"But God Demonstrates His Love Toward Us..."

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

    Consider for a moment: Who would you be willing to die for? Your spouse? Your children? A sibling? Maybe even a dear friend and sister in Christ? …Now, how about that drunk guy who hit your car? How about a woman who cheated on her husband and abandoned her kids? How about Jeffrey Epstein or Paul Bernardo? That changes things, doesn’t it?

    People would be quick to label the act of giving up one’s life in order to preserve the life of a good and righteous person as something ‘noble’ and ‘noteworthy’, but God did something more – something much more noble, much more noteworthy – He provided us with a Saviour and a sacrifice when we were still sinners, when we were still in the same category as that drunk guy, the adulteress fornicator, as Epstein and Bernardo – that is how much God loves us!! – He provided Light to us so that we could escape the darkness of sin (John 8:12, 12:35-36, 46)!!

    God gave His only begotten Son to give us opportunity to have everlasting life and not perish in our sins (John 3:16). His desire is for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) – God loves us all that much!!

    The truth of God’s immense and all-encompassing love is clearly shown to us in the very giving of His Son, and Jesus’ love for His Father and for us is made known in His willingness to sacrifice Himself for us (John 15:9-14)!! God wants us to comprehend His love (Ephesians 3:14-19) so that we will appreciate His abundant gift of Light and life and not ever desire to go back into the darkness (Hebrews 10:35-39, 2 Peter 2:20, Luke 17:32)!

    God loved us that much!! God continues to love us that much!!

    So, let’s determine to live a life worthy of His love by humbly seeking Him, studying His word to increase our knowledge of the truth and do all we can to reflect His marvelous light into the world around us so that others may also come to repentance!!

You can do it! So can I!!

"But God..." - How God Turned Our Lives from Hopeless to Hopeful!

    If the Lord wills, I would like to take a few weeks to look at the amazingly wonderful, hope-stirring bible verses that express how God, because of His great love for us, gave us a Saviour and changed human life forever!!

    Through Jesus our lives can be changed from death to life, from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, from hopeless to hope-filled and glorious!!

    I hope you will join me as we look at the verses that give us all the more reason to be joyful and full of thanksgiving for our great and loving Father!

    Let's begin!

“And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 13:28-30 NKJV)

    “But God raised Him from the dead.”

    That one sentence, that one solitary statement, changed everything for us! That one declaration of fact is the ultimate proof that Jesus was indeed the Son of God because – God raised Him from the dead!

     When God raised Jesus from the dead:

• Jesus was proved to be His Son (Acts 2:32-33, Romans 1:4)!
• Jesus became the firstborn from the dead, never to die again (Colossians 1:18, Acts 13:34-35, Revelation 1:18)
• Jesus’ words, everything He had spoken, were proved true (Luke 9:22, 24:46-47)
• The prophets were proved true (Acts 2:16-32; 13:32-34)
• Jesus became our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5-6), our Advocate (1 John 2:1), and our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), who makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34)!
• We are justified (brought back into favour with God) and have access to forgiveness of our sins (Acts 10:40-43, Romans 4:25; 8:31-33, Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:9-2:2)!
• He proved He has power to raise us up too (1 Corinthians 6:14, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)!

    Consider this beautiful passage:

 “…if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:14-20 NKJV)

    When God raised Jesus from the dead He changed our lives forever! We can have confident faith in every word, command, and instruction spoken by Jesus. We now can have access to God, access to His help (Hebrews 4:16) His forgiveness (1 John 1:9), His comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) and His peace (Philippians 4:6-7). Because God raised Jesus from the dead, we can believe it, and have faith to obey Jesus’ commands and have hope to be raised in the final Day to life eternal (John 5:25, 28-29, Romans 10:9-13, Ephesians 1:17-23, 1 Peter 1:20-21)!!

