Until He has Control

  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, 'Samuel, Samuel.'

Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

I Samuel 3:10

"Until He has Control"

No value am I to the Master

Until He has control.

All sufficiency must be of Him

In body, mind and soul.

He loved us enough to redeem us.

He set the captives free.

So now if we'll just yield to Him,

He'll use such as you and me.

It may not be outstanding,

It matters not at all:
As long as our hearts are in tune with Him

And we're listening for His call.

Written by my Grandmother, Belle Sandefur

A Moment of Silence

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.  God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.   Ecclesiastes 5:2  (NIV)

I've not been posting for the last few days..not because I've had no thoughts...but just because it seems that sometimes there are really no words that should be said.   Have you ever been unable to put into words what your heart is feeling?  You attempt to pray and nothing really comes, except just quiet, stillness?  That's okay.  In fact, that's really a good thing.  We all need to do this more often.  Just be quiet and know..that He is God. 

So tonight's post is short.  Let's just stand, sit or bow our hearts in awe of Who He is:  Our Savior...Our Redeemer...Our Friend...Our Provider....Our Father....Our Comforter...Our Shepherd...Our Creator...Our King... Our Master...Our Brother...Our Shelter...Our Rock...Our Hiding Place... Our Instructor...Our Way...Our Truth...Our Life...Our Potter...Our Captain... Our One and Only God. 

Thank You Father!  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Construction Zone

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.  Psalm 37:5

Tuesday's blog entry was discussing how God has promised to make all things new, and for us to forget the past and watch Him make a "road" in the middle of our "wasteland"---(which the Hebrew text is referring to an open field, such as where cattle are driven.) 

With the recent announcement of some upcoming changes being made, I couldn't  help but wonder... "Lord, how will all of this turn out?  How is this even going to happen?   I don't even have any 'oars' to paddle with."  (See Sat.'s blog.)    Well, last night, I read Psalm 37:5.  Hmmm.  Commit thy "way."  "I wonder if 'way' means the same thing as 'way' in Isaiah 43:18, 19.  Sure enough..it does.  "Way, road, distance, journey, manner."  

We are to commit (roll over) our way (or the road we're on) right onto the LORD.   Remember He tells us in Isaiah 43: 18, 19  to forget the past because He's going to make a way for us...A new ROAD.  A new direction.   We really aren't supposed to wonder about "where's He taking us?" or "how's He even going to do this?"...we are just to trust Him.  So...forget the old PATH (past) and roll it over onto Him, bad memories, bad decisions, mistakes, and all, and TRUST HIM---to do what?  To make a NEW WAY spring forth in this wilderness....Have you ever seen a construction zone in the middle of a wilderness?  I think I'm in the middle of one...but it's good, because He is making all things NEW.  :)

Father, I have no idea what You are doing in my life right now..sometimes it's like a mystery.  That's totally fine with me too..because all I need to know is YOU are UP to something.  Instead of "Road Under Construction," I think I'm seeing "Road Closed, Follow Detour."   Please help me, dear Holy Spirit, by giving me a clear vision as to where I need to be facing..what direction is this new road going to be headed?  I am trusting You in the midst of it all.   In Jesus' Name I pray...Amen.

Thoughts of Thanks

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

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.   

I Thessalonians 5:18

Had to choose two verses today, since they both have something to do with my thoughts for today.  Last night I received the "we're sorry to inform you" email, stating that the article I prayerfully submitted last week had not been chosen for the scholarship.  At first there was a tinge of disappointment, then the feelings of rejection began to creep up.   It's easy to praise Him when everything goes "as we had planned or hoped," but how easy is it to praise Him when things don't go as planned?   Well, if our will is completely engulfed in His, then it will be easy..because we know that He is in control and when He says, "No" it's only because there's something better He has waiting for us--maybe a few more lessons to learn, allowing us to grow closer to Him. 

So, today's blog entry is just simply a way for me to say thanks...

