Creation

Then the LORD God  formed a man from the dust of the ground  and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,  and the man became a living being.  Genesis 2:7
See this video, close to the handiwork of God but without the life.
Have you lost your breath?
Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28
JESUS CHRIST—THE CREATOR GOD

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley; Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

The Regions of God

The average man can understand reason

yet not get (compelled) beyond into expansion,

development, elaboration.

But with God

all things are possible.

Let’s be with God.

For Christ's love compels us.

God is love.

—

Mark 10:27 (NIV)

"Jesus looked at them and said,

'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.' "

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

"For Christ’s love compels us,

because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died."

In ‘A Table in the Wilderness’, Watchman Nee says...

It is true that “God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3), but alone in isolation man can never exercise it to the full, as the context of that verse makes clear. It needs a complete Body to attain to the stature of Christ and to display his glory. That is why fellowship in prayer is so important. Trusting the Lord by myself is good, but may not be enough. I must trust him also with others. I must learn to pray on the basis of oneness with my brethren in Christ, for only together shall we get through in prayer to God’s end. I need the help of the Body because I need the help of the Lord, and because his life is the life of the Body.

—

Yes, let's be with God.

For Christ's love compels us.

—

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (click)

Lamentations 3:22-24 (click)

Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love

and good deeds,"

Please read 1 John 5:1-13 (click)

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Messages for the Morning Watch

Click to read Messages for the Morning WatchWhen there, click on a page and it will turn.
This daily devotional teaches sound scriptural truths, such asthat there is only one kind of obedience: instant.
"In the selfsame day, as God had said unto him."-Genesis 17:23
That is the day to follow the example of Abraham,the selfsame day as God gives instruction.Procrastination robs God,and robs others and ourselves of God's blessing.
How do we receive God's instruction?
We cannot go through life strong and fresh on constant express trains with ten minutes for lunch: we must have quiet hours, secret places of the Most High, times of waiting upon the Lord, when we renew our strength and learn to mount up on wings as eagles, and then come back to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint.
The best thing about this stillness is, that it gives God a chance to work. "He that is entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works, even as God did from His; and when we cease from our thoughts, God's thoughts come into us; when we get still from our restless activity, "God worketh in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure," and we have but to work it out. -unknown author
And so, God's instruction is for you if you are willing to...
..."work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."-Philippians 2:12 KJV
..."being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."-Philippians 1:6
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."-2 Corinthians 9:8
"And we know that God causes all thingsto work together for good to those who love God,to those who are called according to His purpose."-Romans 8:28
"All the works of God are redemptive."-Pastor Edward Wood
Click here to read Romans 8:26-39...words of encouragement to keep our confidence in Christ,the solid Rock on whom alone we stand.

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Best Friends

Smile, exercise, eat healthy foods, rest well, spend time with your friends,especially your best friend.
Smile even when no-one else is looking,but smile most commonly and extraordinarily for your best friend.Exercise in the outdoors, enjoyed very much by your best friend.Eat a sensible, balanced diet of veggies and fruit,also some fish and some bread, like your best friend.Rest well in the knowledge that you are loved and cared forby your best friend.
Your best friend authored a book over a long period of time.The key topic is about friendship.In the book, this is what is said about your friendship with your best friend...
Greater love hath no man than this,that a man lay down his life for his friends.Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.-John 15:13-14 KJV



Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

He yielded up the love of life...

Have you heard this tale—the best of them all—The tale of the Holy and True,He dies, but His life, in untold soulsLives on in the world anew;His seed prevails, and is filling the earth,As the stars fill the sky above.He taught us to yield up the love of life,For the sake of the life of love.His death is our life, His loss is our gain;The joy for the tear, the peace for the pain.-Unknown Author


Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

In mystery our soul abides...

We cannot kindle when we will

The fire which in the heart resides;

The spirit bloweth and is still,

In mystery our soul abides.

But tasks in hours of insight will'd

Can be through hours of gloom fulfill'd.

(from Morality by Matthew Arnold, 1822-1888)

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed

to the things which we have heard,

lest at any time we should let them slip.

-Hebrews 2:1 KJV

God is never in a hurry

but spends years with those He expects to greatly use.

He never thinks the days of preparation

too long or too dull.

The hardest ingredient in suffering is often time. A short, sharp pang is easily borne, but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long, monotonous years, and day after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. ... We may not see now the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall say, "All things have worked together for good." Like Joseph, let us be more careful to learn all the lessons in the school of sorrow than we are anxious for the hour of deliverance. There is a "need-be" for every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance will surely come, and we shall find that we could not have stood in our place of higher service without the very things that were taught us in the ordeal. God is educating us for the future, for higher service and nobler blessings; and if we have the qualities that fit us for a throne, nothing can keep us from it when God's time has come. Don't steal tomorrow out of God's hands. Give God time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never too late; learn to wait. -selected

May we be willing, now, to do the (good) thing that lies nearest, in the love and grace and strength and power provided by God - being in His life (see Colossians 3:3) - and not even attempting it on our own, but depending upon Him for whatever we need to accomplish what He wants, the thing that lies nearest. May we not make this complicated. May we simply want what He wants and proceed on that basis alone; wanting the heart of Christ (for blessed are the poor in spirit), seeking to understand what is the mind of Christ (for those who seek will find Him who rewards them who seek Him diligently), and offering our bodies as living sacrifices...that every part of our physical being may be dedicated and devoted to the expression of His purpose for it.

