My Identity in Christ Part 6

Today is our last look at scriptures on our identity in Christ. It is my prayer that these scriptures have blessed you as they have me.  Where my name is, put your name and make it personal.

Donna Is Forgiven.

John 5:24 Donna has passed from death to life in Christ.
Most assuredly I tell you, if Donna hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, Donna has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but she has passed out of death into life.

Rom. 3:24 Donna has been justified through grace.
Donna is justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Rom. 5:1 Donna has been justified, completely forgiven, made righteous, and has peace.
Being therefore justified by faith, Donna has peace with God through her Lord, Jesus Christ.

Rom. 8:1-2 Donna is forever free from condemnation.
There is therefore now no condemnation for Donna because she is in Christ Jesus, because Donna doesn't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made Donna free from the law of sin and death.

Rom. 8:31-34 Donna is free from any condemning charges against her.
What then shall we say about these things? If God is for Donna, who can be against her? He who didn't spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for Donna, how would He not also with Him freely give Donna all things? Who could bring a charge against Donna, because she is one of God's elect? It is God who justifies Donna. Who is He who condemns? It is Christ who died, and more than that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God and makes intercession for Donna.

Eph. 1:7-8 Donna has been redeemed and forgiven and Donna is a recipient of His rich grace.
In Him Donna has her redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of Donna's trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound toward Donna in all wisdom and prudence.

Eph. 4:32 Donna has been forgiven in Christ.
And Donna is to be kind to others, tenderhearted, forgiving others, just as God also in Christ forgave Donna.

 
Blessings,

Huldah

Today’s devotion is written by Mary Davis. I believe she is a woman of quality!

Huldah

“Every woman’s work will be known: for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will try every woman’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:12

Though one of the rare women of the Bible, her role in building God’s kingdom is no less important. We probably wouldn’t choose her as someone to pattern our lives after. But we can, because she was a woman of quality. Her story is told in II Kings 22:14-20 and II Chronicles 34:22-23. Her name is Huldah.

She is known as “the woman who unveiled the future of a nation”, a remarkable spokeswoman for God. When the book of the law was found during the repairs of the temple, it was Huldah that King Josiah, through God’s guidance, asked to interpret the meaning of God’s words. Faithful to her calling, the prophetess Huldah can certainly be ranked with Deborah, Hannah, and Esther among Old Testament women. As a result of her prophesy, a revival brought renewed spiritual life to the kingdom. Amazing what one woman can do when she exercises the God given power within her!

Heavenly Father, our time spent on earth is a time for building the Kingdom of God. This means our vision must spread beyond the doors of the sanctuary and minister to the needs of the world. In this respect, stir us to catch the vision and the burden and start gathering spiritual stones to build your kingdom. Thank you Father, Amen.

Blessings,

God is our Hope

Psalm 23:6 (NIV) 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

We are almost done with our look at "Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart" by Elizabeth George. This is a study of Psalm 23. In Chapter 11 Elizabeth George looks at Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life”.

We know about God’s care for us in the past and present. In this verse, we look to God’s promises and see how He takes care of us in the future.

“Our walk with God, with our Good Shepherd shifts from the present tense (is, makes, leads, restores) to future tense (shall and will). We’re assured that God has planned and knows our futures, and He promises to take care of our every need forever.”

In verse 6, David begins with “surely”. He moves from experiencing what God has done for him and how He has provided for him to faith, every moment of his future! David is confident that God has his future.

The author says “hope is what verse 6 is all about – hope for all our tomorrows. And for all our forever-days!”

“Our natural tendency is to fear the unknown. What we don’t know and don’t understand generally bothers us and shakes our confidence. … We can easily get caught up in wondering Is there really hope?”

Have you ever been there? Most definitely. We all have. I have.

Not only did David confidently proclaim “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” but we can proclaim it too!

Take a moment and list a few things of how God has been faithful to you.

“God will faithfully and successfully shepherd you in and through the future! … As His cherished sheep, you never have to lack hope. You have His promised goodness and mercy to cling to and depend on and celebrate all the days of your life. … Realize you face the unknown with the known – with the proven, extended care of God, your Good Shepherd, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

“We have the sure promise of the presence of God’s goodness and mercy forever. God will be with us at dawn, at noonday, in the evening and through the dark night of each and every day. When you need His strength for your life’s work each day, God will be there, extending to you all His goodness and mercy. When you need His support for life’s trials, when you move from green pastures to a dark valley, you can hold tightly to the hope of the promise of God’s continual goodness and mercy.”

Here are two thought provoking questions the author asks at the end of Chapter 11. Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:

1. Throughout our walk with the Shepherd in Psalm 23, we’ve focused on what we consider our needs and God’s gracious provision for those needs.


a. What present difficulties are you dealing with?


b. How does God’s goodness and mercy provide hope and encouragement in your trials?

Remember today that you indeed have hope in God.

Let’s pray. Father, we thank You for the hope we have in You. We thank You that not only do You take care of our past and present, but You also take care of our future. Help us not to get caught up in the fear of the unknown. Thank You for being faithful to us in all things. We give You praise! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings,

Work of the Holy Spirit

This past Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday. Today we will continue our look at the work of the Holy Spirit. The information below comes from my husband’s PowerPoint presentation for the Sunday night service.

