Month: April 2020

When the light is only beginning this morning, I hear the kookaburra birds making their laughing calls, and am comforted by their happy sounds.  It is God Who created and made them so; by placing the song in their voice boxes.  As I reflect, my mind is lifted up, for it is God Who made me, and gave me the ability to speak, and enjoys to hear happy speech and songs from my mouth.  We as His creation are encouraged and appreciate the happy sounds from other people, more than negativity.

I know I am loved and cared for God, in good and challenging times, and it is a blessing to me at least when I give Him praise and thanks.  I recall that it was only yesterday when God by His power and grace answered my prayers and I was enabled and given the strength I needed.

I ask God, to please place joy and praise in my mind and heart, though I feel lonesome in self-isolation, during the Pandemic.  However I want always to reflect Jesus, and praise His name, because I believe and delight in His words in Scripture.  When relevant Bible text are claimed, they come alive with their promise and hope.  Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe you receive them, and you will have them.”

I do believe..  I pray that I will grow in grace and love and come to know God the Father and Jesus His Son, in a close  lifesaving way.  I believe I will be equipped to do the will of God in reverence, love and obedience.  I will then be changed to accept the will of God for me personally, in all things.  I also believe God will never let me go.  Because I ask in the will of God, He will hear this prayer.

1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  I also pray that by the Spirit of God, I will be given more faith and understanding of these texts, and of the whole Bible.

With praise and thanks to Him, I dedicate my heart and mind to God again today.

Jesus had been teaching many people upon a hillside. They were to be in the world as salt enhancing the community. So doing they should light up the world, with the good news of Jesus and salvation through Him.  As a cautionary note, came the teaching on how to uphold truth.  Matthew 5:17, 18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but fulfil.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”   

It is such a comfort to know that none of God’s teachings have been changed by Him from the beginning of time.  No more will they change than heaven and earth will disappear before God has given each person the chance to repent and turn their lives around to God.  He has always precisely told us through His prophets, when events were coming, and at other times His express will on how He wants us to behave.

I have followed up a connecting link, and find the words of the Lord God in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord God which I command you.”  Deuteronomy 12:32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it: you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” Surely it is different now, for God was talking to the wayward Children of Israel, who kept disregarding His words and worshipping man made gods.  Even though many people believe all is different now.  I cannot find any place in scripture were God the Father or Jesus said they had changed the Ten Commandments, which reflect God’s character, and guide us how to live in a manner pleasing to God.

I do find texts in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, which are referenced with Deuteronomy 4 and 12.  So again I am comforted that God the Father and Jesus His son have not changed the law for us of the New Testament times.  As God’s children of spiritual Israel, preparing our lives to be His true children waiting to be taken to God’s Promised Land, I am glad that the teaching of Jesus remains plain and unchanged.  Revelation 22:18, 19 “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Come soon Lord Jesus!

Hebrews 4:13 “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account,”

Of course God knows and sees all I and you do.  More than that He knows what we are thinking no matter who we are or where we live.  He knows what we could become.  For us this can only be when we allow Him into the life and do as He asks, living a life of love in Him, for Him and for all mankind.  His creation!

In my experience and how I see it, for me to truly grow in my love for God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, I must be true.  My search must be whole hearted; holding nothing back, instead of how I often am, more concerned about what mere mortals think, than responding to God my Saviour and Creator.  How strange that I often follow my own inclinations, fears and restrictions, instead of obeying God and believing and claiming His Bible promises for every situation.

When I come to the end of the day and desire to make it right with God, before going to bed, it is then that I am reminded, that God does indeed see everything I do, and knows my every thought and action.  The beauty of it is, He still loves me though I am so blighted by sin, and knows the person I could be if I would truly put my whole life in His power.

Scripture tells us that if we would only ask for God’s Presence in all we do, He would guide our thoughts and resulting actions by His strength.  When we do, it is a blessed win, win time with our Saviour.

God for me and all that read these words, wake us from our stupor, so that we want to abide in You, and drink deeply from Your Holy Word.  John 7:37 “……….’If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” 

Amen

Luke 9: 26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

Most people in the Bible record were certainly not backward or ashamed to speak about Father God or His son Jesus Christian. Such a one was the apostle Paul.  After he believed in Jesus Christ, he was bold and articulate in preaching the way of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Roman 1:16 ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes….”

So many times I (and I think others) behave as if we were ashamed of Jesus and His written words, which is the good news of salvation through Him.  There is no better news than this, at all ages and stages of life.

Due to the love and mercy of God and His Son, Who both are the source of all love and selflessness, Jesus offered His own life as the once for ever sacrifice for sin.  The event of His crucifixion has occurred, and His spilt blood cleanses away the record of our confessed sins. Jesus will come to redeem those who claim Him as their Saviour and live in obedience to His words, and with their sins forgiven have their names written in God’s Book of Life.

Each person who chooses Jesus and His way can be saved from sin unto eternal life.  Such unfathomable and boundless love I cannot fully understand; I just grasp it with gratitude.  With this gratitude and in the power of the Holy Spirit, not only do I have good news to tell and but the desire and then the ability to do so.  I do not have to be self-conscious or reserved and keep this good news to myself, for Jesus makes it possible for me to share His good news of freedom from sin and the hope of eternal life in the sinless heaven, in new perfect bodies.

Please walk with me and guide me Jesus, and fill me with Your promised wisdom and strength.

Philippians 4: 13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Lovingly I thank You.