Challenge for 2022

Approaching His Throne of Grace

9:00 AM

Girl with basket is a painting by Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen 

This was how I used to picture myself approaching God's throne. As a daughter weighted down by the cares of this world, ready to leave them at my Father's feet. Only if I'm honest, I didn't always leave them all there. Often I'd pick much of them back up and continue on my way once more. 

It must have broke my Father's heart for Him to see me pick them all back up and keep going just like I was. Didn't I trust Him? Or better yet, why didn't I trust Him with everything?

I believe the reason I continued to carry the weight of my worries is because I truly didn't know Who God was at that time! And if there are others like myself out there that find themselves anxiously worrying unnecessarily, who pray and immediately pick up their basket of burdens just as soon as they have prayed, I want us to pause for a bit this morning as we get set to study prayer during this month and focus on Who we are approaching. 


 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Not only is Jesus our Savior and Lord, Jesus is God's anointed High Priest, through whom we have been made fit to approach the awesome throne of God Most High. This means Christ's high priestly role is an eternal and continuous one.

He is our perfect Priest, who through His own sacrifice, has once and for all atoned for all our sins forever and ever. We've been sealed by His Holy Spirit which can't be rendered void. And our access to a Holy, Omnipotent, God has been sealed as well. 

Our Lord Jesus is the ultimate and final Word of God. He is the incarnate Word, who took upon Himself human flesh (John 1). And as our great, High Priest, He is forever interceding day and night for His Church. Jesus is the only Mediator between man and God. 

Imagine for a moment that Jesus, our Savior, not only died to pay for our sins and make a way for us to be with Him one day in paradise, but He is now interceding for us constantly before God! We need to remember this each time we seek to approach God's mercy seat. 

Beloved, Jesus is our righteous, Kinsman-Redeemer, who has become our Mediator. He was given the name that is above every name. He cannot fail! And all of us who have trusted in His death, burial, and resurrection, for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life, have been called to "hold fast our confession." (v.14) 

We are commanded to stand firm in our faith that:

  • Jesus is the Son of God, 
  • Jesus is our great High Priest,
  • Jesus has put away our sin forever by His death on the cross
  • Jesus' resurrection gives us the assurance of eternal life 
  • Jesus ascended into heaven so that one day we too will be with Him in heaven. 
  • Jesus is forever interceding on our behalf until we all make it home.

When we put it this way... Wow! No wonder we are exhorted by the writer of the book of Hebrews to hold fast to our confession! 

To take God at His word and boldly approach His throne of grace in order to leave our baskets of burdens there at His feet; trusting the One Who is able to make all grace abound to us! 

He waits to hear from you!

I pray this month's study on prayer will not only increase our faith, but our prayer life as well! Will you pray with me...

Father of my Lord Jesus Christ I come. With a grateful and repentant heart I come to my Rock, my Lord and my Redeemer who has made this all possible for me at this moment. 

I know that You shall listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lay my basket of burdens before you and lift up my hands towards your holy sanctuary. Lord, please give Your people strength ...

I want to praise You, Lord, for You have heard my cry for mercy. You alone are my strength and shield.; The One i will place my trust You with all my heart. You are my help, and my heart is filled with joy! Thank You, Lord Jesus for making a way for me. My heart is full to bursting with thanksgiving for simply loving me. Amen.


Blessings! 

sue

 



Awe & Wonder

Who Is Like You O Lord {Exodus 15:6-11}

4:24 PM




Monday Nov. 18, Exodus 15:6-11

Whenever I would read about the early Israelites, I used to feel a pang of jealousy. After all, they had God in their midst. They encountered first hand His wonders and signs. They were constantly in His presence as He both provided and traveled with them. Oh how I wished I too could have been on that journey. And so I never understood how when presented with the opportunity to actually hear God speak at Mt. Sinai, they turned away in fear. But that was before I experienced the worst thunderstorm I can remember.

 It was a warm September night and while sleeping, I was suddenly jolted awake by a thunder clap with such intensity it chilled me to my bones. The storm was directly overhead. The wind was raging as the rain beat against the house. Flashes of lightening lit up the sky and the thunder was nothing I had heard before. Each boom was louder than the last, leaving me trembling and filled with dread. As I anxiously waited for the storm to pass, I thought about those Israelites standing at Mt. Sinai. After two days spent consecrating themselves to receive God, “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.” (Ex. 20:16) Face to face with the awesomeness of God they were afraid. And as that terrible storm raged around me I too was afraid of the awesomeness of God, leading me to a new found appreciation for their fear and amazement.

