The sun comes up

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning. As the warming but nearly blinding rays of the sun stream through my window it shouts of the glory of GOD’s power. For GOD made the sun and its warming rays are the glory of the sun.   

I awoke pondering the glory of GOD’s power. That could be connected to some verses I am teaching. Glory is the outshining…or how something is seen.  GOD’s power is seen by what HE does, especially what HE has created.  What has HE created?  Everything good and perfect.  They fall down from heaven (GOD), gifts to us (James 1:17).  They are small examples of the glory of GOD’s power.  Things like music, color, laughter are part of the outshining or glory of GOD’s power. 

But as I was speaking with thanksgiving to the LORD that throughout eternity future we will increasingly know the glory of HIS power as we enjoy GOD’s amazing Presence with us, I thought of verses I am teaching in 2 Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 1:⁶ It is a righteous thing with GOD to repay with tribulation those who trouble you.^8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not GOD”

The words know not there with its mood and tense in the Greek means= continually, actively not regard with favor.

Let us look at what the Bible tells us about those people: 

Romans 1:¹⁸ For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth/ suppress it (push it away from themselves) in unrighteousness; ¹⁹ Because that which may be known of GOD is manifest in them; for GOD has shown it unto them. ²⁰ For the invisible things of HIM from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even HIS eternal power and GODhead; so that they are without excuse: ²¹ Because that, when they knew GOD, they glorified HIM not as GOD, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations (speculations, reasonings), and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible GOD into an image made like to corruptible…²⁴ Wherefore (for that reason) GOD also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,(GOD gave them what they wanted)… ²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge (they didn’t want to think about HIM), GOD gave them over to a reprobate mind (to what they chose). 

2 Thessalonians 2:¹⁰  those who perish because they did not receive/ refused the love of the truth.

Was the truth offered to them?  Well, you cannot receive or refuse something unless it has been 1^st been offered to you.

Now back to where we started:

2 Thessalonians 1:^8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not GOD and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”

The Greek word with its mood and tenses for obey not there is to: continually actively refusing to listen to, comply with, submit to.  What are they refusing to listen to, comply with and submit to?

The Gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

2 Thessalonians 1:⁹ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the Presence of the LORD, and from the glory of his power;

As we have seen these people want nothing to do with GOD on earth so by shutting them out from HIS Presence GOD is just giving them what they chose and wanted. We have also seen they chose to refuse to acknowledge GOD was the Creator and so again by shutting them away from the glory of HIS power (everything good, those things that HE made: for instance, music, color, aromas, relationships) is again only giving them what they themselves have chosen.

GOD is good and loving and kind.  When HE chose to give man the ability to choose, HE allowed them to determine not just what they were going to eat but their eternal destiny.

But GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16) and to us who have become GOD’s children through believing in JESUS (John 1:12) GOD has sent us out as ambassadors.

Now then we are ambassadors for CHRIST, as though GOD did beseech you by us: we urge you in CHRIST’s stead (place), be reconciled to GOD (2 Corinthians 5:20). Come to GOD through JESUS (Hebrews 7:25) by believing JESUS is LORD and GOD raised HIM from the dead and call on the name of the LORD (Romans 10:9-10, 13) and be saved.

Hugs

Sharon

GOD meant it for good

GOD has led me to pray a certain way concerning the Coronavirus, I even asked many of you to join me in that prayer in one of my posts. So, I am thrilled to see GOD’s leading confirmed.

In Malachi 3:6 we are told, “For I am the LORD, I change not;” Therefore, we can learn about HIM by looking at how HE has acted in the past.

One of GOD’s ways is to work all things together for good to those who love HIM (Romans 8:28). We see that vividly in the life of Joseph, a Jewish teen sold by his brothers as a slave but through many troubles at 30 became 2^nd in command to Pharaoh. Listen to Joseph’s description of GOD.

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but GOD meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

In a coronavirus update, J D Farag spoke of GOD using the evil of the coronavirus to cause many across the globe to reach out to the LORD of heaven and earth to obtain eternal life.  In other words, to save much people alive.

Yes, reports tell that many who would have nothing to do with GOD before are now coming to JESUS.

Let’s praise HIS holy name for the harvest is getting ripe! But don’t stop praying yet for as long as we are here the last one to accept JESUS has not yet done so (2 Peter 3:9).

Hugs

Sharon

Amazing GOD

I love to sing: “How great is our GOD, sing with me how great is our GOD and all will see how great, how great is our GOD.”

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU are great.

How great is YOUR faithfulness we see that it YOUR design of the seasons and in how YOU keep YOUR promises.  “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, HIS mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, new every morning, great is THY faithfulness O LORD, great is THY faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

How great is YOUR love, compassion and mercy for while we were sinners YOU sent YOUR only Begotten Son, JESUS to come pay for our sins so we could be adopted into YOUR family and live forever with YOU.  

