Handmaid of the Lord

Regardless of their differences, God demonstrated His power in the lives of both Esther and Ruth. Esther was a Jewish captive in a foreign land, while Ruth was a young widow from a pagan country serving her bitter mother-in-law in Israel. Crowned queen of Babylon at the king's pleasure, Esther accepted her position with courage. Ruth, loving and determined, chose to leave her native country and wait God as a servant in the fields. They entrusted their lives to God. As a result, the exiled Jews were spared from death and Ruth was restored with a godly husband and the privilege of being one of Jesus' earthly forebearers. The promise of fulfilled purpose can still be found in God today....

"Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it." 1 Thess. 5:24

My Adoration of Autumn

Pennsylvania's annual beauty is neatly framed into four seasons. Of these seasons autumn has grounded its roots deepest in my delight. Naturally, the rapture of fiery hue captivates my sight; but more so, the Lord's goodness captivates my heart. After the struggle in the birth of spring and in the heat of summer, autumn surrounds me with a sense of completeness. The fruits of labor have ripened! Autumn portrays the Final Harvest when in radiant glory Christ shall return for His own. Thanksgiving, matchless to any other gratitude, will define each soul –now fully complete with Him. The promise of redeeming grace shall surely be satisfied.

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Jude 21;24;25

The Holy Spirit's Rejoicing

Am I abiding in the Spirit or quenching it? What function can the enlightened heart perform? Where does praise originate? And how can I thank God for all things in sincerity? Is there really a position in which the soul freely submits one to another?

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:18-21

This passage in Ephesians directs, “Be not drunk... but be filled with the Spirit.” A person drinking an overabundance of alcohol is soon possessed by it and unable to control himself. He does not know who he is, where he is, or what he is doing. In the same way, Christians should be filled --or possessed by-- the Spirit. If you were controlled by the Spirit, your identity would be Christ, your location would be the Father's will, and your calling would be Spirit's power and precedence.

“Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18

“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” Psalm 15:1;2

As a Child of God the Spirit lives in you. Your heart is the Spirit's home and workplace. The Holy Spirit is God on earth today. The Spirit was sent here to teach, empower, lead, and comfort us after God the Son returned to reign victorious in Heaven. When you confess your sin and ask God the Father to cleanse you from all unrighteousness He can and will because His Son is making intercession for you now before the Father. Being pardoned from sin, you are enabled to stand in pure unity before God. Present sins are the very means of “quenching the Spirit.” --And when they are purged, you are placed in fellowship with God-- allowing Him to work in your life.

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23;24

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." John 16:13

The excellent work begins: The Spirit reveals the truth of God's holy Word. Truth revealed is not merely a Christians reading God's law, but the Christlike wisdom and understanding from which Christians can be used of God to the utmost. God wrote His Word, and only by God can you fully understand what He would have you to know. The ultimate foundation of truth is Christ. In being exposed to the image of God your mind and heart is transformed. The response to such glory in the unity of God is proclamation. Since it is from the meditation of your heart you act, the truth is testified to others through you by the Spirit Himself!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

At the realization of God's power, the heart swells with a boldness to not only tell of it but also sing forth in wonder and thanksgiving. You can see no greater call than to praise the Lord before the throne of grace. This is the heart the God desires you to have. This is the heart of Jesus Christ --in the streets of the blind, at the table of publicans, and on the cross of separation from His Father-- for you.

No greater joy and strength is found than knowing the Truth --glimpsing the glory of God. Paul, the human author of Ephesians 5:18-21, later wrote in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walking in truth.” Your walk blesses fellow brothers in Christ by saying, “Being strong and of good courage; greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!”

Your praise to God continues in thanking Him for all things. Not just singing about it-- living your every action in gratitude always. Although an imperfect sinner, as long as you am abiding in the Spirit, you will always be thanking God for all things. If you are not thankful you are not in fellowship with God, believing that all things are being fitted into the perfect masterpiece. Therefore, may you daily seek the Lord's face and walk in His footprints... and witness His blueprint being unfolded.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:5;8

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” Psalm 63:1

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

As a result of this power, joy, strength, and love you freely submit yourself “one to another in the fear of God.” You have understanding in our Father. His will is made clear. Being acceptable before the Lord is the safest, most glorified place to be. There your will is none other than that which the Lord wills.

