Peace Is A Place, Have You Found It?

Peace is a place, a secret place! Have you found it yet? A place of rest, harmony, freedom from hostility, the lack of quarrels, or of war. The word peace means to be at rest, to have an undivided heart, to know freedom from strife, a state of tranquility or quiet ~ solitude of soul!

Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."

John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Romans 5:1 says,
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we gain access by faith into this grace which we now stand."

God's intention has always been for us to know peace, to have peace with Him and in Him! But there is a problem!

Isaiah 59:2 says,
"But your sins have separated you from God; your sins have hidden His face from you."

Romans 8:7 says,
"The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."

 James 4:4 says,
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

Colossians 1:21-22 says, "And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."

The problem is sinful man is hostile toward God and even though we may feel we are at peace with God, He is at war with us ~ until we are reconciled and find peace with Him by faith through Jesus Christ, His Son. The best news in all the world is to KNOW that our alienation to God has ended and that He is no longer against us, but for us! It is because He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin in our place, that we might be claimed righteous. We have to come to God on His terms to find and know true peace!

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between a holy God and sinful man that we might have peace with God.

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5,
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ."

And in 1 Peter 3:18: "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."

Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

There's no one without sin, we all are separated from God by our sin; but God has made a way for us to have peace with a holy God ~ to be reconciled to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, to be the sacrifice for your sins?

Romans 5:8 says,
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Each person must make a choice ~ to live in hostility toward God or to reconciled to Him and to rest in His peace. You may desire to be at peace with God and want no trouble, but is God at war with you? You are either for Him or against Him, there is no inbetween!

John 14:6 says,
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father, except by Me."

Once we've made Jesus Christ Lord of our life and have been bought with a price ~ we are no longer our own. We've entered into the kingdom of God and made Him our Lord and our Savior. He is no longer hostile toward us, there's no condemnation in Christ Jesus.

As believer's our preparation for God's eternal purpose is as rigorous, spiritually, as an Olympic athlete in training is physically, even more so, because the outcome of our training has eternal ramifications. Trials build spiritual endurance! God's preparation in our lives is part of His eternal design and only He knows what that purpose will be.

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete lacking in anything."

God uses the trials of life to purify us, to mature us, they are our training ground, to prepare us for eternity, but also to use us for His plans and purposes, in the lives of others. Without the trials, the training, we would have no great victories!

James 1 :12 says, "Blessed (happy) is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."(Now that's victory!)

Who loves Him? John 14:15 says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

We continue to know joy and peace when we continue to remain in Him and His Word. His truths bring us light to see every good and right path. They counsel and instruct us in the way we should go; they are a "instruction manuel" that shows us what He designed us for and how we are to live. Remaining within the boundaries of His truths we find peace and rest in Him!

When we are anxious, worried or fearful, lacking peace we tend to look to ourselves, others, for the answers and if we can't quiet our hearts, many of us turn to food, alcohol and drugs ~ to bury the stress, the anxiety and the fear. God created us to have peace in Him, that's where true peace is found.

Psalm 34:14 says, "Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Psalms 34:19 says, "The righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."

Psalm 34:22 says, "The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him."

Psalm 91:14-16 says,
" Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

1 Samuel 2:30b says,

"Those who honor me, I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained."

Are you at peace with God or is He at war with you? If you have settled the hostility of God toward you through faith in what Jesus Christ did on the cross ~ are you continuing to abiding in His peace and in His love? Peace is a place, a secret place ~ it's found in Christ alone! I know it's a process, I haven't attained it either! Keep remaining and keep abiding! Let's run to Him, alone, for our peace! Training is hard work, hang in there, I'm praying for you, my friend!

The Mysteries Of God ~ Are They Unsearchable?

Men explore the depths of the sea, to know it's secrets and mankind searches out the heavens to know it's mysteries, even though, it's boundaries seem unsearchable ~ But who searches the heart of God to know it's passions? Who searches out the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven? Are their any dissatisfied with the superficial things? Are you one of them? One of His seekers? But can the "deep things of God" really be searched out and known by men? Who is, actually, able to plumb the depths of God ~ to know His heart, to know God's secret wisdom? Do we know? Can you? I will let you discern the answer for yourself from the following passages ~

Job 11:7 says,

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens ~ what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave ~ what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea?"

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says,
We do however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him"~ but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgements about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgement: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.  (Who can search the deep things of God?)

Matthew 13:10-11 says,
The disciples came to him (Jesus) and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

1 Corinthians 4:1 says,
"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."

Colossians 1:25-27 says, "~of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints." (To whom has is been revealed?)

Ephesians 3:8-10 says,
"Although, I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things."

Ephesians 6:18-20 says, "~ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints ~ and for me, the utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains ~"

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 says, "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed ~ in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Ephesians 5:32 says, "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Do you search out the deep things of God? Do you plumb the depths? Do you know the secrets of the mysteries of the kingdom heaven? Has God revealed the unsearchable riches of Christ to you? Are you tapped into God's secret wisdom? If so, are you in pursuit and seeking to go "deeper still"? Dig, my friend! Take the time, to know Him intimately, to plumb the depths of God! Make Him your life pursuit, your passion! Are you one of His seekers? Do you seek His face? Will you recognize His coming? Or will you be fooled?

"Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive a blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek His face, O God of Jacob." (Psalm 24: 3-6)

Do you understand this mystery? Or is it just foolishness?

I Am His And He Is Mine, His Banner Over Me Is Love!

Though I haven't written in weeks ~ you're still on my heart and I am praying for you! I'm still here! Life has it's twists and turns, but abiding in Christ is the ONLY thing that has allowed me to remain fixed and stable, through it all. God has been ever faithful and has carried me, comforted me, counsel me and provided for me, as He promised, "in ways unimaginable"! I have, continually, found joy, peace and rest in the shadow of His wings! If in any moment, I move outside of that, I am overwhelmed and distraught. He is my song, even in the midst of such difficulties! When the waters rise it only drives me to my knees! I can say I am grateful for each new and overwhelming trial, ONLY because it keeps me in full pursuit of the God I love! Unfortunately, it's our tendency, as human beings, to stray, to get distracted, but hardships keep us seeking and dependent. Difficulties really are our best friends, when we allow them to draw us into His presence, into His Word.

All of this has had a big impact on my sister, Jeanie, she is in awe of God and His care for me and is so excited she's digging in the word and found a church nearby this past Sunday! People aren't watching to see what happens when we have it altogether, but what happens when we don't! Because then they see God's strength, in our weakness. God in me is seen when I have to depend on Him! She's seen my frailties through it all, but has seen God's strength and faithfulness! She's told me several times, "I keep telling my friends how God is taking care of you, I mean, really taking care of you, but they just don't get it! They just answer, 'Unuh, that's nice.' They really don't get it!" She's called daily and has been with me through the ups and the downs. Though, Jeanie's believed in God since she was a child, she has seen that God is alive, an ever present help in trouble and that He provides and cares for His children. Though, she's seen my short comings, Jeanie has seen God, Himself and she is excited and is reading and digging in the Word! My daughter, Jill, and Jim's sister, Jill, have like my sister, for months, called 2 and 3 times a day, checking in on me. Like me, they have been in awe of God's continuous care! God takes care of His children! God takes care of widows! God takes care of the fatherless!

My sister says, "It's like a good soap opera, that I keep calling to see what God has done." She's afraid she's gonna miss out! She is seeing Him in ways she's never seen Him before and so am I, even though I have been walking with Him for 38 years! God is using my difficulties to show her Himself.

I have been taking advantage of the sunny days of spring, as we get them, to go through the garage and throw out and repack, anticipating a move. I am still working to get through all the paperwork and to handle the estate stuff in a way that would be pleasing to God. There are still more medical bills out there. Now, I will start selling things. People have rendered their services in good faith and we have been so blessed by them, I will sell everything, if that's what it takes to pay every last bill! It may sound like a living nightmare and it feels like it at times, but God has been so faithful and so loving to me through this all! I have known great joy and awe, right in the middle of the deep grief and loss! God is faithful and is still enough! He hasn't left my side, not for even a moment! He alone, meets my every need!

Wherever you find yourself today, I encourage you, to keep seeking, to keep pursuing the God that desires to have an intimate relationship with you ~ He will love you with an "everlasting love". There's no need you have, that He can not meet! I encourage you to sit at His feet, to abide in His Word, to dig and to seek Him; allow him to be your resident, truth Teacher.

My favorite part of the day is still well before dawn, when all is still and quiet. I am in awe of His love and long to bask in His presence, in His Word ~ allowing Him to quiet my heart, to counsel, to instruct me in the way I need to go. His truths are a lamp unto our feet when I apply them, they lead me in paths of righteousness when I follow them. His commandments are food for the soul, we must not starve it! I covet your prayers, the path ahead looks rocky and difficult, but my God promises to give me the feet of a deer, to never leave me and to give me all I need for all He asks of me! His promises sustain me and give me all I need!

Joshua 1:8-9 says, "Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Psalm 63:7 says, "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

Psalm 91:1-2 says, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.

Psalm 61: 3-4 says, "For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."

Psalm 105:3-4 says, "Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

Psalm 92:1-2 says, "It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten stringed lyre and the melody of the harp."

1 John 2:27 says, " As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing is real, not counterfeit ~ just as he taught you, remain in him."

John 15:1--8 says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches, if a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path."

Psalm 119: 92-94 says, "If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me I'm, yours; I have sought out your precepts."

Psalm 37:4-7a says, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him."

Psalm 37:17b-19 says, "But the Lord upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty."

2 Samuel 22:34 says, "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights."

Psalm 18:28-33 says, "You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer; he enables me to stand on the heights."

