God's Goodness {God's Perfect and Glorious Character}

Over the next few days  I'd like to explore five attributes of God's perfect and glorious character.

God's Word, His Goodness, His Wrath, His Love, His Grace

Today we'll explore GOD'S GOODNESS

We like to describe many things as GOOD.  Namely, our family, friends, ....... chocolate, to name a few.   The goodness we enjoy is made possible only because the God of the universe and all creation is good.  The Lord is willing to share goodness with us because of His mercy, grace and long-suffering.  It humbles me to consider that the God of all Creation looks to provide me with all that I  need.  

 

 

 

EVERYTHING GOD CREATED IS GOOD

 

EVERYTHING GOD GIVES IS GOOD

 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 

The only good that we can know is the goodness that comes from God.  God is the only 

source of true good.  He is the only true Teacher of good.  We can experience God's goodness only by placing our complete faith in trust in Him.  The good gifts He gives His children are abundant and never change.   

EVERYTHING GOD DOES IS GOOD

 

Psalm 119:68 "Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes."

Psalm 25:8 "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He teach sinners in the way."

Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him"

Psalm 85:12 "Yea the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase."

What a blessing it is to be able to put our faith and trust in God, knowing that whatever He does for us is for His good and ultimately for our own good. Because of this blessed assurance we should honor and praise the Wonderful and Good God that we serve for all things in our life. We face trials every day and maybe even wonder WHY? is this happening now, at this time in my life. Be assured, God is always in control and He will only do for us what is best -if we are faithful to Him. No one enjoys going through trials and tribulations, however, the light at the end of the tunnel is always JESUS.

God is completely good in His character, nature and actions. 

Next time we'll explore God's Wrath.

 

Blessings, Pamelyn

 

    

Source:  King James Bible 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God's Word {God's Perfect and Glorious Character}

Over the next few days I'd like to explore five attributes of God's perfect and glorious character. 

God's Word, His Goodness, His Wrath, His Love, His Grace

 

Today we'll explore GOD'S WORD

Psalm 19:7-10 refers to God's Word as

the perfect Law and the testimony, able to convert the soul and bestow wisdom ((verse 7); 

the right statutes and commandments, able to rejoice the heart and enlighten one's eyes (verse 8);

righteous judgment and all truth (verse 9). 
It is no wonder that the psalmist declares in verse 10 that the Holy Word of God is desirable above material goods as well as nutrition to the body.  

Perception of God's Word

An individual's perception of the Bible is in direct reflection of how they feel about God.  I heard a preacher say once that he believed the Bible from cover to cover, and he believed the cover as well - HOLY BIBLE. Through the years the Holy Bible has been misused and misunderstood simply because it is not accepted for what it is: GOD'S OWN HOLY WORDS.  If an individual believes that God's Words are not inspired by Almighty God or that it is equal to any other written word they deny the holy, perfect and glorious character of God.  

 

Power of God's Word

Because of its Supreme power, God's Word is effective whether it is preached, taught, read, or sung.  The Word of God can save a lost person from an eternity apart from God.  For the believer, God's Word brings peace in a world filled with chaos and sin.  It is the power of God's Word that will cause a person to either be convicted of their sins or delight in its truth.   God's Word is the only book we need to sustain our life and guarantee our heavenly eternity with our Savior.

 

God's Word is Precious

The Bible is very precious to me, as I'm sure it is to you.  Do you remember the song we learned in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, "THE B-I-B-L-E"?  How sweet to hear a child too young to spell c-a-t, able to sing the spelling of BIBLE!  The words are so simple, but so true.

The B I B L E

Yes, that's the Book for me.

I stand alone

On the Word of God

The B I B L E!

 

God's Word is Personal

God's Word is a personal Book to God's children.  The Bible has the answer to any and all problems we face.  The study of His Word must be a daily, personal exercise in order for it to be hidden in your heart, be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.  (Psalm 119:11, 105). 


I encourage you to "get to know" your Bible and discover it's treasures. Next time we'll explore God's Goodness...

SOURCES:  King James Bible

PONDER

To PONDER:  
to consider, think on, meditate on, deliberate, contemplate.  

The Bible teaches us to be both quick to react AND to ponder things.  At times it’s good to be a 
quick reactor like the Apostle Peter; at times it would be wise to be a ponderer like Solomon.   