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV)

The Blessings Found in Fearing the Lord

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalm 145:17-19 NKJV)

     In fearing the Lord – reverencing Him as Almighty and fearfully respecting Him by obeying His commands – we can attain true knowledge, true wisdom, and spiritual understanding that shows us the path to Life. On that path we will find freedoms (Galatians 5:22-23, “against such there is no law”) as well as boundaries, both of these God has lovingly provided so that we can do good works and avoid the snares of the devil.  When we respect God as Creator and Sustainer of all, put our trust in Him, and begin to rely wholly on Him, we will discover the wonderful refuge that is our God, a shelter in the time of storm and the only place where all help and blessings are found! 

     God desires that you fear Him, fully understanding who He is and who you are before Him. He created mankind to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-17). He preserved His word over all these centuries so that you could read/hear His Truth. Please fear God enough that you seek out HIS word, HIS truth, stop allowing yourself to be satisfied with man’s interpretation of His word (Matthew 15:9, 2 Timothy 4:3-4)! If your church adds anything to, or takes anything away from, God’s word, it is no longer God’s word – and that is a dangerous position to side with (Revelation 22:18-19) – respect God enough to find a church that teaches and adheres to His pure truth! There you will find people who take refuge in God and declare thanksgiving to Him during troubles and in times of joy, fully appreciating His loving care in their lives each day!! Those who fear God will be nourished and strengthened by His word (John 15:4-5, 1 Peter 2:2), they will be abundantly satisfied with His blessings of every good thing (Colossians 2:3, Ephesians 1:3-14, Psalm 68:19)! It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

"Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:9-10 NKJV)  

 

You can do it! So can I!! 

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!  

The LORD Takes Pleasure In Those Who Fear Him

“He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of man. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” (Psalm 147:10-11 NKJV)

The Lord takes pleasure in those who are willing, even in their strength of mind and body, to humble themselves and bend their knee to His majesty; those who, even though blessed with great physical ability, understand who God is and who they are before Him, choosing reverence over revolt.

“No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” (Psalm 33:16-19 NKJV)

We build our lives in such a way so as not to worry. “As long as I have ______, I’ll be okay.” We tell ourselves this, filling in the blank with “family”, “friends”, “money”, “health”, “control”, etc. Great empires rise and fall, mighty men can be weak, even strong horses have limited ability and soon grow tired, none of these can deliver a soul from death, none can cause food to grow in famine. But God can.

If we live humbly and reverently before God, making use of the “today” He grants us by seeking further knowledge of Him (and discovering more reasons to respect Him), obeying His commands (and realizing that His way truly is the BEST way), and by doing good and shining our light to guide others toward Jesus (because it is only through Jesus that hope is found, 1 Peter 1:3-4), then we can come to the point where we no longer place trust in our physical blessings and instead we can happily state, “As long as I have God, I’ll be okay.”

“Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, just as we hope in You.” (Psalm 33:20-22 NKJV)

From wherever you are right now - BEGIN!

(Photo Credit: Cait Fairchild)

The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snare of death.” (Proverbs 14:27 NKJV)

    During our study so far we have found that fearing the Lord means revering Him in both awe and trepidation of His power, might, and majesty. Having a wholesome fear of God is the first step in gaining true knowledge, wisdom and understanding. When we properly fear God we will see that He has provided all we need to be pleasing to Him and we will obey His instructions with determination and gratitude.

    Today, let’s consider that the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. The very image of that statement is appealing and refreshing, isn’t it? When we fear the Lord, humbly submit to Him and obey Him, we have access to an unending spring of sustenance – WOW! How amazing is that! – in God’s word we learn of the path that leads to eternal life and with that we find guidance, strength, encouragement, and hope to help us as we journey on that path! We discover that God provides for our daily physical needs (Matthew 6:25-34), our daily spiritual needs (John 3:16-21, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9), and loads us with abundant daily blessings (Psalm 68:19)!

    God provides this continual spring of sustenance, this refuge from the sinful ways of the world, a place where we can gain knowledge and wisdom, so that we may avoid the bait and lures of the devil, seeing them for what they really are we can resist them (James 4:7). The snares of the devil lead to spiritual death, and he will use every trick in the book to gain our attention and interest: anger/revenge, lust/sex, jealousy, greed, pride, apathy, the list goes on and on.

