Big God

This morning I've just been meditating on the goodness of God. We serve such a big God, and yet He still takes interest in our individual lives. It's still so amazing to me!

He doesn't have to pay attention to us, listen to our prayers, or even give us the time of day. We are so far beneath His awesome power, wisdom, and holiness. Yet He still loved us so much He sent His Son to die so that we could spend eternity with Him.

We serve such a Big God. He's big in grace, big in love, big in splendor, big in holiness... And He takes care of us with big mercy. I am just bubbling over with gratefulness this morning!

How can we not show the Father our love and devotion? How can we not dedicate ourselves to serve Him? How can we not tell everyone we know about the benefits of His love and what He has done for us?

Lord, I stand in awe of You because of your greatness. I stand in awe of you because of Your love for me. I stand in awe of You because of Your righteousness. You are awesome! You are mighty! You are miraculous!

And I am honored to call You my Father. I am honored to be able to approach Your throne. I am honored that You want me near You.

Be magnified in my life. Be magnified in the earth. Lord, I give you praise.

Verse of the Day: Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5

Blessed By the Best!

Every time you ask my grandmother how she's doing, she'll reply with a smile, "I'm blessed by the Best!" She knows who she is and who she belongs to. No matter what comes her way, she knows that her Heavenly Father is taking care of her.

When you think about it, that is a perfect way of looking at life. No matter how people may act up, disappoint, and cause things to be difficult for you, the Lord of Heaven is still blessing you. I'd bet you'd rather Him take care of you than any human being you can find on this planet.

Yet, it's so easy to forget when the cares of the world get in the way. We tend to focus on how so-and-so overlooked us, how our friends mistreated us, and the let downs we experience from people we care about. We focus on the pain, hurt, and frustration we feel from those around us.

However, there's a God within us who shows us perfect love. He loves us the best, He rewards us the best, He never forgets about us, He's always there no matter what. Even when we are the ones who overlook, mistreat, and let Him down, He still shows us unconditional love.

Isn't that the best?

So, put on a smile today no matter how those folks around you act! Keep a positive outlook no matter how it may seem to be cloudy in your sphere. The Best of the Best is in love with you! You are truly blessed.

Verse of the Day: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love... Jeremiah 31:3a

Strength for Today

So, last night and this morning my phone was ringing - I was being called to do my most dreaded part of my job. This morning when the phone rang, I actually had to pull on my Heavenly Father's strength. "Lord, give me strength to handle today" were my first words of the day.

In that moment the Holy Spirit showed me exactly what to do, and I felt the weight of everything lift off of my shoulders. God is so good.

The Lord will never give us more than we can handle. He wants to take on our heavy burdens and make things more bearable for us.  However, if we're not giving Him our all, if we're not including Him in every facet of our lives, we're holding everything forcing ourselves to deal with the stress and work of it all.

The Lord just wants to be included. He wants to show you how powerful He is. He wants to display His wisdom and knowledge to you. He wants you to experience miracles every day.

However, if you're not opening the door to let Him in and you're choosing to shoulder all of it yourself, you're missing your chance to experience the Lord's sweet rest.

So, no matter what pops up in your path today, make sure you pull on the Father's grace and ability to help you. Allow His wisdom to influence your decisions, let His power take on your challenges. Give Him the opportunity to handle your heavy burdens. He's ready, willing, and able. Don't deny Him the pleasure of assisting you.

Verse of the Day: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1, 2

New Stuff!

Hey Everyone, I added some info about myself to the blog! I figured it was only right. I've been blogging for about a year now, time to get to know me a bit better. So, click on the "About Me" tab and enjoy!

Great Sacrifice

I've been studying Christ for my Theology class, and it is truly amazing what He did for us.

Jesus was GOD, living in heaven's splendor, enjoying the benefits of being omnipotent and omniscient. He did not know what it meant to want for anything. He had legions of angels singing His praises and ready at His disposal. He had never experienced temptation, hunger, thirst or pain. He was surrounded by riches. He was immortal, and could have rested in glory unfazed by what was going on with that tiny little planet called Earth.

Yet He chose to come down out of His splendor... for you.

Jesus could have chosen to be born to a queen living in some semblance of splendor (what splendor really compares to heaven?). But He chose to come the humblest route, born in a manger because his parents couldn't find room in a hotel. He grew up the son of a lowly carpenter, doing work with His hands, sweating over sawdust and wood.

The Son of God - who spoke and things were made - chose to live a life full of hard work... for you.

Jesus submitted Himself to be tempted by the devil - His nemesis, the very creature that had single-handedly started the destruction of the world Jesus had helped create. Jesus withstood the devil's daggers, doubts, and temptations because He had a bigger goal in mind.

This was all before Jesus got to the cross! Would you have given up heaven, the very things that made you God just for some folks who turned their back on you at their first chance? Would you have gotten off your throne knowing more than half the people you were giving up your glory for would question every facet of your existence?

Thinking on the great sacrifice Jesus gave for us, even before He reached the cross, let's make sure we live our lives showing proper gratitude and love. It's the least we can do.

Verse of the Day: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:1-5

Thanksgiving Friday!

Today I'm thankful for the men and women who have served and gave their lives for our nation. Because of their sacrifice, we can live in freedom! Thank you, Lord for giving us people like them.

I'm also thankful for having the day off! Thus, the abbreviated post...

What are you thankful for today? Give God some praise!

What's Your Witness Saying?

Paul and Silas had been whipped, put in stocks, and thrown in the deepest part of prison. Yet they were not despondent. They did were not angry. They did not lose hope.

In fact they were so full with the joy of the Lord that they burst into praise and worship. As they sang praises to God, He was moved to deliver them from their situation. Their chains were miraculously loosed. The very ones who had beaten them, dressed their wounds and set them free. More importantly, a whole household came into the Kingdom of God.

What is holding you prisoner right now? Who has wrongfully "beaten" you and tried to put you in bondage? How are you responding? What is coming out of your mouth? What actions are you taking?

Often it is our greatest trials that will produce our greatest witness. When we are at our lowest points, our true character shines through. David chose to honor God rather than take revenge on Saul. Daniel chose to face death at the hands of lions rather than abandon his worship of the Lord. Jesus forgave the people while he languished on the cross. Paul and Silas sang praises while they were imprisoned.

Are you so full of God's joy that others can't help but hear your praises and worship to your Father? Is God witnessing your faithful spirit in the midst of your pain? Are your oppressors being moved to repentance because of the way you respond to injustice?

Or is your response like everyone else?

Verse of the Day:
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:25-30