"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." 
 
Are you thankful for the sunshine?  Are you thankful for the rain - even though sometimes the rain comes in the form of snow?  Praise the Lord!  He sends the sun, rain, and the snow!  It is fabulously beautiful here today - thank you God!
 
I have a thought for you to dwell on today.  The Lord has impressed upon my heart that we are not living out the basics of holiness - the very roots of our heritage in Jesus.  So I wanted to share with you what the Lord has laid on my heart this morning.  I pray that He blesses your heart as you devote yourself to Him and His word.
 
Scripture
“For thus says the High and Lofty One, Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:”

Thought: (and more scripture!)

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).  Every one of us knows that profanity is one way that you can take God’s name in vain, but I want you to know that there are other ways to do this, too - it is in frivolous talk.  That is, just taking the name of God carelessly and lightly.  We who bear the name of Christian, which means Christ-like, which means Jesus, which means God, cannot participate in foolish conversation, gossip, crude joking, etc.  In Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul teaches us - lead by the Holy Spirit – “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children, (2) and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us…, (4) Nor should there be filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor crude joking which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  (5) For this you know, that no fornicator (immoral), unclean person, nor covetous (greedy) man (person), who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  (6) Let know one deceive with empty words, for because of these things (taking the name of the Lord in vain, the gossip, bad language, bad jokes, rumors, etc) the wrath of God comes on the sons (children) of disobedience.  (7) Therefore do not be partakers with them.”  So, how does this apply to us.  Simply – do not participate in taking the name of the Lord in vain, the gossip, bad language, bad jokes, rumors, etc.  Be “imitators of God…).

 

Plan for Action:

Begin your day by meditating on the holiness of God, and do what He does!  Amen.

 

 
 
 

As I have read the Psalms, I am reminded just about the splendor and the beauty of all that God has done.  Here is a song that was written by the "Director of music - of David.  I pray that your heart will be lifted up and your spirit encouraged.

 
Psalm 68:7-19
 
7 When you went out before your people, O God, When you marched through the wasteland, 8 the earth shook, The heavens poured down rain, Before God, the One of Sinai, Before God, the God of Israel.  9 You gave abundant showers, O God; You refreshed your weary inheritance.  10 Your people settled in it, And from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.  11 The Lord announced the word, And great was the company of those who proclaimed it: 12 "Kings and armies flee in haste; In the camps men divide the plunder.  13 Even while you sleep among the campfires, The wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, Its feathers with shining gold."  14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, It was like snow fallen on Zalmon.  15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; Rugged are the mountains of Bashan.  16 Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, At the mountain where God chooses to reign, Where the LORD himself will dwell forever?  17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; The Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.  18 When you ascended on high, You led captives in your train; You received gifts from men,  Even from the rebellious— That you, O LORD God, might dwell there.  19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, Who daily bears our burdens.  Selah
 
I thank heavenly Father for His faithfulness to all of us.  I thank him for His un-tiring watchfulness and His daily provision.  I thank Him for the strength that He provides to make it through, and most of all, I thank heavenly Father for Jesus - for life eternal through faith in Him and a real hope that the world does not understand.  Praise His name!

 

Obedience:
 

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all. - Exodus 5:23
Have you ever felt that the more obedient you are to following God, the more adversity there is? Moses had been instructed to go to Pharaoh and tell him to release the people of Israel. God had said He was going to deliver the people through Moses. The only problem is that God did not tell Moses at what point they actually would be released. When Moses complained to God, the Lord told Moses that He had to harden Pharaoh's heart in order to perform greater miracles. God was behind hardening Pharaoh's heart. We forget that the king's heart is in God's hand. God had a specific reason for each plague and each delay. God said to Moses,

"I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord" (Exodus 10:1b-2).

As I have been watching the world just move - speedily - through this season, I have been drawn to the desire to just slam on the brakes and stop all the hustle and bustle that is so rampant today.  Everyone is so caught up in themselves and in the things, yet missing what the season is really all about.  Do you know what I mean?  I am reminded - through the reading of the Word of God - that there is a place that can take us to where we need to be.  Follow along with me:
 
"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel" (Matthew 2:6.)
 
There is a story that tells of a small cathedral outside Bethlehem that marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by sliver lamps.  You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church.  You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King.  There is one stipulation, however.  You have to stoop.  The door is so low you can't go in standing up.
That is a tremendous story.  You see, the same is true of the living Christ.  You can see the world standing tall - spinning wildly out of control and ignoring the reality of impending destruction - but to witness the Savior, you have to get down on your knees!  Hallelujah to the King!
 
I am thankful that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son - that whosoever believed (trusts) in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16.)  What a wonderful Christmas gift .  Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas for you?  Have you got down on your knees and experienced the Savior?  Here is the Rx (prescription ): Stop and take the time to visit the Savior.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6.)
 

God has a reason for everything He does. These delays were designed to bring greater glory to God and were to be a lasting legacy of God's miracle-working power for generations to come.

When the people were freed, God again hardened Pharaoh's heart to go after them. This action of God to harden Pharaoh's heart was to set the stage for an even greater miracle -- the parting of the Red Sea. The people were angry with Moses for bringing them to the desert "to die." But God said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on" (Ex. 14:15b). There was only one place to go by this time -- the Red Sea. God parted the Red Sea, and another greater miracle took place.

Moses learned several lessons that each of us must learn. God's promises are true, but His timing is not the same as ours. God always wants greater glory than what we might be willing to give Him. God puts obstacles and adversity into our lives in order to build perseverance and faith. Why has God put the mountain in your life at this time? To demonstrate His power through your life. To show His glory.

   
 
 

Follow along with me for a minute:
 
"I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses; And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me, Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him, Though the night around me be falling, But He bids me go; through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.

(refrain)
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."
 
As I looked outside my window and I saw the frost glistening on the grass and trees, I had a sense of those "warm fuzzies" that come when God shows up and His presence is so real.  No, it was not because the heat was on in the house and the frost just made me shiver.  I thought that, too, at first.  But as I meditated on the Lord and His holiness, His majesty and His wonder - in that awe filled the room - that hymn - In the Garden - came to mind.  Just a tremendous peace with Father God - do you sense it?  Isn't it wonderful?  How I long to be in the presence of our heavenly Father - full-time!
 
Here is the encouragement for this day.  John 3:16; God so loved - you - that He gave His one only Son.  That if - you - would believe (trust your life and everything in it) in Him, - you - would not perish, but have everlasting life (with Him in heaven, Rev 21)-(obviously paraphrased by me!).  And this verse follows that; "For God did not send His Son (Jesus) into the world (you and me and us!) to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" (Jesus).  Hallelujah to the King to Kings and Lord of Lords.  We serve a risen Savior and He is in the world today - I know that He is living - because the Bible tells me so!  I thought it was cute, too!
 
So, church, here is the prescription for well-being today.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Remember, you are loved!