November 17, 2024

This Week…I AM the Door (John 10:1-10)

March 14, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,
that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.
All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them.
I AM the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).
He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have and enjoy life,
and have it in abundance (to the full, till itoverflows).

John 10:7-10 AMP

Another incredible promise that Jesus gave…how grateful and thankful are we?!!?   This past week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, our sisters have shared some insight on these words spoken by our Lord.  Here are a few highlights from the devotionals that Tina, Laura, Cynda, Ann, and Ahmee wrote to encourage us.

In The Door Is Our Protection, Cynda shared a bit of the enlightenment she received…

“…as I was studying commentaries on this passage, I came across a statement that made me pause.  Had I perhaps missed an additional meaning in this Scripture?  Had I stopped short without completely understanding the depth of this Scripture?

“In a ‘field’ sheepfold, the shepherd actually laid his body across the entrance, to keep the sheep in and to keep out the wolves.” – David Guzik

I totally get the symbolism that Christ laid down His life for our salvation.  But I missed the part about Him being our protection. Christ is there to protect us from the evil one.”

❦

In The Gate for the Sheep, Ahmee helped us to see the value of each of our differing journeys to salvation.  

“Our stories are so different.  True, but there is something in common with all our stories—we all said ‘yes!’ to Jesus.  There is no other way.  So, before the yes, our stories are very different. After the yes, our stories are very different. It is even possible that during the yes, our stories are very different.

The point is, Jesus said that He is the Gate for the sheep.  Well, sisters (and brothers) we all walked through that same Gate!  Saying this makes me want to high-five each and every one of you.  We are ‘in’ because of our Savior.  Yay for us! What an awesome feeling it is to have walked through the Gate.  Why not bring someone along?”

❦

In The Door To a New Life, Tina also wrote about salvation….

“As verse 9 states, Jesus wants to give us salvation. All we have to do is ask.  Then believe we are forgiven of all of our sins.  Change our lives and begin living for God.  This changes everything.  Believing and developing a trust in God will empower you in every area of your life. You will believe you can speak before a crowd to share your testimony with others.  You will be able to tell your story with such conviction and self confidence.  You will be proud. ”

❦

In Re-Entering The Door, Laura encouraged us to recognize that  the Door—Jesus—rescues us from distractions of this world.

“However, we can easily reenter that Door when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Christ opened the door to redemption when He died on the Cross for our sins.  He reconciled us to God, so we may have eternal life. A s the children of God, we should pay attention to Jesus and being faithful to Him.  We should not listen to a world that has turned away from God.  If we turn away from God then we will die a certain death when Judgment Day arrives.  All we have to do is see Jesus’ open Door, give up the worldly distractions, and accept Jesus as our Savior.  When we cross over the threshold of that Door, we are no longer of this world. ”

❦

In The Door Gives Access, Ann reminded us of the abundant life available to those who accept Jesus as Lord. (Check out the list of Scriptures she provided for us!)

“Jesus said, ‘I AM The Door’ …what does this imply?  He is giving us access to use Him because those who enter through Jesus will be saved—they will have abundant life (verse 10); they will have all they need to be delivered from sin, guilt, condemnation. He is the ONLY Door; none other exists.   [These}…verses help us to understand what this Door can do and how it is going to help us.  Let us therefore choose deliberately to use this Door which will take us to the highest places. ”

❦

Have you had the opportunity to read through these blogposts this week?  If not, I would encourage you to do so!  Our bloggers have made these as well as some other wonderful points to direct us towards Jesus, Who IS The Door to salvation and eternal life.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Steadfast Love Of The Lord

March 12, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning, new every morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is Thy faithfulness

Kathy Troccoli
written by Edith McNeill

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23

During my quiet time the other morning, I was reading along in a Bible study lesson from the She Reads Truth community. (Here’s a link so you can read it yourself).  The devotional writer was relating how she ‘missed’ the first part of verse 21—‘but this I call to mind.’ And I realized that I, too, just hurry by those few words as I focus on the promises given in the rest of this passage. (How about you?)