Thank You, Father, for shutting the door on this opportunity.  I do hope that even though my "words" were not "accepted" in someone else's sight, I do pray that they will always be found acceptable in Thy sight.  Make even my thoughts to be found acceptable in Thy sight too.  For whatever I think, I will eventually speak.  Please continue to keep Your hand on me, and make me more like Your Son, who gave His life for me.  Thank You for Your never-ending patience with this vessel of clay.   It matters not if anyone else "hears" my voice...what matters most is that I know You do.  Not only do You hear me, but You also care for me especially when my heart feels a tinge of sadness or is even crushed by enormous grief.  I love You for saying No..for I know Your NO is really a "Yes, I'm still in control..I've got my eye on you..."  So thank You, again for doing all things well.  I look to You for help and guidance!   In Jesus' Name I pray, amen.

Wasteland or Road?

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.   Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18, 19

This morning I could tell I needed an extra boost from the Lord.  I know that we walk by faith and not by sight, so my heart just asked Him for one promise that I can cling to, by faith, for today.   And of course, He answered.  There it was. . . those two verses in Isaiah.  "Don't remember the former things....I'm doing something NEW..I will make a way in the wilderness..and rivers in the desert."  MMMmm Good!  There was the life-line to cling to.

Then the desire to dig further, I guess inspect the life-line, overwhelmed me--probably similar to the desire of someone digging for gold or hidden treasures.   When we read God's Word, it's very important to read it, think upon it....but don't stop there.  Dig further.  When we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him.  It's like the Lord is readily available, yet still so mysterious...there's still so much to learn, to find out about God.  Hidden within His Word are golden nuggets, if we'll only take time to search.

When you hear the word "wilderness" do you think of a hopeless wasteland?  Me too.  So, of course it's encouraging to know that He will make a way even in the middle of hopelessness.  But when I searched the Hebrew meaning I noticed the text is used in the "sense of driving,"  and an open field where cattle are driven.  The word "way" in the Hebrew text is "derek" which means "road." 

The word "river" is more specifically referring to the Euphrates River...which is in the Fertile Crescent...It's meaning is "That which is fruitful."  The Euphrates is a winding river that brings much water to the thirsty land around it.  Even more special to my heart was how "river" also depicts "to sparkle," or "be cheerful," "flowing together."  Oh!  To have this promise that our God is going to give us a sense of direction, and cause His Holy Spirit to flow through us, together with our submissive hearts, to bring sparkle to our otherwise "desert, wasteland" lives.  We will no longer be wandering, but on a direct path that He brings forth....and we'll be cheerful in following Him.  Others will see the Sparkle that He brings!  The Fruit of the Spirit!

He will rebuild us and make something fresh and new from our "wasteland" lives...we just have to forget our past...don't even mention it. 

Do you feel as if you're wandering, with no sense of direction?   I've "been there too."  It was so encouraging to know that God has promised to make a road, in this place where we SHOULD be driven for Him, not wandering aimlessly like a bunch of cattle.  Make sure you know Him as your Savior, for He is the only Way to have your sins forgiven.  The debt's been paid.  He is not only the Way, He will MAKE a WAY for you to finish this life, and sparkle for Him!

Thank You Father for giving me hope to cling to today.  I don't have to measure up to the "world's standards."  The only thing that matters is for me to wait on You to bring the road, the path for me to follow UP..Cause it to spring up today.  Move the earth today---only instead of crumbling roads...spring forth a road from this open field; may Your Holy Spirit flow through me, and bring forth the sparkling fruit of the Spirit for all others to enjoy.   In Jesus' name, Amen.

When the Wind Stops Blowing

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?   And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?  Mark 4:40-41

During my quiet time this morning, I read something interesting that applies to my particular situation, but thought I'd write about it, in case you find yourself "there" either today or one day too.

What I read was a Latin Proverb that says:  "If there is no wind, row."    But I felt compelled to write beside it: "But what if you have no oars?" 

I'm sure you're familiar with the old saying, "Put some feet to your prayers."  Or how 'bout this one:  "We must pray as if everything depended upon God, but work as if everything depended upon us." 

Well, it's true..."Faith without works is dead."    The Lord knows our situations.  Maybe this economy has proven to be too distressing and taken its toll on your family finances. . .and now you're faced with having to get a job...get a second job...or just "up and move."    So....the wind has stopped blowing.   Everything has come to a stand-still.  

How can we ROW, just to keep things moving along, especially when we don't seem to have any oars?    I guess the best thing to do is remember: "When all else fails, read the Instruction Book."  That's it.  The Bible.  Go to the Source of all information and guidance.   God has promised to provide us everything we need.  He has equipped us (pre-packed us) for the journey He intends for us to take...as long as we realize that journey is one of following Him, serving Him, growing more like Him.

