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The Right Person for the Job
Are you familiar with the saying, “I’m your huckleberry”? Several summers ago, my husband and I visited Glacier National Park. Right outside the park, we stopped at a restaurant that had everything huckleberry. Huckleberry pie, huckleberry pancakes. Huckleberry coffee. And, for those of you who know Keith, you won’t be surprised that he couldn’t keep from buying me a purple huckleberry teeshirt that says, “I’m your huckleberry.” I wasn’t sure what I was wearing so I did a little research. To be one’s huckleberry is “to be just the right person for a given job or a willing executor of some commission.” What does any of this have to do with Jesus? Colossians 2:9 says this about Christ, “…in Him, all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” In other words, Christ is “just the right person for the job” to fulfill all righteousness in us. He is “just the right person for the job” to help us live the Christian life. Jesus is “just the right person for the job” to help us with any and everything we need. In other words, He is heaven’s gift to us, the willing executor of our eternal salvation. Are we rejoicing in Him? Are we rejoicing before Him? Are we embracing Heaven’s gift for everything in our lives? If not, why not?
Lord Jesus, You and You alone are the One in whom ALL the fullness of DEITY dwells. You are God’s heavenly provision, “just the right person for the job,” for our salvation and sanctification, for our daily walk with You and before You. How we love and adore You.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
When You’re Teetering
Have you ever been weak and felt like you were teetering when it came to temptation? I have. What’s especially troubling is sometimes I haven’t even recognized I was in the midst of temptation. It could be more than disheartening if we didn’t have the full assurance that God won’t turn loose of us and not only that, He defends us. In Isaiah 37:35, God says,
I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.
The word “defend” means “cover and surround.”* In Psalm 27:1, David said,
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?
The word “defense” means a fortified place, rock, strength, and a place of safety. These verses assure us that nothing can defeat us when we look to God as our defense and defender. Rather than fear that we’ll fall when tempted, we can fall to our knees and praise our defender.
Heavenly Father, thank You that we can look to You and be fully assured that You are our defense and strength. We love You.
If you’d like to learn more about what the Bible tells us is ahead, join me for End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do. Study in the convenience of your home at your own pace.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
*http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1598&t=NASB
If You’re Struggling with Darkness
Have you ever been without electricity and light for a significant period of time? The Texas 2021 winter storm caused our home to be without electricity for six days, a short amount of time compared to what many suffered. Those six days were long enough, however, for me to think about the devastation unbelievers will experience when separated from the light of Christ for eternity. Can you imagine…dare we imagine eternal darkness? Who in your sphere of influence needs to hear that Christ broke through the darkness of sin and not in a small flicker of a way, but rather with a burst of eternal light? Zacharias prophesied that Jesus would bring light to the world, calling Him the “dayspring from on high.” Luke 1:78 “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.” Jesus, the Dayspring of heaven brought heaven’s glorious light to our dark world. If your soul is dark… If your thoughts are dark… If your perspective is dark…turn to the Light. Jesus can penetrate whatever darkness is in your life. Open your heart to Him. Ask Him to purge you of your sins. Say yes to Jesus, Heaven’s Light, and Dayspring from on high.
Glorious Light, Dayspring from on High, shine the light of Your presence in us. Show us sins we need to confess. Cleanse us. Forgive us. Fill us with the Light of Your presence.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
Here’s a Good Reason to Follow the Owner’s Manual
Have you ever wondered about the “why” behind God’s commands? If so, it helps to realize that since He created us, as Isaiah 40:28 explains, He knows what is beneficial to us and what hurts us. For instance, when the Scriptures were written, they didn’t have the research on the harmful effects of worry and stress. So, Jesus simply stated in Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” They didn’t have the research on the destructive nature of bitterness so God simply commanded us in Ephesians 4:31-32 to forgive and put bitterness away from us. In other words, God’s commands are in our best interest. They help us go through life with more peace, contentment, and joy. Just as a car owner is wise to read and follow the manual that came with their car, so we’re wise to read and follow the manual our Lord has given us. How well are we doing that? Where might we need to go back and read the Owner’s Manual so our life runs according to our Maker?
Heavenly Father, Lord, and CREATOR forgive us for too often ignoring the commands in Your Word. Draw us to Your Holy instructions to obey Your teachings.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
Broken Promises? Not This Time
Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? If so, you know the devastation. The heartbreak. The despair. Can you imagine the horribleness of dying and it not being what you expected – soul rest, nothingness; as some unbelievers anticipate? There is nothing more important than making the choice today for the care of our souls for eternity. We know that at any moment we could die from a heart attack or accident. Is your soul secure if that were to happen? It is only secure if you have entrusted it to Jesus, the Covenant Maker. A familiar passage often read during Communion is Matthew 26:27-28. It is the most important promise Jesus made for the security of our souls for eternity. “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.'” Only God can forgive the sins that stain our souls and make us unfit for heaven. We can do nothing to secure our eternity in heaven. Only Jesus. Say those words with me. Only Jesus…can forgive my soul, wash me clean, and open the door to heaven and eternal life with Him. Jesus is the Covenant, the Promise Maker. Others may have broken promises to you. Jesus keeps His promise. Be joyful. Your soul is secure in Christ.
