IN CHRIST ALONE... I SMILE...

I was on my way home from teaching last night, after 8 p.m.... deep sighs... exhaustion... a desire to hug my family... a deep need to be alone with my God...

I looked up and there He was...

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My heart lit! Tears streamed! My spirit began to worship in song...

• "God has smiled on me! He has set me free!"...
  
• "In Christ alone, I put my trust... in Christ alone, I put my trust..., In Christ alone, I put my trust..."
  

God has smiled on me! I am blessed! I'm so grateful!

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I woke up early this morning with my young adult children on my mind. Life is tough! I wrestle in prayer for each of them. I know they are wrestling in prayer, too.

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It's before 6 a.m.... deep sighs... exhaustion... a desire to hug my family... a deep need to be alone with God... I just looked up and, above my computer, there He is!

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He's in the 10+ notes that

I have hanging above my computer.

Some are notes of scriptures to remind me....

and some are notes from friends

who allowed God to work through them to bless me...

One is an obituary...

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My heart is lit! My tears have come again! My spirit begins to worship in song...

In Christ alone, my Hope is found.
He is my Light, my Strength, my Song.
This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love! What depths of peace!
When fears are stilled... when strivings cease...
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ, I stand

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God has smiled on me! I'm gratefully...

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~BLESSED~
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IN CHRIST ALONE... NEW... 24/7....

MEDITATION MONDAY

For our elementary Bible school curriculum, there are 3 different ABC lists for the names of Jesus. Yesterday, Debbie discussed the lesson and asked the first and second graders which "name of Jesus" went best with their lesson. About that time, one of the little ones had an Aha Moment! "Hey, look Ms. Debbie, the names of Jesus are in alphabetical order!" Gotta love it! What innocence! Who would have known that an ABC list is in alphabetical order!
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My mind went back to that ABC list often during our worship services and Steve's sermon. Seekers of truth and righteousness, our church family had come together to be encouraged and filled through:

• remembering the WORD
• hearing the word
• the fellowship of believers
• corporate worship, and
• standing together IN CHRIST ALONE.

We went away encouraged and filled!

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Something else that came to my mind repeatedly was our beatitude for this month:
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Blessed are those who

hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

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In his sermon, Steve focused on the word:
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NEW
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He wanted to know what would happen if he could offer us each a...

• NEW car?


• NEW house?


• NEW financial standing?

Then, he asked us to fast forward 20 years in our minds... he showed on the big screen what those things might look like then... UGH! ...kind of discouraging...

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It reminded me of what Jesus said a little further in His Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 6:19-21:

"Do not store up for yourselves

treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves

treasures in heaven,

where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

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Steve got to the bottom line: There is only one thing that can remain NEW.

It is the treasure of Jesus Christ!

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Steve asked us to read from 2 Corinthians 5. Here are some things that were highlighted:

• We make it our goal to please Jesus Christ (verse 9)


• Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (verse 14)


• He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. (verse 15)


• So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. (verse 16)


• If anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (verse 17)


• All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation... that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them... He has committed to us the message of reconciliation... as Christ's ambassadors... making His appeal through us (verses 18-20)


• God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. (verse 21)
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About that time, in Steve's sermon, it was time for me to make connections again:

1. Our beatitude for the month says, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS, for they will be filled.


2. Jesus had more to say in His Sermon on the Mount about this word, in Matthew 6:31-34, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


3. On one of those ABC lists of Jesus, He is the RIGHTEOUS ONE. (Acts 3:14)


4. On another ABC list of Jesus, He is OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
   

This is the NEW that does not age:

• NEW creation
• NEW beginnings
• NEW ministry
  

I can do nothing on my own.

I am a sinner!

My sin separates me from God.

Jesus, the Christ,

offers me something that I cannot give to myself:

RIGHTEOUSNESS

24/7,

I hunger and thirst

for His Righteousness!

24/7,

I am filled!

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24/7,

~BLESSED~

IN CHRIST ALONE...

SUNDAY IN THE SON

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IN CHRIST ALONE medley

as sung by Phillips, Craig, and Dean

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In Christ alone, my Hope is found.

He is my Light, my Strength, my Song.

This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love! What depths of peace!

When fears are stilled... when strivings cease...

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ, I stand.

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In Christ Alone, who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This GIFT OF LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.

'Til on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid,

Here in the death of Christ, I live.

