Before he Set The Heavens In Place

Photo by Marianne Burgess

 "The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.  From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth."  Proverbs 8:22-23

Everyday we are bombarded with how things were created, that we are all here because of a big bang that happened somewhere along time and that we just evolved from something else.  I choose to believe what my Bible, God's Word, tells me.  I was created in God's image and I am unique.  He knew me before He knit me together in my mother's womb.  God designed, planned and implemented all that we are, all that we see, and everything we can't comprehend.

God is still in charge of this universe not us.  He causes the sun to rise each morning and to set each night and He keeps the stars in sky.  I for one am very glad He is!!!

He's Everything To Me

by Ralph Carmichael

In the stars His handiwork I see,

On the wind He speaks with majesty,

Tho He ruleth over land and sea,

What is that to me?

I will celebrate Nativity,

for it has a place in history;

Sure, he came to set His people free

What is that to me?

Till my faith I met Him face to face

And I felt the wonder of His grace

Then I knew that He was more 

than a God who didn't care,

That lived away out there

And now He walks beside me day by day,

Every watching over me lest I stray,

Helping me to find that narrow way

He's everything to me.

Remember The Sabbath

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work..."

Exodus 20:8-10

Growing up Sundays were a day with family and as a family we attended church together.  My Dad did not always go with us but Mom never failed to find us a ride to Sunday school and church.  After church families would gather on the lawn of church and everyone would have "dinner on the ground" together or you invited another family home with you for Sunday dinner.  I miss these times as today we don't invite someone over for Sunday dinner but head to a restaurant for our meal.

I remember one year, I think it was 1987, my sweetie and I had traveled across country visiting with family and friends.  We were heading back west, had spent the night in Elk City, OK, got up early to get back on the road and had driven as far as a Liberal, a small city in Kansas.  We were both getting hungry so we decided to stop for a bite of lunch.  There was no food to be had as everything was closed.  It was the Sabbath day and not even a gas station was open to get a soft drink and a bag of chips.  We both commented that it was really great to see businesses closed so their employees could spent time with family and attend church together.  

Today it is a rarity to see businesses closed on any holiday much less on the Sabbath.   The almighty dollar and what it can buy rules our lives.  Spend time with your family this Sabbath and go to church as a family.  I promise you won't be sorry!

Take Time To Be Holy

by William D. Longstaff, 1882

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;

Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

 

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

 

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;

And run not before Him, whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,

And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

 

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,

Each thought and each motive beneath His control.

Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

An Invitation To Dine

"The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king, who gave a wedding feast for his son.  And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come."

Matthew 22:2-3

Have you ever planned a big dinner or get together and have everyone you invited to cancel at the last minute?  You have spent hours/weeks with preparation putting together what you thought would be a fantastic time for all.  I have and it hurts big time!  You make a promise to yourself that you will never do it again.

God is doing the same thing for us only it is a wedding feast.  All we have to do is accept His invitation to become part of the Church, the Bride of Christ.  God's Son is our Bridegroom and for whom the wedding feast is prepared and He has laid the groundwork in our hearts to respond to His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Oh what a celebration it will be when we put on our "wedding clothes", 

the clothes of Jesus Christ righteousness.

Wedding Music
 by Phil Cross & Kirk Talley

Is that wedding music I hear

The brides adorned and ready to appear

And there's heavenly preparation 

For the wedding celebration

Is that wedding music that I hear

The family is preparing for a wedding

All have been invited to attend

The bride is standing ready

Waiting for the signal when the groom says

Thanks my children come on in

Soon we'll rise to leave this land of sorrow

For that ceremony in the air

The Father then will lead us

Through that Holy land of splendor

Have you made your preparation to go there

Is that wedding music I hear

The brides adorned and ready to appear

And there's heavenly preparation 

For the wedding celebration

Is that wedding music that I hear

And there's heavenly preparation 

For the wedding celebration 

Ia that wedding music

Is that wedding music that I hear

Happy Birthday Son

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 
1 Corinthians 1:30

 Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you. 

Happy Birthday dear Stephen

Happy Birthday to you.

We love you Son and are so glad that God blessed our lives with you.

Love,

Mom & Dad

Advocate & Defender

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 10:32-33

No matter what we do or what we say there will always be bullies.  If you are like me me there were those that bullied you as you were growing up.  I had a big brother that always came to my defense, he was my protector, he looked after me and still does to this day.

As a Christian I have someone else that looks after me and that is Jesus Christ.  He gave His life for me and will always be my advocate and defender.  When the bullies come my way He will be there defending me.  When Satan goes to God saying "look what she has done," Jesus will be there as my advocate before God, saying with love, "She's Mine." 

I'm not perfect but I know that I have been forgiven and I know that my redeemer lives!

Since I Have Been Redeemed

by Edwin O. Excell

I have a song I love to sing,
Since I have been redeemed,
Of my Redeemer, Savior king,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a Christ who satisfies
Since I have been redeemed,
To do His will my highest prize,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a witness bright and clear,
Since I have been redeemed,
Dispelling every doubt and fear,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a home prepared for me,
Since I have been redeemed,
Where I shall dwell eternally,
Since I have been redeemed.

Since I have been redeemed,
Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in His name;
Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in His name.

A Great Light

The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.  Isaiah 9:2

There was a paragraph in my devotion that really spoke to me this morning; "Are you refusing to act on God's insight, insisting on pursuits that distract you from worshiping Him?  How we spend our time is but a habit, and habits can be changed, by repatterning our actions.  Walk in the light, as your Father intended."

This got me to thinking.  What do I spend my time on when I could be studying God's Word?  It just might be the time I spend playing computer games, surfing the net, time on Facebook, etc. when I should be doing something productive.  Maybe, just maybe, that is why I felt motivated to sign up for two online Bible studies.  Maybe God is leading me in this direction so I will be more grounded in His Word.

My prayer this morning is: Dear Father keep me grounded in your Word.  Give me the desire to seek and know you better.  Take my life and use me for Your purpose. Just as I know the sun will shine through the clouds, let your light will shine through me.  Amen

Send The Light

by Charles H. Gabriel, 1890

There's a call comes ringing o'er the
restless wave,
"Send the Light! send the Light!"
There are souls to rescue, there are
souls to save,
send the Light! send the Light!

Send the Light! the blessed gospel Light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the Light! the blessed gospel Light:
Let it shine for evermore.

We have heard the Macedonian call
today,
"Send the Light! send the Light!"
And a golden off'ring at the cross we lay
Send the Light! send the Light!

Let us pray that grace may everywhere
abound,
"Send the Light! send the Light!"
And a Christ like spirit everywhere be
found,
Send the Light! send the Light.!

Let us not grow weary in the work of
love,
"Send the Light! send the Light!"
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the Light! send the Light!

Who Are The Faithful?

Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.  They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.  Psalm 12:1-2

Dear Father I pray that I will be faithful to your word, that I will speak truth to others and that I won't speak with ill of another.  Amen

My Faith Looks Up To Thee

by Ray Palmer

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee,
Pure warm, and changeless be, a living fire!

While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread, be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream over me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!