Royal Lesson

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
I John 3:1

 

I just wanted to journal a lesson that the Lord taught me last week, and hopefully it will be a blessing to you too. 

 

As you are probably aware, the Royal Baby, Prince George, was christened.  As I happened to see a photo of his dad, Prince William, presenting him to the public, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful christening gown that the baby was wearing.  Then I realized something:

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  Isaiah 61:10

 

 

 

When we are born into this world, we are born with our inherent sin nature.  Nothing we can do on our own to change that fact.  But God, who is RICH in mercy and FULL of compassion, saw our need, became our Savior and paid the debt for our sin IN FULL.  (The payment for sin is: DEATH, but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life...through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23)  Our sin was punished on the cross at Calvary.  Jesus died to set us free from the guilt and bondage of sin AND to clothe us in His righteousness.  

 

The Bible says that all of our works (good works done in our own energy) are as "filthy rags."  (Isaiah 64:6)  BUT when we accept the Lord's gift of salvation and repent (turn away from) our sinful ways, then we are clothed in His righteousness. 

 

For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.  Psalm 149:4

Just like Prince William delighted in presenting his royal son, all decked out in a beautiful christening gown, Our Heavenly Father delights in US too!  We have been declared royalty!  

 

 

 

THE LESSON:

As I looked at the intricate, beautiful christening gown with all that it represented, and then looked at the adorable royal infant, I thought, "That little one has no clue that he is royalty!  He is completely oblivious to the fact that the world is watching him, longing to gaze at his little face in all of his 'glory.'  To him, this is just another day in the life of 'baby-hood'."    As he grows, and is trained, he will soon learn of his royal responsibilities.

 

Isn't that the way it is with us, once we trade our filthy rags
for God's royal righteous robes? 

There's so much more that could be written or said here . . .
but I just wanted to give us food for thought. 

1. Have you accepted the Lord as your Savior?  All of our "good works" are as filthy rags, if we have not been "washed in the blood of the Lamb."  If there was anything that we COULD do to make amends for our sin, then Jesus died on the cross for absolutely no reason!
2. If you and I have believed in Jesus' payment for our sin and His overcoming death on our behalf, then do we realize that we are royalty:  God's children??  Or are we still clueless to the undeserving LOVE, FAVOR and GRACE that our Heavenly Father so richly bestows upon us?
     
3. Do you realize that your Heavenly Father looks down at you and doesn't see all the bad "stuff" you do?  He sees you completely wrapped, in fact ADORNED, in HIS righteousness!!   He longs for you and I to REALIZE just how much He loves us, and just how special we are.  He longs to train us, to use us, for His royal reasons.
4. What are we doing to grow? Are we spending time with our Heavenly Father in His Word; are we praying?
    
5. Each day that we go into our world, are we aware of our royal status?  And with that, are we doing our royal duties by representing the Kingdom of GOD very well? 

Just some food for thought...actually it's a lesson for me to remember, but I figured I'd not remember it all if I didn't write it down somewhere & what better place than here, my long, lost blog!? :)  Hope that you all are doing well!!  Sure have missed being in touch!

 

Until next time, remember, we don't have to be clothed in filthy rags!!  If we are saved, then we are God's children----royalty....And the Creator and King of the universe LOVES US more than we could ever know!  REALIZE WHO WE ARE and find security in who we are, not in ourselves, but in Christ.  :)

Hugs,

 

Marvelous and undeserving grace, freely bestowed to all who believe. 

 

Touching Base...

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Lord enabled me to graduate with honors!   May 8!  :)   And after having only one month off from school, I started a new full time day job!!  This is a huge miracle and answer to prayer....the line of work that I am doing (ultrasound), its' very difficult to find a full time day job...usually we have to start with "on call, nights, weekends, holidays, as needed."  This is no doubt the LORD's doings!  

 

My nephew set up a Facebook page for my music--so if you're on facebook, hop on over to keep in touch there!  I will try to blog more, at some point, Lord willing....

