Tag: Psalm 8

So, God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, to make them   reflect our nature…”Genesis 1:26-28

Genesis 1:26-28 English Standard Version

26 Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Today, there’s a lot of talk about identity — owning our identity, claiming our identity — and it makes allot of Christians wonder: Does the Bible address this?

What Does God Say about Our Identity?

It turns out God has a lot to say about our identity, and his loving, generous, and merciful guidance starts right in the very first chapter of his holy Word.

In Genesis 1:27, we’re told, “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

That’s right — we’re made in the very image of love and goodness and also perfection itself: God Almighty.

That doesn’t mean we ourselves, on our own, are perfect.

But because we are made in God’s image, we know that we are special to him, beloved, and intentionally created.

We have the potential to be like him, though it is only through the saving power and merciful gift of Jesus Christ we are able to be saved, fully reconciled to God.  

That’s a beautiful and tremendously precious thing.

Many of us struggle with our identity.

Perhaps we self-identity based on our upbringing, or the sins of our past, or even the names bullies mocked and brutalized us on the school playground.

Maybe we’ve given ourselves inflated or false identities, identities that fade with the world.

But as Christians, we get a new and eternal identity.

And God has quite a lot to say about that.

The Bible contains a number of statements God makes about our identity.

Let’s dive in to see what these are.

We Are a New Creation in Christ

Those of us who are Christians get an unexpectedly wonderful gift when we choose to follow Jesus: We are new creations.

We get an entirely new start in life.

All of the mistakes of our past are wiped clean.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

It reminds me of what Jesus talked about with Nicodemus in John 3:3 about being “born again.”

When we are born again as believers, baptized with water and Spirit into God’s heavenly family, we are then able to enter God’s kingdom.

We become part of a new identity, that of “Christ-follower.”

As John explains in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Remembering this clarifies everything.

We Are God’s Children

Another extraordinary truth is that we are sons and daughters of God, part of God’s family. 

John 1:12-13 tells us, “To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Ephesians 2:19 tells us that because Jesus destroyed the barrier between us and God, we who believe are “members of his household.”

Galatians 4:5-7 says that because of Jesus, we were adopted as God’s own — no longer a slave but God’s own child. (Ephesians 1:5 echoes this.)

As Romans 8:16 so passionately proclaims, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

Remembering that identity reminds us to behave as children who honor their heavenly Father.

We are ‘Heavenites’ — Citizens of Heaven

People from Brooklyn are called Brooklynites, while biblical people from Israel were called Israelites. We, however, are told in Scripture that we are citizens of heaven; therefore, we can claim identity as “Heavenites,” people of heaven.

Philippians 3:20 tells us clearly that “our citizenship is in heaven.”

Jesus himself said he was going ahead of us to his Father’s house — heaven — to prepare a place for us there in the many rooms that await (John 14:2-3).

Because we are citizens of heaven, we must take this seriously and do our best to live this way on earth.

Paul writes that we are “Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20), and that’s true.

For many, we are the face of God.

We shine his light and spread his word so that all may know, fulfilling Jesus’s Great Commission that he gave his followers in Matthew 28:19-20 to go and makes disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey.

We are not to love the world and its ways (1 John 2:15-17), but rather to love only God, and second to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).

Remembering that identity reminds us to live our lives in a way that points to him, now and always.

We Are Part of God’s Body

The Bible is clear we are the body of Christ, with every person as a different part (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Some are teachers, healers, or prophets, just like there are eyes, ears, or feet.

Therefore, we must understand that our bodies are not our own.

Bought with a price, they are temples of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Ephesians 1:22-23 says much the same, noting that Christ is our head.

In John 15, Jesus talks about being the true vine, while we are the branches.

As he explains, just as with branches on a tree, they are fully connected:

“If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Remembering that identity helps when we walk in the world.

We Are Forgiven and Free

As followers of Jesus, we have the assurance that our sins are forgiven.

This means we’re no longer destined to agony but liberated for heavenly glory.

We’re not chained to the past but free for God’s good purpose.

As 1 John 2:12 says, “Your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.”

And as Galatians 5:1 reminds us,

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Remembering this helps us stand up straight when on assignment from God.

What are some more identities God gives us?

The Bible is filled with many more statements about our identity: beloved, strengthen, complete, made whole.

Here are only just a few:

At our core, our identity is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

To echo what our savior said in John 15:5, apart from him, we can do nothing.

