Ephesians 2:19-22 - "Cornerstone"

I woke up this morning singing "Cornerstone" and was so blessed to be reminded that He is My Cornerstone, the Foundation I set my feet upon.  Woo hoo!  I love the remake of this old hymn.  I looked up the meaning of "cornerstone" and found this:  "A cornerstone (Greek: Άκρογωνιεîς, Latin: Primarii Lapidis) will sometimes be referred to as a "foundation-stone", and is symbolic of Christ, whom the Apostle Paul referred to as the "head of the corner" and is the "Chief Cornerstone of the Church" (Ephesians 2:20)." 

Ephesians 2:19-22 reads....

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I am excited in that I know He is the One I build my life upon.  He is the One I listen to.  He is the One I desire to please.  He is the One to lead and direct me.  Why?  Because He is My Cornerstone!  

Dear Jesus,
I praise You for the way You lead me.  I praise You for the way You speak to me.  I praise You for loving me in such ways that are beyond human comprehension.  You are so awesome, Lord.  Father direct my steps today.  Lead me down the path You so desire for me to take.  Amen.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name

Christ Alone
Cornerstone
Weak made strong
In the Savior's love
Through the storm
He is Lord
Lord of All

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

Then He shall come with trumpets sound
Only then in Him will I be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless standing before the throne

Various Scriptures of "I Am" - "The Great I Am"

I woke up this morning singing Philips, Craig & Dean's "The Great I Am" and began praising the Lord.  As the day continued He gave me different things to praise Him for including a financial blessing.  He amazes me the way He takes care of us.  As I think about how life could be so different if I were not living for Him, I think of others who are making wrong decisions.  People who are walking away from His Grace.  People who are choosing to not believe in Him.  People who have decided the ways of the world are better than His Ways.  My heart breaks for each and every one of these people.  If they would only call upon the Lord, their life would be so different.  I am pleading the name of Jesus over their lives today.  I am praying for "the Presence of the Great I Am" to over power them today.  

The Gospel of John gives us seven "I am's"....

1. "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35,48,51).
2. "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).
3. "I am the door of the sheep"(John 10:7,9).
4. "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11,14).
5. "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25).
6. "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
7. "I am the true vine" (John 15:1,5).

The Book of Revelation gives us seven "I am's"....

1.  "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18)
2. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending" (Revelation 1:8).
3. "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" (Revelation 1:11).
4. "Fear not; I am the first and the last" (Revelation 1:17).
5. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 21:6).
6. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:13).
7. "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star"(Revelation 22:16).

Woo hoo!  The Lord isn't just someone who came to this earth to be a great religious teacher many years ago.  He isn't someone who died for no reason.  He isn't just our Creator and Savior.  No.  He is our Eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,
You are the Almighty...You are the Great I Am....You are Worthy...You are the King of Majesty!  I praise You for all You have done for me today.  I thank You for this financial blessing.  I ask for You to be so real to those who are lost or stumbling on their path with You.  Open up hearts, Lord.  Open up eyes.  Be so real to them they have no choice but to fall on their knees and be in Your Presence.  Amen.

I want to be close, close to Your side
So Heaven is real and death is a lie
I want to hear voices of angels above 
Singing as one

CHORUS
Hallelujah, Holy, Holy
God Almighty, the Great I Am
who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the Great I Am

I want to be near, near to Your heart
Loving the world and hating the dark
I want to see dry bones living again
Singing as one

CHORUS

The mountains shake before You
The demons run in fear
At the mention of the name 
King Of Majesty
There is no power in hell
or any who can stand
before the power and the 
Presence of the Great I Am

CHORUS

Mark 10:27 - Impossible vs. Possible

I was thinking about Mark 10:27 today....Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."  Those are some powerful words!  The impossible happened when Mary gave birth to Jesus as a virgin.  The impossible continues to happen in lives every day.  I'm sure there are some people who feel like they are in an impossible situation.  Actually, I know there are.  But as I told someone last night, "nothing is impossible with God."  When we look at things through the eyes of a human, they look impossible.  But when we look at our situation through the Lord's eyes, we can get a glimpse of the impossible becoming a possible.  He can heal bodies.  He can mend relationships.  He can take care of unemployment.  He can give peace where there is turmoil.  How?  Simple.  In His time, in His way.  First we must be in right relationship with Him in order to be able to hear His Voice.  Another aspect is listening.  We must allow Him to speak to us instead of us telling Him what we want or need.  Will He heal us?  Maybe, maybe not.  Will He mend relationships?  Maybe, maybe not.  But I do know His Will is much better than anything we could ever imagine or manipulate for ourselves.  His Will is perfect.  Does His Will come overnight or instantaneously?  Not necessarily but it will come in His perfect time.  I am praying today for several people who feel like they are in a hopeless situation.  First and for most I am praying they surrender totally to the Lord.  That is the only way He can work in and through us in His Perfect Will.  I pray for not just the people who come to my mind but also everyone involved in their situation.  It takes everyone involved in order for His Will to be accomplished.  

