Joy Today

What shall we do today? Psalm 34:1-3, directs:" I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.My soul shall make its boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear of it and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." So, we ask, How am little Ole me going to "magnify the Lord"? Psalm 69:30, has the answer:" Magnify the Lord with Thanksgiving." Praising God for ALL His answers, my friend, and loving you as we "magnify the Lord" together.

Does Anyone own the earth? Psalm 24:1-2, answers:" The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and they who dwell thereon, For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods." OK, next question: "Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord, [ who owns everything] Or, who shall stand in His Holy place?" [ How would YOU and I describe the person who would merit access to "the. hill of the Lord ?" Verses 3-5, explains:" He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to idols, who does not lie. HE shall receive the blessing of the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." THERE. Plain and simple, we read God's requirements. So, we make those requirements our "North Star," our sign for which direction to go with our decisions and actions when we desire precious fellowship with the Lord. Let's pray for one another, that  we may make decisions that draw u...

Who's in charge? What have we read of His "job description?" Here is what the Old Testament's spiritual giant Daniel wrote:" Blessed be the Name of God forever and ever, wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and seasons, He removes King's and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise; and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and Light dwells with Him '( Daniel 2:20-22) Through Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, we can choose to walk WITH the Soverign and living God of the universe and know joy and peace...or a person can choose not to believe, and find themselves in the dark. Let us STAND together, rejoice together and love together IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD. And let's bring into THE LIGHT as many as the Lord God Almighty enables us to reach, my friend. With you in prayer and in the love of Jesus.

Was it in Kindergarten? that we learned:" Choices have consequences." What does Proverbs 22:1, say about choices and consequences? " A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." Continual choices are involved in parenting. Proverbs 22:6, counsels:"Train up a child in the way he should go: < yes to accomplish that involves a WHOLE BUNCH of choices, and, there is the encouragement of a promise along with the admonition > and when he is old he will not depart from it." Lord God Almighty, with wisdom you established the world, now, may it please You to be Wisdom to us as we make choices, big and small, today. May our choices contribute to the salvation of some soul, and to the building of Your Kingdom, "on earth as it is in heaven." We pray and ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Prayer cover is in place for you, my friend. Loving you in Jesus.

In the mighty name of Jesus, may God abundantly bless you this 21st day of January, my friend. The wisdom of Proverbs 21, verses 5 and 21:" The thoughts of the diligent tend to plenteousness...He who follows after righteousness and mercy, finds life, righteousness and honour."  Every choice leads somewhere. We pray today that our choices will lead us in paths of righteousness, to the glory of God. LoveyouinJesus, my friend

On the 20th, in chapter 20 of Exodus, verses 1-17, use 310 words to give us the 10 Commandments. Here is a 32 word summary: 1.Put God First. 2. Have no idols. 3. Keep God's name holy. 4. Keep Sunday holy. 5. Honor Dad and Mom. 6. You must not murder. 7. You must not commit adultery. 8. You must not steal. 9. You must not lie. 10. You must not covet. The Lord God Almighty gave these Commandments to His man Moses. They are the basis of our moral law. Think how orderly and harmonious life would be if everyone were to abide by these 10 Commandments. Thank You, LORD, for clear rules of conduct. Let us pray, my friend, that the Lord will keep us in glad  obedience to His law. Loving you in Jesus.

Praising the Lord for Sunday, January 19, 2020. Have you looked out and up yet this morning? If so, what did you see? Here's what Psalm 19:1, says we have seen/will see:" The heavens declare THE GLORY OF GOD, yes, the sky SHOWS His handiwork." He whose glory is declared by the heavens, has given us His commandments and instructions, and Psalm 19:7-8, tells us:" The law of the Lord is PERFECT, converting the soul, the testimony of the Lord is SURE, making wise, the simple. * The statutes of the Lord are RIGHT, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is PURE, enlightening the eyes." Wow! ALL that clarity, power and promise from the Lord God Almighty...FOR us! Thank You, forever, Lord. Keeping you in prayer, my friend, and loving you in Jesus.

Octagons are everywhere. What would happen if, every time we come to an octagonal STOP sign, we would repeat the eight ways God provides for and protects us, as declared in Psalm 18:2. Here they are: "The Lord is my Rock. Fortress. DELIVERER. My God. My strength in whom I will trust. My shield. The Horn of my Salvation. My high tower." God is, of course, MUCH more even than all these. But, how wonderful to KNOW, and to remind ourselves frequently, of these eight wonderful aspects of His love and care. Here's to octagon reminders of Almighty God! Praying that the Lord will specially bless your day, my friend, and loving you in Jesus.

