twice in twenty-four hours...

Twice in twenty-four hours...
I was blessed by prayer...

Interceding... it's one of the things Believers do...

He's called me to a ministry...
of being available to pray for others...
I even wear a button at church...
asking How can I pray for you...?

So often I pray for others...
sometimes they ask me for prayer...
other times... I offer...

And the prayers I pray are not later...
in the prayer closet...
they are right then and there...
with the person in need...

But seldom...
does anyone offer to pray for me...
so what a blessing to have it happen twice...
in twenty-four hours...

Praying for others...
head bowed to head bowed...
is a blessing I challenge you to practice today...
(even if it's over the phone...)

Who can you bless with prayer...? in the next twenty-four hours...?

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick,

and the Lord will raise him up.

James 5:15 ESV

wait on Him... Hosea 12:6...

"So you, by the help of your God, return,

hold fast to love and justice,

and wait continually for your God."

Hosea 12:6 ESV

The prophet Hosea... gave a word from God... to Jacob...

Jacob... who in the womb... took his elder brother's heel... vied for a position of authority...

Jacob... who strove with God... whose name was changed to Israel... God-wrestler...

Jacob... who prevailed over the angel... then wept... and sought a blessing...

A message not only for rebellious Jacob... Israel...

but for all His people...

Only with God's help... can we return... repent...

He alone turns our hearts toward Him... 

blesses us with conviction... 

and faith to receive...

We cannot clean ourselves up... and come to God in presentable fashion...

we need His help... His strength... to limp our way back to Him...

On our returning... repentance...

we hold fast... keep... give heed... to love and justice...

compassion and mercy...

and wait continually... eagerly... for God...

to save...

to bless...

to restore...

A heart of hopeful waiting...

depends on Him...

to help us return...

By His help we return...

to love... justice... hope...

really hard...

It's really hard... in our brokenness...
to come to grips... with His holiness...

Really... hard...

Our broken emotions...
skewed reasoning...
confused understanding...
make it difficult...
to see His grace in hard things...
to see His way in the dark...
when death brings life...
and love bears all things...

It's hard... to wrestle with God...
but that's what He invites us to do...
like Jacob... renamed Israel... God-wrestler...

But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."

Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob,

but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men,

and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name."

But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?"

And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place

Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face,

and yet my life has been delivered."

Genesis 32:26-30 ESV

Jacob... the one who in his brokenness...

stole his father's blessing from his brother Esau...

the one who yearned for a legitimate blessing...

His heavenly Father engaged him... wrestled him...

Jacob's cry is one of a broken heart...

I won't let you go unless you bless me...

The Father in His grace... blessed him...

with a new name... a new character...

as one invited into the wrestling match...

to move from brokenness...

to holiness...

It's really hard for brokenness...

to come to grips with His holiness...

but in His grace...

He invites us...

calls us... Israel...

Grateful for a God...
willing to wrestle with brokenness...
get down and dirty...
in order to bless...

blessings... a la joy...

Most of my adult life... I've had a hard time receiving blessings with joy...

I suppose I believed I didn't deserve joy...
didn't deserve blessings...

As a pragmatic pessimist...
I saw the fleeting nature of joy...
it will pass and leave you flat...
disappointment sure to follow...

It's absolutely crazy...
it's not fun...
it's stupid...

The greatest blessing I've received lately...
is freedom to receive... blessings... with... joy...

I've been absolutely elated... over the littlest things...
just this week... the ordering of a shirt with free shipping...
an unexpected opening for an appointment...

It's odd... at least for me...

Blessings... a la joy...
I accredit to stepping out in faith...
evidence of His faithfulness...
when we are faithful to Him...

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

a day for blessing... and being blessed...

A day for blessing... and being blessed...
in the offering of myself to others... for His use... at His call...
I find myself blessed... a truth found in His Word...

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and the one who waters will himself be watered.

Proverbs 11:25 ESV

It feels odd to receive such a blessing... by being obedient... in blessing others... it also feels great...!

I think of Abraham... and find myself wanting... the blessing God gave him...

"... in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Genesis 12:3 ESV

What an awesome blessing to receive...

the blessing of being a blessing...!

We may think ourselves such a mess... we could never bless anyone else...

but God... in His grace... works out brokenness as blessing...

"... the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you,

because the Lord your God loved you. ..."

Deuteronomy 23:5 ESV

Moses reminded the Israelites about the story of Balaam...

the prophet hired by their enemy... to curse them...

but God would not allow it...

Our enemy... entered the world to curse us with sin...

yet God... in His love... did not allow it to be the last word...

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming

a curse for us --- for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"...

