Feb 2006 Log


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Feb 28, 2006
The Bride


8 I am the LORD, who makes you holy.
26 You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Look at this -- it is the Lord who makes you holy. It is the Lord who makes the church holy. It is the Lord who prepares the church as His bride.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

It is the Lord who clothes us/ the bride with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness, with jewels.

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

It is the Lord who crowns us / the bride with splendor.

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, [Hephzibah means my delight is in her] and your land Beulah [Beulah means married] ; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons [builder] marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

We / the bride belong to the bridegroom. He has summoned us by name.

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ [Messiah] but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

The bride - the wife of the Lamb is beautiful.

The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.


6 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
7 All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
10 How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!
11 Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.


2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

So if it is the Lord who sets us apart, makes us holy, crowns us with splendor, makes us beautiful -- what do we have to do?

Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

'Kiss the Son' - the hebrew translates nashqu bar as “pay homage in good faith” or "pay homage in purity". The homage is to the Lord of Psalm 2:2 and to the Son of Psalm 2:7 -- the Messiah King. Homage, kissing a King also implies submission. Th Greek word for worship captures this idea – proskuneo – to kiss the hand toward, to do reverence or homage by kissing the hand, to bow oneself in adoration. This is to pay homage in recognition of royalty, to show submission to a king, to be under the king's reign.

Are you willing to 'Kiss the Son' - 'Kiss the Messiah King' - 'Kiss the bridegroom'?

His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend...

My King ....

Lord show each of us how to 'Kiss the Son'. Thank You that You are the Lord who makes us holy, keep our hearts fixed on You.


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Feb 27, 2006
Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Charles Wesley

Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on Thee is stayed:
All my help from Thee I bring,
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadows of Thy wing!

Play:
http://www.hymnsite.com/midifiles/umh47912.mid

When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Thank You Lord that Jesus the lover of our souls is our Rock, our refuge, our hiding place. Keep each of us as the apple of your eye, safe under the shadow of your wings.

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Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

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Feb 23, 2006
Sealed With A Kiss?

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

After posting What's In A Holy Kiss? someone brought up the phrase Sealed With A Kiss? and wondered if this was a covenant. This is an intriguing idea to investigate.

When what's in a 'Holy Kiss' was examined, we saw the corresponding verses point to unity in the faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This unity leads to peace, love, worship, grace, blessing -- the fullness of Christ! WOW!

When you put the ideas of a seal and a promise together and think in terms of the Lord Jesus Christ - the opening verses in Ephesians come to mind. From this we see that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is a covenant & a promise.

It is thru the Holy Spirit that we have unity and fullness in Christ. It is thru the Holy Spirit that we can experience a 'Holy Kiss'.

I've never heard it put quite like this before, but it tickles my heart to think that we are 'Sealed with a Holy Kiss'. The Holy Spirit being the Holy Kiss the binds us together in unity and fullness in Christ.

One more thing strikes me about the above Ephesian verses - to the praise of His glory - the seal, the promise of the Holy Spirit is to the praise of His glory!!. This phrase points to worship, just like the phrase 'Kiss the Son'. WOW!

What do you think -- are you 'Sealed with a Holy Kiss?'

May you each feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ thru the Holy Spirit on your lives today & always.

Blowing you each a 'Holy Kiss'.


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Feb 22, 2006
Strength to Silence Foes

Psalm 8:2 (NKJV)     Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

The psalmist David knew a key spiritual concept that helped him receive strength from God and silence His enemies.

Jesus referred to this same principle during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As He came into the city and the people began to realize who Jesus was, they began to enthusiastically praise Him – much to the dismay of the religious onlookers!

Matthew 21:16 (NKJV)     and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘ Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

At first glance it looks like Jesus misquotes Psalm 8:2. Jesus did not misquote David; rather, He interpreted the Scripture and explained the truth David had discovered. There is supernatural strength loosed on our behalf when we praise God! This is the triumph of praise.

Psalm 106:47 (NKJV)     Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and (glory) triumph in your praise.

Psalm 47:1-2 (NKJV)     Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.

The hebrew word for triumph in Psalm 106 is shabach - to address in a loud tone, i.e. (specifically) loud; figuratively, to pacify (as if by words).
In Psalm 47: rinnah - a creaking or shrill sound, shout of joy, gladness, rejoicing, proclamation.

The voice of triumph is LOUD!!

Loud, boastful praise builds confidence and allows God to grow large in one's heart. It shifts one's focus from the battle to the Lord, reminding us that He is bigger than any battle, problem or circumstance. In the process foes are silenced.

Lord, help each of us praise You with the voice of triumph. Let each heart give thanks to Your holy name and triumph in Your praise.


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Feb 21, 2006
What's In A Holy Kiss?

Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

This idea of a 'Holy Kiss' caught my attention recently. It made me wonder exactly what this was and when it appeared in the bible. Here is what I found:

So what's in a 'Holy Kiss'? All of these verses point to unity in the faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ! Where does this unity lead? It leads to peace, love, worship, grace, blessing -- the fullness of Christ! WOW!

