Beautiful To God

 

This Makes Me Beautiful to God

    This is  a 31-Day Devotional booklet that I had made up for one of our Women's Retreats through our church and district. Everyone had to bring something bought or homemade for a raffle to raise funds for our group. So  I made two items. One was a coffee basket. A lovely golden basket with handle contained a homemade relaxation cd, a cup and saucer, instant coffee jar, a coffee scented candle and a booklet of made-from-scratch beauty recipes, plus homemade creamers. That was a hit. The other item was an upcycled corn syrup jar converted into a gorgeous vase.

    In the bottom of the vase I put little white and gray stones with a Bible verse written on them. Each verse indicated what made a person beautiful to God. But I was thinking that they may not know why I chose those particular verses. So, I wrote it all down and printed it off neatly. Then tied it with ribbons. 

    The vase was labeled and I had wrapped a grape vine around the top, with grapes attached. It was very pretty. Inside the jar, on top of the stones, I put about 15-20 bite size chocolates. And then I stuck the flower clips which I had made in that. So then it resembled a potted bouquet. That went over well, too.
This is the booklet:

     1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight."

 It is not my clothes, nor my jewelry, nor my fancy hairdo, nor my piercings, nor my make-up, nor my lack of these things in my life that makes me beautiful to God. What makes us beautiful to God is everything that makes God happy. So, what makes God happy in me? Is there anything that I can do or which I can say, that will delight God and make me beautiful to Him?

God makes me beautiful with His Word because:

1. I put Him first. Psalm 63:1
2. I take delight in His Word. Psalm 1:2
3. He is My Salvation, My Healer. Jeremiah 17:14
4. I speak the language of Grace. Colossians 4:6
5. I bring with me only what The Holy Spirit has given me, when I enter into His courts with praise. Esther 2:15
6. I wear His Mercy and His Truth in my heart and around my neck. God sees me and shows me Favor in His sight, and I am given favor by all men. Proverbs 3:3
7. I honor my parents. Subjecting myself to my parents' will when I live with them is an ornament of grace. Proverbs 1:8, 9 (Acknowledging that God is My Heavenly Father means that He is also my parent. Therefore, when I subject my will to His will, and humble myself to Him, this is an ornament of Grace to Him)
8. I choose to obey God's laws and wills for my life and not man's laws when they go against God's authority. By making it known publicly, God will reward me with gifts according to my abilities and talents. Daniel 1:8, 17
9. I understand what the will of The Lord is. I am wise in His Word. Ephesians 5:17
10. I have allowed myself to be filled with The Holy Spirit in excess. Ephesians 5:18
11. I don't worry about any thing. I just pray to Him and thank Him; God gives me real peace through Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7
12. I clothe myself with the Mercy Qualities of His Son, Jesus: Compassion, Kindness, Generosity; Humility of mind=think of others before self; Meekness=Strength to be still, quiet in the face of adversity; Unending Patience. Colossians 3:12
13. I forgive as Christ has forgiven me. Tolerating people like Christ tolerates me in His infinite Love. Colossians 3:13
14. And over all of the Qualities which adorn my heart and my attitude, I cover myself with Jesus Christ, His Son, Who is The Bond of Perfection on me: Agape-unconditional, no-strings-attached, enduring, ever-forgiving, ever lasting, from time before time until time is no more- Love. Colossians 3:14
15. I allow Peace, the Peace of God, to rule in my heart, for I am the Body of Christ, for which I am thankful. Colossians 3:15

