(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

To please YOU my Beloved is the purpose of my life,

To keep a heart set on YOU full of purity, that brings YOU great delight,

To bring YOU joy every moment that I draw breath,

To pour my life to YOU in love till none of self is left.

I want a heart so deep imprinted by YOUR love,

That I reflect my wondrous LORD who reigns above,

For my hands to be the hands of The SON of Man,

To love YOU and love my brother and do all for YOU I can.

I know that I could never earn YOUR grace,

It is a gift that burns in me such yearning for YOUR face,

I have naught within myself for me to commend

In glad surrender to YOUR will do I mine bend.

The greatest joy that I have known is knowing YOU,

I love everything about YOU and all that YOU would do.

Eternity could not contain YOUR great and awesome heart,

Beloved clasp me to YOU, do not ever let me depart.

thought for the journey …

Oh the Grace of our Awesome SAVIOR! That HE has called us to HIMSELF, that HE has chosen us - that HE loves us. How profound that is - how it defies our comprehension; HE is utterly HOLY, sinless in ever atom of HIS being, so full of purity and goodness, so blazing with light and righteousness that were we to gaze upon HIS uncloaked glory in our fallen humanity it would annihilate us, sear the very flesh from our bones. As Isaiah cried out when he glimpsed HIS glory and radiance, so would we …. Isaiah 6:1-5 “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw The LORD sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of HIS robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said; ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is The LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of HIS glory!’ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said; ‘Woe is me, for I am undone(destroyed, cut off)! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen The KING, The LORD of hosts.’“

As Moses discovered in the desert at Horeb, the mountain of GOD, even a glimpse of HIS ‘cloaked’ glory was terrifying … Exodus 3:2 -6 “And The ANGEL of The LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush ….. So when The LORD saw that he turned aside to look, GOD called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then HE said, ‘Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.’ … And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon GOD.”

This is our HOLY, Awesome, terrifying, gracious SAVIOR - HE who bids us … “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.

Through the Blood of CHRIST - the unfathomable act of SELF sacrifice that had GOD The SON lay down and offer up HIS own life in exchange for ours, that took our place in the Righteous judgment of A HOLY GOD against sin, so that HE could make a place for us to dwell eternally with HIM - we have unfettered access to the very throne of our HOLY GOD.

How amazing is that! How blessed beyond compare are we! The tender love of a sinless GOD reaching down to pluck us from the prison of our own making, from the captivity and bondage of our sins that kept us blind, deaf, bound and lost - HE stretched out HIS hands of rescue before we asked or sought HIS help; because of the value and worth HE saw in us, because of the great love with which HE yet loves us; how Great is GOD our Redeemer!

So let us choose a life that is abandoned to HIS will, yielded to HIS desires; let us live life as an unending expression of our eternal gratitude - that HE did not leave us on the hell bent path of our own choosing, but HE stepped in and rescued us upon The Cross in the ultimate act of Atonement! For truly HE is worthy!

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve GOD acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our GOD is a consuming fire!”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2009

All about you things are crumbling, uncertainty and fear

Anxiety encroaches swallowing you, it’s a hole, you can’t go there

The things that you once trusted, Gone!

In shreds, an economy now busted, not strong!

You face a dark horizon, stormy clouds are all about

Your reference points have disappeared, so scared you want to shout

Frozen and immobilised, you don’t know what to do

Panic squeezes and grips your mind, in prison it’s holding you

O hear the voice of your great GOD as HE speaks to you HIS plan

Your safety and security are not in this world but in HIS SON’s hands

Don’t by your mountains be overshadowed and dismayed

But by HIS protection be held, as you nestle close and obey

There is not a thing you are facing HE hasn’t known

If you trust in HIS goodness by this howling wind you’ll not be blown

Your life HE would cover in HIS shielding grace

HE offers power and provision for those who seek HIS face

Your life must be built on foundations immovable

HE’s our Fortress and Rock, strong and unassailable

HIS care for you is constant, mighty and true

HE knows what you need and your good will HE do!

thought for the journey …

The best way to find out ‘who’ or ‘what’ we are leaning on is to have the rug ripped out from underneath our feet - only then can we see what foundation we have been building our lives upon. What are you trusting in? What, or who makes you feel safe, secure and held?

Hebrews 12:26b-29 “‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve GOD acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our GOD is a consuming fire.”

The removal of those things that are being shaken..things that are made …. things which cannot be shaken may remain…we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken ….

There is only One safe foundation for us to be built upon - CHRIST, The Stone which ‘the builders’ rejected Who is The Chief Cornerstone! Our economy may be tottering, ready to fall headlong into an abyss, the things we have known and comfortably shared our lives with may be all sliding down the proverbial gurgler … in truth we are facing a very uncertain future, uncertain to us that is - but not to our LORD and SAVIOR. When HE has finished ’shaking’ us, let us pray that HE finds an unshakable, strong foundation of trust and confidence in HIM - in HIS power and ability to ‘keep’ us!

