STAND FIRM

And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. -Luke 5:17  

Here is a glimpse of the astounding effect the words and works of Jesus. There were many as they are today who opposed and fought the truth. The religious ones were by this time were full of disgust of Jesus' life and teaching and their hostility made itself evident at every opportunity. Nevertheless, the mighty works of Jesus continued.  

We too should stand firm in what we believe and teach, even thought there will always be someone fighting against it. God's word is true and we depend on Him and His great power to be with us.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

Abba! Father!

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. -Galatians 4:6

We who belong to Christ have a great Heavenly Father - Abba Father. We have been adopted into the family of God. We are born of His Spirit and that is how we know that God is our Abba Father. We have close intimacy and affection and are heirs of God through Jesus Christ. 

If we have not the Spirit we are none of His. Romans 8:9. We can cry out and use that intimate name "Abba", in our hour of greatest need. I can trust Him as a little child trust their parents. How comforting to know this!

Only the members of God’s family can use the name Abba, for we are born of the Spirit. The Lord is that Spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. –2 Corinthians 3:17

Abba Father

My heart cries out, Abba Father, 

I am yours and yours alone,

For You died all my sins to atone.

I belong to the One who sits on the throne!

You are so precious  and well-known

Worth much more then a costly gemstone.

My Spirit cries out to Abba Father, alone.

-Brenda

NOTE: Abba is an Aramaic word, and some believe it is the expression a child would use, evidencing trust. It is viewed as a diminutive or shortened form of a name, rather like a child might say “daddy" or "papa."  

A FATHER'S LOVE

 

Psalm 103:13 “Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him.”

A Father's tender love for his children reflects God's pity for us. A father should always show love and compassion toward his children, no matter how they behave. It is the father's duty to love and help them. And God our Heavenly Father shows us mercy and kindness. Oh, the love of our God! There is nothing like it.

 Hebrews 12:9 “Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”

 Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL FATHERS.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

Numbers 6:24-27 KJV

"One night a father overheard his son pray:
Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be."

WE NEED GOD DAILY

Take Refuge in the Righteous Judge

 O LORD my God, in You I put my tr1ust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me. Psalm 7:

David runs to God for safety for he feared his enemies who sought to harm him. He was confident that only the LORD could rescue him from enemies who would “tear my soul like a lion.” He begins with trust, not panic. We too can pattern after him. O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust. 

Our greatest need is God. There are other needs, but without God we are helpless. We are as sheep without a Shepherd. God alone is the answer. Let's forget our foolish pride and run to God for He is the only solution we have. We wholly depend upon God who has never failed us yet. Trust in God for provision and protection.

TASTE AND SEE

Taste and see that the LORD is Good

Psalm 34:7-9 

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

The Lord is good and life-giving. That is why I love Him so.

His mercy endures forever. He is so very faithful. I love Him so! All who hunger and thirst for His righteousness will be filled.

Seek the Lord's Presence. He will surely come near. He invites one and all. Come and dine, the table is spread. Feast on His Word and Promises today. Taste His goodness that will last forever more. 

John 6:35

Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

The Cost of Following

Matthew 8:20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.

There will be challenges along our way as we journey onward. Jesus lived a humble life while on earth. He never owned much in way of material possessions, and not even a place to lay His head while preaching the gospel. He was dedicated to His Father in Heaven. Let us too be dedicated and prioritize faith over comfort. God will supply all our needs.

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.   

THE LORD OUR STRONGHOLD

 

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him.-Nahum 1:7

It's so wonderful that we can have the love of God as a perfect protection for our life. Every Christian believer can walk in peace knowing that His shield of love is around them. We can walk with un-trembling tread on the road of life. He is "a stronghold in the day of trouble."

" The Lords 'people are not exempt from trouble, but if they have peculiar trials they have peculiar support under them, "No weapon formed against us can prosper."-Isaiah 54:17 

-Brenda