Lord, you are the one who knew me before birth.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" ~Jeremiah 1 v 5
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" ~Psalm 139 v 13
Jesus I love you because: You love me, You care for me, You made me, You suffered and died for me, You saved me, You know me, You forgive me, You hold my life in the palm of your hand.
I came across this song recently - and it melted me into tears. It touched my heart so deeply. I pray that you may be blessed by it. Cherish the words, press into His heart.
THIS IS THE ONE
Verse 1
This is the one who calmed the storm,
Who stopped the waves with just a word
He is the one with power, with power, unending
This is the one who heals the blind
With power to raise the dead to life
He promises forgiveness, forgiveness of your sin
Chorus
He is the one who loved you first
The one who knew you before birth
Before creation of the earth, Jesus
He calls you out of darkest night
And welcomes you into the light
He is the one that you can trust, Jesus
Verse 2
This is the man who conquered death
He is the one who rose again
This is the one who died for, who died for, for your soul
This is the one who reigns above
The definition of love
He is the one who gives you, who gives you, your new life
Bridge
Someone bled for you, died for you, sought to make you His
Then He rose for you and clothes you in His righteousness
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Living he loved you, Dying he saved you.
Today we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, the day that Jesus rose up into heaven from earth, after being crucified on the cross so that one day we might realise who He is and accept Him into our heart and Lord and Saviour, because by living he loved you; dying he saved you; buried, he carried your sins away; and rising, he justified freely forever.
Justified means, 'just as if you never sinned'.
We sang this song at church this morning. The lyrics are just beautiful.
'Glorious Day' by Casting Crowns.
Justified means, 'just as if you never sinned'.
We sang this song at church this morning. The lyrics are just beautiful.
'Glorious Day' by Casting Crowns.
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
CHORUS:
Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me
CHORUS
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
CHORUS
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One bringing
My Savior Jesus is mine
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One bringing
My Savior Jesus is mine
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Watch and Wait for Him...patiently
We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. ~Psalm 33 v 20-22
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25 v 4-5
Life is full of waiting and watching; hopes, dreams, plans and expectations. There is also much that is unknown. It can be unnerving and unsettling. God has a plan for each and every one of us. So we need not be concerned! He wants to bless us! But we need to be cautious to not 'run ahead' and jump in too early, when things aren't going as we think they should. Things won't always be easy, but out of those hard times we grow in ourselves and in our closeness, dependence and reliance on Him! Be focused and intent on serving Him - and experience the joy and excitement of His blessings!
This video of a beautiful little girl reminded me this... see how she is so surprised by the chicken laying the eggs... and the excitement! The joy! So cute!
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. ~Psalm 33 v 20-22
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25 v 4-5
Life is full of waiting and watching; hopes, dreams, plans and expectations. There is also much that is unknown. It can be unnerving and unsettling. God has a plan for each and every one of us. So we need not be concerned! He wants to bless us! But we need to be cautious to not 'run ahead' and jump in too early, when things aren't going as we think they should. Things won't always be easy, but out of those hard times we grow in ourselves and in our closeness, dependence and reliance on Him! Be focused and intent on serving Him - and experience the joy and excitement of His blessings!
This video of a beautiful little girl reminded me this... see how she is so surprised by the chicken laying the eggs... and the excitement! The joy! So cute!
Friday, March 24, 2017
Ever present in a boundless expanse
It's
a natural tendency with humankind that we are materially-minded and
believe only what we can see. Yet it says in the Bible that:
'The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal' (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Last night, the sky was clear - not a cloud to be had, no mist, no rain, no moon. The stars were incredibly bright and I could see thousands of them. I thought of what I learnt in science at school - we can only see a fraction of the millions we cannot. It made me think back to a time when, a few years ago, I stood in the middle of a deserted road late at night, in the middle of the Australian Outback and gazed up into the sky. The brightness of the stars beamed out of the eerily black sky. I couldn't see my hand in front of me, or my friend who stood right next to me. I was filled with awe - to a point where words failed me - the majesty and awesomeness of out Creator God.
I thought last night, as I did that night, of the Bible verse in Psalm chapter 8 verses 3 & 4:
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
human beings that you care for them?
*emphasis mine
I
read a daily devotional some time ago, for which the author I cannot
remember, however it struck a cord with me, much like it did the
audience at the time! Apparently it is a true story...
