glorify Him... freely be...

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

Psalm 66:1 ESV

I hear the sky shout joy...

sing His glory...

with a sunset...

I hear the flowers shout joy...

sing His glory...

with multicolor blooms...

I hear birds shout joy...

sing His glory...

with their song...

I hear insects shout joy...

sing His glory...

with their whirring chirps...

Creation...

just by freely being...

glorifies His name...

Bless our God, O peoples;

let the sound of praise be heard...

Psalm 66:8 ESV

How do peoples bless our God...?

By freely being...

Freely being... in Him...

For the law of the Spirit of life 

has set you free in Christ Jesus...

Romans 8:2 ESV

How do you... live freely... in Him...? 

What does your song of joy... sound like...?

crazy bounty...

Sunflower trees...

Just one example... of the crazy bounty... of our bountiful God...

I will sing to the Lord,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:6 ESV

Amen...!

The Journey Readings: Week 39... and being peculiar...

Last week's readings... made it clear... God's people... are to be... peculiar people...

For you are a holy people [set apart] to the Lord your God;

and the Lord has chosen you to be a peculiar people to Himself,

above all the nations on earth.

Deuteronomy 14:2 Amp

The people of His Kingdom... are to be peculiar... no matter which nation on earth they live...

Peculiar... according to Merriam-Webster... means... characteristic of only one person... group... or thing... distinctive... different from the usual... odd... curious... eccentric... queer...

Other translations of the Bible... use... treasured possession... rather than... peculiar... 

The original Hebrew... reflects this translation... valued property... peculiar treasure... 

God's treasured possession... is to be peculiar... in the world...

The law was the marker which made the Israelites peculiar to every other nation on earth...

A thought continued in the New Testament...

[Our Savior Jesus Christ] gave himself for us,

that he might redeem us from all iniquity,

and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 

zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11 KJV

We are to be different... from the world... when it comes to finances... relationships... entertainment... worship... wisdom... and justice...

For instance...

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James 3:13-17

How about you...? are you peculiar...? compared to the rest of the world...?

The Journey continues into its 39th week...

Monday                   Deuteronomy 23

Tuesday                   Deuteronomy 24-25

Wednesday              Deuteronomy 26-27

Thursday                  Deuteronomy 28:1-33

Friday                      Deuteronomy 28:34-68

Foundation... of freedom...

Breath...

It began with a breath...

Breath... expressed as Word...

Word... solidified into world...

Eternal Breath...

Heaving... eternal life...

Love speaking... through the ages...

Unchanging...

Only from this Foundation...

Is freedom... without chaos... possible...

His Word...

Him...

YHWH...

time to return...

When nothing seems to be going quite right... I'm reminded... it's time to return... for an evening offering...

Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:7 ESV

Your bounty seen throughout the day...

Your faithfulness in ordering my day...

encouragement from a friend...

the blessing of encouraging another...

my family...

my faith...

Your omnipresence...

and a depth of grace that's incomprehensible...!

---but God shows his love for us 

in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 ESV

Yes... You have dealt bountifully with me...

far more than I deserve...

Return... O my soul... to your rest...

Related fare...

morning... and... evening...

wondering... why returning to Him... in the evening... is hard...

so full...

What do you do when your day... week... is... so full... it looks like it all won't get done...?

Trust Him...

If you are walking with Him... in all your ways... to the utmost of the faith He's provided... it's His to accomplish... not yours...

Trust Him...

Ask... What's next...?

Listen...

Obey...

So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 ESV

OK... Lord... What's next...?

a day with fewer swings...

Focusing on Him...
wise...
mighty...
everlasting...
unchanging...
full of grace...
left my heart in a much steadier place...

Fewer swings...
less negative self-talk...
all in all... a... steady... day...

For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

Psalm 26:4 ESV

gladness...

Spurgeon's morning devotional stuck with me through the day...

Be glad of heart, O believer, but take care that thy gladness has its spring in the Lord.

---Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

I can tell when gladness springs from the Lord... because nothing can steal it...

But lately... my gladness... has been based on accomplishment... and self's strengths... setting joy... in a precarious position...where it's quickly snatched away... in the face of unmet expectations...

This morning... Spurgeon's preaching convicted... as I realized my recent struggle with pendulous emotions... and the source of gladness...

Thou hast much cause for gladness in thy God... That He is wise should make us glad, knowing as we do our own foolishness. That He is mighty, should cause us to rejoice who tremble at our weakness. That He is everlasting, should always be a theme of joy when we know that we wither like grass. That He is unchanging, should perpetually yield us a song, since we change every hour. That He is full of grace, that He is overflowing with it, and that this grace is covenant He has given us, that it is ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory--- all this should tend to make us glad in Him.

