Category Archives: Assurance – Promise

Celebratory

Reflecting I think my family has not been celebratory people. Each day was in good part esteemed as any other day. Of course, Christmas Day there was a gathering for special foods and gift giving; Thanksgiving – turkey and dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, for starters and perhaps a ham too; Easter – chicken and dressing and again perhaps a ham; birthdays would come and go with hardly a notice; Sunday was Sunday School, preaching, lunch, a nap or a ride in the truck, back to church for Training Union, preaching, home for roast beef sandwiches with mustard and Bonanza.  (Word on Google is that Bonanza aired for the first two years on Saturday night then moved to Sunday nights.)  Such ramblings this morning to get to my point.

I don’t recall us being a celebratory people as to certain days being high occasions. I’m not so sure that was good but I’ll not proceed too far down that road with you today.  What is done is done. What is to come can be anything we enlist ABBA’s help to make it.  The fact is ABBA is celebratory.  Want proof? How many Feasts – Festivals a year did He give to His people as HIS FEASTS?  Seven.  That’s a lot of celebrating.  And there are reasons. One: family. Celebrating with family is designed to promote love and harmony. The trouble is celebrating without GOD often brings disharmony and even hatefulness in families.  That is not ABBA’s will. Celebrating according to His Feasts fixes our hearts on His Messiah to the world –  we call Him JESUS. Some call Him YESHUA.

Passover

Unleavened Bread

Firstfruits

Pentecost

Feasts of Trumpets

Day of Atonement

Feasts of Tabernacles

[source]

But celebrating is not limited only to His Feasts.  Look at a portion of Psalm 47 with me. I read every day celebrating! Do you?

(1) Clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with cries of joy!
(2) For Adonai ‘Elyon is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.

[source]

And further into the Psalm we read:

(6) Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our king, sing praises!
(7) For God is king of all the earth;
sing praises in a maskil.

[source]

For GOD is king of all the earth! Amen and amen. I can celebrate that! Not only can I celebrate, I can rest, be glad and KNOW I am secure since HE is KING!

Let the celebrating begin!!

Thank You ABBA. Teach me to be celebratory. Teach me to lead others to be celebratory. To celebrate You and what You have done for us and who You are making us to be in CHRIST JESUS. Thank You. I am remembering people in my heart today with doctor visits and petitions that You heal them of cancer; another grieving the loss of a beloved husband – she misses him so much; a parent with an estranged child – the hurt is so deep, we pray for reconciliation; and there are many more and Readers who come here, come with petitions of their own and so we collectively and individually bring our requests with our praise and we thank You in advance for Your Perfect answers in perfect time. Amen and amen.
Kathie

Keep Returning

When I realize I have messed up again, I remember:

If I confess my sins (even wasting an hour of time watching a TV program with NO redeeming qualities) He is faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Moreover, I remember Lamentations 3, and I rejoice that it reads for me:

21 But in my mind I keep returning to something,

something that gives me hope —

22 that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted,

that his compassion has not ended.

23 [On the contrary,] they are new every morning!

How great your faithfulness!

via Lamentations 3 KJV;CJB – I AM the man that hath seen affliction – Bible Gateway.

Thank You, Father, that Your compassion does not fail; that each moment You have a new supply for me, and thank You that You keep drawing me to return and I keep returning. Thank You. Thank You for grace and space to repent. I pray for a spirit of repentance to fall upon us; You know my legitimate concerns for people in various local assemblies; truly, HOLY SPIRIT, I ask You to bring conviction of sins and assurance of forgiveness and restoration to repentant souls. There is much violence and bitter pain in this world; particularly I pray for families grieving the death of family and friends at the Navy Yard Massacre. Father, I am so sorry please forgive and convince We the People of our sin, of righteousness, and judgment to come. I pray now for friends and family; for brothers and sisters; for every need spoken here; we entrust ourselves, our needs and our wants to You for safekeeping and answering in YESHUA’s Mighty Name.

Kathie

Flashing Light

I read 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, [source]and stopped. The flashing Light was too bright to ignore.

Everything? Everything without grumbling?

Does ABBA really mean that? Doesn’t He know that is impossible for me? Doesn’t He see the traffic I drive in? Doesn’t He see the unskilled people in front of me who obviously are clueless as to the purpose of a blinker?

Doesn’t He see the gabby customer right there in front of me and the cashier with slow hands and listening ears? Doesn’t He know that I have to get out of this store?

Doesn’t He know I have been waiting on that service person for weeks now to get back here and finish this job?

And what about this: I am sick and tired of taking this longer route home – good grief! I could have built that bridge by myself by now!?

Everything without grumbling?

Everything.

15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. [source]

Will I do this perfectly? Not on my life! But today I can practice!

Philippians 4:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) [source]

13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Thank You, ABBA. Thank You, HOLY SPIRIT, for making Your Word alive and fresh and new, helpful and guiding each time we read. I pray this Word will stay in my heart and brightly on my mind throughout this day and for every Reader who will say amen, me too ABBA.

We have some concerns for people around us and near to us; some cries for healing, for provision of things that are just out of our reach without Your help; and for revival. Yes revival, LORD. Revive us again we pray. I hear You, HOLY SPIRIT, You are right – doing everything without grumbling and arguing would surely help bring revival. Thank You, ABBA, in JESUS Mighty Name. Thank You.

Kathie