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As I was laying down to sleep on Wednesday night I was quite restless. Perhaps it was the late-night chocolate, or perhaps it was that state of the world, or even could have been me staring at my phone screen for too long playing Fishdom. Regardless of the reason, I routed to Youtube to stream the book of Psalms with music in order to go to sleep. Upon my journey to slumberland, a collection of verses rang out to me upon hearing them. 

 

 

Psalms 9:15-20 (NKJV)
The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.
But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence.
Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal.


I am not sure how long after hearing this I fell asleep, but when I woke up (2 hours early) I was reminded of my mental note to share this on the blog.

It is a jaw drop verse set for me in relation to what we as a country, nation, and world are going through right now. Like there is no doubt that we, as a whole, have turned our back or stepped away from God (the true creator God, accessible through Jesus alone who gifts His precious Holy Spirit upon all who believe), because like umm yeah. While I am not here to debate that, simply put the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), and from I can see these definitely are not the top attributes of humankind.

Do I think all is lost? No, I don’t. I only think all is lost if someone takes their last breath and hasn’t accepted Jesus Christ as savior. There is no reason why “we” the individual, and “we” the people, cannot do better or be better, regardless of what our family, friends, or government officials say. Does being better mean acknowledging who the Trinity is? Yes. Because it is from God we get moral law, by Jesus Christ'ss sacrifice and resurrection are we redeemed, and it is by His Spirit we are transformed evermore.

Looking for encouragement, guidance, or inspiration? We have been watching Charles Stanley, Michael Youssef, and Allan Parr. in the recent weeks for our daily devotional time. May they be of benefit to you, as they have been to us and so many others. 

Peace, love, and blessings to you, through our Savior, Jesus Christ! 💙


While doing research for a post that should come within a few days, I stumbled across this one on HuffPost by Sarah Thebarge, who has a resume the brings fireworks to my eyes., and wanted to share it in its entirety. May it bless you, as it did me!  
----
(Written: 03/25/2015 06:37 pm ET Updated May 25, 2015)

Whenever a plane goes down, there is inevitably a news story about the people who were supposed to be on the plane but weren’t — either because their alarm didn’t go off or there was a traffic jam or they switched travel plans at the last minute.
Yesterday was no exception. Amidst the horrifying reports of a plane dropping altitude over the Alps and then crashing into the mountain with 150 people on board, there was the story of a soccer team who changed their travel plans because they decided the layover in Dusseldorf was too long.
When we hear stories like that, us Christians tend to say, “Wow! Isn’t God good!?”
We say that a lot — “Isn’t God good!?” — when we hear reports of people who inexplicably avoided doom.
A woman has car trouble and avoids the fatal 12-car pile-up on the interstate that she would’ve been in if her car had started. Isn’t God good?
A man goes to his doctor for pneumonia and the chest x-ray shows a tumor in his lung that is entirely removed and cured because the doctor accidentally discovered it when it was still in its early stages. Isn’t God good?
I survived an aggressive form of breast cancer when I was 28 years old. Isn’t God good?people say a lot when they hear my story of how I almost died, and how God spared my life.
Yes, I always say. God is absolutely good.
But is this WHY God is good? If God hadn’t spared my life, would God still be good?
Because here’s the thing — for as many stories as there are of people who escaped doom, there are just as many (if not more) stories of people who weren’t so “lucky.”
There were people killed in that fatal interstate pile-up who usually take a different way to work, but for some reason thought the interstate would be faster that day.
Isn’t God good? It sounds obscene to say that.
There were people diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and died weeks later because their cancer was discovered too late. Isn’t Good good?
No, my instincts say. It doesn’t make sense to draw attention to God’s goodness in a situation that seems to be the opposite of good.
Two of my friends have died of breast cancer in their 30’s.
Isn’t God good?
I have to honestly answer that I don’t know, and it makes me think hard about what God’s goodness even means.
The thing I can’t walk away from is that the Bible doesn’t just say that God does good things. It says that God IS good. It’s not just what he does; it’s who he is — and who he is never changes.
In Psalm 46, the psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength, a present help in times of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear...”
In his commentary on Psalm 46, Charles Spurgeon wrote that God is good — not because he causes things that seem or feel “good” to happen in our lives, but because in the midst of the storm, God comes closer to us than the storm could ever be.
And THIS is why we can say with absolute confidence that God is good.
This is why we can say, no matter how bad the storm is, no matter how much pain we experience, no matter how different the outcome is from what we’ve prayed for, that God is good. In the hardest moments of life, God comes close to us and he doesn’t change, he doesn’t falter, he doesn’t quit, he doesn’t leave and he doesn’t let go.
God is just as good to the 150 people who went down on the Germanwings plane as he is to the soccer team who switched flights at the last minute.
God is just as good to the people who died in the car accident as he is to the people who avoided it.
God is just as good to the parents of obedient children as he is to parents of children who have rebelled.
God is just as good to infertile women as he is to women who have as many biological children as they want.
God is just as good to the family who loses their home in a fire as he is to the family whose house doesn’t burn down.
God is just as good to the single person as he is to the person who gets married.
God is just as good to the people who lose their jobs in corporate downsizing as he is to the people who earn a promotion.
God is just as good to the people who drown in a tsunami as he is to the people who are rescued.
God is just as good to the young women who died of breast cancer as he was to me when I survived it.
Isn’t God good?
YES! The answer is always a resounding YES. GOD IS GOOD!
But we have GOT to stop only talking about his goodness when an unexpectedly pleasant thing happens. Because God’s goodness is not dependent on an outcome or an emotion or a barely-missed-doom story.
God is not good because we avoid danger.
God is good because when the storms of life hit, he comes closer to us than the storm ever could.
He holds us in his loving arms.
He doesn’t change.
He doesn’t falter.
He doesn’t quit.
He doesn’t leave.
And no matter what, he never lets go.

