A Prayer

Amy — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 01:38:16 +0000

Father God, at this very moment You are enthroned high up in the heavens. You reign in glory, beauty, MAJESTY. You are Supreme over all things; everything – EVERY thing – is subject to You. All things in all of creation are for Your glory. From the rising of the sun this morning, the rain we received last night, the moon and stars in the night sky, the food that comes from the ground, the air in my lungs, the blood pumping through my body, the seraphim surrounding Your throne. Even the demons are instruments of Your wrath, which, in ways higher than I can understand, ultimately glorify You. All of this – and everything else – is to glorify You, to highly esteem You. For You are the only Self-Existing, Eternal One, with no beginning and no end. All of it was created by You and for You, and continues to exists by You and for You. You are no less glorious when I don’t respond in praise to Your greatness, when I don’t glorify or exalt You. For I cannot add anything to Your greatness. Not even the most extravagant of words or deeds can increase Your glory, beauty, majesty, or goodness. Yet, there is no greater aspiration than that I exalt You, glorify You, treasure You, in my every word and deed. For the end (i.e. purpose, intention, goal) of the whole world is for Your glory, and after the end (i.e. termination, destruction) of the whole world, Your glory will remain. Help me, Father, to make this my chief focus today, to join in the heavenly chorus singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” Yes, Father, may the whole earth – and my whole heart – be full of Your glory. Let (make) Your Name be hallowed!

In the Name of the One by Whom and for Whom all things were created, and in Whom all things are held together, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Forgiveness God’s Way

Amy — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:13:32 +0000

A friend of mine recently invited me to search the Scriptures with her for the truth about forgiveness as a Christian. The question was “When you forgive, does that mean you are expected to forget what happened?” As this is an issue I often struggle with, I share it here in hopes the Word of God will guide, correct, instruct and encourage whoever reads this.

Neh 9:17 – “ready to forgive” or “forgiveness” in Hebrew means “ready to pardon”. It’s used here alongside gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in love and not forsaking. All in describing God toward His people who turned from Him (an offense). He didn’t forget their sin, but He didn’t (and doesn’t!) hold it against them either.
Jer 31:34 – The New Covenant hinges on God’s forgiveness (pardon) of sin. His forgiveness not only pardons but reconciles (doesn’t hold it against us).
Matt 6:12 – Human forgiveness is to analogous to divine forgiveness according to the model prayer given by Jesus.
Mark 11:25 – “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone” (remember forgive means to pardon)
Col 3:13 – In the body of Christ, we are to forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us.
Matt 5:24 – Brothers and sisters in Christ are to be reconciled to one another. Reconciliation is a by-product of forgiveness.

Summary thoughts: I think the important thing here is our heart. Are we looking to get out of relinquishing an offense or hurt from another? Is that motive any different than the man asking Jesus “Who is my neighbor” (Luke 10:25-37, specifically verse 29)? You’ll have to ask God to search your own heart for the answer to that question, but my guess would be, no. The motive is still the same, i.e. a way to justify my position or attitude.

Since the goal of the Christian life is to glorify (make much of) God, and by the Holy Spirit, be conformed to the image of Jesus, then I believe forgiveness must equal forgetting, just as it does with Christ. Forgetting, not in the sense of not remembering (we will remember; we’re human), but forgetting in the sense of committing to God not to sit as judge and hold the offense against another (by His grace, in His power).
If the offender is part of the body of Christ, forgiving and forgetting (pardoning, reconciling) leads to unity; harboring offenses leads to division. God is glorified in the body to unbelievers when we love (and forgive) each other the way He does.
If the offender is not (yet) a part of the body of Christ, the truth of God’s love and forgiveness is not made known to him/her in our refusal to fully forgive/forget/pardon. Forgiving others’ trespasses as God forgives ours (Matt 6:12) is one way we are Light and Truth in the darkness and deception of this lost world.

I pray the Lord helps me and you love the way He loves, honoring Him in the depths of our hearts, particularly in this area of forgiveness.

The Only Pure and Perfect One

Amy — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:00:39 +0000

“Behond, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in His eyes;
how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm.” Job 25.5

I have been in the desert under clear skies and have seen the moon shine so pure and bright that it illuminated the sands and mountains. Oh, to imagine glory of the One True God – pure, good through and through like nothing man has ever seen of or in this world, righteous and just. How hopeless man is before such a holy God! But thanks be to God who by His grace offers “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Only Jesus. Only Jesus! Oh how sweet a Name.

“in His name Gentiles will hope.” (Matt 12:21)
“…everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)
“And 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)
A Name “…above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Eph 1:21)
“…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:10-11)

Some will bow their knee willingly, and some will be forced to their knees by the power of God in honor of His Son and suffer under His wrath. Please, I beg you, don’t add to the numer of latter group. Yeild to Him now, cry out for His mercy, while He is still near.

For His Purpose

Amy — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:00:19 +0000

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. 1 Tim 1:16 (esv)

We must remember that the mercy God has extended to and lavished upon us is not just for us. I am so weak and easily become complacent in soaking in the good gifts from the Father. This verse, and many others, remind me that it’s not just about me.

By the word of His power…

Amy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:27:30 +0000

…He upholds the universe (see Hebrews 1:3).