Good Morning. God bless you. The Bible is our rule of faith and action. Verses 16&17, of Second Timothy chapter 3, make it abundantly clear why the Bible has the credentials to BE, our rule of faith and action:" ALL scripture is given by inspiration of GOD; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness.* so That the man of God may be perfect/ complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Let's rejoice to read, absorb and apply the Word of the Lord, that we may be pleasing in His sight and bring glory to His Name. Keeping you in prayer, my friend, and loving you in Jesus.

Accomplishment requires focus. There is dynamic inspiration for focus in Psalm 16:8! "I have set The LORD ALWAYS before me: BECAUSE HE is at my right hand I shall not be moved." How often? ALWAYS! And where is the Lord? Yes! At my right hand (not distant, but right here!) May I encourage that memorizing THIS verse may help you and me to keep a dynamic and productive focus on the Lord/ to:"set the LORD ALWAYS before" us. Let's pray for that, my friend. God loves you and so do I, with JOY.

ATTACHED. We are all attached...to people, places, things. Jesus has something to say about a dynamic spiritual attachment. Jesus says: " I am the vine. YOU are the branches/attached to the vine. He who abides in Me and I in Him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing  < of Eternal significance >."(John 15:5) When nourished by the vine/ by closeness with Jesus what precious and wonderful "fruit" of goodness, kindness and kingdom-building will be produced in our lives: to the glory of God. Oh Lord, may it be so in my life and your life, my friend. Loving you in Jesus

Do we not delight to prepare for the coming of someone special? Well, preparation was on the mind of Jesus when he said, in John 14:1-3: "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to PREPARE a place for you, and if I go, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, so that WHERE I AM, THERE you may be also..." Our cup overflows with JOY to KNOW that Jesus Christ, the only Son of God is preparing a place for you and me BECAUSE he desires that we BE WITH HIM!  With THAT perspective, we can claim victory in Jesus  over circumstances large or small. Keeping you in prayer, my friend, and loving you in Jesus.

Oh the 13th, Hebrews 13:20-21. We are talking about NOW/ today/here. And we are respectfully asking: "NOW, may the God of Peace, who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the Everlasting covenant, make you complete in every goid work to DO HIS WILL, working in You that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Yes, we read that right, being complete(some translations say" perfect") in every good work comes THROUGH Jesus Christ. Praising God, as we walk, talk, and  work with Jesus today, my friend, praying for and loving one another in Jesus, "to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Sunday! And church! And the WORD of God in Ephesians 5:25&27, " Christ...loved the church/ the body of true believers  <by every name, gathered in the name of Jesus >, and gave Himself for her...that He might present her to Himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." As we gather to worship, fellowship and pray, may we embrace the Word of God and purpose in our hearts to strive for purity, to the glory of God and the building up in holiness of the church Keeping you in prayer, my friend, and loving you in Jesus.

It was very dramatic and certainly decisive! What if you and I had been there? It's all recorded in John, chapter 11. Jesus had already asked that the stone be rolled away, saying: "If you would believe, you would see the glory of God. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and spoke simply to His Heavenly Father, " I know that You always hear me. I am speaking to You now so that those gathered here may believe that You sent me." Then he shouted into the tomb where Lazarus had been for four days: "Lazarus! Come out." And, yes, Lazarus came out...ALIVE! Jesus had said:" I AM The Resurrection and the life, he who BELIEVES in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he who lives and BELIEVES in Me will never die. Do YOU believe this? "Jesus asked Martha, and, by extension, he asks us. And it is our exceedingly great JOY to BELIEVE in Eternal Life through our Lord Jesus Christ. How will THAT  JOY produce overcoming in our life today? May God great...

If you stop what you are doing, what do you hear? On the 10th, in John 10:27-28, here is what Jesus says about hearing and receiving blessing: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me,*And I give them Eternal Life, and none of them shall perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." I would say, let's be very careful to listen for the voice of Jesus, and be blessed to follow His prompting. Praying for each of us to hear well, my friend. Loveyou in Jesus

Good Morning, my friend, in the mighty name of Jesus, may God bless you. If we ask:"What is to be done today?" Psalm 9:1, gives us a great answer:" I will praise You, O Lord  <how much? > With my WHOLE heart I will praise You, and tell of ALL Your marvellous works." And Psalm 107:2, directs:"Let the redeemed of the Lord, SAY SO! Whom God has redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Now THERE is reason for REJOICING! May praise power our days, my friend. With you in prayer and loving you in the Lord.

