I thought I would start this year off with this Gentle Shepherd devotional.
It is very fitting for the day and something to contemplate on...
Love & Prayers,
Judy
INCOMPREHENSIBLE
(Genesis 1:1)
As we start a New Year, we must strive to put the past in perspective as it fades into the background, regard the present as a point of meditation in light of a new beginning, and the future must be considered in light of hope and expectation. In order to do this we must know how to look beyond ourselves to embrace the purpose for today in light of the expectation we should presently live in for tomorrow. How can we do this?
In the beginning of each new day the heart must always ponder the reality and matters of God. Recently, I watched a video about the wonders of God. The video showed how incomprehensible our God is when it comes to our finite minds and understanding. This comparison was brought out in light of God’s incredible creation. For example, when the earth and sun were compared to the larger stars of our galaxy, the earth became invisible in light of the enormous size of these stars.
The comparison of earth to some of the stars caused me to think about my life in light of the vastness of God’s creation. According to the video, I began as the size of a period at the end of a sentence; therefore, where would this place me in comparison to the universe? Even though we think highly of ourselves, such a comparison reveals just how foolish we can become in the darkness of our ignorance, delusion and overrated arrogance. Clearly, in our humanity, we have nothing of significance to offer or to add when it comes to the vastness of God’s abilities or His creation.
The universe around us should cause us to pause and consider the greatness of God, along with our personal limitations. We will never be able to comprehend the vastness of God. We must beware of becoming too big in our opinions about personal abilities, while remaining small in our understanding of God. We should keep in mind at all times that each new day allows us the opportunity to discover more about God as a means to keep our human frailties in a proper perspective. If we accept this daily opportunity, we will be able to live in light of our future expectation.
Thought: In our attempts to comprehend God, we often make Him small, while inflating our personal biased understanding about the matters of life and eternity.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
Friday, January 1, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Good Day to All....
Just felt like writing a bit this morning... mostly a chatty thing nothing heavy.
I put up a new pic today..not because I like it but because it is something until I get one I kind of like that is new. I have cut my hair since this pic was taken...but feel you all need a face with the blog or something like that.
I am getting itchy to start drawing again and Lynn with the publication 'Many Voices' wants me to do some things for them again. I have in the past and I really like doing that sort of thing. Besides I am getting the urge to be creative a bit. Great stress reliever and another way to express what I feel or whatever....
Finished a new interview with Ronnie McMullen last night to be aired sometime in the next few months on UFO live. I will post that interview as soon as I have the info.
I am feeling pretty weird about the new year approaching. But in truth I always tend to feel weird about any new year... anyway I am kind of feeling like this next year will be a serious year of revelations... good and bad. A year of pain mixed with amazing miracles for the Lambs. I think the enemy will ramp up their thing while the Father will ramp up His power.
Overcoming is the word I would use in this scenario for the new year. But in the context for the Lambs of the true Lord and Savior, Yeshua/Jesus Christ....
This is not a thus saith the Lord word, just something I feel in my heart. I am not a prophet or anything so....I would very much be interested in anything you all might be feeling about the new year to come. I would like to post what you all might be feeling. SO, please write me and we can share.
Again many thanks for all the encouragement and cards, notes etc. this past month from so many of you.... it does matter and means so much to me.
Guess I am through chatting for today...
Until later,
Love & Prayers,
Judy
I put up a new pic today..not because I like it but because it is something until I get one I kind of like that is new. I have cut my hair since this pic was taken...but feel you all need a face with the blog or something like that.
I am getting itchy to start drawing again and Lynn with the publication 'Many Voices' wants me to do some things for them again. I have in the past and I really like doing that sort of thing. Besides I am getting the urge to be creative a bit. Great stress reliever and another way to express what I feel or whatever....
Finished a new interview with Ronnie McMullen last night to be aired sometime in the next few months on UFO live. I will post that interview as soon as I have the info.
I am feeling pretty weird about the new year approaching. But in truth I always tend to feel weird about any new year... anyway I am kind of feeling like this next year will be a serious year of revelations... good and bad. A year of pain mixed with amazing miracles for the Lambs. I think the enemy will ramp up their thing while the Father will ramp up His power.
Overcoming is the word I would use in this scenario for the new year. But in the context for the Lambs of the true Lord and Savior, Yeshua/Jesus Christ....
This is not a thus saith the Lord word, just something I feel in my heart. I am not a prophet or anything so....I would very much be interested in anything you all might be feeling about the new year to come. I would like to post what you all might be feeling. SO, please write me and we can share.
