What about You?

Psalm 21:1-7

New International Version (NIV)

 

¹ The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!

² You have granted him his heart’s desire
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.^[b]
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
⁴ He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.
⁵ Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
⁶ Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
⁷ For the king trusts in the Lord;
    through the unfailing love of the Most High
    he will not be shaken.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2021:1-7&version=NIV)

 

This is a Psalm of David, but can you proclaim this psalm?  Read it again and put your name in the place of the king.  David recognized where his victories came from, he recognized where his strength was from.  David knew that God was the One in control and he put his trust in Him.  Because of that, nothing would change his loyalty to God.  Nothing would cause him to doubt or turn from God, he would not be shaken.

 

David did not have a life of all good, he had his struggles, fears, and disappointments yet he put his trust in God.  Even David struggled with people who rejected him without cause.  Even David struggled with sin.  Yet David repented.  David came to the realization that he could not do anything in his own power.  He knew he had a God that would grant him the desires of his heart.  He knew that he could not be shaken when he was in the presence of the Lord.  My question again today is, “What about you?” 

 

Seek and trust in the Lord and find the strength, the joy, the splendor and majesty that David experienced.  We may not have the title of “king” but we belong to the KING.

 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

 

Sheila   

To Hear God's Voice

Psalm 20

English Standard Version (ESV)

20 May the Lord ^(A)answer you in the day of trouble!
    May ^(B)the name of the God of Jacob ^(C)protect you!
² May he send you help from ^(D)the sanctuary
    and give you support from ^(E)Zion!
³ May he ^(F)remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

⁴ May he ^(G)grant you your heart's desire
    and fulfill all your plans!
⁵ May we shout for joy over ^(H)your salvation,
    and in the name of our God set up our ^(I)banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

⁶ Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with ^(J)the saving might of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in ^(K)chariots and some in ^(L)horses,
    ^(M)but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸ They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

⁹ O Lord, save ^(N)the king!
    May he answer us when we call.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2020&version=ESV)

This is personal testimony time for me today.  These verses were set in place for me to hear God talk to me today!  I have struggled over the past two years after the charter school that I was the principal of was closed due to budget cuts.  I thought I had four very good chances of getting an administrative position but they all fell through so I drew unemployment for a while and then found a good part time job in banking.  I have not been satisfied in my job, not that it is a bad job but I have a desire within my heart to help youth.  I see past students in town all the time and they always make a point to tell me hi, give me a hug, or a handshake.  It makes me know why I was in education in the first place and the desire to be back is overwhelming.

Just yesterday I was praying that the Lord would either take the desire away or open a door for me because I am miserable.  I want to be happy, I want to be joyful and I want to have the desire that He wants for me.  I don’t like the feeling that I have had for the past two years.  Today, the scripture reading was the answer to my prayer.  Even though I know to trust in Him I struggle with why He keeps telling me to wait.  As I read that scripture I could picture Him sitting beside me and saying those words.  If you want to hear God’s voice, pick up the Bible!

 

Today my prayer is this,

In Jesus most precious and most holy name I petition to you Father.  Dear Heavenly Father, I want my desires to be the desires you have for me.  Change my heart’s desires Lord if they are not totally in sync with your desires for my life.  Give me wisdom to know where you would have me be and to be satisfied with that.  Give me strength to endure the rejections until the place you would have for me opens up.  Guide my every move, my every thought, and my every desire Father.  Thank you so much for your words, your promises, and your comfort in times of trouble. AMEN

Dear friend as you seek Him know that you can find Him in the Living Word of God.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

The Perfect Law of the Lord

Psalm 19:7-14

English Standard Version (ESV)

^7 (A)The law of the Lord is perfect,^{[a]
    (B)}reviving the soul;
^(C)the testimony of the Lord is ^(D)sure,
    ^(E)making wise ^(F)the simple;
^8 (G)the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is ^(H)pure,
    ^(I)enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules^[b] of the Lord are ^(J)true,
    and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than ^(K)gold,
    even much ^(L)fine gold;
^(M)sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of ^(N)the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    ^(O)in keeping them there is great reward.

^12 (P)Who can discern his errors?
    ^(Q)Declare me innocent from ^(R)hidden faults.
^13 (S)Keep back your servant also from ^(T)presumptuous sins;
    let them not have ^(U)dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
    and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in your sight,
    O Lord, my ^(V)rock and my ^(W)redeemer.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2019:7-14&version=ESV)

 

Often times we hear people say that they want to enjoy life.  They want to put off the Christian life because there are just too many rules to follow and they want to have fun.  If we as Christians give this impression to people then we are not living out the law of God very well at all.  In our scripture today we see that the law of the Lord is freeing.  It tells us that the law of the Lord should be rejoicing to our heart, enlightening the eyes, it should be desired more than gold and sweeter than honey, so why then, do people see it as a restraint?