Many are the attributes of God. He is our loving Father. Our Protector, Healer, Comforter, Savior, and Friend. Yet just as He has the gentleness of a Lamb, He also has the ferocity of a Lion. A mighty Warrior, none can stand against Him. He is the living God; Ruler and Creator of all things. He is Lord of lords, and King of kings. And after witnessing the strength of God’s righteous wrath against the Egyptians the Israelites declared, “Who is like You among the gods O Lord? Who is like You majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders.” (vs. 11) With His mighty right hand God  “shatters His enemies”.  In the greatness of His excellence He “overthrows those who rise up” against Him. He is all powerful, commanding over enemies, elements, and circumstances. He is glorious, holy, and none can compare.

Hebrews 12:28-29 reminds us that we must, “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Israel was privy to some pretty amazing miracles God performed on their behalf. A display of majesty, power, and holiness, proving that the Lord alone is worthy of our respect, worship, and faithfulness. As the storm rolled away that night, I thought about the complete fullness of God. Of how one day I would stand before the Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the End, the Maker of the lightening and thunder that scared me so. And as I laid my head on my pillow I was filled with both awe and wonder at the majesty of the Lord, and how in His magnificence He loved and redeemed a sinner like me!


Adoration

You Are My Son {Hebrews 1:1-13}

4:14 PM




Monday Nov. 11, Hebrews 1:1-13

Of the many beautiful ways Jesus is described in the Bible, this is one of my favorites, “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (vs. 3) Higher than the angels, Jesus radiates God’s glory like the rays of the sun radiate its light. As the Lord Himself, He is the perfect image of the Father, who after paying our sin debt on the Cross with His precious blood, now sits at His place of honor at the right hand of God. I love how when asked about Jesus, Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Jesus is God in the flesh. He is to be worshipped as Lord, praised as Creator, recognized as Ruler, and glorified as our only Savior.” Yet sadly, some say Jesus was a great teacher or a mighty prophet, but still just a man. But God says of Jesus, “You are My Son.” (vs. 5) Additionally not just His Son, but His “beloved Son”. (Matt. 3:17) And as Lord and Savior of my life, Jesus too is my beloved and the One whom I adore.

When I looked up the definition of adoration I found it to mean a respect, reverence, or devotion to a certain person, place, or thing.  It comes from the Latin word, adōrātiō, meaning to worship someone or something. That’s exactly how I feel about Jesus. I am devoted to worshipping Him, and the love I feel for the Lord makes my heart want to burst at the seams! Why do I love Jesus you ask? Oh let me count the ways! 

I love Jesus because He gave His life for mine. (Gal. 1:4) I owed a debt I could never pay. And because of my sin I was separated eternally from God, on the path to death and destruction. But Jesus came, and through His sacrificial death on the Cross, stamped my bill “paid in full.” My Savior reconciled me back to God, and washed away the filth of my sins with His precious blood.

I love Jesus because He first loved me. (1 John 4:19) If it wasn’t for the Lord I would never have experienced what it feels like to be loved unconditionally. Knowing every mistake I would make and how I would fail Him daily, even before I was born, Jesus still choose to make me His very own. (Eph. 1:4) His love is true and constant, and I can trust that He loves me just as much when I am at my worst as He does when I’m at my best.

I love Jesus because He is my friend. (John 15:15) No truer, more loyal, friend could I ever find than in Christ. He is my greatest Champion, who not only wants the very best for me, but also helps me to achieve it. He is always there when I need Him, sharing my joy in the good times and my tears in the bad. He is my comfort and my strength. He knows me better than I know myself, and is faithful like no other. 

Many are my reasons for loving Jesus, and these are but a few. And this amazing love I share with Him, He wants to share with you. Christ suffered scorn, hatred, brutality, torture, and Crucifixion, “for the joy set before Him.” (Heb. 12:2) And what is that joy? It’s you, me, and everyone who receives Him as Lord and Savior. So if you haven’t already, I implore you to open your heart to Jesus. Let His love and forgiveness wash through you and fill your heart with love, worship, and adoration! 



