Have you searched God's Word today?!

"And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin." 

Hebrews 10:12-18

   Think about this - He says He will remember our sins and lawless deeds NO MORE!!! Oh friends, we should be constantly thanking our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ for coming and dying a painful death to pay for our sins - and they will be remembered no more. To God be the glory, thank you Jesus! 

   The great amazingness of this has really gripped me the past few months as I've been memorizing Hebrews. I know for certain that Christ has forgiven my sins, but when I look at what a wretched sinner I am I realize how unworthy I truly am. In the past it has also caused me to go the opposite direction, and think - He's already saved me, I don't have to read His Word everyday, I'm busy doing other things to serve Him. Or, I read little portions at least every other day... 

   But for the past year or so I've realized, by God's unfailing love and grace, how wrong that truly is. And now by immersing myself in His Word and praying, and spending time with His people who are on fire for Him, I have become so EXCITED about God's Word. The reason I'm writing this post (well other than that I'm so excited I had to share it with you all :) ) is to encourage you to read your Bible often - everyday - and memorize it. Then share what you're learning with others! That's how you're going to grow. And God will use you in amazing ways, the situations He may put you in may not be all that easy. But God has a perfect amazing plan for you!!! And if you search for His wisdom - "and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure," (Proverbs 2:4), you will never look back, you will want to know more and more about Him. 

   Think about this: He's going to write His law on our hearts and on our minds!! And there's no longer any need to offer sacrifices day after day...because the One who created you cared enough about us wretched sinners on this earth to send His one and only Son to die as a ransom to set us free! 

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works," 

Hebrews 10:19-24

   I don't know about you, but as I am seeing God's amazing love for me more and more, it makes me so excited to go and share His Word with those around me. All the material things that we invest our time and effort into are not going to have the same eternal value as the people God has put in our paths at this time in our lives. So spend time with those around - they are what will last for eternity - you may never know what one simple word you say, or maybe even a longer conversation you have with someone, or even just a smile, will do. But in the end, when He comes back to take us home to glory, we will have our reward! But until then we must be His faithful witnesses, and bring Him all the glory due Him. 

   I'm not sure how many people read this little blog of mine... :) But my desire and prayer is that you will will be stirred up to love and good works... 

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

 1 Peter 2:21

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Follow in His steps...He will guide you. 

quotes...

 

Here's a few recent quote favorites of mine... I love coming across simple short inspiring quotes!

 

 

 

 

 

Just thought I'd add this one too and be a little random...camping is awesome ;-)

 

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A couple verses I have been thinking about lately...

 

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"I have told the glad news of deliverance
    in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.
 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation."

Psalm 40:9-10

 

Give thanks...

Blessings on your day...

poor me...RICH ME!

   At the beginning of last month our church had a mother/daughter retreat and the theme for the retreat was "poor me...RICH ME! - your poverty before God and the wealth He wants to give you...". I was very encouraged by the teaching sessions and I wanted to review them, so I thought writing up a post would be a good opportunity to share my notes/thoughts... To start with I want to share our theme chapter that we memorized... 

"Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 113 (emphasis mine)

   I just love this Psalm...! It's showing how great and awesome our God, the creator of the universe is! "He looks far down, on the heavens and the earth...", who are we that He wants to bless us, that He would look far down on us? I'm always amazed at God's amazing love and grace!!

   First, we began with a biblical description of being poor, because in the culture we live in where hardly any of us goes a day without three meals, we tend to automatically think of being poor as just having no money and as a very low thing. I know that personally that is the first thing that came to my mind.

   But, being poor also can mean: that we are dependent on another person - we are lacking in ability or training - we have little or nothing - we are lacking a resource or quality- something that is faulty or inferior - or something that is humble or pitiful. Here's a definition from the Bible of being poor: 

"Being empty or needy in any way and unable to fill that need on your own".

   We are very poor in God's eyes, we are sinners, deserving of death. I know that personally I struggle with admitting that I am weak, or struggling. These lessons helped me to see more clearly how much God loves the poor, and how I need to be poor before Him!! James 2:5 - "Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?" God loves the poor! 

   A little child is very poor and is a perfect example of poverty. When they are first born they really can't do anything for themselves, can they? They have to rely completely on their parents, siblings, and others for care and love. They expect us to help them! They trust us with their very lives...because if we didn't feed them, or keep them warm... they would die! They aren't ashamed to admit that they are poor either, all to often we think we are so rich that it's something we think is way to humbling to admit that, "we are failing, and God we need your help"... But before God we should be just like little children!!! 
   God is SO RICH and we are SO POOR... We must come to God empty and with the faith of a little child, asking Him to fill us up. And He's waiting, come to Him as a little child - humble and with complete faith, with your cup in your hand asking Him to give you living water! You'll be blessed...

   One example that stuck out to me in the teaching time was this, God's not going to write you one big check from His "bank of riches", and give it to you for the rest of your life. No! He gives you the riches a dollar at a time, He wants you to be completely dependent on Him for everything and to keep coming back humbly for more! And He will give you just the right amount you need - just at the right time.
  

"Our treasure in Christ is the presence of the

 glory of God dwelling in us by the Holy Spirit." 

   Just think how RICH we are because of HIM! We have eternal life- because of Him!, we have the Bible, God's very words- because of Him!, we have a new heart - because of Him!, we have access to God through prayer - because of Him!, we have His glorious Spirit in us - because of Him!, we have the resources of the Church - because of Him! I don't know about you friends, but that makes me SO excited!! And, so very thankful...

"He makes us rich spiritually - it's His gift to us - so that He will get the glory." 

 Our treasure brings us life rather than condemnation! Our treasure is permanent and lasts forever! Our treasure enables us to behold the glory of God! And our treasure transforms us into the likeness of God's glory...! God HIMSELF is the treasure He has put in us!!! Praise God!

"God uses our poverty in this life to

achieve our wealth in the life to come." 

  The treasures that God has given us then makes us bold to share the gospel in how we live out our lives, and in sharing it with those around us. It allows us to rejoice in affliction, poverty and persecution. May those who just see us on the outside, either in a store, at a park, anywhere - be able to see just by looking at us that "they have something that I don't." And may they turn to God. Be a bright light for Christ, to bring Him glory!! 

   We must become poor just like a little child, if we are to obtain these glorious riches. Our Heavenly Father delights in us, and longs to give us His riches! Trust in Christ for all things... - feast upon the Bible... - ask Him for His blessings in prayer... - immerse yourself in His people... - walk by the Spirit... 

We are rich because of HIM! Praise God... 

Let us run with endurance!!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2

Look to Jesus, pour your life into knowing Him! Search His Word, pray to Him... Your love for Him will grow to amazing heights!!! He's always faithful... 

Before the Throne of God Above...

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea.

A great high Priest whose Name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is written on His heart.

I know that while in Heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

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This is one of my most favorite hymns... praise God for His unchanging, and unfailing grace and love!

Romans 11:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge

of God! How unsearchable are

His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

 

Romans 11:33