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!

'AND, AND, AND...!'

While presenting a devotional Bible study this past Wednesday, I was reading aloud through the central section of the NICENE CREED where  it makes statements pertaining to our LORD JESUS CHRIST. As I did, something suddenly struck me.. Here the text..

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father, before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end!

As I was reading, I realized all the 'ands,' resulting in my exuberant proclamation of, "And, and, and, and.. isn't HE GRAND?!" I was both amused, and amazed as I had experienced this spontaneous praise exuding from my being! The attendees in this session were refreshed as I had allowed our LORD to delight me!! How about you today? Will HE delight you in such a manner that you JUST CAN'T CONTAIN IT!?

PS- It had taken 7 sessions (7 weeks!) to present all of those statements about JESUS to the attendees in a devotional Bible study format!! They were awesome weeks, and so was this last Wednesday's 'study' on the statements about the Holy Spirit in the NICENE CREED. (BTW, this creed is recited weekly in thousands of churches all over the world during liturgically-based worship services. It is a corporate statement of faith..)

'And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.' In this study, I 'let' JESUS speak 'for me,' in  JOHN 14 and 16 as HE let his disciples know of the promised Holy Spirit and the joy they'd experience after his departure..                                                                                                                           

Where'd THAT Come From?

Recently, I've been trying to concentrate on, "My God shall supply all my (your) needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) I need to be more grateful for the fact that HE truly does so, then respond by wholeheartedly obeying his desires and intentions for me to not always insist on having MORE than I need!! (too many 'carbs,' etc.)  WELL, this past Saturday, a new friend and I had a curiously inspiring event happen!!! It would seem we were GIVEN more than we 'needed!'... We'd both consumed the healthy roll we'd each purchased, then proceeded to talk for 2 hours or so.. When it was time to leave, we noticed another small bag with a 3rd roll in it on our table! The really 'mystifying' fact is I KNOW FOR CERTAIN there had only been 2 rolls in the display case when we'd purchased them!! We mused over it, then finally agreed it had to have been put there by none other than GOD! We believe HE was simply manifesting Himself as indication of the pleasure HE'D received during the conversation during which I'd had the thrill of introducing her to the layout of the Bible... and, SO MUCH MORE! (BTW, we divided the roll 'for the road!') Remember.. OUR LORD loves to delight us, whether tangibly, or internally... May we all live in the WONDER of HIM moment-by-moment!!

FROZEN UP?

This title is inspired by a big 'boo-boo' made recently at a San Diego area car maintenance facility of some sort!  You see... they had changed the oil on my dad's truck, FORGETTING TO PUT THE NEW OIL IN before my brother-in-law drove it away!!! ARG!! Of course, it wasn't long before the truck simply STOPPED as its engine truly froze!!! (at a time when he needed the truck so he could join his family at a special wedding rehearsal and dinner!)  Needless to say, the repair facility is paying for a rental car and a new engine for my dad's older truck! Sometimes, blessings DO COME IN DISGUISE! 

   The spiritual application I took from all of this is we, as the LORD'S children, should NEVER attempt to 'run,' or function effectively apart from the anointing of the HOLY SPIRIT within our beings.. We will indeed 'freeze up' if not properly functioning as Spirit-filled, God-glorifying, individuals..   My question to each of us is,  "Have you checked your Holy Spirit, anointing oil's level recently?" IF not, WHY not?  Blessings to all!

'ADVENTAGES' OF LIFE

I presented the last of the 4 ADVENT lessons today so I'd like to share it with you. I was blessed as I shared the LOVE of GOD with these dear ones.. I am especially thrilled by the lyrics to the included song which is new to my husband and I.. 

This week's candle is the candle of LOVE… What more can we say than, "For God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten Son.." What a wonder... Our MAJESTIC, MAGNIFICENT, MIGHTY LORD ABOVE, would come to us in a little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger amidst livestock, hay, and all else present in a stable.

We are aware of how 'We love because He first loved us.'  Where would we be without his COMPASSION, MERCY, and GRACE?

This year, I've become aware of this wonderful Christmas song :

                        Let This Christmas Be

Let this Christmas be Christ in me
The love of God sent down
For the world to see
Let the grace You’ve shown be evident in me
Let this Christmas be, Christ in me

Creator of the heavens, Majesty unknown
Behold the incarnation in Jesus alone
Fully God and fully man
Lord help me to understand
The knowledge of your grace
Now given to me..

I am so totally blessed, and moved deeply this year, by having taken a closer look at the 4 candles of Advent (HOPE, PREPARATION, JOY and LOVE) as we approach this coming Tuesday's celebration by giving to  others because HE first gave to us! May his LOVE within each of us be the reason  for the season as we desire to give to others! Remember.. What we give doesn't need to be wrapped beautifully, having been purchased at a price because HE has already paid the ultimate price on our behalf!! His LOVE was/is SO great that HE was laid in that manger, then, hung on that cross… ALL because of HIS deep desire for us to know and access HIM personally as our LORD.                                                                            MAY WE ALL GROW MORE DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH HIM MOMENT BY MOMENT..