Three If's

It looks like in our scripture today (Luke 4:1-15) that the devil noticed Jesus was embarking on His ministry, so he comes in loaded with some opportune temptations to derail the Son of God. If you check it out, all three temptations have the little word "if" in them. It seems like that one of satan's chief aims is to create and feed doubt in our minds. What defeat we head for as we begin to doubt God in areas of our lives. However even the Son of God does not try to argue with or rationalize what is right with the enemy. He comes back with the same reply all three times, "It is written....". How powerful is God's word!  The devil ends up leaving.

Jesus had gone into the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit, he came out in the "power of the Spirit". Victory over temptation gives us Holy Spirit power. And it comes about through God's truth. Truth causes those doubts to flee. Even if it is for just five minutes (about the time it takes to read this passage), 

• let's read,
•  think on,
•  pray about,
•  memorize, 
• fill ourselves with God's truth. (however you can, )

As we use it, we will have many victories to celebrate with God.

Revelation Expectation

I was intrigued in today's gospel reading (Luke 2:22-40) that the only people recorded to have seen Jesus as He was first taken to Jerusalem were Simeon and Anna. If you think about it, these were two very old people (Anna at least 84 and Simeon about to die) whom a lot of  people would pass over because they have "retired" so are surely not so useful any more. I mean why wouldn't God give His greatest revelations to younger people who can spend a lifetime telling others. 

But it says of Simeon, "this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him". Anna also spoke of Jesus "to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem". That seemed to be the key. They were still expectant. They were still looking for that Messiah. So God orchestrated their meeting -  "at that very moment she came up" (Anna) and "he came by the Spirit into the temple" (Simeon). 

The Father showed off His gift of Jesus to the very eyes of this man and this woman who were still expectant. We never get to old or seemingly useless. What revelation does God have for us today?

Lord help us to be expectant and look for Your gifts to us today.

Yes, Lord

In today's reading (Luke 1:18-38) the word to Mary looked impossible, too good to be true, and bound to look crazy. But she was totally committed (a bondslave to serve her Creator even before Jesus' death had proved His love). So she said, "Do it", "Yes". How awesome God waits for our answer before He executes His wonderful plans.

Let's make this a day of "Yes, Lord".

Our Glory Story

I hope you are able to read today the Mark 15:21-41 reading that we have on the schedule. It is awesome. This is what I heard:

At 9:00 in the morning they crucified Jesus, the king of the Jews. All He possessed they took and divided among them. He was hung crying out between heaven and earth and was attended by two thieves. A stranger had been forced to help Him get everything to this Place of the Skull. Even in His agony there was no pity but continual mocking, abuse, scorn, insults. Some even came from the religious leaders entrusted with the truth about Him.  At noon, the land fell dark for three hours. Then Jesus cried out, "Why God, have You forsaken Me", and He died.

This is our glory story! Let us be in praise and awe today. He did it for me (and for you). 

New Book!

Hi Ladies,

New scripture from a new book.


"Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."

Isaiah 58:8

God loves you,
Ouida

Something New

Hi Ladies,

I guess sort of a birthday present is new scriptures to memorize. Isaiah 58:6 says -

"Is this not the fast which I choose,
to loosen the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the bands of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free and
to break every yoke"

God bless you,
Ouida

August already!

Hi Ladies,
Here we are at the end of James!

"My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life from death and cover a multitude of sins."
 James 5:19-20

Could James have been thinking of his own early rejection of Jesus as the Christ?

God bless you this delightfully warm month of the year.
Ouida