Today... as I felt my heart start to shift toward its hourly change... I thought of...
His wisdom... my foolishness...
His might... my weakness...
His eternal nature... my fleeting flesh...
His steadfastness... my flighty heart...
I thought of His amazing grace...
And told myself... Be glad...!

Then I will go unto the altar of God,

Unto God my exceeding joy...

Psalm 43:4 KJV

The Journey Readings: Week 38... and a choice...

A lesson from last week in Deuteronomy... makes one think about things differently...

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:

the blessing, if you obey the commandments 

of the Lord your God, which I command you today,

and the curse if you do not obey the commandments

of the Lord your God...

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 ESV

Do you see the choice...?

"See... I am setting before you... a blessing... and a curse..."

He doesn't choose... to bless... or curse... the choice is set before us...

He's already set up a law... 

With obedience... comes a blessing...

With disobedience... a curse...

Just like gravity... it's a law...

Now... this is not prosperity gospel... 

We all have choices set before us... and some people's choices to disobey... cause some who are walking in obedience to suffer... which feels like a curse...

And we all live under the curse of the Fall... walking in a broken world... where we are told we will have trouble...

But the way we choose to respond... to what the Sovereign Lord allows... results in a blessing... or a curse...

Choosing to forgive... as we have been forgiven... 

Choosing to love an enemy... rather than retaliate... 

Choosing to trust Him to judge... instead of judging others...

These all lead to blessing... it's a promise...

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you

and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven..."

---Jesus

Matthew 5:3-12 ESV

It's your choice...

What might you discover if you joined The Journey...?

This week's readings...

Monday                 Deuteronomy 14

Tuesday                 Deuteronomy 15:1 - 17:7

Wednesday            Deuteronomy 17:8 -18:22

Thursday               Deuteronomy 19-20

Friday                    Deuteronomy 21-22

bountifully...

Return,O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:7

Lord... You have dealt bountifully with me today...!

From waking refreshed...

to a call to intercede...

to Bible study with lovely ladies...

to a full day of work...

and a return to evening offering...

Lord... You have dealt bountifully with me today...

Thank You...

a long day...

At the end of a long day of battling... one beginning with bad dreams... and moving on to struggles with new... His Word graciously reminds me... it's time to cry out to Him...

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;

from the end of the earth I call to you

when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

for you have been my refuge,

a strong tower against the enemy.

Psalm 61:1-3 ESV

Reminded to run to Him... in the midst of battle...

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress;

I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:2 ESV

Reminded... when He is my Rock... I will not be greatly shaken...

Lord... thank You for this reminder... at the end of a long day...

thankful... for His working...

After a full day of working... weariness begins to set in...

Approaching Him for the evening offering... I appreciate that He is my rest... calls me to rest... in Him...

But as grateful as I am for His rest... I am thankful... for His working...

"My Father is working until now, and I am working." ---Jesus

John 5:17 ESV

Knowing He never tires... 

He does not faint or grow weary...

Isaiah 40:28 ESV

fills me with praise... for His working...

Especially for His work in me... working He will not leave left undone... as I did today...

And I am sure of this, 

that he who began a good work in you 

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

My own weariness... and need for rest... increase my wonder of His constant working...

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 ESV

Finding rest in Him... because He is working...

wondering... why returning to Him... in the evening... is hard...

I confess... in the pursuit of a regular... disciplined... evening offering of time to Him... I've failed...

Now... I knew it would be hard... and I would fail at some point... but it's made me wonder... Why is it so hard...? to return to Him... in the evening...?

Or maybe a better question is... Why has the morning offering... become such a blessing...?

A hymn from Sunday... causes me to ponder this question...

Morning has Broken... its last verse...

Praise with elation, praise every morning,

God's recreation of the new day!

And I see it... each morning... an opportunity to re-create a new day... an opportunity to start fresh...

The blessing of a do-over each day... drives me to sit with Him... seeking... praising...

Approaching Him... each morning with an anticipation... fresh... like coffee... warming up to Him... awakening with Him...

So what... about the evening... is so hard...? What attitude should I take toward Him in the evening...? What desires... do I have... at the end of the day...?

This morning... in the fresh... looking back on the failure... and a lame effort at an offering last evening... I see my greatest desire at the end of the day... is... rest...

