"Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 'As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations...And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.'"
(Genesis 17:3-5,7)
Beth Moore taught me a wonderful principle concerning this scripture. Look at verse 5: "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham..." What changed here? The letter 'h'. The Israelites referred to God as 'Jehovah'. Do you see the central letter in 'Jehovah? 'H'. As God made covenant with Abram, He gave Abram the middle letter of His own name - 'h'. This is very significant. In biblical times the name of individuals represented their character - the very essence of who they were. The same was true of God. Think of all the names used for Him: El Shaddai, Jehovah Jireh, Most High God, Creator, The Everlasting God, etc. Or think of Jesus: Savior, Lord, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Rabbi...Each of these names represents a different aspect of His character.
When God made covenant with Abram, He gave Abram part of Himself. The name change signified that Abraham belonged to Jehovah God. From that day forth, God would be his God and Abraham and his descendants would be His people.
I wonder if the Lord sees the letter 'H' in my name? Do I walk in a way that represents Him as His daughter?
Lord, may I ever be mindful that I am Your child, Your representative to a hurting world. Thank You for including me in a covenant which can never be broken. I suppose, in a spiritual sense, my name might be spelled 'Nahn' because You are my God and I am Your child. Be glorified in me, Father.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
At the Appointed Time
"Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
(Genesis 18:14
Have you ever noticed these highlighted words before? Me, either!" 'At the appointed time'...God has a plan, not only on the universal scale, but also on a personal level, for His children. Nothing is by happenstance - God has a plan and that plan WILL unfold at the appointed time.
Has the Father spoken to you? Has He filled your heart with a dream? You can be sure that at the appointed time, He will fulfill His promises. Day by day, step by step, prayer by prayer. Trust Him. Love Him. And expect the Hand of God to work on your behalf.
Lord, it is very hard to wait on dreams - to wait for the answer to our prayer. Yet, it is so comforting to me to know that even the very people we look up to in the Bible had to learn to wait. Waiting doesn't mean that the answer is no. Quite often, waiting means that there is an appointed time for the answer to come, for the dream to be fulfilled. After all, Lord, You are sovereign and You hold us in the palm of Your hand. And for that, I am very thankful.
(Genesis 18:14
Have you ever noticed these highlighted words before? Me, either!" 'At the appointed time'...God has a plan, not only on the universal scale, but also on a personal level, for His children. Nothing is by happenstance - God has a plan and that plan WILL unfold at the appointed time.
Has the Father spoken to you? Has He filled your heart with a dream? You can be sure that at the appointed time, He will fulfill His promises. Day by day, step by step, prayer by prayer. Trust Him. Love Him. And expect the Hand of God to work on your behalf.
Lord, it is very hard to wait on dreams - to wait for the answer to our prayer. Yet, it is so comforting to me to know that even the very people we look up to in the Bible had to learn to wait. Waiting doesn't mean that the answer is no. Quite often, waiting means that there is an appointed time for the answer to come, for the dream to be fulfilled. After all, Lord, You are sovereign and You hold us in the palm of Your hand. And for that, I am very thankful.
Monday, April 5, 2010
I Press On
"Not that I have already obtained it or am already perfected but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."
(Philippians 3:12)
But I press on. Why? That I may lay hold of that which Jesus has obtained for me. Certainly, He has obtained the gift of salvation, life everlasting for me. But, is there more? What plan does He have for me? What is my purpose in this life? Can I really walk hand in hand with my God?
'I press on' requires action, intention. Maturing in our faith doesn't just happen because we wish it so. We must decide to set our hearts on the things of God. When difficulties come, as they surely will, we have a choice to make: either throw our hands up in a tantrum and stomp our feet OR determine to PRESS ON through the storm. Knowing that we are not alone, knowing that the Light of Christ will light our path through the darkness.
And even if we stomp our feet a little while we're pressing on, our Heavenly Father is big enough to handle it. No problem...as long as you're still pressing on.
Father, what a mighty God You are. Teach us to press on when we feel like giving up. Help us to mature in our faith so that we know the God in Whom we have believed. Give us purpose, determination...and forgive us when we stomp our feet in frustration.