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There in the ground, His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain.

Then, bursting forth in glorious day,

Up from the grave He rose again.

And as He stands in victory,

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me.

For I am His and He is mine,

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

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In Christ alone, I place my trust,

And find my glory in the power of the cross.

In every victory, let it be said of me,

My Source of Strength, my Source of Hope

Is Christ alone.

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In Christ alone, I place my trust

And find my glory in the power of the cross.

In every victory let it be said of me,

My Source of Strength, my Source of Hope

Is Christ alone.

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No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me.

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His Hand,

'til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
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~BLESSED~

HE TOUCHED ME.... WITH GRACE AND JOY...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Catch Up and Must Do

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The more I stay in touch with Jesus, the more I live in His grace and joy.

• It's been over 20 years since I came face to face with the idea that I was "driven by guilt" and not by grace.
• It's been over 20 years since I came eyeball to eyeball that joy springs from a thankful heart - no matter what the circumstances.

He's still working on me! After 20 years, it still does not come naturally! He keeps trying to give me eyes to see and ears to hear what matters. Again, today, He touched me!

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~BLESSED~

HE TOUCHED ME... AND NOW I AM NO LONGER THE SAME...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY:

• Once Jesus touched me, my life was no longer the same! It became about what was best for God and His kingdom of righteousness. I needed to begin daily crucifying my wants, needs, and desires for Him first and then for others. I continue to learn that all of the christian life is a:

• Once Jesus touched me, my life was no longer the same. It became about what was best for God and His family of righteousness... truth seekers... those who make it their goal to please Him. I continue to be amazed at the fellowship of believers, who I call family - those who want to do the "right thing".

• The last few days, I have been thinking about our March Beatitude:

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those

who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

For me, it's been an extremely busy semester, as a teacher of university students. Trying to juggle those responsibilities, plus family responsibilities, has almost seemed insurmountable. Once I began meditating on this beatitude, I began to ask myself, "So what is the right thing to do when my plate is so full of many good things to do." I'd like to look at this more over the next month. Here are a few verses that I'm presently meditating on. I am hungry and thirsty to know what God sees as the right thing for me to do in ALL situations in my life.

These verses are the other verses in Christ's Sermon on the Mount that speak of righteousness:

• Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 6:1-7 Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
• Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It's been a long time since Jesus first touched me.

He continues to work on my heart

to transform me into His image.

He's given me a family who are

pursuing righteousness together.

I am...

~BLESSED~

HE TOUCHED ME... IN A DRY AND WEARY LAND...

March is upon us. Our beatitude for the month is:

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"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled."

There are many Psalms that would connect with these thoughts. I have chosen Psalms 63:1-8 for our scripture memory for this month. Join me today in reading through it. Then, beginning to practice memorizing verse one.

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O God, You are my God,

earnestly I seek You;

my soul thirsts for You,

my body longs for You,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

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2 I have seen You in the sanctuary

and beheld Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify You.

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4 I will praise You as long as I live,

and in Your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied

as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise You.
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6 On my bed I remember You;

I think of You through the watches of the night.

7 Because You are my help,

I sing in the shadow of Your wings.

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8 My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

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O God, Y___ are my God,

earnestly I seek Y___;

my soul thirsts for Y___,

my body longs for Y___,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

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O God, You are ___ God,

earnestly ___ seek You;

___ soul thirsts for You,

___ body longs for You,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

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O God, You are my God,

earnestly I _____ You;

my soul ______ for You,

my body ______ for You,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

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O God, You are my God,

earnestly I seek You;

my _____ thirsts for You,

my _____ longs for You,

in a dry and weary land

where there is ___ ________.

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O God, You are my God,

____________ I seek You;

my soul thirsts for You,

my body longs for You,

in a ____ and ________ land

where there is no water.

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~BLESSED~

HE TOUCHED ME... CALL ME BLESSED...

In February, on this blog, we memorized Mary's words... grateful words full of praise and honor for our God:

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Luke 1:46-52
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46 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the LORD 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.
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From now on all generations will call me BLESSED,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me- HOLY is His name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
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51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
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52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
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If you are a regular to this blog, you have probably read my last Thursday/Friday post and my yesterday post. If not, I invite you to scroll down and join me there as we celebrate these remarkable blessings! Thank You, Jesus!

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~BLESSED~

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