One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 24:4,5
That says it all.
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 24:4,5
That says it all.
Everyone loves to receive gifts. It makes you feel like a kid again to open up a present given to you by someone close to you. The gesture is even more special when someone gives you something simply because they want to or they have been thinking of you. Its even better when there is no obligation or expectation to receive something on a designated day or for a specific event. Instead, an unexpected gift brightens a day or makes a moment special marking a moment of friendship or love.
Imagine receiving an unexpected gift from someone whom you have offended. You know that you'd be utterly undeserving of kindness from such a person, let alone a priceless gift. Yet, that is just what God has done for us. We , as sinners, have offended God, yet He has freely given us eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son. There is a small catch. We must repent of our sins and give our lives to God, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice so that we may have eternal life.
How many of us would go to extremes, even suffer, to gain a million dollars? Gaining eternal life in heaven requires no extreme sacrifice on our parts and while a million dollars can last a lifetime if used wisely, it will be of no use in the after life. The only thing that will count then is whether you chose during your life to accept Jesus or reject Him.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
Imagine receiving an unexpected gift from someone whom you have offended. You know that you'd be utterly undeserving of kindness from such a person, let alone a priceless gift. Yet, that is just what God has done for us. We , as sinners, have offended God, yet He has freely given us eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son. There is a small catch. We must repent of our sins and give our lives to God, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice so that we may have eternal life.
How many of us would go to extremes, even suffer, to gain a million dollars? Gaining eternal life in heaven requires no extreme sacrifice on our parts and while a million dollars can last a lifetime if used wisely, it will be of no use in the after life. The only thing that will count then is whether you chose during your life to accept Jesus or reject Him.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
Some of the prettiest things are also the simplest or most humble. Take buttercups or dandelions or any other simple wildflower. They just pop up anywhere and in great number cheering up the landscape. If you think about it, each little flower blooms and dies in a day or two only to be replaced by more as long as the season lasts. They aren't fancy or cultivated and no one thinks to plant them on purpose. They are simple in their beauty and no one seems to think of them until they are in plain sight.
The comparison can also be made to mankind:
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
Psalm 103:15-18
The comparison can also be made to mankind:
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
Psalm 103:15-18
Fall is my favorite time of the year. It comes after the unbearably hot, humid August days and provides a fresh welcome relief. The monochromatic green of trees, plants, and grass changes into a beautiful palette of reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and browns usually set against a deep blue sky.
On my way to work one day, in the most unexpected spot, I found a puddle in a parking lot. It was the only puddle in the pavement which happened to be under one of the two trees skirting it. I found it full of yellow leaves arranged haphazardly, yet perfectly. If I ever tried to create an arrangement such as this, I would be so utterly unsuccessful and make a whole mess of it. There is no one like the Creator to make such a beautiful arrangement out of randomness.
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being...
...Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
Psalm 146:1-2,5-6
On my way to work one day, in the most unexpected spot, I found a puddle in a parking lot. It was the only puddle in the pavement which happened to be under one of the two trees skirting it. I found it full of yellow leaves arranged haphazardly, yet perfectly. If I ever tried to create an arrangement such as this, I would be so utterly unsuccessful and make a whole mess of it. There is no one like the Creator to make such a beautiful arrangement out of randomness.
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being...
...Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
Psalm 146:1-2,5-6