(Philippians 3:12)
But I press on. Why? That I may lay hold of that which Jesus has obtained for me. Certainly, He has obtained the gift of salvation, life everlasting for me. But, is there more? What plan does He have for me? What is my purpose in this life? Can I really walk hand in hand with my God?
'I press on' requires action, intention. Maturing in our faith doesn't just happen because we wish it so. We must decide to set our hearts on the things of God. When difficulties come, as they surely will, we have a choice to make: either throw our hands up in a tantrum and stomp our feet OR determine to PRESS ON through the storm. Knowing that we are not alone, knowing that the Light of Christ will light our path through the darkness.
And even if we stomp our feet a little while we're pressing on, our Heavenly Father is big enough to handle it. No problem...as long as you're still pressing on.
Father, what a mighty God You are. Teach us to press on when we feel like giving up. Help us to mature in our faith so that we know the God in Whom we have believed. Give us purpose, determination...and forgive us when we stomp our feet in frustration.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord!!
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever...Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, through which the righteous shall enter."
Psalm 118:1,19,20
"Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in."
Psalm 24:7-9
Let's celebrate! The Lord is risen! Miracle of miracles - the tomb is empty, He has conquered the grave!
The Lord calls us to rejoice - from our hearts, from the depth of our soul. In
Ezra 3:9-11, restoration of the temple had begun and worship was restored in Jerusalem. As the people celebrated they sang and praised their Lord, "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever!" Then all the people shouted with a great shout as they praised Him because the foundation of the house of the Lord was raised (vs.11).
Beloved, the foundation of our lives as believers was raised today! We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, He dwells within us. The Risen Lord dwells within US!! Incredible.
Walk through the gate of righteousness. Praise Him, even if you don't feel like it. Praise Him because of Who He is - the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
The Lord is risen. He is risen, indeed!
Lord Jesus, what an amazing Savior You are. Thank You for conquering death for us. We praise You and exalt Your name on high. Help us to never take for granted the miracle of Your love.
Psalm 118:1,19,20
"Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in."
Psalm 24:7-9
Let's celebrate! The Lord is risen! Miracle of miracles - the tomb is empty, He has conquered the grave!
The Lord calls us to rejoice - from our hearts, from the depth of our soul. In
Ezra 3:9-11, restoration of the temple had begun and worship was restored in Jerusalem. As the people celebrated they sang and praised their Lord, "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever!" Then all the people shouted with a great shout as they praised Him because the foundation of the house of the Lord was raised (vs.11).
Beloved, the foundation of our lives as believers was raised today! We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, He dwells within us. The Risen Lord dwells within US!! Incredible.
Walk through the gate of righteousness. Praise Him, even if you don't feel like it. Praise Him because of Who He is - the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
The Lord is risen. He is risen, indeed!
Lord Jesus, what an amazing Savior You are. Thank You for conquering death for us. We praise You and exalt Your name on high. Help us to never take for granted the miracle of Your love.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Jesus, the Perfect Lamb of God
"Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day (for Passover), so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that the bodies might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the leg of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs...For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, 'Not one of His bones shall be broken.'" (John 19:31-33,36)
When I ponder the mysteries of God - the wisdom and complexities - I stand in awe. The Old Testament and New Testament are woven together, supporting one another, creating God's plan of salvation! One does not replace the other, they are completely intertwined.
To hasten the death of those who were crucified, soldiers routinely broke their legs. Once their legs were broken, the victims could no longer ease the strain on their arms and chests. Breathing became next to impossible, hastening death. "But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs." Why is this significant? Because the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. Because of His blood, death no longer has control over us, the destroyer is rendered powerless, he must pass us by.
Watch how the Lord weaves it all together.
In Exodus 12, God is giving His commandments for the Passover observance. Verse 46 instructs the Israelites, "...nor shall you break one of its bones,' referring to the Passover Lamb. Psalm 34:20 states, "He (God) GUARDS all his (the Righteous One) bones, not one of them is broken."
God ordained through His Word that when Jesus, the perfect lamb of God suffered and died for our sins, His death would come before the soldiers could break His legs. Jesus HAD to remain perfect, without blemish, in order to be the perfect sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord.