Deuteronomy

Priorities, What Are Yours? {Hebrews 11}

12:30 AM



Monday May 20

Hebrews 11

We all have priorities. Those things that are most important to us, our primary concerns. For some it may be family, career, or money. But as for Moses, his priority was to please God. The adopted son of an Egyptian princess, he had it all; fame, fortune, and power. But Moses refused to indulge in the trappings of his status instead, “choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God then to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” (vs. 25-26)

I look at all Moses willingly and obediently let go of to follow God, and I can’t help but look at myself. On my list of priorities, where is God? Is He first? Is He at least in the top ten? If I’m honest, there are days when He doesn’t even make the cut. In Deuteronomy 6:5 Moses gives us the command, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” I want to love God that way. And that means making it a priority to not just fit Him in, but making Him first and foremost in my life. How do I do that? By being purposeful and intentional in nurturing my relationship with the Lord.


If I’m not intentional, as soon as my eyes pop open my thoughts run away to all I have to do. I get stressed about not being able to fit 36 hours of work into 24, and so I hop out of bed anxious to get the day started. By the time evening rolls around I’m tired, ready to sleep, and have let the day slip away without a second thought to God. But when I purposefully start and end each day in prayer, set time aside, (even if only for a few minutes), to be alone with Him, and spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word, my relationship with the Lord is nurtured, and my feet, thoughts, and heart stay focused and planted on the path He has laid before me.

Ezra Taft Benson said, “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.”  Moses had it right. He made his obedience to God his first priority. He knew no earthly riches, nor anything this world offers could compare to the reward waiting for those who put their faith in the Lord. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34) God has blessed, and continues to bless me in many ways. And although I count among my treasures my family and friends, my greatest treasure of all is my relationship with the Lord. Never has He failed to make me a priority, and in thankfulness I will make it my priority to love and please Him. Will you? 


Active

The Other Helper {Hebrews 4}

12:00 AM


Monday April 1


Never once are we told that the life of a Christian will be easy. In fact God says just the opposite. “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12) Although it might be discouraging to hear that troubles will indeed come our way, Paul tells us it will all be worth it in the end saying, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18). And until that glorious day when He calls us home, God promises to help us every step of the way. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Is. 41:10) 

Many are the ways and forms in which God sends us help, and one of the most powerful is His Word. Not only does the Bible contain the history of creation, the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the wonderful promises of God, it is also a blueprint for life, giving us valuable advice and practical applications for any and all situations. The writer of Hebrews describes the Word of God as, “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul, and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (vs. 12) But what exactly does that mean?

Living-The Bible is the inspired Word given to us by our living God. It contains both the power of life and the power of transformation. Written centuries before, it is still relevant today and able to guide, counsel, comfort, and empower all who read it. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Active-The Word of God is not just profitable, but purposeful. It is intended to do things. Not only to make us more like Jesus, or a way in which God ministers to us, but also to achieve whatever God sends it to do. In Isaiah 55:11 God tells us , “My word which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” The Bible contains the power of God Himself and as such can create, destroy, or sustain all who hear and believe its message.

Sharp and Piercing-The Word of God, like a sword, is sharp enough to slice through our souls and spirits, piercing our hearts down to our innermost self. It is able to penetrate any stronghold, and has the power to not only convict, but to change. For God is the greatest of Surgeons, and uses His Word as a scalpel to cut out malignancies in our souls. As J. B. Lightfoot put it God’s Word, “heals most completely, where it wounds most deeply; and gives life there only, where first it has killed”. 

Able to Judge-The word of God is able to discern every area of our hearts and lives. What we hide from others, cannot be hidden from God. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “God sees not as a man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Every thought, every desire, and every sin is known by God. His Word is able to judge our thoughts and intentions, convict us of our sin, and bring to light any darkness within us. And if we let it, it will conform our hearts and minds to be aligned with God’s.

Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “I believe the Bible is the best book God has ever given to man. All the good of the Savior of the world is communicated to us through the Book”, and I couldn’t agree more. No matter what I’m going through, it is there. It is the first place I turn to when I am afraid, when I am weary, when I am lost, when I am happy, and most of all, when I want to be close to God. It fills me with joy, nurtures my soul, heals my wounds, and protects me from the Enemy’s attacks. As the psalmist says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (Ps. 119:105) So the next time you need help, turn to the Bible. More than just a book, it is God’s life preserver to all and instruction manual for life!


God's grace

Hebrews 4:16 ~ ~ God’s Grace and Mercy

12:00 AM

Saturday, March 23, 2019


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Hebrews 4:16...

