June Caedmon's Blog, page 21

Inspired by . . . my times are in Thy hand

Inspired by . . . my times are in Thy hand
1 My times are in thy hand;my God, I wish them there;my life, my friends, my soul, I leaveentirely to thy care.

2 My times are in thy hand,whatever they may be;pleasing or painful, dark or bright,as best may seem to thee.

3 My times are in thy hand;why should I doubt or fear?My Father's hand will never causehis child a needless tear.

4 My times are in thy hand,Jesus the Crucified;those hands my cruel sins had piercedare now my guard and guide.
***
I don't know when it was, the last time I sang or heard these words from the 19th century hymn writer, William Freeman Lloyd but it is no surprise that the refrain has been playing itself in my mind these last few days.
In the midst of the current political and world climate, it is easy to become fearful, even afraid of what the future may hold.
Lately, I've been finding great comfort in the life of Daniel.
As a young man, Daniel was taken from his life in Jerusalem and carted off to Babylon to serve in the King's household. The book of Daniel, in the Old Testament, spans the next 60 or so years. Daniel was exiled, away from all that he held dear for the rest of his life.
Daniel saw many atrocities against man and endured countless attacks on his faith during his lifetime. He faced death many times, including one night in the lion's den.
Interestingly enough, the only time Daniel expresses fear is when he is in the presence of angelic beings. Daniel 10:7 is one example:

And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. (Dan 10:7-8)

So what does Daniel's life in Babylon have to do with us today?
Daniel was able to live his life in exile, not only live but thrive (Daniel 2 tells us that the King promoted Daniel to a high position and bestowed on him many rich gifts) because he believed, without a shadow of a doubt, that God is sovereign over all things.
Daniel's ability to face his accusers, to be compassionate to an evil king, and to write the book of Daniel as an encouragement to the Israelites was only possible because of his humble response to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
Daniel had peace because he understood that nothing happens outside of God's ultimate control. This Truth can be difficult to grasp. Firmly believing it, even when we don't understand, comes down to faith.
Faith is born when we bow our heads to Jesus as Lord but it takes flight when we begin believing God's word as Truth. [click to tweet]

The holy God of Israel, the LORD Who saves you, says: "I am the LORD your God, the One who wants to teach you for your own good and direct you in the way you should go. (Isa 48:17)

Spending time with Him and in His word will give us the assurance and peace we need to overcome the fears cultivated by a God-less view of world circumstances. [click to tweet]
Daniel believed having only visions of a victorious end. How much more should we, having experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit given by the risen Savior, believe in the hope that is set before us!
What will it take in your life for you to know that God reigns?
Shalom,

Sharing inspiration here:
#TellHisStory, Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement,
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Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments,
#DanceWithJesus; Imparting Grace

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 15:52

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 15:52

Time keeps marching on. Spring has tarried long this year for many of you. I wonder, do you wake up and feel like you've tumbled backward through a wardrobe into Narnia?

Fear not. Aslan IS come and spring will, too.

I'm excited to report that I've seen more monarchs already this year than all of last year put together!




This antelope horn milkweed hadn't even opened yet but this guy was doing his best!



There are more wildflowers blooming every day and the butterflies are everywhere!


American Lady and Gray Hairstreak on wild garlicWe had another new visitor to the front yard this week!



The Spotted Towhee!  My pictures are a little fuzzy as he was quite a distance away, hiding in the grass!



I was watching the Cardinals when I spotted his black head and said, "What's that!"



They are native to our area but are not usually seen at the feeders. I suspect this guy was just looking for something different for dinner!

There has been a lot of singing and chasing going on, which is typical for this time of year.



I have more than one pair of Cardinals. Although it is difficult to distinguish at times, the older male has more black feathers on his face. I'm trying to get good pics of all of them so I can get a real count. Is it two or three pair? I'm not sure.




While I was taking pictures of the monarch butterfly (above) the Eastern Bluebird swooped in to say hello. A little while later, a flock of cedar waxwings flew in, hiding in behind the new leaves of the tallow tree. They were gone before I could get a decent photo.

Never a dull moment!

The oak tree blossoms make for an interesting backdrop for our little "yard boss."




What are you seeing through your lens this week?
Have a wonder-filled week, friends!

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
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Inspired by . . . Winter's Blessing

Inspired by . . . Winter's Blessing

The long wait of winter. The patience of spring.

Why endure? and not just endure but find JOY and contentment in the waiting?

What is the blessing of winter? Of any dark, long season of waiting?



New Life.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17 NKJV)

*** 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3 NKJV)

Just as when we are born from our mother's womb, we continue to grow and mature after our spiritual birth as well.

Saved. Redeemed. Sanctified. Justified. Love. Faith.

These are all active verbs, working in the life of a believer.

God does not save us and then leave us alone. Beyond the amazing and incompressible saving grace of Christ's redemption is a relationship with the God of all creation. [click to tweet] A relationship that deepens as we pursue Him, even as He is pursuing us.

These seasons of waiting on God, often without understanding and sometimes with much pruning, are typically viewed as unfavorable trials.