Am I possessed by the Spirit today? Is there any way that I am poisoning the the truth that the Spirit is trying to show me? What is there in my life that is keeping me from being fully in the Spirit? Lay aside not only every sin, but also every weight. What is my song? Is it of corrupt, former things of unrighteousness –or of truth, joy, thanksgiving, and a godly willingness? Remember, it is from the meditation of the heart that I act. May our lives continue to grow up in Him in all things.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:8-11

         

“I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.” Psalm 104:33-34

The Language of Music

Music is one of the earth's most fascinating languages. Because music is orchestrated on instruments throughout the world, it is universally understood. There is no end of creativity or existence in the writing of music. Displaying a theme, music reflects the historic vernacular of a people; however, it also publishes much of an individual's evaluation in morals and limitations. While one performs the music of another the dialect may be altered, but the aria remains distinguished. Unquestionably, the skillful voice of music has an indescribable impact on the human soul.

“And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” ~Psalm 40:3

Complete In Thee

Lately this hymn has been holding a special place in my heart with the Lord...


Complete in Thee! no work of mine

May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I am now complete in Thee.

Refrain:
Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified! Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified, I too, shall be!

Complete in Thee! no more shall sin,
Thy grace hath conquered, reign within;
Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee,
And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee each want supplied,
And no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Dear Saviour! when before Thy bar
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen will I be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.

An Afternoon with Owen & Reagan

A walk to the Apple Orchard

How are these apples?

 A wee bit tart yet

Up in the tree line

 Reagan

Owen spotted this caterpillar in the fields....

 Hiking into the Woods

 Catchin' Salamanders at the creek!

 Jewel Weed

     In the meadow

  Good Bye!

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of a corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. ~1 Peter 1:22-23

The Mystery of Godliness

1 & 2 Timothy were written by the apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor. In Acts and Romans we can study the life of Paul, who went from warring against the church to being a soldier of Christ, a missionary that fulfilled the call, a prisoner that sang with joy, and a human that God chose to write down the Almighty's very own Words. Although Paul was older and more mature, Timothy could experience the same Grace in his walk with God. The Books of Timothy were not only for struggling young Timothy yesterday, but also for you and me today.

"...But godliness is profitable unto  a l l  t h i n g s , having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of  a l l  acceptation." 
1 Timothy 4:8-9

A godly individual is someone who is pleasing to the Lord. Because "without  f a i t h  it is impossible to please Him"(Heb. 11:6), godliness should first of all be seen as the result of dependence on God. In Galatians 5:6 we read, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love". We work for what we do because we cherish it. Love for Christ avails [produces] godliness.
Once the definition of godliness is rightly discerned, we can apply it to our lives (through Christ). Godliness requires devotion (another result of love). In verse 7 of 1 Timothy 4 we are commanded: "...exercise thyself rather unto godliness". Thyself-personal-just you, not others we wish would make our lives less stressful. Remember, godliness is the product of love.
This godliness, what is its use? Godliness is the image of Christ on you and the will of God in you. Verse 8 simply states that it is profitable in all things. God is a God of detail. Godliness is profitable unto ALL things! This is profit, how so? Verse 8 reveals that too. Attaining godliness is having "the promise of the life" exposed in us. Not only future life, but also life now. Christ is Life. The promise of that held in our lives is the fullness of Christ  l i v i n g  in our heart.
Are we accepting this in every area of our lives? This is a faithful, never-failing Truth. It is worth our life, our heart-- and our love.

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"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12

Now armed against evil, we take on the example --or image-- of the believers. In apprehending God's Words and presence we live life anew. Amid the battle of life God looks upon us and sees Christ's righteousness. Do not be blinded when others despise [think little or nothing of] you.You have been called unto liberty! God does not despise, but rewards such that love Him. (Heb 11:6). Fully surrendered in love to God, every area will be found changing-- like Christ. Open your face to behold the GLORY of all that God is.

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the  s a m e  image from glory to glory, even as be the Spirit of the Lord." 
2 Corinthians 3:17-18


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"But if I [Paul] tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the  m y s t e r y  o f  g o d l i n e s s: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into GLORY." 
1 Timothy 3:15-16