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Shammah is derived from the Hebrew word sham, which can be translated as "there." Jehovah Shammah is a symbolic name for the earthly Jerusalem. The name indicates that God has not abandoned Jerusalem, leaving it in ruins, but that there will be a restoration. [from BlueLetterBible]

It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah Shammah [The LORD is there].
Ezekiel 48:35

As doing study for the this particular Name of God I came across this lovely devotional, and would like to share it with you all in replacement of one that I would write on my own. Leah Adams shared the below on CBN in 2011, and I invite you to visit her blog for more about her, and her ministry.  

Jehovah-shammah
By Leah Adams

Although I love the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in particular, this name of God speaks to me in a very unique way. First let’s examine the meaning of this name and then seek to apply it to our lives.

Jehovah-shammah is a name for God that is symbolic of Jerusalem. We find this name for God used in Ezekiel 48:35 (NLT): “The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord is There.’”

At the height of the idolatry of God’s chosen people, God withdrew His presence not only from the temple, but even from the city of Jerusalem. Such was his anger and displeasure over the repeated rebellion of the Israelites that He said, in effect, “I’ve had it. I’m out of here.”

When God’s presence departed the temple, it signaled to the Israelites and all who dwelt around them that God had removed His hand of protection from them. They would ultimately be scattered to the four corners of the earth and taken captive by surrounding nations.

God did not completely wash His hands of the Israelites, however. His love and mercy were always with them, continually drawing them back to Himself. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promised a restoration of the nation and a return of His presence to Jerusalem. In that day the city would be called Jehovah-shammah. That very prophecy came true when the exiles returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the walls. God’s presence returned to the temple in the form of a tiny baby brought to the temple to be offered back to God by his parents, Joseph and Mary.

Let’s think about how this name, Jehovah-shammah, applies to us. So often you and I live our lives looking ahead to some event, some time in our lives, some potential disaster, some looming date. We may wonder what that date will bring to our lives or how we will survive it. Perhaps it is a doctor’s appointment or a court date or your child leaving home or your mate passing away. It could be a new job, a divorce or moving from a place that you have called home for many years. Whatever this future event is, it causes you to have a knot in the pit of your stomach every time you think about it. Be it real or imagined, this future occurrence causes you huge amounts of stress, angst and worry.

