abandoned to Christ.

I don't know about you, but often, when I read Scripture, I find myself in awe of the humble, compassionate and God-honoring responses and behaviors of the saints of old. I am often moved to repent after being exposed to the glaring truth that I would have never said or done the same things. Then I pray that the Lord would give me a more Christ-glorifying and genuinely loving heart that seeks God's will to be done and His name to be exalted instead of mine. This happened during my reading of the Word today. While I was reading in Numbers 14 (which I've read a million times before, but never saw it this way), I was stunned by verses 11-19 and my reading came to a screeching halt as I repented of the truth I was faced with: I would have never responded the same way if I were in Moses's sandals. If God would have told me He was fed up all the whining, complaining and rebellion of a group of people I was well-acquainted with and therefore was going to destroy them a...

The first week of April 2014, my darling husband Jim shared something on Facebook that really peaked my interest. He posted the Bible study, Scripture memory and reading methods of A.W. Pink. After reading it, I was a bit hesitant, but printed it out and desired to do the same. "In my early years I assiduously followed this threefold course: "First, I read through the entire Bible three times a year (eight chapters in the Old Testament, and two in the New Testament daily.) I steadily persevered in this for ten years, in order to familiarize myself with its contents, which can only be done by consecutive reading. "Second, I studied a portion of the Bible each week, concentrating for ten minutes (or more) each day on the same passage, pondering the order of it, the connection between each statement, seeking a definition of the important terms in it, looking up all the marginal references, being on the look-out for its typical significance.  "Third, I meditated ...

My Second Love  was written out of my love for God and for all my sisters in Christ whom the Lord has inspired to travel the road of biblical submission, so together we may raise our voices as one (Ex 24:3, Rom 15:6); giving praise, glory and honor only to Jesus our Supreme and First Love; enabling us to biblically honor our husbands as our Second Love. You can access these lessons by viewing the "Table of Contents" from the navigation menu on the left sidebar of the study's website at: www.mysecondlove.net . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Biblical submission is: A beautiful gift for your husband and a precious offering to God. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splen...

Yesterday we got to closely examine the first two verses of Romans 12:9-13. This amazing passage is filled with so much of God's goodness, trying to discuss it in one article is like trying to drink out of a fire hydrant—though you're thirst will be quenched, much of the rich nourishment will be wasted. Since a meal is best enjoyed when it can be savored, not when it's being shoved down your throat, we'll continue to take our time and cover only verse 11 today. "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." ~Romans 12:9-13 (ESV) Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit [or Spirit], serve the Lord.  I love how God uses two totally opposi...

What is "genuine Christian love"? Let's see how God defines it. "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." ~Romans 12:9-13 (ESV) Jesus said that it is by our love for one another that the world will know that we are His disciples (Jn 13:34-35). The Lord did not say, it is by our theology, doctrine, knowledge, memorization of Scripture, our "service" or ideas of what holy living is, that will be the evidence to the world that we are, in fact, His disciples , He said, it is by our love for one another...just as He has loved us. Let's break down each verse and examine our own hearts in the light of God's holy word so that we...

The tabernacle was the foreshadowing of our awesome Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who fulfilled the purpose of every element in the tabernacle. Jesus: Entered from the East Became the perfect Lamb of God as He sacrificed Himself for the salvation of our sinful souls so that we could enter into the court [Genesis 22:8, John 1:29, Revelation 5:2-14] Jesus washed our hands and feet [Psalm 24:3-4, Isaiah 52:7], allowing us to enter into the Holy Place He is the bread of Life, the Presence of God incarnate [John 6:31-35, 2 Corinthians 4:4] Jesus is the Light of the world [John 8:12] He is our holy intercessor and the pure aroma that is so pleasing to the Father [Hebrews 7:25-28] His body was the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place; when he died, when He was torn, Christ made a way for us to enter into the Holy of Holies [2 Corinthians 3:14-18, Hebrews 10:19-22] The top of the Ark of the Covenant is called the "mercy seat". God would meet wit...

What does it mean for us to "walk in love"? Does it mean that we should all walk around as if we were floating on cloud 9, filled with romantic and idealistic thoughts about our lives and relationships? What does it mean for us to be a "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."? Does it mean that we are to abstain from anything and everything that brings us pleasure; wear drab clothes and a permanent expression on our faces that tell the world how miserable we are being children of the Most High God, living in a sin infested world? Short answer to both these questions are assuredly in Christ - NO! When I read Ephesians 5:1-2, one of the first things that come to mind is the tabernacle and the altar of incense that was placed on the west side of the Holy Place, and stood in front of the curtain/veil of the Most Holy Place (or the Holy of Holies). The LORD said to Moses, "Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankince...

Before I share this teaching on how God created man in His image, I want to thank those of you who contacted me and let me know that you were praying for God to give me wisdom from Heaven. I cannot adequately express in words what it means to me that you would go before the throne of God on my behalf, for my edification and growth in the faith. You are more precious to me than you will ever know. Last week I was inspired by our Father God's Holy Spirit to make a Scripture-picture for our weekly WFW based on Psalm 23:3. And although I had read Psalm 23 in its entirety about a gazillion times (much like everyone else), God revealed to me that I needed to meditate on it once more...so I did. This passage is so familiar that even unbelievers know and chant it as if it were some holy rabbit's foot that will save them when they're scared or overwhelmed. And sadly, as a child of God, I've misunderstood this passage to mean only that - that God is with us in our times of tr...

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. ~ Psalm 23:3 One of the things I love most about God and His word is that He never gets old! He makes all things new, just like He's making me new every day! Like many of you, I've read Psalm 23 in its entirety, probably about a hundred fifty million times (as you know by now, I like using LARGE numbers ☺ ). But today, God showed me something new that I had never seen. Before today, I've always looked at this particular verse as looking to God for rest, my hiding place, my source of comfort when I am weary, discouraged or afraid. As I meditated on this Scripture today, I realized I didn't fully understand what the word restore means. This is what I found on Dictionary.com: restore v. 1) to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish: to restore order. 2) to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition, as a building, statue, or painting. 3) to bring b...

(this picture was taken by my husband during his tour in Iraq 2 years ago) " 'Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.' And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, 'I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a mind as this always , to fear Me and to keep all My commandments , that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!' " ~ Deuteronomy 5:25-29 (emphasis added) My sister-in-law has this fabulous plaque over her kitchen window. It says, "...

Welcome to Word-Filled Wednesdays! Amydeanne hosts this at 160 Acre Woods . Please visit her site to see others who've shared a Word from the Lord today to encourage you, bless you and exhort you to seek hard after our Heavenly Father! When I think I'm so smart and so spiritual, I know that's when I need to stop in my tracks and consider James 3:17-18. Wisdom from God is not the kind that tells another person "Sit down, shut up and listen to me because I'm more spiritually mature than you." According to James 3:14-15 although this kind of "wisdom" is spiritual, it's not from God, it's from the devil. YIKES! James 3:17-18 helps me to remember that my love needs to be genuine - that is, holding the other person's interest genuinely above my own before I ever counsel anyone. Not according to what I feel they need, but through prayer and by the power of the Holy Spirit, according to what God says they need. May you be blessed today as you pr...

What a wonderful Word for today! May you be blessed as you rest in God's Word and find restoration for your soul!

"And you said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man and man still live.' " "He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who 'do business in great waters', these see His 'wonders in the deep'. Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and loving-kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no oth...