 

The answer to that question could be a multiple of reasons.  First of all, those who see sin as fun are those who do not see God as the eternal being that He is.  They do not see the all-powerful Judge, their Creator; they rather see themselves as the only purpose for being on this earth. They live life for today and not for eternity.  Because of that, they want no restraints put on them and they think life is better without following the laws of God. 

 

Another reason may be that some people, even though they believe in God, even proclaim to trust in Him still do not fully understand what the law is about.  Jesus made it clear that the law is summed up in two commands.  Love the Lord your God . . . and love your neighbor. . . yet that is something that we find difficult to do.  When we love the Lord above anything else, we are going to want to obey His laws, we are going to strive to always do what is right in His eyes and when He gives us the strength to do so and forgiveness when we fail, it is refreshing and delights the soul.  When we love our neighbor and help them in times of need we find delight in doing so but when we love ourselves more than others we find frustration and discontent in both our part and their part as well.  So to satisfy that discontentment some may try to expand the laws, make them more about actions rather than about the heart.  For example, they may think that if they go to church once in a while their sins will be forgiven but that is not what the law is all about.  We can’t just try to be a good person and fulfill the commands of the law.  When we work at it, then it is not from the heart and it is a restraint rather than a joy.

 

The last verse gives an answer that really spoke to me. We may think that it is out of place but in actuality I believe it answers our question.  If the words that come out of our mouth and if our heart is meditating in ways that are acceptable to God our lives will reflect it.  People who do not know Him won’t see people who have to follow laws, they will see people who are happy, rejoicing, and full of life.  They won’t see people who have to give up anything but rather people who have everything.  Those who want to live their lives for themselves are not content, even though they may try to get you to think they are.  They are continually searching for satisfaction in things that go against God’s laws and we find in these verses that rebellion is not what brings contentment in this life. 

 

As you seek Him, follow His commands and find that you have more freedom, more joy, and much more contentment when you confess to Him both known and unknown sins in your life.

 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Look Up

Psalm 19:1-6

English Standard Version (ESV)

19 ^(A)The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above^[a] proclaims his handiwork.
² Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
^4 (B)Their ^(C)voice^[b] goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for ^(D)the sun,
^{5     (E)}which comes out like ^(F)a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
⁶ Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2019:%201%20-%206&version=ESV)

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.

Neil Armstrong

(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/neilarmstr101138.html)

The Psalmist only saw with his eyes the beauty of the expanse of the skies.  Today we have telescopes that can see light years away.  Today we have astronauts that traveled to the moon and back.  Today we have people living in space stations far above the earth.  Yet, today, we have people who still do not believe there is a God.  We have people who think they can live this life on their own.  People who think God can be minimized to that of a human body.  They depend on their own success, their good lives, their own strength, not realizing that it is all only possible because of the mighty hands of God. Nothing would be in existence without the breath of God, yet they think they can live a life without Him.  The moon, the stars, the sun all tell us of the wonders of our Lord yet we don’t listen.

I have a quote from Neil Armstrong, one who traveled to the moon and back to give us the perspective of who we really are.  He says he felt “very very small” and that is what we are.  In comparison to our Lord and Savior, we are like the smallest of small ants yet we think we know so much.  Our God is so Great and Mighty but we walk this earth, thinking we have all the answers.  Next time I think I know it all, I hope I remember to look up into the sky, whether it is the sun or the moon that I see, I will know that I am only an ant busily crawling around, going nowhere except where the Father directs.

Today, Father, I pray for those who have not yet realized that life is meaningless without you in their lives.  I especially pray for those that I know who have depended on their own strength, not realizing that any strength they have comes from you.  It pains me to know that they are not living for you.  You know who they are and where they are and I ask you Father to work in their lives, humble them that they may come to you.  Cause them to look up into the skies and know that you are God, the creator of everything.  In Jesus Precious and Holy Name I pray,  Amen.

Our Deliverer

Psalm 18:42-50

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴² I beat them fine as ^(A)dust before the wind;
    I cast them out like ^(B)the mire of the streets.

