Psalm 32:1

 

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."

Psalm 32:1 (NKJ)

    Amen, and amen!
    The Lord's forgiveness is sweet and strong. Sweet and joyous in the fact that it's made acceptance by and a relationship with Him possible; and strong in the fact that it actually happened, that God found a way to forgive us of our sins without compromising His perfect integrity.
    At the end of the day, when there might be some regrets on one's mind, remembering the completeness of the Lord's forgiveness is not only a huge relief, but it's strengthening because it lets us know that we're still covered by Christ's redemption, that He'll still gladly be with us.
    Being forgiven, redeemed by the Lord so freely, is a blessed thing indeed. Amen?

Clarence Hall: "But it Won't Stay There"

The Lord went into a grave, but He didn't stay there! :D

"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there."

~Clarence W. Hall

    What an interesting way to describe the Resurrection! Truth, put in a grave, but not able to be held there long.
    Jesus Christ is the Truth. In John 14:6, He even states it's one of His titles:"'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" (NKJ). And His claim is clearly supported by His actions and the affects of His actions. Never once has He spoken or suggested anything that isn't 100% true, and never once did He act hypocritically. His words hold all the answers to life's questions and dilemmas, and He's made ancient prophecies and mysteries clear and understandable. Even today, we can look at the world and then look at the Word, and things make a lot more sense.
    Indeed, Jesus Christ and the message of salvation He pronounced is truth for all time. And when His enemies arranged for Him to be crucified (unwittingly fulfilling prophecy) and His body was put in a tomb, He had died, but He didn't stay dead. On Easter Sunday, the tomb was empty; the grave couldn't hold Him. The Lord had risen from the dead, is still alive today, and His message lives on!
    So this analogy Clarence Hall has written is a really awesome way to think of one of the most important events in history. It's like a victory cry! Amen?
    Have a wonderful Good Friday!

Zechariah 9:9

 

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Zechariah 9:9 (NKJ)

    What a great prophecy verse! It's poetic, joyful, and it's such a wonderful description of the Lord's coming to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
    It was the arrival of the King of Israel, the Prince of Peace, the One who was prophesied of as the deliverer of His people. Yet in this first coming, He arrived on a donkey--which isn't exactly a regal or powerful animal--and He didn't have kingly robes or a following of warriors. But what He did have that Palm Sunday, as this verse in Zechariah proclaims, was an air of pure humbleness, the ability to reign perfectly as King, and what He came to give to the whole world was life (and soul) saving salvation!
    Which certainly makes a powerful and joyous appearance; amen?
    Happy Palm Sunday!

The Many, Many Blessings of Christian Music

    In Colossians, there's a verse that goes like this: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (3:16; NKJ).
    When I read somewhere that by "spiritual songs," Paul was talking about the kind of Christian music we hear on the radio today, songs about God and the Christian life, it was awesome! Songs that are totally dedicated to God are special, and there are a lot of great things that Christian music does.
    Spiritual songs like this are, firstly, pleasant and clean. There are so many non-Christian songs I've heard with powerfully beautiful music, but I can't bring myself to sing to it or even think about the song because it either alludes to something less-than-pure, or they spike up the lyrics with profanity. But there's no need to worry about that in Christian songs because they never have foul language; the sound of it is good, and the content is safe.
    Christian music also holds something we can relate to very deeply; thoughts and accounts of life as a Christian. The lyrics are about what it's like to be redeemed, what following the Lord is like, what struggles God gets us through day by day. We know these things well, and hearing others sing about it is like finding someone whose favorite book is the same as yours, or making friends with someone who loves to do a certain activity that you also adore. It's exciting and encouraging!
    Songs about God and the Christian life also serve as a reminder, stirring up our memories and bringing spiritual things to mind. Casting Crowns and Tenth Avenue North do this a lot with their wonderful songs about God's grace and deep love, and songs by Mandisa are full of joy and encouragement; and then there are awesome albums like FM Static's "Dear Diary," which has a bunch of songs that portray a person's coming to faith in Christ. Listening to all these songs and the stories they tell is like reliving parts of the past, remembering how God's worked in our lives, and how He's still leading us. Those kind of topics are very helpful to remember while listening to them, and later when situations bring the lyrics back into mind.
    On top of all these things, there's the vital point that Christian music is something we can worship the Lord with. Not only is it enjoyable, but it's really a good thing to do, "For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful" (Psalm 147: 1b, NKJ). Christian songs extol His awesomeness and give Him glory for His perfect works and character. Undoubtedly, the music's got to be as beautiful to His ears as they are to ours. Plus, it can be done anywhere; singing along to the radio on a car ride, hanging around the house, and it can even be done without music when one knows the lyrics of the song by heart.
    Ah, there are so many blessings in Christian songs. Aren't you glad we have so many to sing? :)