16. I allow God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live in me fully and completely. Teaching me His Wisdom by His Word, which is alive in me. Whereby we are exhorted to teach and admonish one another in or through music and spiritual songs: singing with Grace in our hearts to praise The Lord. Colossians 3:16
17. I do all that I do in Jesus' Name and while I work/labor in Jesus' Name, I have a thankful attitude, spirit, which is ever present because God is ever with me. I thank Him for every thing for He is my God and my Father. Colossians 3:17
18. I have a submissive heart in my marriage. I submit not only my body, but my authority as a wife, a mom, self, to my husband, for he is my authority. He covers me with himself by his words and his actions, as Representative of Christ, Who covers His Bride with Himself: Christ is her glory. And by my decision to submit myself and every thing about me to my husband, this pleases God. Colossians 3:18, 19 and Ephesians 5:22-33
19. Respect and Honor are given to my parents for this pleases The Lord. If I could have lived again with them, then I would have been subject to their authority: their rules and their laws would have to be obeyed, even if I am already an adult. Colossians 3:20
20. I keep myself sexually pure. Even though most of us Christian women do not have sex outside of our marriages, some still flirt, some 'booty-watch', some indulge themselves with sexually explicit literature and movies [whether made for tv or on screen]. This is still considered by God to be sexually impure, for God knows what we're thinking when we let ourselves watch or read stuff like that. We are sanctified and set apart from the world, for we are called by God to be holy.                         1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 1 Peter 1:15, 16; Exodus 19:5, 6.; 1 Kings 8:53.    I am God's inheritance, therefore, because He is holy, I too, must be holy.
21. I mind my own business and I don't gossip. I neither slander nor make fun of people behind their backs. I work quietly that I might walk in my integrity and be a blessing even to they who are watching me. By taking this action, God is able to bless me and meet all my needs. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12
22. I pray for those in authority over me, whether it is my pastor, my mayor, my governor, or my government (president & vice president, senators and representatives); even for those who in law enforcement, for this pleases God, and draws people to Him who are seeking His salvation and direction. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
23. God has saved me, called me, not because of what I can do, but because of what God has done, and will continue to do, through me and in me. His purpose and His will is being accomplished in me in Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 1:9
24. I am patient. I establish-build up, am rooted into-my heart in Christ, for His return is near. James 5:8
25. A meek and quiet spirit is an ornamental quality pleasing to God. For the treasures of my heart are not corruptible; they neither fade nor can be destroyed. My attitude towards my husband, when described as such, not only please God, but God says I am priceless in my submission to my husband's authority. 1 Peter 3:4

26. Be of one mind: the mind of Christ; showing compassion to all. Love each other like a loving, devoted family should. Be kind and gracious. Be a blessing to everyone you meet. Deceive not, nor make trouble for anyone. The Lord hears only the prayers of the righteous; all others He will turn against. And I want God to hear my prayers. 1 Peter 3:8-12. {Think not that he will hear the sinner's prayer, for once that person confesses and repents, he or she, is no longer a sinner but a saint, a righteous person. Therefore, God will indeed hear that prayer.}
27. I sanctify The Lord God in my heart. I am always ready to give answer for what I believe and why to everyone who asks, speaking with strength and honor, in reverence to my God. 1 Peter 3:15
28. I live in love. Therefore, because I know and believe, and have confessed with my mouth that Jesus Christ is The Son of God, then God lives in me. Because I love with God's love, it is known to God that I live in Him, also. 1 John 4:15, 16
29. I am beloved of God; my faith, my holy faith, is built up in Him. I pray in The Holy Ghost, in the love of God, watching for the Mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will bring me into eternal life. Interceding on behalf of others for their salvation. Jude 20-23
30. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Regardless of what is happening in the world around me, I am content and at peace, because I have a Savior Who has overcome the world around me. Nothing in this world can separate me from the love of God. It matters not what the enemy brings against me to try to destroy my faith and my works of faith; for The Holy Spirit of God strengthens me and prevents me from falling out of Grace. Philippians 4:11.                    1 John 4:4-14.
31. I have a sound mind, it is a gift of God. God has also given me the spirit of love and the spirit of power. I control my thoughts and keep them under submission to The Word of God. I have learned from my elders in The Word and The Gospel; receiving from them and observing their actions: therefore, The God of Peace is with me. 2 Timothy 1:7 and Philippians 4:8, 9

    Now, while parts of this particular study was directed to the women at the retreat, most of  it can also apply to men. God wants our whole hearts centered in Him. I did write a separate study for godly men. I'll see if I can find it. 

The God of Our Salvation, My Salvation

 EL YESHUATENU   

(pronounced  ale yeh-shoo-ah teh-noo)

The GOD Of OUR Salvation

EL YESHUATI

(pronounced ale yeh-shoo-ah tee)

The GOD of MY Salvation

God desires to save everyone. 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be The Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our Salvation! Selah. 

