Scriptures About Holiness ~ What Do I Know of Holy?

Father, As I share the words to this powerful song, I ask that You awaken our hearts to understand who You are - to understand that You are not a puppet that responds like a marionette when we pull the strings. You are the Sovereign Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. You, Lord, are Qedosh Yisrael, the Holy One of Israel. Help us take hold of these truths. Open our eyes to see. Thank You Lord.

What Do I Know of Holy?
by Addison Road

I made You Promises one thousand times.
I tried to hear from heaven, but I talked the whole time.
I think I made You too small, I never feared You at all, no.
If You touched My face, would I know You?
Looked into my eyes, could I behold You?

CHORUS:
What do I know of You who spoke me into motion?
Where have I ever stood, but the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful? 
So what do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out, I knew all the stories. 
And I learned to talk about how You were mighty to save,
But those were only empty words on a page.
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be,
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees.

CHORUS

BRIDGE:
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame and a God who gave life its name?
What do I know of holy, of the One who the angels praised?
All creation knows Your name on earth and heaven above.
What do I know of this love?

So what do I know of You?

CHORUS

Lord, what do I know, what do I know of holy?

Holy. Qadosh (Kah-dosh): set apart, dedicated to sacred purposes, clean, morally or ceremonially pure. Holiness is separation from everything profane and defiling. Holiness is to be dedicated to everything holy and pure. ~ Spirit Filled Life Bible Commentary

"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy."'" ~ Leviticus 19:1,2

SELAH



*********************************************************
Precious readers, I am attending the Writer's ADVANCE Boot Camp this weekend at Billy Graham's, The Cove. I would cherish your prayers during this time. I'm meeting with an agent who is interested in my work. Yay God! Thank you.
*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to listen to Addison Road sing, "What Do I Know of Holy?"

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ God Came To Me

Hey precious readers. I'm busy preparing for the Writer's ADVANCE Boot Camp this weekend, so I decided to pull from my archives. I believe the following devotion is one that someone in particular needs to read today. The Lord keeps drawing me back to it.

Always, always remember this: When the child of God cries out to the Lord, He hears and He responds...


Discouragement tormented me from every angle. Life had taken some serious turns - unemployment, depression. Forever friends became see-you-later chums. I was struggling. My body felt very tired and my spirit drained. I lived on the verge of tears. Have you ever felt that way? I was becoming despondent and I knew it.

I walked to the bedroom and knelt by my bed, "Jesus, I'm thirsty for Your Living Water. I'm overwhelmed. Fill me up with You, Lord. Let me sit at Your feet and be comforted by Your Presence. Pour Your strength and peace into me. Shield me from the storm. My heart knows that the joy of the Lord is my strength, the glory and the lifter of my head. I know it well. Make it so, once again, Lord."

I rested in His Presence, cried a little, then rested some more. God took me to Habakkuk and reminded me of His greatness, "God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran." Habakkuk is remembering the goodness of the Lord: when Israel cried out in the wilderness, God came to them.

When I cried out in my wilderness, God came to me.

"His glory covered the heavens and His praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from His hand, where His power was hidden" (Habakkuk 3:3,4). I stretched out my hand toward heaven and the mighty hand of the Father took hold. I felt His power, I experienced His Glory. With love, He raised me up. He shone His Light in my darkness and extended grace, peace and strength for my journey.

God came to me in my wilderness.
God is no respecter of persons. What He did for me, He will do for you.



Father, Praise You! You are so faithful. Your mercy is great. Thank You for meeting me at my point of need. What would I do without You? Where would I be without My Savior? I love how mighty You are - how glorious! I try to imagine You in all Your splendor, but You are far greater than my imaginings. You are awesome Lord, and yet You know my name. I ask that You encourage my friends today. Give them strength for the journey, hope for the day. Let them know Your Presence in a precious, personal way. Thank You Lord.
*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page. Mercy goodness, do I have a treat for you! I found a worship song by Jason Upton, "In Your Presence". Jason will take you by the hand and lead you straight to the throne of grace. I promise.

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ To Whom Can We Compare God?

"Momma. Momma," I cried. Running barefoot out the front door, the cold wet grass washed my feet in heaven's tears as my heart lay bare against the morning light. Blindly, I bounded through the woods, stumbling upon a childhood trail that led to the top of the mountain. I wiped the sorrow from my face and slowed my pace to a steady walk. All about me, nature testified of God. The sweet, musty smell of raw earth soothed me and joined my spirit with that of my Lord. I crested the hill. Sitting down on a rocky ledge, I once again crumbled into a broken heap. My shoulders heaved with sorrow. My mind traced its memories of those last few hours with mom before the clutches of death took her from me. I recalled watching as her body swelled with fluid. Her face became contorted as mini strokes ravaged her brain. Cancer was the demon and I demanded to know where God was. Where are You, God? Where are You? I silently screamed as I watched her take her last breath.