    The devil deceives us with lies that lead to death. His deception decays our life now and condemns us to everlasting destruction later. Everything he does is for our harm and downfall; he baits us with lures that when chased will draw us to the depths of despair, but what God provides is LIFE, life through His Son, a better life now, and eternal life later!! Everything God gives by way of instructions for what we need to be doing and by way of boundaries to keep us from things we should avoid – all of His doing is always for our good! God provides all the help we need to grow, develop, and succeed!

    Are you desiring refreshment and revitalization? Seek God, submit to Him and His way, approach Him with fear and trembling and awe-filled adoration and gain access to His abundant provision of sustenance!! Let the knowledge and understanding you gain help you avoid the lures and temptations of the devil. Humbly obeying God’s way will keep you away from the snares of death!! It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Gain Confidence Through Fearing the Lord

“In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26 NKJV)

    A little while ago, something came into my day “from outta left field” and although I received the information calmly and attentively, my mind was beginning to reel. After the conversation, as I got into my car I wanted nothing more in that moment than to get home as fast as possible and get to my bedroom where I could privately get down on my knees and pour out my heart to God. I knew without doubt that He could help me sort out what I was feeling and help calm my mind.

    In fearing the Lord, I have learned that His promises of help are real! I have gained strong confidence in His faithfulness and unending love for His children. God is my refuge, the One I run to in times of struggle and in times of joy. My first words of the morning, upon waking, are to Him as are the last words I speak before closing my eyes at night. I run to Him, asking Him to protect my husband and children from harm as they leave the house for the day and as each of them return in the evening I raise my voice to Him in praise and thanksgiving. I ask His care to be upon those who are unwell because I know His care can go to places I cannot; it can span the world, go into war-torn areas, into ICUs, and into the lives of those whose struggles are known only to Him.

    God, Himself, is the refuge of His children and it is only in fearing Him – submitting to Him and to His way in reverent awe and fear – that we can access His proffered refuge. God is not bound by time or fatigue so the refuge we find in Him is always available to us, no matter the time or quantity of times we seek it (consider 1 Samuel 1:12-18 and Hebrews 4:16)!

    Each time you take refuge in God your confidence in Him will grow and develop and your faith will be strengthened! God wants you to have strong confidence in Him and the only way you can construct that kind of confidence is by taking Him at His word (trust Him!), humble yourself, and obey His commands!

    Let God be your place of refuge! Pour out your heart’s joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and discover all the good things God provides to those who fear Him!!

You can do it! So can I!!

“In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:7-8 NKJV)

Understand The LORD So You Can Properly Fear Him

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, 
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 
(Proverbs 9:10 NKJV)

    Let’s break this verse down in as simplified a way as possible, beginning with the second statement.

    Knowledge of the Holy One, God – according to the Hebrew, this is the highest form of knowledge one can attain – this knowledge will lead to understanding Him because He does not change (Psalm 33:11, James 1:7); the God of Old Testament times is the same God we see in the New Testament scriptures, and the same God we serve today. The more we know of Him, the more we understand of His love for mankind, His faithfulness, His grace, His mercy, His power, and His majesty.

    Understanding God will lead us to fear Him – be in reverent awe of His all-powerful ways – at least it should, that is choice we all have to make when we learn of God and begin to understand Him: do we submit to His way or do we refuse to submit and walk away?

    Fearfully submitting to God, knowing that He has provided all the instruction we need to walk worthy of Him and be fully pleasing to Him (take time to think on Colossians 1:9-11), and knowing that He will bring us all into judgment one day (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14), is the first necessary step in gaining wisdom.

Knowing God ---> Understanding God ---> Fearing God ---> Wisdom from God (James 1:5-6, 3:13-18)

    Which would you rather: Worldly wisdom that elevates you for temporary reward or wisdom from above that elevates God and comes with eternal reward? If you desire knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, your very first and needed step is to reverently seek God and His way, He will provide all you need to attain these things and more!!

From wherever you are right now - BEGIN!!

    

Learning to Fear the LORD is the Best Place to Begin

    It’s hard to admit that we don’t know something, isn’t it? We would like to be regarded as wise and learned having something to offer others by way of information or advice. We read newspapers, webpages, and self-help books, we may watch the news and all the current TED talks; we even save up money to send our children to college/university because we want them to be educated and have “a good start in life.”

