Have you ever just sat and thought about Jesus' blood? Scarlet. Shed for us. God's love sacrifice. Jesus shed his blood for us so that we may be saved and live with Him eternally. Hebrews 9:22 'As Moses' Teachings tell us, blood was used to cleanse almost everything, because if no blood is shed, no sins can be forgiven.' In the Old Testament, you had to bring your sacrifices to the priest. Jesus took the place of those sacrifices. Jesus shed his blood for our sins. One sacrifice for all mankind. Aren't you glad you don't have to sacrifice doves and unblemished animals depending on the sin? Just believing in Jesus is so much simpler, but yet, how much harder. To believe that Jesus died for you, took all your sin upon himself, that to be saved all you have to do is confess your sins and repent of them, ask Jesus to come into your heart, and believe He is the Son of God. Romans 5:8 'Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us.' Even before we were born, Jesus came to die for us. Before we knew Him, He died for us. John 15:13 'The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends.' This is what Jesus did for us.
Psalm 103:12 'As distant as the east is from the west, that is how far he has removed our sins from us.' Isaiah 1:18 'Come on now, let's discuss this!" says the LORD. "Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool.' No matter your past, no matter what you've done, no matter the faults, failures, mistakes you've made, once you ask Jesus to forgive you and He's in your heart, God can't see past the blood! Your past sins are just that. In the past. Each day is new.
Colossians 1:19-23 'For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.' Uncommon hope to be holy in God's sight. Jesus' blood. Without it, there is no remission of sins. Have you experienced the uncommon hope of Jesus? Psalm 34:8 'Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him.' Take that step today. It is never too late. He is calling you, wooing you, knocking on your heart's door, seeking to come in. Won't you answer the call and let Him in?
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Thursday, December 31, 2015
2016 Word and Verses
I love cows and snow so this is the perfect picture! This year I have a word and some verses that go with that word. I am anxious to find other verses, God's words, that will impact my walk with Him. My word is: uncommon hope. Yes, that is two words, but they go together for me. I tried making hope one word, like hopeful, hopefulness, etc, but they just didn't work like uncommon hope. What do I mean by that? Below is what I'm studying on and the verses that have applied so far.
Uncommon hope, as in the uncommon hope we have in Jesus when He died on the cross. Uncommon hope that He loves us. John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Uncommon hope that we have eternal life in Him. John 10:26-28 26"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.… Uncommon hope that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
What words and/or verses impact you? Have you read a verse that just stopped you and you had to go back and reread it several times to let it soak in? What was it? What word or words do you feel God giving you for the new year?
Sunday, December 13, 2015
God is a jealous God
This morning, my pastor said something that got me to thinking. God is a jealous God. What does that mean? What can I learn about this? Pastor said jealous can mean jealous rage or disappointment.
If we really love someone, we'll go out of our way to please them, to be noticed by them, to do something each day to show our love. What do we do to show God we love Him? Show up at church on Sunday morning? Stand for worship and act like we're singing and pouring our hearts out to Him? Pray when the pastor says pray? Lift our hands when the pastor says lift your hands? But what are we doing on our own to show God we love Him? Do we pray each day, even during the week when we're not coming to church? Do all our days look the same, reading God's Word, praying, witnessing, and obeying? Or do we reserve those activities for Sunday only?
Deuteronomy 4:24 'The Lord your God is a raging fire, a God who does not tolerate rivals.' No thing should be before God. We should live our life as unto God, doing our best for Him. Anything that comes before your relationship with God is an idol. God is a jealous God and doesn't want anything in your life to come before Him. There should be no doubt as to whom you serve. Be committed in your relationship with God. Show Him that He is most important in your life on a daily basis, not just on Sunday morning.
If we really love someone, we'll go out of our way to please them, to be noticed by them, to do something each day to show our love. What do we do to show God we love Him? Show up at church on Sunday morning? Stand for worship and act like we're singing and pouring our hearts out to Him? Pray when the pastor says pray? Lift our hands when the pastor says lift your hands? But what are we doing on our own to show God we love Him? Do we pray each day, even during the week when we're not coming to church? Do all our days look the same, reading God's Word, praying, witnessing, and obeying? Or do we reserve those activities for Sunday only?
Deuteronomy 4:24 'The Lord your God is a raging fire, a God who does not tolerate rivals.' No thing should be before God. We should live our life as unto God, doing our best for Him. Anything that comes before your relationship with God is an idol. God is a jealous God and doesn't want anything in your life to come before Him. There should be no doubt as to whom you serve. Be committed in your relationship with God. Show Him that He is most important in your life on a daily basis, not just on Sunday morning.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Criticizing Moses?