Lord Jesus, COVENANT MAKER, thank You for the Covenant of peace and eternal life through Your blood. We rest in You. We wait for You and the day we will see You and fall at Your feet and worship.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
If You’re Wondering What to Do About Something
Are you at your wit’s end? Do you need someone to talk to who can help you sort out your concerns, problems, and worries? God understands. Our Heavenly Father is the original COUNSELOR. And, Isaiah 9:6 says this about Jesus. Not only is He our Counselor, but He is also a “Wonderful Counselor.” Our Heavenly Father and Jesus are wonderful counselors because they are excellent listeners and know us inside and out. We can talk to them and know they hear us, and when we quiet ourselves in their presence, we can hear them. Talk to your Wonderful Counselor, then follow His counsel. I record what God prompts me to do in my journal, Prayers of My Heart. It helps me follow through because I can reread what I’ve recorded that He put on my heart. What do God’s prompts sound like? His prompt might be, “Open your Bible and read a Psalm.” It might be, “Stop procrastinating and tackle what is before you.” His prompt might be, “Instead of wondering about someone, call them.” Or, “Do _____ today.” A wise Christian will both talk things out with their Wonderful Counselor and follow how the Wonderful Counselor prompts them. Are we wise?
LORD, You are the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR. Increase our sensitivity to Your Voice. Help us take seriously Your counsel and follow through on what You lead us to do.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
If You’re Disappointed
Are you disappointed? If so, in what or with whom? A person? Yourself? A job? God understands disappointment. Many things can cause us to feel let down. Sometimes our disappointment is because we have unrealistic expectations of others which I address in The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World. Other times our disappointments are valid. No one is perfect, including us. First Peter 2:6 is encouraging because God wants us to know that there’s something He has provided that will never disappoint us: our faith in Jesus.
Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.
Not be disappointed. Read those words again. There is a person – Jesus Christ – who does not disappoint. He has a place He is preparing for us that will not disappoint us. He has a day He is preparing that will not disappoint us. He has eternity with Him that will not disappoint us. If you are disappointed, do a quick check-up. On what are you setting expectations that have never promised to not disappoint you? If your expectations are set on a certain amount of money you make, a house, a spouse, children, friendships, a job, or you being perfect, then get ready for disappointment. If, on the other hand, your expectations are set on Jesus and His Word, you will not be disappointed. It’s our choice. How will we choose?
Lord Jesus, You are the PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE upon whom we can build our lives and not be disappointed. Thank YOU!
What to Do When Life doesn’t go according to plan: GET It HERE.
If you’d like to learn more about what the Bible tells us is ahead, join me for End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do. Study in the convenience of your home at your own pace.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
One More Reason to Praise God If You’re a Believer
Would you rather God contend – plead a cause – for you or against you? If the answer is you’d rather God contend “for you,” then you have reason to jump up and down for joy! Isaiah 51:22 states,
Thus says your Lord, the Lord, even your God who contends for His people, ‘Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, the chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again.’
Yes. A hallelujah with hands raised in praise is more than appropriate for as God has dealt with Israel, He deals with us.
Lord, You CONTEND for us, not against us. We praise You with hands raised high!
What Does it Mean God is a Consuming Fire
Heavenly Father. Lord. Savior. You’re familiar with those descriptions of God. Shepherd. Love. Peace. The list goes on. Consuming Fire. Wait! What? God is a Consuming Fire? Yes. That is one of the ways the Bible describes the Lord. You see, our Heavenly Father is majestic beyond our imagination, full of glory. That is why people fall at His feet. It is why God’s anger burned toward Moses when He called Moses to lead the people out of Egyptian bondage and Moses asked God to send someone else. (Exodus 4:14) God’s fiery anger burns against evil and sin as Deuteronomy 4:24 warns. “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” It is why the Lord “rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire out of heaven.” Genesis 19:24. The New Testament reinforces the holy, consuming fire of God. Hebrews 12:29 states, “our God is a CONSUMING FIRE.” Should we fear Him? Yes, in holy reverence. Should we be afraid of Him? Not if we’re covered in the blood of Jesus. What should we expect of our God who is a consuming fire? Revelation 20:9 tells us. Fire will once again come down from heaven and devour those who fight against Him and His saints. “And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.” Nothing. No one can stand against our Lord who is a consuming fire.
Lord God, CONSUMING FIRE, burning in righteousness and purity, thank You for saving us on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice. Thank You for the day when You will make all things right.
Add “Consuming Fire” to your list of God’s attributes in Prayers of My Heart.
Please join me for Acts, Part 2. New teachings each week. Learn more HERE.
Heaven to Mankind, Here’s Comfort
When Simeon, anointed by the Holy Spirit, saw the infant Jesus at Christ's presentation in the temple, he knew He was seeing the long awaited Messiah. Jesus is the Consolation of Israel, but He is also the Consolation for any person who turns to Him for salvation.
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