    There is nothing wrong with any of these pursuits as long as first and foremost we learn to fear God and we teach our children to also fear the Lord (consider Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Psalm 78:4-7)!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have those who do His commandments.” (Psalm 111:10 NKJV)

    The proverbs declare that fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7, read vv28-32 to see their result) and that the fear of the Lord is the very first – and necessary – step in attaining knowledge and gaining wisdom.

    How do we fear the Lord and attain knowledge?

    We need to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge that everything we see – everything we need in order to exist – was brought about through God’s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding – EVERYTHING (Genesis 1, Proverbs 3:19-20)! God did all this so that we might seek Him (Acts 17:24-27), fear Him (Psalm 33:8) and tell our children of His wondrous ways (Deuteronomy 4:10, Psalm 145:1-7, 10-13)!

    We also need to acknowledge that although there are many pathways that have been devised by man through the centuries, that there is only ONE path that leads us toward God (Matthew 7:13-14) and access to that one pathway is found only in His Word (John 8:31-32, 14:6)! Compare what you are being taught at church services to what is found in the Bible. Are things being left out? Are things being added? Divergences from the path is no longer the path!  

    Obedience to God’s commands will give you good understanding. For example, there are promised blessings that can only be received through obedience of His commands. Consider the command found in Philippians 4:6-7, ‘Be anxious for nothing, instead pray and be thankful,' the blessing from obeying is that ‘you will receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and it will guard your heart and mind through Jesus.’

    When we obey and see the result we will gain understanding of God’s wisdom, His faithfulness, and His love; we will grow to respect and trust Him more, leading us toward greater wisdom and greater understanding as we grow and develop our faith in obedience to Him!

    The very best start you can give yourself is to humble yourself and fear God enough to seek HIM, through HIS word and in obedience to HIS way and in doing so gain wisdom and good understanding, teaching your children through word and example to do the same! Gain the type of wisdom that will be valuable to all generations!

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom and before honour is humility.” (Proverbs 15:33 NKJV)

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!

Understanding the Fear of the LORD

    In a world that wants to see God as all-loving and accepting of all their varying forms of worship and ‘modified-to-suit-me’ levels of obedience, now more than ever, we need to properly understand the fear of the Lord. 

    “Fear” means to morally revere; cause to frighten, make afraid. It holds within it both awe and reverence – regarding God as holy – as well as fright and trembling – knowing of God’s mighty power and righteous judgment. 

    I found many verses within the books of Psalms and Proverbs that teach us the facets and benefits of fearing the Lord. Proper and wholesome fear of God will keep us from evil (dreading His fearsome wrath) and guide us on the right path (respecting His wisdom and love for us).

    Are you ready to dig in and find out what the Bible says on this important subject? Me too!

    The Bible is its own best commentary, so when I wanted to better understand the fear of the Lord I opened the Bible and began to look up every verse in which this phrase is used. I found many verses in the Psalms and Proverbs that identified the facets and benefits of properly fearing the Lord and it is from the verses found in these two books that I will focus our study. 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV)

    Simply put, you need to let go of your own thoughts of what you THINK is right and humbly seek God’s instruction to KNOW what IS right, trust Him and do it His way.

    God’s way is the best way and His instructions and commands are only ever for our good (consider Deuteronomy 10:12-13), so when we are instructed not once but twice to let go of our own ways and thoughts of what we think is right and instead trust in the Lord, acknowledge Him, and fear Him, we had better listen!

    Do you respect and reverence God enough to change your thoughts and ways so that they conform to His thoughts and ways (Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 7:21-23)? When you humble yourself before God, truly seeking His wisdom and His guidance by opening His word and honestly reading it, you will learn what is right and you will also learn what is evil (consider Hebrews 5:12-14); being able to discern between the two will help you stay on the right path, a path made clear by God’s loving instruction, a path that strengthens and benefits you as you follow it!

    Are you ready and willing to fear the Lord and depart from evil? Your own thoughts and notions could be leading you astray, open and read God’s word today!!  