Our identity is rooted in him, woven perfectly in a protective, loving bind that lasts for eternity.

We receive a God-given sense of purpose and belonging in this, liberating us for the good purposes God has for his glory.

And that is far better than anything this world can offer.

Our Identities in God, the Father, God the Son God the Holy Spirit

Thanks be to God!

In the name of God, the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying ….

Psalm 8 New American Standard Bible

The Lord’s Glory and Mankind’s Dignity.
For the music director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.

8 Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
You who have [a]displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2 From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established [b]strength
Because of Your enemies,
To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.

3 When I [c]consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have set in place;
4 What is man that You think of him,
And a son of man that You are concerned about him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than [d]God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You have him rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put everything under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen,
And also the animals of the field,
8 The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Brothers and Sisters, Guess What? You are not now and never have been, never will be, a Mistake or Accident. Psalm 139:13-16

Psalm 139:13-16 The Message

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Have you felt at times that you were born at the wrong time or wrong place? Do you feel like God misplaced you, thinking you were meant to live in a different family, another country, or time period in history, where you believe you would have fit in better, enjoyed living more, prospered, had a better quality of life?

Or, maybe like one of the many homeless I counseled, been told your entire life that you were an accident or a mistake a waste, you’ve grown up believing it?

But it isn’t true because God doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t put us in the wrong time and place. As well, He hasn’t given people the power to accidentally create another human or assign worth or personal value. Men and women may not have planned the lives of their children, but we know from His word Psalm 139:13-16, that God does plan for all of our eternities which wait far far ahead.

As Psalm 139:16 describes, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”

God carefully created each one of us, as Psalm 139:13 describes, “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

No matter the circumstances of our conception or birth, Psalm 139:14 reassures us of God’s plan for us. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Even so, we may continue to still feel like we don’t know which way to turn in life; some may feel lost, but when we’re not sure which way to go, we ask God to lead us, and He will, like Psalm 32:8 assures, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.”

Life Makes Sense: God’s Story of You

Psalm 139:16 Living Bible

16 You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!

We love stories, but it’s surprising how easily we can end up missing the stories God has written for our lives.

Winston Churchill once famously claimed that history was simply “one . . . unpredictable pathway after another over which we have little, no control.”

In other words, he claimed there was no story behind our experiences in life, only a vast series of unpredictable events over which no one has any control.

Few things are more deadening to your soul than thinking that your life ulti­mately means little more than one unpredictable thing after another.

Yet that’s how we often feel.

On many days we view our jobs or careers or families as where we have “ended up” in life.

In fact, it can seem a bit presumptuous to think there’s some master plan behind whatever situation you are in right now.

But the Bible tells us that the events of our lives make sense because they are part of a much larger story.

The struggles of last month or the victories that we may claim in the next few weeks are not simply chance occurrences.

They are part of a story line that is going somewhere.

The work you do, the people you share life with, the abilities you have, and the weaknesses you struggle with are all part of a diverse collection of ele­ments intended to make for a really good story—the story of you. God’s story of you. 

Do you believe this?

Do you believe God?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 8 The Message

8 God, brilliant Lord,
    yours is a household name.

2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
    toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
    and silence atheist babble.

3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
    your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
    Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
    Why take a second look our way?

5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
    bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
    repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us stewards of sheep and cattle,
    even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
    whales singing in the ocean deeps.

9 God, brilliant Lord,
    your name echoes around the world.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He is gathering strength to show mercy to you. God always takes the time to do literally everything right. Those who will wait for him are the lucky ones. Isaiah 30:18-21

Isaiah 30:18-21 Easy-to-Read Version

God Will Help His People

18 So the Lord is waiting to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The Lord is the God who does the right thing, so he will bless everyone who waits for his help.

19 You people who live in Jerusalem on Mount Zion will not continue crying. The Lord will hear your crying, and he will comfort you. When he hears you, he will help you.

20 The Lord might give you sorrow and pain like the bread and water you eat every day. But God is your teacher, and he will not continue to hide from you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. 21 If you wander from the right path, either to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, “You should go this way. Here is the right way.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Good morning, church family! Today, we’re going to dive into a passage from the book of Isaiah, one that speaks to the very heart of our walk with Jesus.

