How mighty and glorious is our Father

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place

  throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born

  or you brought forth the whole world,

  from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Psalm 90:1-2 (NIV)

It's easy to forget just how mighty and glorious our Father is. But He has existed forever and ever. His strength is unending. His holiness is awe-inducing. He is both just and loving, both holy and forgiving of sinners. He is the One who controls the world, and He is the One who He hears our prayers. 

And we should join the chorus praising the One who made us:

"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

    be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!”" Revelation 5:13 (NIV)

His glory

~Christmas is here~

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[a] from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (ESV)

Merry Christmas! May we all remember our Savior on this day and on every day!

It'd be crazy to...

~Tuesday Thougths~

"God's creation is so vast it'd be crazy to think we could ever understand it all." -Jake, Angel Eyes

This is so true. We serve a God whose creation is wonderful. And He Himself is the most glorious, magnificent, powerful, omniscient, merciful, loving, righteous and generous One in the world. 

All eyes on You

~Monday Movies & Music~

OBB's song "All Eyes on You" (lyrics) reminds us that everything we do, we should do for God. We should point people to God. We are not great people by ourselves. No, but we serve a great God. 

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

Let us point to Him and not us in our successes and run to Him and not ourselves in our failures!

Music for Him

~Tuesday Thoughts~

This is the fifth post in the series on Colossians 3 and 4. The first four are On Things Above, Put to Death Your Sins, No Gentile or Jew, and Peace and Thankfulness . The first category in the NIV Bible for this passage is called "Living as Those Made Alive in Christ." Let us do so!

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

Music is amazing. When we listen to music or write it or play it or sing it, something happens that doesn't normally happen. An excited energy seems to invade us, leaving us dancing or closing our eyes or mouthing the songs or just thinking about the words or the beat.

We can use music to God's glory. When we listen to music that praises His name, or at least is clean. When we write songs that are about Him. When we lead others in worship. And when we sing to Him. When we remember who He is and who we are and how much we owe Him and express it in song. 

This week how can you use music to bring glory to God? 

On things above

~Tuesday Thoughts~

This is the first in the series on Colossians 3 and 4. The first category in the NIV Bible for this passage is called "Living as Those Made Alive in Christ." Let us do so!

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)

There is a reality in this world that we often forget about. There is a truth that we often choose to push to the back of our minds. But let us remember today! Let us remember whose we are and that He has chosen us. And let us set our minds and hearts on things above. For our "life is now hidden with Christ in God." 

God of wonders

~Monday Movies & Music~

"God of Wonders" is a song here sung by Third Day. Here are the lyrics.

Our God is definitely awesome. He is holy. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is worthy of our praise.

Let us praise Him!

Heavens declare God's glory

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Our family was on vacation the week before school. We saw for ourselves some of the wonders God has created. Seriously, nature is such great evidence that there is a God.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
  the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Romans 1:20 (NIV)

How about you? What are some wonders you have seen? Did they remind you of God’s might?

Overwhelmed

~Monday Movies & Music~

“Overwhelmed” is a song by Big Daddy Weave. Here are the lyrics.

Our God is really so amazing!!!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

How about you? What can you praise God for today? 

"Prayer is a strong wall" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon." -Martin Luther

"The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'" -Billy Graham

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." -Mother Teresa

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell." - C.S. Lewis

How about you? Which quotes do you like best? Which topic is closer to your heart? Can you share some quotes that touch you?

"We cannot love too much" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"He said "Love...as I have loved you." We cannot love too much."- Amy Carmichael

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." - John Piper

"Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them." -Elisabeth Elliot

"The church is not a dormitory for sleepers, it is an institution for workers; it is not a rest camp, it is a front line trench." - Billy Sunday

How about you? Which quote do you like best? What topic is nearer to your heart? What quotes can you share?

Mighty to save

~Monday Movies & Music~

Mighty to Save is an awesome song by Hillsong United. Here are the lyrics.

Our God, our Savior is really mighty. He can do anything. 

The Lord your God is with you.

    He is mighty enough to save you.

He will take great delight in you.

    The quietness of his love will calm you down.

    He will sing with joy because of you.” 

Zephaniah 3:17 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Amen!

Awesome God

~Monday Movies & Music~

“Awesome God” by Rich Mullins had been my favorite song for a while. Here are the lyrics.

He IS an Awesome God. An awesome and loving God! A God who forgives and shows mercy. Let’s praise Him - now and forever!!!

Lord, our Lord,
 how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 (NIV)

Above all

~Monday Movies & Music~

Above All is a thought-provoking song by Michael W. Smith. Here are the lyrics. 

Awhile back Mom mentioned that we should probably thank and praise God more when we pray. We do more or less OK with asking God for one thing or another. And that is not wrong. But we should try to remember more Who He is and who we are and how AMAZINGLY INCREDIBLE it is that He loves us! He is the God of the universe and He deserves so much more praise than we can ever offer. He is the Almighty, the Creator, the Lord of lords. Let His Name be praised forever! 

 

Jesus is your Friend

~Friday for Friends~

A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have. D.L. Moody

Isn't that a great thought? A great truth? Jesus Himself said:

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:13-15 (NIV)

Just imagine: "The firstborn over all creation" (Collosians 1:15), the One in whom "all things hold together" (verse 17), "the firstborn from among the dead" (verse 18) can be your Friend. He WANTS to be your friend. Are you going to say "yes"?

I can only imagine

~Monday Movies & Music~

I Can Only Imagine is a beautiful song by MercyMe. Here are the lyrics. 

We can only imagine. But however hard we try we won't be able to grasp just how amazing and great it will be. 

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—1 Corinthians 2:9(NIV)

Speechless

~Monday Movies & Music~ 

Speechless is a great song by Steven Curtis Chapman. Here are the lyrics.

God, the God of heaven and earth and EVERYTHING loves and has saves us. What amazing, indescribable love! We are speechless. 

God's glory

~Tuesday Thoughts~

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (NIV) 

Sometimes we sort of forget how glorious our God is. The comparison in this passage is to Exodus 34:29-35 where Moses's face is radiant after talking with God. If that was glorious, we can't begin to imagine how glorious "the ministry that brings righteousness" is. Our God is a God of glory. And He's merciful to let us come and know Him. 

Amen! 

Nature's beauty

Have you ever seen the blue of the sky on a spring day with fluffy clouds passing by? Have you seen a dog in one cloud, a mouse in another? And then looked again ten seconds later and they were dragons instead?

Have you ever glanced at the forest from a window and seen the shadows the clouds make on the pine trees?

Have you ever seen little clutches of grass in the middle of sand and rock, swaying wherever the wind goes, but staying rooted in their spot?

That is beautiful. That is HIS creation.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (NIV)

We can glimpse a little of Him through the nature around us. Take a look around and notice what He has made. It is GRAND.

How about you? What are some of the things you see God in?