So..today, Father....I ask if You've equipped me with "oars" or abilities to get this boat moving again because there is no wind.  There is no other way to get us moving.  I pray for Your Dear Holy Spirit to BREATHE new life into the sails of our vessel.   Move us where You would have us to go. . . and, as we look to Your Word for Guidance, we find to our amazement that WE NEED NO OARS!!   We have YOUR Word to guide us, to steer us...as long as we look to YOU, commit each day, and its problems to You, You will guide our thoughts and direct our steps along each and every wave, be it BIG or small.  Guide us Oh Thou Great Jehovah, for our eyes are on You.  We praise You for the fact that the WIND has stopped blowing and we feel stranded at sea!  For this gives us time to CHECK our vessel to make sure we are REALLY READY to move forward.  Check us, Master.  Are there any leaks in this vessel?  Thank You for Your infinite Wisdom.  We trust You even when the wind stops!  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Six-Panel Door

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  John 10:9

This morning, before my feet even hit the floor, I began to look around, trying to focus on "the day ahead."  I noticed the same old familiar six-panel bedroom door...opened, as usual..leading into the hallway, which leads into our dining room.

Then...I saw the door....with its familiar six panels.  Only this time, there it was, staring me in the face...the six panels, as I'm sure you've noticed before, are in the shape of a cross.  Hmmm.  I couldn't help but think of our Lord, and the cruel cross He bled and died from...for you and for me.   And how His Word says, "I am the door."   The door that leads to what?    Oh my....the Gateway that leads to heaven, eternity with the Holy Triune God---Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

But look at the image again.  Do you see it?   Towards the bottom of the door, there is yet another cross.. looking as if it were a reflection of the top one.  Makes me think of what we've been talking about for a while now...the death of the Savior, His resurrection, and yet we must let Him rise again, from OUR HEARTS, by the death of our flesh (or sinful nature.)  There's the symbol for the second, reflective cross on the six-panel door.  We are of course, to be reflections of Him anyway, right?  Oh my.

So, back to my particular six-panel door.    Go through it, and you'll be in the hallway which leads to my dining room.  Ah....a gathering place to enjoy food and fellowship!   This is what Jesus means when He says He is the DOOR, the Gateway....the sheep go in and out of this to graze, sip on Living Water, to rest and be restored, to follow their Shepherd, while listening to His voice, feasting on His Word..basking in His Son-Light. 

Jesus really is the only Way to enjoy the presence of God.  We must GO THROUGH Him in order to "get to" God...or to be restored to a RIGHT relationship with the Triune God.   In the process of walking with Him, feasting on Him, dying to self, we become a true reflection of the Savior, who defeated sin and death for all.

I think from now on I shall never look at my regular old six-panel door the same. 

Thank You, dear Jesus, for being The Door, the One and Only Door, for us to find access to our Heavenly Father, fellowship with You, our Savior, and strength and power through Your Holy Spirit!   Thank You for dying on the cross, and for defeating sin and death for me..for us!   Help me, help US, to share with others the free access we have been given through YOU, the Door, the Way, and may others never look at a door without remembering YOU and what You have done for us!   We love You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--The Divine Triune God. 

In Jesus' Name we pray..Amen.

Looking up....

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:1-3

Thinking about some recent lessons, specifically how we are to let Christ rise in and through us before we speak to others (Mark 9:9  And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.) I couldn't help but notice a common theme in lessons the Lord is showing me.  When I read Colossians 3:1-3, it's almost as if He began "Part II" of  "Wait for the Son to Rise."  Well, we are of course to be "dead to sin."  That is:  our sinful nature is to be crucified with Christ on that cross.  We do this daily...by waking up, saying, "Father, I identify my sinful nature with Christ's atoning work on the cross...and today I nail this deadly sinful nature on the cross..please replace this sinful nature with Your Son's today..."  And bingo!   The Holy Spirit's power has been ignited again---just like a car:  Turn the key, crank that motor and ...BAM...you're out of the driveway.   We are now "Risen with Christ."  