Galatians 3:13 ESV

He uses every curse... and its consequences... for good... when we allow Him to redeem it ALL through Christ Jesus... giving Him lordship over our lives...

Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!

Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Psalm 144:15 ESV

Obey His voice...

be a blessing...

be blessed...

Who have you blessed today...?

The Journey Readings: Week 107... and blessings of His beloved...

Daniel... greatly beloved... by God...

And [the angel] said to me, O Daniel,

you greatly beloved man, understand the words

that I speak to you and stand upright,

for to you I am now sent.

Daniel 10:11 Amp

And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not!

Peace be to you! Be strong, yes, be strong,

And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened...

Daniel 10:19 Amp

Twice... during one vision... the messenger assures Daniel of the Most High's favor...

We've seen Daniel's faithfulness in the midst of persecution...

continuing his daily prayers before the Living God...

even though it meant entering the lion's den...

Daniel... in exile... 

far from the priests... and temple...

remained faithful to his Lord...

God treasures those who are faithful...

they are His beloved...

Jesus said...

"... You are my friends if you do what I command you.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant

does not know what his master is doing;

but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard

from my Father I have made known to you. ..."

John 15:14-15 ESV

Daniel... he comes into the category of friend...

an obedient faithful servant...

elevated to... beloved...

Daniel was blessed to know God's plans...

receive visions... prophecy... and answers to prayer...

God's messenger telling him...

Now I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people

in latter days, for the vision is for [many] days yet to come.

Daniel 10:14 Amp

As beloved by God... 

Daniel was blessed with...

wisdom...

understanding...

knowledge...

prophecy...

These are the blessings of His beloved...

He shares His heart with them...

He tells them what is to come...

He provides wisdom... knowledge... understanding...

The faithful... obedient... beloved...

are blessed with the greatest gift...

a close relationship with Him...

and opportunities to make Him known to others...

Pursue Him in His Word...

through prayer... and obedience...

become His friend... His beloved...

know His blessings...

This week's readings...

Monday             Daniel 11-12

Tuesday             1 Timothy 1-2

Wednesday        1 Timothy 3-4

Thursday            1 Timothy 5-6

Friday                2 Timothy 1-2

blessed... by His encouragement...

In the seeking of wisdom... I find myself blessed... by His encouragement...

He shows up in surprising ways... at just the right time... in the midst of what feels like walking in the dark... there it is... a blessing of encouragement...

He is... the God of endurance and encouragement...

Endurance... perseverance... fueled by encouragement...

Grateful for the blessing... praying He will bless you with needed encouragement too...

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement

and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you

in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 16-17

more on dealing with... stirred up...

The teaching on praying with another who struggles... and seeing it as a  way of dealing with a stirred up heart... is pretty basic... 

I wonder... Why didn't I think of it myself...? how did I forget...?

Stirred up emotions... make us forgetful...

they fuel doubt... and distract from what we know...

Thankful for the reminder...

the practice of praying has begun...

and already... peace... begins to still my heart...

The practice of blessing Him...

by remembering His blessings...

through prayers of praise...

the best way to deal with... a stirred up soul...

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns your life with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

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

Psalm 103:1-5 ESV

Soul... bless the Lord...

remember His benefits...

let Him still your heart...

through prayers of praise...

The Journey Readings... Week:70... and... the earth's harvest...

The earth has yielded its harvest

[in evidence of God's approval];

God, even our own God, will bless us.

Psalm 67:6 Amp

After reading this verse yesterday... near the end of the last psalm in last week's readings... I looked out the window...

The abundance of green... overwhelmed...

The earth has yielded its produce;

God, our God, blesses us.

Psalm 67:6 NASB95

His abundant blessing in sunshine... and green leaves... bursting forth this Spring... providing oxygen... and shade...

The abundance of moisture... He has provided for this to happen... His abundant generosity... just in my backyard... overwhelms...

To think beyond... to all that's produced by the earth... to fill grocery store shelves... and feed the world... truly stretches the imagination...

His generosity... beyond abundant... through the earth's harvest... to meet our physical needs...

Not to mention... the infinite blessing of His grace... to feed our spiritual needs...

forgiveness...

mercy...

compassion...

love...

healing...

poured out through His Son...

It makes me ashamed of the poor representative I am of His Kingdom... His way...

Just for a moment... I saw a glimpse of what the world would produce... if it were up to me... brown grass... trees with few leaves...

My own heart... still so far from where it should be... when it comes to generosity... grace... pouring out myself for others... for Him...

Lord... free me to burst forth... as generous as You...

Find out something about your heart... compared to His... join The Journey...