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)

Let me begin with the difference between mercy and grace…

Mercy = God NOT punishing us as our sins deserve = deliverance from judgement
Grace = God’s blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it = extending kindness to the unworthy

Everyday we live is an act of God’s mercy. If God gave us what we deserved we’d be in hell for all eternity. As David cried out in Psalm 51…”Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love…” (Psalm 51)

Anything good that we experience is because of the grace of God. God gives us good things that we do not deserve and could never earn. Grace from God is given to everyone, however saving grace is available only through Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, through His grace we are saved and through His mercy we are delivered from eternal judgement. By His grace we are gifted with an abundant life, a forgiveness of sins and an eternity with Him in Heaven.

Show God everyday, through your worship, how amazing He is and how thankful you are!

Have a blessed day and week everyone!


baton

Passing the Baton {Hebrew 12-13}

12:00 AM



Both my husband and son ran track in high school, and I’ve always loved to watch them run! I especially loved watching the relay races at the end of the meets, when each team would take the top four runners to compete. This was a team effort and not so much an individual one, for even then, the fastest runners weren’t guaranteed a victory if one failed to pass off the baton correctly.

As much as I love track, I never noticed that chapters 11 and 12 in the book of Hebrews was likened to a relay where one generation is passing the baton to the next. Notice,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. — Hebrews 12:1-2
There are 3 Keys to running a great race found in these two verses!
1.) We get our start in the race of life by remembering that we’re not alone:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…” -Hebrews 12:1a

Does it comfort you to know we’re not the only ones to take this journey? Others have traveled this way before, as Hebrews 11 talks about. Their example gives us encouragement, but what really encourages me is to know that not one of those named in the “hall of faith” ran a perfect race, and neither will we.

We'll find runners today in our local churches that we’re meant to take this journey with, and we’re much stronger when we do, for seeing such courageous examples around us can give us the courage we need to charge ahead. Paul knew that when he wrote to the church in Corinth,

“For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” -1 Corinthians 4:17

We may also be called upon to be that "Timothy" in other's lives!

2.) The second key is to “… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” - Hebrews 12:1b

Runners today wear as light of clothing as possible. I know my boys wouldn’t even wear socks in their running shoes and one of the runners on my son’s team didn’t even like to wear shoes!

Our race isn’t much different. We can’t run very well if we’re carrying lots of baggage. Those things that seem so satisfying in the moment can take our eyes off the prize. It’s best to let go of all the excess baggage as we set off, or as soon as you realize you’re carrying it along!

Jesus told us in John 14, “If you love Me you’ll keep My commands…” knowing He didn’t give us those commands to trap us, but to free us to run a great race. Which brings us to our third and final key found in these verses

3.) Look to Jesus,  
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:2

We may glance at the witnesses around us at time and be careful to get rid of the things that weigh us down, but the best encouragement is in the prize that’s waiting for all of us who choose this journey (race).

Paul also wrote about this journey, and the prize that is waiting for all those who choose this course, to the Philippian church. In it, he shared his greatest desire which also happens to be my life verse, “My determined purpose is this, that I may know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him even in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” -Philippians 3:10–11

The great news for us today is, it doesn’t matter where you are, or how far along you are in your race, you can start right where you are! Notice,

 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (emphasis mine)

Does it comfort you to know that even at this time in Paul’s life he was still pressing forward to gain the prize? It does me.  As each of us run and keep our eyes on Jesus, God will continue His works in us, making us more and more like His Son; until He bring us to our long-awaited reward.

My prayer for you today is:
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in [you] what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. — Hebrews 13:20-21

Blessings! 
sue



Forgiveness

God Forgives And Forgets {Hebrews 7:1-9:28}

11:27 PM




“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you”....Lewis B. Smedes

At its very heart, the message of the gospel is forgiveness. We are all born into sin and enemies of God, yet because of His unequaled love for us, from the beginning the Lord provided the way to forgiveness. First with the old covenant of blood sacrifices, to the most wonderful new covenant with the sacrifice of Jesus. And the forgiveness He so graciously extends to us He wants us to extend to others. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:32) I don’t know how many times I read that verse before it finally sunk in that the “others” God wants me to be kind, tender hearted, and forgiving to included myself. 

“For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (vs. 8:12) I have always been my own worst critic. Quick to forgive anyone, but not myself. First to speak a kind word to another, saving the harshest words in speaking to myself. Able to put the mistakes of others in the past, yet putting each of mine on a movie wheel that continuously plays in my head. God says that when we both confess and repent of our sins He not only forgives, He forgets. He wipes the slate clean. He clears the history. He destroys the evidence. He removes our sin from us, “as far as the east is from the west.” (Ps. 103:12). He remembers no more. So if God doesn’t remember, why can’t I forget? 