SO...if that's the case...we are to "Seek those things which are above...."  What are we to seek?  Better jobs?  Fancy cars?   Don't know 'bout you, but if I look up, I surely don't want to find a big corporation or corvette dangling in mid-air above my head, about ready to DROP on me!  LOL   Seriously, though...we are to seek Christ.  For He is sitting at the right hand of the Father.   We are essentially engaged to Christ.  God the Father has given us HIS BEST when He gave us His Son, Jesus.  And we are soon to be married to Him.  Surely we should seek to know HIM better, while He is up there preparing our future home!  My heart, my affection, my love is set upon Him....and what's wonderful and yet mysterious is His heart, love, affection, His ALL, is set right back on me!

Oh, to know You more, dear Jesus.  And now...as I am looking UP, seeking Your face, I know exactly where to find it...in Your Word!  You've sent me a wonderful love letter. . .You are telling me how much You love me, what You're doing now in preparation for our "Big Day."  You encourage me to be faithful while I wait.....You've even given me Your Spirit...breathing new life in me each day!   I am so glad that I don't have to spend all my life "Finding Myself" as others tend to do...because I know where I am!  I am HIDDEN in YOU!   Thank You for wrapping Your strong, yet tender and loving arms around me this morning!  Please do the same for all of us!  In Your lovely name, Amen.

You Hangin' in there?

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. 

Isaiah 49:16

Earlier today my friend and I had a quick conversation, albeit via email.  The Lord has inspired several of the past blog entries based on conversations with this dear person.  It is humorous how sometimes little catchy phrases can light a spark in my heart.  For example:  As soon as I wrote, "Hang in there... better yet, hang on to the ROCK!  I'm there too,"  I thought, "Wait a minute!  What am I saying?  We may think we're plastered on the side of a high cliff, hanging on for dear life, but really, we're engraved on the Palm of His Hand!  We are engraved on to the Rock!"    

Psalm 18:2 says, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."  Looking at it like that, we are on solid ground!   High up from all dangerous floods that would overtake us if we were "down there."

So if you feel like you're hangin' on for dear life today, dangling from some rocky cliff, take heart! You're not dangling! You're engraved!  Not enslaved by these circumstances, but engraved on the Palm of the Creator of the Universe's hand!! Whoah! "He is our Rock and our Fortress! A refuge in times of trouble."

I'll close this as if it were an open letter to all who read this:
Be encouraged!  I'm right there with you! 
Big hugs!  :o)
Tammi
PS...even if we were cliff hanging....and we did happen to "let go"---we's goin' no where! Cuz He's got us!

Another Reason to Arise

Arise for our help, and redeem us
for thy mercies' sake.   
Psalm 44:26

Ever come to the end of your day and felt as if you'd been beaten to a pulp?  Feeling as if you were "still standing" or maybe not QUITE standing, but still determined to keep on fighting?   The determination to keep on running the race, even though so many obstacles have been thrown into your path, justifies the bruises and scrapes you've received.  You realize "from whence this is coming"---the enemy is trying to thwart God's plan.   Or...could there be another reason?  Could it be a test straight from the Lord, to check our determination?  Sometimes I'm not even sure, but it is helpful to remember that no matter what, the Lord does have to approve all things before they come into our lives.  So that means He is totally aware of what's going on!   Knowing this gives us hope!  He's watching...and thankfully He's in control too.

Earlier I had written about letting the Son rise in our lives before we speak to others about Him.  Here, in Psalm 44:26, we find a cry for Him to "arise for our help..."   Oh!  Another reason for Him to Arise!  Not only to shine forth His beauty and grace to others through us, but also ARISE for our help! 

Sometimes we encounter storm clouds....testing and trials roll in, and suddenly the Light of Jesus in our hearts is obscured.  If we're not totally prepared and fully "suited up" in the Armor of the Lord, we can be caught off guard by these sudden storms, and His Light is quickly obscured. . . Never fear!  There is hope! 

 
Of course we desire to let the Son shine in us so that others may see Him, but we also want Him to arise and redeem us in the event we find ourselves taken "aback" by the sudden onset of a "major storm."    Maybe a discussion ended up a little bit "too heated," or you're suddenly standing on a pile of rubble where your home once stood.  These types of situations can certainly obscure His light.  Thank God He understands we have this Treasure of Salvation in an earthen (leaky) vessel!  
 