The sun is rising over the Tetons and a Meadow Lark sings His praises outside my window! The day ahead looks to be full of difficulties, but God is at my side. I rejoice in God, my Savior, and can sing and shout with a voice of triumph! He is forever Faithful ~ My God is still enough! He will not leave me, nor forsake me! He loves me with an "everlasting love"! I am His and He is mine and His banner over me is love! (Song of Songs 2:4) He will walk with me through it all! May God bless your day and may you be filled with expectant hope, as you find shelter in the shadow of His wings!

Jewish Wedding Customs ~ A Teaching Tool In Christ's Return

For the believer, this earthly existence is only temporary! PTL! We were never meant to view this life as our total existence. It's like waiting on a bus, we have a further purpose and this is not our final destination! We are just passing through! We are to live here, with eternity on our hearts ~ watching, waiting and ready for Christ's return! God uses ancient Israel's wedding customs, as an illustration of the Messiah's relationship to His Bride, the church, to teach us. It makes my heart soar as I long for His return, to be Home! As we look, more closely, at the Jewish wedding customs and the meaning behind each one, I hope it excites you as much as it does me! May God bless!

The first step in the marriage process was called the Shiddukhin, the arraignments that came before the legal betrothal itself. It was common in ancient Israel for the father of the groom to select a bride for his son. We can see the parallels of the customs in the Jewish wedding, as we picture Christ and His Bride, the church. We, too, were chosen for the groom by His Father!

Ephesians 1:4 says,

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight."

A Biblical example of Shiddukhin can be found in Genesis 24:1-4. Abraham makes the arrangements for the wedding of Isaac, his son. It was, also, acceptable for the father to choose a representative, who was called a "shadkan" a marriage broker or matchmaker.

Genesis 24:1-4 says,
Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."

Once a wife is selected  then comes the marriage contract or "Ketubah"which is a written document stating the "Mohar" the Rights of the bride and the promises of the groom. The groom's promise to take care of his wife and then the bride's dowry is determined during the ketubah.

We find examples of this described in Genesis 24:52-53:
"When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother."

The Mohar is the Bride price paid by the groom. It's required by law and the price is set by the father of the groom. It reflects the value of the bride. It sets the bride free from her parent's household, "she's bought with a price." We see the bride price in the jewelry and clothing given to Rebekah in the verse above and also in Genesis 29: 20, 27 with Jacob and his wives:
v. 20 "So Jacob served 7 years to get Rachael, but it seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." (Laban, the father, then tricked him and gave him his oldest daughter, Leah, instead of Rachael and Jacob had to work another 7 years for Rachael, whom he loved deeply.)
v. 27 "Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work."

In 1 Peter 1:18-19, we are told that it's not with silver or gold, but with His (Christ's) very own life we are bought. If that is a reflection of the bride's value, the church is worth alot!

1 Peter 1:18-19 says,

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect." (There's no greater price!)

We, too, have a legal contract or ketubah, as Christ's Bride. Our legal contract, as the church, with the Messiah, is the New Covenant. In the same way we have been chosen by the Father to be the precious, loving Bride of His Beloved Son.

The Shiluhim or the dowry is given to the bride by her father to equip her for her new life, it's

 part of her inheritance. We, as believers are given gifts by our Father to equip us for 

 our new life in Him: The Holy Spirit, John 14:16, 17 and  Spiritual Gifts, 2 Cor. 1:21-22 As for the bride, she promises to yield her life and keep herself for Him. Are we doing that? Keeping ourselves pure, holy and blameless?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says,

"Do you not know that your body is the a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Your are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body."

The bride and the groom have undergone a time of cleansing, the waters of mikveh or immersion ~ Christ at the beginning of His ministry and we His bride in the cleansing waters.

Ephesians 5:26-27 says,

"To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." 

The Betrothal or Eyrusin is also called kiddushim meaning, "sanctification or set apart".  It defines the purpose of the betrothal period ~ a time in which the couple sets aside to prepare themselves to enter into the covenant of marriage. The Jewish understanding of this betrothal or engagement is much stronger than our modern understanding. It is so binding that the couple would need a divorce in order to annul the contract. This option was only available to the groom, not the wife; she had no say in any divorce proceeding. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

Once the couple has gone through the cleansing time, being set apart, they would come together under the Huppah or canopy and, publicly, express their intention of becoming engaged. In ancient times till now, the Huppah or wedding canopy has been a symbol of a new household being planned. During this ceremony items are exchanged, like rings and wine to seal their betrothal or engagement vows.

The betrothal continues, once the engagement is made known by a period of one year when the couple is considered married, but is not to have sexual relations and they continue to live, separately, until the end of the betrothal time. It's a time of preparation, purification and undistracted devotion. 

The Bridal gift or Mattan, is a gift given by the groom to his wife just prior to him leaving to go and prepare a place for them to live. It's a pledge of his love for her and is to be a reminder to her in their days of separation, that he is thinking about her and will return to take her as his bride. It's not required but given out of love. 