Solomon, under inspiration, wrote his pondering in the book of Proverbs.  There is some wonderful advice about what we should thoughtfully consider and ponder in this book.

Prov 4:26   “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” 

 

Be careful in your walk as a child of God; someone is always watching just to see how you handle situations.  One's walk should reflect the light of Jesus in their heart. 

Not only are others watching and gauging our reaction to situations, God is also doing some pondering and considering in our lives.

Prov 5:21   “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings.”

Prov. 15:3   “The eyes of the Lord are in every place; beholding the evil and the good.”

Nothing we do or say is hidden from the Lord.  He sees any secret sin we are harboring as well as all the excuses we make for not serving Him.  But, Praise The Lord,  He sees all of our heartaches and sorrows.  God sees everything at all times.  We can find comfort in this truth if our walk is according to His Word.  Consider this scripture, also from Proverbs:

Prov 21:2   “Every way of a man is right in his own eye; but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”

While He sees everything we do, the Lord also ponders our heart.  To me, that means that regardless of what I think about, act upon, or neglect to act upon, God sees the true intent of my heart.  

Bible examples of ponderers:  

MARY, the mother of Jesus and DANIEL

Daniel 7:28   “Hitherto is the end of the matter.  As for me Daniel, my cogitations (thoughts) much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel  was very affected by what God had revealed to him concerning the end times.  Daniel kept these things in his heart.  You see, his heart was the treasury and store-house of divine things.  Daniel wasn't keeping these things a secret from the world; rather he was storing them away in order to fully and faithfully deliver them to God’s people in God’s time. 

The truths of God’s Word are treasures worth keeping.  The way to retain these precious truths is to ponder or to meditate on them.  Meditation on the Word is an integral part of daily Bible study.  I regret not putting forth enough effort to memorize scriptures when my brain was a bit younger.  However, if scriptures are meditated, pondered and deeply thought about they can become hidden within your heart.  Scriptures are safely stored in the heart that belongs to the Lord.

And finally, we come to Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Here's a scripture that gives us a glimpse into the heart and soul of Jesus' mother.

Luke 2:19   “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered 

them in her heart.”

After Jesus' birth and the shepherd's visit, the Bible reveals to us that Mary was a ponderer.  The shepherds declared very publicly the glorious coming of the Messiah, but Mary kept these matters close to her heart.  If anyone had first-hand knowledge of the marvelous conception and birth of the Messiah it certainly would have been Mary, but her role in this was not to be the announcer of the event.  This is a great lesson for us:  God’s message must be shared in God’s way and in God’s time – not ours.  We should never declare something the Lord has not laid on our heart to share.  Prayer and pondering will reveal to us what God wants us to share.

There was another event in the pondering life of Mary that she kept in her heart.

Luke 2:51   “And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them; but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”

This scripture comes after the trip to Jerusalem when Mary and Joseph became frantic when they could not find Jesus.  When reunited, Jesus recognized Mary and Joseph's anguish over his absence.  Jesus made Himself subject to them as their son.  Though she was His mother, Mary did not perfectly understand all of her Son's sayings, yet she kept them in her heart.  Mary expected that these matters would be explained to her at some point, and she would fully understand them; then she would know how to make use of them in God's time.  She pondered them for a later time when she could better understand them. 

I would encourage you to spend some time every day pondering God’s Word.  Because the Word of God is a spiritual Book, its truths can only be understood and applied in a spiritual way.  Don't allow Satan to misguide you into thinking meditating and pondering on God's Word is a waste of time.  It is essential to the child of God, but it does require setting aside time.  If finding the time seems difficult (or impossible) with your daily schedule, ask God for help.  God is the God of time and has equipped His children with everything we need, including time, to hide His Word in our hearts.  Remember, it’s not necessarily about the number of minutes you spend pondering God’s Word, it’s about the willingness of your heart to try.

Blessings to you,

Pamelyn

Happy Spring!

According to my calendar, TODAY is the first day of Spring!  I hope it feels like spring in your area. 

"For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle [turtledove] is heard in our land". 