As I went about my day I kept hearing this over and over in my mind as I sang and hummed it. So simple and such a beautiful melody! I love, in this recording, the solemn, somber tone of the cello as the musician plays along with the piano. And, of course, Kathy Troccoli’s beautiful voice.  But what I love the most is that by hearing it over and over, the words—the Scripture—has sunk into my memory and now I can truly ‘…call to mind, and therefore I have hope…’. Memorizing verses from God’s Word is such an important thing to do. Here’s why I say that….

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 NASB

Those two phrases ‘but this I call to mind’ and ‘Your Word I have treasured in my heart’ are each relating to really knowing the Scriptures.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:21-26

Almighty God even described Himself as having ‘steadfast love.’  When God met with Moses, and gave him the Ten Commandments, the first thing He did was make Himself known to Moses.

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there,
and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…..
Exodus 34:5–7

Isn’t it AWEsome that what Almighty God told Moses about Himself was that He is

  • merciful
  • gracious
  • slow to anger
  • abounding in steadfast love
  • faithful
  • keeps steadfast love
  • forgiving

…and twice (‘and this I call to mind’) He mentions that His love is steadfast!!!

Throughout the entire history of mankind—from Adam & Eve and all the way along through the Scriptures—we read of the myriad of ways that our Great God has manifested His steadfast love. So, in our pursuit of calling to mind the never-ceasing, steadfast love of the Lord, we would need to remember some examples of His steadfast love. The psalmist spoke of God’s steadfast love many, many, many times. Undoubtedly, he had this truth ‘hid in his heart’ and often would ‘call this to mind.’

Psalm 107 (ESV) is a great starting point (you can go here to read it, if you like). Here the psalmist relates quite a number of times how God’s steadfast love has redeemed and saved and protected His children. And he reminds them (and us!) to ‘give thanks to the LORD’ for His steadfast love. The final verse wraps it up:

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
verse 43

Throughout the Bible, God’s people tell of their praise and thanks for His steadfast love. Here is a list of just a few passages.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalms 13:5 and 6

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They feast on the abundance of Your house,
and You give them drink from the river of Your delights.
For with You is the Fountain of life;
in Your Light do we see light.
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Psalms 36:5, 7-9

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that He has granted them according to His compassion,
according to the abundance of His steadfast love.
Isaiah 63:7

O Lord God, turn not away the face of [me] Your anointed one;
[earnestly] remember Your good deeds, mercy, and steadfast love for David Your servant…
2 Chronicles 6:42

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Psalm 32:10

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

He Knows My Name

March 11, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

He counts the stars one and all
He knows how much sand is on the shore
He sees every sparrow that falls
He made the mountain and the seas
He’s in control of everything
Of all creatures great and small

He knows my name
Every step that I take, every move that I make, every tear that I cry
And He knows my name
When I’m overwhelmed by the pain and can’t see the light of day
I know I’ll be just fine ‘cause He knows my name

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring
I can’t tell you what’s in store
I don’t know a lot of things
I don’t have all the answers to the questions of life
But I know in Whom I have believed

He knew who I was when He carried the cross
He knew that I would fail Him but He took the loss

~  Written by Annie and Kelly McRae / Sung by The McRaes  ~

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

This passage seems to have been my almost constant confession this past week or so…listen.

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation
will be able to separate us {me!} from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38 and 39

Oh, and how I endeavor to cling to these promises!  I want to say, as Paul did, that ‘I am persuaded…’ though, I must admit that I do falter in my persuasion.  And times do come when my little heart doesn’t sing out quite as bravely. But here’s what I do know….

…Nevertheless I am not ashamed:
for I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that He is able
to keep that which I have committed
unto Him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12

And I remember and am encouraged as I read through the Scriptures and see the strong evidence of God’s provision in the lives of His people; for example, His man Job. Job went through much but he knew his life was in the Almighty’s sovereign and powerful hand.  And so, he could say of God…

But He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him?
And what He wants to do, that He does.
For He performs [that which He has] planned for me,
and of many such matters He is mindful.
Job 23:13 and 14

I know that You can do all things and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2

See, myself…well, I get weary; and I am not strong at times. But my God…He is able! He is faithful! He keeps His promises! And so I trust His Word(s). Therefore when I remember He has said, “I formed you and made you,” “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” “My grace is sufficient for you…” I am encouraged!