Just as He re-creates each new day... resurrects us from sleep... to new life... He also offers rest...

"... Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. ..." --- Jesus

Matthew 11:28 ESV

To cease from work... and rest in Him... here is the attitude... the stance... the approach... to take toward the evening offering...

Giving Him... each failure... and victory... from the day...

Receiving... forgiveness... and grace...

Recognizing... Him at work... in all of it...

So I might... rest...

Today... my attitude toward the evening offering... will be seeking rest... at the end of the day... even when there may still be work to do...

Lord... help me to develop an attitude... of anticipation... 

for the evening offering... of time to You...

You invite me... to rest... in You... 

and that is what I desire... at the end of each day...

You are... my... Rest...

The prayer... to begin... an evening offering...

Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:7 ESV

Related fare:
daily devotions... fresh each day... like coffee...
more early morning thoughts... on daily devotions... and coffee...

glimpses...

glimpse noun... 1 archaic: glimmer 2: a fleeting view or look

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

Glimpses... I've had some lately... of Him at work...

Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work 

to this very day, and I, too, am working."

John 5:17

Glimpses... of Him speaking... healing... guiding... teaching... through His Word...

He sent out his word and healed them...

Psalm 107:20 ESV

Glimpses... where hope glimmers...

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles

the glorious riches of this mystery, which is

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

Glimpses... of His grace... mercy... love... forgiveness...

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father

and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son,

will be with us in truth and love.

2John 3

Glimpses... seen with eyes enlightened...

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,

the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints...

Ephesians 1:18

Thank You... Lord... for the blessing of glimpses... into Your work...

Note... a fresh Quote du Jour was added today... have a look at Jeremiah's Menu...

The Journey Readings: Week 37... and a wonder...

The first week of journeying through Deuteronomy... continues the wonder of reading the Word with others...

Deuteronomy... the last book of the Pentateuch... the first five books of the Bible...

Books written by Moses... usually not read with enthusiasm... after Genesis... and Exodus...

Leviticus... Numbers... Deuteronomy...

Each thought of as weighty... hard to wade through...

But this current journey... reading through in three years... meeting each week to discuss... sharing what we've seen and heard... praying for each other along the way...

I find new things... eyes opened to lessons... and others finding joy... reading enthusiastically through these Old Testament accounts...

It's a wonder... one I pray will continue...

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

Psalm 119:118 ESV

This past week... Deuteronomy encouraged with its words...

Words I need to remember... on the journey of life...

He knows your walking through this great wilderness.

Deuteronomy 2:7 Amp

He knows... my way...
He knows... where I walk...
He knows... there are struggles...
He knows... and He's there...

Trusting Him... to continue to journey alongside... in the wilderness...

This week's readings... for those who want to join The Journey...
Monday                   Deuteronomy 6-7
Tuesday                   Deuteronomy 8:1 - 9:12
Wednesday              Deuteronomy 9:13 - 10:22
Thursday                  Deuteronomy 11
Friday                      Deuteronomy 12-13

accepting... by faith...

This morning... a series of  decisions... seemed to be good...

Until... they seemed to cause trouble...

Left wondering... if the decisions were bad...? made without seeking Him...?

Or was something else at play...?

Peace only found... in trusting His Sovereignty... and grace...

Accepting... by faith... each outcome... and His purpose...

And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

forget not...

At the end of a long day... it's hard to remember... all His benefits...

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

and forget not all his benefits ---

Psalm 103:1-2

A time needed... to encourage self's soul... Praise Him...

...who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases...

Psalm 103:3

Praise Him... as Healer... 

There is no dis-ease He cannot relieve... even when it's self-inflicted...

... who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion...

Psalm 103:4

Praise Him... as Redeemer... 

You can't dig a pit... deeper than His reach...

... who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:5

Praise Him... as the One who satisfies... 

There is no hole... no hunger... no desire... that He can't fill...

At the end of a long day... forget not... all... His... benefits...

Praise the Lord... O my soul...

His promises... eternal...

In the midst of teaching sixth graders a Bible lesson... on God's promises to Abram/Abraham... a new facet emerged...

God promised Abraham land... a nation... made up of his own people... his offspring...

But at the time... Abraham had no children... not one...

The Lord appeared to Abram and said,

"To your offspring I will give this land."

So he built an alter there to the Lord,

who had appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7 NIV

In response to God's word... Abraham worshiped... he praised God... believing... trusting him for what He said He would do...

At the end of Abraham's life... he had one child of promise... Isaac... and the only land he owned in that nation promised to be his... was a burial plot...