Song of Solomon 2:11,12

Here in South Georgia we enjoy an early Spring, but it usually doesn't last long - so we don't waste any time starting the celebration!  Some of the azaleas and dogwood trees are blooming but the pecan trees have not started to bud, so we'll probably have another shot of cooler temps at night. 

I don't want to give you the impression I'm any sort of gardener, because I am not.  I hardly know a rake from a shovel!  However, I really love a daffodil.  This flower was also my Grandmother's favorite, but she called them jonquils.   You can read an article HERE that explains how to tell the difference between daffodils and jonquils .  But really, who needs to know the difference to enjoy them?  I like they are trumpet shaped - announcing the change of the season.  But, when the heat of summer comes they begin to fade away.  I miss seeing them, but I know they will come back again next Spring. 

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth;

but the Word of our God

shall stand for ever." 

Isaiah 40:8 

How wonderful that God's Word is not seasonal!  We don't have to wait for His Word according to months on a calendar.  For this reason we can count on His Word to guide and direct our path.  We can be assured God and His Word will forever lead us into all truth ...

May today be the beginning of a joyous Springtime for you!

~Blessings to you, Pamelyn

 

"Fashionista of Faith"

 The business of fashion today astounds me.  Even though the economy is sluggish, the fashion industry continues to generate billions of dollars every year to satisfy the desires of the public.  There is a word used to describe a person devoted to fashion clothing, particularly unique or high fashion ~ that word is fashionista.

 I'm clearly not a fashionista, but I do enjoy seeing pretty clothes and I'm intrigued by those folks that are talented in the art of designing and making clothes.  There is no getting around the fact that in some way the fashion industry touches every woman's life, every single day
~ whether we admit to it or not! 

 

What are God's thoughts on fashion? 

First and foremost, God does not want us to spend our time worrying about what we wear.  In fact, Jesus said that worrying about basic needs like food, raiment and shelter exhibits a lack of faith.  Not to mention, an obsession over appearance is prideful and not pleasing to our heavenly Father. 

"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field...shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Matthew 6:28,29,30,31

God is not pleased when we call attention to ourselves by wearing seductive or immodest clothing.  We should be careful that our appearance reflect that we are children of God.

  "...let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."   I Peter 3:3-4

The context of I Peter, chapter 3 is the proper behavior of wives and husbands.  We learn here that God looks on the inner person and is not impressed with how we style our hair, the cost of our apparel, or how we accessorize ourselves.  These material things are not eternal and will surely fade away with the passage of time. God places a high regard for those that exhibit the inner adornment of a "meek and quiet spirit".  A composed, calm, and quiet spirit is what renders a person beautiful and lovely in God's eyes.

 

What is a FASHIONISTA OF FAITH?

Much like the definition of a Christian, a "Fashionista of Faith" exhibits Christ-like attributes in appearance. The outward appearance of a Fashionista of Faith is a direct reflection of the inner beauty that the heavenly Father sees as "of great price". 

 

 What are some attributes of a FASHIONISTA OF FAITH?

• Will not sacrifice modesty for a fashion trend

• Chooses clothing and adornments that reflect a virtuous woman

• As good stewards, stays within budget when purchasing clothing

• Believes that God's love for His own makes a person beautiful 

 

I've noticed that fashion today is a great deal more casual than in years past.  Some "rules of fashion" have been relaxed and I'm glad to see it (like not always having to wear pantyhose!).  However,  some rules I may not ever want to change ~ so call me an old-fashioned fashionista because I simply refuse to wear white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day!

Blessings to you,

Pamelyn

Sources:  King James Bible

              www.biblecommenter.com

  

Showers of Blessing

 Over the past week South Georgia has had more rain than we've seen in a very long time.  We have water standing in places on our property that I've not seen in the 21 years I've lived here.  Our area has been in a drought for many months and graciously the Lord has blessed us with the abundant showers of rain we needed.  I fear some areas are flooded, but as of yet only property and not lives have been affected. 

As Christians, we may face drought periods in our spiritual life.  Times when we just don't feel as close to the Lord as we once may have.  Our hearts feel dry as dust and we miss the fellowship with the Lord.  Be assured, God has not moved.  He wants us to be near Him and He promises that if we meet with Him on His terms He will refresh us and restore sweet fellowship with Him.  Then His blessings will be rained down on us as showers and not mere sprinkles. 