One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 139. It is such a beautiful prayer of praise of Almighty God! Throughout this psalm, David acknowledges God’s providence, His sovereignty, His foreknowledge, His provision, His protection, His wisdom, and truly, His love.

Here are excerpts from this psalm…may I suggest you read these verses aloud, allowing Your eyes and ears and mind to take them in. Consider them, my friend; dwell on them.  And may your heart be reminded and strongly encouraged as you remember that God Almighty, your heavenly Father, truly KNOWS you.

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You. 

❥ He knows your every step, every move, every tear, all your ways.

❥ He knows you, inside and out, before and behind, sitting down and rising up.

❥ He knows your frame, your thoughts, your words, all your ways, all your days.

❥ He knows y.o.u., my friend…He knows your name!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lemon-y, Garlic-y Tilapia with Avocado Salsa

March 10, 2015 by

Oh…it is getting close! For some of you, spring has already sprung. Here in Upstate NY, the daylight is increasing, the temps are warmer, the piles of snow are beginning to melt! And <slowly…> the fruits and veggies are getting increasingly more tempting in the produce department of our grocery stores. This past week, I could actually smell the fragrance of the ripe strawberries as I shopped my list! And so, two packages of them were added to our shopping cart!

One thing that I determined to prepare was a fruity avocado salsa…so easy-peasy! And so good for us (you, too!). And fits perfectly into our healthy but oh-so-yummy POV! We all are aware of the benefits of eating fresh fruits…loaded with vitamin and fiber. And avocados—such a great addition to your healthy eating plan! Here is some info on the benefits and the nutrition received from eating avocados.

We had this cauliflower rice dish alongside.  This salsa would be delish on quite a variety of seafood…from fillets to shrimp to scallops! What’s your favorite?

Lemony–Garlicky Tilapia with Avocado Salsa

 

ingredients:
salsa:
1 mango, peeled and cut into smallish cubes
1 avocado, peeled and cut into smallish cubes
handful of strawberries, cut up
2 teaspoons red onion, finely minced
1 lemon (or lime), juiced
sea salt, freshly ground pepper (I use a lemon-pepper blend)
red pepper flakes (optional)

fish:
4 tilapia fillets (4-5 ounces each)
2 tablespoons red onion, finely minced
4 tablespoons chopped garlic (I use jarred)
2 tablespoons butter
1 large lemon or lime, zested and juiced
3 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
salt and pepper to taste
olive (or coconut) oil

directions:

salsa

  • mix all ingredients together in a glass or ceramic dish; set aside

fish

  • preheat oven to 400
  • lightly coat the bottom of a glass baking dish with oil
  • in a small saucepan, melt butter
  • add red onion and saute for 3-4 minutes to soften
  • add garlic and saute on low for an additional minute stirring constantly
  • remove from heat and add lemon juice
  • lay out the tilapia in the pan
  • sprinkle with the herbs, zest, and a generous amount of salt and pepper
  • pour the butter mixture over top the fish
  • bake for 10-20 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fillets) ‘til flaky

serve fish with avocado salsa on the side…perhaps with quinoa, or rice; enjoy!

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Savior, Like A Shepherd, Lead Us

March 8, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,
that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.
All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them.
I AM the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).
He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have and enjoy life,
and have it in abundance (to the full, till itoverflows).

John 10:7-10 AMP

 
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are

We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the Guardian of our way
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray

Thou hast promised to receive us
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Poor and sinful though we be
Thy grace will cleanse and set us free
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still

O won’t You love us still
O we need You
Won’t you hear us when we pray
To lead and guide us
Won’t You lead us on, Lord
You have promised to receive us
And mercy to relieve us

Composed by Dorothy Thrupp
Performed here by Janna Potter

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week…I AM The Bread of Life (John 6:25-35)

March 7, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have had the joy of being reminded of our Lord’s words in John chapter 6.

When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One he has sent.”
So they asked Him, “What sign then will You give that we may see it and believe You?  What will You do?
Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from Heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the True Bread from Heaven.
For the Bread of God is the bread that comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I AM the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.

Verses 25-35

What promises!!!  To know that if we follow Him—The Bread of Life—for eternity we will never spiritually hunger or thirst!  Our devotional writers—Tina, Laura, Cynda, Ann, and Ahmee—have shared some great truths with us this week.  Here are a few highlights….