 

We have so much to be thankful for.....The Lord pulled our family through three MAJOR storms during my time in school---and for this I am very grateful.  When Alysa's appendix ruptured, she was in the hospital for 7 days, came home and was on oral antibiotics for 7 more days, then had to go BACK to the hospital for 2 and a half more days, and had to have a PICC line (IV line) placed in her upper arm...so she had another 7 days of IV treatments at home, three times a day.  So the night I graduated, I had to text Bryan from where I was sitting to remind him to take out her IV bag from the cooler we had packed, to let it get to room temp, then after I graduated and we were in the car, I had to flush out the IV line, and give her that evening's dose in the car on the way home!  What an adventure! Although it didn't seem like quite an enjoyable one during the time!   I truly did not even get a chance to comprehend that I was graduating, because she was back in the hospital on  May 1...one week before my graduation.  I wanted to tell you that during her hospital stay, God opened the door for us to donate several CDs of music for them to use during pain management sessions with their patients....and God has opened the door for me to produce a DVD for the Children's Hospital... relaxing music with nature scenes.   Two videos are posted to my facebook page.  Such a blessing!  I told Alysa that even through her terrible painful ordeal, God had a purpose and a plan for it all!    And how grateful that we didn't miss the opportunity.  Only He could have opened the door!   :)

the morning of my graduation, I found our yard was completely
decked out with balloons and signs to celebrate the occasion! :)
Compliments of Bryan, Alysa & Chase :)

Signs, balloons, banners were in the yard, around the entire
perimeters! :)  They surprised me, BIG TIME!:)
 

I hope that you all are doing well too!  I MISS keeping in touch!  

 

Going to leave you with this little lesson learned:   Life's circumstances can leave us bitter or better...  It's up to us to decide how we will be affected. . . .if I look at "me" and think of "I, I, I" in a bad situation, more than likely I will become b.I.t.t.e.r.    But if I look elsewhere, to others, and especially to God, for His perspective, then perhaps I will become a b.E.t.t.e.r person from it.    Romans 8:28  We know that God works all things out for our good and His glory, IF we are called according to His purpose! 

My nephew came for my graduation & took family pictures
of us down at the oceanfront! 
Just thought I'd share an updated photo! :)

 

Take care, everyone!  Just had to touch base really quick to let you know the latest update!  Graduated!  And was given a full time, first-shift job!!!   THANK THE LORD! :)

Keep in touch!!

Be encouraged!   For as far left as the pendulum swings to the "negative"---it HAS to swing that much to the right, into the positive!   It's up to God to decide WHEN---but the circumstances you are going through WILL change!!!   Wait upon the LORD!  He will strengthen your heart!  :)

Love and hugs!

Alysa, again

Just got home from yet another hospital stay. Alysa was first in the hospital for 7 days from the ruptured appendix....and this latest stay was from Wednesday til today.
Was trying to get a few minutes rest before the home nurse comes, but the phone has been ringing from all the healthcare people..

Anyway, on Tues she went back to school, but began to feel bad, so I picked her up a little early... then she began to run a fever and chills, continued to feel bad in abdomen.   Ended up back at the ER.  They did a CT and found that she had a small abscess....so they admitted her...again.    She had to have a special procedure yesterday and had to be put to sleep in order to have it done.  They placed a PICC line in...it's a catheter, much longer than the normal IV.  And she will have to have this for about 2 wks.  They are going to teach me how to replace her medication (which is to be done three times a day.) 
We are awaiting the nurse to come here this afternoon. 

Everyone in our family is completely exhausted.  In fact, I am supposed to graduate on next Wed. (5/8) but I am so tired, beyond words....
Please pray for us.  With all that has happened, first Bryan in the hospital during my first semester, for having renal cancer, then Chase in the hospital in the fall for 9 days, and now Alysa having TWO hospital stays, my emotions are feeling beat up, exhausted...and have a hard time wondering or deciphering what God could possibly be trying to teach me/us.   So...the prayers are needed... mine are just short---"help."   That's about all I can muster.

Thank you for continued prayers on Alysa's behalf.  She really needs to heal.....and I pray that she will not develop an infection in this PICC line, since it's so close to her heart. 

Thank you again..and I will be in touch as soon as I can.

Big hugs to all
Tammi