REMINDED HOW MUCH I HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST

2 Corinthians 6: 1-10 

I was reading in Corinthians this morning the above passage and my heart was so blessed by God's word.  The whole passage is awesome but what really struck me was verse 10: 

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.  

By sight....I may be poor, yet I am rich in the Lord Jesus and can make many rich by sharing Jesus with them.  By sight again...I may have nothing but according to scripture...I possess all things in the Lord Jesus.  What wonderful reassurance from God's word in times of turmoil in my own life.  To be reminded of what is important and how much I have in Him.  "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing" ! 

This paints a picture for me of a person that appears as someone who may not have anything..........a homeless person sleeping on a bench, or standing on the corner with a sign.  In a wordly sense at times we may appear just like these beggars/homeless to those who chase after wealth and fame;  yet the Lord tells us in Him not only are we rich but we have the ability to make others rich.  Not only do I have nothing but in Him I possess all things.   In Sorrow, I can rejoice.  

Ahhhh....I pray that in my life I will not receive the grace of God in vain!  ( 2 Cor. 6: 1 ) 

GREAT IS THE LORD!

Psalm 48: 1, 2

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. 

Because God is so great, He is greatly to be praised.  He is worthy to be praised as the great Creator, the great Sustainer, the great Prophet, the great High Priest, the King of all kings, the great Redeemer, and the great Deliverer of His people.  In Psalm 48 it is His greatness as the Savior and Protector of His city and His people.

                                         commentary by William MacDonald  

How wonderful to be reminded of how great the LORD is.............

We Serve a Risen Savior

I have been meditating on the song: 

We serve a risen Savior,

( Do I live like I serve a risen Savior - I must confess..not always ) 

He's in the world today!

I know that He is living, 

whatever men may say; 

( many will say man things but God's word is Truth)

I see His hand of mercy, 

( praise God for His mercy ) 

I hear His voice of cheer, 

( Isn't wonderful to think that He's our biggest cheerleader ) 

And just the time I need Him

( which in reality is all the time I just don't always realize it ) 

He's always near

( He will never leave me nor forsake me ) 

HE LIVES HE LIVES, CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY

( not just today but for all eternity )

He walks with me

( may I walk with Him ) 

He talks with me 

( may I talk with Him ) 

along lifes narrow way

( the narrow way of grace through faith, not of works ; Oh how I must constantly remember that it is not of me but only of HIM ) 

HE LIVES, HE LIVES, SALVATION TO IMPART

( may I remember to share His great gift ) 

You ask me how I know He lives

( I'm so glad that people ask ) 

HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART! 

What a difference Jesus has made/and is making in my life....all glory to HIM! For I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works  ( clay in the potters hand - just plain ole dirt yet precious to God ) 

Which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

( may I walk in what God has prepared for me; a life of just being who I am in Christ and may the fullness of who He is overflow my cup and spill over into the lives of others) 

I STAND AMAZED IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS THE NAZARENE!

Unbelief

Today I was reading about Zechariah and Elizabeth.  I was really struck by the fact that the angel Gabriel shut Zechariah's mouth as he questioned what was going to happen.  As I reflected on this I thought about this:  did God not want his unbelief to spread before John the Baptist and the Savior were born?  I do not know but it did cause me to wonder how my unbelief at times can effect others and that when I doubt or fear I need to trust God.  I can tend to want all the details revealed just like wondering why God did this yet there are times I must simply trust that He is in control.

DEPENDING ON GOD

I don't know about you but there are times in my life that God brings me to realize that I am in total dependence upon Him!  I am thankful for those times because they allow me to re-focus on who and what is important.  Some times those things are as little as a family activity that is not on my favorite list....Sometimes I can so be like my littlest child and throw a fit in my heart when I have to do things that make my life uncomfortable.  Like chasing a little one around all day in an 1862 period costume :-)keeping him safe without scaring him to much about strangers.   I thought it would be easy but it's not and I truly need to continue to ask the Lord to help me maintain a sweetness and a servants heart. 

Yes, Yes, Yes.....I should realize this all the time but I can so easily slip out on my own abilities and function well until I hit the wall of yucky.  

With out Christ I can do nothing, at least nothing that counts for eternity and I don't know about you but I so want what I do to count for eternity!  

AM I A COMFORTER???

I have the older two boys going through a study on affliction, which is part of the curriculum we use.  It has been an excellent study and one of the books of the bible that they are going through is Job.  This of course has me in the book of Job also, and I am so thankful it does. I'm learning a lot.  Here is a verse that struck me this morning, probably because one of my children pointed it out yesterday.  

 

Job: 16:2-5

                  

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters [are] ye all.

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye [do]: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief]

I can testify to some times in my life when I have been just like Job's friends but with God's grace may I take to heart this counsel and allow God to help me in this area in the future. It reminds me of the verse that says to "let your speech ALWAYs be seasoned with grace".  Oh may God give me grace filled speech!

Thou art my God

Hosea 2: 23b....

And I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; And they shall say, Thou art my God.  

That is such an awesome verse that I just had to post it.  I was just basking in the fact this morning that I can say....Thou art my God.  God in His grace and mercy has given me the way to say....Thou art my God.  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  May I always be thankful and remember what the Lord has done for me.  

cg