Majesty

What do you think of when you hear the word "MAJESTY"? I always thought of the spectacular views of creations such as grand mountains, trees glassed with ice, the vast ocean, wide open fields of the great plains, desert sunsets, grand water falls, lightening storms, etc. Everyone has an image of what they consider majestic whether it be the Grande Canyon or the Grand Cayman.

Majesty is defined as the dignigty or power of a sovereign, grandeur, illustriousness, greatness. Sovereign means superior to others, chief, supreme authority, power or rank. Grandeur means splendor, magnificence, impressiveness, eminence, glory, and brillancy. Perhaps these images of majesty within creation provide us with a glimpse of our Lord.

However, in my recent word study through scripture, I found majesty to depict a completely different idea. Exodus 15:6-11, the author describes the right arm of God wiping out the enemy within Egypt with His majesty.

Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power.

Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you.

You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.

By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up.

The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy boasted, I will pursue, I will overtake them.

I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them.

I will draw my sword an my hand will destroy them.

But you blew with your breath and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

'Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?

Who is like you-

majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory,

working wonders?'

Other scriptures reference the majesty of God being something to fear and to flee. Isaiah 2:10 states, "Go into the rocks, hide in the ground fromt he dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty!" Verse 19 states, "Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to the holes in the ground from the dread of the Lord adn the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth." And verse 21 states, "They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth." This is the first I ever confronted majesty to be frightening. Yet, should I be? Have I a need to be frightened of the Lord's majesty? Should I dread the day when God shakes the earth?

Again, Psalm 110:3 says, "Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth." Troops? Battle? Does the author here really think of God's majesty being a vast army standing in power, authority ready for battle and dressed for victory? I hope so! I need this majestic God who overcomes my enemies, who shakes the earth, who goes into battle for me.

Sunday morning I accepted the invitation during worship service to receive prayer. I've been in battle with satan and have become exhausted, incapable of fighting, impotent in power. I need the majestic army of God to stand in battle for me. I need the majestic right arm of God to shatter the enemy. I need the Lord to be "glorious and majestic in deed and for His righteousness to endure forever," Psalm 111:3 Only God has the strength, the authority, the greatness, eminence, illustriousness, sovereign power, magnificent ability to shatter the enemy, my enemy.

I want the majestic Lord to go into battle for me. I want the majestic Lord to stand in my place and fight. For He doesn't become exhausted, he continues forever! I will rely upon the majesty of God. I will think upon the majesty of God. His majesty is more than I can fathom. His majesty is worth all my praise.

"The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength." Psalm 93:1

"Out of the north he comes in splendor; God comes in awesome majesty." Job 37:22

"To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 25

Why not chose Him to go into battle for you? You can't lose with God as your commander, your general, your chief! The victory already belongs to the Majestic Lord. GOD WINS!

Love

I've struggled with love over the years. It is a simple subject yet so difficult to put into action. Years ago, I prayed that God would put love into my heart for others. It helped! God gave me a deeper appreciation and respect for others, His church and this world. Eventhough, God gave me a portion of love for others, I still have far more growing to do. This year's challenge has awakened my eyes to the lack of love in my life. I understand the significance of love, the command to love, yet I struggle to humble myself, to put my own desires aside for the good of others. I am selfish and unloving.

There are a few verses that stand out in my mind when I think about love. The first verse comes from 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. It states, "If I can speak in the tongues of men and of angles, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all my possession to the poor, or surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." What good am I to God, to you, or myself if I have not love? I don't want to be nothing or useless. I am useless and worthless without love.

I feel that there is no way for me to love without the love of God. It isn't natural or easy for me or any person (in my opinion) to love. I believe love is of God and from God. Therefore without God, love is foreign to us, to me. Without God, I can not know anything about love, how to love or to be loved. "We love because he first loved us," 1 John 4:19.

So eventhough nothing about me is loveable or capable of love, God loves me. He loves me first and teaches me about love. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8." "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us," 1 John 3:16a.

This type of love is unfathomable. I can't comprehend the depth of God's love. Jesus expressed to his disciples before giving up his own life upon the cross that gving one's life for another is the greatest love. He teaches us to lay down our lives, to humble ourselves, our own agendas, needs, desires for others. "My command is this, Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends," John 15:12-13.

I am supposed to love you, all others, as Jesus has loved me! How? I don't know how! Or do I? It begins with God. I must stay with God. I must reside with God. Love derives from God. I can only find love, the love that I can and must share with others, in God. Only if I dwell with God, will I be able to love others.