In The Bread That Quenches Thirst and Hunger, Ahmee reminded us that Jesus is the provision of all that we need:

“Jesus says that He is our Light and that He will lead us in this life we live.  Jesus also says that He is the Bread of Life.  Not only does He light our paths, but He sustains us spiritually.

Everyone is searching for something.  We all are missing something in our lives. We all have a hunger/thirst that only the Lord can fill.  That is how we were made to be. God being the total Provider that He is, made provision for us to have all that we need.  In Jesus, God gave us so much.”

…this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches,
which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

❦

In Eternal or Temporary, Cynda drew our attention to a few points from this passage:

“As I was reading this passage, three key points struck me:

  1. The Bread of Life never perishes (John 6:27) whereas material things perish and earthly food spoils.
  2. The Bread of Life is given by God and comes down from Heaven (John 6:32-33). It is a gift freely given whereas we must work to provide food for ourselves. Our food comes from farms and companies that don’t always have our health or best interests at heart. The Divine Bread always gives us the very best.
  3. The Bread of Life gives life to the world. It is spiritual sustenance for our souls. Physical food supports our earthly bodies temporarily. The Bread of Life provides for us eternally.”

❦

In Hunger for the Word of God, Tina reminded us of the great importance of a devotional or quiet time set apart each day to seek God through His Word.

“By asking for God to enter into our devotional/quiet time, you are inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.  By allowing the Holy Spirit to be with you, God has the opportunity to speak life into the areas of your life which are closed or where truth and healing can begin.  Trust in God and have faith so He can bring new life.  Let the bread of His Word feed your soul and renew you. ”

❦

In Slice of Life, Laura shared some of the words of Jesus to the  apostles during the Last Supper.

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
“This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying,
“This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”
Luke 22:19-20

“When Jesus attended the last supper, He gave the twelve disciples a piece of Himself through communion with Him.  He would give the rest of Himself to everybody through His death on the Cross.  He would become the Bread needed to have eternal life.”

❦

In The Word Is Life, Ann reminded us that Jesus is the Living Word.

Jesus is the Living Word and the Bible is the written Word.  Jesus call Himself the Bread of Life and elsewhere He relates this bread to the Word of God:

Man does not live by bread alone
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4

Therefore we eat His flesh by remaining in Him and by receiving and obeying the Word of God.

 

❦

Have you had the opportunity to read through each of these blogposts this week?  If not, I would encourage you to do so!  Our bloggers have made these as well as some other wonderful points to direct us towards Jesus, Who IS The Bread of Life.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Unredeemed

March 5, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The cruelest word, the coldest heart
The deepest wound, the endless dark
The lonely ache, the burning tears
The bitter nights, the wasted years
Life breaks and falls apart but we know these are

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
They may be unfulfilled, they may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every life that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall but the Cross says these are all

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed

Songwriters: Chad Robert Cates / Tony W. Wood/ Brian David Petak
Performed by Selah

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

“We live in the shadow of the fall BUT the Cross says these are all places where grace is soon to be so amazing!”  This—where grace is soon to be—is where I want to live…to stay…to abide.  You, too?

At the Cross, mankind was clearly shown the depth of God’s heart—His love for us. Almighty God has purposed from the beginning of time to have a relationship with the people He created.  Perhaps it appeared that because of the Fall that was not going to continue. But God’s purposes will not be thwarted.  His plans will come to pass.  It is in and through Christ’s accomplishments on the Cross that we have received much grace!

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold
from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-19

That’s us (you and me)—not redeemed with perishable things…but with Jesus’ blood as He gave His life on the Cross!  Jesus’ death on the Cross, and all that God planned to bring to pass at the Cross, is all about His grace and love!  Through Jesus’ broken body and His shed blood, He redeemed us unto Himself – making us forever free, justified, forgiven, alive, purchased, and redeemed!

