Hosea....think on these things...

Hosea...

Just starting a new Bible study on Hosea next week...

Looked up his name meaning, "salvation" or "Jehovah is help" from "All the Men of the Bible"

Hosea was also called the "first prophet of Grace"..which God so pours on us by His love and salvation...in times when we may less than deserving...Hosea shows abundant grace toward his wayward wife, Gomer...such a picture of our Salvation and grace given...

What does Salvation mean?

-access to God

-adoption into the family of God

-forgiveness of sin 

-heavenly citizenship

-inheritance from God 

- peace with God

-righteousness in the sight of God

-becoming a new creation

-deliverance from God's righteous condemnation 

-inner personal renewal

-deliverance from the power of sin and evil

-new birth

-the presence of the Holy Spirit

From "Dictionary of Bible Themes"

I thought that was interesting as we just had a lesson on salvation in Ephesians ...

Ephesians 6:17a Take the helmet of salvation...

A guarding of our minds from the enemy...which Hosea has to do to be obedient to all that God asks of him...

Psalm 37:39-40 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. 

Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. 

Hosea, God, salvation, grace, plans...all wrap into the day and my thoughts...they all have a place and fit together...in some order...as He sees fit ...the Jeremiah verses fit Hosea's life just as much as they fit into mine...a hope and future...in times of turmoil...causing us all to seek God with all of hearts...

Thank YOU for the jumble of pieces, words, meanings, verses, to meditate on through out the day...causing me to "think on these things"...and most of all, YOU...your great love...

Verse of the Day---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.Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

Be on guard...

Be On guard...

"Jesus Calls", starts with this admonition this am....how fitting....

But, be in guard against self pity.....which is kind of where  I am...trying a new drug for infection...not a good fit...so will return to doc this am for an old reliable one....oh well ....after night of tossing and turning, itching, skin crawls, frozen ( which is definitely not me)....reaction almost worse than original problem...

But, "BE ON GUARD"...God is speaking...... I have the choice to listen or not, to do or not...

Thank YOU...for speaking to my heart, mind, soul...

Psalm 89:15-18 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long;they celebrate your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Our beautiful world...

Our beautiful world....

http://www.coolestone.com/media/14128/Our-beautiful-world!/#.VssMRIg76K1

This morning's short video is titled "our beautiful world"...

I was thinking this last night . It was a cold, crisp, crystal clear day with scattered clouds after a rain and icy sleet...with more to come ....tulips peaking through the ground, lilacs budding, new snow on the mountains,  birds of many varieties taking turns at the bird feeder and ground seeds, tiny white crocus in reluctant bloom ....miniature daffodils exiting their winter shelters ready to welcome the spring-like weather at any moment..everything ready to "spring" to life after a cold winter...which may continue for days and weeks yet...

On top of that, I met a new family who moved here from Los Angeles this past fall.  This was their first winter and she was cuddled up in her down coat, shivering...."this wasn't what i expected", she said..."I am still getting acclimated"...not sure she quite saw the readiness of God's creation for spring or the beauty of the snow packed mountains rising toward the blue sky ....God will have to show her...

Thank YOU for seasons...the newness of spring, the warmth and growth of summer, the richness of fall and the rest and replenishment of the winter...to You be the Glory...

Psalm 104:1-3, 5-6, 10, 13-19, 24-25, 31, 34 Praise the Lord, my soul.Lord my God, you are very great;you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

He makes the clouds his chariotand rides on the wings of the wind. He set the earth on its foundations;it can never be moved. 

You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;the waters stood above the mountains. 

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;it flows between the mountains. 

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts,oil to make their faces shine,and bread that sustains their hearts. 

The trees of the Lord are well watered,the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests;the stork has its home in the junipers. 

The high mountains belong to the wild goats;the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

 He made the moon to mark the seasons,and the sun knows when to go down. 

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all;the earth is full of your creatures. 

There is the sea, vast and spacious,teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small. 

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;may the Lord rejoice in his works— May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. 

Jeremiah 5:24b Let us fear the Lord our God,who gives autumn and spring rains in season,who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ 

Comforting words....

Comforting words....

I have read theses words many times..they are a comfort for me personally..but today I was reading them for someone else... I was seeing how they were meant to comfort others...duh...of course, it just hit me another way that God was speaking...

When my mother was dying, my husband dying and then my father,  they were wonderfully made, hemmed in by God himself. He knew their thoughts, He made them, He laid His hand  on them,

Their frail frames were not hidden from Him, their days were ordained before time as well..they were precious in His sight...He knew each of them intimately...from the inside out...just as He knows me...even though it was so hard to see them fade away...God was there with them, and me...holding on as well as taking them home...where there is no more pain, tears, sorrow...