⁴³ You delivered me from ^(C)strife with the people;
    you made me ^(D)the head of the nations;
    ^(E)people whom I had not known served me.
⁴⁴ As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
    ^(F)foreigners ^(G)came cringing to me.
^45 (H)Foreigners lost heart
    and ^(I)came trembling out of their fortresses.

⁴⁶ The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be the God of my salvation—
⁴⁷ the God who gave me vengeance
    and ^(J)subdued peoples under me,
⁴⁸ who delivered me from my enemies;
    yes, you ^(K)exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you rescued me from ^(L)the man of violence.

^49 (M)For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
    and ^(N)sing to your name.
⁵⁰ Great ^(O)salvation he brings to his king,
    and shows steadfast love to his ^(P)anointed,
    to ^(Q)David and his offspring forever.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2018:42-50&version=ESV)

In this passage David recognizes that God has been in control in the past also recognizes that He still is in control.  Although David was successful in all he pursued he knew it was impossible without God. There is no doubt that God gave David the skills and the ability to conquer great things but David recognizes that it was not through his own abilities but through the Father who was his strength. 

David gives the Lord praise by recognizing that He is alive and that He is the rock on which all of life’s battles must be fought and won.  Maybe our battles are little in comparison to David’s but they are just as real and just as big to us.  God knows what our battles are and He is not only our biggest cheerleader, He is our strongest player.  He is there to guide and direct us to a victorious win yet we must trust in Him.  We must not falter when things get tough.  We must not throw up our hands and surrender to the enemy.  We must stand firm in our faith and realize our Father is the One in control and we must follow where He leads us.  This is what David did, he sought the Lord.  He asked the Lord for advice and it was given to him.  He was victorious only because the Father was his Deliverer.

As you seek Him may you rest in the calm assurance that our God is greater than anything or anyone else in this world.  In order to conquer the enemy we must seek His guidance.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Celebrate

Psalm 18:31-41

English Standard Version (ESV)

³¹ For ^(A)who is God, but the Lord?
    And who is ^(B)a rock, except our God?—
³² the God who ^(C)equipped me with strength
    and made my way ^(D)blameless.
³³ He made my feet like the feet of a ^(E)deer
    and set me secure on ^(F)the heights.
³⁴ He ^(G)trains my hands for war,
    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You have given me the shield of your salvation,
    and your right hand ^(H)supported me,
    and your ^(I)gentleness made me great.
³⁶ You ^(J)gave a wide place for my steps under me,
    and my feet did not slip.
³⁷ I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
    and did not turn back till they were consumed.
³⁸ I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
    they fell under my feet.
³⁹ For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
    you made those who rise against me sink under me.
⁴⁰ You made my enemies ^(K)turn their backs to me,^[a]
    and those who hated me I destroyed.
^41 (L)They cried for help, but there was none to save;
    they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2018:31-41&version=ESV)

Philippians 4:12-13

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and ^(A)hunger, abundance and ^(B)need. ¹³ I can do all things ^(C)through him who strengthens me.

(Ahttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PAhilippians%204:12-13&version=ESV)

There is no doubt that David recognized where his strength came from and the same is true for Paul.  Both had times in their lives when they enjoyed success and both had times in their lives when they had many enemies.  Both, however, recognized that their strength was not from their own power but from the power of the Lord.  Neither of them blamed God for their troubles but rather sought Him for their deliverance.  They knew that all things came from God and that God was in control; because of their faith they were strengthened.

I have to ask myself if I blame God or if I celebrate His mighty power.  Do I celebrate the deliverance He has given me or do I complain about the situation I am in?  Too often times I find myself complaining rather than celebrating.  It is easy for me to say that God gives me strength and I even pray for that strength before I get out of bed.  However, at times I find myself complaining about my difficulties forgetting that God will deliver me from them in His timing.  He is the One in control and He will give me the strength that it takes in whatever situation I find myself.  For those who follow Christ, He will do that for you too.  So we should not fret rather celebrate His power and watch Him be at work through us.