Holiness. Can we fathom it? Can we imagine an event of such magnitude that EVERYTHING must be subject to the Word of God? His Word goes forth and will not return void. It must accomplish that for which it was sent. (Isaiah 55:11) If Jesus' body had become less than perfect, God could not have accepted the sacrifice that would forever be the atonement for our sins. We would remain separated from a Holy God with no way to approach Him.
God's Word changes not. Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, would die in perfection for the forgiveness of our sins, holy and acceptable to the Lord.
Lord Jesus, what can we say? Your sacrifice - Your agony - was for us. You made it possible for us to approach a Holy God, Master and Creator of the universe. Amazing. It feels like "thank you" is not enough. May we respond with thankfulness by loving and serving You all the days of our lives, never taking You for granted.
When I ponder the mysteries of God - the wisdom and complexities - I stand in awe. The Old Testament and New Testament are woven together, supporting one another, creating God's plan of salvation! One does not replace the other, they are completely intertwined.
To hasten the death of those who were crucified, soldiers routinely broke their legs. Once their legs were broken, the victims could no longer ease the strain on their arms and chests. Breathing became next to impossible, hastening death. "But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs." Why is this significant? Because the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. Because of His blood, death no longer has control over us, the destroyer is rendered powerless, he must pass us by.
Watch how the Lord weaves it all together.
In Exodus 12, God is giving His commandments for the Passover observance. Verse 46 instructs the Israelites, "...nor shall you break one of its bones,' referring to the Passover Lamb. Psalm 34:20 states, "He (God) GUARDS all his (the Righteous One) bones, not one of them is broken."
God ordained through His Word that when Jesus, the perfect lamb of God suffered and died for our sins, His death would come before the soldiers could break His legs. Jesus HAD to remain perfect, without blemish, in order to be the perfect sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord.
Holiness. Can we fathom it? Can we imagine an event of such magnitude that EVERYTHING must be subject to the Word of God? His Word goes forth and will not return void. It must accomplish that for which it was sent. (Isaiah 55:11) If Jesus' body had become less than perfect, God could not have accepted the sacrifice that would forever be the atonement for our sins. We would remain separated from a Holy God with no way to approach Him.
God's Word changes not. Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, would die in perfection for the forgiveness of our sins, holy and acceptable to the Lord.
Lord Jesus, what can we say? Your sacrifice - Your agony - was for us. You made it possible for us to approach a Holy God, Master and Creator of the universe. Amazing. It feels like "thank you" is not enough. May we respond with thankfulness by loving and serving You all the days of our lives, never taking You for granted.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Lord, Remember Me
"And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left...Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.' But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the dire reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.'" (Luke 23:33,39-42)
Certainly, the criminal that recognized Jesus as the Son of God spoke of eternity when He asked Jesus to remember him. But, I want you to think a little farther. Think of this word as 're-member': "Put me back together, Lord. Re-member me. I need Your restoration. I need Your renewal. I need Your forgiveness which heals a broken soul."
On the cross, Jesus bore our sins - those things that separate us from God. When we are separated from Him, our lives are not complete. There are places of emptiness, places of destruction and pain. Places that only a loving God can heal.
Jesus' death on the cross - His sacrifice - unites us with God. Jesus bridges the gap. When we live in the presence of God, through the blood of Jesus, our lives are put back together. His power, His love and His mercy re-members us.
Take time today to think about the cross, to think about how God loves you so much that He offered His only Son as a sacrifice so that we would no longer be separated from Him. Because of the cross, brokenness is an option. The Lord desires to re-member you, but, it's up to you. Kneel at the cross. He will meet you there.
Lord, the cry of my heart is that You will re-member me. Seek out the areas of my heart that need Your power and Your grace. Restore me, Lord. Without You, Lord, my life is in pieces.
Certainly, the criminal that recognized Jesus as the Son of God spoke of eternity when He asked Jesus to remember him. But, I want you to think a little farther. Think of this word as 're-member': "Put me back together, Lord. Re-member me. I need Your restoration. I need Your renewal. I need Your forgiveness which heals a broken soul."
On the cross, Jesus bore our sins - those things that separate us from God. When we are separated from Him, our lives are not complete. There are places of emptiness, places of destruction and pain. Places that only a loving God can heal.