Reading in Numbers 12 today and came across this: In Chapter 12, "Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan." Now, Miriam and Aaron were close to Moses, wouldn't you say? So, if Moses wasn't exempt from criticism from his closest friends, what makes us think everything we do is going to be accepted by everyone else? It goes on to say, "Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth." I wish that could be said about me. I will have to try harder. But then, I think, it doesn't come down to trying harder, but that being the way you are. It is something ingrained in you, something that comes from inside of you. Once it's inside of you, humbleness will pour forth for everyone to see. Then the Lord calls Miriam, Aaron, and Moses to a meeting. The Lord says, "When there are prophets of the Lord among you, I make myself known to them in visions or speak to them in dreams. But this is not the way I treat my servant Moses. He is the most faithful person in my household. I speak to him face to face, plainly and not in riddles. He even sees the form of the Lord. Why weren't you afraid to criticize my servant Moses?" Now that gave me chills. Miriam and Aaron thought they could criticize Moses and God wouldn't care? What were they thinking? But Moses was so close to God. Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was punished. God knew and cared what others said about Moses and punished them. So, first of all, don't criticize others. You don't know how close to God they are. Second, oh that I could be that close to God!
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Couch to 5k and giving your all to God
Our church is participating in the Couch to 5k Run For God event. In August, we will run our first 5k. We are at week 10 right now. Along the way, we have learned how running is like our Christian journey. Each week we learn a bit more about running and have scriptures that we focus on each day we run. We started slow, alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. Now we are running for 27 minutes. How did we get there? By working at it. By slowly increasing our running time over our walking time. This is the same with our Christian walk. You start out slow, learning as you go. Through trials, temptations, valleys, mountains, miracles, blessings, you learn the heart of God. Not overnight. Just like overnight you won't be running 3 miles. It's a race: 1 Corinthians 9:24 "Don't you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win." Be focused on the prize-entering Heaven. Jesus died for us that we could have everlasting life. The race won't be easy. People, situations, circumstances, will distract us, waylay us, keep us from finishing. But hold on. God is on your side. With His strength you can do all things.
You need running gear to run: shoes, socks, shirts, etc. What do you need in your spiritual race? Prayer, reading God's Word, fellowship with other Christians. For both races, you must prepare. You must spend time preparing. You can't run a 5k without practice and training. You can't be a growing Christian without prayer, reading God's Word, growing closer to Him every day.
Have you ever said I can't even before you tried? Think you can't run, but you haven't trained first? If you start out trying to run 3 miles you will get very discouraged. It took us 10 weeks to get to this point, running and walking 3 times a week for 10 weeks. But we toughed it out and stayed the course and now look! Has God asked you to do something that is so far out of your comfort zone you say there is no way you can do that? You can do it! You've trained for this moment. You've been reading God's Word, you've been praying, you've been listening to your Pastor preach week after week. Apply what you have learned and lean on God. You can do it!
Be focused. Keep your eye on the finish line. Don't be swayed by lies, temptations, tricks of the devil. Just as running a race you have to watch for pitfalls, stumbles, and sore muscles, so it is with the Christian race. The devil is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We must be ever watching, be prayed up, hiding God's Word in our heart so we might not sin against Him. You can't be deterred by what your neighbor is doing.
The other day I was watching some runners who were approaching the finish line. Do you know what I saw? Runners who were not watching what the spectators were doing. I doubt they even saw them. They were running, legs stretched as far as they would go, sweat running off of them, fierce looking expressions on their face, arms pumping. All they saw was the finish line. Are you living your Christian life this way? Are you so focused on God that you aren't tempted by the things around you? That all you see is God and you live your life fully for Him?
As I've been training for my first 5k, I realized I haven't been running all out. It's been more of a jog. I can't imagine my face looking like some of the runners I saw. But, if I'm not willing to give it my all, why am I running? I must step it up. I must push myself. How is this like the Christian race? Instead of lolly gagging along, running willy nilly, I must keep my eye on the prize, continually pushing myself, giving my all to God-my conversations, my relationships, my money, my talents, my abilities, my job, my family, my all. All that I am is His, till I have that look on my face and I don't see the people around me, wondering what they are thinking, keeping me from doing what God has called me to do for Him.
What is holding you back from whole-heartedly serving God? Let nothing deter you. Be so focused on Him, the people around you will see Christ in you.
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
See you at the finish line! You can do it!
You need running gear to run: shoes, socks, shirts, etc. What do you need in your spiritual race? Prayer, reading God's Word, fellowship with other Christians. For both races, you must prepare. You must spend time preparing. You can't run a 5k without practice and training. You can't be a growing Christian without prayer, reading God's Word, growing closer to Him every day.
