Enough!

I woke this morning with an old favorite from NewSong on my heart:

There is nothing good in me that did not come from him

nothing I could boast of that he did not give

from the moment I cried out to him to heal my troubled soul

he welcomed me with open arms, said all that's mine is yours.

Now I will never let myself forget all he has done

how he came and rescued me and where he brought me from.

chorus:

I am nothing without christ, he is everything to me!

He's the reason that I live, he is my only need.

I know I couldn't make it through

one day without jesus in my life.

I am nothing, nothing without christ.

So, then, I was reading my devotion this morning and it was all about how if we truly love God, love Christ, there is nothing that we wouldn't know about Him.  And another song started reverberating through my soul... this one from Hillsong:

Christ is my reward

And all of my devotion

Now there's nothing in this world

That could ever satisfy

PRE-CHORUS

Through every trial

My soul will sing

No turning back

I've been set free

CHORUS

Christ is enough for me

Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in You

Everything I need

I guess today's theme is that Christ is all I need... He is enough for me and I would not be complete without Him.  Can you say the same for your life today?

Our Awesome (Defender) God

While visiting family a few weeks ago, some of our grandchildren got me hooked on a new game. I'm not going to name it because that's not important.  But, in this game, you're defending the defensless against what seem, at times, to be unbeatable odds.  And it's caused me to think of a few things.  1) Of course, I shouldn't be playing so many games.  But 2) Although life is not a game, we do have a mighty defender who defends us against what seem, to us, to be unbeatable odds.

He is all powerful.  He is greater than anything that comes against us!  And isn't it awesome to know that He is protecting us 24/7?

"When He rolls up His sleeves

He ain't just putting on the ritz

(Our God is an awesome God)

There's thunder in His footsteps

And lightning in His fists

(Our God is an awesome God)

And the Lord wasn't joking when He kicked 'em out of Eden

It wasn't for no reason that He shed His blood

His return is very close and so you better be believing that

Our God is an Awesome God."

The Solid Rock

One of my favorite places to visit is Laguna Beach.  Watching the waves crashing against the rocks and cliffs is so beautiful.  And when you stand on those rocks you feel so invincible... the waves aren't going to touch you, no matter how ominous they look because you're standing on solid rock.  Sure, over time, even water can wear down rock.  But, in the rocks of Laguna Beach, you find life.... the tide pools in the rock are teaming with life.

Just like those rocks and tidepools, if we stand on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ, we will be filled with life... eternal life.  And He is invincible... the waters of time will never wear Him down.  He is the Living Water.  Is He your Living Water, Daily Bread, and Solid Rock?  If not, please seek Him out today... don't wait another minute... seek Him while He may be found because a day will come when it will be too late.

"His oath, his covenant, his blood,

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand."

The Only Name

Lately, this new song by Big Daddy Weave has caught my ear, heart, and mind.  I mean, really, listen to (or read) these lyrics:

"The Only Name (Yours Will Be)"

Yours will be the only Name that matters to me

The only One Whose favor I seek

The only Name that matters to me

Yours will be

The friendship and affection I need

To feel my Father smiling on me

The only Name that matters to me

Yours is the Name the Name that has saved me

Mercy and grace the power that forgave me

And Your love is all I’ve ever needed

When I wake up in the Land of Glory

And with the saints I will tell my story

There will be one Name that I proclaim

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, just that Name

Jesus... I love, Love, LOVE, my family...  I adore my husband, all of children, and all our grandbabies that God has blessed us with but, when all is said and done, the only name that should matter to any of us is Jesus.  His is the only favor we should be seeking.  His affection and smile are the only one we need.  And although those are powerful lines... the chorus is what really grabs me...

When I wake up in the Land of Glory and with the saints I will tell my story... wow!  One day, I will open my eyes and I'll see my loved ones and most of my friends, that will be fantastic... but just think, we'll see Moses, Abraham, Stephen, Paul, Peter, Mary, and Martha, Isaiah, Daniel, David... and, of course, Jesus!  Wow... the stories that will be shared, it will be aMAZing!  