It’s about God’s favor in times of trouble, His promise of comfort and restoration, and His blessing of divine guidance. These are themes that resonate deeply, especially in these uncertain and challenging times.

Reverend Charles Spurgeon once said, “God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”

I have to ask, Isn’t that a powerful reminder of God’s unfailing love, wisdom?

God’s Favour in Times of Trouble

In the midst of our trials and tribulations, it is often difficult to perceive God’s favor. Yet, the scripture passage from Isaiah 30:18-21 assures us that God’s favor is not absent in times of trouble, but rather, it is most profoundly present.

The first verse, “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you,” is a powerful testament to God’s enduring love and favor towards us, even in our darkest hours.

Favor definition: The Hebrew word for favor, ‘hen’, connotes grace, kindness, and acceptance. It is a divine attribute that God bestows upon His people, not because we have earned it, but because of His utterly boundless love and mercy.

This favor is not a guarantee of a trouble-free life, but rather, it is the assurance of God’s living presence, guidance, and sustenance in the midst of our troubles.

Not a passive concept: It is not a mere comforting thought to hold onto when we are in distress. Rather, it is an active, dynamic force that propels us forward, enabling us to navigate through our trials with courage, resilience, and hope.

It is God’s favor that gives us the strength to endure, the wisdom to understand, the wisdom to stop, be still, sit still stay still and the faith to trust in His divine plan, even when the sum of our circumstances seem bleak and insurmountable.

God’s favor in times of trouble and uncertainty manifests itself in various ways:

For some, it may be the sudden provision of resources in times of need. For others, it may be the unexpected help from a stranger, the comforting words from a friend, or the inner peace that surpasses all understanding. (John 14:27)

Yet, for all, God’s sure and trustworthy promise of favor is the assurance of His utterly unfailing love, His unwavering presence, and His unchanging promises.

A transformative force:

It not only sustains us in our trials but also shapes us through them.

It molds our character, refines our faith, and deepens our dependence on God.

Through the fires of the very hottest of furnaces of affliction, we are so slowly, inexorably, transformed into vessels of honour, newly fit for the Master’s use.

Proverbs 27:17 Easy-to-Read Version

17 As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp.

A testament to His divine justice:

As the scripture says, “For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” God’s justice is not merely punitive; but it is also restorative.

He brings good out of evil, hope out of despair, strength from weakness, and life out of death.

His favor is His divine response to our human predicament, a testament to His commitment to restore, redeem, and renew all things in His time, in His way.

Not a magic wand that instantly removes our troubles;

Rather, it is the divine assurance that in the midst of our troubles, we are not alone, we are not forgotten, and we are not defeated. It is the divine promise that though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear no evil, for God is with us, His rod and His staff, they always comfort us.

The Promise of Comfort and Restoration

2 Corinthians 13:5-10 Amplified Bible

5 Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? 6 But I hope you will acknowledge that we do not fail the test nor are we to be rejected. 7 But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong. Not so that we [and our teaching] may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing what is right, even though we [by comparison] may seem to have failed. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth [and the gospel—the good news of salvation]. 9 We are glad when we are weak [since God’s power comes freely through us], but you [by comparison] are strong. We also pray for this, that you be made complete [fully restored, growing and maturing in godly character and spirit—pleasing your heavenly Father by the lives you live]. 10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, I will not need to deal so severely [with you], in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be used] for building you up and not for tearing you down.

The promises of comfort and restoration are not just a soothing balm for our present pain, but those promises of comfort and restoration also carries with them the solemn assurance of a future restoration that God has planned for us.

God, our Single, Only Greatest Best Friend Forever

Psalm 25:12-18 English Standard Version

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall abide in well-being,
    and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship[a] of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.

I will often picture God sitting on an ornate throne made of rare metals, adorned with priceless jewels, and upholstered in the finest fabric.

Some Bible passages portray God in a similar way.

But, what if, for a moment, we close our eyes, quiet our souls, and imagine God differently? What if God—still in all his glory and splendor—isn’t sitting in lavishness associated with royalty but instead is sitting at the corner booth in a local coffee shop, or on the couch in your family room, eagerly waiting for you?

What if God, who is so excited to see you, suddenly, upon seeing you, leaps from his seated position and embraces you, hugs, like a friend who longs to hear how you are doing and what you have been up to? Would you run away or stay still?

While you are sharing a meal, what if God, in both his divine and human nature, gives you his undivided attention as you sit in a corner booth in Burger King and invites you to share with him your life, your story, your joys, your concerns too?