Dear Jesus,

You know the ones I'm praying for today.  You know their situation.  You know of the people they are dealing with as they go throughout their situation.  I pray for Your Perfect Peace to come down upon them in a mighty way.  Lord, I pray You will help them to realize what it will take from them to turn an impossibility into a possibility. Lord, open their hearts and their eyes up to Your Will.  Thank You Jesus for being My Will.  Amen.

I Peter 1:3-12 - Living Hope

I Peter 1:3-12 reads...

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honorwhen Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  ¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Inheritance...not money or stuff but a true inheritance.  That's what we will have when we get to heaven.  According to the dictionary the word "inheritance" means:  "Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual."  It's kind of funny this word is used in this context because we will get our inheritance when we die not when someone else dies.  The only way we will receive this inheritance is through our faith in the Lord.  It's not something we just get because we are related to someone but rather we get because of our relationship with Him.

Matthew Henry writes about this passage:

"The matter of a Christian's joy, is the remembrance of the happiness laid up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is an estate that cannot be spent. Also undefiled; this signifies its purity and perfection. And it fadeth not; is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself. All possessions here are stained with defects and failings; still something is wanting: fair houses have sad cares flying about the gilded and ceiled roofs; soft beds and full tables, are often with sick bodies and uneasy stomachs. All possessions are stained with sin, either in getting or in using them. How ready we are to turn the things we possess into occasions and instruments of sin, and to think there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain and soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up in the highest and best place, in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves them unto glory. Every believer has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it."

"...the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory."  Woo hoo!  That's exciting!  This explains why we go through things we do.  It is all about strengthening our faith.  Our inheritance comes from being strong in our faith.  Our inheritance comes from being in relationship with the Lord.  

Dear Jesus,

I praise You for allowing me opportunities to go through trials in order to grow my faith.  I praise You for the hope of my inheritance.  I praise You for giving me joy as I go through my days.  Lord, thank You for being My Hope!  Amen.

Ezekiel 1:26-28 and Revelation 4 - "Revelation Song"

I woke up this morning with Kari Jobe's "Revelation Song" in my mind.  What an awesome praise and worship song.  I was reading the background of this song and found the writer (Jennie Riddle) was inspired by Ezekiel 1:26-28 and Revelation 4.

“And then, as they stood with folded wings, there was a voice from above the dome over their heads. Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne, sky-blue like a sapphire, with a humanlike figure towering above the throne. From what I could see, from the waist up he looked like burnished bronze and from the waist down like a blazing fire. Brightness everywhere! The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day—that’s what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of God! (Message)

“…a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was[like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightenings, thunderings, and voices… Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal… And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures… And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’…”

Woo hoo!  The angels are already singing this song!  We are seeing a little glimpse of heaven on earth when we sing it.  Heaven...a perfect place....a place where there is only peace...a place where we will worship 24/7.  That's what we should be doing here as much as possible.  Worshiping the Lord with our whole being.  Our physical self, our mental self, our emotional self....our whole being.  How can that happen when our lives our full of so much other "stuff"?  Simple.  Get rid of self and concentrate on allowing the Lord to be in us.  Does that mean we no longer have "stuff" in our lives?  No, it means He becomes greater than "stuff".  It means He is the One in control of what "stuff" we allow.  It means He is the One we worship instead of "stuff".    

"Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder; At the mention of your name; Jesus your name is power; Breath, and living water; Such a marvelous mystery; Yeah..."  Those words blow me away!  There are some who can't understand everything about Jesus so they choose to not have anything to do with Him.  I don't have to understand everything about Him.  He loves me.  He saved me.  He will return for me.  That's all that is necessary to know.  I don't have to know the details.  I am content with what He gives me to know when He gives it to me.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me enough to die for me.  Thank You for loving me enough to give me Your Grace when I fell away.  Thank You for loving me enough to bless me each and every day with opportunities to be You to others.  Thank You, Jesus, for being the One I Adore.  Amen. 

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain 
Holy, Holy, is He 
Sing a new song, to him who sits on 
Heaven's mercy seat 
[2X] 

Holy, Holy, Holy 
Is the Lord God Almighty 
Who was, and is, and is to come 
With all creation I sing 
Praise to the King of Kings 
You are my everything 
And I will adore You 

Clothed in rainbows, of living color 
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder 
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be 
to You the only wise King 

Holy, Holy, Holy 
Is the Lord God Almighty 
Who was, and is, and is to come 
With all creation I sing 
Praise to the King of Kings 
You are my everything 
And I will adore You 

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder 
At the mention of your name 
Jesus your name is power 
Breath, and living water 
Such a marvelous mystery 
Yeah... 

