To know HIM

Like many others, music resounds within me and moves me not just physically, but emotionally and its words stay within me.  From the time I was small, songs have communicated more to me than simple words ever could.    

Lines from a favorite song by Bobby Vinton when I was a teen is like that.  The lines go, ‘To Know, know, know you is to love, love, love you, just to see your smile, makes my life worthwhile, to know, know, know you is to love, love, love you and I do, I do, I do.”  Nowadays, I’ll sing those simple words to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY changing just one word.  Instead of singing ‘just to SEE your smile, I sing just to SENSE YOUR smile, makes my like worthwhile.  To know, know, know YOU is to love, love, love YOU and I do, I do, I do.

Psalm 147:7 is just one of many verses urging us to sing to the LORD.

GOD says, I love those who love me (Proverbs 18:17) and we love HIM because HE 1^st loved us (1 John 4:19). It thrills me that GOD says HE  rejoices and sings over me and those who have come to HIM through JESUS (Zephaniah 3:17).

In Jeremiah 22:16 GOD is speaking of King Josiah, “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know ME, declares the LORD?”

That verse declares that as we get to know the LORD, as we see HIM in action, it will produce in us like action (2 Corinthians 3:18) we will take on aspects of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-4) changing us into the likeness of our LORD JESUS CHRIST (Romans 8:29).

The thought that I am being changed is exciting, it’s a real motivator to find out more and more about the one and only wise GOD, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY who made me!

Hugs

Sharon

How can I know if something is meant for me?

How can I believe it is for me?

Isaiah 7:9 (GOD is talking), “..you don’t believe ME! If you want ME to protect you, you must learn to believe what I say.”

Have you ever been reading in the Bible and something strikes home?  It seems to fits like a dress made specifically for you.  But you don’t like what it says, so you brush it away or say it applies to another.

Maybe you want to believe it is meant for you but say to yourself, “how can I believe it is for me.  It is too wonderful or too demanding?” Well notice what GOD said in Isaiah 7? HE said, “learn to believe what I say”. How do we do that? Speak HIS word aloud. It is amazing how the lies of doubt that the enemy shoots at us will flee at the word of GOD.

If it sounds like GOD is speaking directly to you?  HE probably is.

Write out that word.  Speak it aloud, and ask GOD if that word is for you. HE will clarify it for you if you ask willing to accept what HE tells you (James 1:5-6).  If the word tells you to do something, do it.  If it promises you something, claim it.  Notice all the ifs.. those are conditions you need to meet.

Believe GOD’s word, for that is one way GOD speaks to you. “Let the peace of CHRIST rule (be the umpire) in your hearts…” (Colossians 3:15). Once you have talked it over with GOD, willing to do the will of GOD you will know (John 7:17).

“For GOD is not a man that HE should lie, nor the son of man that HE will change HIS mind. If HE said it HE will do it, if HE promised, HE will bring it to pass.” Numbers 23:19

Don’t be like King Ahab who refused to believe GOD.  GOD told him, and HE tells us, “If you want me to protect you, you must learn to believe what I say!”

Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of my faith

Hugs

Sharon

Getting to know HIM

I love just Jeremiah 22:16 where GOD is speaking of King Josiah, “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know ME, declares the LORD?”

That verse declares that as we get to know the LORD, as we see HIM act, it will produce in us like action (2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Peter 1:2-4).

That to me is exciting, a real motivator to find out more and more about HIM?

Looking unto JESUS the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

hugs

Sharon

To know, know, know HIM

Hosea 6:6 TLB GOD says, “I don’t want your sacrifices- I want your love; I don’t want your offerings- I want you to know ME!

Hear GOD’s heart?  So, how do we get to love GOD and really know HIM?

A line from my 1st favorite song as a 7th grader was, “to know, know, know you is to love, love, love you and I do, I do I do.”

That is true in my relationship with GOD, to know HIM and HIS ways causes me to love HIM more and more.  As I read GOD’s word and I see GOD’s love and HIS wisdom as HE relates to others I know HIM better and love HIM more.

“JESUS said if you love ME you will do what I say” (John 14:15 NLV).