On my way in to work this morning, the sunrise was just beautiful. As I was crossing a very low bridge on the Weapons Station, I was mesmerized by the magnificent view of the sunrise. A pelican flew slowly, gracefully, yet purposefully across the bridge right in front of me; it appeared he was on the hunt for breakfast. It was a lot to take in, but I was overwhelmed with an awareness of the Creator and Sustainer in the little world around me…

The pelican flying before me who has life because of Him. The fish in the water below me to the right that God had sustained and provided as breakfast for the pelican. The light, warmth and beauty of the sunrise to my left. The presence of and life within water below me. The breaths I was taking as the Creator gave them. And those of the person in the car ahead of me. The awareness and knowledge that He graciously extended to me to recognize this activity around me as His.

All of this – and so much more - exists because of God created it all, through the Son of God (Jesus), Who sustains it all. And every bit of it for HIS glory! Who is this God!! “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:6)

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

Praise the LORD!

Some Scriptures to mediate on the majesty of God in His creation and sustainment of His creation.
Genesis 1-2; Colossians 1:16-17; Psalm 104:24-30; Romans 11:33-36

Pondering a Plum Tree Blossom

Amy — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:38:08 +0000

Around midday Saturday, I took a break from spring cleaning to play with the dog in the backyard and get some fresh air. The flowering plum tree in my yard has just started blooming and caught my eye. I was so mesmerized by the delicacy of the little pale pink flowers. They really are very pretty and ‘cute’. As I pondered them, I began praising God at the beauty of this creation of His. The fact that the blooms serve a purpose in the reproduction of trees is mind-blowing in and of itself. But why create something so beautiful? I mean, the Creator could have created trees to reproduce any number of ways. Why something so pretty? I won’t presume to know the details behind the reason God chose to do it this way. I will say that it certainly does cause our minds to ask questions. But then that thought led me to another question: Why do I recognize it as pretty? I was awed and humbled at the response to my question. Not only has the Creator God revealed so much about Himself in His creation, but He has caused mankind to recognize certain things about creation – in this instance, the beauty of a flower. How glorious is He! He really does go to such remarkable and unthinkable measures to get the attention of His ‘prized’ creation that has so firmly rejected Him. What the Scriptures say is true: “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20)

Praise Him today for the marvelous works of His hands, and for the greatest gift of all – the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thankful for a God who Lavishes

Amy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:30:17 +0000

Lavish – to to expend or give in great amounts or without limit.

Ephesians 1:3-10 “[God] has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation fo the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

These verses are packed full of God. If we slow down and read this for the purpose of learning more about God, we see in every one of these sentences and phrases that God is the initiator in all things related to salvation and spiritual blessings, all of which is for His purposes. It is not because of any action from any man or woman. It’s not even because any man or woman asked for or accepted His salvation or spiritual blessing, for we read in Romans that man’s mind is hostile to God and cannot choose or submit to Him (Romans 8:7)…apart from His divine purpose, calling, and power. Read back through those verses again below, taking note of all of the reference to God or Jesus.

Twenty times in these 8 verses, God is seen as either the initiator of salvation, the means of salvation, or the purpose of salvation. It all points to God.

Am I using the grace His has extended to me to fulfill His purposes? Or am I using them to fulfill my own? Do I praise Him for His rich blessings? Or do I complain that I am lacking? Do I glorify Him in my thoughts, words, and actions because of the way He has so truly blessed me “in all wisdom and insight making known to [me] the mystery of His will”? Or do I pridefully think that I’ve done anything worthy of Him?

How about you?

I am thankful for God who chose me before the foundation fo the world and who lavishes upon me the riches of His grace.

Jesus, the High Priest

Amy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:52:55 +0000

I am so very thankful to have a High Priest who is more than able to sympathize (and empathize) with every weakness I encounter in this body of flesh. Jesus was indeed tempted in every respect and did not sin. He served as the One and final sacrifice that would ever be required for our sin. He now sits at the right hand of the Father and serves as Mediator on my behalf. Let this sink in…the One who Mediates for me (and all who are saved) with the Father knows…really knows my (our) weaknesses!! That is why we can and should draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, not because of us but because of Jesus Christ, our High Priest and Mediator. There we will find mery. Praise be to God!

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ~Hebrews 4:14-16, ESV

The Warmth of the Sun

Amy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:51:00 +0000

Something happened to me on Thursday afternoon as I headed home from work. The sun was setting behind me. It was reflecting in the rear-view mirror of my car, blinding me as I was trying to drive. I tilted my head down so that I could see the road in front of me. When I did, I felt the warmth of the sun shining on my forehead! Catch that!?!? I felt the warmth of the sun in a mirror reflection of the sun!!! Now that is power. This doesn’t happen with a candle or a bonfire. The heat of man-made fires don’t reflect in mirrors, but the heat of God-created fires do. Just struck me as interesting.

Grandma’s Funeral

Amy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:12:58 +0000

Today was Grandma’s funeral. I have such peace because of the hope I have in Jesus that she is with Him. I am excited for her, that after all these years, she has gotten to see her Maker and Lord. What a glorious day!

The reality that sh isn’t just down the road a ways for me to visit her is sad, but I can’t remain sad for long. She lived a long, good life filled with lots of love - deep, genuine, selfless love. She loved the Lord. Oh, how I know she loved Him! She loved her family so deeply. In pictures, you can see it in her eyes and on her face how much she loved every one of us. And she loved her friends and her church. It has been a good day of celebrating her life. God was glorified in her life and in her death. Praise Him!