What if . . . ?

How do you see God today?

Or, maybe a better question: How do you need to see God today?

The beauty of God is that he is not only the King of all creation but also the single most patient most attentive of best friends who will always be near.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 8 Complete Jewish Bible

8 (0) For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of David:

2 (1) Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious
is your name throughout the earth!
The fame of your majesty
spreads even above the heavens!

3 (2) From the mouths of babies and infants at the breast
you established strength because of your foes,
in order that you might silence
the enemy and the avenger.

4 (3) When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place —
5 (4) what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them;
humans, that you watch over them with such care?

6 (5) You made him but little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor,
7 (6) you had him rule what your hands made,
you put everything under his feet —
8 (7) sheep and oxen, all of them,
also the animals in the wilds,
9 (8) the birds in the air, the fish in the sea,
whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

10 (9) Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious
is your name throughout the earth!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us … He Revealed the Father to Us … He Extended God’s Kindness onto Us! Titus 3:1 – 8

Titus 3:3-8 Amplified Bible

3 For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful  desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], 5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,  7 so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). 8 This is a faithful  and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

While doing my morning studies I discovered The Greek word that is translated as “kindness” in Galatians 5:22 sounds similar to the Greek word for “Christ.”

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/gal/5/22/s_1096022

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5544/esv/mgnt/0-1/

chrēstotēs 

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/gal/5/24/s_1096024

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5547/esv/mgnt/0-1/

christos

In the days of the early 1st Century church, that sometimes led to confusion among unbelievers. They weren’t always sure if Christians actually believed in a person called Christ, or if they practiced a religion that focused on kindness.

When one sets their mind to it, when you think about it, that confusion was actually quite a compliment to the first Christians!

How wonderful it would be if the Spiritual Gift kindness stood out as the predominant impression that we Christians gave to unbelievers today.

Unfortunately, kindness may not always be the first impression that comes to mind when people think of Christians being Christians daily and the church.

This is why we must be diligent in our prayers that the Holy Spirit produce the fruit of kindness in us.

As Paul writes in today’s Scripture reading, the kindness of God was the only thing strong enough to conquer our foolishness, disobedience, and bondage to sin, spending and wasting our life in malice, envy, hateful, hating one another.

The  Bible verse Titus 3:4-5 from the King James Version (KJV) states, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

This verse is taken from the book of Titus, which is one of the pastoral epistles written by the apostle Paul.

In this letter, Paul addresses Titus, a trusted co-worker, and fellow missionary, giving him instructions for overseeing the churches in Crete and encouraging the believers there to live godly lives.

In Titus 3:4-5, Paul specifically emphasizes the kindness and love of God our Savior, and how it is not by our own works of righteousness that we are saved, but according to His mercy. This passage is packed with profound theological truths that speak to the heart of the Christian faith.

The first part of the verse highlights the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man. This demonstrates God’s surest loving and compassionate nature towards humanity. Despite our sin, malice and rebellion, God freely extends His kindness and love to us, ultimately through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

This is a central theme in the Christian message, emphasizing God’s love and grace are still freely extended to all people, regardless of their past or present circumstances.

Titus 3:4-5 is a powerful and profound passage that captures the heart of the Christian gospel. It specifically emphasizes the kindness and love of God our Savior, the centrality of His mercy in our salvation, and the transformative ever-ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, unbelievers too.

These truths are foundational to the Christian faith, and they remind us of the amazing grace and love that God has shown toward us, despite our disgusting sinfulness, ultimately leading us to respond in humble obedience and gratitude.

We must pray that the power of God’s kindness that saved us will also be the power that is revealing Jesus Christ, continually transforming our character.

This is what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about.

He wants to make kindness flourish, like the trillions of stars of heaven in our lives so when others notice our abundance, they will naturally think of Christ.

The Kindness of God Saved Us (Titus 3:4-6)

God Saved Us!

Those Three, uncomplicated easy to understand but not accept, words.

That’s what we should take away from this passage.

Three simple words that form the grand slam summary of what it means that God’s goodness and loving kindness have appeared. Three words: He saved us.

God showed up in grace. This isn’t a new line, it’s a new act. The lock box of our condemnation was invaded with the light of God’s glory. The radiance of His majesty has beamed forth onto the stage of history in the Person of Jesus Christ our Savior and things are not the same anymore. God came. And God saved us.

