A Museum of Faith?

A lovely scene I passed by many times while out taking pictures. One of my favorites!

 

I'm finding things to encourage me each day, keeping focus on what's important and what's true. A recent devotion I read prompted me to write this post. 

 

Good titles always capture my attention, and I was curious about this one: Faithfulness on Display. It is the title of a devotion I recently read by David Jeremiah. What is he talking about?

The Scripture verse he cited is in Isaiah, chapter 25, verse 1:

"Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect

faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago."

 

As it turned out, Jeremiah spoke about Hall of Fame Museums and memorabilia on display of great players and artifacts representing specific moments in history. 

 

His main question was: "What would you display in a museum of God's faithfulness in your life?"  An excellent thing to consider! What wonderful things has God done in your life. 

Most of my readers are older, mature Christians which means they have many things to consider when thinking of God's faithfulness to them. I think it's something we all need to reflect on if for no other reasons than to encourage our hearts and be prepared to tell a younger generation of His works.

Jeremiah suggested that many might talk about family reunions, a wedding dress, first home, Sunday School teacher, treasured seashell from a family vacation. 

 

A side road I drove past often for its beauty every season.
 

What would you consider when thinking of God's faithfulness in your life? My first thoughts turned to these moments.

As a young girl looking for my first job before my senior years in high school, I applied at a Five and Dime store. Unbeknownst to me, a close friend interceded for me and got me an interview at the local telephone company. I was hired and began a 21 year career. It was during this time that an older co-worker, who had taken an interest in me, told me these words: "Carol, I think you'll find what you're looking for if you go to church."

I did. I found Christ. I'm thankful for her witnessing to me. Now that's God's faithfulness to me.

 

A friend interceded for me a second time after I took an early retirement from the telephone company, and I found myself working in the office of my home church, where I was first saved and began my journey of faith.

 

When I was first saved I remember walking past the church office and thinking, "I'll never be able to work there because I've been divorced." God opened a door and told me that I was good enough to work in His office.

Working in that church office brought me the opportunity to work at the Baptist Convention where God brought many fine Christians into my world, and I learned so much about walking with Christ.

Those are three memories I have of God's faithfulness to me as I walked my way through life. I don't believe any of them would have happened if it wasn't for interested friends who interceded for me and helped me grow as an adult and Christian.

There are zillion smaller moments that I remember of God's faithfulness to me. I want to remember all I can so that my heart will always be encouraged and strengthened as I face each new day.

Snow, there's still time this winter to give me another scene like this one!

What has God done for you? What would you're museum of God's faithfulness have in it? It's worth thinking about.

Jeremiah said: "God has done wonderful things in our life, things He planned for us before we were even born." (Psalm 139:16)  He's still working so stay alert and ponder all your special moments!

 

"Think back a short time to the best memories of your life, and although everything may appear dark right now, illumine the lamps of the past. They will glisten through the darkness, and then you will trust in the Lord while you watch a new day dawn and see the shadows of night vanish."

Charles Spurgeon

 

Inhale/Exhale

Brrrrrrrrrr

 

"I have found that inhaling God's promises from this passage [2 Peter 1:3-11] forces me to exhale the pressures of the world."

David Jeremiah

 

 I like that sentence. Inhale God's promises; Exhale pressures in this world. It was found in the Introduction to Jeremiah's Bible study "Everything You Need" which my Bible study group just started. 

 

Most of us are familiar with these words in 2 Peter, chapter 1: ". . .  make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, mutual affection, and to mutual affection, love."

 

Hopefully, most of us have, indeed, inhaled those words many times over the course of our life as a Christian. We sure need to be filled with those words at this point in our countries life so we can be assured and strong in our faith. All we have learned so far has taken us to this time and place when our faith needs to be the courage we stand on.

 

Finding anything good?

 

Jeremiah said: "Recently, I've been encouraged by a particular passage of Scripture, 2 Peter 1:3-11, that reveals God is not only with us in the midst of our crises but that He has actually provided us with everything we need to handle whatever life throws our way. This passage is one that I've know all my life. I've studied it and taught it for years. But in recent days, when I have been feeling under pressure, it has provided fresh air in my spiritual lungs." 

It's a good passage of Scripture. If you haven't read it recently, stop and take a moment to see what he's talking about. 

 

There's my girls, Abby and Jo, in my hot cocoa, courtesy of my friend, Danielle's creativity.
 

All Scripture is good for inhaling! And it's power will see you through the day. Inhale! Exhale!

It's All Because of the Blood

 

I loved seeing this cat sitting in the window on this snow covered day!

 

I had a heavy heart when I went to church last Sunday morning. All that is happening in our country was weighing me down. But when my pastor started preaching the heaviness lifted. He preached on the blood of Jesus. It took me back to my home church when I found faith and learned about Jesus' blood.

 

Do you know about the blood of Jesus? That His blood cleanses you from all sin and makes you whiter than snow. (That's another reason I'm so thrilled when it snows. It reminds me how pure I am in the eyes of God because of the blood.) If you don't know about Jesus' blood, it's time for you to check it out and fine out what it means.

From the first moment pastor spoke I was overwhelmed at his words and the meaning behind them. This is what it's all about people. Your life. There is power in the blood. 

When I first found faith in God and started learning about what I put my faith in I heard a lot about blood. The Israelites had to sacrifice an animal, a perfect animal, to atone for their sin. A perfect lamb was used for many sacrifices. My initial reaction wasn't favorable. Having to kill an animal as a sin offering? Seeing all that blood?

I also began hearing the name Lamb of God. It took me awhile before my mind was able to connect the dots and I could comprehend why Jesus was called the Lamb of God. And that's where His blood came into reality for me. His shed blood covers my sins. That's why His blood is so important.

I hadn't heard a good sermon on the power of Jesus' blood in quite awhile, but when my pastor started talking about it my memory was stirred to remembrance and the heaviness in my heart lifted. I left church that morning with great thankfulness for the power of the blood! 

 

 

I'm no scholar and not the greatest at explaining in words this gift from God. You can find information on Jesus' blood at numerous websites. But you really need to hear it from someone who has experienced it in his or her own life. Don't ignore it. You need to have the power of Jesus' blood behind you. 

How thankful I am that there are still pastors who preach the gospel of Jesus. I needed the reminder that morning. It's just like whispering the name of Jesus to calm your fears. Being reminded of Jesus' blood and the power behind it stilled my anxious heart. There is power in the blood!

 

Pastor reminded me of the wonderful hymn There is Power In The Blood. Why don't you sing along?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2VhXwpANgI

There Is Power In The Blood

by Lewis E. Jones

"Would you be free from your burden of sin? There's power in the blood, power in the blood
Would you o'er evil the victory win? There's wonderful power in the blood

"Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow? There's power in the blood, power in the blood
Sin stains are lost in its life-giving flow There's wonderful power in the blood

"There is power, power, wonder-working power In the blood of the Lamb
There is power, power, wonder-working power In the precious blood of the Lamb

"Would you do service for Jesus your King? There's power in the blood, power in the blood
Would you live daily His praises to sing? There's wonderful power in the blood

"There is power, power, wonder-working power In the blood of the Lamb
There is power, power, wonder-working power In the precious blood of the Lamb

"Lord, how we need Your power Every day and every hour
Lord, how we need Your power Every day and every hour

"Lord how we need Your Power, power, wonder-working power
In the blood of the Lamb
"Power, power, wonder-working power In the precious blood of the Lamb

Don't let your heart be troubled. Remember who you've put your trust in. He's more than capable of taking care of you.

He's Enough

 

A Needed Prayer

 

 I received the book The Light Of His Presence, this Christmas, written by Anne Graham Lotz. It is a book of prayers to draw you close to God's heart. One of the prayers is for National Cleansing and Revival. I believe it is most needed this day.

"Most Holy God,

 

"In a world of famine, floods, and fire; a world of disease, death and the disruption of our everyday activities, I choose to look up from my knees. I see You seated on the throne of glory, in control of all things. All things. I know that You are a God of mercy, grace, faithfulness, and loving-kindness. So I reject fear and its impact on my life, and I place my faith in You. You have said that Your ears are open to the cry of Your people, that Your eyes are upon us, and that Your arms are long enough to reach us and strong enough to hold us. Hold me now. Quiet my racing heart. Breathe Your Spirit of peace into me to calm the fear and turmoil.

