Merry Christmas Everyone!

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

- Isaiah 9:6

Nonsensical Sense

Photo courtesy by Ali Davies

 

Sometimes, there are things in life which make no sense, but require us to walk even when the way is not clear.  I realize that God does not let us do things that are of no sense to Him.  Now it makes sense to me: the beauty of faith and obedience.

Our Rock Eternal Gives Perfect Peace

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock Eternal.

- Isaiah 26: 3-4

Photo courtesy by spiritualinspiration.tumblr.com

 

This is another promise of God to those who trust Him.  Perfect peace He gives to those who stand firm, not wavering, in the Lord God.  When situations go rocky in life, trusting in the Lord is vital, and when we learn that God is in control despite the circumstances that are happening around us, we are not easily swayed by what we see that seem uncontrollable.  Trusting God who is the Rock Eternal is the wisest thing to do when uncontrollable situations are happening.  And when we do, we are kept safe in God's hands, and we will be in perfect peace in the Presence of our Lord God.  It is one thing to know this truth; it is another to experience this.

[Journal entry: March 14, 2012]

God's Tattoo

Photo courtesy by kimbonner.com

Do you know that God has a tattoo of your name?

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

- Isaiah 49:15-16

God would never forget His children. He would never forsake those who belong to Him.  Though we may, at times, feel God has forgotten or forsaken us, the truth is He never once had.

Instead of asking, "God, why have You forsaken me?" Ask yourself, "Have I forsaken and forgotten God?"  And usually, it's the latter that happens.

[Journal entry: September 30, 2011]

No Limits

God, where would I be if not for You? What would I have been doing if not for Your saving grace? Before You created the earth You thought of me.  Father God, I know my finite mind cannot contain Your greatness.  Father God, I know You are big. But how big are You? I cannot imagine. I cannot really fathom. :)

My own yardstick could not measure how big You are.  My yardstick could not measure how Sovereign You are. My own gauge could not measure or weigh Your power nor could I calculate the vastness of Your mercy and faithfulness.  And what about Your love?  I know that we could not exhaust it.  And Your forgiveness and grace?  Definitely it could not outnumber the grains of sand.

You are in a different league. You are YOU...You are God.

Father God, as I read through Isaiah 40 again, I am reminded of Your greatness and glory.  Your omnipotence cannot be compared to anything.

12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

17Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

22He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.  He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

28The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.

[Journal entry: October 12, 2011]

I'm Ending the Day by Claiming Promises

The Bible has hundreds of written promises.  God has promised His children and not one of them has ever failed.  God is faithful in keeping His promises.  So tonight, I will start and I will end this day in claiming His promises for my life.

I claim these promises in Jesus' name:

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Acts 16:31

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

1 Corinthians 2:9

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Jude 1:24

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.

Revelation 3:11

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Philippians 1:6

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.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

John 14:2

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 28:8

The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one.

Jeremiah 30:17

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declared the Lord, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

1 John 2:25

And this is what He promised us - even eternal life.

[Journal entry: October 6, 2011]

A Piece of Paper

It's 1:00 in the morning and I was in bed pondering about things in life. Suddenly, I got up and grabbed a piece of paper; nothing on it.  Then, I wrote "For God to do in my life" on top and signed it at the bottom.

Father God,

As I place my trust in You, fill this empty paper with what You have prepared for me.  You are in charge of my life.  My times are in Your hands.  I submit to You my plans, my desires, and my future.  I'm looking forward to Your surprises, Father! Amen.

Claiming these verses:

• "For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 
• No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. - 1 Cor 2:9
• As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:9

[Journal entry: October 9, 2010]