The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.

The Book of Psalms 24:1 ESV

And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them”.

The Acts of the Apostles 4:24 ESV

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

The Gospel of John 17:6 ESV

This morning I was musing upon what God has done in my life and how He gave me beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning, so I searched for the Scripture thinking it was in the Psalms, well my thoughts of where the Scripture was in the Bible were incorrect, it is actually in Isaiah.

I had also tried a search in e-sword looking for the word ashes in just the Psalms but could not find the verse I was after.  So I Googled beauty for ashes ( I suppose I could have used a Bible concordance but then I would not have found the following ) and I came across this testimony by Gloria in America and was blessed, so I thought I would share it here.

Oil of joy for mourning

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

The Prophet Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV

Jerusalem

I went through a period of my life where I wasn’t sure exactly where I fit in. My parents were divorced when I was a little girl. No one could fully explain the who, why or when to me. All I knew was I didn’t live with Daddy or my sisters any more. For a long time, people told me it had nothing to do with me. I now know that even though it really had nothing to do with me, it still affected my life a great deal.

I searched and searched for relief from my pain. I searched in the bottle and then I tried drugs. Still I had no relief. Yes, the alcohol and drugs numbed my pain. But when the effects wore off, I still had pain. Then finally on a cold Sunday afternoon in Germany in a small army chapel, I heard the voice of God say, “It’s time”. I remember looking around thinking someone had whispered in my ear. Then I heard the voice again and I knew in my heart that it was time to give my life to God. That was eleven years ago.

What happened to the pain? I gave it all to Jesus. The Bible says, “Cast all your cares upon him, for he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). He took away the deep and festering wounds of my childhood. That little lost girl is no longer; a saved and healed woman emerged out of the ashes. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). People often ask me why I praise the Lord the way I do. To put it simply: He gave me “beauty for ashes”.

No matter what the situation in our lives is, there is hope. There is nothing too hard for God. He will work it out. There is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel and his name is Jesus. There is an old saying, “Jesus may not come when you want him, but he is always on time”. My brothers and sisters, be encouraged and be strong. Remember all God’s promises are yea and amen.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your healing hand, your love, your patience and compassion. Heal, set free and deliver all who are hurting, as only you can. Give us strength, O Lord. We love you and praise you for your mighty acts. Great is your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Gloria Sanders
Huntsville, Alabama, USA

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Early Christian Greeting. See the Gospel of Luke 24:34

A short tune.

Praise the Name of Jesus.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John Gospel 20:27-29 ESV

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1st Letter of Peter 1:8-9 ESV

Quoted from his book Practical Religion.

If Christ is your friend, you have great privileges, and ought to walk worthy of them. Seek every day to have closer communion with him, who is your friend, and to know more of his grace and power. True Christianity is not merely believing a certain set of dry abstract propositions; it is to live in daily personal communication with an actual living person, Jesus the Son of God. To me, said Paul, to live is Christ  (Phil.1 :21). Seek every day to glorify your Lord and Saviour in all your ways.

Download or view a small ebook on JC Ryle here

JC Ryle

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Matthews Gospel 7:21-29 ESV

I got to thinking today about the shallowness that we all can exhibit at times.  And also the thought ‘ who really loves me’?

Recently I have been using a website that offers the chance for old school chums to get back in touch with one another. I have been building up my little area with photos and info about the time since school and now.

I have also been using it as a tool to evangelize, well, why not.   

So who really loves and cares for me I was thinking, my friends, my brothers, my mother, does anyone really love me and besides what is it to really love someone?

I came to the conclusion that other peoples love for me is rather weak and ineffectual although I do appreciate the friendship and care that I have with those close to me.

Love is to deeply care for someone, especially when they are in need.  To reach out to help or even save.

Can anyone show greater love than to reach out to meet your need. And in need all of us are whether we are aware of it or not.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Paul’s letter to the Romans 3:23 ESV

The Bible teaches us that God loves us and has proved this in the act of reaching out in the life and sacrifice of Jesus.

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 to die– but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul’s letter to the Romans 5:6-8 ESV

And remember that Jesus said no one can show greater love than to lay down your life for your friends.

Give it some thought, God loves you and is reaching out to you in Christianity and has been for a very long time.

God has ( aorist ) demonstrated His love for us…