Trust That God Is In Charge

Job 37:1-7 KJV; God is in charge of the wind and rain. He is in charge of the snow. We do not control them. He does. Trust him in and through all storms of life for he loves you and does all things for the good of those who love him.

Snow, Be Thou On The Earth

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. (Job 37:5-6 KJV)

There are some things that we can control; like the many daily choices we make each day. That doesn't necessarily mean we can control the outcome though. There are also many things that we have absolutely no control over; like the snow and rain, even though it has been tried. Attempting to control things that God is in control over just makes for a mess.

God is God over all of the earth and all of the heavens. It is best to trust Him and quit working so hard to control things that were not meant for humankind to manage. We have enough that we can do in caring for the world around us without interfering in His plans and attempting to destroy the great things that He has done.

We can be stewards of His plan. But, He is the Lord over all things. God help us to remember that we are not in charge. He is.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Blot Out My Transgressions

1 John 1:8

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PSALM 51 KJV

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

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As we enter into the season of Lent let us remember that we are thoroughly unclean and that only by the blood of Jesus have we been cleansed from our sins. Thanks be to God they are thoroughly washed away by the blood of Jesus! 

It is not just during this season of penitence that we are to consider and repent of our sins; but, every day of our lives for we are sinners through and through and not one day goes by that we do not commit offenses against God. Let us rejoice for Christ alone has saved us from our sinful ways!

May God help us today and always to consider and understand how we betray and turn our backs on Him. May He open our lips so that we might praise Him for cleansing us of our sins by the blood of Jesus the Christ that we might be reconciled to Him and to one another in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

God Is In Charge

Snow, be thou on earth

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. (Job 37:5-6 KJV)

God is in charge. He has been from even before the beginning and will be forever. God, who can still even the snow and rain, can calm the hearts of any anxious person. Whatever He sees fit to do, He can do.

Let God be in charge. Quit trying to do everything and have everything your way. Only He can comprehend what is truly good for us so quit fighting His will and follow in the way that He would have you go.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Water And The Word

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

                                                                               (Isa 55:9-11 KJV)

Finally, a good storm! This spring has seen very little rain. The pond in my yard is looking pretty low. The little minnows have not had much chance to grow in such little space. The trees also have been looking pretty thirsty. Way too many of the Palm trees' fronds have turned brown. But; finally, we have a good rain!

Even as the waters come down encouraging growth and life so does the word that comes from the Lord. Listen to Him and grow in your life, living each day more fully in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

A Fresh Start; A New Day

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

                                                                                        (Eph 4:21-24 KJV)

In the northern regions the first snow fall brings a sense of newness; of a bright and fresh start. After a few months of all that snow and cold that sense of exhilaration tends to wear off. 

As Christians we begin our life in Christ fully exhilarated by this new relationship. But, with time, this exhilaration can wane if we are not diligent in staying in The Way he leads us in. It appears to be in our natures to take for granted and even get weary of those things and even relationships that we have been in for a long time.

If and when this happens be assured that there is a new start available to you every day. It might take a bit of self-discipline to say no to those things that would pull you away from life in Christ. Be assured, though, that Christ will renew your spirit when you ask. He will help you. He will renew your mind. Steep yourself in the word and in the Word who is Jesus the Christ and life will be full and satisfying once again. You will find peace no matter how horrible your life may seem at the time.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." 

                                                                                                  (Matt 7:7-8)

If you are in need of a fresh start then ask and you will receive it. Life is worth living when we are reconciled with Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Praise The Lord!

    

       Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for at his command they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
    old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
And he has raised up for his people a horn,
    the praise of all his faithful servants,
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

                                                           Psalm 148 (NIV)

All of God's creation praises the Lord! That is what this Psalm of David's reminds us. 

There are a few things that we have in common with all of His creation. For starters, the LORD created everything upon the earth and in the heavens above the earth. We are all God's creation. With creation, we bow down and praise the LORD!  With all of earthly creation and all the heavenly host, we praise the LORD!

Thanks be to God for His whole creation!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Storms Of Life

"God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’" Job 37:5-6 NIV

When storms break out and they do all of the time we often find ourselves angry or sad. Storms can do a lot of damage to what we perceive to be good. But, God has a better plan and sometimes the storms that are brought into our lives are God's way of cleansing our hearts and minds so that we are able to welcome the gracious gifts that He so desires to give us.

Do not fear the change that storms will bring. God's way is not our way. The great things that He does is beyond our understanding. Have patience and trust that He has good plan for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Born Again Through The Word Of God

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:23-25 NIV

Whenever I read these scripture verses, I imagine a hay field that has not been mown for many years. Wildflowers mingle among the swaying blades of mature; yet, dying hay. Come winter, it will all die. The snow will bury the entire field, grass and flowers alike. So it will be for all that has been born of perishable seed

But, for those who are born again, through the living Word, they will rise again. Death has no victory over all who abide in the Word, who is Jesus the Christ.

May God grant that you abide in His Word and His Word abide in you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Praise Ye The Lord!

"Praise the Lord from the earth,
     you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
    old men and children."
                                  Psalm 148:7-12 NIV

God is God of all of creation. He has made all things marvelously. Let us intentionally look around us today so that we might be better able to understand his awesome sovereignty; to grasp more firmly the reality of His gifts to humankind and all of creation. God, alone, is worthy to be praised. Let us all praise the Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J