Hi Friends, I know I posted this Psalm before, but I just love it and wanted to share it again.

Enjoy your fellowship with Him every day!

~ Christa ~

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the Heavens

Praise Him in the Heights!

Praise Him, all His angels

Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon

Praise Him, all stars of light!

Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.

He has also established them forever and ever;

He has made a decree which will not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps;

fire and hail, snow and clouds;

stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills;

fruit trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle;

Creeping things and winged fowl;

Kings of the earth and all peoples;

Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and virgins;

Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above earth and heaven;

And He has lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His godly ones;

Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 148

Finding Comfort In Him This Morning

Praise The Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is His work,
and His righteousness endures forever.
He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear Him;
He remembers His covenant forever.
He has shown His people the power of His works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of His hands are faithful and just;
all His precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is His name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His Praise endures forever!

Psalm 111

All, Praise His Name!

Sisters in Christ, please read this Psalm slowly.

Pay attention to who and what are praising Him.

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the Heavens

Praise Him in the Heights!

Praise Him, all His angels

Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon

Praise Him, all stars of light!

Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.

He has also established them forever and ever;

He has made a decree which will not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps;

fire and hail, snow and clouds;

stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills;

fruit trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle;

Creeping things and winged fowl;

Kings of the earth and all peoples;

Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and virgins;

Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above earth and heaven;

And He has lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His godly ones;

Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 148

Who is Sovereign, God or man?

~ Christa ~

God is Love

I John 4:8 says "God is Love". It is not simply that God "loves" but that He is love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but His very nature.

What would it be like to be loved by someone whose love for you is not influence by anything you ever did, are now doing, or will do; whose love could never weaken or fluctuate?

If you are a Christian, God's love for you is not influenced by anything you ever did or will do. Deuteronomy 7:7-8says "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

God chose to love you. 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which has granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.

God's Love is unconditional. Romans 8:35-39 says Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "For thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, or things present, nor things to come, nor powers, or height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God's love is eternal and will never change. He loves you as much today as when He gave His Son for you. God's love will never weaken or fluctuate. James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down form the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

PERSONAL STUDY

1. Discover how God's love is described in the following verses
a. Psalm 106:1
b. Jeremiah 31:3
c. Romans 5:8
d. Romans 8:35-39
e. I Corinthians 13:4-7
f. Ephesians 3:19

2. Discover various physical ways God demonstrates His love to His own.
a. Psalm 145:15-16
b. Matthew 5:45
c. Acts 14:17

3. In the following verses, discover what God's love did for you and specific reasons God expressed His love in this manner.
a. John 3:16
b. I John 4:9-10
c. Revelations 1:5

4. According to Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 2:8-9 and 2 Timothy 1:9, did you in any way earn or deserve this life giving demonstration of God's love?

What does I John 4:19 state as the reason why we love God?

5. After Jesus was taken by the Roman soldiers, His disciples denied and forsook Him (Matthew 26:56 and Luke 22:56-62). What was His response to them in John 13:1?

6. Once you have become a child of God how much does God love you? (John 17:22-23)

7. Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 to demonstrate God's love. See if can discover at least three aspects of the love of God revealed through this parable.

8. Read Romans 8:31-39, 2 Timothy 2:13 and Titus 3:4-7. Would you say God's love for His children is conditional at all by their actions? What is the basis for your answer?

9. Explain some the ways God expresses love to His children, according to the following verses:
a. Psalm 68:19
b. Romans 5:5-8
c. Ephesians 1:3-6
d. Colossians 1:12-14
e. Hebrews 12:6-10

~ Christa ~

God is Sovereign

My apologies for not posting this study on "God is Sovereign" for some time. We've had a garden to tend to, out-of-town guests, a dear friend who had her 5th baby at home (I had the priviledge of being there for the birth)...
My prayer is that you will be blessed by the scriptures that I have included in this study. Even though I have read these many times, they never get old. In fact, the Lord reveals more of who He is each time I read them.
It is encouraging to know that God is perfectly in control of all things. He reigns supreme over all of our lives, our husbands, our children, our homes, our president... Yes, He is in control of all things and He can never make a mistake.

Enjoy your time with Him!

God is Sovereign

"Thine, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O LORD, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all"

"Both riches and honor come from thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy had to make great, and to strengthen everyone.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12

God is supreme and therefore is in control of ALL things

"The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed the world is firmly established, it will not be moved."

Psalm 93:1

"I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted"

Job 42:2

The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity, I am the Lord who does all these.

Isaiah 45:7

“He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

“Its noise declares His presence; the cattle also, concerning what is coming up.

At this also my heart trembles, and leaps from its place.

“Listen closely to the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that goes out from His mouth. “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightning to the ends of the earth.

“After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, and He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.

“God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend. “For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’ “He seals the hand of every man, that all men may know His work.

“Then the beast goes into its lair and remains in its den.

“Out of the south comes the storm, and out of the north the cold.

“From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen.

“Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the cloud of His lightning.

“It changes direction, turning around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth.

“Whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

Job 36:32-33, Job 37:1-13

1. 1 Timothy 6:15 says: which He will bring about at the proper time - He who is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords;

Look up the word sovereign, and describe what might be meant by the truth, God is Sovereign.

a. Note the similarities between the definition of sovereign and the declaration of 1 Chronicles 29:11-12. What do these verses state about God?

b. If you believed and continually remembered this truth, how might it affect your life?

2. In each of the following verses, discover different areas in which God's sovereign control of all things is manifested.

a. Genesis 14:19

b. Deuteronomy 10:14

c. 2 Chronicles 20:6

d. Nehemiah 9:6

e. Psalm 47:2-3, 7-8

f. Psalm 50:10-11

g. Psalm 95:3-5

h. Psalm 115:3

i. Psalm 135:7

j. Psalm 145:13

k. Acts 17:24-26

3. Discover the beautiful truth concerning God's sovereignty illustrated in Matthew 10:29. What does this mean to you in respect to the "small details" of your life?

4. As you consider the sovereignty of God (review 2 Chronicles 20:6 and Job 42:2 and question 2), what do you think could stop God's plans from being carried out in your life, your family's life, or in the world?

5. Read Ecclessiastes 7:13-14 and Genesis 37 and explain the "bent" or "crooked" situation in Joseph's life.

a. How do you see God's sovereign protection of Joseph, demonstrated through this

passage?

b. What could be called the "straight" of Joseph's early life in Egypt (Genesis 39:1-6)?

c. Was Joseph responsible for the "crooked" situations in Genesis 39:7-20?

d. After reading Genesis 39:21-23, write what you think was Joseph's response to His

seeming misfortune.

6. God's perfect timing is demonstrated through what interesting aspect of Joseph's prison experience (Genesis 40, 41:1, 9-14)?

7. God's wise management of all things used Joseph's adverse experiences as a slave and prisoner to progressively train him for what important task (Genesis 41:25-45)?

8. What was Joseph's great testimony to his family of God's control of all things in their life (Genesis 42:1-8, 45:1-11 and Genesis 50:15-21)

9. Romans 8:28 seems to describe the life of Joseph. What personal application can you make from this account to your life?

Coming up next time:

God is Loving

Christa

The Attributes of God - Introduction, part 2

Should you decide to go through this study on the attributes of God, you may want to keep a journal on what you are learning. Pay attention to any truths you learn from God's word that reveals a wrong view of God you may have. How will this understanding change the way you think and live?
For example, do you believe God desires for a Godly man to become president but there are not enough Christians voting to elect one into office? Do you believe Satan wins the battle when an ungodly man becomes president? Consider these verses:

Daniel 2:21
"And it is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise men,
And knowledge to men of understanding

What we learn here is that God removes presidents and establishes presidents!

Daniel 4:35
"And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can ward off His hand
Or say to Him, What hast Thou done?"

No one, including Satan, the liberal media... can thwart God's will!

Read Daniel 3:8-30
What knowledge of God did these three men have that enabled them to do what they did?

In each of the following verses, write down as many truths as you can about God.

Deuteronomy 7:9
Lamentations 3:22-23
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Psalm 62:11
Psalm 90:2
Deuteronomy 33:27
Psalm 136:1
psalm 139:2-4
John 21:17
Psalm 139:7
Daniel 4:35
2 Chronicles 20:6
Malachi 3:6
Hebrews 13:8
1 John 4:16

Lastly, think of an important issue that is now confronting you in your life. Now, reflect back on what you found to be true of God and apply that truth to your circumstance or trial. If keeping a journal, be sure to record what you are learning.

What's coming next week?