But He also desires to have an ongoing daily personal relationship with each one of us, individually. God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, both collectively (all of us) and individually (each one of us, the whosoevers wherever we are). 

Isaiah 12:2

Surely God is My Salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For The LORD GOD is My Strength and My Song, and He also has become My Salvation. 

Romans 10:11

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 

Romans 10:13

For, “Everyone who calls on The Name of The Lord will be saved.”

1 Peter 2:6

Therefore it is also contained in The Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 

Though He calls nations to repent and turn to Him, God also calls each person within that nation to turn away from living a sinful life and live a holy life in Him and His Word. But He's not asking us to do this alone: He gives us His Holy Spirit to lead us through a deeper walk, a deeper understanding of Who God Is and what He wants from us. 

We just need to talk to God and ask The Holy Spirit to lead us. 

TALKING TO JESUS

SPIRIT LEAD ME 

Humbled

 Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

1 Peter 2:21-24

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:  “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” / When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. 

    In Psalm 40 David writes the hope that his enemies, those who are against him, would turn their hearts to God. He does not retaliate, nor seek vengeance upon them. He, like many others who follow God before him and after him, has the love of God -- which includes compassion and mercy -- in his heart and mind. 

    In Matthew 5:1-12 describes the beatitudes of a Christian's behavior as we walk in the power of God's Holy Spirit with Christ. To be humbled is to surrender what we want for what God wants. It is to live a righteous life that glorifies God, and not a selfish life which only glorifies ourselves. 

    MATTHEW 5:1-12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you."

    To humble ourselves means we choose obedience to God's Word: we choose to walk in love and light. We show mercy where none is deserved for we are given undeserved mercy by God. We speak peace and forgiveness to everyone we interact with, for the peace of Christ and the forgiveness of our sins were given to the believer when we believed on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God JESUS CHRIST.

    To humble ourselves means we submit our thoughts to His Word, as well. In order to do that, we must fill our hearts and minds with His Word and His worship (the worship we give Him when we sing His praises and testify in word and song of the glorious things which He has done for us). Let His worship and Word and Spirit abound so thoroughly in each of us that Christ fills us up with even more of Himself, leaving no room for anything not of Him. 

    We must choose this side of eternity to humble ourselves. For the day is nearly here when God will forcefully ensure that all will be humbled by Himself (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11). The believer willingly kneels before God in adoration and worship, testifying by our actions and our words -whether spoken or unspoken-that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD OF ALL, even ourselves. 

    Rebellion against God and His Word and His Spirit is the opposite of humbleness and humility. Rebellion is arrogance, pride, selfishness, evil, wickedness. To deny God is rebellion, for GOD IS. To live a life of "I want what I want when I want it" is rebellion and disobedience to God's Word. One cannot accept the act of communion and then go out and continue to live in sin. For this brings condemnation upon that person. 

    A life of humility is a righteous walk with Christ. It is to live a life of surrender and submission to our heavenly Father. I've read some good books in my time that have helped me in my walk. Too many to list, but I'll give you a couple examples, which are still on my bookshelves:

Good Morning, Holy Spirit - Benny Hinn

The Real Holy Spirit - Cortland Myers, D.D. (read this book for free online)

The Pursuit of Holiness - Jerry Bridges 

    In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God tells us that we must humble ourselves (kneel only to Him), pray (only to Him) and seek His face (His presence), then He will hear us, forgive us and heal the place where we live. Every Word of God is for everyone. In the Old Testament it was for God's elect: the Jew, the Hebrew nation. But since we are now living in New Testament times, it is for the Gentile, as well. A Gentile is anyone who is not born Jewish. But when we all believe that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, then we are all in God's family. And His Promise is for All Who Believe. 

    Therefore, we must, we absolutely must, willingly and decidedly choose to live lives of humility and humbleness, being aware at all times that Christ is with us; that His Spirit teaches us and guides us in this life in order to prepare us for the life we will live after death. 

    Joshua (Joshua 24:15) wrote that the decision to follow God is personal, it happens to each of us on an individual basis. The call goes out, "Choose this day whom you will serve." For the humble life of the believer has an impact on the soul, the mind, the heart. Choose. This day. Whom you will serve. Yourselves? or God? 