Jehovah-shammah. THE LORD IS THERE!! Our God is already in your tomorrow. He already knows what your future looks like and He has complete control over it. We are told in Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) that Jehovah-shammah says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. THE LORD IS THERE!! You cannot be in your future now, but He can. You can’t control the future events of your life, but He can. Jehovah-shammah will walk with you into whatever tomorrow holds because of His great love for you. God is THERE in your tomorrow and in my tomorrow. He simply desires that we trust His heart.

~~~~~


Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Nes (nês), from which Nissi derived, means "banner" in Hebrew. In Exd 17:15, Moses, recognizing that the Lord was Israel's banner under which they defeated the Amalekites, builds an altar named Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our Banner). Nes is sometimes translated as a pole with an insignia attached. In battle opposing nations would fly their own flag on a pole at each of their respective front lines. This was to give their soldiers a feeling of hope and a focal point. This is what God is to us: a banner of encouragement to give us hope and a focal point. [From BlueLetterBible]

And Moses built an altar and called its name, Jehovah Nissi [The-Lord-Is-My-Banner]; for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Exodus 17:15-16


Jehovah Nissi is most commonly translated into "the Lord is my banner". Although through-out the years it has also taken on "the Lord they miracle", "the Lord my refuge" and "the Lord my Exaltation". All which really do speak to how God is our protector, hiding place, and shelter even when there seems to be no hope. He is our Commander and Chief, in Him alone should we place our ultimate trust. By God's grace we have victory over sin, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What was the specific reason though that Moses designated this name for God in the place an time?

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
Exodus 17:8-14


How amazing! If you have had a chance to read, 31 Rays of Hope, you know that I am intrigued by the blatant "acts of God" in the Old Testament. Albeit I am learning more and more every day we have those same miracles - we just don't recognize them as such. Though thankfully we do not have to sacrifice animals in atonement for our sins as days of old, as Jesus Christ paid the debt that we could not pay.

May we give thanks for God for His loving-kindness, for never leaving us, whether we are on the mountain tops or low in the valley. For giving us victory over this world. For giving us a way into His to spend eternity with Him and the Savior, if we only believe. May we pray for those who are persecuted for His name sake. May we call upon forgiveness, and may the Spirit abound in us, as we shine our light to everyone we meet. In Jesus name.   

   
Thanks to Daniel (aka fella with an awesome beard) for allowing me to post this on here! I hope you all are as enlightened, encouraged and blessed by it as myself!

Singleness Isn’t a Curse

It seems like everyone is either getting engaged or married right now! Many of my closest friends are now headed towards marriage, and I am super excited for them!
Now, I’m going to be honest, I have felt kind of lonely and out of place. A lot of my friends are dating and/or getting married, and in my close circle of friends I am one of the only single people. This started provoking thoughts like:
“When will it be my turn?”
“Why can’t I experience what they are experiencing?”
I was worrying so much about whether or not I would ever experience what my friends were experiencing that I lost sight of what was most important: Seeking God. Whether I am single, dating, or married, I should always seek the Lord and worship him daily. This wasn’t my posture. Oh, no. I was not content with just being single. I wanted a relationship. I didn’t want to be single anymore. God then reminded me of a story my dad told me a while back. A story that I will always remember.
My dad had just turned 20 and really desired to find a wife. He looked everywhere for “the one,”  but couldn’t find her. His dad (my grandpa) sat him down and read Matthew 6:33 to him. Which states:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
My grandpa told my dad to seek God! “You get so caught up in looking for someone to marry that you have lost sight of what really matters. Seek God and then He will add these things.” Now 20 years later, my dad has shared that story with me multiple times, but I have really taken it to heart recently. Singleness isn’t a disease or a curse. It is a gift from God and should be treated as such. My desire to find a girl should not supersede my desire to seek after my Lord. He is all in all, and He is better.
Through this I have learned 3 things:
  1. Singleness is a gift.
  2. Do not let your singleness rob you of the joy that God has given you.
  3. Use your singleness to glorify God.
Lastly, I want to share what the next verse after Matthew 6:33 says,
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
God is sovereign over our singleness, our dating, and our marriages. He knows what He is doing. Don’t worry. Trust Him.

I grew up with a military dad. What exactly does that mean? While although he did not enforce a super tidy space (it would have been futile to try anyways, clothes belonged on the floor back then after wearing them), he did expect the best from me in regards to my grades. Of course, best might be slightly skewed as bringing home a 97 (A) was not acceptable. He beckoned for something over 100, which meant I had to knock out some extra credit questions/tasks. This repeating occurrence through-out school, in conjunction with a few other life events and seemingly pre-disposed traits (displayed at a very young age), has shown and echoed through-out my life, I extremely dislike to fail.

This desire for perfection gives a doorpost for attacks, as no one is on point 100% of the time.

None, but God come in human form as the Son, Jesus Christ that is.

It is written in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” And Ecclesiastes 7:20, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” But for the betterment of all mankind we know the truth of Yeshua, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Of course, reading the verses are all well and good; it is coming to the true understanding of this fact and applying it that sometimes takes a bit more tick-tock on the clock. If you are like me, you may have struggled or perhaps are currently struggling with the idea that God is mad at you. This is in part result of the mind of an attempted perfectionist. If we harbor negative emotions within and towards ourselves for not being “on-point” of course (we think) our Creator would think the same thing right? FALSE! He knows the very number of hairs on our head, and knew us before the foundation of this world, and totally sent His son to die on our behalf BECAUSE of ours sins (past, present, and future), in which we might be reconciled back to Him, so ...

