June Caedmon's Blog, page 51

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 17, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . Day 16: His Character, Omniscient

God is Omniscient

OMNIS'CIENT, a. Having universal knowledge or knowledge of all things; infinitely knowing; all-seeing; as the omniscient God.

On day five we looked at God’s character, omnipotent, and took comfort in the fact that God is all-powerful. Today we see that He is not only all-powerful, but He is all-knowing. His knowledge encompasses every possible thing that exists, has ever existed, or ever will exist. Nothing is a mystery to Him.

O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Psa 139:1-6

That last line, such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it, expresses perfectly how I feel when I think about God Omniscient. As I ponder this Truth I can literally feel myself becoming dumb. Both in the mind and in the mouth. I have no hope of understanding. I can’t explain why we mortals, mere vapors in light of a

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 16, 2015 05:57

Inspired by . . . Day 15: His Character, Self-sufficient

God is Self-Sufficient

All things are God’s to give, and all that is given is given by Him. He can receive nothing that He has not already given us.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed His offspring.' Act 17:24-28

Paul makes it clear when speaking to the crowd in Athens that God is the giver of all things. I love this passage in James:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Jas 1:17

God doesn’t need us. Yes, He created us and does great and wonderful things for us and through us. But if you’re standing at the door in church, or kneeling in the dirt in Haiti, or writing that check instead of going to Disneyland this Christmas thinking that you’re doing something great for God, then you’ve got it wrong.

Rather our mindset should be one of worship and gratitude that He allows us to participate in His amazing story. We are the ones who benefit from obedience. God will accomplish His will, with or without our participation.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Rom 12:1

We all begin with good intentions. But as we walk the walk, day after day, it’s easy to lose sight of the cross. Let us never forget, we were bought with a price.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1Cor 6:19-20

Being self-sufficient doesn’t mean that God doesn’t delight in our offerings. Even our simple prayers, when offered in love, are a sweet smelling aroma to Him. Those of you with children can understand this, I’m sure. How many times has your child given you something, made by their tiny hands? It was nothing you needed. Or maybe they even wrapped up something that you had given them and gave it back to you! How did you feel? God feels the same.

God wants us to love Him. And He delights when He sees us walking in the Truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3Jn 1:4

Lord, everything is from Your hand.

The very air we breathe, our minds, every

good and perfect gift comes from You.

The bird song we hear, the sun warm upon our faces,

the coolness at the close of day.

Everything we delight in - - is a gift from You.

You need nothing from us, yet Your greatest

wish is for us to spend eternity in Your presence.

We are humbled by this truth.

We love You, Lord.

In Jesus name,

Amen,

Sharing inspiration here:

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Only the sovereign purposes of God restrict our prayers.

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 15, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . Day 14: His Name, Jehovah-rapha

Jehovah-rapha

The LORD that healeth thee

râphâ' râphâh
raw-faw', raw-faw'
A primitive root; properly to mend (by stitching), that is, (figuratively) to cure: - cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole.

In the Greek:

ἰάομαι
iaomai
ee-ah'-om-ahee
Middle voice of apparently a primary verb; to cure (literally or figuratively): - heal, make whole.

Jehovah-rapha has always been one of my favorite names of God. It’s meaning, it’s Truth, is so deep and varied. You can hardly get through a chapter in the bible without reading some form of the word healed. Healer is such an integral part of Who God IS. You may notice, though, that we often have a part to play in the healing process. Many of the promises begin with “if” and then end with God’s promise of healing. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a good example:

If My people, which are called by My name,

shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek My face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The OT in particular has many references to God healing the nation and the land. Why? Because again, and again the nation of Israel turned away from God and slipped into despair and immorality. We aren’t the nation of Israel, but we are His people, and we would do well to read His word and take heed of the lessons it contains.

The Psalms embody the cry of our hearts. When our hearts become battered and torn, we naturally cry out to God. He responds. He heals our broken hearts with the consolations of His Spirit. He whispers peace, calm assurances and sweet words of reconciliation.