    Are we willing to die for what we believe? If not, then we need to get into the place where we are fully surrendered to a life lived for the glory of God. Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray is a good place to start. 

COVERED Planetshakers

 I SURRENDER ALL  

TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS 

 

Morning Star/Day Star/Phosphoros

 

PHOSPHOROS

(pronounced foce'-for-os)

MORNING STAR/LIGHT-BRINGER

2 Peter 1:19

We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a Lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and The Morning Star rises in your hearts. 

    As this world in which we live gets darker, The Light of Christ within the steadfast believer must shine ever brighter. But in order to do that we must first not only have The Light of Christ within us, but The Spirit of God as well. 

    In the parable of The Ten Virgins who waited for the arrival of the bridegroom, only half of them were ready when he arrived. This may well be the state of the church when Christ arrives for His bride. Many will await His arrival, perhaps even call out, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come!" and still not be prepared when He is sent by The Father to come and get us. 

    Now is the time to increase the oil in our lamps. Now is the hour to be filled with God's Holy Spirit, that we may not only be ready then, but ready now. Before we draw our last breath in this life, there is much work yet to be done. Only God knows when our times are up, so ever alert we must remain. And in His fields we must work.

    At last count the whole Holy Bible had been translated into 736 languages. The New Testament has been translated into 1,658 and portions of The Bible into 1,264 languages. Until the whole world hears, until the last person who has heard the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ has heard it and believed it, we must continue to share the gospel with everyone we meet. 

    Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son? that He died on the cross in your place, taking the punishment meant for you? that He conquered death, hell and the grave and walked out of the grave? Do you believe that God loves you so very much that He sent His only begotten Son to do this so that you and I would not perish in our sins? 

    Today is your day of salvation. Today is the day The Morning Star can arise in your hearts and begin to remove all the darkness from within it: every sin-stain, every blemish, every dark thought and action that has separated you from God. Today is your day of repentance, your day of forgiveness, your day of becoming a child of God. 

    John 3:14-18

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must The Son of Man be lifted up: That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in The Name of The only begotten Son of God.

IF WE'VE EVER NEEDED YOU -Casting Crowns

HERE I AM TO WORSHIP - Hillsong

In Christ - I'm Not Normal

 

1 PETER 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous Light. 

    What does it mean to be peculiar according to how it is used here in this verse? It means to be "brought into", "union" and "motion into" alignment with God's purposes for the Christian's life. 

    By continuing in a self-disciplined lifestyle which obeys God's commands and follows God's directions, we are immediately set apart from the world around us. Our actions and our words speak quite loudly, for we are are a reflection of The Word living within us. 

    Our faith in Jesus Christ offends many people. The fact that we believe Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to save people from going to hell and being eternally damned puts a target on us. Some people will merely point at us, some will make fun of us (mock), some will even laugh at us. But other people will physically and verbally attack us, torture us (to get us to recant our faith in Christ), and even kill us. 

     We are more than strange to some folks: we are perceived as evil by an evil generation. This evil generation denies God and, therefore, concludes in its delusional state of mind and heart that God's Word is irrelevant in today's world. They are mistaken and will die in their sins if they don't repent. 

    Our peculiarity is immediately known by our family and our peers. We choose not to imbibe liquor like we used to. We choose not to swear and be verbally offensive like we used to. We choose not to go out clubbing, not to flirt, not to engage in socially acceptable behavior like we used to. It is not that we can't: it is that now that we know Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we want to please and honor Him, not ourselves. We are not like we "used to be": we are new creations in Christ. 

    We are not normal. We are filled with The Holy Spirit of God, Who has written on our hearts The WORD of GOD, which is alive and thriving and growing in our hearts. This Spirit has six aspects to Himself, which are active within us as well: Isaiah 11:2 "...The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, The Spirit of Counsel (advice) and Might, The Spirit of Knowledge and of The (reverent) Fear of The LORD." 