  

I'm reminded of the wonderful hymn, "There Shall Be Showers of Blessing"

written in 1883 by Daniel W. Whittle. 

There shall be showers of blessing, This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above.

There shall be showers of blessing, Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys, Sound of abundance of rain.

There shall be showers of blessing, Send them upon us, O Lord;

Grant to us now a refreshing, come, and now honor Thy Word.

There shall be showers of blessing, Oh, that today they might fall,

Now as to God we're confessing, Now as on Jesus we call!

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need;

Mercy drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.

“And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing;

and I will cause the shower to come down in his season;

there shall be showers of blessing.”  

Ezekiel 34:26

God's blessings are refreshing, reviving, abundant and promises of love.

God's blessings are promised in His Word.

God's blessings come exclusivly from Him. 

God controls not only the spiritual but the physical blessings.

God bestows His blessings when we confess and call on Him.

Dear Friend, I pray that there will be SHOWERS OF BLESSING in your day!

~Pamelyn

 

My Testimony

I haven't written in awhile because something astonishing has happened to me and until now I just couldn't find the words to write about it.  After having what I call a "head knowledge" for many years of salvation, I came to the realization that I simply had never accepted the Lord within my heart.  That changed a few weeks ago and I was saved by God's marvelous grace on January 27th! 

I had had an experience with the Lord at a very early age but I know that was not salvation.  At the time I was the preacher's daughter and felt it was time to be baptized.  Through the years I made it a point to fill my head with Bible knowledge.  I taught Sunday School and VBS, I led devotions in women's ministries and served as moderator in my state's Women's Auxiliary of American Baptist churches.  All this time I had convinced myself I was a child of God because of the things I was involved in doing.  My so-called Christian life sort of snow-balled from one project to another without any real meaning deep within me. 

I began reading blogs a few years ago and really enjoyed what other women had to say.   I felt I had something to contribute to the blog world so I gathered my courage and began writing this blog.  I have to tell you, being accountable for writing a Christian blog changed the way I felt about myself.  I felt an obligation to write only the truth and that's when the Lord began to deal with me about my soul.  It began with feelings of doubt.  I found I was constantly reassuring myself that I was indeed saved.  Pride prevented me from seeing my own need for the right relationship with the Lord.  It dawned on me that a saved person should not have to reassure themselves on a regular basis that they are saved.  I, of course, had an answer for my frequent doubting though - it was the devil deceiving me. 

At the beginning of this year I was so miserable and felt such a burden I couldn't function.  I could find no peace and the thoughts beginning to form in my mind that I was lost without a Savior shook me to the ground.  The Lord is so wonderful and merciful.  He convicted me with three very clear mesages of just what I needed. 
    
     First of all, He spoke to me through conviction that I was wrong to think this was the devil causing my doubts.  The devil will cause a person to doubt the truth of God's Word and will lead a person away from the Lord.  But, the devil will never lead one TO the Lord.  I felt I was being led toward the Lord, not away from Him.  God was calling me to Himself.

     Next, the Lord made available to me an article in a publication about a preacher's wife that after many years realized she was not saved.  This woman was so filled with fear that she was convinced if she made her lost condition  public she would be hurting her husband's ministry.  She finally admitted to her husband her fears and need for salvation.  His comment was "well we can take care of that right now".  She wrote about the wonderful peace she now has within and that her husband's ministry has only been enhanced.

     Finally, our pastor's message on January 27th was about the woman with the issue of blood  (Mark 5:25-34).  I realized I was this woman and like her, I had tried everything within my own power to take care of what only Jesus could fix.  I was terrified knowing I was going to have to make public the fact that I had been deceiving myself and others for a very long time.  How in the world was I going to admit I was not a child of God after all this time?

I'm so happy to say that I did make public the fact that I needed to be saved once and for all.  On January 27th I accepted the Lord during the invitation and immediately the burden I had been carrying around for so long lifted.  I now have peace within and a calm assurance that I will spend eternity in heaven with my Savior.

I am so thankful to my dear family, church family and Christian friends who are rejoicing with me and are praying for me.  My prayer is that my testimony will help another person know that you can have peace and blessed assurance within by accepting Jesus as your personal Savior.