When that astronaut completed the first orbit of the earth in 1961 he was awarded many honours and made lecture tours throughout his native land. On one of these occasions, when thousands had come to hear him, he ridiculed the existence of God. He said he looked up and down, north, east, south and west, but could not see God anywhere.
Many laughed at this audacious talk. Suddenly a believer from the back of the hall shouted out, "If you had fallen out, you would have met Him!"
For a moment there was a shocked complete silence and then, as though at a given silence, all the Christians in the audience sang, what was to them a well-known song:
Oh Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
The audience dispersed. They had been given something to think about.
...In the vastness of the Universe - who are they - one mere small fraction of a dot in the grand scheme of everything.
...Who is God to them - their Creator who made and loves them? Or a figment of millions of people's imagination?
...Where will they spend eternity - in the blissful joy of Heaven, or the fire of Hell, where suffering and torment are endless? The wonderful thing is - people can choose where their soul will go when their earthly shell departs this earth. There will come a time, however, where the choice will be no longer available; God will have had enough of waiting and watching people destroy their lives and the lives of others. The world will become such an awful place to live, God will have to step in and say "Enough is enough".
We are living in a deteriorating world - morally and ethically, that seems to be happening at an increasingly rapid rate.
It is sad and yet amazing to watch people live their lives - they have no concept of eternity - they live for today, here and now; yet fail to see that 'today' is a fraction of a dot on the spectrum of eternity.
'The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal' (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Last night, the sky was clear - not a cloud to be had, no mist, no rain, no moon. The stars were incredibly bright and I could see thousands of them. I thought of what I learnt in science at school - we can only see a fraction of the millions we cannot. It made me think back to a time when, a few years ago, I stood in the middle of a deserted road late at night, in the middle of the Australian Outback and gazed up into the sky. The brightness of the stars beamed out of the eerily black sky. I couldn't see my hand in front of me, or my friend who stood right next to me. I was filled with awe - to a point where words failed me - the majesty and awesomeness of out Creator God.
I thought last night, as I did that night, of the Bible verse in Psalm chapter 8 verses 3 & 4:
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
human beings that you care for them?
*emphasis mine
When that astronaut completed the first orbit of the earth in 1961 he was awarded many honours and made lecture tours throughout his native land. On one of these occasions, when thousands had come to hear him, he ridiculed the existence of God. He said he looked up and down, north, east, south and west, but could not see God anywhere.
Many laughed at this audacious talk. Suddenly a believer from the back of the hall shouted out, "If you had fallen out, you would have met Him!"
For a moment there was a shocked complete silence and then, as though at a given silence, all the Christians in the audience sang, what was to them a well-known song:
Oh Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
The audience dispersed. They had been given something to think about.
...In the vastness of the Universe - who are they - one mere small fraction of a dot in the grand scheme of everything.
...Who is God to them - their Creator who made and loves them? Or a figment of millions of people's imagination?
...Where will they spend eternity - in the blissful joy of Heaven, or the fire of Hell, where suffering and torment are endless? The wonderful thing is - people can choose where their soul will go when their earthly shell departs this earth. There will come a time, however, where the choice will be no longer available; God will have had enough of waiting and watching people destroy their lives and the lives of others. The world will become such an awful place to live, God will have to step in and say "Enough is enough".
We are living in a deteriorating world - morally and ethically, that seems to be happening at an increasingly rapid rate.
It is sad and yet amazing to watch people live their lives - they have no concept of eternity - they live for today, here and now; yet fail to see that 'today' is a fraction of a dot on the spectrum of eternity.
Consider Him - He who is 'great... and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.' ~Psalm 145 verse 3
Monday, March 6, 2017
Peace in your heart
I read a beautiful devotional today that spoke about the inner 'knowing', otherwise called peace. The result? Your heart is calm, free from confusion. It highlighted that when you walk closely with the Lord, He will guide your decision making...in His timing. See Romans 8 v 6.
From the 'Word For Today'...
From the 'Word For Today'...
When your thoughts, actions and plans are approved by God, He’ll confirm it by giving you an inner ‘knowing’. (See 1 John 2 v 20) The Bible says: ‘Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]...' (Colossians 3 v 15 AMP). When you trust the Lord with your life and all that lies ahead, when you’re being led by [Him], you’ll [experience] a sense of peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances. His peace is like a baseball umpire who decides what’s ‘safe’ and what’s ‘out of bounds’ for you.