Psalm 81:7 “You called in trouble and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah(Strife or Contention). Selah.” 

GOD desires to know our hearts - and more importantly, for us to know our hearts. How easy it is to profess trust in HIM when the sun is shining and all is right in our world - we don’t know the truth about ourselves until all contenders for our trust and faith are stripped from us and we stand naked before our GOD, either crying out to HIM in hope and desperation, or railing at HIM for taking away the comforts and securities we have been trusting in.

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For HE HIMSELF has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me!’”

So let’s hold tight to our GOD, let’s trust in HIS word, and trust HIM to keep HIS word - for HE is TRUE! HE will keep us, come what may if we choose to depend upon HIM above all else and we put our confidence in HIM and HIS trustworthiness and goodness, and we make HIM our ‘Hiding Place’ - HE is YHWH Yireh ‘The-LORD-Will-Provide’ (Genesis 22:14).  Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”

Psalm 84:11 “For The LORD is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will HE withhold from those who walk uprightly!”

HE is our ROCK! Don’t build your life on anyone or anything else, but be built upon The CHRIST Alone!

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

“Let me give you a description of the Agape love-feast of GOD, let me tell you what HIS loving, benevolent affection is like – this love that is of HIM and from HIM:

This love has a long temper, not a short wick, it patiently endures and it suffers long – in difficulty and in duration. It’s longsuffering and it doesn’t lose heart; not only that, it’s slow to anger and to punish. It’s a long-spirited kind of love.

It’s also a love that is kind and useful – it shows itself to be useful to others and it acts benevolently.

This love from GOD doesn’t get all hot and bothered, all fired up with wanting what others have. It doesn’t envy and earnestly covet (selfishly and greedily) what others have or are. It doesn’t zealously seek or burn itself out trying to have or to be what others have or are. Nor does this love go around boasting about itself, it’s not a puffed up, self-inflated braggart, nor is it haughty and proud, vaunting itself over and above others.

This love will never be found behaving rudely or acting in any unbecoming or unseemly way. GOD’s love is always comely.

You won’t see Agape love plotting for its own benefit; it won’t seek and strive after its own conceits. It’s not like that, it’s not consumed with itself and it has no desire for, nor does it require ‘What’s in it for itself.’ And it isn’t the kind of love that gets roused to anger or exasperated or provoked by situations or people. It won’t get alongside you and then get all ‘sharp’ – all difficult and dangerous.

It is the kind of love that doesn’t count or number, or estimate and calculate the bad, the injurious, the worthless or even the evil that is done to it. Nor does it take an inventory or keep an account of the lack in others which reveals bad character; or of that which is ill or depraved. In other words this love doesn’t fill its mind and meditate on, or keep a mental list of all kinds of wicked things – even if it suffers as a result of these things.

This GOD-like love cannot be full of cheer, happy and calm, it can’t ‘be well’ and it can’t be glad about injustice and unrighteousness, or wrong being done. You won’t find it rejoicing in iniquity or being joyful over lack of uprightness or of not being right in character, act or life. But it can, and does, rejoice together with truth; and with sincerity and integrity of character. It sympathises in gladness with truthfulness – with the truth, unconcealed and manifest; that which is true, the veritable essence of a matter; this it congratulates.

And Agape love holds out and bears up against anything and everything with patience and forbearance. It protects and it preserves and it does this by covering and by keeping off whatever threatens the outworking and demonstration of this special kind of love. It suffers and endures patiently. It puts a ‘roof’ over whatever or whoever needs protecting, and it covers with its silence whatever requires its protection – it doesn’t shame or expose others, even if it has to be the one to endure suffering.

This love entrusts itself to GOD, its well-being to HIM, it is reliant upon and totally committed to CHRIST. This love believes in HIM and places its confidence in HIM – it credits Him with being completely trustworthy. This love also has faith, trust and confidence in others – it believes in them too. That’s the kind of love it is – the kind that believes in GOD, in ‘WHO’ HE is and is persuaded that it can depend and rely upon HIM and the kind of love that believes in the value of others – as GOD does!

And this love is marked by ‘hope’ – the people who love this way, with GOD’s love, are people of hope and expectation. They look to the future with assurance, anticipating it with pleasure and a favourable, confident expectation in all things, for that is what Agape love is like.

It is a love that perseveres and bears up courageously under suffering. You’ll find it staying put and remaining – it doesn’t run from trials and hardships, trying to escape or avoid them. Instead it abides, taking it all patiently as it undergoes suffering. It has fortitude and chooses to stay under the difficulty and burden of trials.