The Work of the Holy Spirit:

• Teacher
John 14:26 (New Living Translation)
26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

• Guide
John 16:13 (New King James Version)
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

• Helper
John 16:7 (New King James Version)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

• Revealer
Ephesians 1:17 (New King James Version)
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

• Witness
Romans 8:16 (New King James Version)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

• Intercession
Romans 8:26 (New King James Version)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

• Anointing
Luke 4:18 (New King James Version)
18 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

• Power to witness
Acts 1:8 (New King James Version)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

• Power to serve
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (New King James Version)
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

• Fruit Bearing
Galatians 5:22-23 (New King James Version)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The Holy Spirit has worked in my life in many of these areas, which I am very thankful. I pray that the Holy Spirit will work in your life as teacher, helper, guide; that the Holy Spirit will give you power to be a witness for Christ; that the Holy Spirit will bear witness with your spirit in different situations; that the Holy Spirit will reveal things to you, such as reading a passage of scripture and it comes alive with meaning; that you will be anointed; that you will serve and that you will bear much fruit.

Blessings,

Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-4 (New Living Translation) 1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.


Yesterday we celebrated Pentecost Sunday. My husband did a great job preaching this message. Acts 2:1-4 was his text and he used scripture from the Old and New Testament to talk about the Holy Spirit.

Exodus 31:2-4 (KJV) 2See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

1 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV) 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Acts 2:16-18 (KJV) 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Today is the 11th anniversary of my dad’s passing. The Holy Spirit was definitely at work in the lives of my family that day. We could not have gotten through the day and the days ahead without Him. After my dad’s passing, the peace of God so filled the room to where it overflowed to the other parts of the house. The Holy Spirit strengthened all of us during that difficult time. Even though it was a difficult and sad time, God helped us each step of the way. The verse that I clung to talks about God will keep me in perfect peace if I keep my mind on Him.

I am thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit in my life during the passing of my dad, as well as today. I need Him every day of my life! How about you?


Blessings,

My Identity in Christ Part 5

We are continuing to look at scriptures on our identity in Christ. I came across this a while back and found it to be a great resource. Where my name is, put your name and make it personal.

Donna Is Chosen.

John 15:16 Donna has been chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit.
Donna didn't choose Me, but I chose Donna, and appointed her, that she should go and bear fruit, and that her fruit should remain; that whatever Donna will ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to her.

II Cor. 1:21-22 Donna has been established, anointed, and sealed in Christ.
Now He who establishes Donna in Christ, and anointed Donna, is God; who also sealed Donna, and gave her the down payment of the Spirit in her heart.

II Cor. 5:18-19 Donna has been reconciled to God and she is a minister of reconciliation.
But all things are of God, who reconciled Donna to Himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to Donna the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling Donna to Himself, not reckoning to Donna her trespasses, and having committed to Donna the word of reconciliation.

Eph. 1:4 Donna has been chosen by God to be holy.
Even as He chose Donna in Him before the foundation of the world, that Donna would be holy and without blemish before Him in love.

II Tim. 1:9 Donna has been given a holy calling.
God saved Donna, and called her with a holy calling, not according to Donna's works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to Donna in Christ Jesus before times eternal.

Titus 3:5 Donna is washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Not by works of righteousness, which Donna did herself, but according to His mercy, He saved Donna, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

I Peter 2:9 Donna is a member of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession.
Donna is a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that Donna may show forth the excellencies of Him who called her out of darkness into His marvelous light.

I John 2:28 Donna has boldness and is not ashamed.
Now, Donna should remain in Him, that when He appears, Donna may have boldness, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

 
Blessings,

Joyful Praises!

I was reading Psalm 66 last night and wanted to share it with you.  May we shout joyful praises and sing about the glory of his name!  God is so very good to us!  Today, may we tell others about His goodness to us!

Psalm 66 (New Living Translation)

1 Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!

2 Sing about the glory of his name!

Tell the world how glorious he is.

3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.

4 Everything on earth will worship you;

they will sing your praises,

shouting your name in glorious songs.”

Interlude

5 Come and see what our God has done,

what awesome miracles he performs for people!

6 He made a dry path through the Red Sea,[a]

and his people went across on foot.

There we rejoiced in him.

7 For by his great power he rules forever.

He watches every movement of the nations;

let no rebel rise in defiance.

Interlude

8 Let the whole world bless our God

and loudly sing his praises.

9 Our lives are in his hands,

and he keeps our feet from stumbling.

10 You have tested us, O God;

you have purified us like silver.

11 You captured us in your net

and laid the burden of slavery on our backs.

12 Then you put a leader over us.[b]

We went through fire and flood,

but you brought us to a place of great abundance.

13 Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings

to fulfill the vows I made to you—

14 yes, the sacred vows that I made

when I was in deep trouble.

15 That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you—

the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma,

and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats.

Interlude

16 Come and listen, all you who fear God,

and I will tell you what he did for me.

17 For I cried out to him for help,

praising him as I spoke.

18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened.

19 But God did listen!

He paid attention to my prayer.

20 Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer

or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Blessings,