forever enthroned

‘Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen’  

I Timothy 1:17

His birth would have meant nothing without His life and death

His death would have been meaningless without His resurrection

His purpose was fulfilled from the beginning,

            His task completed before it ever began on the earth

Jesus – the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world [Rev. 13:8]

Jesus – the Man who lived and died for all of humanity [John 1:29]

Jesus – the Conqueror who rose to life again [Heb. 12:2]

Jesus – the King who lives and rules eternally

            Seated at the right hand of the Father [Rom. 8:34]

I am thankful for His sacrifice every day of my life

There is no relationship with God Almighty without Him;

Faithful to His promise to never leave us, He sent His Holy Spirit

He is forever enthroned – in the universe and upon our hearts

We are not worthy; yet He esteemed us highly valuable

Today is just one more day to celebrate and give thanks

 

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

 

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

John 3:16

still our living hope

‘I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.’  Psalm 27:13

 

I was watching a show this morning and it echoed something that has been visiting my heart over the past few days. It made me think of a post that I originally wrote back in 2012. It was a post about ‘a living hope’. National Suicide Prevention Day is not until September 10^th  but many precious souls will not make it that long. So I am sharing that post today … since it is heavy on my heart today. I pray you will be blessed by it…

 

[originally posted 22 March 2012]

I have something that has been on my heart for several days and it just will not move for some reason. My prayer is that I can make the following statement without people jumping to a bunch of conclusions.

In the past few years with all that I have experienced personally and in my interactions with others, I have come to this conclusion:
     "There are many people who have contemplated suicide who do not want to die ... they simply want the pain to end."

They are not completely hopeless as some would presume. Saved or unsaved, they have a hope and an expectation that what lies on the other side must be better than what they are currently experiencing - if for no other reason than the simple fact that they can rest.

To those who have never been there, and cannot fathom how someone could reach that place:

• Do you know what it is like to be so exhausted from living that an eternal rest seems like a better option than awaking to face one more draining day all over again?
• Can you understand and have a heart of compassion for someone who feels that way?
• Or do you scoff, spew out a Bible verse and flippantly declare, 'It's not that serious.'? 

My heart aches for those who hurt. And I have come to the realization that but for Christ in my life (and me actively in Him), there am I.

'I would have lost hope unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.' [my emphasis] Psalm 27:13

So tonight I am praying ....
Praying that God will touch every person who is so tired of living that death seems like the only viable alternative. I pray that He would speak to you in a personal way, unique and specific to how you can hear Him best. He loves you so much and He is present, even though it may not feel that way.

My pastor made a comment on Sunday and he said, 'There are people that are so lonely ... they can be in an auditorium full of people and feel completely alone ... sometimes you need Jesus with some skin.'

Powerful statements ...
And while I pray that He would speak to you individually and directly, through a dream, through a song, through a sermon,  to your heart, through a breeze, a flower or  a touch ... I pray also that He would send you a 'Jesus with some skin', a child of God who will not judge or condemn or minimize your pain - but one who is blessed with discernment and understanding, who radiates the love and compassion of Christ in such a way that it will be difficult to discern the difference.

Yes, God is bigger than anything you are facing and He is well able to handle it. However, I have come to the realization that the biggest hurdle for most people to jump is not in comprehending or believing in the ability of God but in having the assurance of His willingness, believing that He desires to do something meaningful for them.  He does ...

Therefore, I pray that He would comfort you with an everlasting and powerful comfort. And I pray that His love would be as real and tangible as the pain has been ... and so much more so.

I pray that you would see and experience His goodness in the land of the living and that it would be the foundation for a living hope - a match which ignites a desire to stay among us and fulfill the plan and purpose that God has for you life. He does indeed have a good plan, to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a real hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

'Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the waters, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green and, it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.'  Jeremiah 17:7-8

Another word for trust is confidence or hope. It is one thing to place confidence in the LORD. However, it is something entirely different when He becomes the very confidence or hope that you possess. Jesus Christ, who died so that we could live, is our hope and confidence.

May the LORD God Almighty, truly bless you and keep you...
May His Holy Spirit supply you with strength and wisdom
May Christ be your living hope and give you hope to live ...

THE WORD OF GOD

 Merry Christmas!

I pray all is going well with you this morning –

I know some of you are well into December 25^th at this point

When my sons spoke to their dad yesterday, he was already enjoying Christmas morning

In fact, he was out doing his morning exercises

I think it is admirable that he does not break routine even on Christmas Day

Yet – there was One who broke routine on the very first Christmas so long ago

Jesus came to break our routine

His birth separated time – his actions reflected in His name ‘Emmanuel’

 

The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us

The beginning of that section of scripture notes:

‘In the beginning as the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ John 1:1-5

 

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD HAD COME

Jesus – the light of the world – had come for us all

AND HE STILL SHINES!

 

Everything He was, He still is and shall be forever –

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forevermore [Hebrews 13:8]

He is still Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace

What a tremendous blessing!