Holy, Holy, Holy 
Is the Lord God Almighty 
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah 
With all creation I sing 
Praise to the King of Kings 
You are my everything 
And I will adore You 
[3X]

Matthew 25:41-45 - $13 Blessing

Woo hoo!!!!  Thank You Jesus!!!!  I met a man at Gateway a few weeks ago who was in desperate need of shoes.  He was wearing house slippers that were cut in order to fit his feet and were worn to shreds.  He told me he wore a size 14 Wide.  I've been looking and looking for a pair of shoes to fit him with no success.  The Lord blessed both of us today when I found a pair at Wal-Mart for $13!!!!!  We had an address and went looking but couldn't find him.  Doc said you better pray they fit him.  My reply was, "I was praying we can find him...I guess I better add the fitting part onto the prayers too."  Woo hoo!  Not only did we find him but YES, they fit him.  As I gently lifted his feet into the new shoes I was so overcome with how blessed I am.  His feet had sores and were swollen.  I wonder when the last time was he had someone touch them.  I wonder when the last time was he had another human touch him at all.  I am so blessed in so many different aspects of my life.  Not just in the sense of what we have but in the sense that the Lord is allowing me to be such a blessing to others such as this man.  The Lord told me to hug him and I didn't hesitate with doing so.  He lives in such a run-down part of Mansfield in what would be considered  the "bad part" of town.  Some would shy away from where we went but I knew the Lord was with us.   The one thing that I didn't do with Davey was to pray with him.  I've been praying for him for weeks but I feel like I missed out on an opportunity.  He told me before that he is a believer and for that I'm grateful.  

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:41-45 what we are to do with those less fortunate and how He will judge between the sheep and the goats, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me‘“ (Matthew 25:41-45).

As we pulled away from his place the tears started.  Doc said, "You would spend $13 every day if you could do that, wouldn't you?"  My answer, "YES!"

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for blessing me so mightily today in so many ways.  Lord, bless Davey as he goes throughout his days.  Father, each and every time he sees those shoes would you remind him that we love him?  Would you put others in his path that will love on him?  Lord, I know there are a lot of "Davey's" in this world.  I pray for more people to leave their comfort zone and love on them with Your love.  I also pray for more opportunities to be You to others.  Amen.

Philippians 3:14 - "Higher Ground"

I woke up a few times during the night with the old hymn "Higher Ground" on my lips.  I love the words to this hymn.  They say how I feel about my relationship with the Lord.  As long as I am on this earth my prayer is “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”   Each and every day things come my way to distract me away from what the Lord has for me.  There are things that try to get my focus off of Him.  I have to make sure I start my day off with praying for Him to help me through the day and I also have to stay in His Presence throughout the day.

Philippians 3:14 reads, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.  The words of Matthew Henry in regards to Philippians 3 help us to understand more clearly just how important it is to win this race of life.

"This simple dependence and earnestness of soul, were not mentioned as if the apostle had gained the prize, or were already made perfect in the Saviour's likeness. He forgot the things which were behind, so as not to be content with past labours or present measures of grace. He reached forth, stretched himself forward towards his point; expressions showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ. He who runs a race, must never stop short of the end, but press forward as fast as he can; so those who have heaven in their view, must still press forward to it, in holy desires and hopes, and constant endeavours. Eternal life is the gift of God, but it is in Christ Jesus; through his hand it must come to us, as it is procured for us by him. There is no getting to heaven as our home, but by Christ as our Way. True believers, in seeking this assurance, as well as to glorify him, will seek more nearly to resemble his sufferings and death, by dying to sin, and by crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts. In these things there is a great difference among real Christians, but all know something of them. Believers make Christ all in all, and set their hearts upon another world. If they differ from one another, and are not of the same judgment in lesser matters, yet they must not judge one another; while they all meet now in Christ, and hope to meet shortly in heaven. Let them join in all the great things in which they are agreed, and wait for further light as to lesser things wherein they differ. The enemies of the cross of Christ mind nothing but their sensual appetites. Sin is the sinner's shame, especially when gloried in. The way of those who mind earthly things, may seem pleasant, but death and hell are at the end of it. If we choose their way, we shall share their end. The life of a Christian is in heaven, where his Head and his home are, and where he hopes to be shortly; he sets his affections upon things above; and where his heart is, there will his conversation be. There is glory kept for the bodies of the saints, in which they will appear at the resurrection. Then the body will be made glorious; not only raised again to life, but raised to great advantage. Observe the power by which this change will be wrought. May we be always prepared for the coming of our Judge; looking to have our vile bodies changed by his Almighty power, and applying to him daily to new-create our souls unto holiness; to deliver us from our enemies, and to employ our bodies and souls as instruments of righteousness in his service."

Praise the Lord for these words of encouragement this morning.  The desire of my heart is to be focused on Him at all times.  I have faith in Him to enable me to do just that.  My goal is heaven and my path will include "...pressing on the upward way..."  I praise the Lord for enabling me to be able to say "New heights I'm gaining every day..."  Woo hoo!  

Dear Jesus,
A new day is ahead of me.  I don't know where You will take me or who I will come in contact with but I pray for Your Spirit to be on me as I go throughout my day.  I ask, Lord, for more of You and less of me so that You will shine through me.  I pray for Your strength as "...Satan's darts at me are hurled..."  Father, I praise You for being My Goal!  Amen.



I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” 

Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. 

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. 

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground. 

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”