Oh to have the refreshing waters pour down on us like rain, and restore our souls!    Dear Father, we so desire for Your Son to truly shine through our lives.  But how quickly we can find ourselves in the midst of sudden storms, being beaten down by hail, tossed around by gail-force winds, drenched by downpours of tears!  These situations can obscure the Son from within us!   We pray for You to ARISE for our help this very evening, and redeem us for THY mercies' sake!   You ARE mercy, Father.  Therefore we are surrounded by Your mercy!  This is plenty of reason for You to Arise and Redeem us.   Thank You for understanding..and how do we know this?  Because as the Creator of all sunrises, You sometimes bring clouds into the scene in order to reveal breathtaking colors at the dawning of the day!   Please use these clouds that once seemed to obscure Your light to ENHANCE the Son-Shine in our hearts!  Take OUR breath away as we see Your Son rise again tomorrow!   And by the way, as You take our breath away, breathe NEW life into us, by the Power of Your Sweet Holy Spirit!  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

"A Morning Rx"

The Following is taken directly from Spurgeon's Morning Devotional.  After reading this, I wanted to share it with you, since it spoke to my heart this morning:

Friday, April 09, 2010
This Morning's Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon

"And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him."—Luke 23:27.

AMID the rabble rout which hounded the Redeemer to His doom, there were some gracious souls whose bitter anguish sought vent in wailing and lamentations—fit music to accompany that march of woe. When my soul can, in imagination, see the Saviour bearing His cross to Calvary, she joins the godly women and weeps with them; for, indeed, there is true cause for grief—cause lying deeper than those mourning women thought. They bewailed innocence maltreated, goodness persecuted, love bleeding, meekness about to die; but my heart has a deeper and more bitter cause to mourn. My sins were the scourges which lacerated those blessed shoulders, and crowned with thorn those bleeding brows: my sins cried "Crucify Him! crucify Him!" and laid the cross upon His gracious shoulders. His being led forth to die is sorrow enough for one eternity: but my having been His murderer, is more, infinitely more, grief than one poor fountain of tears can express.

Why those women loved and wept it were not hard to guess: but they could not have had greater reasons for love and grief than my heart has. Nain's widow saw her son restored—but I myself have been raised to newness of life. Peter's wife's mother was cured of the fever—but I of the greater plague of sin. Out of Magdalene seven devils were cast—but a whole legion out of me. Mary and Martha were favoured with visits—but He dwells with me. His mother bare His body—but He is formed in me the hope of glory. In nothing behind the holy women in debt, let me not be behind them in gratitude or sorrow.

"Love and grief my heart dividing,

With my tears His feet I'll lave—

Constant still in heart abiding,

Weep for Him who died to save."

Wait for the Son to Rise

"Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him." 
Mark 8:30 (NIV)

"...Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead."   Mark 9:9b (NIV)

I was reading in My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers) yesterday about the Transfiguration (recorded in Mark 9).  Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up a high mountain.  Mark 9:2 says that "after six days He led them up..."   I know that the number six represents the human aspect, whereas seven represents the number of perfection.   Thought that was interesting...keep that in mind.

So there they go, following Him UP the high mountain...if only they knew what awaited them!  After the struggle of climbing treacherous, unchartered territory while following Jesus towards the top, they finally reached the mountaintop and caught a glimpse of Jesus in all of His glory...not only Jesus...but He was conversing with two prophets of old...Elijah and Moses.  Peter was "sore afraid."  Yet, even while being scared to death, he realizes something.. "It is GOOD for us to be here."  He knew what they were witnessing was GOOD!   What he said next revealed the desire of his heart.  "Let's pitch three tents (shelters or habitations) for You, Elijah and Moses."   Next thing, a cloud envelopes them, and a Voice calls out, "This is My Son, whom I love.  LISTEN TO HIM."   Then SUDDENLY, as fast as this transpired, everything they witnessed vanished ..."all except Jesus."   They could no longer perceive the glorious wonder and splendor of Jesus!   No longer could they see Him conversing with the prophets. . .all that remained was "just Jesus"....Which makes me wonder, could this explain their immediate descent?   Hmmm.   They are "coming down" from the high ecstasy of having caught a glimpse of the Lord in His glory. When that glory has "been hidden again," they COME DOWN.   Don't we all though?