You, nor I, nor anyone else will ever be “good enough” to get into Heaven. It is a free gift, as written in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

May we remember, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—  he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:22-26

So perhaps instead of us trying to be some unattainable version of ourselves, we should start to see the world/people around us that is in need.  Embark upon the call that has been given to us all, the Great Commission perchance?


Additional Reading -> Romans 5:12-21
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.




Yesterday I shared the above image on my Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. I still think it is funny, and not to mention, it contains mention of a verse, that is in one of my favorite “blocks of verses”, which is fully →

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:21-24

Well I received a comment about the photo on Pinterest, and wanted to just felt led to write about it a bit. The comment was, “This is true but I also think that everyone is "perfect" in their own way... like perfect who they are. NO one is really perfect besides God."

As we all know language is changing, not only does a word mean what it originally meant (for years gone by), but in some cases it can actually mean not it actually, but be said for effect - the word literally is a good example. Not to mention I myself use [my own] slang a good portion of the time, so first lets examine what the word perfect means.


Merriam-Websters defines perfect first as, “being entirely without fault or defect".   

The scripture has a whole lot to say on perfection. Apart from Mr. Solomon's use of the word the verses all echo similar chords, how God is the only thing perfect and how "actions" and "thoughts" can be perfected by seeking and aligning oneself to God's will. As I believe it to be true, we (humanly) cannot be perfect, unless we are 100% of God (i.e. we will obtain true perfection in heaven | new earth | aka next chapter) should that "label" even matter then. Sure, we are all unique and awesome [I stand by that 150%], but alas are we ever actually “what we are destined to finally be” since we are “always being improved upon” until we are no longer here? 

The fact that we are not perfect is one of the reasons we follow after Him, so we can be more like Him. And yes, we are “made perfect in God’s eyes”, but that is because God looks at those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior through blood-stained goggles. The Father doesn’t see our fault, because He see’s what His Son did on our behalf.

Can I get an AMEN?

Now you may or may not know this, but actually my self-dubbed theme song is Perfect, written by Flyleaf and Matt Lewis. If I ever get a chance to speak stadium style, a la Joyce Meyers, I totally want that playing as I walk to wherever my final destination is in the building. Lacey Sturm belts out so amazingly exactly what echoes in my core. Please take a listen. 


Thank you dear Lord for giving us free will, for allowing us to choose You whole-heartedly, even though as a believer I (and many others) may wish our free-will was taken away so we could not fall. However, we thank you for giving us a way back to you, apart from ourselves - apart from Old Testament laws, one based on true love, obedience and grace. We yearn to echo that same love out to the world, may we be shining examples of You (Father, Son and Spirit) to those that we meet. May we seek to build each other up, instead of tearing each other down. May the word perfect not even enter our thoughts, unless we immediately associate it with You. Search us dear Lord, and make us more like You. In the name of your perfect Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. 


Want to read more biblical truth and personal thoughts about perfection?
Check out 31 Rays of Hope [A Month of Daily Devotionals] : Day Twenty-One "Better Than Cupcakes".

When I was younger this time of year (Resurrection.. well as it was known to me then as Easter) brought so much joy to me. I delighted in Easter egg hunts, both at church and with friends at our homes. I enjoyed waking up on Easter morning to see what treats the Easter Bunny had left for me. It was nice to wear a new brightly colored dress for all to see.

However now, this time of year, the celebration of the Resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ, holds no trivial value. The significance of it has changed and molded itself into what is, for a believer, the most important time in our history. Without the death and resurrection of the Savior, we would not be who we are … our futures after this age has ended would not be so bright.

Though with the happiness that comes with Salvation through Jesus Christ, admittedly this time also brings sadness. I feel for what He had to go through, in order that I.. that we .. might be reconciled back to the Creator. He did nothing wrong, but yet He suffered a death worse than any we could ever imagine out of love, love for His Father and love for His Father’s creation.

It is for this reason that sometimes it is so hard for me to grasp that I cannot be perfect. I think some of us desire to be perfect, not so that we might be counted as such (good), but more so that we do not cause any more pain (in human terms) to Father, Son and Spirit. We wish that we could grant them all a moment off, from having to intercede on our behalf – from having to watch over us because of our indifferences and sinful ways, but alas in this age it will not be.

Though we know what is written to us in the Bible is true, God knows all – He knew what He was doing before He laid the foundation of the Earth and to Him, the Creator, all of which has passed and all which will come, is considered “worth it” in order that we might (all those who call upon His Son and receive the free gift of salvation) be with Him for eternity. As such that is our consolation.

I saw this verse last week while Tumbling and Pinning away, but have come upon a greater understanding of it after this weekend, which I am sure will give way to even more in the years to come.

Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. Ecclesiastes 1:18

However, we believers have a hope – a truth – a promise that no matter how much grief or pain (mental or physical) that we suffer here on Earth, that one day, thanks to Jesus Christ (who we should celebrate not only during Resurrection weekend or Lenten season but daily, through-out the entire calendar year) it will cease to be.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. 
Revelations 21:4

Thank you Father, Son and Spirit for all that you have done, are doing and will do in the future. Might all of Your children come together as one, may we rid ourselves from the opinions and prejudices that keep us at a distance with one another, and work toward the common goal of being witnesses for you, for showing your love to everyone – everywhere, regardless of past history or current circumstance. Thank You Father for the free gift of salvation (forgiveness, grace, redemption), which is free of charge through Your Son alone, and for the Helper who guides us day by day. In Jesus name, Amen.