Thank you, Lord, for this blessed assurance that one day, I will wake up in the land of glory and one day I will see your smiling face.

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

The Pharisee and the Publican

⁹ And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Luke 18:9-14

I noticed something new in this story this morning... not only did the publican puff himself up, his prayer didn't ask for forgiveness.  It was a prayer of praise for all he had done rather than for what God had done and the scripture makes that obvious but the more subtle message is forgiveness.  Notice in vs 14 how it says, "this man went to his house justified"?  The tax collector was justified not only because of his humility before God but because he asked God for forgiveness.  He recognized his sinful state, showed a true repentent heart and asked for forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 says:

⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin."

God's mercies are new every morning.  One of His mercies is that He extends grace freely and forgiveness to all who will ask.  He wants to forgive us if we'll only ask.  Seek The Lord while He may be found and ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Bless The Lord, Oh My Soul!

During my devotion today, I was reading Psalm 107 and I was struck with wonder, once again, that mankind waits until they are in dire despair before crying out to God.  God is faithful and just... He is always present and has promised never to leave us or forsake us.  Why, then, would we not long to soak in that presence every minute of every hour of every day?  Why do some wander in deserts or flounder in raging waters?  Better yet, why do some wait until then to cry out to God?

Christ died so that we might have life and have it more abundantly, not so that we could continue in our sinful ways.  His desire is to have a loving, ongoing relationship with His creation... yes, YOU!  Why wouldn't we want the same?  Instead we struggle and think we know better.  

I've wondered a similar thing through the years as I see young adults or new parents ignoring the advice of their parents.  Ok, admittedly we all make mistakes as parents but, still, don't you think we may have learned from them?  But I digress... the point is, God is our Heavenly Father so why don't we come to Him for guidance and encouragement or a loving embrace as well as help in troubled times?  All He wants is for us to ask.  

And, if you are a parent, look at things from His perspective.... isn't it harder to wait on the sidelines than to step in and clean up the mess without being asked?  God wants to be included in your life.  He's just waiting for an invitation.

"Bless The Lord, Oh my soul!  And all that is within me bless His holy name!

He has done great things... He Has Done GREAT Things... HE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS!!!!

Bless His Holy Name!"

This song by Matthew West has been running through my head for weeks now.  I just love it because it is so powerfully true...

Hello, my name is regret 

I’m pretty sure we have met 

Every single day of your life 

I’m the whisper inside 

That won’t let you forget 

Have you ever heard that whisper?  Something that God asked you to do that you didn't do or an opportunity not taken has left you with a feeling of regret that you just can't shake?  How about defeat?  Ever felt defeated?...

Hello, my name is defeat 

I know you recognize me 

Just when you think you can win 

I’ll drag you right back down again 

‘Til you’ve lost all belief 

These are the voices, these are the lies 

And I have believed them, for the very last time 

Satan is the father of lies... he is constantly whispering over and over in our heads until we can't take it any more.  I remember seeing a drama performance "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames" and during one of the scenes a woman is contemplating suicide and satan is literally walking all around her whispering lies of regret and defeat.  Is this how you are living?  Being bogged down by Satan's lies?  Well, here's the good news of the song and God's story:

Hello, my name is child of the one true King 
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free 
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing 

Hello, my name is child of the one true King 

I am no longer defined 

By all the wreckage behind 

The one who makes all things new 

Has proven it’s true 

Just take a look at my life 

What love the Father has lavished upon us 

That we should be called His children 

I am a child of the one true King

Isn't that awesome?!  If you've been born again, if you've asked Jesus into your life, if you have a relationship with Him, then you are a child of the one true King and, as scripture says, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4).  

So stop listening to the lies of the devil.  Scream out and tell him to leave in the name of Jesus because you are a child of the one true King and He has made you new... He has lavished you with love and He has overcome.