GOD IS SOVEREIGN

The Attributes of God - Introduction, Part I

Our Little Country Church in Tennessee

I hope you will not overlook this part of my blog because knowing the Lord is a passion of mine and my prayer is that it will be for you as well. For many years I thought I knew God but I really did not know Him like I thought I did. After my friend Tracy lovingly and patiently showed me through scripture where my understanding of the great I AM was inaccurate, I went through a time of shock. How can the god I thought I knew not be the God of the Bible? What happens now? Am I even saved? How much more of my understanding of Him is false? These were some of the questions I wrestled with for months to follow. I knew I had been following the god of my imagination and the Lord was beginning to open my eyes to the truth of who He truly is. You see, we can say, "I think God is this way or that way" and we can make up our own rules of how we are to live or be saved and call them God's ways. But the truth of the matter is, if we are not handling accurately the word of truth, we can be dead wrong! So pray and search the scriptures.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe...

Ephesians 1:18-19

I would like to share a study I went through on the attributes of God. I hope you will take the time and go through it either as a reminder of who God is or with new eyes. I pray the Lord will reveal Himself to you through His Word.

Lord willing, I will post a new attribute each week.

Enjoy Him!

Introduction, Part 1

What is an attribute?

An attribute is something that is true of God, His revelation of His character, a characteristic or trait.

How can we find out what God is like?

Through Creation

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Psalm 19:1

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Romans 1:20

______

Through Scripture

"I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides Me.

Isaiah 43:11

"I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."

Isaiah 43:15

The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these.

Isaiah 45:7

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), "I am the Lord, and there is none else.

Isaiah 45:18

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?

Jeremiah 32:27

______

Through Jesus

"You search the scriptures, because you think in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me;

John 5:39

Jesus said to Him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Phillip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?

John 14:9

And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.

Colossians 1:15

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

_____

Why is it important to know God's attributes?

Acquaint now yourself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you"

Job 22:21

Thus says the Lord, "let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

_____

The foundation of all true knowledge of God must be a clear understanding of His attributes as revealed in scripture. An unknown god can neither be trusted, served nor worshipped. Somthing more than a theoretical knowledge of God is needed by us.

"The People that do know their God shall be strong"

Daniel 11:32

_____

As we read these verses, they tell us a little more about God.

1. His creation speaks of His glory, eternal power, divine nature and His self-existence.

2. The scriptures tell us that He's loving, compassionate, unchanging, holy, faithful, gracious, righteous, eternal, merciful, patient, sovereign...

3. Through Jesus we see these attributes in practice and lived out in His life.

_____

In Studying and discussing the attributes of God, we have to be careful not to view the inexaustible person of God as a mere list of characteristics.

When we experience a close relationship with our husbands, for example, we normally do not view their character as segmented...here is His love, over here is His patience, there is His kindness. We see our husbands as a whole, as a person, not a piece of kindness added to a bit of patience. We live in a relationship with a person, not with a list of characteristics that reflect that person. At times, however, we are asked, "What is your husband like?" then we may explain our husbands character in fragments: "He is patient, kind, calm, stable." Our husbands are so much more than lists of characteristics, yet the characteristics give clues to what they are like. Likewise, God cannot be divided into parts. God is one, complete and perfect. It is to an intimately alive and an all encompassing relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that we are called.

So our view of God is very important. If we have a shallow, man centered view of God then our faith will be shallow and man centered. But when we rightly divide the word of God we then get a true picture of who God is, which will cause us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the out come will be:

2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord

_____

I encourage you then, my sisters in the Lord, indulge yourselves in the word of God. Make it your passion to know Him and love Him with all your heart, mind and soul.

Be steadfast in the Word!

_____

Besides the Bible, which is our main source of spiritual food, these sources below helped me to further my studies.

Spirit of Elijah Ministries

http://www.spiritofelijah.com/

by Norm Wakefield

Unshakable Faith - A study of Foundational Truths in God's Word

Raised Up with Christ - Seeking the Things Above

Rising to the Call

On Fire for the Gospel - Living Passionately for Christ

Anchored in Christ - The Solid Rock in the Storms of Life (book)

Equipped to Love - Building Idolatry-Free Relationships (book) Highly recommended!!!

http://www.desiringgod.org/

by John Piper

The Blazing Center - The Soul-Satisfying Supremacy of God in all Things

http://www.visionforum.com/

Theological Bootcamp I

Theological Bootcamp II