Jesus' death on the cross - His sacrifice - unites us with God. Jesus bridges the gap. When we live in the presence of God, through the blood of Jesus, our lives are put back together. His power, His love and His mercy re-members us.
Take time today to think about the cross, to think about how God loves you so much that He offered His only Son as a sacrifice so that we would no longer be separated from Him. Because of the cross, brokenness is an option. The Lord desires to re-member you, but, it's up to you. Kneel at the cross. He will meet you there.
Lord, the cry of my heart is that You will re-member me. Seek out the areas of my heart that need Your power and Your grace. Restore me, Lord. Without You, Lord, my life is in pieces.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Gethsemane
"Then Jesus came to the Mount of Olives to a place called Gethsemane and His disciples also followed Him. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
(Luke 22:39, 41-44)
I want you to think about something amazing. It's a little deep, so you might need a shovel, but I promise it will be well worth it. The name 'Gethsemane' means olive press or oil press. Why is that important? Because this is a direct link to the Old Testament Tabernacle.
In Exodus 27:20 the Lord commanded the children of Israel to bring pure oil of pressed olives for the Golden Lampstand in the Tabernacle. This oil would cause the lamp to burn continually. To obtain the oil, olives were crushed in a bowl until the oil was extracted. This Lampstand was an Old Testament symbol of Christ. Remember, Jesus is the Light of the World. His Light shines in the darkness of this world, revealing the Glory of the Lord. The Lampstand in the Tabernacle did the same - its light shone in the darkness of the Tabernacle revealing the glory of the Lord in the Holy of Holies.
The oil for the Lampstand had to be pure, freshly pressed from the olives. On the eve of His crucifixion, the Light of the World (Jesus) was in an olive grove in a place called Gethsemane, whose very name means olive press or oil press! The crushing of Jesus' spirit caused Him to sweat drops of blood. These drops of blood were a precursor to the great sacrifice He would make the next day - a sacrifice that will forever proclaim Him as the Light of the World, the Golden Lampstand, that reveals the Glory of the Lord.
Jesus was "pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities..." (Isaiah 53:5). Because of His suffering, His Light, like a Golden Lampstand, shines continuously in our heart, lighting our path and consuming the darkness.
Lord Jesus, You suffered great agony for me. Your crushing provided the oil of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me and shines Your brilliance into the dark crevices of my heart. Thank you, Lord. I love You so much and appreciate Your sacrifice.
(Luke 22:39, 41-44)
I want you to think about something amazing. It's a little deep, so you might need a shovel, but I promise it will be well worth it. The name 'Gethsemane' means olive press or oil press. Why is that important? Because this is a direct link to the Old Testament Tabernacle.
In Exodus 27:20 the Lord commanded the children of Israel to bring pure oil of pressed olives for the Golden Lampstand in the Tabernacle. This oil would cause the lamp to burn continually. To obtain the oil, olives were crushed in a bowl until the oil was extracted. This Lampstand was an Old Testament symbol of Christ. Remember, Jesus is the Light of the World. His Light shines in the darkness of this world, revealing the Glory of the Lord. The Lampstand in the Tabernacle did the same - its light shone in the darkness of the Tabernacle revealing the glory of the Lord in the Holy of Holies.
The oil for the Lampstand had to be pure, freshly pressed from the olives. On the eve of His crucifixion, the Light of the World (Jesus) was in an olive grove in a place called Gethsemane, whose very name means olive press or oil press! The crushing of Jesus' spirit caused Him to sweat drops of blood. These drops of blood were a precursor to the great sacrifice He would make the next day - a sacrifice that will forever proclaim Him as the Light of the World, the Golden Lampstand, that reveals the Glory of the Lord.
Jesus was "pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities..." (Isaiah 53:5). Because of His suffering, His Light, like a Golden Lampstand, shines continuously in our heart, lighting our path and consuming the darkness.
Lord Jesus, You suffered great agony for me. Your crushing provided the oil of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me and shines Your brilliance into the dark crevices of my heart. Thank you, Lord. I love You so much and appreciate Your sacrifice.
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