Powerful Words

"Your word I have treasured in my heart,
         That I may not sin against You."
Psalm 119:11

Those who love God want to live in obedience to Him.  God's word gives instructions on how to live in faithfulness to Him and has the power to transform us. When we value Bible verses and take them to heart, we are changed from the inside out.  As Christ was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He used scripture to defeat him. "It is written. . .", He said. If they were important for Jesus, God in the flesh, to use against the enemy, think how much more important they are for us.

Souls In Despair

"O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;

         Let them bring me to Your holy hill

         And to Your dwelling places. 

    Then I will go to the altar of God,

         To God my exceeding joy;

         And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

         And why are you disturbed within me?

         Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,

         The help of my countenance and my God." 

Psalm 43:3-5

Life is filled with struggles. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. When we are In the midst of a trial, we long for the reassurance that God is near; that He hears us and has not turned away. After my first husband died, I wrestled with feelings of abandonment. It seemed my prayers bounced off the ceiling and fell to the floor, unable to reach the God that I love so dearly. My soul was in despair. Pain, whether emotional or physical, can create a barrier between us and God. It is during such times that we must rely on the truth of God's word and not our feelings. Feelings come and go, but God's truth is eternal. Like a beacon it leads us through the darkness into His glorious light, where we can again praise Him. He is our exceeding joy and the One who returns peace to our hearts and minds.

In His Grip

"and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."

John 10:28

Through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Him. He promises this to those who believe on Him and trust Him for their salvation. His grip is firm and can never be broken. No matter how bleak the day may be, we can take joy in knowing that we are safely and securely in His hand.

Standing Firm

"The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
 The plans of His heart from generation to generation." 

Psalm 33:11

God's purpose cannot be foiled. Not by man, nor Satan, nor principalities of any kind. His word stands forever, as does His plan. We should take great comfort in this truth. The Lord is not surprised by anything that occurs. The events that take place around the world do not alarm Him. He will complete what He has begun. Just as the mountains stand firm, so does our God. 

At Any Moment

"Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."
1 Thessalonians 4:17

A day is coming when the Lord Jesus will gather His beloved Church unto Himself in the air. The Apostle Paul describes this event in the fourth chapter of 1 Thessalonians. It's an amazing account of what is to come. The dead in Christ shall rise first, then those believers who are alive will follow. No one knows when this wondrous catching away of believers will take place, and that makes it even more exciting. It could happen this very moment. When it does, we will be with the Lord always. Forever and ever. 

Morning Glory

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

         And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."

Psalm 19:1

When I photograph a sunrise like this one, my heart leaps for joy. Nature holds its breath, anticipating the glorious scene that is about to unfold.  The dark pines stand at attention and point to the Artist. Then the Great Master dips His brush into His unique palette and strokes it across the pale firmament. It bursts forth with glorious color. All description, even my camera lens, falls short of the splendor of the King's artistry. Creation is worshiping the Lord and I am invited to join in. The heavens explode with the glory of God. As far as the eye can see they declare the work of His hands. Oh, Lord! You are majestic. Your magnificence is displayed for Your glory.  I delight in You.

Extravagant Worship

"You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;

         You greatly enrich it;

         The stream of God is full of water;"

Psalm 65:9a

Consider the awesome goodness of God. The Almighty King of the Universe desires to commune with us. He condescends to meet with us. His mercy is abundant. Through Jesus, the Father made a way for us to come to Him. He blesses us beyond our wildest imagination with His presence. His grace, kindness and blessings overflow. They are endless. How can we keep silent with such knowledge?  It is too great to keep to ourselves. Our worship should be extravagant. As extravagant as the love of God.