Have you ever said I can't even before you tried? Think you can't run, but you haven't trained first? If you start out trying to run 3 miles you will get very discouraged. It took us 10 weeks to get to this point, running and walking 3 times a week for 10 weeks. But we toughed it out and stayed the course and now look! Has God asked you to do something that is so far out of your comfort zone you say there is no way you can do that? You can do it! You've trained for this moment. You've been reading God's Word, you've been praying, you've been listening to your Pastor preach week after week. Apply what you have learned and lean on God. You can do it!
Be focused. Keep your eye on the finish line. Don't be swayed by lies, temptations, tricks of the devil. Just as running a race you have to watch for pitfalls, stumbles, and sore muscles, so it is with the Christian race. The devil is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We must be ever watching, be prayed up, hiding God's Word in our heart so we might not sin against Him. You can't be deterred by what your neighbor is doing.
The other day I was watching some runners who were approaching the finish line. Do you know what I saw? Runners who were not watching what the spectators were doing. I doubt they even saw them. They were running, legs stretched as far as they would go, sweat running off of them, fierce looking expressions on their face, arms pumping. All they saw was the finish line. Are you living your Christian life this way? Are you so focused on God that you aren't tempted by the things around you? That all you see is God and you live your life fully for Him?
As I've been training for my first 5k, I realized I haven't been running all out. It's been more of a jog. I can't imagine my face looking like some of the runners I saw. But, if I'm not willing to give it my all, why am I running? I must step it up. I must push myself. How is this like the Christian race? Instead of lolly gagging along, running willy nilly, I must keep my eye on the prize, continually pushing myself, giving my all to God-my conversations, my relationships, my money, my talents, my abilities, my job, my family, my all. All that I am is His, till I have that look on my face and I don't see the people around me, wondering what they are thinking, keeping me from doing what God has called me to do for Him.
What is holding you back from whole-heartedly serving God? Let nothing deter you. Be so focused on Him, the people around you will see Christ in you.
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
See you at the finish line! You can do it!
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Praying for Secret Situations
The other morning as I was praying, this came to me. There are people suffering from secret situations, secret burdens, problems, cares, etc. Situations that for whatever reasons even their spouses, best friends, or children know nothing about.
Whether from fear of rejection, aloneness, or the feeling no one could possibly understand what you are going through, these secret situations are carried by you and no one knows about them. To you, I say, I am praying for you. You are not alone. Sometimes it's hard to talk about what you are going through or having to deal with. Who can you trust? Who will pray with you? God knows, God cares, and God is there. He knows what you are going through; He cares for you and loves you so much; He is there for you. Let Him comfort your heart and help you through. You are not alone. I pray for each one who has a secret situation. Let God wrap His arms around you and comfort you today.
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
John 16:33 I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.
Hebrews 13:5 Don't love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, I will never abandon you or leave you.
Isaiah 55:10-11 Rain and snow come down from the sky. They do not go back again until they water the earth. They make it sprout and grow so that it produces seed for farmers and food for people to eat. My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.
Let today be the day you turn loose of these secret situations and turn them over to God. Experience His comfort and peace in your heart as you leave these in His care.
Philippians 4:6-7 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.
Whether from fear of rejection, aloneness, or the feeling no one could possibly understand what you are going through, these secret situations are carried by you and no one knows about them. To you, I say, I am praying for you. You are not alone. Sometimes it's hard to talk about what you are going through or having to deal with. Who can you trust? Who will pray with you? God knows, God cares, and God is there. He knows what you are going through; He cares for you and loves you so much; He is there for you. Let Him comfort your heart and help you through. You are not alone. I pray for each one who has a secret situation. Let God wrap His arms around you and comfort you today.
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
John 16:33 I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.
Hebrews 13:5 Don't love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, I will never abandon you or leave you.
Isaiah 55:10-11 Rain and snow come down from the sky. They do not go back again until they water the earth. They make it sprout and grow so that it produces seed for farmers and food for people to eat. My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.
Let today be the day you turn loose of these secret situations and turn them over to God. Experience His comfort and peace in your heart as you leave these in His care.
Philippians 4:6-7 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Psalm 40:4,16
This is my scripture for this year. (Yes, it is two, but when I read them, they seemed to go together.)Psalm 40:4,16 Blessed is the person who places his confidence in the Lord and does not rely on arrogant people or those who follow lies. Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, "The Lord is great!"