    We are known by people who have never met us, nor interacted with us, because strange news travels fast. To some it is a warning to "watch out for that person" because they won't stop talking about Jesus. To others it is a "watching for that person to arrive" that they may hear about this Jesus Who has made them strange, peculiar. Either way, we are JESUS FREAKS now, and there's no going back to who we used to be. We're not normal and we're happy about it. 

BULLETPROOF -- Citizen Way

OCEAN FLOOR - Audio Adrenaline 

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS -- Lydia Walker

Statements of Faith - 1 Peter 2:9

 

1 PETER 2:9

I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that I should show forth the praises of Him Who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous Light. 

CHOSEN GENERATION

    How are we chosen? By believing on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation. By repenting of my sins, iniquities and transgressions against The Word of God. By believing that God's Word is True and Faithful, that He fulfills His promises in His time. 

    We are chosen because we choose to follow Christ Jesus wherever He leads us; whether He leads us in the valleys of our lives or upon the mountains' heights. When He calls us to follow Him, we joyfully answer His call, running to meet Him, where He picks us up and holds us close to His heart. We are His sheep, His little lambs and we stay near our Shepherd. 

    Once we lived in the darkness of this world, too. Once we lived in rebellion, choosing to do things our way: selfishly and with only our interests at heart. But now, now we belong to God, choosing to live a life of honor and sanctification that we might be made pure and perfect in Christ. 1 Peter 2:10 "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

    He has promised that they who serve Him on this side of life will not only be blessed immensely now, but also be rewarded on the other side of life. 

Revelation 1:6 "And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.Exodus 19:6 "And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites." 

HOLY NATION

    Deuteronomy 7:6

For you are a people holy to The LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

     2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by The Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of The Spirit and by faith in the truth.

   We are saved by faith in The Truth of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ and through the sanctification of The Holy Spirit. Though the thief on the hill with Christ came to the realization that Jesus was indeed The Christ, he had just enough time left in his life to do so. By his declaration "Lord, remember me", he acknowledged Jesus to be LORD and asked that his name not be blotted out. And Jesus brought thief to paradise with him. 

    A holy nation also honors its God by not only hearing what He has to say, but by obeying what The Word He speaks. 

PECULIAR PEOPLE

    Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine.

    Titus 2:14

He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

    We are God's people, His church, His possession, His congregation. We are set apart from all nations by choosing to be obedient to His Word and choosing His Love and Righteousness for us above all other loves and unrighteous thinking and actions. 

    When someone tells us, "You're weird, strange, crazy", it's because they have noticed your differentness, your born again-ness. As we should be: different, not like everybody else. Remember the teaching song, "One of these things is not like the other"? We are not like the other. We shine bright because our souls have been saved and The Light of Christ now lives in us. 

    The salvation of Christ upon us and the purification process of sanctification through The Holy Spirit cause us to continually praise our God for this wonderful thing He has done for us and in us. 

    Three hundred and three times the word 'praise' occurs in The Old Testament, alone. And in those three hundred and three times the word 'praise', at varying times, indicates different ways to praise. 

    Yadah: to extend our arms out in front of us or lift our hands up to our Lord 

    Halal: to boast in The Lord

    Shabach: to shout praise to The Lord 

    Tehillah: combination of all other words of praise to God 

    Towdah: sacrifice of praise - praising God in adversity

    Barouch: to kneel or prostrate one's self, to bow before The Lord

    Zamar: to play a musical instrument for God

7 WAYS TO PRAISE - Carman

NO LONGER SLAVES - Zach Williams
CHANGED - Jordan Feliz

HAPPY DANCE - MercyMe 

JESUS CAN - Austin French

LIVE LIKE YOU'RE LOVED - Hawk Nelson

    

    

Statements of Faith - Redeemed

 I AM REDEEMED 

1 Peter 1:18, 19

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or spot. 

Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

     God calls everyone to salvation. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the whole world. We just need to believe that God's Word is Faithful and True. What God says comes to pass (Faithful) and that there is no error in His Word (True). 
     I answered this call to believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation. By faith I came to the cross and saw my God dying for me, with the weight of my sins lashed across His body. By faith I stepped into the shadow of the cross, where the blood soaked into the ground and into my heart. By faith I am redeemed: I have been bought back from the prince of this world, whose chains of sin I was bound in. 