There were separate responsibilities during this year of betrothal for each of them. The groom's responsibility was to prepare a place for them to live. It was most often simply adding additional rooms to his father's house. It was the Rabbi's job to determine that the place to which the bride was to be taken must be better than the place she dwelled before. It's was the groom's job to decide when the place he was preparing was ready and then his father would make the determination and give the okay to receive his bride.

The bride was to be busy preparing for the wedding day ~ the garments were sewn and made ready.

The bride, also, was to keep herself busy in preparation for the wedding day - specifically wedding

 apparel for her and her brides maids.

Also as part of the betrothal which includes the wine under the Huppah, one of the last actions of the groom was to bless the cup of the ketubah, the contract of marriage ~ in our case, Christ and the cup of the New Covenant. The wine would not be tasted by Him until he would drink it again at the wedding feast. In Christ, our betrothal, the promise is so sure that it would take a religious divorce to nullify the contract, His Covenant. Remember the divorce is only available to the groom. 

In Hosea 2:19-20 it says,

"I will betroth you forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord."

God would never divorce His people, it's not in His character. We are secure in our contract with the Messiah, we cannot break it and He promises that He will not break it.

In John 10:28 He says,

"I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."

Christ is fulfilling His betrothal obligations now, while we wait and are to be making ready for His return for us, the church, His bride. He's gone to prepare a place for us. 

In John 14:1-3 He says, 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

We talked about the Mattan or bridal gift of love, it means gift or pledge, in the Greek the word is Charismata. In Ephesians 1:13-14 Paul tells us that this gift is the Holy Spirit ~ which is a promise of His love and that He will return for us. This gift or pledge was given at Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4. While the groom is gone, the Bride of Christ, the church, is to consecrate itself, to be set apart, holy. Are we pure and holy, wearing bridal attire and keeping the covenant promises?

The final step or the Nissuin, meaning to carry, or the wedding: The bride would have taken the betrothal seriously and would be expecting her groom to come for her at the end of one year. She wouldn't have known the exact time or day. It was the groom's father that would give the final approval for the wedding to begin. Christ's Father, will give the approval, the time of His return for His Bride!

Since the arrival time was a surprise, the bride and her bridemaids had to always be ready. As was the custom, one of the groomsmen would go ahead of the bridegroom, leading the way to the bride's house and was shouting: "Behold, the bridegroom comes." This would be followed by the sounding of the shofar and then the entire wedding processional would go through the streets of the city to the bride's house. The groomsmen would set up the Huppah and again the couple would say a blessing over a cup of wine and the ceremony would finalize the vows and promises.

The highlight was the joyful celebration of the marriage supper. It included 7 full days of food, music and celebration and afterwards the groom was free to bring his wife to their new home and to live together in the full marriage covenant.

Jesus told His disciples that He, Himself, did  not know the day or the hour of His return; He too, must wait on His Father to give the word that the set time has arrived. Just as in the Jewish wedding, a messenger was sent ahead with a shout, if we look at 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 there will indeed be a shout and a trumpet or shofar! 

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18 says, 

"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught u[ together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (The voice of an archangel, how's that for a messenger?) Oh, it just thrills my soul!!

Revelation 19:7-9 says, 

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride."

In Hosea 2:19-20, as we read above, it is clear that Israel is the bride of Christ. Yet a Newer Covenant tells us that the "church" is His bride. So, are there two brides? No, the two are one, we've been grafted in!

In Romans 11:17-19  we see, clearly, that we have been grafted in:

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this:  You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 

I hope, my friend, that your relationship with the LORD is so intimate, that you are looking for His return and that you are ready ~ sealed in His Spirit and sanctified and set apart! Are you watching longingly? I am!

Chessie's Watching And Waiting, Longingly, Are You?

Kathy, our mail lady, is an animal lover and loves Chessie! She says she looks like a little teddy bear. Chessie loves to greet Kathy when she comes! Kathy always brings Chessie a bone, but we haven't found a treat yet, that Chessie likes. Chessie, takes it, politely, sets it down and then comes back to be petted ~ it's the love she's seeking and, of course, it thrills Kathy that Chessie is more interested in her than the bone.

I was out in the yard, this last week, it was 65 degrees, sunny and beautiful and I took advantage of the nice weather and spent a couple days pruning back all the shrubs and hauling all the clippings away. Our mail is, usually, delivered between noon and one o'clock. I'd never seen Chessie do this before, (she's, usually, wrestling with "her kitty" or running in 5 directions all at once) but there she was sitting at the end of the driveway waiting, looking longingly, up the road, for Kathy. I had to laugh! Chessie's learned that Kathy loves her and she was anxious to see her! (Chessie didn't know Kathy had come when we went in to get a drink.)

I don't know about you, but like Chessie, there's someone I, longingly, looking forward to seeing too! The deeper my love relationship with the Lord goes, the more I long to see Him, face to face! His love for me makes me long for His coming! Do you ever think, "Well Lord, I wonder if you might come today?" Are you watching and waiting, like Chessie? Does the knowledge of His love for you, cause you to seek Him and look forward to a time when you can be "at home with Him"? I can hardly wait! I'd love for it to be today! How about you? Are you watching, waiting, looking for Him longingly? I am!

