The Faithfulness of God

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 GodWhen 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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1 Quotation 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

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Attitude of Gratitude

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 journalWhat’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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1 Quotation 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

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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

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Happy New Year 2024

Wishing You A Happy New Year 2024

Happy New Year 2024

Happy New Year 2024!

Where did Christmas go?

It seems like just yesterday we were decorating our home, getting together with dear friends, and baking some yummy holiday treats.

And, most of all, celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just like that, the Christmas “holiday” came and went.

That could lead to a little bit of a let-down for some, but now we have a whole new year to look forward to.

Are you ready?

Happy New Year 2024  

A sweet friend gifted me a beautiful devotional and year planner for my recent birthday. Thumbing through those decorated pages, I see all of the days and months up ahead, just waiting for my entries of what I am planning.

But, who knows what God has in store?

What we do know for sure is that only God knows the future.

This truth should humble us!

But what the Bible says is that God the Creator established you, made you, gave you all your abilities, all your looks, all of your opportunities; has, whether you understand it or not, ordered your life right up until today. But that God who made you, you are alienated from. And you are alienated with no prospect from your end of reestablishing a relationship. There is no way to do it by good works. There is no way to do it by religious fervency. There is no way to do it by looking in on ourselves and trying to find our spirituality in a quest within. But the good news is that although we ourselves cannot do it, the same God from whom we are alienated has come to do it for us. – Christian pastor and author, Alistair Begg, Truth For life.1

God provided the Way – Jesus.

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. – John 14:6, (NASB).2

For all of our days ahead, I pray that you and your loved ones have a blessed and happy New Year 2024.

1 Alistair Begg quotation, Christian pastor, author, and founder of  Truth For Life Teaching Ministry. “Planning Properly-Part One.” para. 39, October 28, 2007. Web. Accessed 22 December, 2023. Retrieved from Planning Properly

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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God’s Indescribable Gift

God’s Indescribable Gift  – Merry Christmas 2023

God's indescribable gift

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

© By M.S.Lowndes

 

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Poetry 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

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Hear The Angels Sing

TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING

What is it like to hear the angels sing?

Can you even imagine what that heavenly chorus – a multitude of angels praising God would sound like?

We read in Scripture that the lowly shepherds heard them as an angel of the Lord announced our Savior’s birth.

Hear the angels sing

What a beautiful foretaste of the salvation to come: God gave the first message of His Son to common shepherds, those looked upon as sinners. The angel’s appearance was that of splendor and glory. This was the Shekinah glory. The angel’s message was one of reassurance and good news. He proclaimed the Messiah’s birth and charged the shepherds to visit the child. – as quoted in preceptaustin.org.2

Shekinah glory – “the visible manifestation of God’s presence and glory.”3

What is it like to hear the angels praise God?

Some day when our eternity comes, we will know.

And, we will join them honoring our Heavenly Father Most High!

Hear the Angels Sing – the Greatest Gift is Jesus

When I heard Andrea Bocelli sing the “The Greatest Gift” along with his son and precious young daughter, I knew I wanted to share it here.

It’s so beautiful, the chorus of this song plays over and over in my head throughout the day!

You may want to turn up your speakers for this one. 

I don’t know about you, but I get goosebumps.

Wishing you much joy this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

 

1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Precept Austin quotation is from the Luke 2 Commentary, [2023] Courtesy of Precept Austin, Subheading, “Some Shepherds Watching Sheep”. Web. Accessed 6 December, 2023.

3 Precept Austin quotation is from the Overview: The Glory of the Lord, [2023] Courtesy of Precept Austin, Subheading, “The Glory Cloud Of The Lord”. Web. Accessed 6 December, 2023.

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