But beware of false peace. Sometimes your desire to do a certain thing will be so strong that it will actually produce a false sense of peace that comes from your own excitement about the idea. As time passes this false peace will disappear and God’s true will, will emerge. So wait for it. As a rule you should never move too quickly on important decisions. The Bible says, ‘To be controlled by the Spirit results in… peace.’ In other words, to be guided by the Lord will result in decisions made with a sense of calm, and not confusion. So don’t proceed if your inner peace can’t hold its weight against what you think or hear. You don’t have to explain to others why you don’t have peace about it; indeed, sometimes you won’t know why. Just say, ‘I feel it’s not wise for me to do this at this time because I don’t have peace about it.’...or 'It doesn't feel right', which indeed it won't because without the Lord's peace, making the decision without His 'green light' can induce feelings of tension.
There’s power in having peace. And one more thing: once you know that you’ve heard clearly from God, do all you can to keep your peace and don’t become anxious. The devil will throw 'red herrings' into your thoughts to throw you off course.
Let me encourage you, God's timing is not our timing, and often we will have to wait some time for Him to answer our prayers and heart's desire, and thus receive His peace. And while at the time and during the course of waiting, things can seem unsure or confusing. Be reassured that He has heard you and that He will answer your prayer, but not necessarily in the way in which we want it to be answered nor in the time frame we want and expect Him to answer it.
*non-italic text within the devotion are my additives, as are the emphasised words.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Unconditional, Inexhaustible LOVE
We recently celebrated Valentine's Day - the one day in the year that the world sets aside to remind us to express our love...
Someone once asked a prolific author on Bible doctrine, “What is the most profound theological truth in the Scriptures?” He thought for a moment and simply replied quoting the lines of Anna B. Warner, “Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.”
How often do we take this profound truth for granted? God’s love is unconditional and inexhaustible. His love is more than enough for everyone in the world, and it is amazing to know (as we read in the Bible) that there is nothing that will lessen, reduce, or minimize that love!
God is love and He proved His love for us in that He gave His One and only Son, Jesus for our wrongdoings so that we can have the opportunity to choose Him. For it is written in the Bible, and how true it is, that “We love Him because He first loved us” (John 1:19). In other words, our love toward God and others is simply a response to His great love toward us. We simply become a channel of God’s love to others.
God is the author and perfector of perfect love. When a loved one expresses love towards us, our natural response is to return love. That is how it is with God and us.
The English language provides just one word for a myriad of different types of 'love'. Yet, the Hebrew and Greek languages provide us with specific terms for specific meanings of the different types of love.
One type of love is 'Agape' (pronounced 'R-gar-pay') love. It is the highest form of love. It is God's love. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: (that) while we were still sinners, Christ died for us' ~Romans 5:7-8.
We can never repay Him for that. What we can and ought do is accept Him into our heart and life and honour Him in the way we live. "...By your love I am accepted; You're a good and gracious King..."
'Good and Gracious King', by CityAlight, from St Paul's (Church) Castle Hill (Sydney), Australia.
I approach the throne of glory
Nothing in my hands I bring
But the promise of acceptance
From a good and gracious King
... You deserve the greater glory
Overcome, I lift my voice
To the King in need of nothing
Empty handed I rejoice
You deserve the greater glory
Overcome with joy I sing
By Your love I am accepted
You’re a good and gracious King
...
*emphasis mine
Time is racing along! It is my prayer as you listen and meditate on the lyrics of the song and the Scriptures quoted above, that your heart and life may be enriched by the knowledge and acceptance of the unconditional, inexhaustible love of God.
Someone once asked a prolific author on Bible doctrine, “What is the most profound theological truth in the Scriptures?” He thought for a moment and simply replied quoting the lines of Anna B. Warner, “Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.”
How often do we take this profound truth for granted? God’s love is unconditional and inexhaustible. His love is more than enough for everyone in the world, and it is amazing to know (as we read in the Bible) that there is nothing that will lessen, reduce, or minimize that love!
God is love and He proved His love for us in that He gave His One and only Son, Jesus for our wrongdoings so that we can have the opportunity to choose Him. For it is written in the Bible, and how true it is, that “We love Him because He first loved us” (John 1:19). In other words, our love toward God and others is simply a response to His great love toward us. We simply become a channel of God’s love to others.
God is the author and perfector of perfect love. When a loved one expresses love towards us, our natural response is to return love. That is how it is with God and us.
The English language provides just one word for a myriad of different types of 'love'. Yet, the Hebrew and Greek languages provide us with specific terms for specific meanings of the different types of love.
One type of love is 'Agape' (pronounced 'R-gar-pay') love. It is the highest form of love. It is God's love. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: (that) while we were still sinners, Christ died for us' ~Romans 5:7-8.
We can never repay Him for that. What we can and ought do is accept Him into our heart and life and honour Him in the way we live. "...By your love I am accepted; You're a good and gracious King..."
'Good and Gracious King', by CityAlight, from St Paul's (Church) Castle Hill (Sydney), Australia.
I approach the throne of glory
Nothing in my hands I bring
But the promise of acceptance
From a good and gracious King
... You deserve the greater glory
Overcome, I lift my voice
To the King in need of nothing
Empty handed I rejoice
You deserve the greater glory
Overcome with joy I sing
By Your love I am accepted
You’re a good and gracious King
...
*emphasis mine
Time is racing along! It is my prayer as you listen and meditate on the lyrics of the song and the Scriptures quoted above, that your heart and life may be enriched by the knowledge and acceptance of the unconditional, inexhaustible love of God.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Acknowledging the Sovereignty of God
A devotional reading from the Word For Today (September 20, 2015).
In the book of Lamentations, chapter three describes Jeremiah’s despair, and how he conquered it. He opens with: ‘I am the man who has seen affliction…’ (Lamentations 3:1 NAS), and it intensifies as he lists all his troubles.
The fact is, when our circumstances deteriorate, we can sound a lot like Jeremiah. At first he sounds like he’s blaming God for his afflictions. In prayer he recites his troubles and fears of being singled out as an object of public ridicule. No wonder he felt powerless and hopeless! (Lamentations 3:18) That kind of situation, handled badly, can initiate and intensify despair, depression and feed a negative outlook on life.
Here’s the lesson to be learned: ‘This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.’ Jeremiah acknowledged God’s goodness and mercy: ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed… His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.’ (Lamentations 3:22–23 NIV)
He also acknowledged the Lord’s sovereignty in his trouble: ‘For the Lord... though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies... Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well–being proceed?’ (Lamentations 3:31–38 NKJV). There is light at the end of the tunnel.
When you acknowledge the sovereignty of God in all things it gives your faith in Him a boost, no matter what! Take your mind off what's wrong, and focus on what is right and unchanging - focus on Him! It doesn’t happen automatically; you have to deliberately refocus your thinking at the very time when you feel least like doing it.
Notice: Jeremiah’s circumstances didn’t improve—his outlook did. He was reminded of the sovereign goodness and faithfulness of God—and his depression lifted: ‘“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I have hope in Him.”’ (Lamentations 3:24 NAS).
In the book of Lamentations, chapter three describes Jeremiah’s despair, and how he conquered it. He opens with: ‘I am the man who has seen affliction…’ (Lamentations 3:1 NAS), and it intensifies as he lists all his troubles.
The fact is, when our circumstances deteriorate, we can sound a lot like Jeremiah. At first he sounds like he’s blaming God for his afflictions. In prayer he recites his troubles and fears of being singled out as an object of public ridicule. No wonder he felt powerless and hopeless! (Lamentations 3:18) That kind of situation, handled badly, can initiate and intensify despair, depression and feed a negative outlook on life.
Here’s the lesson to be learned: ‘This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.’ Jeremiah acknowledged God’s goodness and mercy: ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed… His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.’ (Lamentations 3:22–23 NIV)
He also acknowledged the Lord’s sovereignty in his trouble: ‘For the Lord... though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies... Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well–being proceed?’ (Lamentations 3:31–38 NKJV). There is light at the end of the tunnel.
When you acknowledge the sovereignty of God in all things it gives your faith in Him a boost, no matter what! Take your mind off what's wrong, and focus on what is right and unchanging - focus on Him! It doesn’t happen automatically; you have to deliberately refocus your thinking at the very time when you feel least like doing it.
Notice: Jeremiah’s circumstances didn’t improve—his outlook did. He was reminded of the sovereign goodness and faithfulness of God—and his depression lifted: ‘“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I have hope in Him.”’ (Lamentations 3:24 NAS).
I will follow Him; I will trust you all the days of my life
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