As you seek Him today, celebrate who He is, celebrate who He has made you, celebrate that He gives you strength in times of troubles and in times of triumph celebrate that it comes only because of Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

The Light

Psalm 18:20-30

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁰ The Lord dealt with me ^(A)according to my righteousness;
    according to ^(B)the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
²¹ For I have ^(C)kept the ways of the Lord,
    and have not wickedly departed from my God.
²² For ^(D)all his rules^[a] were before me,
    and his statutes I did not put away from me.
²³ I was ^(E)blameless before him,
    and I kept myself from my guilt.
²⁴ So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
    according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

²⁵ With ^(F)the merciful you show yourself merciful;
    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
²⁶ with the purified you show yourself pure;
    and with ^(G)the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
²⁷ For you save ^(H)a humble people,
    but ^(I)the haughty eyes you bring down.
²⁸ For it is you who light my ^(J)lamp;
    the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
²⁹ For by you I can run against a troop,
    and by my God I can ^(K)leap over ^(L)a wall.
³⁰ This God—his way is ^(M)perfect;^[b]
    the word of the Lord ^(N)proves true;
    he is ^(O)a shield for all those who ^(P)take refuge in him.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2018:20%20-%2030&version=ESV)

I had a light bulb come on today!!! I want to tell you about it but first of all let’s talk about the first part of this passage.  It could sound like David is a little self-righteous as he speaks about how clean he is.  He is far from being blameless but yet in the eyes of God he is.  David isn’t “self” righteous, he is righteous through the salvation of the Lord.  God set up a way for people to be cleansed from their sin and David followed those commands.  God set up a way for us to be cleansed too, through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation comes through Christ who died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day to conquer the death of sin.  Just like David, if we know Christ, we can say that we are righteous too but not on our own account.

My “awwhaaa” moment came when I read 25-30.  So often we hear, “If God is so holy why does He let terrible things happen?”  God showed me the answer to that question in these verses.  Look at the characteristics of God, He is merciful, blameless, and pure to those who know Him.  Look at what He is to those who do not know Him, He makes Himself look tortuous.  For those who are separated from the Lord, they will not see Him as a loving God because they themselves have not become pure.  To the one who knows Christ, they see a God who forgives but to the wicked they see a God that torments.  As we keep on reading we see that God will save the humble person but brings down the one who does not know Him.  So you may say, “Then why do bad things happen to good people?” The answer is right there in these verses.  Do you see it?  Verse 28, “It is you who lights my lamp, the Lord my God lightens my darkness.”  Yes, we are going to have times of darkness, which is a part of life, the result of the very first sin.  Yet, those who trust in the Lord see the light, they see Him in those times of darkness.  Those who do not know Him only see torment.  David recognizes the only way he can defeat the troops, the only way he can jump over walls is by putting His trust in His Lord and Savior.  It is all about where your heart is.  Are you merciful to others when they hurt you?  Are you blameless?  Are you purified?  If you are the light bulb has come on but if you are not then torment will soon follow. 

Trust in Him, who can purify and show you blameless.  Seek the One who can give you rest.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

Our Rescuer

Psalm 18:16-19

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁶ He ^(A)sent from on high, he took me;
    he ^(B)drew me out of ^(C)many waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my strong enemy
    and from those who hated me,
    for they were ^(D)too mighty for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
    but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out into ^(E)a broad place;
    he rescued me, because he ^(F)delighted in me.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2018:%2016%20-19&version=ESV

All that I can really say is AMEN to these verses. I have seen over the years how the Lord has rescued me from my enemies, from the enemies of God.  When we speak of enemies we need to think not of those who are necessarily evil people but rather people who do not know the Lord 

As a child I had friends at school that would sometimes come over and play with me.  I had a trampoline that many of my friends liked to jump on so at times they would come over and jump.  I never really knew how much they enjoyed those times until I was a grown adult when they have mentioned those times as fond memories.  When junior high came around those friends disappeared.  They made jokes at my expense and really would have nothing to do with me.  As a result I had to find new friends.  The friends I found had the same beliefs I did regarding our faith.  We believed in the One true God. We had no desire to drink, smoke, or take drugs.  God had given me during that transition time wonderful friends to protect me from the enemy.

As adults I have since confessed to these elementary school friends that I missed their friendship.  We have gotten together and they told story after story of their fun times together and I felt I had missed out.  Their response to me was, “you were a good girl and we didn’t want to ruin you”.    When they said that, a light bulb came on. Who told them to leave me alone?  Who told them I was a god girl?  I knew at that time that God had protected me from corruption.  He kept me clean for His glory.  I can happily say that I shared my faith with all of them.  I encouraged them to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Many of them told me that they now had that relationship.  I told them that I wanted to see them in Heaven someday and several expressed to me that they would be there.  Glory Hallelujah!  We have a Savior who not only protects but one that will allow us to stray just so when we finally come to Him our sins can be forgiven and He will receive the glory due to Him.