Why? 1 Peter 4:8, "Above all, love each other deeply because love covers a mulititude of sins." Huh? "Love is patient, love is kind. It doens't envy, it doesn't boast, it is not proud. it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it isn't easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love doesn't delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres," 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love, the love of God, keeps us from sin. God's love prevents sin. If I am loving at its fullness, like God, I will not sin. How great is this love!

Even better, "How great is the love of the Father has lavished on us that we should be called chilren of God," 1 John 3:1.

"How deep the Fathers love for us,

how vast beyond all measure,

that he should give his only son,

to make a wretch his treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss,

the Father turns his face away,

as wounds which mar the chosen one,

bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,

my sin upon his shoulders,

ashamed I hear my mocking voice,

call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held him there,

until it was accomplished,

His dying breath has brought me life,

I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,

no gifts no power no wisdom,

but I will boast in Jesus Christ,

His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from his reward?

I can not give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart,

His wounds have paid my ransom."
Lyrics by Stuart Towend, 1995.

Update

I am now beginning week 11. The year has not been simple. I have fallen two weeks behind in postings. I struggle to dwell daily in the word of God. I am failing to meditate daily of the weekly words to fuel my mind. Please pray for me as I continue the challenge. Pray for transformation by the end of the year.

I am doing well to avoid the foods on my restriction list. I have had many weak moments but pushed through successfully. Only once have I failed. I ate cake for Michael's brithday. In my defense, I made him two very large and very delicious cakes. My slice was conservative! : ) I;m avoiding certain foods for two more weeks. Then I will allow a week long break before beginning the next series.

I've tried fasting. It is difficult. I haven't completed the number of fasts I set out to complete. Some fasts were food related while others restricted television. I find myself looking for distraction from the weakness in my flesh. However, I think God wants us to feel our weakness so that we can call upon Him and recognize His strength. When I distract myself from the weakened flesh during a fast, I fail to focus on God. So, I need to make adjustments when I fast.

On a good note, I went to the dentist last week for the first time in 7 years! I received a good report on my dental health and made an appoint for six months from now. I am developing a new healthy habit (flossing). I recommend flossing!

Thank you to all my readers. You give me encouragement to be steadfast.

Pure

Is there anything pure left in this world? Perhaps this sounds cynical? Hear me out! For something to be pure it must be free from any adulterant, anything that taints, impairs, or infects. Something pure it must be clear, simple, faultless, perfect, and blameless. Being pure means to be genuine, unmingled, unmixed, undiluted, fair, true, immaculate, stainless, and spotless.

By definition, I can assure you, nothing in my life or about my life is pure. Nothing about me is unadulterated or untainted. Just by turning on my television I become subjected to the adulterated/tainted ways of this world. If you don't believe this, turn on your television! Better yet, don't!!! Even if you turned on your television to watch the news, you will find murder and molestation, teft, greed, addiction, and slander. What is so pure about any of these things?

Again, my life isn't pure. It is far from simple, clear, faultless or perfection. Will I ever be considered blameless? As much as I might pretend or wish, I am not blameless. Even my good intentions can damage someone. Perhaps you think this is pessimistic as well. Consider, have you ever offended someone or hurt someone by accident or when trying to do good or to be helpful? It happens. This world is not pure and the effects of sin ripples.

This world is mingled, mixed, diluted, unfair, untrue, stained, and spotted. Why do you think our Lord called Israel to be separated from other nations? He called them to purity: to worship Him alone and to have the pure life that comes only by being fully saturated in God and unmingled with the rest of the world.

Why would God call His people to do the impossible? All people live in this world. Who can be separated from it? Maybe that is the point! We can't be pure! Nothing about our lives or this world is blameless nor can be pure. Only God is pure and makes things blameless.

"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-if indeed you continue in faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel." Colossians 1:21-23

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him." Ephesians 1:4

"Do all things without grumbling and disputing; so that yo uwill prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life." Philippians 2:14-16

Notice: before Jesus we (everyone of us) were estranged and opossed to God in mind and behavior. Our desire to do our own thing rather than God's will, separated us from Him and made us unfriendly toward God. Yet what did God do? Did God say to his beloved creation, "Okay, suffer. I didn't want you anyway! Burn."

On the contrary, he continued to love all of us, his very enemies. "He demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 He could not wait until we stopped sinning to bring us back to him as friends and family. It couldn't happen. It is not possible for us to make ourselves pure, blamesless, holy, unspotted, untainted, unadulterated.

If you find yourself to be in midst of this adulterated world, living a life hostile toward God; know that He has done all you need to become blameless and pure before him. You don't have to live as an enemy of God any longer. You don't have to be tainted. You don't have to burn with the ways of this world nor eternally in the next. God doesn't want to throw you into the fire. He wants to keep you.

Christ died for you. Christ died for me. Only Christ can present you and I blameless before God. Only Christ empowers us to to live by faith and steadfast until His return. Only Christ shows us how to be blameless and pure, for he is blameless and pure. For this reason, we must talk to Him daily, study his life so that we can immitate it. We must read the word of God. It is a living word that will teach us to be pure. "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peacable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." James 3:17

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and don not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Retore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit." Psalm 51:10-13

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

True

How do you know what is true? For all you Lost fans, do you find yourself confused between what and who to believe? I do. I wonder what is true; who or what can be trusted. What will happen to the people on the island? Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? What is good? Where do I put my trust? Perhaps we can ask similar questions about life? What is true? What is real? Who can we trust with our lives? Where do we find answers we can rely upon? How do we know what is true? How do we distinguish the truth from lies? Why is it so easy to get confused?

I looked up true in Webster's dictionary and thesaurus and found the following words: faithful, loyal, constant, certain, in accordance with fact, that agrees with reality, not false, precise, exact, right, correct, valid, sure, dependable, sincere, authentic, pure, genuine. I don't know about you, but I believe most people are looking for what is true. No one wants to be bamboozled, tricked, lied to, deceived.

Lately, I've spent some time identifying lies that I have been guilty of believing. These are the lies that Satan whispers in your head when hungry (physically or spiritually) angry, lonely, or tired. These are the lies Satan has convinced the world as truth and therefore leads me to believe them and get confused. These are the lies that separate me from the ones that I love. It causes resentment, bitterness in heart, pride, greed, vanity. It leads me to "store up treasure" on earth, in the things that will fade away and be destroyed. It leads me to focus on the temporary rather than the eternal. It leads me to believe that I am either entitled to whatever my heart desires or the opposite, unlovable and unworthy of anything. These lies believe in instant gratification. Identifying the lies of Satan helps me to distinguish what is true and where to put my hope.

I want to be certain about where to put my hope. I want the foundation of my life decisions to be dependable. I want to know that in the end, I will be safe and happy. I want to be sure of my future and to trust that he who holds the future is faithful and loyal. The following is my incomplete list of what is true.

1. God made the heavens, the earth, and all that is in it.
2. God created me to be in a relationship with Him.
3. I fail no matter how hard I try to to good.
4. My failure, sin and selfishness keep me apart from God.
5. God sent His Son, the Christ, to die so that I would not have to die.
6. Jesus died because my sin brings about death eternal.
7. Jesus gave up His life out of love and took up His life out of authority.
8. Jesus restores the relationship God wants with me.
9. He provides His Spirit to teach and to guide me.
10. The resurrection will take place.

I put my trust in God. Why? I believe he is the only hope for me. I trust His word and His promises. I think He is faithful, loyal, dependable, sincere. I believe He can and will give me life eternal. I believe God is the only one who can do these things.

God is the only answer when life gets confusing. The world is full of lies, lies that sound convincing yet leave me empty and alone. Only God offers the full truth and nothing but the truth.

What is true? The ultimate search in life....."seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find." Matthew 6:33 & 7:7 May the following scriptures inspire you on your quest for what is true.

"For the Lord is right and true, he is faithful in all he does." Psalm 33:4

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:5

"All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." Psalm 119:160

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true-even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20

One last thought...ask the Lord to show you what is true. Ask that he open your eyes, your ears, your mind, and your heart. God will prove himself to you! Just ask.

Respect

Respect. What is it anyway? It is to feel or show honor for someone or something. It is to hold that someone or thing in high regard. It is to esteem. What or who do you esteem? Some respect money, political figures, sports (and heroes in sports), Holywood figures, education, beauty and the list goes on. What should we all esteem, but we fail to do so justly?

Isaiah 53:3 says, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Christ our Lord, who gave up heaven to be nothing among the selfish and greedy beings, who gave his life for the most unworthy sinful man, deserves our respect. He teaches us to respect others. The word of God tells us to show proper respect to everyone (1 Peter 2:17). We are to respect the aged and our parents (Leviticus 19:3 & 32). We are to respect our spouses and employers (Ephesians 5:33 & 6:5). We are to respect those who serve and lead us in God's church (1 Thessalonians 5:12) We are to respect governing authorities (1 Peter 2:13).

How do you show respect? The idea of respect sounds great, but sometimes it is a bit confusing. When we say that we respect someone, yet do not show love, submission, kindness, or honor; then how is this respect? Respect isn't something we just offer with our lips. "Mom, I respect you, now get out of my life and let me live it my way." "O, darling, I respect you, but I want you to be different." "I respect the president, but he isn't my president. I didn't vote for him. He shouldn't be in office." "I respect my elders but they could have done a better job. If they had done it this way, everything would be better." No. It goes beyond our lips and must be in our actions.

I googled how to show respect and found a webpage titled 100 ways you can love your husband. Wow. Here are 100 ways I can offer my respect to Michael with my actions. After I quick glance at just a few, I felt ashamed at my lack of respect for him. Maybe I should spend the next 100 days offering him 100 ways of respect. I have noted a few and I am trying to add them to my life.

Again, I googled respect for our country. I even considered the respect we as Americans are supposed to offer to the flag. If you look while driving down any road, you will find flags that are torn, weathered, or just neglected. The American flag is disrespected regularly and mostly from negligence and possibly ignorance. Maybe we have failed to learn about respect and how to show respect.

Can you teach respect to your children just by telling them to show respect? I think not. It must be taught by example. Respect is not a concrete thing. It is an idea that helps to establish unity and comes from a heart of love.

My mom just told me about her vacation to St. Thomas. She told me how she met a woman who knew my mom was a christian just by the respect she showed by standing in honor to the national anthem. My mother loves God and loves America, she esteems God by offerring respect to those God has called her to esteem, even her country. God empowers us to respect even the least respectable.

I'm not suggesting that I know about respect. I am just beginning my journey in understanding my call to respect God, the church and its elders, my parents, my husband, my country, the authorities that govern me, and the aged. I have a lot to learn about respect. I want to become a person who offers respect and is worthy of respect as well. May you join me in this effort to give proper respect to everyone as our Mighty God has called us to do.

One last thought from the Word of God and a good reason to offer respect...........
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 says, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your won business adn to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that yo will not be dependent on anybody."

Gentle

Over the past month, I realized one thing I neglected: prayer. Eventhough I have been talking to God, I have forgotten to ask Him to bless me with a spirit of self-control, praise, confession, and meditation. So this week, I've been asking God to give me gentleness. Everyday I see my daughter and immediately realize the neccessity to be gentle. She is so innocent and beautiful. I don't want to harm her.

However, she isn't the only reason I want to be gentle. I want to be gentle with my husband who is more often gentle with me than I am with him. I want to be gentle with my sisters who are kind and beautiful women. I want to be gentle with my mother, who has loved me and been gentle with me for almost 30 years. I want to be gentle with my father who has provided not only my needs and wants until I married Michael, he taught me about the One who is gentle and humble in heart.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your weary souls. For my yoke easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Just to be clear: my life is not what I consider burdened or weary. But this week has been one tough week. God has heard my call for gentleness. Most of the week I felt His gentle spirit guide me. Today has been a different story. I have felt burdened and weary.

Michael has been working a different shift for two weeks (with a small break over last weekend). The change in schedule has really taken its toll on all of us. We are all weary and burdened. Add a cold weather and a dreary winter, potty training a two year old, history of depression and the desire to grow closer to God (satan attacks when we want God). You got it, its been one tough week...and today, a disaster.

I have cried and exclaimed words that I am ashamed to admit. I have slept when Michael should have been sleeping instead. I lay around with pity and loneliness. If only I would kneel before the Lord, my God and Creator. He can shield me and lift my head so that I will see His glory and know that I am not alone. (Psalm 3:3)

How many of you have found yourself just a little less gentle than you want to be? Why is it so difficult to be gentle? A gentle spirit is beautiful and desirable. I want to be gentle. 1 Peter 3:4 says that a gentle and quiet spirit is beautiful and never fading.

I fall at my Lord's feet begging to give me rest. Lord, teach me to be gentle and humble like you. May others who find themselves in a similar situation, look to you for rest. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Forgive me for being less than gentle. May we all see your glory and be gentle like you.