Noble Character!

Ruth 3:11 (New International Version)

11 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

What does it mean to you to be of noble character? Webster defines as "moral excellence and firmness,a man of sound character." Someone trustworthy and worthy of respect! A quality that we should all strive for. I have known many people like this over the years, they are wonderful friends and neighbors. The world is changing there is no doubt and it is not as common to find these folks now. The Word says in the last days people would "wax worse and worse", so I guess we should not be surprised. But my Bible also tells me that we can draw nearer and nearer to our Lord, that we can grow and flourish in these last days. He will never leave us and we will never be separated from His love. Be comforted with the Words of our Lord and remember it is possible to be a man or woman with a moral, sound character.

Exodus 20:8 (New International Version)

8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

We are told to remember this day by keeping it holy. Of course the first way a person might think is to be in the House of God, the other way is just to rest from all the trials and headaches we had during the week. Which ever way or both, it is a very special day. I love going to Church! I teach Sunday School, so that is my passion. Feeding on Gods Word is how we grow and mature as a Christian. From the singing to the alter call, we are blessed. I pray this Lords Day you will be in Church and reap from the storehouse that has your name on it. Oh, and don't forget to rest to!

Psalm 25:5 (New International Version)

5. guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.


I pray you are having a Sensational Saturday! This is the day the Lord has made, I will (by choice) rejoice and be glad in it! We do make a choice every day to follow Jesus, or not! There will be times when we just don't feel like it, or when something big happens, we may have to have a little time to just sit before the Lord. Just this very week, we had something major to happen. Now hubby immediately has a handle so to speak on things, his faith just kicks in! But, it takes me a little while, my first question to the Lord is, "what is going on here, I don't understand this at all." God is so amazing that the scriptures start coming and reassuring me He is in control of the situation. So after awhile of wrestling with the thing, I begin to settle down. Oh my, I just would like to get past that! I do believe if we stay in fellowship with our Heavenly Father and grow in the knowledge of His Word, I will trust Him more and more and my reactions will get better. If you have had some of this fiery trials this week, just look to the author and finisher of your faith. He will not let you down!

Deliverance!

Daniel 3:22-25 (New International Version)

22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

I am not sure in our imagination we can conjure up this scenario, but lets try. First of all the king is absolutely furious that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not worship the image he had set up. Without wavering in their faith one iota, they are steadfast in their convictions. Now I am sure they are not off somewhere that they did not see the flames, smell the smoke or see the furnace. They knew what was coming to them, but they also knew God! What a difference that makes! being delivered or not, hope or no hope, the endless benefits go on forever. So this was their fate, being thrown in the furnace. But (I love that word) the king was about to be surprised or shocked might be a better word. He saw FOUR men walking around, not bound and certainly not burning! And that fourth man, well he just didn't know for sure, but He looked divine. Now this is a marvelous account of Gods protection and purpose for our lives, so lets remember in the fiery trials that will surely come to us, those other Three in the fire with us, is God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit! That makes FOUR. God Bless you today as you remember you are never alone, never!

Promises and Warnings!

2Peter:3-11 (New Living Translation)

Growing in Faith

3. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
5. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6. and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7. and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

8. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

10. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Please read very carefully and recognize the promises that are for us if we diligently supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. There is also a warning that if we don't, we are blind even to the point of forgetting we were saved. Have you ever heard someone say, "well, I don't know if I am saved or not?" Could this be the reason why? It is Gods plan for us to grow and mature as Christians. I don't know about you, but this is a revelation to me! I hear the warnings loud and clear. Could this also be the reason some have not moved into the fullness of God? The other promise I want you to notice is the last part of verse 10, "Do these things, and you will never fall away" (or stumble as some versions read). Now, that should do something for our faith! I pray your faith will be strengthened as you meditate on the Word of God! Please understand the importance as Peter explains to us exactly what is happening and why.

Through the Fire!

Daniel 3:16-18 (New International Version)

16. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Well, I guess they had their mind made up! No matter what would happen, these three friends believed God would deliver them. I don't think they had time to get together and discuss how each one felt, they already knew what they would do, or I should say, what they would "not" do. They would not renounce their God! A blazing furnace was not something they took lightly, they knew good and well what would happen. They were well aware of king Nebuchadnezzar's tactics. He had a habit of showing rage and killing people that did not do what they was told. Yet, in spite of everything, they didn't move an inch from their convictions. As we began this week, we probably won't face a "real" burning, fiery furnace, but I can promise you for sure, you and I will face fiery trials. Lets put our hope and trust in the Lord, and stand firm in our faith. God will deliver us one way or the other!

Plans for Me and You!

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

11. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

This has to be one of my favorite verses in the Bible! Words are really not adequate to describe what this scripture means to me. I have gone to it so many times, you know, those times when it seems like all hope is gone! Times when it seems like nothing is making sense. Every time I am reminded of how much God loves me, that He does have a plan for my life. When I get this into my very most inner being and really believe that this was meant for me, then I am refreshed, I have hope again and the fear is gone. He said just to seek Him with all of our heart and we would find Him. Be encouraged this Lords Day! Remember what He did for you, and show Him how thankful you are!