 

thank YOU that you care so much for us...

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-17 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed body;all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 

Pure....

Pure....

As I was thinking of each of my grandchildren early this morning, the words, "purity and pure" kept dancing around in my mind...they are all making decisions and will continue to do so that effect their whole lives ahead of them... What they read, think, watch and even wear gives a message of what is in their hearts and minds...they are each so untarnished and bright with their lives so far...they reflect the light of Jesus wherever they go...

Oh, they  or I are not without our faults as anyone in the world is, as their parents, friends, grandparents will easily admit and admit to. We each are born with a sin nature no matter how cute we are at birth and I, most...But, that new creation in Christ, we can each have when we ask, purifies us, transforms us, giving a brightness that shines....I see it those around me, in my grandchildren's heart and eyes...that purity from Christ alone...

I pray that they will continue to follow Christ, finding their purity, their brightness in Him...that their thoughts be pure, their "inner sanctuary" be lined with the pure gold of God's word, reflecting Him brightly into a dark world..that they desire a pure heart...and seek wisdom from a Holy and living/loving God...

Thank YOU so much for the privilege for praying for these dear children, watching them grow and mature....keep them close to You in their minds, heart and souls...

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

1 Kings 6:20-22 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. So he overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also overlaid with gold the altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary. 

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 

An inheritance ....

The inheritance....

I was asked recently what I would do if I inherited a significant amount of money..how that would change my life....what a question!!!!

In my parent's generation, generation skipping estate planning was the accepted way to hand down an inheritance, whether small or great... So that is how they wrote their trust with me as their executor. It felt kind of deflating in one way, not even inheriting anything from my parents, but in another way, they wanted to help their grandchildren and great grandchildren with their educations...in a material sense...

But, I inherited a great deal from them, an example of a solid marriage, a

Christian upbringing, love, a sense of a comforting family....the list goes on, both good and some not so good things that have no material value, but are extremely important to life in general...an eternal inheritance...

Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. 

We see people winning the mega bucks or other jackpots with money beyond our comprehensions...it changes their lifestyles or not, depending on how they view money...some are totally broke in a few years with lives ruined by the excess and others are still solid who have made plans to spend wisely...we have great choices in our culture...that can go for $5 or $50 million...a temporal inheritance...

..but as Christians we have an inheritance that is ours...God Himself....an inheritance that has  the greatest of value, of which we, in our finite minds, only comprehend in part...we are blessed beyond any measure by His giving ...

Thank YOU for Your great inheritance ....sealed with the Holy Spirit, guaranteed, kept for us....eternal...help me the use it wisely....passing it on to future generations....that Hope only You give ...

Numbers 18:20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. 

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. 

Acts 20:32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 

Ephesians 1:13-14, 18-19 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength ....

1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you...

"From a valley of death to a valley of life"....

From a valley of death to a valley of life....

This caught my attention this am...be sure and watch the video...

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/02/15/death-valley-may-be-about-to-enjoy-rare-wildflower-super-bloom.html?intcmp=hplnws

We have been through Death Valley several times,  visiting Scotty's Castle, staying at Furnace Creek ( when it was soooo hot), seeing cacti bloom across the horizon, walking through the borate exhibit, driving the lonely two lane road across the desert in the heat...all beautiful in its own way...but deadly for the unprepared...

I enjoyed the way the ranger described that there are millions of seeds waiting to flourish, waiting for the right combination of water, weather to make the flowers spring to life instead of the dryness and heat..to be a "super" bloom of  flowers showing their glory and radiance for all to see...

We humans wait for our " super" bloom as well...just the right amount of watering,tending  in our lives for a harvest of righteousness...there are those who sow, water and some reap in the lives of others...drawing  lives to come to the kingdom...God is the ultimate Savior, but he may use people to water, tend the Word in others' lives...making a "super" bloom of dry seeds in the dry and thirsty lands of our lives ....He may use a film, a tract, a Bible, a radio broadcast to water the souls of many, bringing them to a saving knowledge of Christ..in  desert land...to "bloom" for Christ...

Thank YOU that nature points back to You...gives You the Glory...in it intricacies, and beauty...

James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 

Job 37:13 He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love. 

Psalm 65:9-13 You care for the land and water it;you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain,for so you have ordained it. 

You drench its furrows and level its ridges;you soften it with showers and bless its crops. 

You crown the year with your bounty,and your carts overflow with abundance. 

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain;they shout for joy and sing. 

Psalm 107:35 He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; 

Galatians 6:8b.... whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.