Posts

Image

Righteousness Comes From God

ADVENT ~ Day 3 December 2, 2009 Scripture Passage: READ Psalm 24:1-6 Who is worthy to approach the LORD? He is Sovereign. He is good. By His might, He created the heavens, the earth and all that it is within it. Time cannot encompass Him. There is nothing in all creation that can overpower Him. He is self-sustaining. He is majestic. He is holy. He is glorious. He is perfect. He is righteous. He is just. God is so awesome, so brilliant, so holy; and the magnitude of His righteousness is so pure and powerful, that the Bible says no man can see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:20)! In our Scripture reading today, we find King David, perfectly assessing the level of righteousness a person must possess, in order to approach God, and not die. “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.” ~ Psalm 24:4 Well, that leaves me out! And not just me, but everyone I’ve ever known or heard of! There is not one...
6 comments
Read more
Image

Introduction to Advent

Introduction to Advent by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts Copyright © 2009 by Mark D. Roberts When is Advent? Advent is a Christian season that lasts for about four weeks. It begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve, thus there is some variation in its length. (If you're unfamiliar with the idea of Christian seasons, you might find helpful a few pieces I've written: "Overview of the Christian Year," "The Colors of the Christian Year," and "The Christian Year and the Textures of Worship." I should mention that Eastern Orthodox Christians do not recognize Advent per se, but have a longer season that is rather like Advent. Their Nativity Fast begins in the middle of November and is a season for repentance and abstinence. In our secular American celebration of Christmas, the Christmas season (or Holiday season, ugh) begins in the weeks prior to Christmas Day. Generally, this season starts in early December, though retail...
6 comments
Read more

Just in case you're wondering....

...I'm still here ...still worshiping our Savior ...still seeking the Holy Spirit's counsel ...and still exalting the name of the LORD God Almighty for His faithfulness! I know I haven't updated everyone in a long time, but I really didn't feel that it was right to do so without first answering a very important question from one of my readers. And since I've been so ill, my mind has not been what it once used to be and I have so much "brain-fog" and trouble making sense of most things, I had been unable to respond to her, and was only able to post my response just last week. So, here's a quick update for those of you who have asked....and just so you know, I truly covet all your prayers, your encouraging comments and emails. You are all such beautiful blessings from God to me. The latest is that my blood is still having trouble keeping B12 in my system and no one knows why. So I still take shots (my darling husband gives them to me because I ...
4 comments
Read more
Image

God, Where Are You?

About four months ago, a reader emailed me a question. I'm delighted to finally be able to answer this very important question, but also very sad that it has taken me so long to do it. As most of you know, I've been quite ill for some time now and well, my thinking hasn't been clear enough, nor has time been made available to me, in order for me to give proper attention to this reader's question. But I trust our Lord God is sovereign and He has allowed all this time to pass for a reason. With this knowledge, and with the reader's permission to publicly post this answer (while leaving her identity anonymous, as requested), I move forward to one of the things that bring me great joy; exhorting brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ all the more as we see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:25). This answer will be saturated with Scripture, as God clearly states that He alone is qualified to answer on His behalf. So I choose to allow God's word to speak rather...
4 comments
Read more

What's In a Word?

Do words really matter? Does the true meaning of words really matter? Does it matter how we use words, when we say them, and to whom we attribute them? The Holy Spirit of God inspired King David to write: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD , my Rock and my Redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14 Our Savior Jesus Christ, when He was here, said: "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." ~ Matthew 12:36-37 It is apparent that according to God, words are very important; how we use them, what we mean by them, when we say them and to whom we attribute them. After all, it is also written in Scripture through the Apostle John that: "In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 Jesus Himself is the Word of God. God chose to r...
11 comments
Read more

A New Creature

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5 If the Word of God (Jesus) has not transformed you; be sure, the Word of God (Jesus) does not live within you. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ , he is a new creation . The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
3 comments
Read more

Back from the Mayo Clinic and...

...we found a little something...a parasitic infection, caused by the Giardia parasite. I was put on an antibiotic to clear up the infection. It is finished. :-) Now, I want to write only a short note on my current physical state, only to share with those who have been faithfully praying and have asked for an update. I left the Mayo Clinic a couple of weeks ago, not knowing much more about my declining health, why I was in the hospital this past June and why I have Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies. We did find out however, that I will need to continue with testings to discover the underlying causes of all these conditions, but it would take some time...by the process of elimination. :-) My doctors here will be working with my doctors at the Mayo Clinic since I can do most of the testing here and just have it mailed to the Mayo Clinic. Being able to be with my family is wonderful! And I'm so grateful to God for allowing all (or most...for now) testing to be done here! Ou...
8 comments
Read more

Unanswered Prayers

"When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to fix the blame on someone else. That is always a snare of Satan. You will find there is a reason which is a deep instruction to you, not to anyone else." ~ Oswald Chambers When we don't get everything we want here on earth; whether it be physical healing or physical, emotional, mental and even spiritual comforts, we must always remember that no man, nor anything in all creation can thwart God's perfect plans. Therefore, when we find ourselves in situations where God seemingly has not answered, or has provided us with an answer we did not desire, we must maintain in what we DO know with confidence, rather than give into the fears of speculation and appointing blame on one another. Instead, we, as children of the Most High God know for CERTAIN that God is good and His timing is impeccably perfect and we can never fully understand all of His awesome and lofty ways. With this knowledge, we can move out of our fe...
10 comments
Read more