What this said to me: I will be blessed if I put my confidence in the Lord. Tithing is coming out of my pay first this year. If I don't consciously do it, it gets pushed down and sometimes not done. This year I want to show that I trust God to meet my needs by paying my tithes first, before the bills and everything else, like the firstfruits in the Old Testament. Ezekiel 44:30 "The priests should have the best of all the first ripened fruits. The best of every gift from all your contributions must go to the priests. The best of your dough must go to the priests. This will cause a blessing to rest on your home." When I read this scripture what went through my mind was, the best of every gift from all your contributions-what's the best of that? The first. God getting the first is better than Him getting whatever might be left over.
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. Not only will I be blessed doing these things, but I will rejoice and be glad. Who doesn't need more of this? Being rejoiceful and glad is having a light heart, not weighted down with worrying. I have given it all to God and he will take care of me. And according to Ezekiel's scripture above, not just me, but my home. That is a promise.
Let those who love your salvation continually say, "The Lord is great!"-Continually I will say the Lord is great if I am doing these things. When my eyes and heart are on God, I may not understand why things happen, but I know God is in control and has a plan for me. I just have to trust and believe in His goodness, mercy, and grace.
My firstfruits of talent will be given to God continuing this year also. I started playing bass last year with God and youtube and lots of prayer. Each time I learned a bit more about playing, I would youtube more videos to find out something else and then practice. I could feel Jesus sitting on the couch encouraging me, cheering me. I don't want to lose that feeling. He felt so close. When I play with the praise and worship team at church, it is worship for me. I am playing for God. He has given me this talent and I want to use it for Him. This year I want to learn the harmonica. I think it will be a bit more complicated to learn how to play, but there will be many conversations between me and God while I learn. One thing the pastor has said that has stuck with is: Don't let your worship just be words; mean them-believe them. As I worship, I want God to know I mean the words; I believe them.
Check out my scripture for last year here:
http://personalbiblestudies.blogspot.com/2014/05/ephesians-429-30-and-philippians-46-7.html
My pastor preached a message on this last year and I have it on cd. This year, he preached on my message again. Great confirmation! He said: 2 Chronicles 20:20 "Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established. Trust the Lord your God, and believe. Believe his prophets, and you will succeed." If I place my confidence in the Lord, if I only rely on Him, if I seek Him, and love his salvation, I will succeed. Another promise from God!
My motto for 2015: Hold on, don't quit, don't let go. What is your scripture for 2015?
What this said to me: I will be blessed if I put my confidence in the Lord. Tithing is coming out of my pay first this year. If I don't consciously do it, it gets pushed down and sometimes not done. This year I want to show that I trust God to meet my needs by paying my tithes first, before the bills and everything else, like the firstfruits in the Old Testament. Ezekiel 44:30 "The priests should have the best of all the first ripened fruits. The best of every gift from all your contributions must go to the priests. The best of your dough must go to the priests. This will cause a blessing to rest on your home." When I read this scripture what went through my mind was, the best of every gift from all your contributions-what's the best of that? The first. God getting the first is better than Him getting whatever might be left over.
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. Not only will I be blessed doing these things, but I will rejoice and be glad. Who doesn't need more of this? Being rejoiceful and glad is having a light heart, not weighted down with worrying. I have given it all to God and he will take care of me. And according to Ezekiel's scripture above, not just me, but my home. That is a promise.
Let those who love your salvation continually say, "The Lord is great!"-Continually I will say the Lord is great if I am doing these things. When my eyes and heart are on God, I may not understand why things happen, but I know God is in control and has a plan for me. I just have to trust and believe in His goodness, mercy, and grace.
My firstfruits of talent will be given to God continuing this year also. I started playing bass last year with God and youtube and lots of prayer. Each time I learned a bit more about playing, I would youtube more videos to find out something else and then practice. I could feel Jesus sitting on the couch encouraging me, cheering me. I don't want to lose that feeling. He felt so close. When I play with the praise and worship team at church, it is worship for me. I am playing for God. He has given me this talent and I want to use it for Him. This year I want to learn the harmonica. I think it will be a bit more complicated to learn how to play, but there will be many conversations between me and God while I learn. One thing the pastor has said that has stuck with is: Don't let your worship just be words; mean them-believe them. As I worship, I want God to know I mean the words; I believe them.
Check out my scripture for last year here:
http://personalbiblestudies.blogspot.com/2014/05/ephesians-429-30-and-philippians-46-7.html
My pastor preached a message on this last year and I have it on cd. This year, he preached on my message again. Great confirmation! He said: 2 Chronicles 20:20 "Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established. Trust the Lord your God, and believe. Believe his prophets, and you will succeed." If I place my confidence in the Lord, if I only rely on Him, if I seek Him, and love his salvation, I will succeed. Another promise from God!
My motto for 2015: Hold on, don't quit, don't let go. What is your scripture for 2015?
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