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—
for it is written,“Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree”—
that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles,
that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:13 and 14

He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,
to the praise of His glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace.
Ephesians 1:5-7

We are now, and will be for all eternity, God’s children—all to His praise and glory! And we have a glorious life to live now…in spite of every situation and circumstance that tries to break us and cause us to focus on the hard, sad, evil things that do occur at times. But God—we have His promises to cling to!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

…Fear not, for I have redeemed you…I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
Even everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory,
whom I have formed, whom I have made.
Isaiah 43:1, 7

The love of God—shown to us through the sacrifice of Jesus our Lord—is all we need to help us to focus on the Truth and set our minds to believe all that God has promised.  In doing so, we can remain faith-filled knowing He is faithful!

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed
that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage
and let your heart be stout and enduring.
Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
Psalms 27:13 and 14

And so, in spite of cruel words, cold hearts, deep wounds, endless dark, lonely aches, burning tears, bitter nights, and wasted years, we press on…we seek God…we choose to remain faithful to Him because “it may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored but you never know the miracle the Father has in store; just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed!”

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be anguish nor grief nor pain any more,
for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new.
Revelations 21:4

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I Will Seek Your Face

March 4, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I will seek Your face, O Lord
I will seek Your face, O Lord
I will seek Your face, O Lord
I will seek Your face, O Lord

Lord, how awesome is Your presence
Who can stand in Your light
Those who by Your grace and mercy
Are made holy in Your sight

I will dwell in Your presence
All the days of my life
There to gaze upon Your glory
And to worship only You

Written by Noel and Tricia Richards
Performed by Brentwood Studio Musicians

 * ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

I was reading a book, and the author put forth the following question…it’s a biggie…ready?

“…is there anything that draws you away
from your relationship with God,
or distracts you from serving Him?”

“Anything…?”  I don’t like to admit it…to you or even to myself, honestly.  But ‘yes’ is my answer.  How about you?  Please take a few moments, right now, and consider this question.  Perhaps ask God to reveal the truth to you.

As we consider that we allow circumstances and situations to distract us from the One Who we should be seeking, I am sure your heart is saddened as mine is.  Actually, way more than sad!  My heart is sorrowful.  But, rather than just be depressed, my next thought should be (is!) “What am I going to do about that!?!”  Our heavenly Father doesn’t want us remaining in our sorrowful state of mind…He wants us to mourn our sin (of course), to repent, and CHANGE. And then to live our lives to His honor and glory!

Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love….
Joel 2:12 and 13

As we each experience daily, there is much to distract us from focusing on our relationship with our God. From the moment our eyes open each morning, it can be a struggle to maintain the right perspective—God first.  But we CAN rise above this challenge and choose where our hearts and minds go.  For me the impetus must be seeking Him above, before, and instead of anything else.  He comes first—before anything else.  And so I need to  intentionally and purposefully seek Him.

We have the joy and the privilege of having direct access to His throne of grace! At any time during the day (or night!) we can seek our heavenly Father—and enjoy quiet time alone with Him.  David wrote about his ‘quiet time’ in the following verse.  Does God hear us expressing our hearts to Him in the same way?

In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord;
In the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You
And watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].
Psalm 5:3

Now, of course, that time you spend alone with Your Lord—your quiet, devotional time—is certainly not the only time to pray! Actually, I think, being intentional…seeking Him first and foremost…prepares our hearts for the rest of our day to be filled with continual little prayers and petitions directed to our God.

Be encouraged! I am sure that you already seek Him throughout your day….  How often do we go along through our day accomplishing the normal even mundane tasks talking with our Father?  Or driving (yet again) to school to pickup your children; isn’t that a great time to pray?  Or waiting for them at dance/soccer/baseball practice or music lessons/cub scout meeting/awana time/_______ (you fill in the blank); yet another small amount of time that can be eked out of your day to pray and seek Him.

Paul wrote a number of times in his letters to the Christian believers about the importance of praying.  Listen to this encouragement:

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season)
in the Spirit,with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.
To that end keep alert and watch
with strong purpose and perseverance,
interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
Ephesians 6:18

Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 18

So we see by seeking God first and foremost, by being intentional to have a ‘quiet time’ early in our day, and seeking Him in our prayers and petitions, we will be better prepared to “pray at all times, and, keep alert and watch, and, pray without ceasing.”  We will be continually seeking Him throughout each day—thus carrying out His will!

Here is a great example of seeking Him:

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life],
Being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2

Those are some very intentional words (earnest, unwearied, steadfast, alert, intent) used in that verse, yes?  Other versions use similar words: devote, persevere, continue….

