Beautiful Freedom

PATIENCE A LASTING VIRTUE By R. Albert Mohler, Jr. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Most of us recognize that patience is one of the cardinal Christian virtues – we’re just in no hurry to obtain it. Others just define patience as a delay in getting what we want. As Margaret Thatcher once famously remarked: “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” In today’s fast-paced society and self-centered culture, patience is quickly disappearing, even among Christians. Patience is not optional for the Christian. The apostle Paul repeatedly commanded Christians to demonstrate patience to each other. In fact, this is a critical test of Christian authenticity. True Christian character, the very evidence of regeneration, is seen in authentic patience. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul instructed the Ephesian Christians to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humilit

“Maturity in Christ should prepare and equip one for change, not debilitate him. Maturity in Christ, then, should lead to hope." ~ Adams This made me think a lot and is so true...think on this...biblically search it out. I believe the more we see Christ in our lives and put Him first the more we begin to put our lives in perspective and see what hope we have in the Lord.

I was listening to this song this morning on the way to work and it got me realizing that I serve an amazing God. I never have thought about it before but the song starts off with us, how he searches us, and knows us and loves us even when we fail. Then it goes on to say what the Lord has done for us despite who we are. He chose us before everything and our sin. He chose to save us and bring us in communion with the Lord for eternity. Not only did he do this for us, but he did it at His greatest suffering. It is something I think about, but today it hit me really hard, that at that moment in time on the cross, He was thinking of me and you and how much He loved us. At that moment He tore the veil and made a way for us to live in union with the Father. What sacrifice and love! I am forever changed because of this! Oh Lord You've searched me You know my ways Even when I fail You I know You love me Your holy presence Surrounding it In every season I know You love me You go

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17) In daily moments of life I hope to remember this! This is one of my most favorite verses. It speaks so much truth, but so much love. It makes me want to sit alone with the Lord and tune all else out and just soak in WHO HE IS! Let's not forget to take moments daily to do that!

C. H. Spurgeon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "God, my Maker, who giveth songs in the night."—Job 35:10. ANY man can sing in the day. When the cup is full, man draws inspiration from it. When wealth rolls in abundance around him, any man can praise the God who gives a plenteous harvest or sends home a loaded argosy. It is easy enough for an Aeolian harp to whisper music when the winds blow—the difficulty is for music to swell forth when no wind is stirring. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skilful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by—who sings from his heart. No man can make a song in the night of himself; he may attempt it, but he will find that a song in the night must be divinely inspired. Let all things go well, I can weave songs, fashioning them wherever I go out of the flowers that grow upon my path; but put me in a desert, where no green thing grows, and wherewit

I wanted to share with you something my Mother passes out to everyone and rightly so. It is a wonderful devotional by Sarah Young and I would recommend everyone owning one! Here are a few blurps from it. Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence. This Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the secret of My Presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am. Because I am your constant Companion, there should be a lightness to your step that is observable to others. Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am your burden-bearer. In the world you have trials and distress, but don't let them get you down. I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you. In Me you may have confident Peace. Psalm 31:19-20 (NASB); John 16:33 (AMP)

A.H. Strong said: "Christ is the originator and upholder of the universe...In him it consists, or holds together, from hour to hour. The steady will of Christ constitutes the law of the universe and makes it a cosmos instead of a chaos, just as his will brought it into being in the beginning." He...brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them missing. Isaiah 40:26 God constantly sustains His creation." He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else...For in Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:25,28 He supplies our food, we know that our times are in His hands and He cares about every moment of every day. We serve an amazing and sovereign God. As I was reminded today, there is nothing that compares to living in the moment by moments with Christ. We cannot do it on our own, because our plans will be frustrated, but with Him He works all things for Hi

I love this and wanted to share this with you! By: Winston Smith Biblically speaking, glory and shame are two things that couldn’t be more different. Shame is about defilement. We feel shame because of things we’ve done or had done to us that make us feel dirty, worthless, and afraid. Our instinct in shame is to cover up and hide. We beg not to be looked upon let alone touched. Glory, on the other hand, is about what is beautiful, good, and noble. Glorious things are proclaimed, shouted from rooftops, a cause for celebration. Glorious things are the things that beg to be spoken of and looked upon because they are so magnificent. But to the shamed, the glorious is off limits. The shamed don’t want to be seen by anyone, much less the glorious. Remember Isaiah’s experience of the Lord’s glory in the Temple? “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Is 6:5). For t

As I was meeting with my Exponent/Bible Study girls we began talking about the importance of continual obedience. We spoke of Moses' life as well as what it looks like for us today. Obedience is essential in our walk with the Lord. It is not for us to get something out of it, but it is because we love the Lord we walk in obedience. John 14:15 says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." Let us learn to walk in obedience continually! Here is one of my favorite things I have found on this topic from Andrew Murray 'He learned obedience.' - Heb. 5:8 The secret of true obedience-let me say at once what I believe it to be-is the clear and close personal relationship to God. All our attempts after full obedience will be failures until we get access to His abiding fellowship. It is God's holy presence, consciously abiding with us, that keeps us from disobeying Him. Defective obedience is always the result of a defective life. To rouse and spur on that de

"Called to be saints." 1 Corinthians 1:2 Thank God for the sight of all you have never yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not there yet by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the blows which must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to have the vision "batter'd to shape and use" by God? The batterings always come in commonplace ways and through commonplace people. There are times when we do know what God's purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends upon us, not upon God. If we prefer to loll on the mount and live in the memory of the vision, we will be of no use actually in the ordinary stuff of which human life is made up. We have to learn to live in reliance on what we saw in the vi

God calls us to do His work. This is His plan from before creation: Ephesians 1:4-2:10 Ephesians 1:4-2:10 (New International Version) 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[a] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— What does this mean? 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[b] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11In him we were also chosen,[c] having been predestined according to the plan of him

I was reading through one of my favorite books again called Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. There are a few things I wanted to share with you from the beginning of his book that have helped reform my thinking of God on a daily basis. "God's providence is His constant care for and His absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of His people. Again, note the absolute terms: constant care, absolute rule, all creation. Nothing, not even the smallest virus, escapes His care and control." "All people -- believers as well as unbelievers -- experience anxiety, frustration, heartache, and disappointment. Some suffer intense physical pain and catastrophic tragedies. But that which should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God; our suffering has meaning and purpose in God's eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives onl

The name of God is Jehovah - The name of God is Yahweh The name of God is Elohim - My Creator The name of God is El Elyon - Most High God (Sovereign Over All) The name of God is Adonai - My Lord, My Master The name of God is El Roi - God Who Sees The name of God is El Shaddai - God Almighty The name of God is Jehovah Ezer - The LORD our Helper The name of God is Jehovah Jireh - The LORD Will Provide The name of God is Jehovah Rapha - The LORD our Healer The name of God is Jehovah Roi - The Lord is My Shepherd The name of God is Jehovah Sabaoth - LORD of hosts (of armies) The name of God is Jehovah Mekeddeshem - LORD Who Sanctifies The name of God is Jehovah Nissi -The LORD Our Banner The name of God is Jehovah Rapha - LORD Who Heals The name of God is Jehovah Shalom - The LORD our Peace   The name of God is Jehovah Shammah - The LORD is There   This is MY GOD! I am getting to know the Lord more and more each day. Learning His names and character are vital. I have found