The fact is I have experienced GOD being there for me and so know that HE cares about me and what I go through..  After seeing GOD show HIS loves for me by working on my behalf countless times,,  I don’t hesitate to do what HE nudges me to do.  I delight in doing what HE desires for I know it is the best thing to do and is for my benefit.

How about you?  How do you get to know and love GOD?

Hugs

Sharon

Getting to know HIM

It is important to know our GOD. 2 Peter 1:1-4 mentions some very important reasons.

By knowing GOD and our Savior JESUS CHRIST we:

*receive FAITH through the righteousness of GOD and JESUS (Romans 10:17)

*GRACE (GOD’s riches at CHRIST’s expense)

*PEACE

*all that we need for life and godly living

*great and precious PROMISES (in HIS word) and if we will use those promises we will escape the corruption of the world and even take on the divine nature (love, joy, peace, and the like.)

So let’s look as a few things some of GOD’s names tell us about HIM.

* Elohim – my Creator

*Jehovah/ or Yahweh- I AM the Alpha (beginning) and Omega (the end)

* El-Shaddai  The source of all supply and nourishment

* Jehovah-Jireh the GOD that provide for us. Genesis 22:13-14

* Jehovah-Raphe the GOD that heals me. Exodus 15:26

* Jehovah-Nissi the one I look to for victory Exodus 17:15

* Jehovah-shalom the LORD our peace. Judges 6:24

* Jehovah-Rohi our shepherd. Psalm 23:1

* Jehovah-Tsidkenu the LORD our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6

* Jehovah-Shammah-the LORD who is present with me, YOU will never leave me, nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) YOU are always there. Ezekiel 48:35

* Jehovah-Heleyon -YOU are the most high GOD. Psalm 7:17

*YahWey my GOD is mighty to save, HE sings over me Zephaniah 3:17

*Jehovah-Elohay- my GOD. Zechariah 14:5

*Jehovah-Sabboth- the Lord of host (armies) 1 Samuel 1:3

*JESUS- YOU save me from my sins

What is something about GOD that you are thanking HIM for?

Hugs

Sharon

Me wrong?

Have you ever tried to explain something to someone but they just don’t get it? 

At times like that I take a breath, release it to GOD and rejoice in GOD’s promise of Philippians 3:15-16. Those who are seeking to grow in our knowledge of GOD are encouraged that if something is wrong in how we think (a misconception) that GOD HIMSELF will reveal the truth to us. But in the meantime, we are told to walk according to what we already know.

Each of us knows in part (I Corinthians 13:9,12).  As much as I hate it, that means that some of what I think I know is not so. Although I love the light and rejoice when GOD shows me something, still it hurts a bit when I finally realize something I had believed was not so.

The word of GOD says that GOD HIMSELF teaches us and that we must learn, line on line, precept on precept, here a little and there a little- (Isaiah 28:9,10)  Therefore, what we have learned helps us understand what GOD is teaching us today in HIS Word…

Time after time GOD reminds me of another verse when I have asked HIM about what a passage in the Word of GOD is actually saying.  The verse that comes to mind enables me to more clearly see the answer to my question.

JESUS confirms this when HE said we are to take treasures out from the old (testament) and new (testament) in order to function.  (Matthew 13:52) In other words the Bible explains itself and is its own best interpreter.

The Bible says, “Ask and it shall be given to you.” 

Does that tell us all about prayer?

Do we get everything we ask for? Absolutely not! 

Verses stating that if we ask according to GOD’s will we will get it or If we regard (cling) to sin in our hearts GOD will not hear our prayers are just a couple of many that speak and define boundaries of prayer.  Again, we go to the given, we know in part.

But praise the LORD with me, for HE tells us that even since we don’t know all there is to know about prayer or even what to pray for that GOD the HOLY SPIRIT our comforter and teacher (Romans 8:26) and JESUS CHRIST our LORD and Savior (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34) are praying for us according to the Will of GOD (Romans 8:29).

We don’t have to know everything to belong to GOD or even to be used by GOD.  But if we use what you have learned GOD will teach us more.

Hugs

Sharon