The Beauty of Holiness

You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

1 Peter 3:4 (NLT)

We think of holiness as some strict, narrow, confining and sterile state.  Holiness is actually a most beautiful state characterized by the quiet strength of God, a strength that cannot be upset by any disruptive forces.  Holiness is a word that describes the very nature of God in all of his perfection.

As we bask in his presence we experience his beautiful holiness.  As we are surrounded by his spirit, he imparts his qualities to us. Our lives become expressions of his gentle and quiet spirit, displayed not in weakness, but in a powerful, steady strength.  How different from my human spirit characterized by frenetic, anxious activity.  The life of the person controlled by the spirit is defined by gentleness, kindness and undisturbed, patient love - all the beautiful qualities of holiness.  People like this become the very fragrance of Christ in the world. 

Thank you, Lord, for your loving presence which feeds and fortifies our spirits.  As we enjoy your presence may we be transformed into your very likeness in the beauty of holiness. Grant us that gentle and quiet spirit.  May we be surrounded by and filled with quiet strength as we go through our day, today.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, 

and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 

For I want you to understand what really matters,

so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—

the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —

for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Phil 1:9-11 (NLT)

Protection

Monument Valley, Utah

He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. 

Psalm 62:7

The Lord is my help.

I shall not be afraid.

I will trust in Him at all times.

He will surely keep me safe in his sanctuary.

When I am weak, He is strong.

He lifts me high above my enemies.

 His house is a place of peace and joy. 

  He is my hiding place.

God is my refuge and strength. 

He surrounds me with his presence.

My God is a strong tower.

A refuge for all who call to him for help.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Prov 18:10 (NIV)

Serenity

Yesterday, as I was driving to get my new Arizona drivers license, I pulled up behind a car with a license plate that read BSERENE. What a reminder!  I was tired and my mind was slipping because of all the daily pressures and worries.  I needed that reminder to refocus on the positive and re-frame my thinking according to the reality of God's peace.

I was tied up in traffic, but there it was again in front of me just before I turned.  It immediately made me think of the Serenity Prayer. Here we are reminded that God is our source of peace.  It starts with acceptance, taking things as they are.  That's always a good place to start. Then asks for courage and wisdom to change while enjoying each moment and trusting that whatever hardships we face will work for our good as we surrender to his will. What a powerful prayer!  God grant us serenity!

se·ren·i·tyNoun/səˈrenitē/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled:

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. --Reinhold Niebuhr

Comfort

 He comforts us in all our troubles 

so that we can comfort others.

2 Cor 1:4 (NLT)

We like soft and comfortable things.  A pillow for our head, a cushy comforter, the perfect mattress, a soft place to sit and relax.

God, our Father is the source of all comfort.  He sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and constant companion.  When troubles build up and begin to weigh us down, when we become discouraged with the struggles and disappointments of life, he is there to soothe and comfort us.  We need this constant encouragement and comfort in a world that can be harsh, hard and cold.

Just as a comforter surrounds and supports us with softness so the Holy Spirit encourages us continually. We need to take time to lay down in God's comfort, to sink deep into the softness and warmth of his love.  He will soothe our frazzled souls and calm our frazzled nerves. Then we can be a source of comfort for those around us who have also been bombarded with the harsh realities of this life.

You are my comforter.  Surround me with a constant sense of encouragement no matter what troubles and difficulties I face today.  Thank you for your comfort. Make me a comforter. 

For troubles surround me— too many to count!

       Psalms 40:12 (NLT)

And I will ask the Father,

and He will give you another Comforter 

(Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby),

that He may remain with you forever—

John 14:16 (AMP)

Nothing

For apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5 (NLT)

Nothing!  Really!  I can't do anything without him!  Well, actually, I can do something but it won't bring good.  I can try to have my own way; to fight for what I want.  But the results won't be good and what ever I gain I will lose in the end.  (James 4:1-3)

All good things are accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  That's why prayer is an essential part of daily life.  Prayer is a way of saying, "Yes, Lord, I recognize that I can do nothing good without you.  I need your power and strength every moment to accomplish good things in the right way."

Lord, help us to realize that if we try to gain the things we want by our own methods and means we will lose.  But, if we humbly ask for your help each day, acknowledging we can do nothing good apart from you, we will gain your strength and accomplish much.

 

 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Phil 4:13 (ISV)

Eyes to See

 And his eyes were like flames of fire.

Rev 1:14 (NLT)

  

God's eyes are very penetrating.  He sees past the superficial into the heart of every situation.  Sometimes we don't understand what is going on, but God sees from the inside out.  He sees the motive behind all action and behavior.  We need eyes to see so we might have wisdom and understanding to handle every situation in our lives. 

Lord, you see and know all.  It is a comfort to know you understand what is going on.  You see every motivation and thus know how to deal with each situation.  Your wisdom is unfathomable.  I am asking today for eyes to see.  Help me to see clearly so that I may have your wisdom and understanding.  Thank you.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.

Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes…

Hebrews 4:13 

 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation….

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

Eph 1:17,18 (NIV)

Glory & Honor

 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers,  the moon and the stars you have set in place,  what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?  For you made us only a little lower than the heavenly beings and you crowned us with glory and honor.Psalm 8: 3-5 NLT

"Christianity is a lifetime of becoming who you really are." 

Ann Voskamp, aholyexperience.com, Sept. 5, 2011

When we look at the night sky and think of the vastness of all God has created we feel so small and insignificant.  How could the God who created all this care for us?  It is amazing to realize that we are actually the crowning glory of all he has made.  We were made just a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned with glory and honor.  We are infinitely precious and important to God.

Our position of glory and honor is a consequence of our recognition of our proper position under the one who created us.  When we step out from under the authority of our glorious creator we lose our position of glory and honor and become subject to this lower creation resulting in disorder and chaos.  Humans continually fall into the deception that they can be their own god.  (Genesis 3:5). 

Jesus came to restore our proper position by displaying what we were truly created to be.  He honored the father with reverent submission. (Hebrews 5:7) He is our example and as we look to him and live in him we are restored to that position of glory and honor we lost by our own self will.  In Jesus we are fully restored, accepted, and cared for.

My Creator King

by Don Moen

You, who made the mountains and the sea
Measured out the universe and you made me.
Echoes of the voice that called the worlds to be
Reached throughout the ages and now speaks to me.
You're my Creator King.

You, who made the valleys and the skies
Displayed your love on far horizons and before my eyes.
You, who lit the stars and set the dawn in time,
Called them all by name and now You whisper mine.
You're my Creator King.

Chorus
Who am I that You are mindful of me?
Who am I that You set Your love on me?
You're my Creator King.

You, who made the darkness and the light,
Sun and moon to watch the day and guard the night.
The hand that stretched the heavens like a canopy
Reaches down to cover and watch over me.
You're my Creator King.

Listen to the song:

http://youtu.be/2ITMxRfBx-E 

Make Me A Blessing

I will make you into a great nation. 

I will bless you and make you famous, 

and you will be a blessing to others.

Gen 12:2 (NLT)

We have been so blessed by God.  He blesses us to make us a blessing.  I pray every day that God would give me an opportunity to be a blessing to someone, to do some good, to give a smile, a listening ear, time, to look away from myself and look to the needs of another.  Realizing I am well cared for, I can care for another.

Self-centeredness and self-absorption robs us of the blessing of being a blessing.

Lord, help us to slow down and make us aware of opportunities around us to be a blessing so that we might share with the world some of the great love and grace that you have poured out on us.

“I am blessed : I can bless : So this is happiness…I could share the grace, multiply the joy, extend the table of the feast, enlarge the paradise of His presence. I am blessed. I can bless.” 

~ excerpted from One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp on www.aholyexperience.com

8/30/11

Holy Spirit Zone

Since we are living by the Spirit,

let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Gal 5:25 (NLT)

Not only is our house under construction, but the road leading to our house is also under construction.   The street is covered with cones and reflectors and signs warning us to slow down for a work zone ahead.  There the 100 pound lady standing in 100 degree heat with a hard hat on is able to stop our 2 ton Honda.  Because we pay attention and yield to the signs she holds up, she has the power to control our car, when we stop and when we go.

Our lives are lived in the Holy Spirit Zone.  In the Holy Spirit Zone we yield to the control of the Holy Spirit in the direction we take, when we stop and when we go. Desires of our mind or body often try to get us off track leading us to indulge in things that are not good for us; perhaps its over eating or displaying anger or any number of destructive habits. That's when we need to remember that we live in the Holy Spirit Zone.  We need to heed the warning signs and yield to the Holy Spirit's control.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.

Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Gal 5:16