Morning Cuppas With Glenys : God

Showing posts with label God. Show all posts

Be saved if you want to live

For those of us who regularly read the Bible, it is very apparent that even though we read of a powerful God Who chastises and punishes the wicked, we also see a kind, patient, lovingly holy God Who is full of mercy.

The fact that God is merciful and holy is woven throughout scripture, both in the Old and the New testaments, and those who only see a harsh, punitive God have not truly read the Bible with an open heart and mind.

Mercy, grace, justice, love, honour, fairness and compassion are hallmarks of our God Who loved us all enough to send His only Son to die for us when we were still sinners and unloving and unkind.

The very Laws laid down in the 10 Commandments and then in Leviticus reveal a God Who knows what is best for His creation, and Who longs to teach His Children so that they will not only thrive but be holy.

When we study the Word, a beautiful picture of our God is shown us through the Word and through His Son Jesus. He embodies the qualities of the Holy Spirit, Who Himself is the third Person of the Godhead. Here is an example of the mercy of God.

Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord speak, saying, “The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”; nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.” For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give [a]them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off". Isaiah 56:3-5

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control and mercy are all qualities of the goodness of our God. He is in fact the totality of holiness.

It is because of God's Holiness, in that He is the essence and being of the above qualities is why He sent His Son to become sin in our place for He cannot abide with evil. Therefore, it is impossible to come into the Presence of God except through Jesus Christ. We must be born again or saved or we will not go to heaven.

We all know the world is getting darker and soon Jesus is coming in the clouds to take His Church- believers. If you are not saved, you will be left behind to face a great tribulation such as the world has never seen before. Salvation is still possible because God is merciful but man is not. Your salvation will come at a great price: you will lose your life.

If you are not saved, know that the Holy Spirit is wooing you and longing for you to accept Jesus. Today is the day of salvation: the Holy Spirit says, "Come!"

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

Sometimes you just want to be seen

Many years ago Chris and I visited my daughter accompanied by my 12 year old grandson. As it turns out, my ex-husband was there visiting her as well.

Not wanting to be around him, we sat outside under her pergola with my grandson, sipping on a cup of tea.

My daughter and her father were inside when we heard as plain as day my ex-husband ask her, "Who is this kid?" My daughter replied quite embarrassed, "That's your grandson, L-!"

Well, my poor grandson, L heard it too and he went very quiet. Then he took off in to the back garden, obviously upset.

Putting down my cuppa, I followed him and found him crying and quite embarrassed about being found in tears.

A sensitive boy, I knew he was hurt, and I put my arm around him and drew him into me. Not needing an explanation, one was soon forthcoming.

Between sobs, he told me that Grandpa didn't even know him! He then declared that Grandpa Chris was his real grandpa and quite correctly he lamented that he himself didn't even know his own grandpa but that it was too late now. He didn't want anything to do with him.

I felt L's pain because often in my marriage with said negligent grandpa, I too was invisible. Rejection and indifference hurts.

We all want to be known. We want some bond and attention from those who are supposed to love us and if it is not forthcoming, the emotions can be quite strong. Devastatingly so.

Reflecting on this, I thought of God Who knows us from birth and Who knows us by name.

The LORD replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17

What a precious thing to remember! It is something to reflect on in moments of feeling invisible and forgotten..and this was brought to L's attention and helped him through...

Because sometimes you just want to be seen.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16

Christ has done it all.

What is the process for being saved by Jesus? It's quite simple really.

It doesn't require a ritual nor the church to do anything. Even death bed confessions of belief will save you. That's what happened with the thief on the cross next to Jesus. Faith. Belief. Confession = salvation

You can be saved right now. Wherever you are, simply proclaim Him with your lips and believe with your heart.

Then you will be born again. The gospel is not complicated- man messes it up by adding works. We do nothing but believe and confess. Christ has done it all.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

"We give You thanks"

"We Give You Thanks"

Lord, as we gather at this table
May we be truly grateful
For the bounty You have given us.
We thank you for the earth and rain,
The good harvest and the wholesome grain
That went into our daily bread
And kept the stock that kept us fed.
Thank you for the hands that cooked and baked,
And for the water that our thirst slaked.
Please accept our thanks as we honour You
For Your goodness in giving us this food.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15

No honour when honesty goes out the window!

So as you know, my husband Chris has been in hospital recently. In ED he had various tests and later on an MRI to find out why his eyes are crossed.

After 4 days in hospital, he was given an MRI. This was done late Friday afternoon and we knew there would be no answers of the results until Monday.

All Monday we waited for the MRI results. But each time we were told the report had not been written up and they were just waiting for that to happen and then Chris would be discharged

During the day Chris was seen by many medical people who all told us they didn't know what the MRI showed. This was later proven to be a lie.

Around midday a pharmacist in the hospital came in to see Chris. She was going through his list of new medications to prepare for his discharge.