Luke 12:35-38 says,
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night."

Luke 12:30-40 says,
"But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

Tomorrow, we are going to take a look at how God uses the customs of the ancient Jewish wedding, as a teaching tool, as He instructs us to be watching, waiting and ready for His return! What are we suppose to be doing while we wait? Are you ready? I've really been blessed in studying it, hope you will be too!

Chessie Rocks!

Chessie, my dog, is enjoying being outside with the warmer days of spring! We've had three beautiful days and I've taken advantage of the nice weather to get some chores done outside. I think Chessie misses the snow, though ~ one of her favorites things is finding a snowball, which is, usually, twice her size and she attempts to carry it everywhere she goes. Lol. She tries to run with it, if she can even get it in her mouth and then the heavy breathing causes her to inhale bits of snow, but she refuses to put it down, even with the coughing.

The snow is all gone, at the moment, so Chessie has discovered a nice size river rock ~ it has smooth sides, but it is too big for Chessie's mouth. But, just the same, Chessie doesn't give up easily, she spent 30 minutes, yesterday, pawing at it and trying to get it in her mouth. It can't be good for her teeth! I need to start giving her a ball to take outside instead.

Jake, "her kitty" came to see why he wasn't getting his usual greeting and Chessie was just sure that Jake was after her rock. All he wanted was to greet her, he was rubbing up against her while she was whining and trying to get her rock in her mouth, so he wouldn't take it. She finally gave up, but by the time she did, she had just worn herself out! I came in to get some lunch ~ Chessie was so tired, she was sacked out on the couch snoring! I think she's got Jim beat! Lol.

Aren't we much the same, we can take on too much, or try to take on something that is God sized and instead of letting God do it, we end up worn down and weary from trying to do the impossible. We fret and stew and worry and reason, trying to figure it out. God never meant for us to carry some of the loads we try to carry!

Matthew 11:28-30 in the New Living Translation says,
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light."

Philippians 4:6-7 says,
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:13 says,
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

1 Peter 5:7 says,
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

Isaiah 41:10 says,
"Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed. For I am thy God, I will strengthen thee. Ye I will help thee; ye, I will uphold thee, in the right hand of My Righteousness."

1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

God wants us to bring our burdens and cares to Him. To come to Him with a spirit of thanksgiving and present our requests before Him and He promises to give us peace that transcends all understanding and to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. He promises to strengthen us when we come to Him with our fears, to help us and uphold us with His right hand and to not give us more that we can bear, to provide a way out, so that we can stand up under it. God cares for us and wants us to cast our anxiety on Him! He calls us to come to Him if we are weary and heavy laden, He promises to give us rest!

If your load is too big or seems overwhelming, stop trying to carry it alone! Don't we weary ourselves, just like Chessie did, with anxiety and fear, with a load much too heavy for us? God's calling to us to come to Him and let Him help us carry our burdens! He wants to lighten our load! If we can only let go and just let God be God!

Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds!

In our previous blog, "My En Gedi, Revive Me, O Lord!" We talked about David and his men retreating to the caves of En Gedi! We talked about it being a place of retreat, a quiet place where David could get alone with his God, but it was also a stronghold, a fortified place, a place of safety from David's enemy, King Saul.

David was hiding from King Saul and his army who were pursuing him to kill him. Saul, was jealous of David and knew God had called him to be king. The Lord had once been with Saul, but withdrew His spirit from him. Saul's jealousy became an overwhelming hatred for David. Saul had sent his men out to discover David's hiding places. Saul was told David was in the "strongholds of En Gedi" in 1 Samuel 23:29 and so Saul went there, in pursuit of David and his men.

David and his men were hiding deep in one of the caves, when Saul went in to relieve himself. David, without Saul knowing it, cut off a corner of his robe and allowed King Saul to leave unharmed. David viewed Saul as a God appointed authority and out of respect, refused to harm him. David let Saul walk away unharmed, but called to Saul, as he was walking away and showed him the corner of his robe that he had cut off. Saul realized, if David had viewed him as an enemy that he would have and could have killed him and so, Saul and his men returned home and stopped pursuing David.

Psalm 21:22 says, "A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust."

In history strongholds have played a vital role, no army could successfully defeat his opponent and let his stronghold stand within the conquered territory, otherwise, the battle would still rage. One of the main objectives of an army would be to remove the strongholds. Saul was seeking to cut David off from his strongholds, his places of refuge, but there was a problem: David may have been hiding in the caves of En Gedi, but God was David's Stronghold and Saul could not compete with that!