 

"Even as I pray for Your peace, I wonder if the disasters erupting in our nation could be the spark that ignites a spiritual awakening. Are You trying to get our attention? I know that, when it comes to our relationship with You, we desperately need to wake up.

 

"We have legalized defiance against Your institutions of marriage, we celebrate relationships that contradict Your instructions; we exterminate life that You created and that bears Your image--for our own convenience; we have become so secularized we don't even acknowledge that You exist, much less reverence or obey You . . ."

Lotz than goes on to list our sins which include addiction to sex, money, pleasure, pornography, technology, denying You as the one true God, greed, arrogance and pride, refusing to acknowledge that all blessings come from Your hand, deny and ignore You, our foolish pursuit of happiness through wealth, a nation under many gods, divided and polarized, and she listed many more, all in greater detail than I've listed here..

"Holy Spirit of the living God, convict us of the need to turn from our sin and get right with You.

Lord God, have mercy on us! As we repent of our sin and return to You, return to us! There is no one like You to help the powerless against our mighty enemies, be they visible or invisible. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You!

 

"Once again . . . if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive them their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers.

 

"I hold You to Your word as I pleaded with You. Hear my prayer. Forgive our sin. Heal our land. I am standing in the gap for our nation.

 

"I pray in the name of the One who is our Deliverer. Our beautiful and only Savior. Lord of the nations. Son of God and Son of man. The living, reigning, soon-to-return Lord of lords and King of kinds, Jesus Christ.

 

"In His name and for His glory, I pray. Amen."

Thank you, Anne Graham Lotz, for this needed prayer in this needed time. I need it. This is my heart's wish.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Thus far . . .

"The Lord who 'thus far' has helped you will help you all your journey through."

John Newton, 1725-1807

 

Such a lovely window display that my friend, Kathy, created!

 

2021 has arrived. We've made it to a new year. Anticipation of something better in 2021. But as Charles Spurgeon pointed out in a recent devotion I read: "Thus far has the Lord helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12b

 

"The words 'thus far' appear to be a hand pointing to the past," Spurgeon writes, "Whether twenty years or seventy . . . through poverty and wealth, through sickness and health, at home and abroad, on land and at sea, in honor and dishonor, in difficulty and joy, in trials and triumphs, and in prayer and temptation--'Thus far has the Lord helped us.'"

 

2020 was a very difficult year, but with God's help He got us through. And He will get us through until our days are over. We have reason to rejoice because our God is Faithful. 

 

"Do you see the birds singing in the branches? Surely there are many and they are all singing to the Lord's mercy received 'thus far.'"  Have you been singing God's praises! For awhile now I've written posts about singing to God and beautiful hymns written in the past. Singing really does play a BIG part in our overall well being and joy.

 

And a happy snow day to you!
 

 I love to sing hymns because they are written to bring out Scripture and tell a story. And those stories help us as we go through each day of our life. There are many new songs as special as the old hymns, but you're missing wonderful encouragement if you don't sing the old hymns. 

 

"Then will come old age, sickness, disease, and death, but will this be the end? No! We will awaken to much more--the likeness of Jesus, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, robes of righteousness, the face of Jesus, the fellowship of the saints, the glory of God, infinite happiness, and the fullness of eternity," Spurgeon wrote.

 

 Yes, God has brought us thus far, and He will continue to lead us all our days. Even in this new year.

 

"The road often leads through green pastures and beside the still waters, more often through long valleys, shadowless and deep, over mountains unscalable; but let us ask not questions concerning the road as we journey, for the road leads home. He Himself walks with us."  

Unknown author, Streams in the Desert 2

2021 is here. You are alive. No matter what happens God will see you through. That's worth shouting about!!!!

 

"The golden summary of our life is to be this: as to the past, a record of gratitude; as to the present, a record of service; and as to that future, a record of trust."  

D. M. Panton 

 

Hey Jo, it looks whiter over here!

 

I think of the wonderful hymn: "O God, Our Help In Ages Past" and invite you to sing with me about our faithful God, a paraphrase of Psalm 90, by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748!

"O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,

our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

 

"Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.

 

"Before the hills in order stood or earth received her frame,

from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.

 

"A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone;

Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.

 

"Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all its sons away;

they fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.

 

"O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,

be Thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home." 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKP_XxCBDZY