This week's readings...

Monday                Psalm 68

Tuesday               Psalm 69-70

Wednesday           Psalm 71-72

Thursday             Psalm 73

Friday                   Psalm 74-76

blessings... of a full day...

Today's blessings...
His faithfulness...
a friend sharing His work in her...
lunch with another friend...
joy at the freedom found in Him...
finishing jobs...
correcting errors...
shopping...
cooking...
cleaning...
stepping...
roses...
candlelight...
extras for dinner...
everyone gathered...
rainstorms...
laughter...
decaf...
chocolate...
a full day...

I wasn't sure...
at the beginning of this day...
that everything would fit...
but it did...
by His grace...

Amen...

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117:2

dichotomy...

Blesssed (Happy, fortunate, to be envied)

is he who has forgiveness of his transgression

continually exercised upon him,

whose sin is covered.

Psalm 32:1 Amp

My journey through the Psalms led me to this verse this afternoon... which I read immediately after...

"With His stripes, we are healed." --- Isaiah 53:5

Pilate delivered our Lord to the lictors to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen, and sharp bones were inter-twisted every here and there among the sinews; so that every time the lash came down these pieces of bone inflicted fearful laceration, and tore off the flesh from the bone. ... My soul, stand here and weep over His poor stricken body.

---Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening

By His wounds... we are healed...

Without His misery... we would have no blessing...

What is our proper response...?
Sorrow...? Yes...
Joy...? Yes...

Sorrow for our sin... which drove Him to such a place...
Joy for His love... which held Him in such a place...

I'm reminded of words from a song... a Christmas song...
which reflect this dichotomy...
joy... and... sorrow...
misery... and... love...

And I, I celebrate the day

That You were born to die

So I could one day pray

for You to save my life.

--- Reliant K, I Celebrate the Day

Quite a thought to enter into the evening...

Selah... pause... and think calmly of that...! 

the blessing of wrestling...

After the commencement address... the question came...

What did you think of the speaker's talk...?

I shared my thoughts... and the one who asked... shared his...

We did not agree...
I could not make him see...
I knew I couldn't...
and the truth that only the Father opens eyes of faith...
weighed heavy...

But... Sunday... He opened my eyes to a new aspect of the conversation... held on Saturday...

During the singing of The First Noel... the chorus...

Born is the King of Israel...

I'm reminded... Israel...translates to... God-wrestler...

Born is the King of God-wrestlers...
and the previous conversation... came into light...
there was a wrestling with God taking place...
the first steps... toward coming under the King...!

And I see... how those who question... messages of truth... enter into the wrestling ring of blessing...

Those who don't consider... don't question... don't wrestle with the ideas of truth that barb at a soul... are hard as the road... where the birds steal what's been sown...

Jacob... he wrestled with God...
he said... I won't let you go till You bless me...
his name was changed... to Israel...
God-wrestler...

In this new light... instead of discouraged... I am encouraged...
recognizing... the blessing... of wrestling... with the King...

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel 

and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

"I am the first and the last; besides me there is no god. ..."

Isaiah 44:6 ESV

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Thy paths drop fatness...

...thy paths drop fatness.

Psalm 65:11 KJV

An interesting verse I came across in a Charles Spurgeon devotional... 

Thy paths... drop... fatness...

These words sent me to seek out other translations... 

...your carts overflow with abundance.

NIV84

...even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

NLT

...your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

ESV

...Your paths drip fatness.

NASB95

...your wagon tracks overflow with richness.

NRSV

...Your ways overflow with plenty.

HCSB

Finding such variations... I went to the Hebrew lexicons...

The words translated... paths... carts... hard pathways... wagon tracks... ways... come from the Hebrew word... ma'gal...

ma'gal... entrenchment, track...

 --- Enhanced Strong's Lexicon

...direction in life, teaching, formally, rutted path, i.e., verbal teaching as a figurative extension of a well-worn path... life, course of life, formally, path, i.e., the way one conducts oneself in life as a figurative extension of a well-worn path... path ruts, wheel tracks, i.e., grooves in a dirt path as a condition of being often used by carts... note: the picture is one of so much being on a cart it spills off onto the ground into the wheel tracks

---Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains 

Stick with me here...

The word translated... drop... overflow... drip... comes from the Hebrew... ra'aph...

...to trickle, drip...

---Enhanced Strong's Lexicon

...drop, fall, drip, i.e., the movement of liquid from the sky as a gentle, healthy, non-destructive rain... cause to rain... overflow, i.e., be in a state of great plenty...

--- Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains 

And the final word... with translations... fatness... abundance... richness... plenty...

deshen... fat ashes, fatness... of fertility... of blessing...

---Enhanced Strong's Lexicon

...choice produce, i.e., what is produced and choice for consumption... fatty ashes, i.e., the burned wood of the altar fire soaked or mixed with fat of the animal sacrifice...

 --- Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains

Thy paths... drip... fatness...

His Way... overflows... with blessing... fruitfulness...
His Way... makes tracks... ruts... it can be followed...
His Way... is unchanging...

And I think about His Way... overflowing with abundance... even filling the tracks of the path... wondering... at its fruitfulness...

Then the Word it comes... as to the reason... for the abundance... of His Way...

For as the rain and snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout, 

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV

His Word... never returns empty...

His Way... always fruitful...

His purpose... always accomplished...

Thy paths... drip... fatness...

Lord... keep me in Your path...

it is a rut... in which I long to be stuck...

grateful... for the fullness of His grace...

At the end of a long day...
filled with blessings...
challenges...
errors...
arrogance...
love...
and encouragement...
I find myself... grateful... for the fullness... of... His... grace...

For from his fullness we have all received,

grace upon grace.

John 1:16 ESV

miraculous wednesdays...

She said... Every Wednesday is a miracle...

And today... I truly believe it...

My friend who sees the miracle... the director of children's ministry... the one at the head of an after school children's ministry...

148 children... Kindergarten through sixth grade...

Controlled chaos... from 2:45pm to 5:00pm...

Snacks...
Options...
Bible study...

Whew...!

All in the name of Jesus... because He said...

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,

for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. ..."

Matthew 19:14 ESV

If the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these... it's a very active place... filled with questions... and laughter...

I'm blessed to be a part of this chaos... and grateful for His grace He pours out on this place each day... especially... Wednesday...

needing continual cleaning...

A day spent deep-cleaning my bedroom... sheets... bedspread... pillows... baseboards... headboard... behind the bed...

Dusting places untouched for months (years?) brought me face to face... with the constant accumulation of dirt... and grime... throughout my life... and the need for continual cleaning...

People are messy... reminding me... every spiritual reality... has a physical manifestation...

Toward the end of the day spent cleaning... a verse I read this morning... came to mind...

Blessed (Happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered.

Psalm 32:1 Amp

(my emphasis)

The mess of life... and the mess of our broken selves... causes the accumulation of sin's filth... but in Christ... we have One who continually exercises forgiveness upon us... through the power of His sacrifice and blood...

In him we have redemption through his blood, 

the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with 

the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us 

with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:7-9

What an amazing truth... His blood continually exercising its power of forgiveness... in our messy lives...

No condemnation... just a wiping away... crimson stains... white as snow...

Our only part... acknowledge our mess... and confess it... 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 ESV

Truly something to be happy about because...

our lives... need... continual... cleaning.... 

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently

leans on the Lord shall be compassed about

with mercy and with loving-kindness.

Psalm 32:10 Amp

Take time to thank Him... praise Him... for His gift of grace in your life...

Or... if you have not yet acknowledged your messy life... confessed your sin... and received His lavish grace... consider it now... He's waiting for you...

a picture of sin

Cleaning my shower... inspired a picture of sin...

This is a chore I don't like doing... so needless to say... I regularly procrastinate... until I can't stand it...

As I knelt... scrubbing soap scum... mildew... and general all-around-grunge... I was reminded that all this dirt... mess... yuk... came off me and my dear husband...

Now I have this theory... which I believe bears itself out in the overarching truth of Scripture...

Every spiritual reality... has a physical manifestation...

So... while cleaning... I considered my sin... and the sin of my spouse...

If the physical residue off our bodies is so disgusting... I don't even want to know what the spiritual residue of our sin looks like... not to mention the actual sin itself...!

The thought leaves me grateful... and humble... before Jesus... my Savior... who allowed the grunge of the world... and the wrath of His Father against us... to be poured out on Himself... out of love...

For while we were still weak, at the right time 

Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die 

for a righteous person --- though perhaps for a good person

 one would dare even die --- but God shows his love for us 

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

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, 

much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Romans 5:6-9 ESV

Praise Him... from who all blessings flow...
including shower grunge to clean...
that I might see... Him...

blessed by His mercy...

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, 

whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

 and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Psalm 32:1-2 ESV

Blessed... in Hebrew... esher... a word meaning... happiness... blessedness... one resource translates it... to be envied with desire (Theological Wordbook of the OT)... a state of such happiness that everyone wants what you have...

A spirit free... void of the need to deceive... others... Him... regarding sin...

He's dealt with it... we don't have to...