Our culture has taught us that restfulness and waiting are negative and unproductive activities.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

However, in God's economy, rest is actually a command and waiting increases our faith and reaps a blessing.

While it's true that this world is not our home, God has so much more for us than just stoic endurance here on earth. [click to tweet]

Faith is forged in the silence of our spiritually dry seasons. When we walk as those who are blind and cling fiercely to the hand of the only One Who knows the way.

Our dependence on Him is no crutch. Rather, like the lost puzzle piece, it completes that part of our souls that hunger and yearn for something more.

And in His perfect timing, we emerge like diamonds reflecting His love in the summer sun.




Blessings,


Sharing inspiration here:
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Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement,
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Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments,
#DanceWithJesus; Imparting Grace

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 14:52

Inspired by . . .  Life thru My Lens 14:52

I hope you all had a wonderful, holy week last week. I was blessed to follow Christ's footsteps through His week. If you're interested in reading my thoughts you can find a link to each day's post on the right side-bar.

My front yard has been as entertaining as ever this week! 

For some reason, the Cardinals prefer our dog's water bowl over my beautiful new fountain. Once the repairs on my ancient birdbath are finished I will have a better option for them.





The hummer count is increasing daily! Once the ruby-throats start passing through things will get really interesting. 



Current "yard-boss"



This time of year, you never know what might be passing through. I spotted an unusual bird last week and was able to get enough pictures to make an ID.



It can be a bit challenging this time of year since so many birds are first-year or immature males.

I'm pretty sure this beauty is an immature yellow-rumped warbler (Audobon's).



The map shows them as a winter visitor. So this guy is likely heading north to the breeding grounds in Canada - maybe even as far north as Alaska! 

It's always fun to see a new bird! Think of all the fun I miss when I'm inside working at my desk!

My perennials are coming along nicely in the garden. And I finally got some annuals planted in the porch pots. Geraniums were my dad's favorite, so I always like to have some around. 




This year, I added creeping jenny to the pots on the railing.




What are you seeing through your lens this week?
Have a wonder-filled week, friends!



Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday

Inspired by . . . He Is Risen!

Inspired by . . .  He Is Risen!

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. (John 20:1-8NKJV)

***

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:29-31NKJV)

That you may believe.
Shalom,

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Saturday

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Saturday

Friday Night

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

Saturday

62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Today, let us grieve for what He suffered on our behalf. Let us grieve deeply and reverently, yet let us not grieve without hope. 

Because Sunday is coming . . . 

Shalom,

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Good Friday

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Good Friday


 

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless[e] I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:36-46NKJV)

Jesus spent the night before His death in the garden of Gethsemane praying with His disciples. Or rather He was praying, they were sleeping. The bread and wine had grounded their bodies, the late hour made their minds sluggish. They were completely unaware of the spiritual battle surrounding them.

Jesus is in anguish as He prays. So much so that Luke tells us His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

When considering this part of the narrative how often to we miss the obvious fact that Jesus' prayer was not answered. Or more precisely, God said 'no.'

Clearly an affirmative from God is not based on our level of faith or righteousness. 

In fact, Oswald Chambers suggests the opposite:

'The Lord, when He has given great faith, has been known to test it by long delays."

Was there ever any chance that Jesus' prayer would be answered in the affirmative? I shudder to think of such a possibility.

We see the evil in our world now and think how bad it is - where is God in the midst of all this pain?

And yet it is His very hand that is restraining evil - giving those whom He created time to choose life eternal with Him rather than to live in darkness.

"You know, too, about the restraining power which ensures that he (satan) will be revealed only at his appointed time, for already the secret forces of wickedness are at work, secret only for the present until the restraining hand is removed from the scene. Then he will be revealed, the wicked one whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the radiance of His presence." (2 Thess 2:6-8RE)

As Jesus knelt there in prayer, did He feel the ground tremor under the footsteps of the soldiers as they marched toward the garden? Did the man-Jesus fear the physical pain He knew He was about to endure, even as He submitted fully to His Father's will?

Let us not forget the significance of this truth: Jesus had a choice.

He chose to submit. He chose to die.

For you. For me.

Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish[f] by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. (Matthew 26:52-56NKJV)

 Shalom,





Sharing inspiration here:
#TellHisStory, Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement,
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Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments,
#DanceWithJesus; Imparting Grace

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Thursday

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Thursday



Maundy Thursday, as it is called. Maundy being from the Latin mandatum which means "commandment" and so named because of the new commandment Jesus gave to His disciples the night of His arrest.

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35 NKJV)

Before this, John describes for us a peculiar scene:

2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. (John 13:2-5 NKJV)

It's a story some of us know well and as the verses unfold we are next told of Jesus', slightly humorous, discourse with Peter. This can distract from one truth that has always impressed itself hard upon my heart.

Jesus washed the disciples' feet.

ALL of the disciples.

What did our Lord feel when He touched the feet of His betrayer? The grief and disappointment must have been great. Yet Jesus loved him still.

What did Judas feel when Jesus knelt at his feet? We don't know for sure, however, since verse two tells us that he had already decided to betray Jesus it is likely that all he felt was scorn. He really did not want to accept this "gift" from Jesus. At this point, he had nothing but contempt for this do-gooder Who had set Himself up as God's Son.