God desires to be our Stronghold, our Refuge, our Place Of Survival ~ our Fortified Place. God desires to be our Place Of Refuge against the enemy's attacks. Those sins, that we struggle to overcome can become strongholds, fortified places in our lives or addictions: overeating, alcohol, drugs, lying, cheating, deceptiveness, anxiety, fears, etc. Unforgiveness can become a stronghold of bitterness or anger in our lives, it too only defeats us. Our sins break our fellowship with God. When we seek God's forgiveness, when we believe Christ's sacrifice on the cross to be enough, when we make God our Stronghold, our place of Refuge and Retreat, abiding in Him and hiding His truths in our heart, walking in His ways, we are making Him (God) our Stronghold. God is capable of bringing down all the other strongholds in our lives! All of them! Those fortified places in our lives that we haven't been able to overcome on our own, God can! Be honest with God, ask Him to do in you what you can not. Will you seek Him? Make Him your Stronghold!

Psalm 18:2 says,
"The LORD is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my Shield and the Horn Of My Salvation, my Stronghold."

Psalm 27:1 says,
"The LORD is my Light and my Salvation ~ whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Stronghold of my life ~ of whom shall I be afraid?"

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says,
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have DIVINE POWER TO DESTROY STRONGHOLDS. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (God's weapons, His armor, brings down strongholds!) Check out His armor in  Ephesians 6:11-18!

What strongholds have you allowed the enemy to set up in your camp? Many Christians, who find salvation in Christ, still struggle in their walk because they have failed to remove the strongholds in their lives. God is the one Stronghold that brings down every other! Look to Him with those things that you struggle with, those things that need to be brought under His Lordship. Bring them before Your Maker, ask forgiveness and turn and make God your Stronghold ~ look to Him for your peace of mind and comfort, not other things or people, they will fail us! May God bring the victory, my friend, as you make God your only Stronghold! Will He not do in you, what He already desires, if you seek Him and ask ~ trusting Him to do what you can not! Yes, He will! Step in faith believing! Cry out to Him for the victory and watch Him do it in you! May God bless you, as you seek Him!

My En Gedi ~ Revive Me, O Lord!

God is my Oasis, my En Gedi in the deserts of life ~ He revives my soul in the midst of my struggles, He quiets my heart in the heartache and sorrows of this world. When troubles assail me, like the tumultuous sea, He brings calm and peace to my heart, as He melts away my fears. When my strength is run out, when I am weary and worn, there is One and only One that can revive me! He is a river in the desert that never runs dry! 

En Gedi was an oasis in the mountains that David used to retreat from the enemy ~ a quiet getaway where David could get alone with his God. En Gedi was surrounded by the Dead Sea on the east and by the Wilderness of Judah on the west and by alot of barren and rocky terrain ~ a dry & dusty desert land. As you climb from the the dryness of the desert, to En Gedi, known as the "fountain of the goat" you feel the mist of the waterfall's fresh, cool water on your face and see the lush, green trees that have grown around the falls. There are mountainside caves carved in the rock or limestone above the falls. This would have been a perfect retreat for David, from the enemy. 1 Samuel 23:29 says, "And David went up from there and lived in the "strongholds of En Gedi". These caves can still be seen today, some are large enough to hold thousands of people.

We all need an oasis, an En Gedi, a place of retreat ~ a place to revive the soul! God desires to be our Retreat, our Oasis, our Stronghold!

My En Gedi
By Sheryl Jackson

Moonlight seeps through the folage
In dark woods deep.
It dances on the window pain
As I find no peace for sleep.

My soul has grown weary
Of life's stress and strife
But You, O Lord, are my En Gedi
An oasis in the wilderness of life.

The deserts of difficulty
Seem to have taken their toll
But You are the Living Water
That refreshes and revives my soul.

By quiet waters, I am stilled
As I sit at your feet.
My thirst is forever quenched
In You, I find relief.

In the shadow of Your wings
I find strength for each new day
You are my Oasis in life's deserts
May You be my En Gedi, again, today!

GOD REVIVES THE SOUL! Revive means to bring back to life, to impart new health, vigor or spirit; to restore to use, to refresh and to renew! God is capable of reviving us! To renew and refresh!

Psalm 71:20 says,  (English Standard Version)
"You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will REVIVE ME again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again."

Psalm 138:7 says,
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will REVIVE ME; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me."

Psalm 143:11 says,
"For the sake of Your name, O Lord, REVIVE ME. REVIVE ME, O Lord for Your name sake; for Thy Righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble ~"

The words to Christy Nockels song, You Revive Me ~ for me, is so true! Oh, how I hope it is for you my friend! He alone can make our deserts become rivers of joy, He alone can revive me! If you need to be revived, go to the Source that never runs dry! Find a quiet place, a retreat, a place to get alone with God and let Him be your Oasis ~ allow Him to quiet your heart and to still your soul!

You Revive Me
By Christy Nockels

Chorus:
You revive me, You revive me, Lord
And all my deserts are rivers are joy
You are the treasure, I could not afford
So, I'll spend myself til I'm empty and poor
All for You ~ You Revive me, Lord.

You revive me.

Lord, I have seen Your goodness
And I know the way You are
Give me eyes to see You in the dark
Your face shines a glory, that I only know in part
And there's still a longing, a longing in my heart.

