The Faithfulness of God

January 16, 2024 Gracie

The Faithfulness of God

One of the best things I’ve heard in a long time was said to me by a dear friend recently.

She said, “If you’re wondering what God is doing, think about what He has done.”

That is so true!

When I take the time to reflect on my years past, I can see the fingerprints of God all over my life.

Challenges that seemed daunting at the time are now distant memories – part of the progression in my spiritual walk to make me stronger and more bold for Christ.

The faithfulness of God When your life goes off center, and it seems like there’s no end in sight, remember what God has already done.

You are not alone, and you never were.

Like a shining beacon in any storm, the faithfulness of God is our spiritual lifeline.

We can count on the fact that God is already there at the end of it – no matter what our circumstances.

When our hearts struggle with fear, discouragement, loneliness, pain, or grief, reminding ourselves of the constancy of God’s love can be a tremendously encouraging game-changer. If our faith falters, we must remember God’s immovable, undying, steadfast love. – gotquestions.org.¹

Great is the Faithfulness of God

As the Creator, God has the power to carry out His perfect plan for our lives and to accomplish His perfect purposes through our suffering. And as the faithful Creator, He can be counted on to do it. Therefore we can consciously entrust ourselves to His care with complete confidence, and hand the safekeeping of our lives over to Him, believing that He will do what is best. When we do that, we will have peace in the midst of adversity. – Richard L. Strauss, Author and Theologian.²

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¹Quotation from gotquestions.org., “What does it mean that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Lamentations 3:22)?” n.d., para. 4. Web. Accessed February 3, 2024. Retrieved from His love never ceases.

² Richard L. Strauss quotation is courtesy of bible.org. from “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, para. 37, May 18, 2004. Web. Accessed January 13, 2024. Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/great-thy-faithfulness

Our Exceptional God

Attitude of Gratitude

January 8, 2024 Gracie

An Attitude of Gratitude – Count Your Blessings!

Have you heard the old expression, “oil and water don’t mix”?

Here’s one you don’t hear often . . . How about “cooking” oil and cars?

You heard that right.

A few months ago, the local news reported that a truck carrying cooking oil started leaking its cargo along a well-traveled roadway.

A six mile stretch of road was closed down as several cars started slipping and sliding through the oily mess.

leaking oil and cars don't mix

The cleanup took hours. Observers joked that the area smelled like ”fried chicken”.

Joking aside, some things (like leaking oil and cars) just don’t mix.

But, how about gratitude and attitude?

That depends.

A “bad” attitude can send a person right into a never-ending ditch of self-pity.

An attitude of gratitude does just the opposite.

Gratitude is having the right attitude of thankfulness, no matter what our circumstances.

Gratitude is more than a passing trend or a means of glossing over our very real-life struggles and challenges. It is a conscious act of cultivating awareness of the good things in life, expressing this gratitude to others, and creating daily practices that reinforce these positive observations and actions. These efforts result in tremendous benefits for the individual who practices gratitude. – Dr. Monica Vermani, Psychology today.¹

Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude

An attitude of gratitude

From the old testament to the new, the Bible affirms the faith of grateful hearts.

In Psalm 107, commentators assert that the psalmist is referring to Israel’s deliverance from exile. But, as believers today, we can rest and rejoice in the revealing of God’s character in these psalms and throughout the entire Bible.

God is good.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting. – Psalm 107:1, (NASB).²

Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed,
called in one body, rule in your hearts;
And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15, (NASB).³

Even for what might be considered the smallest of blessings, it’s important to express thankfulness to our Creator.

Choosing an Attitude of Gratitude

keeping a journal What’s a good way to reflect an attitude of gratitude?

You can start by writing in a journal.

I’m sure you’ve heard of gratitude journals.

They are an excellent way of recording your hopes, dreams, and answered prayers.

It’s rewarding to look back on those writings later and reflect on God’s grace and providence in your life, especially during more challenging times.

Bible teacher, the late Warren Wiersbe, eloquently described expressions of “gratitude” this way:

An attitude of gratitude is a wonderful weapon against unbelief, disobedience, a hard heart, and a bitter spirit. Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s be thankful for what we do have, because God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him . . . We can’t control the circumstances of life, but we can control how we respond to them. That’s what faith is all about, daring to believe that God is working everything for our good even when we don’t feel like it or see it happening. – Warren Wiersbe, Moody Bible Church.⁴

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¹Quotation from Dr. Monica Vermani. Courtesy of Psychology Today online magazine, “Understanding and Practicing Gratitude.” Accessed December 30, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202312/understanding-and-practicing-gratitude

⁴Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) quotation from the Give Thanks Commentary, [2015] Courtesy of Precept Austin. Web. Accessed 30 December, 2023.

Our Exceptional God

God’s Indescribable Gift

December 18, 2023 Gracie

God’s Indescribable Gift – Merry Christmas 2023

In Christ alone my Hope is found

Here at Delight in God, we want to wish you and your loved ones Joy and Happiness this Christmas, and throughout the New Year.

