The gift!

Who would have ever thought that I would deserve a gift. Thank you Lord Jesus for the best gift ever. 

Ephesians chapter 1 verses 13 and 14.

And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians. His presence within us is God's guarantee that He really will give us all that He promised; and the Spirit's seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that He guarantees to bring us to Himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.

The Holy Spirit alive inside you is your guarantee from God of your place in life with Him, now and forever. The Holy Spirit is your living energy filled with wanting to please God in all you do. He is your joy of seeking God, walking with Jesus and living in His presence.

  In Mark chapter 4 the disciples are caught in a storm on boat. Jesus was sleeping and they were afraid of drowning. Frantically they awakened Him, shouting, "Teacher, don't You even care that we are all about to drown?" (Verses 39-41) Then He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Quiet down!" And the wind fell, and there was a great calm! And He asked them, "Why were you so fearful? Don't you even yet have confidence in Me?" And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, "Who is this man, that even the winds and seas obey Him?"

   If you have given your life over to Jesus, then you have God's Holy Spirit inside you. That is the awesome joy you feel. Circumstance's will try your patience, death will happen and sickness will not go away but your strength and power are found in your place with God. Like the disciples there will be times when you feel frantic and overwhelmed, but your teachings have taught you to trust Jesus and know that God is with you.

   And it will be by your faith that the Holy Spirit will lead you to worship and give praise to God for His Son Jesus. Doing things on your own is fine, but you will find that there is strength and encouragement in the church, which is God's house. It is where believers can gather and sing songs of praise, it's where you can immerse yourself in the feelings you have for God and Jesus. It's where you can listen to the stories about God brought forward from the bible. It's where the Holy Spirit can touch your very soul with your love for Christ and His love for you. 

   Your spiritual longing to know more about God and Jesus lets the Holy Spirit lead you to daily readings, memorizing bible Scripture and prayer. You have daily routines, and places of work, but now you are living in His pasture as one of His flock, trusting in His leadership and protection.

   I found out today that the word "follow" used in verse 6 of the 23rd psalm means to 'pursue' or to 'chase after,' in Hebrew. So verse 6 of the 23rd psalm could be read as; "Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Wow! Jesus pursues after those who belong to Him. 

   In numbers chapter 14, the people of Israel have had mixed emotions over entering into the promised land. The spies had installed fear into them about the vast numbers of people they saw on their trip to the promised land. God was ready to lead them but now He felt rejected instead of trusted. The people went ahead without God and found disaster. 

   We are to trust in God for everything. How many times will God have to prove Himself to you? Our lives are made up of one circumstance after another, especially with aging. Our bodies break down, loneliness sets in and our minds play havoc with our thoughts. There is no more important time than now to trust in God. Don't be alone but be filled with the Holy Spirit and love the life you have been given. 

   What's even better, is the time is coming when you will be with Jesus. In a everlasting peace that is far more than you could ever imagine. Your story may be the words that someone needs to hear. Use the joy you have with God to help others find their way. Galatians chapter 6 verses 4 and 5 say; "Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and will not need to compare himself with someone else. Each of us must bear some faults and burdens of his own. For none of us is perfect!"

   Thank You Father for Jesus. You have been given salvation through Jesus and His Holy Spirit is your joy of life with Him. 😊             

Colossians chapter 3 verses 22-25.

You slaves must always obey your earthly masters, not only trying to please them when they are watching you but all the time; obey them willingly because of your love for the Lord and because you want to please Him. Work hard and cheerfully at all you do, just as though you were working for the Lord and not merely for your masters, remembering that it is the Lord Christ who is going to pay you, giving you your full portion of all He owns. He is the one you are really working for. And if you don't do your best for Him, He will pay you in a way that you won't like---for He has no special favorites who can get away with shirking. 

Psalms chapter 37 verses 1-8.

Never envy the wicked! Soon they fade away like grass and disappear. Trust in the Lord instead. Be kind and good to others; then you will live safely here in the land and prosper, feeding in safety. Be delighted with the Lord. Then He will give you all your hearts desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it and He will. Your innocence will be clear to everyone. He will vindicate you with the blazing light of justice shinning down from the noonday sun. Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him to act. Do not be envious of evil men who prosper. Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Do not fret and worry---it only leads to harm. 

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9.

For it is by grace that we are saved through faith, not that of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works lest we boast.