Yet Abraham... considered God faithful...

And I asked the class a question... solely based on the truth that was dawning... What does this tell us about God's promises...? 

God's promises are eternal...

Eternal promises... for people who were created for eternity...

God is faithful to all His promises... even though we may not see them come to pass... while we walk this earth in our current form...

Jesus's words... from my morning with Him... mesh with this idea...

"... For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world

and loses or forfeits himself?..."

Luke 9:25 ESV

"... And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ..."

Matthew 10:28 ESV

Eternal... our perspective is to be... eternal...

A perspective I need to work on...

Doubts... take root and grow... when we focus only on the temporal... expecting His promises to come to pass today... in this lifetime...

But that's not what He's about...

He's always been about the eternal...

Jesus's life... short and tragic... from a temporal perspective...

But from the viewpoint of eternity... magnificent... miraculous... majestic...

We sell God short... when we refuse to see things His way... 

We miss what He's doing... we forfeit hope... peace... and joy... through unbelief...

After all... how can He not give us all things... when He has already given us His Son...

An eternal gift... for people... created... for... eternity...

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2Corinthians 4:18

Where do you need a change of perspective...?

a garden walk...

Yesterday... I took a walk with Him... in the garden...

A spiritual discipline for a current study...

The exercise... look at what He has made... notice the wonders... meditate on the depth of His love... talk with Him as to a friend...

So I walk... and just through flowers... and foliage... He speaks love in volumes...

Such abundant color... life... movement...

He calls me to get my camera... and I do... knowing the impossibility of capturing its fullness digitally...

Walking and snapping... wondering at the depth of a love... that goes to such lengths... in detail... diversity... and dimensions... to make such a complex... extravagant... universe... for people to inhabit...

And this just in plants... the non-food-bearing kind...

My heart grows full at the thought of all the other facets of creation...
sky... sunsets... sunrises... shooting stars...
edible creations... spicy... sweet... savory...
wildlife... butterflies... wildebeests... polar bears...
geography in general... canyons... mountains... great gulfs of water...

Full with affirmation of His love... I speak to Him... as a friend...

A recognized burden... recently exacerbated... leaves me weary... one I've carried a long time...

I pour out my heart to Him... in the midst of garden beauty... and creation extravagance...

And He says...

How will I not give you all things...?

His words... take me back to Scripture... the greatest Beauty...

Himself...

His offering...

on a cross...

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,

how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32 ESV

His words humble...

fuel hope...

quench doubt...

fire up faith...!

All because... I took a walk in the garden... with Him...

Thank You... Lord... for meeting me... in the garden...

When was the last time you took a garden walk... with Him...?

full...

You know life is full... when you wish you could start tomorrow... today...

Yes... there's still things to accomplish today... this day not yet over... but I find myself pressed... wondering how I could fit more in today... to make tomorrow... less...

Yes... life is full...

Still working in new...

Wondering how it's all held together to this point...

But really... I know...

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:17

Including... me... my life... and very full days...

I praise You Lord... that it is You who holds things together... and it is not up to me... Thank You for Your guidance... strength... energy... to continue... working out... all You want to work in...

The Journey Readings: Week 36... and a lesson on His promises...

The last week of Numbers overflowed with lessons... one of which stunned me...

We have to fight... for what God has promised...

And the Lord said to Moses in the plains of Moab

by the Jordan in Jericho,

Tell the Israelites, When you have passed over

the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants

of the land before you and destroy all their

figured stones and all their molten images

and completely demolish all their

[idolatrous] high places,

And you shall take possession of the land dwell in it,

for to you I have given the land to possess it.

Numbers 33:51-53 Amp

Now... I knew the Israelites had to battle when they entered the Promised Land... but the overarching truth... that He expects us to fight for what He's promised... caught me off guard...

I guess I never really applied it to me...

He promises... peace... strength... freedom... but each of these... must be fought for by faith... 

We are to willingly... boldly... enter enemy occupied territory... and take it over... because He says it is ours...

Current culture... tends to assume that if someone says they're giving you something... it's free for the taking... it's unoccupied so to speak... reserved for you...

But No... not with God... battles of faith are apparently good for us... and we should never let the enemy deter us from entering into the land of promise...

"... To him who overcomes and does my will to the end,

I will give authority over the nations---"

---Jesus

Revelation 2:26

Stunning...

How often do you let the enemy deter you... from receiving all He has promised...?

This week... The Journey enters into... Deuteronomy...

