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May Mary’s Heart Be Mine??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #55

16 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by Blanche in A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All Sufficient God!, Am I willing to go?, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Father--heavenly and earthly, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Finishing Well, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Grace, Gratitude, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth

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A faith like Mary's, A heart of faith, Colossians 3:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Luke 1:38-56, Mary's faith, Mary's obedience, True faith is synonymous with obedience, Trusting God, Trusting God In All, Trusting God rather than man, Trusting His Grace, Twisting His Arm Or Trusting His Care

May Mary’s Heart Be Mine???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #55

I have an unusual word for today, for myself more than anyone else.  It is often so difficult to keep my heart and mind focused on the things of my Lord; I get distracted by the smallest things, and I spend a lot of time going into rooms and forgetting what I went in there for!!!  Maybe you don’t suffer from this plague, but if you live long enough you will–ha ha ha!!!  But really, it is a constant battle to keep my mind, heart, and feet on the right track.  I pray that you will join me in praying to have a heart like Mary’s heart of submission and obedience to whatever God asks of me!

“And Mary said,

Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

be it unto me

according to thy word.

And the angel departed from her.

39 And Mary arose in those days,

and went into the hill country with haste,

into a city of Juda;

40 And entered into the house of Zacharias,

and saluted Elisabeth…

….46 And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced

in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate

of his handmaiden:

for, behold,

from henceforth all generations

shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty

hath done to me great things;

and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy

is on them that fear him

from generation to generation.

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm;

he hath scattered the proud

in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty

from their seats,

and exalted them

of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry

with good things;

and the rich he hath

sent empty away.

54 He hath holpen his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy;

55 As he spake to our fathers,

to Abraham,

and to his seed for ever.

56 And Mary abode with her about three months,

and returned to her own house.” Luke 1:38-40 & 46-56

I love the simplicity of this account, Mary received a visit from an angel, heard the news of her impending pregnancy, and her only question was, “How…?”, I think wondering if she was to be with Joseph, or what; to which the angel replied that God’s Spirit would overshadow her, and she would become a mother by the hand of God not a “man”!  Her simple reply revealed a wisdom and faith beyond her years (probably about 15 or 16) as she replied to the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”! This young woman of faith and obedience would bear the Messiah!  Our soon-coming King!  I can’t imagine all the thoughts that went through her mind; but I think she went to see Elizabeth for a confirmation that she had really heard the angel’s message correctly (for who else would be likely to believe her account?  Mom, Dad, I’m pregnant and God did it.  Really???  Even Joseph didn’t believe it until an angel appeared to him and confirmed Mary’s story, see Matthew 1:21)

We’re not told whether she went to her parents, and obviously not to Joseph until she returned some three months later, after her encounter with her elderly cousin Elizabeth.  I can’t even imagine the questions in her heart and mind, but I know she obviously had a faith in her God beyond earthly measure, and I desire to have a growing faith like that!  How about you?  Will we “settle for” getting by–keeping up–doing the ‘churchy’ thing–impressing people?  Or will we desire the approval and pleasure of our Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father, as we yield ourselves to the work of The Holy Spirit of God in our hearts and lives?  Help me yield to You Lord in all my ways!!!

“If ye then be risen with Christ,

seek those things which are above,

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection

on things above,

not on things on the earth…

…. 14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful.”  Colossians 3:1-2

In closing, may this verse I repeat to myself often, touch your heart and mind today, as we ponder the things of holiness, righteousness, and love.  May others truly see Jesus in me/you?

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!

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What Am I Waiting On??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 13

13 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by Blanche in A Father's Love, All Sufficient God!, Trust God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Wait on the Lord, Walking With Jesus, Weariness, Who are YOU following?, Yesterday

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God's In Charge, Hebrews 13:1-6, Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 40:31, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 89:33, They that wait..., Titus 1:2, Trusting God, Trusting God In The Waiting Room, Trusting His Grace, Waiting On The Lord, What are you waiting for?

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 13 What Am I Waiting On???

 

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

While I don’t’ always succeed at “waiting upon the Lord”, it is the goal of my life; sometimes it’s relatively simple, other times it takes everything that is in me to “wait”!  Then there are those times that I blow it—totally blow it, but praise God, when I fail, HE never does; and I am so grateful for a faithful God who never, never fails—even when I do.

“Nevertheless

my lovingkindness

will I not utterly take from him,

nor suffer

my faithfulness to fail.”  Psalm 89:33

Even when you and I don’t understand what is going on, we can know that our God is ever at work for His glory and our good.  He doesn’t sleep, nor does He lie or fail.

“In hope of eternal life,

which God,

that cannot lie,

promised

before the world began;”  Titus 1:2

“Jesus Christ

the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

And one of the other things that is so sure about our Lord Jesus Christ, who never lies, is that HE has promised to never leave us alone, and as we walk in obedience to His Word, we will see more and more of His hand at work in our lives.  The author of Hebrews has some great words of encouragement for us in this regard.

“Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

for thereby some have entertained

angels unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds,

as bound with them;

and them which suffer adversity,

as being yourselves also in the body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers

and adulterers

God will judge.