Inquiring Hearts want to Know

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 9:9, 10

Okay...it's been one of those days.  I'm writing this on Monday night, but hope to post this for Tuesday's entry.  I just glanced at the clock..it's almost midnight...so it will be Tuesday when it's posted.

Anyway...Ever had one of those days when you wonder, no matter how much it seems like you are trying to live right, do right, seek Him, obey Him...things just DON'T GO according to the way YOU thought they should?   Ever been there?   I'm there.   Things just do not make a bit of sense.   I mean seriously.  What is going on?   I won't even attempt to answer that question.    I know that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  (Eph. 6:12)   But what are we supposed to DO about that?

Well, when things happen that we just can't make sense out of .. like your Air Condition Unit blows up, right after the Gas Furnace has been replaced. . . or the kids seem to keep arguing; or one of them is suffering from a disorder or disease....your husband is suffering in a dead-end job:  God wants us to get to KNOW HIM. 

Live! And Let HIM Live!!!

"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." Acts 2:32

When I was writing yesterday's entry, a phrase jumped out at me, right off the computer screen, back into my heart! Rang true! And I knew! This is the entry for Easter Sunday's blog! "Live! And LET HIM LIVE!"

Oh! Where to begin? He is RISEN! That means HE IS ALIVE! He was once dead, but NOW IS ALIVE! And RISEN! He was once crucified, not because of anything He did or deserved, but because He willingly gave His life for us, as payment for OUR sin. (The payment for sin is DEATH!) But NOW, HE IS ALIVE! Forever more! Praise His Holy Name!

But...what are WE, as His children, DOING about it? Are WE living!?!? Truly LIVING! And furthermore, are we LETTING HIM LIVE through us!??! Ahh. This is definitely a good question.

Going Deeper, "In Deed"

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Romans 5;8,9

Today's blog entry is picking up from yesterdays, in which I was discussing the fact that it was Good Friday, and it was a Good Friday, in deed!  In DEED, meaning by the "something" that took place on that very day many many years ago, we can honestly say that it is a GOOD day, indeed and in deed-- Christ's deed---His sacrificial death on the cruel cross of Calvary for all mankind.

When looking up the word "deed," I found two different meanings. Yesterday's entry referred to deed meaning "something that is done." And boy! Was something EVER DONE!?! Done, completed, FINISHED! The work of our redemption by Christ's shed blood on the cross---Definitely DONE! He declared it when He said, "It is finished!" (It's DONE!)

But let's look into the other meaning of deed: "a signed and usually sealed legal instrument in writing used to grant a right." Well, I couldn't help but think of the song "Written in Red." It talks about God's love being written for us in "red"---by the shed blood of the Lamb of God. This of course is just a song depicting God's love for us being written in the precious blood of the Lamb. Just imagine the words "I Love You" written in red---by the blood of the Lamb. What a love letter!

It is a Good Friday, In Deed

"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." I Peter 2:24

A good friend sent me an email this morning, just checking in to see how I was doing on this "Good, no GREAT Friday." In my response to her, I closed with "it is a Good Friday indeed...." Then....it hit me..."It is a Good Friday indeed and IN DEED!" Yes!

I just "googled" the word "Deed" and what I found caused a HUGE LIGHT BULB to "go off" in my heart! Look at the first entry I found: A deed is "a signed and usually sealed legal instrument in writing used to grant a right." However...I found it very interesting to look at the definition of deed, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "something that is done." Can't you see how they BOTH TIE into to the wonderful meaning of TODAY being Good Friday?

How Much Do You Weigh?

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23

I'm pretty sure you're familiar with the TV reality program "The Biggest Loser." It's where people who are struggling with their weight become part of a reality program, and subsequently the entire nation can begin to cheer them on in their journey of weight loss, right in the privacy of our homes. Who will be the Biggest Loser?

Today's entry has nothing to do with weight loss. But it has everything to do with losing our heavy burdens. "Winning by Losing."  What a concept!  I wondered today, "Has it ever occurred to you and me that the Biggest Loser can also be the Biggest Winner, spiritually speaking?" Just like on the reality program.

So many times I've referred back to Matthew 11:28-30--- "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Who wouldn't want to come to Him to unload our heavy burdens and trade them in for a lighter load?