Monday                     Deuteronomy 1
Tuesday                     Deuteronomy 2
Wednesday                Deuteronomy 3:1 - 4:14
Thursday                   Deuteronomy 4:15-59
Friday                        Deuteronomy 5

confession... from Thursday...

Thursday... God pressed me to bless another... someone serving me...

Called to leave a large tip... I balked... hesitated... clenched a fist... questioned... and finally... by faith... confirmed His call... and chose to obey...

So the time came...

I said... Keep the change...

The server looked at me... but continued to make change...

I said... I said... keep the change...

All of it... 

Yes...

The look on her face... worth every penny... dollar...

She thanked me...

I said... Your welcome...

I received a blessing too...

But... as I drove off... just seconds later... I realized what I'd done...

I stole God's glory...!

My response to her should have been... Praise God...

After all... it was His idea to bless... not mine... yet... I got to see the joy... feel the joy... and receive thanks...

Yes... Thursday... I stole God's glory...

It is no small thing to steal His glory...

On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. --- Acts 12:21-23 ESV 

No... it is no small thing to steal His glory...

Me... quickly convicted...  quickly confessed... and asked Him to send her someone to tell her the blessing she received was from Him... and not me...

By grace... forgiven...

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive

us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John 1:9 ESV

Just had to confess...

Praise Him... from Whom ALL blessings flow...

What do you need to confess...?

limits...

Feeling pressed to the limits...
time crunches...
things not quite right...

Feeling... just... pressed...

Practicing... praise...

Remembering Him...
His presence...
His teaching...
His discipline...

And... counting... on... holding... fast...

Count it all joy, my brothers,

when you face trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your faith

produces steadfastness.

James 1:2-3 ESV

[email subscribers... click here to view on YouTube... or click post title to view on Jeremiah's Menu...]

because...

Because... He created...

Because... He is almighty...

Because... He is love...

Because... He is merciful...

Because... He is just...

Because... He is awesome...

Because... He is Savior...

Praise His holy name...

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels;

praise him all his hosts!

Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord!

For he commanded and they were created.

And he established them forever and ever;

he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all deeps,

fire and hail, snow and mist,

stormy wind fulfilling his word!

Mountains and hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

Beasts and all livestock,

creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and rulers of the earth!

Young men and maidens together,

old men and children!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his majesty is above earth and heaven.

He has raised up a horn for his people,

praise for all his saints,

for the people of Israel who are near to him.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 148

Because... no matter what kind of day you have had...

He is worthy of praise...

evening... vs... morning...

Today... the third evening to sacrifice an offering of time to Him...

The first evening... at the end of a working day...

I face a challenge with the evening offering...

A challenge to rest... be quiet... before Him...
putting aside the day... and all its clutter...

In the morning... it's a waking from rest...
mind clear... the whole day unwritten...

Coming in the evening... activity still rushes...

How do I put this day down...? 
How do I lay it at His feet...?

I remembered an online site a dear sister told me about...

examen.me 

A helpful way... to connect with Him... through Scripture and prayer... directed choices...

Here I found a way to disconnect from a full day...
to present an offering of praise to Him...

Maybe you will find it helpful to... in your sacrifice of time... to Him...

Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.

Psalm 116:7

the path...

The path...
the narrow path... leading to life...
Are you on it...?

How would you know if you were...?

I believe we step onto the path...
by choosing Him as Lord...
dying to self... and our own desires...
and living for Him... alone...

The narrow path...
it's a path of worship... devotion... obedience...

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and 

acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1 ESV

It's life in the Word...
eating it...
living it...
making it flesh...

Do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 ESV

What path are you on...?

There is another...
a broad one... leading to death... destruction...

At first it seems like the easy way... but in the end...

"The wrong paths seem to always look easier, and will tempt us to try to escape our difficulties and trials. They may, in fact, be easier for a time, but then they will get much harder than the true path. They ultimately lead to traps and entanglements that few ever get free of, if they do not turn back quickly and get back on the right path. ...

"If you get on a wrong path, it will lead you away from Him. The joy and peace of the Lord will be replaced by confusion and darkness ... The wrong path gets darker and leads to increasing confusion. Confusion leads to depression and ultimately despair and death. ..."

---Rick Joyner, The Path  

Don't be deceived...

His Word is life...

His Way is life...

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate

and broad is the road that leads to destruction, 

and many enter through it. 

But small is the gate and narrow the road

that leads to life, and only a few find it. ..."

---Jesus

Matthew 7:13-14

Make sure you're on... the path...