“Holy God, in love, became
Perfect man to bear my blame
On the cross He took my sin
By His death I live again.”

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

In this translation, the word “will” is mentioned eight times. For years I have read these verses of Scripture and it wasn’t until now that I even noticed it.

Holy God, Perfect Man, willed.

To bear our blame, He willed to be for us, what we could never be for ourselves. On the cross, He, Holy, Holy, Holy God willed to be given for us. He willed to bear our sin so that by His death we’d share eternity with Him.

The Great Jehovah, Mighty God, Abba Father willed to become a man who would be the Lamb of God. The living Word, the infallible source of guidance and inexhaustible wisdom, was born to die, to triumph over death, hell and the grave.

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave;
I will redeem them from death.
O Death, I will be your plagues!
O Grave, I will be your destruction!…”

Sisters and brothers, may we purpose to pause, ponder and worship the One who, by His divine will, came to earth. His will in heaven became His will on earth. Let’s give to Him the glory, honor, and praise due His name. As difficult as it may be to fathom this truth, we can by faith accept the incomprehensible and choose, because of it, to never grow weary or faint.

Stephanie

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 40:3 & 4
3He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
4Blessed is the man who makes
the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!

I have been a Christian for 68 years. That’s a long time, isn’t it?

My grandmother’s home did not have electricity until I was a young teen, and just a few years later indoor plumbing was added.

I easily pass all of those e-mail tests sent around about “Can you remember?” Of course I can remember, everything from Cokes that cost a nickel to dial phones to phone booths where one could make a local call for 5 cents. When my grandmother used to relate what she could remember, I thought she must have been born in the dark ages! Now it’s my grandchildren’s turn to think that about me.

I remember when soldiers did not automatically get R & R in the middle of a war. My aunt, a brand new bride, did not see her soldier husband for 36 months. As a child, I watched her tears fall as she haltingly said, “I can’t remember what he looks like any more.” E-mail, cell phones and Skype were unheard of then.

I also remember seeing my mom on her knees, praying. I watched my dad ask my uncle for forgiveness because he had wronged my uncle. I saw my mom and dad’s hair turn gray, but their faith remained steady. My parents walked through major tragedies, but their faith remained steady.

I watched my parents’ friends pray for others as their hands trembled, but their faith remained steady.

Now it’s my turn. My hair is quickly turning gray, but God has remained faithful.

I came across this verse recently and underlined it because it is true, ah, yes, it is true.

Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you (Isaiah 46:4, NCV).

MWH

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 40:1 & 2
1I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.

The Psalms are wonderfully soothing and encouraging. I don’t think there is anyone who can’t find him/herself somewhere amongst the 150 Psalms recorded in our Cannon.

What are you sacrificing so that you are able to be memorizing Scripture each week? With some thought and intention, everyone can find 15 minutes here and there throughout the week to commit God’s Word to their heart and mind.

I must apologize for such boldness since before Bill challenged our staff; I rarely spent much time memorizing Scripture. Why? Truth be told, I knew it is vital, but failed to live as if I really believed it.

Come join us on our journey of DIGGING DEEPER into God’s Word, but you better hold on because we’re in for an adventure.

Psalm 40
1I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
4Blessed is the man who makes
the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

Commentary:
Doubts and fears about the eternal state, are a horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child of God. There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace enough to help the unworthiest of all that trust in him. The psalmist waited patiently; he continued believing, hoping, and praying.[Matthew Henry Concise Edition-Copyright 2000-2009 BibleClassics.com accessed 2/11/10]

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.”

“Even in our falls the Lord gives a measure of sustaining. Where grace does not keep from going down, it shall save from keeping down. Job had double wealth at last, Joseph reigned over Egypt, Jonah was safely landed. It is not that the saints are strong, or wise, or meritorious, that therefore they rise after every fall, but because God is their helper, and therefore none can prevail against them.”1

Point to Ponder and Apply
Knowing that our lives are so “graciously ordained, fixed, settled and maintained”2 by our heavenly Father ought to so captivate us that we fall down and worship His name.

Are you keenly aware today of the Lord’s hand of grace in and upon your life? In the good and the bad, will you see Him there and trust His heart and hand in the midst of it, no matter what!?

Stephanie

1 E-Sword Commentary on Psalms
2 E-Sword Commentary on Psalms

I was just thinking about “the Road Home” Victory Call and was thinking about “the straight and narrow road we tread.” Then I started thinking about what kinds of “winds” might be blowing at us to knock us off that road. It might be a loss of a job, sudden loss of a loved one, or even just having an argument with a spouse or loved one.

And then I thought of rest stops! They have them on most major highways because they know people are traveling GREAT DISTANCES and they might need a BREAK and REFRESHMENT.

When the winds were blowing the van you could tell it was wearing on Matt to continue for long periods of time. He needed a BREAK. Likewise I KNOW we can get weary on our LONG DISTANCE spiritual journey.

So if you feel the “winds” of life are beating you up, take a “Rest Stop” – BUT – make sure you get the RIGHT KIND of rest and refreshment.

Taking a rest doesn’t mean you give up!!

