Grace aka God's Favour: 2012

Thursday 16 August 2012

Coram Deo

CORAM DEO

“Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on hearth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

Matthew 28:18-20

It is our Risen Lord, Christ Jesus who says this. We are now to live Coram Deo, in order to live the Redemption, to free ourselves from the lost glory , the loss of our true image - the image of God, the loss brought upon us by the disobedience of Adam and Eve.

The phrase Coram Deo literally means something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

Psalm 1

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
²but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
³He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

The Message (MSG)

Psalm 1

   How well God must like you— you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
   you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.

^2-3 Instead you thrill to God's Word,
      you chew on Scripture day and night.
   You're a tree replanted in Eden,
      bearing fresh fruit every month,
   Never dropping a leaf,
      always in blossom.

^4-5 You're not at all like the wicked,
      who are mere windblown dust—
   Without defense in court,
      unfit company for innocent people.

⁶ God charts the road you take.
   The road they take is Skid Row.

Friday 10 August 2012

Father's Love

James 1 vs. 16 – 18

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession.

1 John 3 vs. 1

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!

When you receive the Love of God which is the perfect love of Father and mother combined, you will be able to understand your earthly parents, you will accept them as they are, with their imperfections. This in turn will help you accept yourself.

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Stay Grounded in God's Favour

Colossians 1:23

English Standard Version

^... if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The Message (MSG) Col 1 :21 -23

You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.

Jesus, my Horn of Salvation

David's song of thanksgiving

"The God of my strength in whom I will trust; My Shield and the horn

of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence."

(2 Samuel 22:3 NKJV)

Jesus, my Lord, in my desperation, I will run to You for my salvation and deliverance and I am sure I will find deliverance, safety and eternal life.I sing with Zechariah :

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

For he has visited us and accomplished redemption for his people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of David his servant—

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old—

That we should be saved from our enemies,

And from the hand of all who hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,

And to remember his holy covenant,

The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,

To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

“Y’shua,” My Salvation!

The child was named “Y’shua,” which is the exact Hebrew word for “salvation.” This baby

came to bring salvation. His name actually means salvation. Every time

someone used his name, they are actually calling out the word “salvation.”

JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, my Y'shua , I thank You for saving me

TODAH

These are the days when I am cornered by my Father so that I will make the only sacrifice He is asking me to do. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. This morning I woke up at 4 am and was led to the Word of my Father. He specifically took me to Hebrews 13: 13 - 15:

Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp [at Calvary], bearing the contempt and abuse and shame with Him.

¹⁴For here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come.

¹⁵Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

The Message version goes like this:

So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name.

According to Billy Graham ,

"Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as is lying or stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible....

Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness."

Let me conclude this by quoting Psalm 100, truly a Todah Psalm :

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
² Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

³Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;^[a]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5   For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his   faithfulness to all generations.

The Message Version of this is really thrilling

^1-2 On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter,
      sing yourselves into his presence.

³ Know this: God is God, and God, God.
      He made us; we didn't make him.
      We're his people, his well-tended sheep.

⁴ Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
      Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
      Thank him. Worship him.

⁵ For God is sheer beauty,
      all-generous in love,
      loyal always and ever.

Tuesday 5 June 2012

I've been carrying you on my back

Isaiah 46:4

The Message (MSG)

^3-4"Listen to me, family of Jacob,
   everyone that's left of the family of Israel.
I've been carrying you on my back
   from the day you were born,
And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old.
   I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray.
I've done it and will keep on doing it,
   carrying you on my back, saving you.

Deuteronomy 33:26-27

The Message (MSG)

^26-28 There is none like God, Jeshurun,
      riding to your rescue through the skies,
      his dignity haloed by clouds.
   The ancient God is home
      on a foundation of everlasting arms.
   He drove out the enemy before you
      and commanded, "Destroy!"
   Israel lived securely,
      the fountain of Jacob undisturbed
   In grain and wine country
      and, oh yes, his heavens drip dew.

Psalm 41:11-13

The Message (MSG)

^11-12 Meanwhile, I'm sure you're on my side—
      no victory shouts yet from the enemy camp!
   You know me inside and out, you hold me together,
      you never fail to stand me tall in your presence
      so I can look you in the eye.

¹³ Blessed is God, Israel's God,
      always, always, always.
      Yes. Yes. Yes.

Isaiah 41:10

The Message (MSG)

^8-10"But you, Israel, are my servant.
   You're Jacob, my first choice,
   descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
   called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
   I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
   There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
   I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Isaiah 40:31

The Message (MSG)

^27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
   or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
   He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
   He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
   And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
   gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
   young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
   They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
   they walk and don't lag behind.

Psalm 91: 1 f

   You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
   Say this: "God, you're my refuge.
      I trust in you and I'm safe!"
   That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
      shields you from deadly hazards.
   His huge outstretched arms protect you—
      under them you're perfectly safe;
      his arms fend off all harm.
   Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
      not flying arrows in the day,
   Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
      not disaster that erupts at high noon.
   Even though others succumb all around,
      drop like flies right and left,
      no harm will even graze you.
   You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
      watch the wicked turn into corpses.
   Yes, because God's your refuge,
      the High God your very own home,
   Evil can't get close to you,