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything,
but in every circumstance and in everything,
by prayer and petition (definite requests),
with thanksgiving,
continue to make your wants known to God.
And God’s peace [shall be yours, that peace]
which transcends all understanding
shall garrison and mount guard
over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 and 7

Keep seeking Him and enjoy your quiet time with your Lord! As you seek Him, He will be found…He promises!

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come
and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12 and 13

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Beef Stew…with a Mexican Twist

March 3, 2015 by

Perhaps Beef Stew sounds as if it would be complicated and difficult to make—just the opposite.  Simple, easy-peasy!  The key is slow-cooking.  You can either let it come together in a crockpot for a few hours or just as easily on the stovetop. Low heat and gentle, slow cooking gives the stew a roasted flavor, and ensures that the meat and veggies are fall-apart tender. And in addition, the liquids will come together into a thick, smooth gravy.  Yumm-O!

This time, instead of the usual stew, I added some salsa verde (yup, the green kind!), sweet potatoes, black beans, and Mexican seasonings.  And I baked some mini-corn muffins for you-know-who to indulge in! It was a great comfort food meal…since we still have frozen solid piles of snow and ice.  This meal fits well into our healthy but oh-so-yummy POV.  I like to make stews using a piece of bottom round steak from the butcher counter.  This cut doesn’t have much extra fat but still becomes tender due to the low heat and gentle simmering for 90 minutes or so.  Then load it up with lots of veggies…healthy and oh-so-yummy!  Enjoy!

2015-02-24 19.46.38

 Mexican Beef Stew

ingredients:

2 tablespoons +/- olive or coconut oil
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-size chunks
2 tablespoons brown rice flour (optional)
1/2 teaspoon EACH sea salt, freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons minced garlic (I use jarred)
1 cup dry red wine (or additional broth)
1 quart beef broth
1 cup water
1 jar (10-12 ounces) salsa verde
1 teaspoon +/- ground chipotle pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite-sized chunks
1/2 bag frozen pearl onions
1/2 # baby carrots, sliced in half length-wise
5 ounce can chopped green chilies (optional)
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen sweet corn (optional)
additional sea salt and pepper

directions:

  • heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat
  • add the 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper to the flour
  • dredge the meat in the flour mixture (if you eat grain free, you could skip this step)
  • brown the meat, working in 3-4 batches, just ‘til the cubes are lightly browned
  • remove meat from pot and set aside
  • lower heat and add garlic to pan drippings; stir constantly for about 1 minute ‘til fragrant
  • increase heat back to medium-high, stir in the wine, and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen all the bits. allow to simmer ‘til liquid is reduced about half
  • add in the beef broth, the seasonings, and the browned meat cubes; stir well
  • lower heat to a simmer; cover and allow to cook for about an hour ‘til meat is getting tender
  • add in the sweet potatoes and carrots. raise heat, cover, and bring back to a simmer
  • cook for an additional 30 minutes ‘til potatoes are cooked through and the liquids have become a smooth, thick gravy
  • stir in the chopped chilies, black beans (and corn, if using); simmer ’til heated through
  • taste for seasoning
  • (if the ‘gravy’ needs any additional thickening, use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with equal amount of cold water…stir ’til completely smooth; then pour into hot liquid (your stew) stirring constantly ’til liquid has thickened.  allow to boil for an additional minute.)

    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

    God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

    ♥  coleen

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

I AM The Bread of Life

March 1, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

Then Jesus declared, “I AM the Bread of Life.
Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry,
and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35 (context)

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

as you prepare to hear this song,
may i suggest you close your eyes and listen to the words of Jesus   ♥

I AM the Bread of Life
All who eat this Bread will never die

I am God’s Love revealed
I am broken that you might be healed

All who eat of this Heavenly Bread
All who drink this cup of the Covenant
You will live forever
For I will raise you up

I AM the Bread of Life
All who eat this bread will never die

No one who comes to Me shall hunger again
No one who believes shall ever thirst
All that the Father draws
Shall come to Me
And I shall give them rest

I AM the Bread of Life
All who eat this bread will never die

 Singer/Songwriter:  John Michael Talbot

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »