MESSAGE RECEIVED!

Sometimes, a believer in, and receiver of, our LORD's wonderful, merciful, gracious love, is sent a resounding message from HIM! Today, I am joyfully proclaiming, "O.K. LORD, I 'get it!  Message received!"  A few months ago, I was musing on the term, 'beautiful' Savior.  (Somehow, it just didn't seem 'masculine enough' to consider HIM to be' beautiful!'.. although, I know He truly is, especially when I consider the completed 'work' He did and ALL THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND MADE POSSIBLE AS A RESULT!) At any rate, YESTERDAY, our Lord Jesus began sending a confirmation of his beauty to me when one of the residents where I'd led a HYMNSPIRATION, told me I am beautiful.. I was blessed by this even as I deferred her indication directly to our Lord, by saying something like, "Well, thank you.. I trust you are seeing that JESUS in/through me.."   THEN, this morning, as I listened to the music on  MORNING DEVOTIONS on my radio station www.kcisradio.com , I was tickled to hear 2 consecutive songs declaring HIS BEAUTY! (and to think, 'BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR' wasn't even one of them!) I am no longer musing on using (Oh no!.. the dormant poet in me is emerging!) the term 'BEAUTIFUL' for my SAVIOR! Join me in considering all we know of his beauty, letting Him become more and more evident to, and through, you from this day forward to the Glory of God alone!                         Or, SOLI DEO GLORIA, as I love to say! 

FACE and FACTS

Recently, I spoke a new phrase I'd never said as such before.. Basically, I'd said to be certain to focus on facts, and, on the face of JESUS! The two words, FACTS and FACE had never been 'paired' by me as far as I know.. Anyway.. Here's what I am thinking... For over 42 years now, I've appreciated the 'FACTS, FAITH, FEELINGS train' diagram which pictures how we must NOT let our feelings be the engine which 'pulls or powers our train throughout life.' This is because they can really derail us if allowed to.. SO, a believer in Jesus can instead, focus on the FACTS of the gospel, as they fuel their life with faith in those facts and the SOURCE of them! This leads to a life that 'stays on track' since God's character can't change, thus, the FACTS DO NOT CHANGE, as feelings so often do! Take a moment to make a list in your mind of just some of the facts we know to be true! Look up JOHN 1:16, and PHILIPPIANS 4:19 for beginners! OH! How about LAMENTATIONS 3:23?!                                                                                                                                                            This need to focus also leads us to think of the apostle Peter when he stepped out of the boat onto the water.. As long as he focused on the face of JESUS as He bid him, "Come..," he was 'on top of the situation,' but as soon as he noticed the waves, etc., he began to drown!  HOW true for each of us!!  How often do you answer, "OK, under the circumstances.." to one who asks, "How are you doing?"  I am helped in trying situations, by remembering to sing aloud, or in my mind, "TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS... LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE..and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his GLORIOUS GRACE!"  (BTW.. His glorious graciousness is one of his attributes and it cannot change!) STAY FOCUSED!