    Why do we need a Redeemer? Everyone is a sinner. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." I don't know about you but I don't want to fall short of the glory of God after I die. i want to be in His glorious presence forever and ever!  He loved me enough to die for me! How can I not embrace His redemptive grace? I am a sinner and I need the blood of Jesus Christ applied to my heart. So do you. You just need to believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son and that He died for you. It's a simple faith. 

    A faith that is built on The Word of God, The Rock of our Salvation. A faith that is lived under the blood and in Christ, The Lamb of God Who Takes Away Sins (John 1:29). A faith that does not retreat but stands fast on the solid ground upon which it is built up. A faith that chooses to live a righteous life in Christ. 

     A faith that recognizes and acknowledges that God's Word is Alive and Living and calling out to all who will hear, "Come, come to the cross. Come, come and see Jesus, Who told me all about myself and then revealed that that which I was searching for is Him. Come, come and walk by faith, walk in The Spirit, with me." 

     I needed saving so God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to save me, to save us. That's something to SHOUT about! 

WALKING FREE  - Micah Tyler

REDEEMED - Big Daddy Weave 

CHAINBREAKER - Zach Williams 

GOD OF ALL MY DAYS - Casting Crowns 

I Am Christian's Mind

 

1 PETER 4:7

The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.

    I am Christian's mind. I think with the mind of Christ -- 1 Corinthians 2:16 "For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." Having surrendered my life and my body to the service of my God, my mind is also part of that package dedication. Though it will not show up on any x-ray nor be visible in any anatomy class, my mind is essential in being of service to my King and Lord. 

    The mind is the center of the soul. It controls the spirit and regulates the breath thereof. Just as in physiology the diaphragm controls the breathing and regulates the heart, so, too, does the mind control the center of its being. When I gave my heart and my life to Christ, I gave Him my thoughts, too, for they originate in the mind. 

    When I was a wretched sinner, my mind was given over to lascivious thoughts which were taking me down the road to hell. But when I gave my mind to Christ and He entered into my heart by my faith in His Name through the power of God's Holy Spirit, my mind had to align with His mind. Being stuck in this body of sin and having the mind of Christ there is a constant struggle to maintain a righteous way of thinking. But God didn't leave me there. He shows me in His Word how to get control over wayward thinking. 

    Philippians 4:8 tells me how to think with the mind of Christ. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

    My mind decides my actions. While we may think some things get done without much thought, that is decidedly untrue; for the mind is in constant motion, even while sleeping, and thoughts that we may be unaware of eventually come to pass unless we take control of our thoughts. Being Christian's mind self-control includes how I think. Though I take the reins of my thoughts, I am still Christ's and He is still guiding me and leading me throughout my day. 1 Peter 2:11 "Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. " 

    I am Christian's mind. I meditate (think on) on The Word of God. I allow it to sink into my very self, my inner being, my existence. I seek His Word that He may fill me with Himself that there may be no room for anything else. No room for ugliness only loveliness. No room for lies, only truth. No room for deceitfulness, only honesty. No room for injustice, only justice and fairness. No room for impure thoughts, only a pure heart (Matthew 5:8). No room for propaganda, only prophetic and blessed. No room for deprivation and injuriousness, only virtue. No room for self-righteousness, only praise to our God. These things I think on. 

    I am Christian's mind. I meditate on The Word of God. 

Psalm 119:15 I meditate on His precepts and consider His ways

Psalm 143:5 I meditate on all His ways and consider what His hands have made

Psalm 4:4 I meditate within my heart while I prepare for rest

Psalm 119:11 Because I meditate on His Word it is hidden deep within my heart leading me away from a life of sin to a life of holiness

    I am Christian's mind. I think before I speak. I think before I act. I consider the consequences of my possible actions before I put my thoughts into action. I rest in the knowledge that I have the mind of Christ as well as the Love of God living in me and bringing me to fulfill the purposes for which He has chosen me to serve Him. 