She explained that he was to start on a new statin which was triple the dosage of what he had taken before. She added that this was necessary to make sure that he didn't have another stroke.

Straight away I interjected, "Are you saying that he has had a stroke?!" She spluttered and said she didn't know as she hadn't seen the MRI report! Later that day, the discharging doctor came in to tell us that he had had a stroke in his cerebellum.

It was not a bleed but a blockage caused by plaque from his high cholesterol. I knew then that they had lied to us and had seen the MRI hours before we were told. I was livid!

Whilst delighted that Chris was coming home, I was angry that the pharmacist and doctors had lied to us. When one's very life is in the hospital's hand and knowing how anxious a time it was, we never thought for a minute that we would be lied to.

As a Christian, I value truth. In fact, lying or being lied to is anathema to me. If our word isn't true, how can we trust someone? on what do we place our judgement? how can one have confidence in a liar?

Once one has been found out to be a liar, the basis for trust and confidence is gone. Furthermore, if someone is known to worship the LORD Who is Truth, how can He be honoured by His followers telling untruths?

Lying is a serious thing, for there is no honour when honesty goes out the window!

‘Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle? Who may dwell in your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbour, not does he take up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honours those who fear the LORD. He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; he who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent, he who does these things shall never be moved’. Psalm 15.

Your precious wings of freedom!

So recently we have been praying for a family member who has just undergone a transplant surgery. Due to privacy issues, I am unable to disclose anything further.

I can disclose that this surgery carries enormous risks. During and especially after, there are dangers such as organ rejection and infection.

Chris and I have been praying with my family that this life saving surgery be successful. So far, so good. Apparently the first 48 hours are critical in regards of organ rejection.. It's been nearly that now.

As is our custom, we prayed a prayer of thanks for the successful operation and also for ongoing recovery with no rejection etc.

It was during such prayer that we realised that in order for our family member to have another chance of life, someone had to die to donate the organs to give that other chance.

We prayed a prayer of thanks to God for putting it in to someone's heart to be an organ donor. We also prayed for that person and his or her family as they grieve their passing.

It is a sobering thought... waiting in quiet desperation for someone to die so that another may live. There are so few organ donors out there and the list of needy people far outgrows the list of donors.

I have considered becoming an organ donor, however my state of health makes me ineligible to donate.

Chris and I are grateful for whoever donated their precious organs. What a selfless act of love.

It is almost as if they were saying, "I will have no use for these wings now, for I will have the greatest of freedom."

So we now say with grateful reverence, "Thank you for this gift!" And we bow our heads as our loved one also gratefully accepts them-and thank you for your precious wings of freedom!

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24

Because God doesn't want you there.

Lately I have been battling chronic health issues. My fatigue has hung around me like a wet blanket.

My pain levels are so high that I cannot function properly and this makes it difficult to think clearly, hence I have not posted any new blog entries for quite some time.

I've now entered yet another phase of my life- injecting insulin twice daily to control my Diabetes type 2. As with any new treatments, I feel a bit apprehensive.

In truth, I have been thinking that I will not have many more days of productivity and this makes me afraid.

Walking the path of illness is often lonely and I vascillate between coping with it and struggling.

I have memorised Deuteronomy 31:6 as it speaks to me as a promise from the LORD Himself, and I lean on it daily.

It is comforting to know and more importantly, to remember that God is with us in all our troubles, not just health issues. He will never leave us nor give up on us.

When I am afraid, I bring this verse to mind and try not be discouraged.

He is for us. With us. Behind us. In front of us. Always.

His Word is true, and that has stopped me from entering the darkness of The Pit of Despair, because God doesn't want you there.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake. -Deuteronomy 31:6

The depth of His integrity

integrity

/ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/

noun

1.
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
"a gentleman of complete integrity"
Similar:
honesty
uprightness
probity
rectitude
honour
honourableness
upstandingness
good character
principle(s)
ethics
morals
righteousness
morality
nobility
high-mindedness
right-mindedness
noble-mindedness
virtue
decency
fairness
scrupulousness
sincerity
truthfulness
trustworthiness
Opposite:
dishonesty
2.
the state of being whole and undivided.
"upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty"
Similar:
unity
unification
wholeness
coherence
cohesion
undividedness
togetherness
solidarity
coalition
Opposite:
division

It is uncharacteristic of the love God has for His people, that believers will be terrorised and punished alongside those who don't love Him in the Great Tribulation... Let scripture speak to us of God's great love for us... and His integrity and holiness

"Far be it from You to do such a thing— to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous & the wicked R-treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” - Genesis 18:25

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Malachi 3:16-18

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10

Does this sound like a God Who would allow the righteous to be tormented in the Great Tribulation? I don't think so... Instead this God will gather His people safely to Himself and eat with us at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

To believe that Jesus would allow His Bride, the Church to be traumatised and beaten along with those who are the object of God's wrath, is to not understand the Love God has for His Children, His holiness or the depth of His integrity.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. -Psalm 91:14-16