A Sure Foundation

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away (in sudden panic).

Acts 4:11 This Jesus is the STONE which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the HEAD of the corner (the Cornerstone).

I Peter 2:4-6  Come to Him (then, to that) Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen and precious in God's sight.  Come and like living stones, be yourselves built into a spiritual house for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up those spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.  For thus it stands in Scripture (referring to Isaiah 28:16)

My Lord, You are the only sure foundation - all else is shifting sand.  How you have stood steady and secure through all the storms and earthquakes of my life.  The winds and rains have come and the winds of adversity have blown hard.  But I'm still standing on that solid Rock.  I have trusted IN, relied ON You and You have made me into a living stone in Your spiritual house.  All else may fail around me, but I know I am safe and secure in You.

Praise be to Christ Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone.

Update

Thanks to you, mom's faithful and occasional readers.  I apologize for the sporatic and few posting in the last six months.  Dad died in March and we've been buried in maintenance issues related to rental properties that Mom and Dad own.  I hope to start posting additional journal entries in the fall when temperatures drop and (I hope) we're not as busy.

A Refiner and Purifier

Malachi 3:3  "He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away.  He will purify the Levites (and me too) refining them like gold or silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD."

(foot note in New Living) In the process of refining metals, the raw metal is heated with fire until it melts.  The impurities separate from it and rise to the surface.  They are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal.  Without this heating and melting there could be no purifying.  As the impurities are skimmed off the top the reflections of the worker appears in the clear, pure surface.  As we are purified by God, His reflection in our life will become more and more clear to those around us.

Alkali was also used as a strong soap to whiten cloth.  This, too, is a symbol of the purifying process. 

Father, I am so grateful that You are the One who purifies me and judges the results.  You are the only one who could judge fairly and accurately.  My desire is to endure the process willingly and with dignity.  Turn the heat high so all the dross and impurities may float up and be cast out forever.  Wash me clean by the strong powerful cleansing of Christ's blood.  May You see Your reflection in my life and may others also recognize You in me. 

A Quickening spirit

October 31, 2004
I Cor. 15:45 - "Thus it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a Quickening Spirit (life-giving Spirit restoring the dead to life."

Genesis 2:7 says after You formed Adam from the dust of the ground, he was lifeless until You breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life.  Then man became a living being.  At this point man was an eternal being, BUT when he sinned, he had to die for his sin.  "But God" (again, I love that phrase)...But God, in Your mercy knew in advance this would happen.   You had a plan all along. 

Jesus, Your Son would become a man, live a sinless life, and become the perfect sacrifice to pay not only for Adam's since, but for everyone of us through eternity.  When we believe Jesus is Your Son, accept his payment for our sin and repent, then You breath that Quickening Spirit into us.  Your Holy Spirit in me will never leave.  He is my physical and spiritual life, my energy in every way.  He is the air I breathe, the food that sustains me.  Life-giving and life-restoring and most important, life-keeping!

Lord, I praise You for the presence of your Quickening Spirit that abides in me.  May I never quench or stifle Him.  Enable me to hear His voice and to obey in every way.  May I always allow His power to work on me, in me, and through me.  Praise to your Quickening Spirit!

A Great Light

Isaiah 9:2 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light;  Those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined."

Isaiah 42:6  "I, the Lord, have called You (the Messiah) for a righteous purpose and in righteousness.  I will take You by the hand and will keep You; I will give You for a covenant to the people (Israel) for a light to the nations (Gentiles."

"The Light of the World is Jesus"

We all walk in darkness, in the persistant shadow of death, eternal death, until Your Light, Jesus sihines upon us.   I praise You Lord, and I am ever so grateful that the Light of Jesus' love, forgiveness, and eternal life, is not exclusively for Your people, the Jews. 

You sent Your Light into the dark world for a righteous purpose, to give Christ's righteousness to us, even through we are so unworthy. 

When we believe and accept His gift of redemption and forgiveness, His Light shines on us and in us.  And You expect that we allow it to sihne through us so others who are still in darkeness can be born into the light, and walk in the Light. 

Chris Rice song "Untitled Hymn"