Chorus

My soul, O Lord, is thirsty
Only You can satisfy,
You are the well that will never run dry.
I'll praise You for the blessing, for calling me Your friend.
In Your name I'm lifting, I'm lifting  up my hands.

Because ~ Chorus
All for You, You Revive me, Lord

I'm alive, I'm alive
You breathe on me
You revive me.
Repeat

Psalm 19:7 says,

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, 

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, 

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes."

When we think of the word "law" we think of something that steals our fun, but here we can see the opposite ~ the law (God's Word) revives us, makes us wise, gives joy to the heart, gives light to the eyes, warns us and rewards us.

The "Holy One" longs to meet our every need! To quench our thirst and to revive us in the midst of the desert sands of trials and testing ~ to bring us rivers of joy, that never run dry! May He be your
En Gedi today! I'm praying for you my friend ~ may He revive you!

Refined By Fire

Well, I don't know where you are in your walk with the Lord right now, but God is answering my request to hold me fast. Like you, my feet are made of clay and how easily when things are going well, we can lose our focus on the Lord and not look to Him for everything. I've asked God to keep me close and dependent upon Him, at any cost, so I don't move toward independence ~ to keep me at His feet and dependent on Him for ALL things.

Hardships are no picnic, but in many ways they are our best friends, they draw us into His Presence and that is the best thing that can happen to us. Trials bring Him into focus much more clearly ~ when we are in need, we tend to pursue Him; when things are going well, we, often, act independently. In our hardships, our pursuit of Him deepens our intimacy with Him. We are more likely to run to God, when we are in need and things are out of our control and beyond what we can do. We learn through these times that we can depend on Him, completely, for everything! When we are walking in obedience, we have the opportunity to see His Presence, to hear His voice and to come to know Him on a much deeper level. No, trials are not fun, but I  notice a big difference in my intimacy THROUGH them ~ I find myself missing the depth that only they can bring.

Trials refine us, like silver, when heated to the point of melting, the dross or impurities can be skimmed off the top. Trials, in God's hands, are used to purify us so His reflection can be more clearly seen. Like the silver smith, hovering over his work, with the greatest of care, knowing exactly the right amount of heat to apply, before cooling it down and reheating it again, (until his reflection can be seen). God too, doesn't leave our side and doesn't give us anymore than what we can handle in Him. He knows exactly how much of the fiery trials to apply at a given time, to eventually, see His reflection in us. Heated trials can drain the cockiness and the "I know" right out of us. Fiery trials bring us to our knees, in a place of humility and dependence ~ they remove that "I can do it myself attitude".

Ever see a teen, crying out for their independence, "I can do it myself. I'm old enough to_________." (You fill in the blank) They are crying out for their independence and complaining about the unfairness ~ as we argue their need for more maturity and more responsibility to be shown. They retort back all the reasons why they are old enough, responsible enough, and should be given this desired privilege. They are, often, too immature to see the hypocrisy of their argument. Maybe, they are wanting their own car, but want us to buy it, or pay the insurance. Maybe, they are crying out they are old enough to handle a mobile phone responsibly, but again they want us to pay for the phone and the service. They don't want the responsibility to have to work a job to buy the car & pay the insurance or to buy the phone & pay for the minutes used; they want us to do that, while they tout about their independence. We recognize their immaturity, we realize if we gave them the independence that they are shouting so loudly for, that they wouldn't be able to stand alone.

In the same way, God sees our immaturity, as Christians ~ we can be blinded to our own weaknesses, our desire to be independent, to go it alone, but God sees them clearly. God isn't out to make our lives miserable, but like the silver smith, is working on something of great value and has every intention of using the heat for good ~ God can use hardships to grow us. If you are going through difficulties, I encourage you to see it as an invitation from the "Holy One" to draw near to Him and to enjoy every moment of that deep intimacy and dependence ~ it's a gift, whether you are choosing to see it that way or not. God uses these fiery trials or tests for our benefit and to the benefit of those around us.

Exodus 20:18-20 says,
When the people (the Israelites) saw the thunder and lightening and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, God has come to TEST you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

God wasn't trying to hurt His people, God uses the tests and trials in our lives to keep us from sinning ~ to bring us into a right relationship with a Holy God, a proper respect or fear. They are brought into our lives out of His deep love for us, to make us eternity ready!

If you are looking for some fun reading ~ my friend, Linda, recently, reminded me of the book, Hinds Feet In High Places, which is where I got my word picture, in a previous blog, of me crawling off the altar. If you haven't read this book by Hannah Hubbard, it's written in allegory style and gives great insight to our fears and the trials of life and how God uses the "deserts" in our lives for our benefit and His glory. I've read it several times and was disheartened to find my copy, soaking wet, when our garage flooded, recently, from all the melting snow. This book is a reread! I plan to get another copy! If you haven't read it, check it out!