But then something undeniable happened. As momma took her last breath, her twisted face relaxed and she smiled. My. Mom. Smiled. She was at peace. She had stepped across the threshold of eternity into the arms of God.

The memories took on a sweet aroma as I allowed the Lord to embrace me with His Presence. The valley below tumbled over pastures and clusters of underbrush. The mountain ridges flanked each side and echoed in repetition far into the distance. I listened as all of creation sang praise to the Creator. I sat engulfed in His majesty, embraced by His love.

Isaiah asked, "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or with the breadth of His hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare Him to?" ~ Isaiah 40:12,18

Who, indeed? This same God Who rides on the wings of the wind carried me up the wooded trail as a shepherd carries the lambs in his arms, holding me close to His heart. His power was all about me. The vastness of God took my breath away and, yet, His tenderness comforted and compelled me to nuzzle up safely beneath the shadow of His wing.

God's love is great.

For as long as I live, I will testify of His love.



Father, If only we could begin to fathom Your greatness! If only we would begin to understand Your love and the depth of Your being. Thank You for being greater than any struggle we ever face. You, Lord, are magnificent and we love You.
*********************************************************
Good news! A devotional I am featured in has been released! Yay, God! Here's the link to Amazon if you would like to purchase God's Word for God's People: 2013 Daily Devotional. 
*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, you'll want to get your spirit dancing by visiting the Morning Glory page to sing along with Wynonna Judd as she sings, "I Will Testify To Love".

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Alabaster Blanket of Love

Thick clouds billowed in from the southwest. Darkness churned the sky, taking the day by force. Rain pounded the earth. Overflowing rivers and streams devoured ancient ground. For days the rain fell, saturating the earth with  heaven's sorrow.

On Thursday, a shift began. Giant raindrops transformed into golf-ball-size snowflakes. The change was slow at first. The rain finally yielded to a persistent snowfall, infusing the landscape with a white veil. At times, the snow fell with such velocity, it became impossible to see the desolate places of winter around us.

The heavenly tug-of-war was great in our beloved mountains. Flooding rains. White-out conditions. Plummeting temperatures. Crashing sounds of breaking trees crumbling beneath the weight of winter's onslaught. Beauty mixed with danger. Peace mixed with fear.

Then all the earth grew quiet.

We woke to a dazzling array of God's glory. A blanket of fluffy alabaster concealed the ravages of the storm. A quiet calm settled upon the earth in breath-taking beauty.

How often our lives echo this imagery. How often our journey of faith encounters the pounding rains of sorrow, the blinding storms of defeat. And how often we fail to see the spiritual battle that ensues on our behalf in the heavenlies.

Consider this:Your trial comes billowing in, darkness churning through your spirit. Gut-wrenching sobs assail you. Tears gush from deep within as you cry out to the Lord. You can sense His Presence. You can feel the evidence of His comfort drawing near to your broken heart. The teardrops begin to yield to His sweet Holy Spirit. The closer you draw to Him, the more powerful His Presence. Soon your angst gives way to praise, "Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name!" 

But the intensity of the battle deepens. 

The accuser of your soul sends the fiery darts of doubt and fear, tossing your faith into the gale-force winds of tribulation. The Lord whispers, "Child, you are Mine. Do not be afraid for I am with you." Again, praise ushers forth from your lips, "You, O Lord, are the Great God, Maker of heaven and earth. You are my Rock, my refuge in the storm. I praise You, Lord."

This time, the storm begins to subside - the battle over your spirit ends in victory for the Lord of Hosts. The enemy was no match for such a powerful God as He. Peace settles in. Your spirit grows quiet.

You fall into His everlasting arms and rest in His alabaster blanket of love.

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies." ~ Psalm 18:1-3, NKJV



****************************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to be encouraged by Casting Crowns as they sing, "Praise You In The Storm". Bless you!

Scriptures of Hope ~ After All, He is Constant

My friend's heart ripped in two. Her faith tumbled like a boulder down her mountain of disappointments. Nothing seemed to stop the avalanche of sorrow. Fear. Despair. She clung to the promises of God, only to watch with horror as the downward spiral continued.

Devastated? Oh, that doesn't even begin to describe her pain.