Two of the of the greatest weapons Satan has in his armory are guilt and shame, and he wields them generously. He whose name means Accuser does just that, whispering in our ears that we are unclean, unforgivable, unworthy, and unloved. He delights in reminding us of our past sins and tries to inject our hearts with feelings of doubts about God’s truth and love. And when we give him even an inch of opening, he takes full advantage turning that inch into a mile; taking up residence and building destructive strongholds in our minds. But He is a deceiver and not to be believed for, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) 

I love the quote by C.S. Lewis that says, “I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.” I hadn’t before considered that not forgiving myself was considered sin by God. John tells us, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9), Luke tells us, “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” (Acts.13:38) To doubt the truth of these words is to call God a liar and His promises untrue. Jesus while hanging on the Cross says with His final breath, “It is finished!” (John 19:39) The Lord declared all of our sins, past, present, and future, paid in full; forgiven forever. Because of His shed blood we are deemed righteous, and to think otherwise is to sinfully diminish His great sacrifice.

Knowing in your mind that you are forgiven is one thing, feeling it in your heart is another. But I once read that forgiveness takes place in the heart of God, not in our feelings. And God says that through faith in Jesus, and with confession and repentance, our sins are forgiven and forgotten. Our Father doesn’t want us dwelling on our past mistakes, stuck in a prison of guilt and shame. He wants us dwelling in His presence enjoying the victory of His peace, love and forgiveness. So the next time you find yourself listening to the lies of the Adversary, remember that you are forgiven by God. Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving of yourself. And when we joyfully forgive and forget, we can like David sing, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him." (Ps. 32:1-2)



Faith

Scripture Saturday~Faith

12:00 AM

Saturday, December 8, 2018



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Hebrews 11:1...

 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

Endurance

Running With Endurance {Hebrews 12}

12:00 AM

Running With Endurance { Hebrews 12 }


Life is hard. There are no two ways about it. The Bible refers to life as a race. And in the running of this race, we encounter hurdles of trials along the track. When we hit those curves in life, the Lord calls us to dig our heels deep into our faith, keep our eyes on Him, and patiently endure to the end.

Hebrews chapter 12 begins with, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (v. 1) In the previous chapter, we are told of many great saints who have gone to be with the Lord. Saints who ran their races with faith and perseverance, and who inspire us all to do the same. Saints we can draw strength from when our run becomes difficult. They encourage each step we take that brings us closer to victory. I like to imagine a great grandstand filled with believers cheering me on, with my Grandma waving the biggest flag. 

And like those saints, we too can win the race set before us. But winning means letting go. Letting go of things in our lives that hinder our relationship with God. Sin weighs us down, slows our pace, and keeps us in bondage. It places our focus elsewhere when our eyes should be fixed on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (v. 2) Jesus, our perfect example, endured torture, pain, sorrow, rejection, and betrayal. He despised the shame of being publicly crucified, yet He did so willingly for the joy of fulfilling the will of the Father, and the greatness of His reward. During the toughest times of our race, when we've hit a wall and can't go one step further, remembering Jesus’ sacrifice gives us our second wind so that we don't, “grow weary and lose heart.” (v. 3)

We know that nothing in our lives happens without God’s permission. The difficulty He allows to enter is meant to train, strengthen, test, and often times, discipline us. And although no one likes to be disciplined, we can find comfort knowing that, “whom the Lord loves, He disciplines”.  (v. 6) God wants the very best for us and His discipline leads us to repentance and complete dependency on Him, which in turn results in great blessings. For verse 11 promises, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” “Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness. He disciplines us because He loves us, and He wants us to experience abundant Christian life.” (Dr. Charles Stanley) 

James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” Trials bring with them the opportunity to grow in maturity and to become more like Jesus. We are like diamonds in the rough, and each fire we successfully walk through in faith polishes us a little more, until we shine like the brilliant gems we are meant to be. God promises to never give us more than we can handle. And trusting Him provides us with the endurance to run our race with joy, knowing that He’ll be at the finish line waiting to receive us into His loving arms.


The Race of A Lifetime
                       
The race we are running,
is the race of a lifetime
we must run it well . . .
or else we’ll be left behind.
If we’re going to succeed,
we must run it to win
the only way to victory
is to run away from sin.
For Satan is on the chase,
after our souls, he is gunning
we must be sure from him
to always keep on running.
We need to stay focused,
on the goal that is ahead
we must be sober and alert
so we can be Spirit lead.
It’s a race of endurance,
not one of swiftness or speed
we must depend on God . . .
for the stamina that we need!
.....Deborah Ann

Angie Benjamin

Assurance and Anticipation {Hebrews 11}

7:28 AM



Hebrews 11 is often called the faith chapter…It describes the Faith Hall of Fame. It lists people responded in faith to what God had promised. Their lives and their stories encourage us to have faith in our lives and struggles, too.