We NEED refreshment! Even Jesus encouraged us to come TO Him –
Come to Me, ALL who are WEARY and HEAVY LADEN, and I will give you REST. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find REST FOR YOUR SOULS, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 [capitalization my emphasis]

Just as you get off on a rest stop to find a break and REFRESHMENT on your journey, Jesus has counseled us to do the same in our walk with Him.

May you find REFRESHMENT for your soul TODAY!

Sue Mercer
Women of Character Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 37:26
26He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

Over the holidays my family was blessed to travel to FL and back.
We drove…with …five children! But it went very well!

On the last leg of our trip home the wind was really kicking up, so much so it proved a difficult task at times to keep the van ON the road!

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a huge gust of wind would push against the van. We all know wind is invisible, so we couldn’t see it coming. It’s a lot easier to maneuver around something seen. So Matt really had to be alert to keep us headed in the right direction.

It made me think of our “road home” to heaven. Sometimes things blindside us, out of nowhere, to try to push us off the straight and narrow road we tread. We need to be like Peter who encouraged us to be “self controlled and ALERT” because our “enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”

Peter continues, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”

So dear sisters, no matter what “wind” might be blowing to steer you off course, be ALERT, RESIST and STAND FIRM!

Sue Mercer
Women of Character Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 37:25
25I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.

I received a card from a friend. It reads “One of the things I really love about our friendship is how easy it is. There is no reason to be anything but ourselves. We’re just two friends who understand each other by heart.” (courtesy of Hallmark) This statement is so simple, yet so profound. Do we take time to remember those around us with simple reminders such as a smile, laughter, children playing, hand on shoulder, hugs, hearing “I love you,” a kind word, listening ears, music, a glad heart and many more ways to show encouragement.

It reminds me that all of us need to be encouraged and give encouragement. According to Encarta Dictionary, encourage means “to give somebody hope, confidence or courage,” “give confidence, support.”

How well I know personally that should I fail to meet with my sisters in Christ for a season of fellowship, I open myself up to discouragement. To break the chain of discouragement is through encouragement by lifting each other up through words of kindness and deeds. We read this in Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…

In Philemon 1:7 (NIV) Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints, Encouragement comes when we allow others be part of our lives, sharing together with one heart.

My favorite way to encourage others is found in Titus 1:9 (NIV) He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. The more I mediate upon the Word and feast on the goodness of the Lord and stay in tune with the things of the Lord, He gives encouragement to the soul and I am able to share the goodness of the Lord with others, whether in word or deed.

How about you, have you found ways to encourage another today?

PF
Women of Character Graduate

I hope our focus on Scripture reading and memorizing is blessing your heart. It is blessing ours. I know some of you are jumping in now – fantastic. It’s never too late to begin such a worthy journey. We would love to hear from you as we go along as to how God is blessing you. Please share.

My husband caught me off guard one night at my parents’ dinner table by encouraging me to share the Psalm I was memorizing with Mom and Dad! Yikes. I did it with some stammering and hesitation, but I did it. The next day Mom reminded me to be practicing my memorization! Just like my school days.

It’s been wonderful; why not join us? This week’s Scripture is:

Psalm 37:23-26
23The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.
25I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

Commentary:
This Psalm is written by David in his old age. He has seen many years, trials, difficulties, and victories. Yet, He clearly appreciates the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God. He knows from personal experience. As you age, whether you are 20 or 70, are you mindful of the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God?

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Points to Ponder and Apply:

Trust! Delight! Commit! BE STILL!

Now what do you say about those four small but powerful commands? Is our God big enough to act on our behalf against the enemies in our life? More so, do we truly believe that He even wants to?

Sisters, if we say we believe that God is sovereign, righteous and just, then at the very least we can choose today to humble ourselves before Him and wait patiently for Him to give us the desires of our heart.

We can stop our senseless and futile striving to have our way, OUR OWN WAY!!

Selah!!

Stephanie

The paragraph title in my Bible before Colossians 1:13-23 says “The Incomparable Christ.” How can we define Christ and who He is? Incomparable would certainly be one way to describe Christ! My own words would fail. How would we begin to know the Incomparable? Thankfully, Scripture is sure and faithful to tell us who Christ is. We love and serve a God who desires to be known if we will draw near to Him. This passage is packed with answers to the question “Who is Christ?” I fear even beginning to list what is found here because this devotional would become very lengthy! In a nutshell Christ is God Incarnate, Creator, Head of the Church and Reconciler of All.

As a new year begins I hope that each one of us can say we know who Christ is more then we did a year ago. I hope that this year He will reveal Himself to each of us each day and that we would know Christ more by this year’s end! As you read your Bible look for the answer to this question. As you observe Him working in your daily life recognize who He is. Thank Him that He can be known to us. We will not know Him fully until we see Him face to face but let’s know Him as deeply as we can. Let’s also be sure we are committed to knowing Christ biblically. What does Scripture say? It can not be said enough that we know God more fully as we spend time in the Word. We live in a day when everyone will answer the question “Who is Christ?” in very different ways. Some answers are far from the Truth. Let us be careful then to know how to rightly answer.

…you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. Deut. 5:29 NASB

“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 9:24 NASB

Kathy Withers