 

This morning –

Whether you are just starting your Christmas morning,

Or whether you are moving toward the end of your Christmas day;

May the blessings of the LORD abound in your heart and home, today and always

May the Blessing from the LORD – Jesus Christ – be the center of your focus

I pray you have a tremendously blessed day today

 

Merry Christmas!

 

‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher our faith …’  Hebrews 12:2

THE ULTIMATE GIFT

Good Morning

I pray all is going well with you this morning –

Happy Monday!

I had every intention of getting this post up first thing this morning

But then I got side-tracked …

I took care of a couple of chores and then decided to bake

            Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies for my guys … YUM!

This year has been particularly challenging – for my waistline

You see, I typically GIFT my baked goods

But I really do not feel like going through the hassle of packing and shipping

So, we have had a smorgasbord of treats –

Cookie assortments, bourbon balls, and cakes are up next (rum & red velvet for Christmas Eve)

It’s the most ‘calorie-filled’ time of the year!

But – treats are not the subject of our post today

GIFTS – and THE ULTIMATE GIFT in particular is the subject of our post today

I thought about this post as I was typing up one of the verses for yesterday’s post:

‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16

 

I was typing the verse from memory but then went to look at the actual text:

I had typed, ‘that whosoever believes in Him would not perish’. Yet, when I looked at the NKJV and KJV of the Bible, it notes, ‘… that whoever believes in Him should not perish …’

It seems a simple exchange, ‘would’ instead of ‘should’

But as I thought about it more, I understood why it said ‘should’

 

So – what does this have to do with GIFTS?

‘God so love the world that He gave …’

What did He give?

He gave us all an incredible GIFT

What was that GIFT?

‘… He gave His only begotten Son’

 Why did He give us this PRECIOUS, MOST ULTIMATE GIFT?

‘… that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

 

‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

 Jesus is the Indescribable and Ultimate Gift –

And, He was given so that none of the LORD’s creation should perish;

That none should have to spend a life on earth or eternity thereafter – separated from Him

But the truth of the matter is that many can and still will

You see, a gift not given, is no gift at all – kind of like my treats this year

But the LORD already tackled the issue of giving – He gave the very best gift He could

that Gift being Jesus

And Jesus keeps the gift-giving going by blessing those who believe with the Gift of the Holy Spirit [discussion for another day]

But the gift-giving is only part of the solution to the problem

Gift receiving is the second and critical portion of the equation

A gift not given is no gift at all

But, a gift given and not received – it is a gift of no effect to the recipient

If I am blessed with the ultimate gift but choose not to receive it, I am still gift-less

 

THE ULTIMATE GIFT

Understand – when it comes to the subject of salvation

While none should perish … many will perish because they refuse to accept the GIFT

 

‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’ Romans 10:9

 

‘For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.’ John 3:17

 

‘There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ Acts 4:12

 

‘For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.’ Ephesians 2:8

 

JESUS CHRIST – the indescribable, amazing and ultimate GIFT

And you do not need to wait until Christmas Morning to receive, open and enjoy this GIFT! 

Have a Blessed Day!

‘But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name,

He gave the right to become children of God’

 John 1:12

'TIS THE SEASON: ONE REASON

Good Morning Friends!

I pray you had an absolutely awesome week –

                And that your weekend is off to a great start

I am enjoying a peace-filled morning at home

Christmas Tree in my room is lit – fresh pine candle is burning

And, of course, I have had my coffee – peppermint mocha

I love this time of year!

I love the sounds – the hustle and bustle

I love the scents – pine, cinnamon, berries and wood stoves burning

I love the atmosphere – hope, generosity and LOVE

YET –

I cannot forget that there is one reason for this season – JESUS

I am so thankful for JESUS – He is THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

That a perfect God would descend to this earth,

That He would take on a robe of humility and human frailty – FOR ALL OF US

It still fills me with awe every time I think about it –

During this season we,

Celebrate His birth,

Reflect on His life,

Remember His death

Rejoice over His Resurrection

Proclaim that He Reigns!

Jesus truly is the reason for the season!

Praying that you have wonder-filled Christmas Season …

Praying you also have a blessed day!

Name Above All Names ...

When He says it perfectly ... there is nothing to add.

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening!

Love paid the price ...

There are times when I just have to be reminded how very much I am loved. I do not always feel it, especially when I lose focus and get overwhelmed by all the mean and hurtful things that happen ...

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

 

Love Paid the Price

Tonight ...
Someone needs to know [truly know] how very much they are loved.
I know I did.

 
Here is a beautiful song ...
You might need to listen to it two or three times to let it truly sink in.
Just like I did.

 

Mandisa ... Not Guilty

Have a Blessed Evening ... Much Love, In Christ

His Name is Jesus .. Spirit Break Out

'Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.'

Luke 11:2 NKJV

 

Worship Central - Spirit Break Out

 

 

Heaven Came Down …

'For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.'