Her emotions rose and fell like the undulating beat of a drum. She raised her hands to praise her God, only to fall crumpled on the floor moments later, despair overwhelming her. Up and down. High and low. Peace and anguish beyond description.

And then the Spirit of God reminded her of a precious Truth: "I am the Lord. I do not change. Therefore you are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6).

Ponder that for a moment. "I am the Lord. I do not change."

Is your world crumbling around you? Is your faith being shaken to the core? Believe it or not, that is a good thing. When our faith goes through the fire, that is where we learn how precious it is. That is where we learn Who God is. Jesus made it very clear to us that "many are the afflictions of the righteous" and "in this world we will have tribulation". Welcome to the fallen world.

But.

But, God is our constant! He. Does. Not. Change. And what He says He will do? Ahhh...Yes! He will do. He is not a man that He should lie. In an ever-changing world, God, the Father - your God, my God - is the constant.

Not for a moment will He forsake you.



Father God, You are an awesome God! Open our hearts to know and understand that You are the constant, sure anchor that holds our lives together. We can rest in Your faithfulness. We can bask in Your love all the days of our lives no matter what comes our way. In You, alone, do we place our hope and our trust. We love You, Lord and we give You praise.
************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to worship with Meredith Andrews as she sings, "Not For A Moment".

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Do You Feel Unworthy to Receive His Love?

I drove home today in the pouring rain. Puddles splashed. Windshield wipers flip-flopped. Traffic slowed due to ponding on the road.

And my radio blared.

I was listening to Sirius XM, The Message, a contemporary Christian station, when all of a sudden (sortof like Santa on Christmas Eve), there arose such a clatter. I turned up the knob to see what was the matter. **grin**  Actually, nothing was wrong. The DJ was rejoicing over the next song: Rascal Flatts singing "Changed".

Yes. RASCAL FLATTS. On The Message. Who knew?

This song blessed me so much, I couldn't wait to share it with you. His words made me think of the time when I didn't know Jesus. As he recalls his baptism in the lyrics, I recalled mine. And it made me think of some of you.

I don't know most of my readers, but I can assure you that I pray for you. In my heart, I believe some of you are seekers - you are seeking the love of a Heavenly Father, but you feel you are not worthy. Perhaps you walked close with Him for a time and then the world stepped in. Tempting. Enticing. Distracting. You keep God at arm's length because you feel you have no value. No purpose. 

And yet you seek His love.

Precious friend, we are all equal at the foot of the cross. All of us have done things that we are not proud of - things that make our skin crawl. But, here's the Good News:

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~ Romans 8:38,39, NKJV

I love the way The Message translation of the bible presents this passage:

 "I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."

I want you to get this Truth in your knower. God is waiting for you. He loves you with an everlasting love. I believe His heart beats with anticipation as He waits to hold you once again.

So my question to you, dear one, is, "What are you waiting for?"



Father, it is such an amazing thought to consider how much You pursue us with Your love. Even when we give up on ourselves, You never give up on us. Your mercy extends to the highest heavens and Your love knows no end. Thank You. I ask that You calm the racing hearts as some of my friends reconsider a life journey holding Your hand. Open their eyes to see You. Open their ears to hear Your sweet whispers of acceptance and affirmation. Thank You Lord. You are so good. We love You.
*********************************************************
Do you need to connect on a personal level to sort through some things? You may contact me at nan@jubilantlight.com.
*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to listen to Rascal Flatts sing about rededicating his life to the Lord. Yes! Rascal Flatts. I know....who knew?

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ And You, Child, Are Mine

I clicked on the Youtube button. My mind swirled with uncertainty. I pushed back anxious thoughts, refusing to entertain them, but aware of their ever-present taunting.

I must fill my heart and mind with praise, I thought as I wiped yet another tear.

How many times have I offered this same suggestion to my friends? How many? Too many times to count. And now I was faced with the same choice: Do I praise God simply because of Who He is? OR do I wallow in the miry clay of frustration and fear?

I chose to praise.

As the holy melodies filled the room, the tears flowed. Cleansing. Healing. Pressure relieving. From the broken places I heard the Lord's sweet whisper, Nan. Come and sit with me awhile.

Yes, Lord, I whispered back. I'm not very good company. I'm afraid, Lord. I don't know how we're gonna make it. I don't know what we should do.

Why do you worry, child? Do you have enough for today?

Yes, Lord. You've taught me this lesson before, haven't You?

Yes, I have. 