Finally, this love, this Agape GOD breathed love NEVER fails, you won’t find it dropping away, or being driven out of its course. It will NEVER be lost or become inefficient and it will NEVER perish or become powerless or ever be without effect. GOD’s love NEVER ‘falls out of’ love! ….

….So this is what I say to you – chase hard after this love, pursue it violently. Be given to this love, to follow after it and to press towards it always. Never give up, focus on it and be consumed by capturing it – this amazing love of GOD, and never let up in your pursuit of it; almost as if you’re ‘persecuting’ it!

….For GOD is Love – Agape – loving, benevolent, affectionate. A Love Feast!

thought for the journey ….

This is the heart of our SAVIOR - LOVE; powerful, self sacrificing, enduring love! So let’s heed the voice of our Great GOD - let’s pursue HIS love in all we say and do. Not the emotional, touchy feely imposter that often masquarades as love, but The FATHER’s love - a strong love that is not afraid to ‘take up its cross’ and lay down its own life, that is fearless, that serves, and a love that speaks the (sometimes) hard truth even if its painful to hear, because it cares more about the person than it does their ‘pride’!

1 John 4:7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of GOD; and everyone who loves is born of GOD and knows GOD. He who does not love does not know GOD, for GOD is love. In this the love of GOD was manifested toward us, the GOD has sent HIS Only Begotten SON into the world, that we might live through HIM. In this is love, not that we loved GOD but that HE loved us and sent HIS SON to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another!”

Romans 5:5 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of GOD has been poured out in our hearts by The HOLY SPIRIT Who was given to us.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

Life at times can turn with slow, monotonous grind,

Dreary, pallid days linger listlessly in your mind,

A dull and flat horizon turns into years that endlessly unwind,

The dreams that once enthralled you are somewhere left behind.

You wonder how you got here, on such an arid ‘scape,

When hope began to wane, your joy with it did take,

And somewhere in the grey, dim past your heart began to break,

And now you grapple desperate, for a way out, an escape.

Your future looms before you, an uninspiring plain,

When did you trade your mountains for this lonely, flat terrain?

You gaze about with sadness, regret - you sense its pain,

And then you hear HIS echo, “To trade death for Life I came!”

Remember the refrain of grace, by distraction, neglect - abused!

And do not turn your back on HIM, by your unbelief accused.

As faltering you reach out, with rusty faith, poor used,

Let HIM take your heart in HIS, in love and hope be fused.

HE will strip the mist away that grips you in its sway.

HE will blow the darkness, fill you with HIS light, a ray.

HE will take your dreams, and breathe in HIS hope this day,

If you but yield your heartsong and trust HIS will to have its way!

thought for the journey …

Perhaps you find yourself in a place you never dreamt possible - a place of hollow hopelessness and grinding boredom? Did your heart once drum with excitement, expectation - and hope? Do you find yourself disturbed, confused and dismayed at the empty and arid condition of your heart? Did faith in GOD once burn brightly within, was there a time you loved to draw aside and simply spend time alone with JESUS, did HIS word once inspire and ignite your heart? Has passion and love been slowly replaced by cool indifference?

How did this happen to you, what went wrong? How do you get back? Are you afraid of your own entrenched cynicysim? Can you ever ‘return’?

Jeremiah 3:22a “Return you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings!”

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek The LORD, till HE comes and rains righteousness on you!”

 Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek The LORD while HE may be found, call upon HIM while HE is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to The LORD, and HE will have mercy on him; and to our GOD, for HE will abundantly pardon.”

It’s not complicated - it takes a simple act of your will, a determination to ‘return’, to ‘repent’ - to come home; HE awaits you more eagerly than you could ever dare to imagine - for to HIS heart you have ever been most dear!

HIS call to you echoes HIS call to the Corinthian church, and to the lukewarm Laodiceans - ”Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2a). Don’t delay even a heartbeat longer, return to HIM in all your wretched need - Now! 

 Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with ME.” Can you not hear HIS voice calling you? For it is HE who is reaching out to you, calling you to return home to HIM!

(C) Cheryl Howard 2009

YAWEH Alone is GOD Most High; Holy, Righteous ONE

The ONE True GOD does rescue us, through the Cross of HIS SON.

All about imposters strut, proclaiming loud their lies

Do not embrace the devourer’s ‘truth’, for if you do you’ll die.

For GOD will not be reduced to our size, HIS image we can’t change

With our humanistic reasoning, we think this odd and strange.

In the marketplace of ideas and idols we are quick to reject the truth

Offended by HIS rightful claim, we serve ‘self’, elevating experience as ‘proof’.

It is not the lot of man to define the truth, for it is absolute

And should we dare to claim it’s ours, then we are foolish, duped.