Isaiah 9:6

‘Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.’

Isaiah 53:4-6

 

“… know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, 

 whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" Acts 2:36

 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

'Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne …' Revelation 20:11-12

‘…I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.’ Isaiah 6:1

I see the LORD … seated on the throne … high and lifted up

His name is Jesus …


His Name Is Jesus …


HIS NAME IS JESUS!

 

True Star Power

A Star 

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.” Numbers 24:17    

His Star 

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”  Matthew 2:1

The Star

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16

JESUS

Still shining the way for those lost in darkness –     

Dispelling Fears –

Inpsiring Hope –

Instilling Courage –

He is the light of the world!

Jesus!

Jesus!

We celebrate His birth this season.

Yet,

He can be born in one’s heart

any time, any day of the year.

'For God so loved the world that

He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life’

John 3:16

'... God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us

by the fact that while we were still sinners,

Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.’

Romans 5:8

‘Seek the Lord while He may be found,

call upon Him while He is near.’

Isaiah 55:6

Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!’

Psalm 105:3

Jesus Messiah

Jesus

His birth,

Incredibly miraculous!

Yet it would mean nothing –

Without His death, burial, resurrection and ascension

We celebrate baby Jesus, 

Who came to a little town of Bethelem

So many years ago

Yet, we are eternally thankful

for Jesus the Savior,

Jesus Messiah,

LORD of All.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me,

for the Lord has anointed Me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted

and to proclaim that captives will be released

and prisoners will be freed.

He has sent Me to tell those who mourn

that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,

and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. 

To all who mourn in Israel,

He will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of mourning,

festive praise instead of despair.

In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks

that the Lord has planted for his own glory."

Isaiah 61:1-3NLT

Jesus is not the key ...

Sounds like sacrilege doesn’t it? I assure you, however, that it is not. It all started two years ago and just came to completeness last Sunday when my pastor shared the following verse: ‘Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.’ Galatians 4:1-2  

I had read that verse several times and heard a couple of preachers teach on it. Yet for some reason, it did not fully click until last Sunday. But, before I get to Sunday, let me go back to where it all started.

It was the fall of 2008 and my oldest son was going on a senior class field trip. It was very early in the morning and I had to drop him off at the school. So, I grabbed the car key and my purse, closed the door and drove just up the street about ten minutes there and back. I considered taking the house key, but then decided, ‘No, I’ll be right back’. And besides, my mom, who lived with me at the time, was at home. Well, imagine my surprise when I pulled back into our cul-de-sac and her van was gone.

There I was, sitting in my van, locked out of the house, uncertain of where she had gone or when she would be back. As I sat there without a phone or a way to get in the house, I had plenty of time … to think. And this was the thought that came: ‘Everything that belongs to me is right on the other side of that door and I cannot access it because I do not have my key.’

Then I started thinking about the body of Christ and how many believers are in that same predicament – only spiritually.  I sat questioning why that was so. I mean, we have Jesus and He came so that we might experience abundant life (Jn. 10:10). So why were so many people living outside the place of overflowing blessings that He had prepared for us? That is when it came to me. Jesus is not the key. ‘Impossible!’ I thought. How could Jesus not be the key? He is everything! But then I concluded that it must be right. Because despite having accepted Jesus, there are still so many who are not accessing everything that is rightfully theirs.

Eventually, my mom came home and I got back in the house. However, I was still without an answer to my question – a question which would come back to my mind from time to time over the next two years. So, let us fast forward to last Sunday and the sharing of that verse: ‘Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.’

An heir, as long as he is a child, is no different than a slave although he is owner of everything.’ 

Another way to read that looks like this: A son of God and co-heir with Christ, as long as they are childish and immature, is no different than a slave. Though they legally own everything, and all that belongs to them is just on the other side of the door, they are not granted a key to access it until they mature, until they submit to and learn from the leadership that has been placed over them – and even then not until the time that the Father has appointed for them to access those riches.

Jesus is not the key. Jesus is the door, and anyone who enters through Him will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (Jn. 10:9) [figuratively meaning that ‘he shall not want the needful supplies for the true life’]. This verse is then followed by the much quoted verse that tells us that He came to give us life and life abundantly. And Jesus did make us co-heirs to this inheritance through His blood and sacrifice (Rom. 8:16-17 & Gal. 3:26, 29). However, we cannot access all that He purchased until such a time as we are mature enough to handle what He has prepared for us.

The acknowledgement and acceptance of Jesus Christ are not the sole key to you obtaining all that God has for you. Christ developed in you is a major key in being able to access everything that is part of your blood bought inheritance: revelation, understanding, wisdom, purpose, physical health, financial prosperity and more.

Now, that will make you want to get on the fast track for spiritual development! In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting messages about what that process of spiritual development might look like. In the meantime, commit to growing. And at the appointed time, you shall obtain every promise that God has for you.

Have a Blessed Week!