I'm sorry, Lord. I took my eyes off of You and looked at the problem. Open my eyes to see You once again. Please, Lord. Stir up faith and hope in me. Remind me of Who You are.

I AM the Lord Most High. I AM Jehovah-jireh, your Provider. I AM your Comforter, Counselor. I AM your Father.

There was a pause in the conversation as I pressed into His Love. And then I heard His whisper again, And you, sweet child, are Mine.

 "Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I AM the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7).


*********************************************************
Ladies, are you planning your spring events? I would be honored to be your keynote speaker, prayer retreat leader, or guest speaker for your monthly ladies' meeting. My website, www.jubilantlight.com has all of the information you need. You may also contact me at nan@jubilantlight.com. I would love to hear from you.
*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page. I am featuring Kari Jobe singing, "What Love Is This". You won't be the same after listening to the powerful worship video. I promise.

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ His Goodness

The accusation came out of nowhere. Its bite was vicious. Its target was my heart. I recoiled at the thought of having offended someone with my words, with my lessons learned from the hand of God. Friends rallied around me. Emails lit up my inbox.

And the peace of God dwelt richly within me.

In Psalm 31, David said of the Lord, "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!

"You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man: You shall keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues" (verses 19 & 20).

How GREAT is God's goodness. Abundant. Significant. Intentional.

Dear One, isn't it good to know our precious Father in Heaven not only extends goodness to those who love Him, He also stores it up? He lays it up in abundance so that when the fiery darts of the enemy assail us, His goodness is already in place.

His goodness rights all wrongs.
His goodness shelters His child.
His goodness draws us to His side.

And the fruit of His goodness is the peace that passes all understanding.



Father, thank You for Your goodness. Open the eyes of our hearts to understand the depth of Your goodness towards Your children. You are an amazing, faithful God. We love You, Lord.
*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to worship with Kari Jobe as she sings, "You Are Good". You are a blessing in my life. Sweet blessings to you!

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ My Soul Thirsts For The Living God

In my imagination, I can see a deer bristling with perspiration, mouth open, gasping for fresh air as it leaps over fallen trees and thick underbrush. Its enemy has been in hot pursuit, leaving the deer exhausted and parched for water to strengthen him. He pauses and...wait! He hears the gurgling of a brook calling to his thirst. Instinctively, the deer turns in the direction of the flowing water. Desperation begins to leave his countenance. His frantic leaping calms to a steady walk and carries him to the edge of the pristine water. Bowing at the water's edge, the deer drinks slowly and deeply of the liquid treasure. No longer is he thirsty. No longer is he weak. The deer has found strength for the journey.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." ~ Psalm 42:1,2

I have begun to understand thirst - not physical, but spiritual thirst - thirst that can only be satisfied by the river of Living Water that flows from the throne of God. In recent years, depression and anxiety have become my constant companions. Fears for the future, fears of where our next meal will come from, even concerns for my health have become fodder for the enemy to torment me. It seems that I can stand strong against him for awhile and then the battle fatigue begins to set in. My soul becomes parched, my spirit defeated. Each day becomes more difficult than the one before. I am learning that when I am overwhelmed with these faith-threatening symptoms, I need a drink. I need to run desperately to the foot of the cross and meet my Jesus there. I need to drink long and intentionally from the Spirit of God.

Are you fearful? Are  you lonely? Bitter? Exhausted? Sweet friend, when you feel overwhelmed with life's hardships, drink of the Living Water. Run to your Lord and pour out your heart before Him. Rest in His Presence, sing of His glory, feast on His Word.

He will not disappoint you.



Father, You call to us through the fallen trees and underbrush, but often we resist Your voice. Why do we choose to wallow in our doubts and fears when Your streams of Living Water are beckoning to us? Forgive us, Lord. You are an awesome God, Your love is from everlasting to everlasting. I praise Your Holy Name.
***************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page. I am featuring a music video by Kristyn Getty titled, "Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer". Your heart will sing as you listen to this precious young woman minister in song. Sweet blessings to you!

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Have You Heard?

I couldn't think of a finer way to begin the New Year than with encouragement straight from God's powerful Word. Let His Word sink in and become entrenched in your knower. When the trials come, and they surely will, hold fast to God's unchanging Word. Find within its pages life, hope, peace, guidance and strength for the journey.

And now, a magnificent word from the Prophet Isaiah:

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary. And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."
~Isaiah 40:28-31

Sweet friend, wait upon the Lord. He will never fail you. Run to Him and be safe.



*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to be blessed by Laura Story as she sings "Perfect Peace". Happy New Year! I appreciate each of you so much!