How great is YOUR wisdom and understanding seen in YOUR plans for each of YOUR creation from the boundaries of the waves of the sea to the heavenly bodies to ants… big and small YOUR design is according to great wisdom and understanding.  Plus, YOU tell us that YOU have specific plans for each of those who believe in JESUS.  It is so amazing.

How great is YOUR humor and creativity.  I look at the vast variety of colors and designs from graceful bird to the cartoon stick character of a Praying Mantis.  I am amazed and yet at times must laugh with YOU.

How great is YOUR joy and peace that YOU pour out on those who look to YOU.  And do we ever need it.  Thank YOU.

Yet these are only a tiny part of YOUR ways, Besides the wonder of JESUS these are but some of the minor things YOU do, merely a whisper of YOUR glory and the outer fringe of YOU workings; how faint the whisper we hear of YOU! Who then can understand? (Job 26:14).

YOUR greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3) and I bow in wonder. Please show me more of YOU and my LORD JESUS CHRIST.

It thrills me that YOU take great delight in me, take time to quiet me with YOUR love and even sing over me (Zephaniah 3:37).  And it blows my mind that when we who love YOU think about YOUR name (character) and talk about it that YOU are so delighted that YOU made an awesome vow about us (Malachi 3:16-17). Check it out.

Thank YOU for loving me and giving me JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT and that YOU have promised never to leave me nor forsake me.  YOU are so good!

I love YOU

Sharon

Is GOD Good?

What is GOD like?  Your answer to that question will be seen in how you act, for the character of the worshiper will always be molded by the character of what he worships.  If your GOD is critical and demanding, those qualities will show up in you as well.  Therefore, it is essential that we think rightly about GOD. The ALMIGHTY, GOD our heavenly FATHER has promised that every believer in JESUS will be transformed slowly, a step at a time into the wonderful image (character likeness) of JESUS CHRIST our LORD (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Truth is a revelation of reality, to know the truth is not just learning facts but to know the truth is to accept its reality and live accordingly. “GOD’s Word is truth” (John 17:17). Truth about GOD is revealed both in HIS creation and in HIS written Word.

GOD through the HOLY SPIRIT (spoke to) moved on the hearts of men and they spoke GOD’s word or wrote it down and we have GOD’s Word preserved in the Bible for us (2 Peter 1:21).  “GOD’s Word is living and powerful, sharper than any 2-edged sword…it is a discerner of thoughts and the intents of heart” (Hebrews 4:12)

“YOU are good and do good, teach me YOUR statutes” (Psalm 119:68). GOD spoke (GOD’s word) and things were created (Genesis 1:3) and GOD said, “It is good.” The initial creation was good for GOD is good.

There is a lie going around, a lie presented to mankind in the garden of Eden.  The Liar inferred that GOD was keeping something good from Eve, something that would benefit her.  In effect he was saying that GOD was not being good to her.  She believed the liar over GOD for it appealed to her senses and we are still reaping from that choice.  The devil uses the same lie on us today.

When something we perceive as bad happens many, even Christians say, “How could a good GOD let this happen?” I know I have thought it a time or two myself.  When one doubts the goodness of GOD it opens the door to disobedience and leads to independence of GOD.

Yes, it is true GOD is Sovereign and could stop anything.  But HE tells us up front that HIS ways are not our ways, and HIS thoughts are not our thoughts but as high as the heavens are above the earth so much higher are HIS thoughts than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).  That means we cannot always understand what HE does and what HE allows.  It is at those times we must cling to what we know is true about GOD.

Look out your window and see GOD’s Power and order, HIS wisdom and love beauty in HIS creation.  Then, turn your eyes to JESUS and see GOD’s love of mankind, HIS generosity, HIS humbleness, yes, HIS goodness.

GOD says that HE works all thing together (like stirring them into a pot) for an end result of good to those who love HIM (Romans 8:28).  HE says that everything is for our benefit (2 Corinthians 4:15) and that our troubles are achieving for us (believers in JESUS) an eternal weight of glory that far surpasses the pain of today and HE urges us to look beyond what we can see (our situation) to that which we can’t see (those things HE is achieving for us through our situation) for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen it eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

When my infant son died, and I cried out in despair for GOD to bring him back, there came a still awareness that this was the will of GOD.  HE had a purpose, as HE always does (Ezekiel 14:23), a purpose for good not evil (Jeremiah 29:11).  Looking back although I miss my 1^st boy I know some of the good GOD intended and brought out of Little Mac’s death.  “Except a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit” (John 12:24).  The first thing his death accomplished was to bring me back to JESUS for I had wandered away as a teen.  We are told GOD has preset the exact times and places for the purpose that men would reach out to HIM (Acts 17:26 last clause-27) and that it did for me.  Because of my boy’s death many others have reached out to GOD and have found comfort and eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Good does not mean easy.  Some of GOD’s ways seem very  hard but they achieve good. Let us never forget, that though we may not understand why, we can know GOD is good!

Looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2).

Hugs

Sharon