Psalm 92:4

 

"For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands."

Psalm 92:4 (NKJ)

    God is the Creator of many works. He's the Maker of all creation, He designs every individual person, He shapes our lives into something beautiful once we give ourselves to Him, and of course there's the mighty, incredible work that is salvation.
    The natural world we live in is breathtakingly beautiful with colors and light; and the intricate uniqueness of each person is interesting and fascinating; the way God makes great, helpful things happen in our lives is just awesome; and of course, the salvation that the Lord won saved all of humanity--it's grace powerful enough to wash away all our sins and let us be with the Lord. That is a wonderful, wonderful thing!
    All of these works of God are wonderful things, worthy of getting excited and joyful about; don't you think? :)

Psalm 4:11

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You."

Psalm 4:11 (NKJ)

    It's great how joy is an effect of the Lord in life. Knowing how wonderful He is, how He loves us, how we don't have to stress out about anything because He defends us. It's an incredible blessing that's basically impossible to uphold without Him. Bible verses like these are great to recall at any moment.
    I hope you have a fantastic week! :)

Psalm 119:169

"Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word."

Psalm 119:169 (NKJ)

    You know that sort of mindset you get just after hearing a sermon, after having a Bible study? Refreshed by the pure words of the Lord and a godly message, it's like one sees the world through different eyes--righteous eyes. It's easier to think in biblical terms, easier to understand feelings, and doing right is also less difficult than it might usually be.
    Reading God's Word makes things in life clearer, brighter, it gives such a deeper understanding of things! I wish that I always had this mindset 24/7, don't you? :)

Exodus 15:2

 

"'The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him."

Exodus 15:2 (NKJ)

John 17:3

 

"'And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent,'"

John 17:3 (NKJ)

    This is so true. Life with God really is life!
    Learning things about Him is incredible, being able to please Him is fulfilling, receiving His generous blessings is fantastic, and knowing God personally is the most beautiful thing anyone can experience. He is an awesome, awesome God! And the fact that we get to have this great kind of life for all eternity (on earth and then in heaven) is wonderful!
    The very thought of it is exciting, isn't it?

2 Peter 1:2

 

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,"

2 Peter 1:2 (NKJ)

    Isn't that an awesome truth? That our sense of peace and grace grows stronger and larger as we learn more and more about the Word?
    It makes a lot of sense, considering that the Bible is God's story. As a person reads more and more of it, they get to see more and more of the Lord's character through the things He says and does in various points in time. Which, of course, constantly shows that God is gracious, loving, and kind.
    Having that knowledge gives unspeakable joy and peace; don't you agree? :)

Colossians 3:23

 

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,"

Colossians 3:23 (NKJ)

    It's great to do a job with genuine joy! Heart makes art, for one. When a person cares about something a lot and puts their heart into working on it, the result is usually spectacular and special--which is important since our work as well as our lives reflect God. And not only that, but being passionate about the work makes it wonderful all the way. Rather than it being just a task, it's something one can enjoy thoroughly; a blessing!
    The fact that the Lord wants us to be blessed in working is so wonderful, isn't it? God is good!