Aspire to excellence! It's a characteristic of our Heavenly Father ! Psalm 8:1&5, declares :"O Lord, OUR Lord, how EXCELLENT is Your name in all the earth, You have set Your glory above the heavens...made man, just a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor." Yes, God, who created us, also crowned us! To wear a crown one must hold the head up, steadily, not look down, and face straight ahead. Do we have those necessary "crown-wearing" habits? If we need encouragement in such habits, let us ask in faith, believing that, as the Apostle Paul wrote:"My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:19). Keeping you in prayer, my friend, and loving you in the Lord.

Do we truly have ANY idea just HOW almighty God is? See if Psalm 97:1-6, "speaks" to the heart and soul as to the might of the Lord: "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice...* righteousness and judgement are the habitation of His throne.* A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies. * His lightening enlightened the world: the earth saw and trembled.* The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. *The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory." Truly, let us "Stand in awe, and sin not..."( Psalm 4:4a) God bless you, my friend. LoveyouintheLord

God bless you on the 6th of January, and may our hearts be rejoiced by the mighty words of Jesus in John 6:35, "I am The bread of life: He who comes to Me will never hunger; and he who believes on me will never thirst." Jesus Christ is all we need. The strength and Fulness of His love enables all the overcoming we need. Praising God, keeping you in my prayers, my friend, and loving you in the Lord!

Praising the Lord for Sunday- the day of worship-"Six days shall you labor, and on the seventh day: rest" God says in the fourth of the Ten Commandments ( Exodus 20:1-17)Worship: showing honor, reverence, devotion. Worship: one of the four necessary "legs" of a Believer's sturdy place to sit (Regular: Worship. Bible reading. Prayer.& Fellowship-which includes Action) How shall we worship the Lord? Psalm 29:2b, instructs:" ...worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness." And Psalm 100:2b and 4, declare: "...come before His , courts with praise: Be thankful unto Him and bless His Name." Lord God Almighty, we rejoice to follow those instructions, giving You the glory due unto Your Name. My friend, we serve a mighty God whose very Name "is a strong tower. "The righteous run into it and are safe." Says Proverbs 18:10. Praising God, loving you, my friend, and keeping you in my prayers...In Jesus'Name, may God bless you...

In the mighty name of Jesus, may God abundantly bless you, my friend. And let us rejoice, on the 4th in Psalm 4:1,3&5. A request. A recollection. And very specific instructions. "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness, You have in time past enlarged me when I was in distress, have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. *I know that the Lord has set aside for His special favor those who are godly in thought, word and deed. God will hear THAT one specially when he prays...* Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord." Rejoicing in the Word of the Lord. Keeping you in prayer, my friend, and Loving you in the Lord.

God bless you. Good Morning my friend. On the 3rd, Psalm 3, verse 3:" But You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of my head." Let's let the Lord go before us today and enable us to be victorious in Jesus. Keeping you in prayer and loving you in the JOY of the Lord, my friend.

BLESSED! O how wonderful to be blessed by the Lord. I pray that you and I will be blessed by the Lord in this NEW year. Psalm 1:1-3, gives valuable instructions for being blessed. You remember, it says: "BLESSED is the man who does not follow the counsel of the ungodly, who does not stand around with sinners, who does not sit with mockers, BUT, his DELIGHT is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates, day and night.* And in doing that, he shall be BLESSED, and shall be like a tree that brings forth fruit in season, His leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper." My friend, may it be so for you and for me. Loving you and keeping you in my prayers.

Blessings for the NEW YEAR, with Love, Joy and Peace in abundance as we "...walk in NEWNESS of life: Repenting of old , unhealthy habits, receiving forgiveness, Doing good. Guarding our speech. Rejoicing evermore, Praying continually. Giving thanks, for that is the will of God and following the Holy Spirit...As we do these. things, and all that God instructs, we will be enabled to "...walk in NEWNESS of life." Praising God and loving you, my friend, in this NEW Year.

Postings of Ellen Gray's Daily Meditations