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Lord show each heart its part in the body of Christ. Let each heart grow in unity and attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Let us always greet one another with a holy kiss. Thank You that as each does this the whole body will be blessed.


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Feb 16, 2006
Promises of Eternal Refuge

The eternal God is your refuge ...

Here are just some of the promises of eternal refuge - WOW!

Thank You Lord that You are our refuge, our Rock. Help each soul to find rest, rest in You alone.


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Feb 14, 2006
A Valentine’s Day Prayer
Holley Gerth
Writer/Creative Manager
From Dayspring

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Lord,
Because love is patient…
Help me to be slow to judge, but quick to listen. Hesitant to criticize, but eager to encourage, remembering your endless patience with me.

Because love is kind…
Help my words to be gentle and my actions to be thoughtful. Remind me to smile and to say “Please” and “Thank You” because
those little things still mean so much.

Because love does not envy or boast, and it is not proud…
Help me have a heart that is humble and sees the good in others. May I celebrate and appreciate all that I have and all that I am,
as well as doing the same for those around me.

Because love is not rude or self-seeking…
Help me to speak words that are easy on the ear and on the heart. When I’m tempted to get wrapped up in my own little world,
remind me there’s a great big world out there full of needs and hurts.

Because love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs…
Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. When I want to hold onto a grudge, gently help me release it so I can reach out
with a hand of love instead.

Because love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth…
Help me stand up for what is right and good. May I defend the defenseless, and help the helpless. Show me how I can make a difference.

Because love always protects and always trusts…
Help me to be a refuge for those around me. When the world outside is harsh and cold, may my heart be a place of acceptance and warmth.

Finally, because love always perseveres…
Help my heart continually beat with love for You and others. Thank you for this day when we celebrate love,
and for showing us what that word really means. Amen.


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Feb 13, 2006
One Drop of Blood
From: http://www.dayspringinternational.org/

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Here is a 'nugget of truth' from Dayspring, see if it stirs your heart like it stirred mine!

I heard a simple, but profound nugget of truth that stirred my heart with great joy.It was from a Hindu businessman named Gopal who was quite familiar with our film.

He told me, "John, throughout history, kings and mighty military leaders have shed rivers and rivers of other human blood trying to conquer some other part of the world. But Jesus, with just one drop of His blood, has conquered all of humanity - everywhere in the whole world."

Unknowingly, he confirmed the truth of the above scripture.

It is awe inspiring to think of the power in just one drop of blood from that precious, spotless, Lamb. Our sins are scarlet, but with just one drop of the Lamb's spotless blood, we can be washed whiter than snow. WOW!

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Create pure hearts in us, O LORD. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation and grant us a willing spirit, to sustain. Purify our hearts, O LORD, make them whiter than snow.


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Feb 10, 2006
Unchanging

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

The Lord has given us assurance that there will always be the changing of seasons. However there is one thing that remains the same - the LORD never changes.

This assurance should give us faith that no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in -
God never, never, changes!

I the LORD do not change ...


12     But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
25     In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26     They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
....     Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
27     But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Unchanging
Chris Tomlin

Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness
You never change
You never fail, O God

True are Your promises
True are Your promises
You never change
You never fail, O God

So we raise up holy hands
To praise the Holy One
Who was and is and is to come

Wide is Your love and grace
Wide is Your love and grace
You never change
You never fail, O God

You were, You are
You will always be

http://cornerstonecbc.org/Audio/worship/Unchanging.mp3

Thank You LORD that You are faithful and that You do not change. Amid our everchanging circumstances, let this truth sink deep into each heart. Let each heart rest secure in Your faithfulness and unfailing love.

___________

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.


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Feb 9, 2006
To Everything There is a Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven ...

There is a plum tree in my front yard, right now it has no leaves, no flowers, no fruit. It looks dead, barren. However, in spite of appearances - we know it is not dead, it's just winter.

Has there ever been a season of winter in your life? A time when you seemed barren? A time when nothing appeared to be happening or moving forward?

Perhaps there appears to be a 'dead tree' before you now, and you're tempted to cut it down. If you cut it down, it will never bear flowers or fruit. But if you persist and care for this tree even in winter, when the right season arrives new growth will appear. Just like my plum tree, spring will yeild fragrant flowers and summer will yeild fruit.

Similarly if your life seems to be in a season of winter right now and you cut yourself off from God, you'll see no new growth or fruit. Keep praying. Keep reading the Word. Keep serving. Keep worshipping. Keep trusting. Keep obeying. Keep fixing your eyes on Jesus. New growth - fruit, will appear in the proper season, in God's timing.

Take heart -
God's timing is never late, never early, it's always perfect and always has a purpose!

Thank You Lord for Your perfect timing. Help each of us remember that Your timing is perfect and always has a purpose.