A simple definition of faith is given in verse 1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Two words describe faith: Sure and certain

The beginning point of faith is believing in God’s character: HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? – Number 23:19

 Secondly, is believing in God’s promises: HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. FAITH means believing and acting on something we cannot see. – Philippians 1:6

It is only when we believe that God will fulfil his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, that we demonstrate true faith.

Creation itself shows that just because something can’t be seen, doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. The author does not say that God made everything out of nothing— he only says that he made the visible out of the invisible; that is the specific contrast he wants to make.

 Our future is based not on what we see today, but on something we do not see: God.



Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Believing in God is just the beginning, even demons believe in Him (James 2:19,20)…God will not just settle for mere acknowledgement of his existence. He wants our faith to lead to a personal and dynamic relationship with Him.

There are many stories mentioned or alluded to in these verses. We see Cain and Abel, Abraham, Sarah, Noah and many prophets not mentioned individually by name.
Which one is your favourite story and how can you relate to that particular character?

After all these great stories of faith verse 39 tells us that these individuals never received the promise in a physical way. That promise was the future birth of the Redeemer Saviour and Messiah Jesus Christ. They did not see the day of His coming. However, their faith in that promised Redeemer was counted for their salvation. Their faith was in something they never saw, but that does not mean that their faith was in vain. They believed God for something He promised.

The Bible tells us we must be like children to enter the kingdom of God, I believe faith is similar to the excitement and anxiety prior a birthday. We know we will definitely receive gifts and other special treats…some of the things would be a surprise. Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation, and so does faith!! Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprises will surely be ours!

Remain strong and encouraged!
Enjoy your weekend!



Angie

Adoration

Accept No Imitations {Hebrews 9}

12:00 AM

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? I haven’t. I’ve only seen pictures like this one, but others who have been, tell me that photographs can’t begin to do it justice; it’s something you have to see and experience yourself to truly appreciate it. That’s sort of what’s going on here in chapter 9 of Hebrews.   

The articles the author of Hebrews describes in these verses were considered the holiest objects of the Jewish faith. If these articles were discovered today they would be considered priceless archaeological treasures by today’s standards. But here, in this chapter, the author calls them all just an illustration (v. 9), carrying out mere external obligations (v. 10). 

What’s more, not everyone was free to enter the Holy of Holies where God dwelt. When Jesus died, He tore the curtain that separated the entire world from the Most Holy Place and He completed the ceremonial sacrifices once and for all. 

Throughout this book the author continues driving home the same message, which is: all that the Jewish faith treasured; the holy objects and rituals, amazing as they all were, were never sufficient to clear ones conscience or cleanse the stain of sin once and for all (v. 9).
Christ's role as our high priest is spelled out in the book of Hebrews 4:14 to 10:18.  He is the sinless Son of God! He is our compassionate Mediator before God the Father:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. -Hebrews 4:15
No other book of the Bible so powerfully speaks of Jesus’ supremacy. Throughout Hebrews, the author continues to compare Jesus to the heroes of the Jewish faith. With each hero playing his part well, but still not able to compare to Christ Jesus! His sacrifice, His covenant, and His current ministry are far, far greater than anything the others have had to offer.
Jesus is greater than the angels, because He is the divine King (Heb 1:4, 6, 8).
Jesus is greater than Moses, because while Moses was a servant of God, Jesus is the Son of God (Heb 3:3–4).
Jesus is greater than Joshua, because Jesus brings a greater rest to the people of God (Heb 4:8–9).
Jesus is a greater priest than Aaron, because He is sinless and immortal (Heb 7:26–28).

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing our eternal redemption." - Hebrews 9:11-12
 
The more I’ve read and researched,
·         The more I wanted to stop and just worship Him.
·         The more I also felt compelled to stop and examine my own walk and how I fall so short of such a holy God and all that He has done on my behalf.

I believe the author of Hebrews, whoever he might be, has done exactly what he set out to do and did it well. There is so much more we could say, but let’s spend the rest of our time worshiping Him and making sure we have accepted the gift He has given us.
Have you given all of yourself to Jesus?

This song by Hillsong United and sung by, Kari Jobe seemed to fit with our study today. Enjoy!