In God's Presence

 

It is impossible for us to grasp the greatness of God. It is simply beyond our comprehension. However, God's word give us some really amazing insight into his character.

In the Old Testament very few people were allowed into God's presence in the Holy of Holies because God is just that- Holy.

Now,  because of Christ's blood, that veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies has been torn in two. Jesus is our High Priest, and because of that we have access to the Father. This doesn't make God less Holy. It just means that because of Christ's blood those barriers have been removed.

In God's presence are glory, honor, strength, gladness, and a host of other wonderful characteristics. Our God is truly awesome. We can see that in creation, at Calvary, at the Garden tomb, and in our own lives.

 

God wants very much to be involved in our lives. He wants to be included in every aspect our our marriages, families, careers, etc. God is Great. He cares for us- each individually - even with all of our fears and failures. He can see to finished product in us. Will you let him have a primary place in your life. Give him your cares and concerns. He loves us and wants a relationship with each and every one of us.

Amy

grabbing the Saviors feet

May your weekend kindest friends be one of grabbing the Savior's feet..............although we are unworthy may we hold on even tighter........not willing to let go! May you let His light fill you and allow His blood to cleanse you.

We must remember it was the stench of our ugly sins.............that nailed Him to the Cross and each time we refuse the cup that has been passed to us is when we drive the nails a little deeper.........causing Him more pain and knowing that He stayed up on the Cross willingly!

May we continue to live Easter Sunday over and over again................full of Joy as we.....willingly  learn to die daily!

May we never forget Easter.................that this was our moment..............that we were engraved into the palm of our Savior's hands!

all of grace,

Robbie

 

God's hands and feet

 Oh God let our praises be from our hands as we clothe the naked and use our arms to bring comfort to those who are sick

"We become like the things that we love..."

What is a sacrifice to God?
.............a broken spirit.
I have seen the broken.......I have held the hands of the dying.........I have listened as a husband cried that cry that only comes from losing your soul-mate, I have even held dying children!
I have seen the broken BUT have I been the broken?

     As the world keeps turning and the people keep aching.......it is the me who questions the most high? As Ann Voskamp says; "Practical Atheism?"  She brilliantly said it all with those two words.
Where are our praises?  Do we only reach out our hands only when it's the taking?  We the takers?  We continue to look through the eyes of reason........instead of seeing through the eyes of our Saviour who is the intimate with, "grief."
Romans 8:17;
and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we SUFFER with HIM in order that we may be glorified with him. (our sufferings here in the present are insignificant in comparison with the glory that is to be revealed to us!)Romans 8:18.
    
     If we are the called to give thanks in everything........then why are we selective?
When the emptiness does sing where is our gratitude?

I run to my friends when I am hurt, sad or defeated.  I talk and talk and talk about needing revival,  transformation........a circumcised heart! But have I ever told God?
     Maybe it's the me with my me-ism self that has worked for immediate gratification of earthly rewards rather than waiting for the greatest reward God is keeping for me in heaven?
After church on Sunday I had a revelation....(a life lesson.)  It redefined who I am.  A servant!!!!
  So I will continue to kneel by the beds of the dying..............whispering...........His name.....the only name that matters- "JESUS.........JESUS." And when I look into the eyes of my patients......I will look to see HIS face!  I will quietly whisper praises of thanksgiving knowing in His timing we will see an end to the suffering as we know it and meet Him on the other side of  "glory."
Although the world will keep spinning......and people will keep suffering.... remembering to thank Him in the mist of our pain, or broken-ness proclaims who He is!
     For He who was created for Sin but was sinless.....out of suffering comes Grace!
For He who is the WORD....how much more should we know the WORD first!!!!! The WORD with nail scarred hands.......The WORD who breathed life into the written word.

all of  grace,
Robbie

a quiet repost........as I try and conquer 14 loads of laundry from our travels. Thank you for grace.

for the gifts that keep on coming:
For He who is our peace
For He who is our strength
For He who is our comfort
For the blood of Jesus
For a God who speaks
For a sermon that was handwritten for me
Seeing the living waters flow out of my pastor
Sensing the Holy Spirit in a stranger
Seeking His face
For the ever present God




    
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The Empty Tomb

Trying to live Easter all over again......Aren't we supposed to die daily?
Wanting so badly to live my life like the tomb is empty.........to understand what our Saviour has truly done. Wanting to have the world's biggest conference call.......screaming......."don't miss it!"  The tomb is really empty!
Knowing that the only thing that should be empty in our life is that tomb! Because we are full of His Spirit;  but are we choosing to really live?

Fearful but full....................is how I live.

I can see it...........their eyes wide open with disbelief.........shocked that His body was not there.
They listen! They run.................and in that moment..........they knew what it felt like to truly live like the tomb was empty.

Beauty from Ashes.........from His blood that dripped that day.........which brought us Salvation!

Jesus choose the Cross.....his willingness to take our sin on himself....... to prove once and for all.....his supreme power over death. 

 Why? Why did you do it God? I think about His blood that still runs warm today! I think about Him who was fully God but fully human........He who sweated blood! Wondering if maybe even He had fear of what might come at the father's hand?  He who said;  "not my will but yours!"


Do we realize the suffering that Jesus endured for us? He was God, and with one inhale or exhale He who created the World with a Word could have STOPPED IT ALL!  But He didn't.
He proved to the world that he understands! He knows SUFFERING.
The Word Himself became FLESH.........the Creator who became His creation;  to feel what we feel.........hurt,  pain, He even tasted death.......all for us! 

In John 12 Jesus explains a key reason for his death:  "Salvation." John 12:23 The hour has come for the son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and DIES, it remains only a single seed. But if it DIES, it produces many seeds.

This is a beautiful illustration of the necessary SACRIFICE OF JESUS.
Jesus had to die to pay the penalty of our sin, but also to show His power over death. His resurrection proves he has eternal life. Because Jesus is God.
Jesus can give the same eternal life to all who believe in him. In the very next verse he explains the attitude of his followers. John 12:25, The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

                                                       To enter through the gate which is Jesus Christ himself, we have to die to the old self.
2 Corinthians 5:17;
 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Christians are "New Creations."

 The Holy Spirit gives us new life. It's a gift.....Can we except it?


 This idea is shown in the parable of the wheat kernel. One thing dies in order to become something else. Look at Paul's discussion of the death and resurrection of Christ in:
 2Corinthians 5:14-15,;
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15, And 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.
We should no longer live to please ourselves; we should live our lives pleasing Christ who died for us and rose from the grave.
Daily I live my life in distrust..............with building my own golden calf............falling to my knees crying out HOW? How do I trust? 
And all along it is Jesus himself who has shown us personally, death to self through submission to God.  Not just once a year but daily.....sometimes hourly..............or minute by minute!
Grab tight to the slaughtered Son.........let his blood run over you..................let Him bring you up in His Glory as you....Remember Christ's Crucifixion and Celebrate his Resurrection!
 Let us strive to live our lives pleasing God!

Father we thank you today that You sent Jesus to die on that cross for our sins. Thank you Father for your power over death. Help us to remember to die our flesh daily. Help us to live a life that is pleasing to you. Let us wake up each day remembering......that the tomb is empty!


all is well,
Robbie

In the middle of Holy Week............I can't seem to catch my breath! Husband is in Florida.....youngest child with Nana.......middle one with friends who I haven't even seen............and it's me who flew right in here on Wednesday night in the middle Holy week not able to breath.

The mattresses have no cover the tweens have picked such slumber..........I feel like I can't breath.

I beg and I plead to the teen please don't cry!

No-one here is the waiting...............or the ready for the biggest day of the year!

Watching your on fleshing blood..... heart crack right open is not what I call a walk in the park!

Maybe it's all just distractions.............coming at us from afar..........it's my mom that screams;

"time is short"

I feel like there is an elephant sitting on my chest...........my anxious heart awaits to be eased............"is this how He felt before He wore His flesh nailed to a Cross?"

He who knew what was ahead...........SERVED..............even to the one who would betray Him!

I sit in this broken place where it is the unclean and the teens are captivated by the things of the world. I sit because it is me who can't move until His Grace fills me!

I sit and I cry with my hands open............and I wonder if He hears?

And it's then that He gently whispers saying....." DIE.............die to self...................die to the world.....deny your self the things of this world!

So I open up my hands and I pray.............asking the; "the Kings of Kings and the Lord of Lords....."where are you?" And although my head is spinning me a bit disoriented......my heart knows.................God is right here in this mess..............in this pain............gently reminding me...........that He knows.............He knows what pain truly feels like.

Pain is what He did for us!

Willingly.....it was a CHOICE.

He chose it to save US! His Beloved!

all is well because of Him,

Robbie