Do these words cause you to shake your head? Unable to understand how Judas could have acted as he did, having known Jesus in the flesh. Or does your heart burn within you because his actions shed light on the truth of your own sin against God?

We have all failed Him.

Some of us are strong and determined to do things on our own. We may believe in Him but we don't need His help.

Some of us say we are unworthy of the gift He so freely gives. So we will not accept it.

Both responses are rooted in sinful pride.
Yet, just as He loved Judas in his sin, He loves us in our pride.

Some of us find it very hard to reconcile this kind of love. The kind of love that loves an enemy. We feel it is wrong somehow. That justice is not served.

But justice is served through this kind of love.

Because of the cross.
God's love, His mercy, His grace, HE is greater than any other force in all of creation.
Judas wasn't present when Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He had loved them. But we have received this command and are without excuse.
When we obey, when we love others as He has loved us, we become a conduit for the greatest power in all of the universe.
Take this truth with you into the darkness of the next two days.
Because Sunday is coming.
Shalom,



Sharing inspiration here:
#TellHisStory, Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement,
Thoughtful Thursdays, #w2wwordfilledwednesday,
Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments,
#DanceWithJesus; Imparting Grace

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Wednesday

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Wednesday

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter, therefore, motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. It was night. (John 13:21-32NKJV)

***

By Wednesday of Holy Week, the conspiracy to kill Jesus is well underway. Judas' decision will give the religious leaders exactly what they need to make the arrest.

The last sentence in John's discourse says it all:

It was night.

There was a darkness in the heart of Judas that night. satan himself, we are told, entered into him.

Even with His foreknowledge, the betrayal of His friend must have been devastating to Jesus.

But Judas wasn't the only one. They all betrayed Him. Didn't they? Peter denied Him outright. The others all ran and hid, fearing for their lives.

They all betrayed Him in their own way. Didn't they?

Haven't we?

It is easy to look at Judas and judge him. Or look at Peter and judge him.

The truth is we have all betrayed Him in some way. All have denied Him at some point.

There is a night in all of our souls called sin.

But God.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8-10NKJV)

On Wednesday, the light begins to fade. Darker days are coming.

Will you be His disciple or will you be His executioner? There is no middle ground.

Shalom,






Sharing inspiration here:
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Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement,
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Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments,
#DanceWithJesus; Imparting Grace

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Tuesday

Inspired by . . . Holy Week: Tuesday

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. (John 12:20-26)

This passage of scripture has always been a little obscure for me. But with further study and prayer parts of it, at least, are becoming clear.

So here is the scene: Jesus is teaching, probably in one of the outer courts of the temple where anyone could come and listen to Him. And people do come. Jesus is surrounded, as He often was, by a throng of people. The scripture tells us that some who had come to listen were Gentiles (non-Jews). They apparently recognize Philip as one of Jesus' disciples and ask to see Jesus. Philip finds Andrew and they approach Jesus together and tell Him about the men who wish to see Him.

All very straightforward. You expect Jesus to answer their request. Either with a no, as He did to the Gentile woman in Mark 7 or a yes, perhaps praising their desire to come and worship God even though, as Gentiles, they would be shut out of most of the feasts, etc

Yet in true Godly fashion, meaning His ways are not our ways (!), Jesus does neither. In fact, He seems not to respond to the men's request at all. In truth, He does respond and when we shift our focus from looking for the human response to remembering Who Jesus is and why He came, His words become more clear.

These men may not have been Jews but they believed in God and had come to Jerusalem to worship Him. Travel in those days was no easy task. I think it's fair to assume that these men had to sacrifice to make the journey. They were not casual believers. 

They learned about Jesus and sought Him out. They desired to be acquainted with Him. In this way, and the way that they addressed Philip (Sir, in Greek kurios, a respectful title) they were showing Jesus honor.

Jesus responds by accepting that honor and foretelling of the honor that will be given Him and all who follow Him.

Can you imagine their joy upon hearing His words? To be accepted by Jesus and honored by the Father - as Gentiles it was far more than they could have hoped for!

John doesn't record their response most likely because Jesus is still speaking and a moment later a voice sounds from heaven! 

28 Father, glorify Your name.”Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

How is God's name to be glorified? By Jesus' death on the cross. 

Not only did Jesus conquer death, He redeemed (bought back) all men (Jews and Gentiles) to God. That is the great mystery revealed that Paul talks about in Ephesians 3.

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

As believers on this side of the cross, I think it may be hard for us to understand what it was like to believe and worship God and yet be shut out of the temple. No matter what they did, the Gentiles were forever unclean. 
The truth is, in that regard, nothing has changed.
No matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, we cannot fix or redeem our sin.
Only the blood of Christ can wash away our sins. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can we be reconciled (made right) with God.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us rejoice in this Good News that has glorified the Father and brought hope to all of mankind.


Shalom,





Sharing inspiration here:
#TellHisStory, Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement,
Thoughtful Thursdays, #w2wwordfilledwednesday,
Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments,
#DanceWithJesus; Imparting Grace