If you are going through fiery trials, at the moment, I encourage you, my dear friend, to choose to use them to fuel your pursuit and passion for the God, who loves you beyond what you can think to imagine! How He longs for you to look to Him for all your needs! To trust, to love Him with all your heart! Won't you seek Him?

2 Chronicles 16:9 says,
"For the eyes of the LORD range (roam) throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

The more we SEEK HIM, the more we FIND HIM, the more we FIND HIM, the more we LOVE HIM! ASK HIM, my friend, to fuel your passion and pursuit of Him ~ how He longs for you to love Him above all else and to TRUST HIM in and for all things!

The first and greatest commandment can be found in Matthew 22: 37-38:
Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."

Proverbs 3:5-6 says,
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

In Deuteronomy 4 we get a glimpse of God's dealings with His nation Israel, we can learn alot about God's character and His requirements as we read, beginning in verse 25:
"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time ~ if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking Him to anger, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. The LORD will scatter you among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you SEEK the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which He confirmed to them by oath. Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of a fire, as you have, and lived? Has any god ever tried to take for Himself on nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides Him there is no other. From heaven He made you hear His voice to discipline you. On earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words from out of the fire. Because He loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, He brought you out of Egypt by His Presence and His strength, to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today. Acknowledge and take heart this day the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep His decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time."

God demands obedience, commitment, a heart devoted to Him, alone and is a jealous God ~ He will use discipline and trials to test our faith and to draw us into the maturity of obedience. Don't detest the hardships, as we love our children and discipline them, so God loves us and acts only in love on our behalf! Draw near to Him, my friend, how He longs for you to love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength! He loves you deeply! I'm praying for you!

Who Does God Bless?

God clearly describes in His Word how we are to live that we might please Him, be blessed and find true joy and happiness, and how we can know the freedom from sin. His Word is straight forward and clear! When we obey His precepts, when we seek Him with all our heart, we will be steadfast and blameless and find great joy and freedom in this life!

Psalm 119:1-5 says,
"Blessed (happy) are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed (happy) are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!"

In the following verses in Psalm 32 we can see David expressing the joy of the forgiveness he received. God had forgiven him for his sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, the adultery and then the murder, in an attempt to hide his sin. When we turn to God for forgiveness, He forgives our transgressions and doesn't count our sins against us. These verses are, also, quoted by Paul in Romans 4:7-8 and they are a testimony of God's forgiveness that we can experience through faith in Jesus Christ.

Psalm 32:1-2 says,

"Blessed (happy) is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed (happy) is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit."

Psalm 103:11-12 encourages us further,
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers we are dust."

The east and west never meet! This is a picture of God's forgiveness ~ when He forgives us, it's as if we never sinned and He remembers it no more, as if it never happened! This week is a great time to take a few minutes and read Psalm 51, another psalm written by David. David was truly sorry for the adultery with Bathsheba and in this psalm he pleads for God's mercy, forgiveness and cleansing and God mercifully forgave him.

In Psalm 1 we can see God does not blessed us or judge us based on our race, sex or origin. He judges us on the basis of our faith in Him and how we respond to His revealed will. When we diligently try to obey God's desires we will be blessed. He compares our happiness to healthy, fruit bearing trees with strong roots and God promises to watch over us. God's wisdom will guide our lives, as compared to those who don't trust and obey God ~ their lives are meaningless and will blow away like dust.

Psalm 1:1-4, & 6 says, 

"Blessed (happy) is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so with the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

It's important for us to listen to what God's Word says, but it's of greater importance for us to DO what it says to do. The effectiveness of God's Word in our lives can be best measured by the effect it has on our attitudes and behaviors. It's good for us to ask ourselves if we put into action what we are studying!
It's a paradox that God's law brings freedom, but it does, it frees us from sin! As we read it, it is a standard that we can measure our lives against ~ it reveals our sin.

James 1:25 says,
"But if a man looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but DOING IT, he will be blessed in what he does."

Isaiah 30:15 says,
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

God's warned Judah that turning to Egypt and other nations for military might could not save them. Only their Sovereign God could do that. He told them that they must WAIT for Him in "quietness and trust." No amount of sweet talk or swift activity could speed up God's grand design. We have much to be thankful for ~ salvation comes from God alone. Because He has saved us, He can be trusted and can  be all confident that He will give us the strength to face any difficulty. We can lay aside our stirring care and endless effort and rest in His Faithfulness to act on our behalf.

As Christians we are saved by God's grace and we are set free from sin's control. We are set free to live as God calls us to live ~ to walk in His righteousness ~ to be holy as He is Holy, to walk in obedience to His Word, to keep His commands, to trust and rest in His care. There's alot of promises that can be found in God's Word, for those whose sin has been forgiven and who walk as Jesus did. This is how we know we've been saved! May God bless you my friend, as you walk in the freedom of God's forgiveness and apply His Word to your daily walk, doing what it says. I'm praying for you!

Wishing you and yours a joyous Easter, as we celebrate Christ's Resurrection Power!