God: the one and only true God, the Sovereign of all things, holy beyond our comprehension, righteous in unapproachable purity.

And then us: creatures with open malice against our Maker, our own neighbors, hyper valuing our goods more than our God, degrading, diminishing, devaluing our neighbors, thereby ourselves, serving our cravings instead of our Creator.

That God would save us. Save. Not disintegrate. Not damn. Not punish. But save.

He saved us.

He saved us.

We cannot fathom the wonder here.

We conspired against him.

We took money to betray him.

We openly, publicly, humiliated him.

We openly, publicly put him on trial, a sham trial that would only lead to one outcome – by deliberately perjuring ourselves against him, to his crucifixion.

This is His action towards us:

An Empty Tomb!

for us …

His Resurrection!

for us …

His Ascension!

for us …

He was still incomprehensively kind to us.

He saved us.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 8 Amplified Bible

The Lord’s Glory and Man’s Dignity.

To the Chief Musician; set to [a]a Philistine lute [or perhaps to a particular Hittite tune]. A Psalm of David.

8 O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!
You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.
2 
Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
That You might silence the enemy and make the revengeful cease.

3 
When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have established,
4 
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
5 
Yet You have made him a little lower than [b]God,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 
You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8 
The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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God’s Plan For Us All: We Should Each Come to Know God, As God Knows, Us. 2 Peter 3:8-9

2 Peter 3:8-9 Amplified Bible

8 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.

Many of God’s plans are detailed throughout the Bible.

He has plans for nations, for people groups, and for individuals. 

Isaiah 46:10–11 summarizes what God wants us to know about His plans:

“My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”

It’s one thing to recognize that God has an overarching plan for the world; it is quite another to acknowledge that God has a specific life plan for each person.

Many places in Scripture indicate that God does have a specific plan for each human being.

It starts before we are conceived.

Lord told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

God’s plan was not reactive, a response to Jeremiah’s conception.

It was preemptive, implying that God specially formed this male child to accomplish His plan.

David underscores this truth: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).

Unborn children are not and never will be accidents.

They are being formed by their Creator for His purposes.

That is one reason abortion is wrong.

We have no right to disrespect God’s plan and violate God’s workmanship by killing a child He is in the process of forming and shaping into His Image.

God’s plan for every human being is that each one comes to know Him and accept His offer of salvation (2 Peter 3:9).

He created us for fellowship with Him, and, when we reject the reconciliation He offers, we live at cross purposes with His plan for us.

Beyond salvation, God also designed good works for each of us according to our gifts, strengths, and opportunities (Ephesians 2:10).

He orchestrated the location, time into which each of us is born (Psalm 139:16).

If He knows the number of hairs on our heads, then He knows us better than we know ourselves (Luke 12:7).

He knows the gifts, talents, strengths, and weaknesses He gave us, and He knows how we could best use them to make an eternal impact.

He gives us opportunities to store up treasure in heaven so that, for all eternity, we can enjoy His reward (Mark 9:41; Matthew 10:41–42).

God’s plan for each person is generally stated in Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

His plan is for relationship over duties.

When we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25), enjoying a loving relationship with the Lord, our actions indicate that closeness.

Pleasing Him is our delight.

His plan unfolds naturally as we grow in faith, mature in knowledge, and practice obedience with all we understand.

As we obey His general plan for His children, we discover His uniquely designed plan for us individually.

We know God’s plan for those who know Him includes reaching others with the good news of reconciliation and salvation (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 5:20).

His plan is for His children to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).

He wants us to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).

He wants us to love other Christians the way He loves us (John 13:34).

As we diligently read, and study and follow His Word, we will discover our own spiritual gifts and abilities that specially suit us to serve Him in unique ways (2 Corinthians 12:4–11).

God’s plan unfolds in our lives as we use all we have exclusively for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

We often become impatient in wondering what God’s plan is for our lives.

But it is not as complicated as we make it out to be.

God’s plan for us is revealed a little at a time as we follow Him, and His plan may look different in different seasons of life.

Hypothetically …

A middle aged person working hard to support the responsibilities of career and family, an older person working hard to successfully get into their retirements.

An already retired person looking to quietly move and gradually settle into their “time away” years, a young person may ask God to direct their steps to His plan for their lives and believes college or vocational training is part of that plan.

But halfway to their happiness and joy through their plans for themselves, they fall ill and must spend an extended and unknown period of time to rest, recover.

Are they now out of God’s plan?

Not if their hearts and souls are set to focus exclusively upon Him.

In that time of rest and recovery and rehabilitation, the young women meets a young man who becomes her husband.

They both love the Lord and desire to serve Him and believe that His plan for them is some ministry or mission field which they have had their hearts upon.

They begin planning and preparation, but halfway through the training, she becomes pregnant with what becomes an unplanned high-risk pregnancy.

Did they miss God’s plan?

Does the Lord have a plan to forsake them?

Has the Lord got a “plan B” to abandon them when things go awry?

Will the Lord abandon or forsake the middle aged person when plans change?

Will the Lord subtly or suddenly turn His face or His back unto the aged when their lives subtly, or suddenly become diverted by health or financial concerns?

Will the Lord change His plan for everyone to come to know Him in these times or from these times and seasons?

Not at all.

Proverbs 16:1-4 English Standard Version

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.[a]
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.

We must recall, God guides and Shepherds us in and unto HIS plan not our own.

The answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

The Lord alone is the one who weighs the spirit.

Commit your work unto the Lord and your plans will be established.

The Lord has made everything for its purpose.

The Lord alone has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:10-13 English Standard Version

10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

All this is of God, from God alone, to fulfill God’s own purpose, plan for them.

Hypothetically,

Perhaps because of their experience caring for a child with special needs, they are able to get closer to God and minister to other families with similar needs.

A person coming through the harsh reality of a Cancer diagnosis may find the need to share their experiences with treatment and surgery – to give comfort.

Whatever was “their planned mission field” will subtly, suddenly look much different from the one they had envisioned, but it is now God’s plan for them.

Hopefully, Prayerfully, Faithfully, Lovingly so …

They are able to look back and see God’s hand in every turn along their way.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 English Standard Version

Fear God and Keep His Commandments

9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.[a] 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with[b] every secret thing, whether good or evil.

“Will God please make up His and my mind so I will know what I am to do!”

We will struggle mightily acknowledging and accepting God’s plan as rarely being a straight shot to, as much as we can tell anyway, a clearly visible goal.

Psalm 57:2 English Standard Version

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

His plan requires of us a journey, illustrated so well in Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, and that journey may be filled with detours and diversions, sudden and slow crawls, stops, and hosts and myriad and myriads of confusing turns.

Psalm 138:8 English Standard Version

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Romans 8:28 English Standard Version

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

But if their hearts and their souls are genuinely set to obey Him in all that they know to do, then they will be at, in the center of His will every step of the way.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 8 The Message

8 God, brilliant Lord,
    yours is a household name.

2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
    toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
    and silence atheist babble.

3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
    your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
    Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
    Why take a second look our way?

5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
    bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
    repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us stewards of sheep and cattle,
    even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
    whales singing in the ocean deeps.

9 God, brilliant Lord,
    your name echoes around the world.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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Whether We Believe It or Not, God Does Have Incredible Plans for Us! Jeremiah 29:10-14

Jeremiah 29:10-14 Amplified Bible

10 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. 13 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and I will [free you and] gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Some years ago the well-known author James Michener wrote a book called The Drifters.

It’s a story about young students traveling aimlessly through Asia and Europe, drifting from one day into the next, without either a plan or even any purpose.

Lots of people today are drifters too.

Even if you have everything life has to offer, you can feel unfulfilled and without purpose, drifting from one day to the next.

Or maybe you feel as if you’ve been cut adrift.

For example, maybe you’ve lost your job and you don’t see much of a future.

Or maybe you’ve lost your spouse through death, separation or divorce, and you feel as if you’ve reached the end of the road.

Perhaps you are in that place in life where you are feeling unfulfilled, at an age where perhaps you are considering a career change but you are unsure what the next career might be or you are struggling with how you are going to finance it.

Or maybe you just retired and you feel as if you’ve been put on a shelf.

Or perhaps you’re permanently disabled and you’re not sure how you can go on.

If you’re feeling adrift for one reason or another, take heart from God’s words to us through His Prophet Jeremiah: “I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and … to give you hope and a future.”

God does not want us to drift through life.

He assuredly, definitely has a purpose and plan for each one of us.

Whoever you are reading this, ask yourself, “What does God have in mind for me? And how does God want to use me today so I can have hope and a future?”

God’s Presence in Our Plans

Jeremiah 29:10-11 The Message

10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

This quote was part of a letter God had Jeremiah write to the Jews whom King Nebuchadnezzar had been forcibly taken captive to Babylon from Jerusalem.

They had been ripped from their homeland, marched, walked, taken to a land where they were aliens and strangers.

I cannot imagine how hopeless they felt. (Psalm 137)

But God had already told them what to do when they arrived there.

What we do not know is how receptive this first generation of exiles were to the message of God, through Jeremiah, of a hope not manifesting itself for 70 years.

Jeremiah 29:4-8 Amplified Bible

4 “So says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the captives whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 5 ‘Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there and do not decrease [in number]. 7 Seek peace and well-being for the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its peace (well-being) you will have peace.’ 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your [false] prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you; pay no attention and attach no significance to the dreams which they dream or to yours,

He told them to build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their produce.

To get married and have children, then give their children in marriage to have more children, to multiply there, to not decrease in their population numbers.

And incredibly, God told them to seek the peace and well-being of Babylon where ultimately he had sent them into exile.

God even told them to pray for Babylon’s welfare.

For in Babylon’s peace and well-being, the Israelite’s would have their peace.

Then God promised that after 70 years he would bring them back to Jerusalem.

He essentially told them to take heart, a measure of solace, He had plans for them, plans for their good, plans for their future, plans to give them hope.

This is a good reminder for us.

We need to regularly remember that this world is not our home.

As the Apostle Peter would later remind his congregations of readers;

1 Peter 2:9-12 Amplified Bible

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are  God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul.  12  Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that [a]for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God [b]in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].

Just as Babylon was not the Jews’ final home, neither is this our final home.

Our home is heaven.

But like the ancient Israelite’s, we are to build our lives here for now.

We’re to seek the good of our nation, our churches, our friends and neighbors.

John 14:1-6 Amplified Bible

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place]  where I am going, you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him,  “[a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

We are to settle in, have generations of family, and build homes – temporarily.

We are to pray for the welfare, the well-being of where God will settle us down.

But we mustn’t forget that after “70 years” – sooner or later – God will come back, His Son, our Savior Jesus will take us unto our ultimate home – heaven.

Those are God’s plans for us.

But he has plans for us now too.

More on this tomorrow ….

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 8 The Message

8 God, brilliant Lord,
    yours is a household name.

2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
    toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
    and silence atheist babble.

3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
    your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
    Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
    Why take a second look our way?

5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
    bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
    repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us stewards of sheep and cattle,
    even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
    whales singing in the ocean deeps.

9 God, brilliant Lord,
    your name echoes around the world.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

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When You Struggle with Self-Worth, Always Try Hard to Remember this: You Are Somebody Special to God!!! 

From my very earliest of years, I have learned so much from just watching the birds. I was raised by my father in the rural country surrounded by the woods, and we also had access to seven sizable ponds, so birds were frequent visitors. One in particular was a Great Blue Heron which would stop there every year. And even to this day, forty some years after leaving the country, it still does!

Watching these birds teaches me so much about God’s love and provision. A variety of birds visit our trees and our yard in Maryland, included are Robins, cardinals, orioles, blue jays, and hummingbirds.  When I study how far some of these birds travel each year, I marvel at how God sustains them throughout their migrations. It’s a joy to scatter sunflower seeds to help meet their needs.

I’ve also seen graceful herons and colorful wood ducks visit the nearby water ways where I live. A few times, a bald eagle has swooped over the lake to grab a fish for supper. In the winter, I regularly hear owls calling to one another in our woods. Each bird’s personality reflects a different aspect of God’s creativity.

All the birds I see or hear inspire me to praise God for the beauty of his creation.

Yet as wonderful as all of these species of birds are, they pale in comparison to the value and importance we people, God’s Children, have in God’s kingdom.

God, the Author and Creator of our life, through Jesus, affirmed our value with this verse: Matthew 6:26 Amplified 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

When You Struggle with Self-Worth, as all of humanity will from time to time, Pray! Always Try Hard to Remember this: You Are Somebody Special to God!!! 

Matthew 6:25-34 The Message

25-26 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and do not get all worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Today, we are going to continue with the subject theme of “Who Am I,” but I believe it is time to discover who the Bible says we are. We have discovered who the Bible said the men of the bible were, but what does the Bible say about me?

Have you ever felt like a failure in life? Have you ever experienced insecurity? Some are insecure about your appearance, your abilities, your personality, your life, your choices? Have you felt unloved and worthless? Have you ever said the following words: “I am not attractive? I can’t do all the things that person can do. I am not good enough. Nothing good ever happens in my life. I am a failure.”

If your mind is filled or being overwhelmed with thoughts of worthlessness, shame, embarrassment and low self-esteem, valuelessness, then it is time this day to address all of that perceived insecurity. Some may ask; “how do I get rid of insecurity that has been there my whole life?” If you have ever felt that way, you need to listen to the messages for the next few weeks, because the only way we can address all those feelings is by realizing that WE are God’s most prized possession! If God had to choose the finest thing that He has ever created – He would choose you and me! We are somebody extraordinarily special to God!

Those thoughts and feelings of being worthless and devalued surround millions of people around the globe and they are the very worst kind of lies from the devil aimed at getting you so down on yourself that you will never experience God’s abundant best for your life. These thoughts try to get you to feel you are just not or never will be “good enough,” so why would God ever want to bless me?” God does not have one child who is not good enough to receive His love.

There are a whole lot of people who never learn how to enjoy victories in their lives because of such low self-esteem. Jesus said that we are to love one another even as we love ourselves. If you don’t like YOU, how are you ever going to like someone else? Low self-esteem is a result of a lack of knowledge, a lack of what I call “GOD-ESTEEM!”. I am absolutely convinced that the core reason so many Christians live way below their privileges as a child of God is because they don’t know that they are blessed and highly favored of the Lord. My favorite saying is, “I’m healthy, wealthy, wise, blessed and highly esteemed, favored of the Lord!!!”

AS WE STRUGGLE WITH OUR SELF-WORTH

We often spend too much of our time focusing on and prioritizing, losing sight of just exactly and exactingly, how absolutely valuable we are to God. Many of us see easily all of the most beautiful and valued things in God’s creation and in other people. Yet we somehow will refuse to value ourselves in light of how God 100% loves us. Some of us get stuck, struggle with feelings of low self-worth.

“Gee whiz, I have this physical or mental health challenge”, “I have a different standard of acceptability amongst my fellow human beings.” “My value and my self-worth are automatically assigned to me differently.” “As mankind assigns me my value, my self-worth, it automatically becomes my standard of living.”

If you struggle with any of these and similar sounding thoughts of self-worth, let Jesus’ words bring you comfort today. Look at the birds outside your window today, consider how wonderfully, automatically, God cares for them. Then pray about how much more he cares for you every day. How valuable you are to him. How much more could you value yourself when you realize, come to experience, echelons far above mankind’s standard of judgement IS God’s standard of care?

Isaiah 61:10-11 English Standard Version

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
    to sprout up before all the nations.

As a change of pace, consider the greatest plans and purposes God has for you, in comparison to birds. Then take the risk and take one giant sized baby step out in a bolder more confident, greater faith, trusting in the value and worth which Jesus places on you, rather than choosing a negative thought pattern.

As you meditate on the truth of God’s Word from the Gospel of Matthew, you can begin to see your great value in God’s eyes. You can overcome feelings of low self-worth when you believe Jesus says you are greatly valuable to him. Slowly, and I believe surely and genuinely, those thoughts can be case aside into the vast, immeasurable expanse and depths of God’s great Sea of Forgetfulness!

CELEBRATE GOD DAILY EXACTLY AS GOD IS DAILY CELEBRATING YOU!!!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, PRAY!

Let us set aside what we perceive and believe to be our value is to the world,

Psalm 8 Names of God Bible

Psalm 8

For the choir director; on the gittith;[a] a psalm by David.

1 O Yahweh, our Adonay, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!

Your glory is sung above the heavens.[b]
2 From the mouths of little children and infants,
    you have built a fortress against your opponents
        to silence the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens,
    the creation of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have set in place—
4         what is a mortal that you remember him
            or the Son of Man that you take care of him?
5         You have made him a little lower than yourself.
        You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6         You have made him rule what your hands created.
        You have put everything under his control:
7             all the sheep and cattle, the wild animals,
8             the birds, the fish,
            whatever swims in the currents of the seas.

9 O Yahweh, our Adonay, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!

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