He healeth the broken in heart,

and bindeth up their wounds. Psa 147:3

God is also the Great Physician. He heals our physical bodies. Time after time in the NT we read of Jesus healing someone. Jesus no longer walks among us as a man, but I believe He still heals.

Is any sick among you?

let him call for the elders of the church;

and let them pray over him,

anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,

and the Lord shall raise him up;

and if he have committed sins,

they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another,

and pray one for another,

that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of

a righteous man availeth much.
Jas 5:14-16

I do believe that faith has a part in healing.

But I do NOT believe that if we pray for healing and do not receive it, that it is because we lack faith. When we don’t receive something we pray for, it’s because God has something BETTER for us, Beloved. I feel a little awkward writing this, when so many are suffering so much. But this isn’t my personal opinion. It is Truth. I pray that you will not only hear my heart in this, Beloved, but more importantly, that you will hear God’s.

Finally, and most importantly, God heals our sinful state of brokenness. God alone provides the remedy for mankind’s brokenness through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the physical, moral, and spiritual remedy for all people.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;

and with His stripes we are healed. Isa 53:5

Once we are healed in this way, this most vital way, we can face anything, because we no longer face it alone. We have the power of God {His Spirit} working in and through us, and not only that, but He is also working for us.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit,

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to His purpose.
Rom 8:26-28

Jehovah-rapha, sovereign God, we repent of our sin

before You and ask that You cleanse us of all

unrighteousness. We pray, in faith, for healing

of hearts, minds and bodies, where it is Your

will to heal. And where it is not Your will,

Lord, we pray for comfort, for acceptance

and for the grace to endure.

In Jesus name,

Amen,

Sharing inspiration here:

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 14, 2015 05:00

Inspired by , . . Day 13: His Name, Jehovah- Tsidkenu

Jehovah-Tsidkenu

The LORD our Righteousness

tsedeq
tseh'-dek
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity: - X even, (X that which is altogether) just (-ice), ([un-]) right (-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).

This word, taken from the root, tsâdaq / tsaw-dak', which means to be (causatively make) right (in a moral or forensic sense): - cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just (-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be, turn to) righteous (-ness) takes us one step deeper into the depths of God’s character from our look yesterday at

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 13, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . Day 12: His Name, El Shophet

El Shophet

God is a Just Judge

shâphaṭ
shaw-fat'
A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively): - + avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge (-ment), X needs, plead, reason, rule.

He calls to the heavens above and to the earth,

that He may judge His people:

"Gather to Me My faithful ones,

who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!"

The heavens declare His righteousness,

for God Himself is judge! Selah.
Psa 50:4-6

For those of us who are aware of our sinful nature, this name of God may not bring much comfort . . . until we remember Romans 8:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in

Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Rom 8:1-2

With this Truth firmly in mind, we can find great comfort and assurance in El Shophet. Our God is a just and righteous judge.

God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psa 7:11

You might read Psalm 7:11 and feel as Asaph did, when he expressed in Psalm 73, verse 11-12 “Does the

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 12, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . Day 11: His Name, El Elyon

El Elyon “The Most High God”

‛elyôn
el-yone'
an elevation, that is, (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the Supreme: - (Most, on) high (-er, -est), upper (-most).

This name of God stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy. Like the transcendent character of God, it illustrates His position.

I will be glad and rejoice in Thee:

I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou most High. Psa 9:2

God is Transcendent

TRANSCEND'ENT, a. [L. transcendens.] Very excellent; superior or supreme in excellence; surpassing others; as transcendent worth; transcendent valor.

In the OT the word excellent, or excellence is used most often to describe this character of God.

Let them praise the name of the LORD:

for His name alone is excellent;

His glory is above the earth and heaven. Psa 148:13

The Hebrew word is:

śâgab
saw-gab'
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) lofty, especially inaccessible; by implication safe, strong; used literally and figuratively: - defend, exalt, be excellent, (be, set on) high, lofty, be safe, set up (on high), be too strong.