The Chinese bamboo tree does absolutely nothing--or so it seems--for the first four years. Then suddenly, sometime during the fifth year, it shoots up ninety feet in sixty days. Would you say that bamboo tree grew in six weeks, or five years? I think our lives are akin to the Chinese bamboo tree. We like to believe overnight success stories are possible but they really aren't. We may hear of a singer who all of a sudden "gets discovered", gets a record contract and becomes a star. However, they weren't discovered the first time they ever sang. They have probably been singing for quite a while before their "big break".

How often have you been frustrated because you've prayed something like "Lord, help me be patient today" and then almost immediately you lose your patience? But, I bet if you keep praying consistently you'll begin to see change, but it may come slowly. Psalm 1, verse 3 says "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season." We have fruit trees in our yard and right now, there's no fruit, there's no leaves, there's no nothing ... the trees look dead. But when it's the right season, we'll see growth happen. You can look at your life today and it may seem to be without fruit or leaves. If I cut the tree down today, I'll never have fruit. If you are in a season of dryness and you cut yourself off from God, you'll never see fruit. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep loving. Keep worshipping. Keep trusting. Keep obeying. Keep turning your eyes to Jesus. Fruit will come if you are patient, but it will come in God's timing, not yours.


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Feb 8, 2006
Deep Calls Out to Deep
From: http://www.abarim-publications.com/Arie/Bible/Psalm42v7.html


7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

Have you ever been really thirsty? Parched lip, dry mouth thirsty? Every fiber in your being crying out for water?

I love the following song - was feeling especially dry and so started to sing it to myself.

All Who Are Thirsty
Words & music: Brenton Brown & Glenn Robertson
© 1998 Vineyard Songs (UK/EIRE)

All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of His mercy
As deep cries out to deep

Come Lord Jesus Come
Come Lord Jesus Come

As I sang, the phrase 'As deep cries out to deep' really caught my attention and stuck in my mind. I wondered what it meant. This song always brings to mind the panting deer of Psalm 42. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. This is exactly how I felt.

This prompted me to read Psalm 42 - and there it was vs 7. Now I was really curious - what does this mean? This is how I came across the above commentary for this verse - it was eye opening for me. Here are the parts that really touched my heart.

The author of Psalm 42 yearns to emerge from the throngs of those who challenge his trust in the One he desires. But in stead of drinking Him, he drinks his own tears, and all that pours is his own soul within him, descended, like the very water that the deer yields towards.

Then in verse 9, the author likens God distinctively to the opposite of water: a Rock. This draws our attention to Jesus Christ. Remarkable, because where the Psalmist states, "I will say to God, my Rock, "Why hast Thou forgotten Me?"," Jesus cried from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt 27:46).

Dying the way Jesus did is a pretty hard death. There is some debate about His actual posture, but everyone agrees that His arms were stretched, and placed either sideways or straight up. The result of this is that the chest cavity expands and exhaling is made difficult. After a few days, breathing is impossible and Jesus' actual cause of death was exhaustion and asphyxia. This makes the report of His dying by Matthew and Mark highly remarkable, if not boldly referential, "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit" (Matt 27:50); "And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last" (Mark 15:37).

"Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty" (John 19:28)." NAS links this to Psalm 22:15. Others to Psalm 69:21. But perhaps Jesus thought of Psalm 42:7, the panting deer and its thirst, and 'Deep cried out to Deep'.

In this light - the light of the cross - I challenge you to read Psalm 42 again. See if the phrases I am thirsty and deep calls out to deep take on a new dimension!

Scripture Refs:
Matt 27:46, 50; Mark 15:37; John 19:28; Psalm 22:15; Psalm 69:21

Isaiah 55:1
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters...


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Feb 3, 2006
A Difficult Prayer

After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.

There is something deeply profound about this verse.

With friends like his, Job didn't need enemies. His three would-be comforters failed miserably in their efforts to ease his pain. Instead of bringing sympathy, they delivered accusations that only compounded his anguish.

Yet Job was able to emerge triumphantly. A significant step toward that victory was his willingness to pray for the very friends who had criticized and accused him. God honored his prayers, and Job had the delight of seeing his friends turn to God for forgiveness (Job 42:7-10).

Is there someone in your life that irritates, or hurts, or frustrates you?

Here's the challenge, begin earnestly praying for that person.

Surely, nothing but restoration and good can come from this.

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts!


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Feb 1, 2006
Lamentations Without Christ


3 After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
6 All the splendor has departed from the Daughter of Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer.
9 Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. "Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed."
18 The LORD is righteous, For I rebelled against His commandment. Hear now, all peoples, And behold my sorrow; ...

___________

Without Christ: Lamentations 1:3 – No rest.

With Christ:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

___________

Without Christ: Lamentations 1:6 – No pasture.

With Christ:
He makes me lie down in green pastures, ...

___________

Without Christ: Lamentations 1:9 – No comforter.

With Christ:
(KJV)     And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ...

___________

Without Christ: Lamentations 1:18 – filled with sorrow.

With Christ:
and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Thank You Lord that You are our 'all in all'.


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