Those Special Songs . . .

    Have you ever had one of those days when you want to crawl into somewhere hidden and stay there? Or maybe just one of those long, dry times when you don't feel upset, but you don't feel joyful either. A difficult time in life, a "valley" day, a long spiritual winter season. And then you sit down in a car or in your room and turn on the radio . . . and this beautiful song that completely applies to what you're going through comes on. A song that echoes what you're feeling, that empowers and comforts you, giving relief from all the problems, filling your heart with joy and a desire to praise the Lord. Moments like this are amazing, and definitely a "God thing."
    The Lord is so good to bless the world with songs like this; music that touches the heart and beautiful words that speak His truth. They remind us of His character, His grace, His love, His promises, and those are what we need to feel whole. And it can be a great reminder that He knows what we're going through and what we need; that He understands everything and can lead us through whatever situation we're in. That gives immeasurable hope.
    A song that does these things is a great blessing--and kind of like a special treasure we can share with the Lord. And when you know the lyrics and the tune by heart, you carry it with you all the time, able to remember and sing (or hum or whistle) it anywhere you go.
    Do you have a special song like this? Isn't it wonderful?

Luke 12:32

 

"'Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'"

Luke 12:32 (NKJ)

Psalm 35:9

 

"And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation."

Psalm 35:9 (NKJ)

C.S. Lewis: The Way You Carry the Load

"It's not the load that breaks you down. It's the way you carry it."

~C.S. Lewis

    Perspective is vital. It can determine whether a person breaks down with pressure or if they get through problems with minimal stress.
    It's a choice. A decision to be either pessimistic and anxious or optimistic and at peace. One can either focus on the negative aspects and the possibilities of failure or choose to put their faith in the Lord and look for the positives. It's really easy to slip into the negativity choice, but it causes a lot of harm. And it means not trusting God when He says He's working everything out for our good.
    "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." (Proverbs 17:22, NKJ) Choosing to be positive and to trust in the Lord really does help immensely. It relieves stress, strengthens faith, and it can make a tense situation all right.
    C.S. Lewis sure does have a lot of great quotes. Do you know any by heart?

Mark 16:6--He Is Risen!

 

"But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.'"

Mark 16: 6 (NKJ)

    The tomb is empty! He is risen!
    What does this mean? It means that Jesus Christ came back from the dead. And what does that mean? It means that Jesus is who He said He is--the Son of God--and that His sacrifice on the cross has atoned for all of our sins. It means that God's plan to redeem humanity has succeeded, and that we can now be forgiven and have a personal relationship with Him!
    How good it is to remember what the Lord has done! Not only did He die for us, but He rose again and came back. He's showed us His incredible love in both the day He went to the cross and the morning He went out of the tomb.
    He is risen! What a wonderful reason to rejoice!

Joy: The Serious Business Of Heaven

"Joy is the serious business of heaven."

~C.S. Lewis

    God is joyful! Which is a delightful thing to remember on any day. He's not frowning up in heaven, but smiling, delighting in righteousness.
    Psalm 16:11 says that His presence is "full of joy." And in John 15: 11, Christ shows His disciples how to have His kind of joy, joy that is "full." And Galatians 5:22 states that one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy.
    And Nehemiah 8: 10 proclaims that "the joy of the LORD is your strength." God, who never changes, is joyful, and He wants us to be joyful too! Isn't it wonderful to have such a great God? :)

Habakkuk 3:18

 

 

"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Habakkuk 3:18 (NKJ)



Merry Christmas 2015!!!

    It's the most wonderful time of the year! A holiday that brings families together and celebrates God's gift to the earth: Jesus Christ's miraculous birth; His arrival to bring salvation to mankind. As the angels in Luke 2 proclaim, it's "good tidings of great joy!"
    Have a wonderful Christmas!

Luke 2:11-12



"'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.'"

Luke 2:11-12 (NKJ)