I can remember one particularly clear and cold night in Vermont. There was no moon. The little hamlet where we lived had no street lights, no Wal-Mart parking lot lights to illuminate the sky. It was very dark.

As I stepped outside, presumably to say goodbye to some company that was late in leaving - - those details are gone from my memory - - I remember gasping as my eyes were drawn heavenward.

The stars were so bright and clear that one felt able to reach up and touch them. There was almost more white light than black sky, so abundant were the stars.

Of course, they are always there, the stars, we just can’t see all of them with our short-sighted, naked eyes.

God is above the stars. He is beyond our galaxy and the millions of other galaxies that we now know exist. The more we see and learn of space, the smaller we become, and larger God becomes.

God is not simply the highest in an order of beings. This would grant Him eminence, but He is more than eminent. He is transcendent - - existing above and beyond the created universe.

The LORD is high above all nations,

and His glory above the heavens.

Who is like unto the LORD our God, Who dwelleth on high,

Who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
Psa 113:4-6

The challenge here is not to let this Truth of God make Him feel distant and unapproachable. His ways may be higher than ours, as Isaiah 55 reminds us, but Paul makes it clear in Acts 17 that God is very near to each one of us.

And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,

having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

that they should seek God,

and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him.

Y et He is actually not far from each one of us, for

"'In Him we live and move and have our being'; Act 17:26-28

Rather than feeling distant, this Truth of God should cause us to worship Him, and praise His name. To stand in wonder and marvel at the fact that such a God would be mindful of us and show us mercy.

Lord, Most High, El Elyon, today we stand in wonder

of Your glory. How can we fathom Your

greatness, or understand the fullness

of the grace and mercy You bestow upon us?

It is only by Your Spirit that we can know these

marvelous things.

We praise You and lift Your name on high.

In Jesus name,

Amen,

Sharing inspiration here:

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 11, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . Day 10: His Character, Immutable

God is Immutable

Immutable: not capable or susceptible of change

ἀμετάθετος
ametathetos
am-et-ath'-et-os
unchangeable, or (neuter as abstract) unchangeability: - immutable (-ility).

This Truth about God, that He changes not, Beloved, this is the ANCHOR of our faith.

You know what an anchor does for a ship, keeping it steadily in the place that the captain has placed it, even during the storms - so this Truth about our Lord will anchor your faith during the trials and storms of life. During times of doubt and despair. Of darkness and pain.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel,

confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie,

we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:17-19

All these Truths we’ve been learning about God, that He is love,

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 10, 2015 06:34

Inspired by . . . Day 9: His Name, Jehovah-shalom

The God of Peace.

Jehovah-shalom

yehôvâh shâlôm
yeh-ho-vaw' shaw-lome'
Jehovah (is) peace; Jehovah-Shalom, a symbolical name of an altar in Palestine: - Jehovah-shalom.

O’ Beloved, is this not a word of assurance, a promise that we need to hear today?

We are meant to know the fullness of God’s perfect peace, or His “shalom.” God’s peace surpasses understanding and sustains us even through difficult times. It is the product of fully being what we were created to be.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Php 4:7

I love the Greek word for peace used in this passage: eirēnē / i-rah'-nay

Yes, it means quietness and rest as you would expect it to, but it also means “to set at one again”

Anyone reading this need a do over? Anyone want to begin again? or simply step out of the chaos that can be our lives.

I know I do.

I love descriptive phrases and this one speaks to me of centering. Stepping back, focusing on God, Who is Peace, and centering in on that truth. Peace may be a Person, but it’s also a process.

It begins with God, but it continues with us.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God

so that at the proper time He may exalt you,

casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 1Pe 5:6-7

Why do we want to give God all our cares and worries. All our anxieties?

Because God is love. He is our