This is the blessing of His forgiveness... the blessing found in His mercy...

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away 

through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; 

my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Psalm 32:2-4 ESV

To keep silent... hide our sins... cover them ourselves... is the way of the flesh...

And [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees...

Genesis 3:8 ESV

But the way of the flesh leads to groaning... the oppressive hand of guilt weighing day and night... strength sapped dry...

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Psalm 32:5 ESV

The pain of godly sorrow... drives us to confession... repentance... and there we find the blessing of His merciful forgiveness...

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 ESV

His mercy on the cross... stands ready... to hear and receive any confession... cleanse any stain...

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you

at a time when you may be found; 

surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; 

you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

Psalm 32:6-7 ESV

...let everyone who is godly... know the blessing of His mercy... it is for everyone who is godly... those willing to place their faith and trust in His merciful loving kindness... and follow His Way...

Anyone... may offer prayer to receive His forgiveness and mercy... to receive His shield of salvation... a true hiding place... that preserves us from trouble...

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Psalm 32:8 ESV

His mercy comes with counsel... 

instruction... 

guidance... 

in the Way... 

Those who listen faithfully... receive the blessing of His watchful direction...

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

which must be curbed with bit and bridle,

or it will not stay near you.

Psalm 32:9 ESV

The godly come willingly...

He will not make you follow His Way... 

He will not force you... like a farmer driving an obstinate mule...

Free will... to reject or receive... His mercy... His blessing... 

is the basis of faith... and love...

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

but steadfast love surrounds the one

who trusts in the Lord.

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 32:10-11 ESV

Discover the blessing of His mercy... 

trust in Him... 

know His love...

praise His name...

Blessed... by... His... mercy...

Lord Jesus... open my eyes to the many aspects of Your mercies... fill my life with its enviable blessings... may others see... and be drawn to You... 

saved by His mercy...

The reading through of Leviticus has me considering His mercy... and the magnitude of His grace through Jesus... and the provision of blood for atonement... for forgiveness...

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Leviticus 17:11 ESV

All the blood in the tabernacle... a foreshadowing of what was to come... the perfect sacrifice... to end all sacrifices...

God presented [Christ Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement,

through faith in his blood.

Romans 3:25

Each of us... in Christ... should greatly identify with Isaac... and his trek up the hill with his father Abraham...

Isaac carried the means for offering a sacrifice... the wood... the fire... the only thing missing... the offering...

"...but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Genesis 22:7 ESV

Abraham... the father of the faithful... told his son whom he had been commanded to sacrifice... "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering..."

Yet... Isaac found himself bound to the wood... a knife to his throat... about to die at the hand of his father... when a voice said...

"Abraham, Abraham!... Do not lay your hand on the boy..."

Genesis 22:11-12 ESV

Imagine Isaac's relief... his joy... his wonder... at the ram in the bushes... provided for his salvation...

We too... should recognize the provision God made for us... saving us from judgment... and the shedding of our own blood... for our own sins...

We too... should breathe a sigh of relief... a grateful prayer... and offer an obedient heart... to the One who took our place... who saved us by grace...

Jesus... the ultimate Lamb of God... the final sacrifice... the One who came to take away the sins of the world... because of His mercy...

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy...

Titus 3:4-5 ESV

Saved... by... His... mercy...

Do you see it...?

Do you know it...?

Are you grateful for it...?

Father God... help me to more fully comprehend... 

Your mercy that saves... and the provision You've made... 

so I may live my life... in grateful obedience... for Your glory...

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                      Leviticus 20

Tuesday                      Leviticus 21-22

Wednesday                 Leviticus 23

Thursday                     Leviticus 24:1 - 25:22

Friday                         Leviticus 25:23-55

brokenness...

Brokenness... I've seen more than a little the last day or so...

And I remember...

The Lord is near the brokenhearted 

and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted 

and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 ESV

Jesus majors in broken... He says...

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of prison to those who are bound...

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

Brokenness longs for good news... and the Good News is good... when we embrace our brokenness...

"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. ..."

---Jesus

Matthew 5:3-6 ESV

So is it possible... to receive that which breaks us... as a blessing...?

Can we believe He is the One who works all things for good in the lives of those who love Him...?

Do you love Him enough to trust Him... with the pain He allows...?

Are you willing... to walk with Him... through this world... remembering it is not your home...?

Can you trust Him... to provide the strength... to hold you together...?

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Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:5

Lord... in brokenness... I choose to trust You... Your plan... 

Your purpose... Your grace... mercy... and love... 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay,

so show that the surpassing power belongs to God

and not to us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV