Light

Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Proverbs 13:9a

The light of the righteous shines brightly.

Here I am again.  I can’t see.  Darkness has arrived again.

It’s like a cycle. This time of year brings surprises and darkness seems to prevail. 

I never know how it arrives; what is it that invokes this stillness and absence of light.

I long for a flicker of brightness, the ability to walk without falling. 

At first I am motionless as if I have to gather my thoughts to think.

Truly the only thing that has changed is that I am now surrounded by the absence of light.

You guessed it, another blackout in my neighborhood.

I have never appreciated light so much.  I mean it is dark in here!

I have candles everywhere.  The bathroom has a candle, the kitchen has two, and the bedroom is also brightened by a small flame.  The interesting thing is that I always light candles at home but tonight they shine with a purpose! 

The Bible says that when I was dead in my sins, Jesus died for me.  Light came into darkness with a purpose! His blood that was poured out for me, the sacrificed Lamb of God was the means to my Salvation.  It caused darkness to be overcome. Hallelujah!

I sit in my living room surrounded by candles with some illumination comings from my soon to be battery depleted laptop (I'm writing, taking advantage of every moment). The little flashlight that I hold in my hand can pierce the darkness very quickly. 

One thing I noticed is that as the light rays of my flashlight flood my living space little dust particle are flying everywhere. 

I always think spiritually as “life happens” to me.  I don’t think I would have noticed all the dust unless the lights went out.  How ironic that when the lights were on I did not see it.

 

Sometimes in our walk with the Lord we get comfortable or better said lazy in our pursuit of Him.  Often it takes some shaking up or a “spiritual valley” for us to seek God more, to awaken and realize that there are dangerous, even sinful “particles” surrounding us and enticing us to sin, to distance ourselves for the One who loves us.

 

I am thankful that the Light that has come into darkness and set me free never goes out.  He never sleeps or slumbers.  His light shine all about me and from within me.

Once again, thank you Holy Spirit for reminding me to stay alert; to be vigilant in my walk and look for areas where perhaps I have compromised.  I want to walk blamelessly before You.

Ephesians says, that he had given us a Deposit, the Comforter to live inside us and to guide us.  This Deposit of the Holy Spirit is my guarantee that I have been purchased and that the Light lives inside of me.  This little Light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine!  He never gives up on me.

Hmmm, when the lights come back on, I think I need to do a little more dusting around the house. :)

God bless you!~Liz

www.lizrod.com

Fire

Jeremiah 20:9

But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.


May you send me help
when I am weak
If I ever falter to speak
About your goodness
About your love
Jesus, the Righteous One
Seated up above


My tongue has declared
I will praise your Holy Name
Even if afraid
For your Spirit will give strength
To do as you say
To move where you go
For I will follow wherever your Spirit flows


God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com

Do you like what you see?

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

Who looks in the mirror and forgets what they look like? I am not challenging the perfect Word of God; I am agreeing that no one walks away after looking at themselves and does nothing.

As a woman in her fifties I surely don't walk away without wondering what can I do to improve on the reflection I see. Early in the morning as I wash my face, I engage with every application available to improve the image before me.   Coconut oil for the hair, under eye cream for skin improvement, a little color on the roots of the hairline, eat well; perhaps take a few cucumbers from the salad and place them on the eyes.  Yep, we all do that!

Here I am taking a few days off on vacation with my husband. This morning as I sit with the
Lord, I am asking him to teach me, show me more from his Word and to help me "do it"!

I meditate on what I am reading and understand that this GREAT BOOK has all I need for this life.  It's not just an improvement manual but a revolutionary transformation that leaves the soul refreshed, the mind alert and the heart renewed.  It has long lasting benefits with a glorious reward at the end. 

Sounds like an "infomercial".  It is!  Stay tuned, there is more!!

So as I look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, I will ask the Spirit of God to help me not forget what I have heard and read. I desire the blessing of God so I insist on submitting this flesh to the Creator so that the imperfections will rise. 

Every tool has been left for me to alter the image stained by sin.  Tame the smallest member of my body, the tongue so that the enemy of my soul can't use it against me.  Protect my eye gate; take every thought captive as not to entertain sin.  Walk in the way of Righteousness.  Smile, laugh and enjoy the ride; a cheerful heart is good medicine.

He is trying to restore his daughter made in his likeness. 

The flesh is dying and so we are constantly trying to improve it, but the soul purchased by the Lamb of God is in a state of renewal and perfection as we look to Him.  He is the Perfect Transformer! 

It's not too late.  There is no cost to us.  This revolutionary manual can be found almost anywhere.  Check out the draw at your hotel, every library has a copy, the local church are giving them away; even your "smartphone" has come on board and at the click of a button this manual is yours!

The price has been paid; it's yours for free!  Just call on the name of Jesus and the transformation will begin.  Act NOW, as a bonus he sends the Helper to remind us of what we have seen, heard or read. 

Don't  forget the message.  He leads us in freedom; the results are the blessings of God! Let the peace and joy of God be yours today!  The Holy Spirit is standing by!


God bless you!~Liz

Tehillah!

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. Deuteronomy 10:17-22

Ever wanted to shout out in song for the great things God has done?

Trusting in the Lord is like walking on a road whose horizon you can’t see; “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”. (Psalm 119:105)

He shows us enough so we can keep walking without stumbling; he hides the rest lest we get too overwhelmed on how we would get there.  He sees the end and the beginning and tenderly leads us.

As we see his ways unfold before us we can’t help but shout out praise to Him.  Our trust increases; the joy we experience is containable.  We explode in songs of praise; songs we song before and songs birth by the Spirit of God within our own soul.

“He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes”.

The word “praise” here is the Hebrew word “Tehillah” which means to sing, to laud; it’s the singing of “Halal” another Hebrew word meaning to praise, boast or celebrate!

What has He brought you through?  Better yet, what is He bringing you through?  Can only see a few steps; keep walking! He is trust-worthy and will see us through!

It’s time to break out in song (tehillah); spontaneous songs of praise and celebration unto our God!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, I will sing to Him a new song!!!

God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com