Honor and majesty are before Him; 

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary,” 

“Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! ”

Psalm 96:6, 9

 “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; 

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

Psalm 29:2

 “And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, 

and establish the work of our hands for us; 

Yes, establish the work of our hands.” 

Psalm 90:17

I often have to remember that my life here is not to serve man, nor myself... but rather to serve the Lord... all the days of my life.

May you be encouraged to see God's beauty and holiness in your life today...
~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

...Seek righteousness, Seek meekness...

"Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; 

seek righteousness, seek meekness... " Zephaniah 2:3

Do you ever get annoyed with those around you? Do you ever feel "persecuted "... or maybe just not understood? Do you find it hard to be humble and meek even when someone is against you?  These questions arose one day in my mind when I was reading a very well known verse.

The verse relates the Lord's desire for us to love our enemies. Sure, maybe those who annoy, speak evil against us, or misuse us for their own good aren't necessarily our "enemies"... 

However, we treat them as enemies.

" But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you..." 

Matthew 5:44

As I read the verse over and over again, I was really convicted. Do I really love my enemy? It's easy to answer, "Yes." when not confronted.  But when confronted... well, it's a different matter all together. 

It seems as if that person is out to get me no matter what I do... or so I think.

And the verse doesn't stop with just loving our enemies...

... I am to also bless them,

... and do good to them,

... and pray for them. 

I confess the last thing I think about when confronted... while someone's hatred is directed towards me ... is to love them. And I'm not even talking about doing good to them or blessing them or... even yet, praying for them as I ought. 

I thought about the verse a long time, and confessed my inadequacies. SO much of our actions are centered on our worth. How we view ourselves... in the light of our own pride. Or in the light of what others may think of us.

So I was reminded yet again... that God seeks those who are of a contrite heart. One who is meek and lowly.

Then why the struggle to love our enemy? Why do we get annoyed with those around us?

It may be that we are after the things of the flesh...because, 

".. they that are after the things of the flesh, mind the things of the flesh. 

But they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." 

 Romans 8:5

I realize I need to ask  myself constantly, "Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit evident in my life today?" 

If my heavenly Father chose to love me...to send His only Son to die for me... when I was His enemy... 

" For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son..."

 Romans 5:10

... then, I too, am to show mercy and grace to those who cause me harm. 

A child of God  manifests to all that we have been made a new creation. 

Old things are passed away...

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:

 old things are passed away..." 

2 Cor. 5:17

May you feel encouraged today to seek righteousness and meekness... 

~Ellie