God’s indescribable gift to us is Jesus!

He is timeless – not just for one celebrated day, but a precious and historical truth whom we can embrace throughout the new year.

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6, (NASB).

Glory to God in the highest!

May we always reflect His glory to a lost world.

Poet M.S Lowndes expresses this beautifully in the following Christmas poem.

The Lord’s Light Within

Lord, we reflect with thankful hearts
On the wonder of your birth
The love you expressed when you left
Your glory to come to earth

For your life was like a beacon, Lord
Shining brightly in the night
Filling the world with the radiance of
The Father’s glorious light

And we, too, long to have inside
Your light for others to see
The beautiful reflection of your grace
And the wonder of your majesty

For as your life indwells our hearts,
We can shine wherever we are
And arise to take hold of each new day
With your light ablaze in our hearts

So rekindle the flame within us, Lord
So it will not flicker nor dim
Ignite us with the light of your love,
So you will shine brightly within

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!

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²Poetry courtesy of M.S. Lowndes. “The Lord’s Light Within.” [online post]. From Heavensinspirations.com, ©M.S. Lowndes, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, n.d. Web. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.heavensinspirations.com/lords-light-within.html

The Real Joy of Christmas

December 4, 2023 Gracie

Celebrating the Real Joy of Christmas

'Tis the season

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, often the real reason for celebrating Christmas gets lost in the shuffle.

Gifts may be piling up under Christmas trees everywhere, but the only “gift” that really matters is the gift of Jesus.

Immanuel – God with us.

Jesus is God’s gift to our broken world to save us from our sins.

It’s through our belief in His saving grace alone that we can have eternal life.

What will that look like?

How about celebrating the real joy of Christmas every day and for the rest of our lives in the presence of our Lord?!

The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for His own people – that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce His return, when we shall always be with Him.

– Alan Redpath, pastor, author, and theologian.¹

What is the Real Joy of Christmas?

One of my favorite online Bible teachers, who also has a flair for writing wonderful Christian poetry, is Jill Briscoe.

Here, she encourages all of us to focus on the real “reason for the season.”

Joy Is Jesus
by Jill Briscoe

Joy is Jesus wrapped in swaddling bands,
Joy is Jesus in Mary’s loving hands.
Joy is Jesus making sorrow sing,
Mending deepest heartaches – what a gift to bring!

For from the highest heavens, knowing well His plan,
God laid Him in our hostile arms, the Precious Son of Man.
Knowing all before Him – the crib, the cross, the cost –
He came to die at Calvary and seek and save the lost.

That’s you and me and everyone who’s living on this earth,
That’s men and women, black and white, who need and want new birth,
That’s those of us with broken hearts, and those who celebrate,
It’s those of us who love and laugh, and those of us who hate.

If empty was the manger, and empty was the cross,
If Jesus’ tomb was occupied, then all of us are lost.
But here lies heaven’s treasure, God’s precious, dearest prize,
In Him will all our future hopes and dreams be realized.
So may His joy now fill you, and the peace of God be known
Till we celebrate our Christ-masses around our Savior’s throne.

The real Joy of Christmas

Joy to the World, indeed!

¹Quotation from Alan Redpath, former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, as quoted from Christian quotes.info.

²Poetry courtesy of author and Bible teacher, Jill Briscoe. “Joy Is Jesus.” [online post]. From Christmas poems © 1995. Posted November 30, 2017, Web. Accessed December 2, 2023 from Telling The Truth.org.

The Joy Of Early Morning Prayer

October 3, 2023 Gracie

Starting Your Day Off Right With Early Morning Prayer

What better way to start the day off right than with early morning prayer.

Rise and shine!

It’s a new day to praise the Lord. 🙂

early morning prayer

How can a person really enjoy a beautiful sunrise or a sunset, a beautiful spring day or even a beautiful winter day, if he can’t thank the One who creates these things? – Warren Wiersbe, Moody Bible Church.²

Early Morning Prayer – Does Lengthy Equal Better?

Many times, I wake up as early as 4:30 in the morning.

That would have sounded awful to younger me, but I look forward to the early morning hours now.

I relish the peace and the quiet at the start of each new day.

And, as a bonus, in a few hours I get to watch that magnificent sun rise!

For me, it’s the perfect time for praying and seeking God’s wisdom.

Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth! – Psalm 46:10, (ESV).³

Do you know who else engaged in early morning prayer?

Jesus!

Mark 1:35 tells us that, “in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.”⁴

How long do our early morning prayers have to be?

That’s between you and God.

Not only does He hear our longer prayers, He also hears our short praises, even a simple, “Thank You Jesus.”

When I first became a Christian, I got a little caught up in that.

I would hear a friend pray a lengthy prayer and it would sound so eloquent.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that it’s not the length of our prayers that matter.

Long or short, eloquent or simple, He hears us!

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²Warren Wiersbe quotation from the Psalm 113 Commentary, [2021] Courtesy of Precept Austin. Subheading, “The Responsibility of Praise” Web. Accessed 2 October, 2023.

Our Exceptional God

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