    My conduct, the way I behave, originates in my mind. Therefore, I must constantly be on guard, be alert, to the ways in which the enemy of my soul attacks me. He is sneaky and underhanded. I must fill my thoughts with The Word of God that I may be able to defend myself against Satan's dart throwing (Ephesians 6:10-20). I am armed with The Word of God and The Holy Spirit of God. My mind remains focused on pursuing holiness and the desire to bring you all with me on this journey. 

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD - Christ For The Nations

THINK ON THESE THINGS  - K-8 Music (children's choir) 

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER - Vineyard

    

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Come Out of Darkness

 

    1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 

    What is this darkness out of which we were called? It is spiritual darkness. It is the darkness of thought and heart where the 'marvellous light' --the light of Christ Jesus--has not yet shined upon. 

    Figuratively speaking, it is the principle of sin and sin's results. Literally speaking, it is the outer darkness where sin reigns. It is outside of God's holiness and therefore cannot be in God's presence. 

    But we who choose to answer the call to salvation through Jesus Christ are brought into His marvellous light. 

OUR FAITH + HIS GRACE = ETERNAL LIFE

    This darkness out of which we have been delivered blinds the eyes of the heart and is the veil which prevents the light from entering the mind and its thoughts. We who now believe once stumbled in the dark in ignorance believing that the lies from the devil and being satisfied in them. 

    What lies? For example: "Everybody's doing it." Everybody was not doing it, whatever the "it" was when the devil tempted us to do it and we gave in. "All roads lead to God." All roads do not lead to God. There is only one Way to God and that is the Way of Holiness. It is an old path, a narrow path: few find it. 

    Wherever negativity is, Satan is; stirring up trouble and instigating wickedness. As he stirred up the mob, who shouted to crucify Christ (Matthew 27:22,23).

    Ephesians 6:12 tells us darkness has rulers and that the believer fights spiritual battles against them: 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.'

    1 John 4:4 encourages God's people in God's Word that "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." When we consider this verse we realize that God is referring to the god of this world, to Satan, and to Satan's minions (spirits of antichrist {see verse 3}). 

    In us we have The Holy Spirit of God, Who was sent to us after Christ left, having ascended into heaven to be with His Father. The Holy Spirit of God leads us along the Way of Holiness, drawing us ever closer to the Marvellous Light of God's Love. 

    I am so thankful I answered the call to leave the darkness and step into the Light. Now that I am no longer living in the darkness of this world, I can see the hand of God everywhere and I know His voice. 

CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS 

Here I Am To Worship/The Call - Hillsong Worship

Good, Good Father - Chris Tomlin

Living Waters - Hlengiwe Mhlaba

Spirit Lead Me - Michael Ketterer

I See The Lord - Lindell Cooley

 

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Suffer

 

   1 Peter 2:21 

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps.

    What does it mean to suffer for Christ? The literal description in Strong's is "to be acted upon in a certain way, either good or bad"; to be ill-treated. That's all well and good but how do I (we) suffer for Christ individually and within the church as a whole? 

    For starters, when someone attacks us--whether verbally or physically--we don't fight back. We are not to speak against them. We don't seek revenge against anyone. We take it to Jesus and He takes care of the problem. As long as we remain in Him and He in us, we have no reason to cause those who fight against us any ill-will of our own. As Christ stood silent when accused, so, too should the believer remain silent. (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 26:63).

    It is a privilege to suffer for Christ. Philippians 3:7-9 speaks of losing everything for the gain of knowing Jesus Christ. And in verse 10: I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death. And in Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

    To suffer for Christ is to rise above the pettiness, the miry clay which clings to us trying to bring us down to the level we left behind when we chose to believe God and follow Christ. This is not a 'holier than thou' life: this is a humble remembering of who we were then and who we are now. 

    It is to have compassion, mercy, understanding and wisdom towards the people who are trying to undermine our witness. God says we are to pray for our enemies. I pray that the hearts of those who hate God be turned towards God and remain in Him to be His people. Our hearts are to be aligned with God's heart, which is to have as few left behind as possible. John 6:40 "For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

    To suffer for Christ is to be longsuffering. It is to not lose patience with anyone who is not where you and I are in our relationship with Christ. Imagine if He had done that when we were young Christians! Where would we be? 

