The High Calling of God

 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"   1 Corinthians 3:16   I am a little behind on my post, but I finished the devotional, "The Greatest Gift" by Ann Voskamp on Christmas morning. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I was especially moved by the reading on December 22 about being a dwelling place for God.  After Christ's ascension, He sent His Spirit to those who had gathered in the upper room- as Christ had directed them. The Spirit of the Lord invaded that room and the hearts of those who were gathered there. And ever since, He does the same! When we allow Him, when we have prepared a room- a place in our hearts- for Him- He comes and invades us~dwells inside of us~lives inside of us~leads, guides and directs us~and speaks to us on a daily, continual basis. The author spoke about how we are God's dwelling place and to make sure that we always have room for Him to dwell in. It wasn't something that I didn...

“ In the same region, there were some shepherds, staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” Luke 2:8 The angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to the lowly shepherds out in the field, watching over the flocks.  The angel of the Lord appeared to these shepherds who were watching, tending to the flock, especially those ewes that may be giving birth in the spring, possibly to be used as  Passover lambs. Just a short distance away, the Lamb of God-our Passover Lamb- was born in a stable. John the Baptist, when he saw Jesus approaching to be baptized, said: "Behold! The Lamb of God.."  That word "behold" means: to pay attention, observe, to experience, discover". We, as the lovers of God, should be beholding the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. We need to be focused on, to see with our mind's eye and to pay attention to Him. In doing this, our hearts and our minds are set on the Lord and other things fall by the wayside. When we focus on the L...

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."   Luke 2:10-11 Fear not! The message is still true today. So many people are filled with fear and anxiety of many things- the unknown mostly. Fear of losing their job, getting sick, not being able to provide for their family. Fear of something happening to their loved ones, fear of growing old, fear of what is coming in the new year. The unknown. We spend so much time worrying and fretting over the future that isn't even here yet and over things that may never come to pass. Fear not!  God says, fear not. The Apostle John said "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment." (1 John 4:18)  If you have ever been in the grips of a panic attack, fear of something coming- you know those words first hand: " fear is to...

  "And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35   Quietness. Can you hear it? The miraculous in the stillness. God works in the quiet, in the stillness, in the small whispers and deep thoughts. Roots grow deep in the quiet of winter. They find water and nourishment deep in the soil.  The miraculous is taking place. Something seems to appear dead- but in the darkness, in the quietness and stillness of the earth- a miracle is taking place, hidden from the human eye. The miracle of new beginnings, new life.  It isn't in the earthquake- the loud and boisterous. It isn't in the fire-of personalities. It isn't in the flood- the flurry of activity and fleshly emotions-- but it is in the still, quietness of the mystery of God in Christ- the incarnate- virgin birth.  Jesus Christ- first conceive...

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ We were talking about Advent- awaiting the coming of a special event or person. During Christmas time, it is inspiring to purposely set aside some time to meditate on and read the scriptures leading up to the birth of Christ.In my previous post, My Christ’s Family Tree, I mentioned that I had started the project from the devotional "The Greatest Gift" by Ann VosKamp. Since then I decided to come up with my own verses and reflections. My Family Tree- began way back in Genesis. Even before that.  But today, I want to focus on Redemption- God’s gift to mankind through Jesus Christ. Redemption means to buy back, pay a ransom, to free from captivity.  And that is exactly what God through Christ did for us.  He sent His Son as a ransom to pay the sin debt and set us free!  Redemption!   Up to chap...