For instance, what is His purpose for your eyes? Just now, you are reading these thoughts. In five minutes what will you do with your eyes? The thing nearest may be a child - whether naughty or nice - whose gaze connected to your gaze may receive the vision of Christ's love, which is certainly not found in many other places where the eyes of children may connect.

May our eyes convey that we consider how to encourage one another to love and good deeds, as Hebrews 10:24 instructs us to do. Open His book and see what is in it...absorb what is in it, for you, then be willing via your unique self to somehow communicate what you see, what you hear, on behalf of the One who loves you infinitely most. He will prompt you, in His time...He may surprise you. Be willing, be always ready. In the meantime, there is the thing that lies nearest - perhaps some duty of the day - and there is His immediate purpose for you. But be aware that this very thing may be interrupted by another thing or person. Now what is important to you? Do you love Him above and beyond your feelings, your busy-ness, your urgency? See your priorities continually in the light of discerning whether they are His, and keep your inner ear alert.

Jesus is the beloved risen Son of God...listen to Him. Begin with Him. Rest with Him, arise with Him, walk with Him, run with Him, connect with Him, keep on going with Him. With Him abide. In all things, even the little things, cause it to be about Him; be conscious of Him in your thoughts, words, actions, disposition. And be thankful to Him. If you practice Him, these things become like breathing. If your lungs are not used to Him, practice some deep breaths...hold...exhale. This expansion may even hurt a little (...perhaps your lungs are a bit crusty). But, persevere, His immensely great and healing love is in the air for you. Freely you receive, freely give.

Birds - February 14, 2010

Can you find the birds?

They were so quiet and plentiful;

they looked like leaves which the wind picked up

and moved from one resting place to another in a sudden gust.

Quietly so quietly

the small birds flutter by

and blend right in with background

turned upon a time...

Young lives are like that, flighting,

jumps and starts, some sky,

yet closest staying to background

as if it a watchful eye.

Up! Those with wings of Spirit!

Go with the Wind as high

as breath of Life will take you

above the lowland's light...

(There is a light to darkness,

seen differently at times;

but in the heavens, shined by Grace

soar those whose background...died.

A background, raw, gives comfort less

than when seemed perfect. Light

is dim under bandages.

But unbound a bird takes flight...)

Take flight!...make visible your Hope

to young lives, and old alike.

The Wind blows here, and over there

fluttering hearts and minds.

Young lives are giving treasures, rare

though plentiful, and quiet...

a card, hand-drawn, a smile, a prance...

rare fleeting chance to lift them higher.

Copyright (c) 02.14.10 - Linda L. Brown

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Eye Light

What the world has drained into the mind

through exposure

does not all disappear in an instant

when Christ is recognized Savior.

But the Word of God is strong and powerful—

Consistently looked into intently,

and received in practice as The Authority,

it will delete the images of former influences

bit by bit.

Vision fragmented by multiple world views

will become clear and direct.

Then again He laid His hands on his eyes;

and he looked intently and was restored,

and began to see everything clearly.

Mark 8:25 NASB

But one who looks intently at the perfect law,

the law of liberty, and abides by it,

not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer,

this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25 NASB

Pure and undefiled religion

in the sight of our God and Father is this:

to visit orphans and widows in their distress,

and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:27 NASB

And do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

so that you may prove what the will of God is,

that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NASB

Your eye is the lamp of your body.

When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light.

But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.

Luke 11:34

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

Ecclesiastes 11:7

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Psalm 19:8

(click the link below for words of hymn)

Take my life and let it be

consecrated, Lord, to Thee

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Sweet Fragrant Aroma

But thanks be to God,

who always leads us in His triumph in Christ,

and manifests through us the 

sweet aroma

of the knowledge of Him in every place.

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God

among those who are being saved

and among those who are perishing;

2 Corinthians 2:14,15 NASB

The love of God is expressedon the merits of His own nature,by what He has done;apart from our vain efforts to impressor to earn His favor.
Be thankful in His lovefreely given.Be led in His triumphby obedience.
...a fragrance of Christ to God!
This way His love is recognized
through you by others in distress,who will receive Him as you did,drawn by knowledge wafting highand low, where Jesus went.
The breath of rest by grace to savorwonder knows as peace and truth—In every place, the Savior's scent!Forgive, as you were.Give, as you were given to.
poem: Copyright (c) 05.31.09 - Linda L. Brown



Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers