Today's Sanctification, Tomorrow God's Wonders

"And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you."  Joshua 3:5

Sanctify-Purify 

Wonders-Efficient far beyond anything previously known, wonders that will cause you to marvel or be astonished.  (Webster) I will add, only those things God can do!

A conditional promise is found here in the book of Joshua, and what a promise!

Sanctify yourselves, and God WILL DO wonders AMONG you!  (capitals mine)

Separate myself from the things of this world today, and tomorrow God will do wonders that only He can do that will cause me to marvel at His majesty and cause me to praise His Name!

That means I must prepare myself today.

It means as things begin to taint my vision from the things of God today, as philosophies of this world entertain my thoughts today, as 'self' wants to take front and center, I must make a decision to confess that immediately, TODAY!

As I keep myself pure today, the wonders of God will fill my tomorrows.

WHAT A THOUGHT!

What would happen if we crawled into bed each night and confessed our day to the Lord?

What would happen when we woke up prepared for the Spiritual battle and remained separate from the things of this world?

What would happen if we purposed in our hearts, like Daniel, not to defile ourselves?  (Daniel 1:8)

What would happen if we determined in our hearts to please God rather than man? (1 Thessalonians 2:4, Acts 5:29)

What would happen if when discouraged, we decided to encourage ourselves in the Lord like David?

1 Samuel 30:6b

Or what would happen if we chose to be holy as God is Holy? 1 Peter 1:16

I will tell you what would happen...

    We would see the Wonders of God...

             But that's just me!

Why standest afar off?

"Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?"

Psalm 10:1

David asked God a question that so many of us ask God today. 

Why does it seem like God is hidden in our times of trouble?  My personal opinion: it's because we are more focused on the trouble and less focused on God.  We have magnified our trouble and reduced the power of our Lord.

I also think it's because we are relying on our 'feelings' rather than the 'facts' that God reveals to us in His Word concerning the times of our troubles.

When I read this verse, I thought about how when I was a little girl riding my bike the first couple of times without my training wheels.  My dad would run behind me, holding on to my seat, and as long as I knew he was still holding my seat, I had the confidence I needed to ride my bike because I knew my dad was in control.  When he would let go, so did my confidence, and sometimes I would fall.  But as soon as I hit the ground, my dad was already there picking me back up again and I would try again.  And then there were times when he had let go and I didn't know it.  He was there, but yet he wasn't.  He was watching me, always at the ready.

He was there, right beside me the whole time. 

He let go so that I could live what I learned.

It might seem like when we are in the midst of our worst time of trouble that God has hidden, but He has not.  He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

He is simply reminding us...

    Live what you have learned from Me...

        "Be still, and know that I am God..."

            But that's just me!

Polluted

Easter Sunday today, is not like Easter Sunday when I was a little girl.  Back then, family would gather to go to church, all dressed up in new dresses and bonnets and new suits and ties, and then spend the day eating a delicious meal, playing with cousins and sitting on grandparents' laps.  In fact, it wasn't only on Easter Sunday when we would gather, but almost every Sunday, The Lord's Day.  

The Saturday before, we would go to the store to make sure we had everything we needed, because we knew that businesses and stores would be closed on Sunday.  Not so today.  In fact, my adult son is spending his Easter Sunday at work.  Even writing that breaks my heart.  How far removed our Society has come from the True meaning of Easter Sunday.

My heart was heavy as I read the Headlines this past week of what the world has turned Easter Sunday into: 

They turned this day into Transgender Day of Visibility and there are new rules for the Egg Hunt on the lawn at the White House; children CANNOT decorate their Easter eggs with Religious Symbols.

Our Nation has become polluted.

But God is still on His throne.

"So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel."  Ezekiel 39:7

One day, there will be judgment upon our land.

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."  Psalm 9:17

As the world pushes to profane our Lord...

    May we preach the power of His Resurrection...

        But that's just me!

Blooming

When it's Winter, you expect to walk into a store and see coats on display.

In the Spring, you expect to see clothes in the color White.

In the Summer, short sleeves, sandals and sunscreen are expected to line most shelves, and then in the Fall you expect to find hiking boots, hats and scarves.

Not so in Retail.  I should know, I worked many years in Retail Clothing, and we were always a Season ahead when it came to our product.

I was reminded of that when I walked past my Christmas cactus this morning, perched in its pot on my sewing table in full bloom.

Yes, my Christmas cactus is in full bloom and it's March!

Is my Christmas cactus confused?  

I don't think so, I think God's Creation is under full control of His mighty hand, so if God wanted my Cactus to bloom for Easter, then so be it!  I am certainly enjoying the beautiful blossoms.

It also reminded me of 2 Timothy 4:2. It says, 'Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.'

According to Albert Barnes, "The preaching of God's Word is our main business in life.  We are to be constant in this duty, at every opportunity, whether it's convenient or not.  We must convince men of God's truth through rebuke, exhortation, longsuffering, and instruction."

Whatever season you find yourself in...

    Are you in bloom?

        I pray I am...

            But that's just me!

        

What Works?

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

words of Jesus, Matthew 25:4

Yesterday I asked God to give me the works, so that I could bring honor and glory to His Name.  Every day when I pray, I ask the Lord to help me be a blessing to someone today; anyone. 

But what are good works?

They can be as simple as Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Good works are simple acts of kindness directed to someone other than yourself.

    Allow someone to go before you in line-

    Open a door for someone-

    Greet someone with a 'hello' and a smile-

    Bake goodies for a neighbor-

    Drive a friend to an appointment-

    Send someone a card, text or an email-

    Bear another's burden-

    PRAY for them-

The list is endless!

Who are good works to be directed?

To the stranger and to the saved.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for therby some have entertained angels unawares."

Hebrew 13:2

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  Galatians 6:10

Good works are the result of God's goodness toward us, beginning with our Salvation; so, are you Saved?  Are you a useable vessel for good works?

Good works allow us to focus on others and not on ourselves.

Good works are manifested in humility...

    Bringing honor and glory to our Lord...

        But that's just me!

"God is honored by our actions more than He is by our words."  Dr. Paul Chappell

 

Faith W/O Works

I heard a very old song on YouTube a few days ago, and it brought me to James 2:14-26.

I'm including a large portion of Scripture today, so bear with me, I think it's important to read this whole passage:

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy words, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Christians can talk a good talk, but it's their walk that tells the truth.

So, what is your walk saying to those around you?

You've heard the saying, "Actions speak louder than words," and I believe that to be true.  Sometimes our greatest testimony for the Lord is by keeping our mouths quiet and letting our lives speak the words.

I'm not talking about a works salvation; Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I'm talking about actions that will cause others to say, "What's different about you?"

Do you have to tell others you are a Christian, or will your actions speak louder than words?

Do your actions cause others to ask you for the reason you are different, or do your actions leave others confused?

I believe the way I live...

    Speaks louder than any word my mouth with utter...

        But that's just me!

Give me the Works

by Mark Farner

Give me the works, and I'll give to You,

All the glory and honor that You are due,

Oh, Lord of the good, Let Your Light shine through in me.

I've told so many about You,

How I can't make it without You,

It's not like I'm cryin', cause I'll keep on trying' anyway.

I'll keep on trying to reach them, as by your Spirit, You teach them,

But there's so many, that don't believe any of the words I say...

So give me the works, and I'll give to You,

All the glory and honor that You are due,

Oh, Lord of the good, let Your Light shine through in me.

They thought the behavior, or our Lord and Saviour was strange,

But if His works could shine through, in people like me and like you,

Just think of the lives He could change!

So, give me the works, and I'll give to You, 

all the glory and honor that You are due,

Oh, Lord of the good,

Let your light shine through in me.

Greetings

My husband recently returned from a two-week Missions trip to South Africa. The afternoon of his return, I was already looking forward to greeting him in the airport as soon as he walked through the gate. I made sure that I left early enough to be there, right when he exited the doors.  I wanted him to see my face and know how excited I was that he was finally home safe and sound.  By the look on his face, he was just as excited to see me, as I was to see him.

It made me think of Jesus and how He is eagerly waiting to greet us when we finally make it to our Heavenly Home.  You know, He has been preparing a place for us.  (John 14:1-4)

It also made me think of how He greeted Stephen in Acts 7:55-56.  

It says, "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

Can you imagine the greeting that took place?

One day we will each be greeted by our Saviour welcoming us home.  The bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:8, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Psalm 116:15 also tells us that "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

On the flip side, isn't it sad when you see people walking through the gates in the airport and they have no one to greet them?  No one waiting for their return?

Friend, will you be greeted?

One day, we will be greeted by our Saviour...

     and what a greeting that will be!

        But that's just me!