You can do it! So can I!!

Give Thanks to God EVERY Day!

    This week, each day you are blessed with this week, take time to pause and say thank you to the Lord.

• When you wake up - thank Him for watching over you through the night; thank Him and praise Him for His lovingkindness in bringing you into a new day (Psalm 92:1-2)
• When you pick up your Bible to read - thank God for preparing and preserving His Word so you can have your own copy to read it anytime, anywhere. Thank Him for your ability to gain knowledge, comfort, and strength from reading and study (2 Timothy 2:16-17, Romans 15:4).
• When you get up and walk from one place/room to another - thank Him for your health and your ability to move (Acts 17:28).
• When you get in your car and drive from one place to another - thank Him for your prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:18a).
• When you take a forkful/spoonful/handful of food - thank Him for the abundance (Psalm 136:23-26). 
• When you step outside and feel the searing heat or the pelt of raindrops - thank Him for shelter (Isaiah 32:18-19). 
• When you have a negative interaction with a friend/co-worker - thank Him for giving you trials to strengthen you and opportunity to apply His instruction (1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:13-14, Matthew 5:11-16). 
• When you have positive interaction with a friend/co-worker - thank Him for the joys that give buoyancy to your spirit (Proverbs 16:24). 
• When your husband/kids ask (or you ask yourself), 'What's for dinner?' for what feels like one too many times - thank Him for your spouse, your children, and your ability to prepare a meal for them (Proverbs 31:15, 26-31).
• When you clean your house and do the dishes - thank God for the abundant stewardship He has granted you and the ability to fulfill it (Luke 16:10a, Proverbs 11:13, also consider 1 Timothy 6:17-19, 1 Peter 4:9)
• When you finish your day and you bow your head in prayer - thank God for His faithfulness (Psalm 92:1-2). He was there every moment you needed Him, His help and HIs promises remained true the whole day! Thank Him, praise Him, and then thank Him all the more!!  

    Thank God today, for each and every thing that you do today and again each day this week! See how that changes your day, your week. See how that helps your perspective. See how that helps you reflect God's light each day!

You can do it! So can I!!

~ Photo credit belongs to Meagan Fairchild ~

Thankful For God's Faithfulness

    Have you considered God's faithfulness? Have you thanked Him for His constancy? Have you praised Him for being your Rock?

    GOD IS THE ONLY CONSTANT in this temporal life!

    I encourage you to read the whole of Psalm 139, but right now please consider these statements selected from that psalm:

    "O LORD, You have searched me and known me, You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off, You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.... Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?... Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well... How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You...."

    God is ALWAYS. God is FOREVER ALWAYS.

• Thank Him today for His faithfulness - it never fails! (Psalm 36:5-7)
• Thank Him for the truth of His promises - they are real! (Psalm 18:30)
• Thank Him for the readiness of His help - it is constant! (Hebrews 4:16, Acts 17:27)
• Thank Him for being the only true source of help and encouragement - help and encouragement from an untainted source! The help you receive from the Lord is pure and holy! The guidance you receive from His word is pure and peaceable! (James 3:17) 

    With that in mind, please consider this:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)

• 'Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart' - Trust Him! Do things His way and see how blessed your days become!!
• 'Do not lean on your own understanding' - we only know part of the story, we don't have the complete understanding of all things as God does. Do not think that you know better than God - that is an impossibility! Simply understand that you don't know (and don't always need to know) the whole of any situation, but God does know the whole and he asks you to submit in trust to Him!
• 'In all your ways, acknowledge God' - thank Him for His care, His help, your hope. Thank Him!! Acknowledge His provision - life, breath and all things! (Acts 17:25)
• 'He will make your paths straight' - God's way is the best way. You have heard me say this time and time again, but it is true! When we envision the path to God there are many opportunities (provided by the world) to tempt us to step off the path, but when we truly acknowledge God as our Rock, our Provider, and our Salvation, the desire to step off the path is minimal to non-existent! (James 4:8)

Thank God today!! Thank Him for His constancy! Thank Him for His care! Thank Him for His instruction and guidance!

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night..." (Psalm 92:1-2 NKJV)