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:1-6

The book of Hebrews also reminds us that because our God is faithful, we can have confidence in Him, whether we are in the “waiting” mode or not.  We have all found ourselves in the “waiting” mode lately, in fact most of the year of 2020, but God wasn’t caught off guard, and He’ll never be caught off guard in your life or mine; and if we will determine to trust our God while we wait—or while we’re not waiting—we will find that He is accomplishing His purpose in us.

This post is relatively short, but I hope it will help you to refocus on God, and His purposes for you and me (especially during this time of celebrating HIS greatest gift to us—JESUS). I want to leave you with one of my favorite passages, and one of my very favorite Psalms which I hope will encourage you/me to keep our eyes on Jesus and remember that even when we are “waiting’, we can ‘wait’ with confidence and assurance that we can shout, “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”!

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not unto

thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

I invite you to ponder on this Psalm with me, and let God encourage our hearts no matter what you’re/I’m waiting on; and know that we have been doing a lot of waiting here at our house due to some personal issues, so I totally understand.  And know that this speaks to me as much (or more) than it does to you.  May Jesus Christ be praised.

“I will lift up mine eyes

unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot

to be moved:

he that keepeth thee

will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber

nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper:

the LORD is thy shade

upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee

by day,

nor the moon

by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee

from all evil:

he shall preserve

thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve

thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”  Psalm 121:1-8

May God bless your journey and may you pursue Him even in the “waiting” room!

Amen and Amen!!!

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His Grace Reaches Me??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 11

27 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, By His Grace, Cross, Gospel, Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness

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1 Peter 2:6-8, Acts 4:10-12, Colossians 2:6-7, Colossians 2:9-10, Colossians 3:9-17, God's Grace, Grace, Hebrews 1:1-3, John 10:10, Rock Of Ages Cleft For Me, Simply To Thy Cross I Cling, Sufficient Grace, Trusting His Grace

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 11        His Grace Reaches Me???

 

I love the old songs, and there is one that is a special message to my heart, and it resounds with truth—deep truth—written by Augustus Toplady in 1763.  How could such an old song still be pertinent?  Because the good news of the Gospel hasn’t changed!  Never has, never will!

Rock Of Ages  (Augustus Toplady 1763)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die!

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

I love the third verse and the simplicity of its message:

“Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling…”

Our hope is in the sufficiency of God’s grace that is full and powerful enough to save us from sin.

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become

the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:10-12

This precious ‘corner stone’ is Jesus and He came that we might have life—real life in and through HIM!  Peter who was speaking in the account above, to answer the opposition there, also mentioned this ‘corner stone’ in his first Epistle to the scattered believers.

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

 but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble

at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were appointed.”  1 Peter 2:6-8

I am so grateful that no matter where I am, or what is going on around me (or around those that I love), I have confidence in the truth that I can always “simply to Thy cross I cling”!  Jesus IS my all-in-all!

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness

of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete

in him,

which is the head of all principality

and power:”   Colossians 2:9-10

And another part of the letter that Paul wrote to the Colossians, reminds us how to look to HIM in all things, because HE is the One who sustains all things.  But before we look at the Colossians passage, we can see HIS power, grace and provision in Hebrews.

“God,

who at sundry times

and in divers manners

spake in time past

unto the fathers

by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken

unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed heir

of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness

of his glory,

and the express image

of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself

purged our sins,

sat down

on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”   Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus is God’s final Word; and the book of the Revelation is the “unveiling” of all that God will accomplish through “His only begotten Son”!  Jesus is the creator, the sustainer, the redeemer, the very One who IS/WAS the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin—yours and mine!  Oh, how grateful I am for His unfailing grace—His all-sufficient grace—His supreme sovereign control—through which we can have victory in our daily lives.  Oh, how grateful I am that HIS grace reached down for me, saving and delivering me from my own sin, doing HIS continual work of that grace in me—conforming you and me  into the “image of His son” (Romans 8:28-29, in fact the whole chapter is an amazing word picture of all that we have in HIS amazing grace!). Now let’s take a look at Colossians 3 and see what this amazing grace looks like working through our hands, our feet, and our mouth—yes, you and I who have His Spirit within!

“Lie not one to another,

seeing that ye have put off the old man

with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge

after the image of him

that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek

nor Jew,

circumcision

nor uncircumcision,

Barbarian,

Scythian,

bond

nor free:

but Christ is all,

and in all.

12 Put on therefore,

as the elect of God,

holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel

against any:

even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye.

14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called

in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ

dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing

one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace

in your hearts

to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do

in word

or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God

and the Father by him.”   Colossians 3:9-17

And all this by our Lord’s grace and power which we received.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,

so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him,

and stablished in the faith,

as ye have been taught,

abounding therein

with thanksgiving.”   Colossians 2:6-7

May we ever walk “in him”, remembering who we are, all because of whose we are; all because of His far-reaching, out-reaching grace that brings abundant life!  Amen and Amen!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.”  John 10:10. Amen!

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