Thank you Father for your protection, for rescuing me from the enemy.  I pray for your protection from the enemy over my children and their spouses, my granddaughter and any other grandchildren you may bless me with.  I pray for protection of the readers of this blog Father, that you will rescue them from the enemy and make your glory known to those who have not experienced it. I pray for protection from the enemy over our household just as you protected the Israelites from the wrath of God I ask that you spread your wing of protection over us dear Father.  I pray that as you protect us from the enemy you will hear only praise from us.  Sometimes Father we don’t think we want the protection but we also recognize that you know what protection we need and you will make sure we get it.  Sometimes our enemies seem easy to conquer and then other times it seems so difficult.  Father I recognize that when it seems easy it is because our full trust is in you but when it seems difficult it is when we are trusting in ourselves and not in you.  Just as David said, the enemy is too strong for us but to you they are not.  Help us Father to recognize that it is you that we get our strength.  In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

Seek Him and know that He is your rescuer.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

A Righteous God/ A Just God/ A Loving God

Psalm 18:1-15

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, ^(A)the servant of the Lord, ^(B)who addressed the words of this^(C)song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my ^(D)rock and my ^(E)fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my ^(F)rock, in ^(G)whom I take refuge,
    my ^(H)shield, and ^(I)the horn of my salvation, my ^(J)stronghold.
³ I call upon the Lord, who is ^(K)worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

^4 (L)The cords of death encompassed me;
    ^(M)the torrents of destruction assailed me;^[a]
5 (N)the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

^6 (O)In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I cried for help.
From his ^(P)temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.

⁷ Then the earth ^(Q)reeled and rocked;
    the foundations also of the mountains trembled
    and quaked, because he was angry.
⁸ Smoke went up from his nostrils,^[b]
    and devouring ^(R)fire from his mouth;
    glowing coals flamed forth from him.
⁹ He ^(S)bowed the heavens and ^(T)came down;
    ^(U)thick darkness was under his feet.
¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew;
    he came swiftly on ^(V)the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his ^(W)canopy around him,
    thick clouds ^(X)dark with water.
¹² Out of the brightness before him
    ^(Y)hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

¹³ The Lord also ^(Z)thundered in the heavens,
    and the Most High uttered his ^(AA)voice,
    hailstones and coals of fire.
¹⁴ And he sent out his ^(AB)arrows and scattered them;
    he flashed forth lightnings and ^(AC)routed them.
¹⁵ Then ^(AD)the channels of the sea were seen,
    and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your ^(AE)rebuke, O Lord,
    at the blast of ^(AF)the breath of your nostrils.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2018:1%20%2015&version=ESV&utm_expid=13466113-5&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2F

Often times in our society today people seem to think that it is okay to do whatever they want because God is a loving God.  They seem to equate love with gentleness, giving us what we want, having our finger wrapped around someone’s little finger, etc.  The list goes on at the things we equate love with.  Rarely in today’s society do people actually believe discipline is a sign of love.  They seem to think that if they want their child to love them they have to show their love to their child by letting them have and do what they want.  WRONG!!!!!!!

Today in these few verses we see that God was a God to David that gave him strength during his time of distress.  God was someone that David could call upon, the only one he could truly trust with all confidence.  That is a God of love.  David didn’t just call upon the Lord in his distress but he also confessed to Him during his times of failure to live up to what God had called him to be.  Often times I think we tend to put God on the back burner until we need something and then we call upon Him.  That is not what we should be doing, we need to seek Him daily, confess to Him daily, hourly, every minute . . . whatever is needed.  We need to live and breathe for our Lord and Savior and then, the loving God that He is will protect us from our enemies.

Let’s briefly look at the contrast.  He can call down hail, coals of fire, and lightning all at the sound of His voice.  He utters the word and His judgment will strike.  He is a loving God yet He knows who He is and He knows whose is His.  If people want to deny Him, He lets them yet judgment will someday befall them.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that I NEVER want to displease God yet, every time I do, I know, that I am covered by the blood of Jesus who I have claimed as my Lord and Savior.  I strive to live a life that is pleasing to Him but when my humanness pokes its ugly head out, I know my Savior is there to rescue me.

What about you?  Are you one who denies there is a God?  You may say that you know there is a God but you just want to live life to the fullest and you don’t have time for Him.  If that is how you believe, then you are just as much an enemy as the one who denies there is a God.  God does not want just part of you, He wants all of you.  He doesn’t want you to call upon Him only in times of distress but He wants you to seek Him daily.  Daily recognize that He is God, a loving God, a righteous God, and a God who will call judgment upon all those who deny Him.  Seek Him, Know Him, and Rest assured in His Everlasting Love for you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila