For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
~Hebrews 4:15-16
Come to Jesus with boldness today to receive His grace and mercy–not because of what we have done or haven’t done, but because of who Christ is and what HE has done for us! Hallelujah!
Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that you are a glorious creation of God?
I hardly ever take the time to meditate on this.
One reason for this is that it’s difficult for me to even believe! I am a sinner; I do wrong things all of the time. How is it even possible that I could be called “glorious” by a perfect, sinless God?
And yet, God tells us in His Word:
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.
~Psalm 139: 13-16 (The Message)
If everything that God makes is good (1 Timothy 4:4 / Genesis 1:31), then that means that I am good–and so are you! Our sin is not good, and we need to continually bring it to the Lord in confession (1 John 1:9). But because of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us on the cross, we can say and believe with confidence that we are glorious creations of God.
Take a moment to think about the words to this beautiful song, “Everything Glorious,” by the David Crowder Band:
The day is brighter here with You
The night is lighter than it’s hue
Would lead me to believe
Which leads me to believe
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?
My eyes are small but they have seen
The beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believe
There’s light enough to see that
You make everything glorious
Yeah, You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
From glory to glory
You are glorious, You are glorious
From glory to glory
You are glorious, You are glorious
Which leads me to believe
Why I can believe that
You make everything glorious
Yeah, You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
You make everything glorious
Yeah, You make everything glorious
Oh, You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
From glory to glory, oh, from glory to glory
You are glorious, You are glorious
You are glorious, You are glorious
And You make everything glorious
Yeah, You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
Son or daughter of God, believe it (even if you don’t feel like it’s true): We are His, and we are glorious!
Have you ever noticed that Fall has a distinct fragrance? Cool. Crisp. Refreshing. And with a hint of…spice!
As I took a morning walk with my dog, Daisy, I couldn’t get enough of it!
Since today is the first day of Fall, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on this new season. What types of sights, sounds, and smells do you look forward to during these upcoming months?
How about fire-pits? The roasting of marshmallows. The sight of the leaves changing colors. And later, the crunch of leaves under your feet. Pumpkins. Corn mazes. Comfy sweaters. Warm beverages such as hot chocolate and hot apple cider. Soups and crock-pot meals…to name just a few.
I wonder what God thinks about the fragrances of Fall? Does He enjoy them as we do? The Bible teaches us that our lives are like a fragrance rising up to Him in heaven. What type of aroma are we to our Lord? Do we exude a pleasing aroma by living a Christ-like life? Or is the aroma that we give off one that is offensive, both to God and to those around us?
This Fall season, allow Christ to transform your life–just as He is transforming the landscapes around us. Be open to the areas that He may want to change…and wait in expectation as He makes your life (and mylife) a sweet-smelling fragrance.
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
Knees to the Earth 