"Behold ... Who Created these Things"

Look around you to see the majesty of God's creation.  Observe the beginning bud, tightly wrapped, protecting the beauty inside.  Quietly this miracle is awaiting sunshine and dewdrops before spreading its petals.

Just a few hours pass, the petals began to push outside of their previous confinement... with enough sunlight, the unfolding continues.

With flair, this perennial hibiscus proudly exhibits its tropical color and gently takes a bow among the neighboring foliage.

"Lift up your eyes on high and
behold Who created these things...

Hast thou not known?
Hast thou not heard,
  that the everlasting God,
  the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
     fainteth not, neither is weary?
He giveth power to the faint:
And to them that have no might he increaseth strength...
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 40:26, 28, 29, 31

Dear friends ~ Meditate on these precious promises.

"Hope in the Lord"

Be of Good Courage
Strengthen Your Heart
All ye that Hope in the Lord
Psalm 31:24

Hope occurs 130 times in the Bible.

"Gratitude"

Psalm 145:9 "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."

The last few months I've been able to meditate on God's Goodness in relation to our home, our family, our children. It is overwhelming to think of what I deserve, my husband deserves and my children deserve, which is is God's wrath and judgement for the sin in our lives. Because of our blackened hearts, we deserve a life of misery or turmoil and eternal judgement... Yet, God has allowed His Goodness and tender Mercy to permeate our lives.

As Jonathan Edwards writes in his treatise, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," I can only but agree that we are truly wicked, deserving of hell. We are inclined to slip and fall toward evil. We delude ourselves to believe we are too good for eternal damnation. In our unregenerate state, we are self-serving, desiring lusts of the flesh, seeking temporal peace and security. All of these show the corrupt nature of mankind.

Yet, the Bible portrays our God is a God of mercy. He has restrained the evil because of His Goodness. Only by His design has mankind escaped the judgement that we well deserve. J. Edwards states it this way: "it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up."

Joel 2:13 "Turn unto the Lord your God, he is gracious and merciful ..." That very grace and mercy has provided an escape route to keep us from being engulfed by the flames of hell, which we so much deserve. Ephesians chapter two explains it all: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:4-6). The ultimate gift of Jesus Christ and sacrifice of our Heavenly Father's only son is the proof of the "exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (verse 7).

It is that grace and mercy which is extended to His people when they love Him with their heart, fear him with their soul, keep his commands, walk in his ways, follow his path, teach their children diligently. And, it is "the sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, which stays his rough wind..." J. Edwards, July 8 1741.

For this I am grateful!

"Be Ye Thankful" Colossians 3:15.

"Then shall the Earth yield her Increase"

It is only God, God alone who causes the earth to produce. The increase of the earth comes from the good hands of our loving, giving Heavenly Father. This summer (2011) we have experienced many extra hot days - weather from mid 90s to 100 degrees. Add the humidity index to that and the number increases. Just when it seems unbearable, with crackling grass underfoot and wilting plants to the right and left, the storm clouds gather and there's a downpour. The results: everything is fresh and green. That cloud is evidence of God's tender mercy, causing the dew and the rain to make our "earth yield her increase."

Looking at Psalm 67, we see how the blessings He gives affect so many areas of our lives! This very short Psalm has wonderful lessons for us to lean upon. Take a moment to read and meditate.

God be merciful unto us, and bless us
And cause His face to shine upon us;

That thy way may be known upon the earth,
Thy saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God;
Let all the people praise thee.

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
For thou shalt judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations upon the earth.

Let the people praise the, O God;
Let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase,
And God, even our own God, shall bless us

God shall bless us;
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

"I will give thee for a covenant of the people" Isaiah 49:8

Covenant: A binding and solemn agreement made by two or more individuals, parties. An agreement among members of a church to hold to points of doctrine, faith, practice. In theology, the promises made by God to man, as recorded in the Bible.

Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Our heavenly Father gave us a perfect Christ as the foremost expression of His love to worthless and fallen man. Jesus Christ through His spotless, sinless life redeemed us by His death on Calvary's cross.

God's promise was spoken as early as Genesis 3:15 "her seed shall bruise" the serpent who is seeking to destroy God's creation - man - Adam and Eve. His promise to overcome the worldly kingdom where Satan dwells is true. That happened when Jesus was given as the sacrificial lamb on the cross. Jesus kept the law perfectly, something man cannot do. Jesus, only Jesus, could be an acceptable gift to appease God's wrath and satisfy God's judgement. For this we can only be grateful for He keeps His covenant with His people.

"Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him" Job 22:27

Have you ever been preoccupied with a concern for a friend, family member or a future occasion so much so that you find yourself committing it to prayer constantly during your day? Does it seem to become an obsession? Our lips and thoughts are directed upward to heaven with our request ... "Please Lord, in earnest, I implore You..." Possibly we state: "Dear God may I ask that You ..." If those words have ever come from your mouth, hundreds of times, you are not alone.

The amazing fact is "He shall hear thee" Job 22:27.

More often than not, we are in a state of uncertainty, anxiety when this happens. Yet, in the midst of our personal turmoil, God hears us. When we feel abandoned or cast down, God is there to hear our voice and send comfort. It may be that direction is given. "the light shall shine upon thy ways" Job 22:28. Or maybe God will fortify us, provide support "thou shalt be built up" vs 23.

We can most certainly identify with these verses in Job. "There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble" Job 22:29.

"The Earth be Moved, The Moutains be Carried, The Waters Roar "

Psalm 46 pronounces an incredibly strong declaration: "God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble." These comforting words are exactly what we can cling to amidst the crisis in an uncertain world. March 11 brought the strongest earthquake ever to hit Japan, 9.0. The triple devastation of the earthquake, the subsequent tsunami then the nuclear turmoil has been unprecedented for that tiny island country in the Pacific. In such a small amount of time comparatively, Japan experienced the trembling movement of the earth; mountains falling through mudslides leveling communities; and the rushing, waves roaring upon the coastline, pulling villages out to sea. Yet, God speaks "The Lord of hosts is with us" Psalm 46:7.

The Sovereign Lord has all power over the elements of Nature. He uses them as He will whether He chooses to move kingdoms to desolation or mend them. Although many would not acknowledge God as Lord over the wind and the waters, surely Psalm 46 declare it to be true. It is solely God's choice to bring judgement or healing to the nations of this earth.

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

The Cold of Snow and the Servant

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. Proverbs 25:13

Proverbs 25:13 seems like an appropriate verse in the middle of winter. We Midwesterners don't think of snow as refreshing this time of year for its companions are freezing temperatures, heavy winds, sleet and slush, icy coatings all about! Yet, our Bible gives a different perspective. The analogy of the cold of snow to refreshing the soul is a good one and definitely deserves a bit more study. Those living in hotter locations, would so welcome an occasional cooling wind, chilling air and touch of snow, particularly if it should occur at harvest. It is simply refreshing to outdoor laborers after working through many days of heat, prevalent in sub tropical climates. Israel is on the Mediterranean and accustomed to the long, hot summers; warm, dry harvests; and shorter, rainy winters. It must be rare to have that light snowfall, totally unexpected; yet, this scene provides a picture of renewed energy.

A highlight of the verse would be to point us to a dependable messenger, not so much the weather. This faithful servant will carry the message -- fully trustworthy, completely reliable -- the master will have satisfaction that the information will come to its final destination. Could we be that messenger for our Lord and Savior. Could we carry the message of the sacrifice of Christ and His offering for our redemption from sin? Certainly that is an awesome responsibility: to live as though we carry the message and our lives show the work of Christ in that He gives us peace and hope for the future. May our Master say to us, "well done thou good and faithful servant" Matthew 25:23.