    Fruit trees take a few years to mature before they begin to bear fruit. Sometimes the first fruit bearing season just needs to stay on the tree, as the fruit can be bitter and inedible. So, too, is the Christian's heart. We are nurtured by The Word and sustained in our faith when we get The Word into us, not just memorization but knowing that God is writing His Word on our hearts. (Ezekiel 36:26,27)

    To suffer for Christ is to see by our faithfulness that our prayers are being answered. Our children are turning back to God and bringing their families with them. Our sisters, our brother, are searching God's Word, devouring it with a hunger born from spiritual starvation. 

    Even as Christ was lifted up on the cross for all the world to see, many people came and saw Him there. But not all of them believed. Just a few. But these few, in just seven weeks, would be filled with The Holy Spirit of God, Who would cause them to speak in other languages that the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ would go forth. And go forth it did.

    As these Christians were persecuted and killed, many fled to foreign nations where they preached the gospel and people believed God and received The Holy Spirit, that second precious Gift from God; the first, being His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. And they counted it a privilege. 

    Here we are now almost 2000 years later and still we are facing the same evil that faced Jesus: hated because we believe God and God's Word to be TRUTH. 

    Let us put all of our armor on (Ephesians 6:10-20) every single day, that we may be able to suffer efficiently and effectively. Let us gather together in prayer, seeking God's will before the day begins and the night ends. We rejoice that we have been found worthy to suffer! 

CALLED TO SUFFER 

He Lives! 

You Will Suffer - John Piper (sermon clip)

Cry of The Broken - Hillsong Worship

Surrounded - UPPERROOM

Weathered - Dante Bowe/Hannah McClure

Lay It All Down - United Pursuit/Will Reagan 

    

A Crucified Life - - Is The Temple of God

 

2 Corinthians 6:16

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the Living God, as God has said, I will dwell with them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3485

Temple:  that part of the temple where God Himself resides.

From the Greek word 'naos' (pronounced nah-os'): sanctuary (divine dwelling-place); temple (sacred abode). 

    The temple of God where God dwelt consisted of two rooms: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (Hebrew 9:1-10). Hebrews 9:11-28 details how Christ became our Tabernacle and opened up both rooms for the Christian believer's access. 

    Where God is sin cannot be. No agreement, no tolerance, no working together. You cannot plait together nettles and hemp. The strength of the latter would be lacerated and shredded by the first, rendering the twining useless and revealing it for a complete waste of time and effort.

    God will not stay where He is mocked. Tear down the idols you have built up in your heart and your churches. Hasten to receive God into your hearts and be prepared to leave when He sends His Son to bring you with Him. 

    When the Ark of the Covenant was placed in a pagan temple, all the idols were knocked over (1 Samuel 5:1-4). For our God is greater and higher than any manmade object of worship. This includes self-righteousness, self-promotion. To put sin in the church and declare it to be of God is to call God a liar and bring His wrath on that church and its congregants.

    As God's temple, we are to be holy, a holy people for a holy God. And that only comes about when we have the Holy Spirit of God also living in us, working through and with us, to make us holy. That won't happen when a person is not only living a sinful lifestyle, but refuses to give up their sin, their uncleanness, their unholy living. 

    A crucified life recognizes sin for sin. The thorns and the nails have pierced the heart, nailing the sin to its place of humiliation. Repenting of the sin at the moment it is revealed brings forgiveness and restoration from God. The heart is made cleaner. The mind is restored to soundness and sober thinking (vigilant, rational thinking). 

    We need to knock down and destroy everything that is not of God and God's Word. We do that by receiving Christ into our hearts and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit of God. We go where we are sent. We speak what we hear. In the power of God we choose to live the life He has designed for us. 

    Do you want the presence of God in your heart, your mind, your whole life? Turn your hearts to God now. Turn your back on the sins you have been living in (repent) and seek God's desire for your life (seek first His kingdom). Turn your face to His face and be made complete in Him in Christ. There's no other way to have the presence of the Living God in us but to comply with His requirements to do so. 

    1 Peter 1:13-15

Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. 

    Hebrews 4:15,16

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One Who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

A TABLE FULL OF STRANGERS Vol 1 (what I listened to while I studied)