Again many thanks for all the encouragement and cards, notes etc. this past month from so many of you.... it does matter and means so much to me.
Guess I am through chatting for today...
Until later,
Love & Prayers,
Judy
Sunday, December 27, 2009
I am still here...
Just wanted to check in and let everyone know I am still here...
I have been so busy I feel as if I am chasing myself. A lot of road trips back to back as of late along with everything else. Not much computer time to be sure...
Anyway if I can not get back here anytime soon I want to ask a New Year's blessing for everyone...
You all have been such a blessing to me.... you have no idea how much. Every time I feel as if I can not make one more step, someone out there encourages me and pushes me on. I know that without all of you praying I would never be able to walk this walk at all.
So with saying all of that I shall leave you with this wonderful message...
Love & prayers,
Judy
Reading: Ephesians 6:16
SHIELD OF FAITH
We cannot get to heaven without faith. We know we cannot please God without this active virtue. It is clear that faith is what enables us to walk forward in our life in Christ. Therefore, it is important to note that faith is associated with the shield. The Bible tells us that the Lord is our shield. In fact, a buckler was a shield. King David made this statement: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him” (2 Samuel 22:31 ).
According to the information I read about some of the shields in Jesus’ day, there was one particular shield a soldier could actually hide his whole body behind in battle. Therefore, he had complete protection. This reminds us that to hide in Jesus, we must truly trust Him with what is going on around us. We must hide behind Him because He is truth. We must not move until we know we can walk in righteousness. In this way we know we can be completely surrounded by His incredible protection.
This is why the writer of Hebrews stated that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Our faith begins with Jesus where we put our trust in Him for salvation. As we learn to hide in Him by faith, we learn to trust Him for the life and type of protection that has been promised to us.
The shield of faith protects us from the fiery darts of the wicked. These darts can be lies, false accusations and doubts. They are attempts of Satan to make inroads into our life so that he can rob us of confidence towards God, kill our trust in His commitment towards us, and destroy our abiding foundation we have established in Him as our Rock of Ages.
By standing behind our shield of God, we will quench the fire and impact of these darts as they try to penetrate our lives in Christ. Make sure you hold your shield up against such attempts. If you do, the influences and attempts of the wicked one will fall to the wayside.
Prayer: Lord, we praise Your name. You have become our shield in which we can quench all the darts that come from the enemy. Amen.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
I have been so busy I feel as if I am chasing myself. A lot of road trips back to back as of late along with everything else. Not much computer time to be sure...
Anyway if I can not get back here anytime soon I want to ask a New Year's blessing for everyone...
You all have been such a blessing to me.... you have no idea how much. Every time I feel as if I can not make one more step, someone out there encourages me and pushes me on. I know that without all of you praying I would never be able to walk this walk at all.
So with saying all of that I shall leave you with this wonderful message...
Love & prayers,
Judy
Reading: Ephesians 6:16
SHIELD OF FAITH
We cannot get to heaven without faith. We know we cannot please God without this active virtue. It is clear that faith is what enables us to walk forward in our life in Christ. Therefore, it is important to note that faith is associated with the shield. The Bible tells us that the Lord is our shield. In fact, a buckler was a shield. King David made this statement: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him” (2 Samuel 22:31 ).
According to the information I read about some of the shields in Jesus’ day, there was one particular shield a soldier could actually hide his whole body behind in battle. Therefore, he had complete protection. This reminds us that to hide in Jesus, we must truly trust Him with what is going on around us. We must hide behind Him because He is truth. We must not move until we know we can walk in righteousness. In this way we know we can be completely surrounded by His incredible protection.
This is why the writer of Hebrews stated that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Our faith begins with Jesus where we put our trust in Him for salvation. As we learn to hide in Him by faith, we learn to trust Him for the life and type of protection that has been promised to us.
The shield of faith protects us from the fiery darts of the wicked. These darts can be lies, false accusations and doubts. They are attempts of Satan to make inroads into our life so that he can rob us of confidence towards God, kill our trust in His commitment towards us, and destroy our abiding foundation we have established in Him as our Rock of Ages.
By standing behind our shield of God, we will quench the fire and impact of these darts as they try to penetrate our lives in Christ. Make sure you hold your shield up against such attempts. If you do, the influences and attempts of the wicked one will fall to the wayside.
Prayer: Lord, we praise Your name. You have become our shield in which we can quench all the darts that come from the enemy. Amen.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
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