“…regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB”? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

Matthew 22:31-32

Jesus is the one talking. He has just told those who were asking Him questions that they were mistaken about some things. Imagine that! That we humans might be mistaken about some things. Then Jesus used the Old Testament to rectify their thinking. To those who discount the importance of the Old Testament, please reconsider its relevancy. Jesus often quoted from it. And what did He quote? That GOD IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING. Do you have a loved one who is no longer alive in your presence? Well, be assured on the basis of Jesus’s words – your loved one is alive. 

GOD of the LIVING, I praise You for receiving my loved one into your presence. Thank You that I will be alive in Your presence one day, also.

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“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

1 Peter 5:10

Do you feel a bit dischelved? Perhaps incomplete or imperfect? Do you ever feel a bit shaky or wish you were stronger in your convictions and stable in your walk with the Lord? Do you ever wonder how God could love and forgive you?  GRACE. The answers to our questions are summed up in that one word.  Notice that 1 Peter 5:10 doesn’t say that we will one day pull ourselves up by our boot straps and viola, we’ll be perfect, confirmed, stengthened, and establised. Rather, the verse states, “God Himself will.”  The God of all grace has called us to His eternal glory in Christ and He will finish by grace what He began in grace. Remember: He’s the God of ALL grace.   

GOD of all GRACE, I love You and praise you! Thank You for calling me to eternal glory in Christ. Thank you for taking it upon Yourself to complete what You began – my perfection, confirmation, strengthening, and establishment in Christ Jesus.

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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1

When we go to the beginning, to the very first way the ONE we worship is addressed, it is GOD; Elohim. Biblical scholar Charles Ryrie explains that it is “a generic term for deity as well as a proper name for the true god. Its basic meaning is ‘strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.’ The form of the word is plural, indicating plentitude of power and majesty and allowing for the NT revelation of the triunity of the Godhead.” That is the scholarly definition of the GOD we love and worship. But how would you explain who God is to you?

GOD, ELOHIM, we bow in worship and praise of You, for how You have revealed Your majesty to us; for how You’ve reached down and saved us; for how You will raise us up to be in Your presence one day. It is with unspeakable reverance we praise You!

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“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest  for your souls.”“

Matthew 11:29

Gentle. The all powerful God is gentle?  What does Christ mean when He says He is gentle?  Another word is meek. It’s often explained as “power under control.” Although I can’t fully understand this great combination of attributes, I see a glimpse of them in my husband. Keith has great strength of character; yet he stoops down to pick a tiny flower amidst a field of grass in order to gently hand it to me on our walks. Moreso with Christ. While holding infite power, He offers us His gentle, humble heart where we find rest for our souls. He invites us to walk closely with Him and learn from Him. 

Lord Jesus, You are both strong and GENTLE! I praise You!

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YOU’RE INVITED! JOIN ME TODAY AT THE KERRVILLE KROC CENTER CHAPEL I’LL BE TEACHING 12:10-12:45 AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US!

“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”

Psalm 36:9

When we come to God for new life in Christ, we do not come to a sippy cup by which we have to strain for a flow of refreshing life. We come to a fountain bursting and flowing, spashing, and dancing in the sunlight. “Come to Me and drink!” Jesus invites all. (John 7:37) And don’t stop drinking. God’s fountain flows from the “innermost being”** of the one who believes in Jesus  From where does the living water originate, we might ask? The FOUNTAIN of LIFE: GOD.  Thirsty? Dry? Maybe it’s because our view of God is as a sippy cup and it’s time for us to see Him as the FOUNTAIN. 

Lord, You are the FOUNTAIN of LIFE! Splash on me! Fill me up. Flow in and through me!

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*Blue Letter Bible, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4726&t=NASB, **John 7:38

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

Colossians 1:18

Today I went to a funeral. We celebrated the life of a dear woman who went to be with the Lord. She follows Christ, who is the firstborn from the dead. “Born from the dead.” Have you ever thought about what that means? Christians have a “new birth.” Before our salvation we are “dead in our trespasses and sins.” However, after we repent of our sins and confess Jesus as our Lord, we receive the Holy Spirit and are “born” from our dead state and made alive in Christ. What we experience internally in our spirit at the moment of salvation will be fully realized eternally at our bodily resurrection. Christ has led the way as the firstborn from the dead with a resurrection body. We can be sure that as He rose, we will follow Him and rise!

Lord God, I praise You, the FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD! 

“…in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Romans 3:25b-26.

Some people wrongly accuse God of not being tolerant. However, our faith is based on the tolerance* or forbearance of God.  It’s not that God is tolerant of sin.  Rather, sin is so “intolerable” to God that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we would be free of it.  However, in God’s forbearing love, He “passed over” or “paid for” sins even committed before Jesus died. The forebearing Lord is just. The forebearing Lord is the justifier (just as if I’d never sinned) of the one who has faith in Jesus. Do you have faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? Then you have reason to praise Him!

Lord God, I praise You for Your FORBEARANCE! You are great and merciful! 

TODAY IS CATCH UP DAY!  

 BE SURE TO RECORD GOD’S ATTRIBUTES IN YOUR PRAYERS OF MY HEART PRAYER JOURNAL. RECORDING IT HELPS PLANT GOD’S ATTRIBUTE IN YOUR MIND. PLUS, YOU’LL HAVE A TREASURE KEEPSAKE OF GOD’S 365 ATTRIBUTES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.  HERE’S MINE:

*”Forebearance,” http://www.blueletterbible.org  

“We had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.”

Hebrews 12:9-10

Jesus. Friend. God. Father of Spirits. The ways in which God the Father, Son, and Spirit reveal themselves is incredible, isn’t it?* In Hebrews 12:9-10 we’re tiold that God is the Father of spirits. Not only did He birth our existence, He also assumes responsibility for our discipline so that we share in His holiness. The next time we feel a sense of conviction for something we did that we know went against the expressed will of God, let’s pay attention rather than ignore His voice. It’s the Father of our spirit calling to us. 

Father of Spirits, thank You for loving me and calling me to holiness. I praise You!

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“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what what I command you.”

John 15:13-14

On Valentine’s Day each year, couples express their love for one another; while many who are not in a relationship long to be loved. However, Jesus pointed out that there is a love greater than romantic love. It is the love of one who will lay down their life for another; which is exactly what Jesus did for you. If your spouse isn’t expressing that lovin’ feeling and a significant other isn’t showing up at your door with candy and flowers, be assured there is One who profoundly loves you. The Son of God calls Himself your FRIEND and showed off His love for you in the most profound of ways. Red is the color of His love, and His heart beats for you. Listen. 

Jesus Christ, lover of my soul, I praise You! Thank You for calling me FRIEND and laying down Your life for me! 

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“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

James 1:17

Are you going through a dark time physically, emotionally, or spiritually? It can happen to even the most dedicated follower of Christ.  What are we to do during the darkness of trials, temptations, and despair? Remember the truth:  God is the Father of lights. Regarding this verse, Charles Ryrie writes, “God is the source of all light – physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual – and He does not change.”* If we need a change, then we do well to look to God and follow His advice on any moral, physical, intellectual, or spiritual issue. That’s where we’ll regain the light for which we desperately long.   

Lord, I praise You – the Father of Lights! Fill me with the gift of the Light of Your Presence.  

*Charles Ryrie, the Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition, New American Standard Bible 1995 Update, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, page 1969.