Only a sinless, Holy GOD Who exists outside of time

Can give to us eternal truth on which to build our lives.

Tis an ancient lie that whispers sweet, ’You can be as GOD’

Seductive is its endless refrain, its way have many trod.

Destructive is its widening path, that leads to hell’s broad gate

Its appetite to worship self, though cloaked in ‘piety’ you’ll never satiate.

For we are not our deity, we have no god within

All of us share common ground, crippled by our sin.

Only ONE could rightly claim to be Truth and Life – The Way

HE Who took our judgment place offers love and forgiveness each day.

We can not achieve our ‘godhood’ – we’re indebted to HIS grace

And to HIS heart our own must yield – if we would see HIS face.

In humbleness and penitence to CHRIST alone we may come

Then SPIRIT of GOD in us will breathe Life and make of us HIS home.

Through the Cross of Calvary, the shed blood of HIS SON

Incarnate GOD, The WORD made flesh, bids lost sinners to HIM run.

Such manifest and manifold mercy displayed for you and me,

If we would surrender our lives to HIM, then HIS Life in us would be!

thought for the journey …

The Divine Exchange … HE took our place!

Our defeat         - HIS victory

Our sin               - HIS righteousness

Our judgment    - HIS forgiveness

Our punishment - HIS mercy

Our separation  - HIS reconciliation

Our lostness     - HIS rescue! The Cross!

HE bore our sin, our sickness, our judgment and punishment, HE was cut off in our stead - and HE secured for us forgiveness, healing, mercy, reconciliation and righteousness. In a word the ‘Cross’, HIS startling rescue of lost sinners, was Grace! Unearned and undeserved - yet lavished upon us by a Loving, Holy GOD!

John 6:44 “No one can come to ME unless The FATHER who sent ME draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

1Peter 3:18 “For CHRIST also suffered once for sins, the Just for the unjust, that HE might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by The SPIRIT.” Truly we have cause to celebrate, to shout to a lost, deceived ’self’ worshipping world that there is One True GOD - and HE loves them and is willing that not one should perish - to urge them to hear HIS voice calling them “Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2b), to urge them to yield their very heart and soul to HIM - to say ‘Yes LORD!’

Psalm 105:1-4 “Oh give thanks to The LORD! Call upon HIS Name; make known HIS deeds among the peoples! Sing to HIM, sing psalms to HIM; talk of all HIS wondrous works! Glory in HIS Holy Name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek The LORD! Seek The LORD and HIS strength; seek HIS face evermore!”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2009

The filth, the stain, the stench of sin

It clings to man, foul rot within.

Held captive in our minds and hearts

By its grip on us, from our life’s start.

We cannot shift it from our lives

Though we struggle and fight, against it strive.

In a prison bound by self and pride

Our anarchy and rebellion keeps us trapped inside.

Into this pit came Incarnate GOD

HIS brilliant Light piercing through our fog.

The Blood of CHRIST dying on a Cross

Alone can cleanse, bring pure gold from our dross.

HE turns our lives utterly inside out

As we lay down our ‘self’ and of HIS glory shout.

Our crosses gladly shouldered each day

Following HIM with single will – to honour and obey.

HE will return for a spotless, glorious bride

One who’s loved HIM in purity and walked by HIS side.

A people of power who’ve shown HIS love to the needy

Seen HIM free bound captives, spurned all that is greedy

The call of The CHRIST, the cost of the Cross

In the power of HIS SPIRIT, reconciling the lost.

Proclaiming in reverence HIS Holy Word – HE is Incarnate GOD!

Fearless and uncompromising, as in HIS footsteps we have trod!

thought for the journey …

John 12:25-26 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves ME, let him follow ME; and where I am, there MY servant will be also. If anyone serves ME, him MY FATHER will honor.”

The ‘Call of The Cross’ - what a challenge it is, the laying down of our lives, of our will and ambitions; and the taking up of HIS desires, HIS purposes - of HIS heart! The overflowing gratitude for a life rescued, redeemed and reborn!

1 Peter 1:17-19 “And if you call on The FATHER, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the Precious Blood of CHRIST, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.”

How sobering and liberating is the knowledge that HE Alone is the One to whom we will give an account - HE Alone is the One we should be living to please. For HE Alone is the One who redeemed our lost lives, who ‘brought’ us back from the brink of hell and who ‘bought’ us back with HIS own Precious Blood - at the cost of HIS very own Life!

We have sooo much to live for in HIM, The Cross should be at the center of our lives - The Risen CHRIST of The Cross!

Let us rejoice and give HIM all the glory - for HIS Cross; for HIS calling of us and for HIS saving grace, for a new life in HIM! We have such a future, such a hope - let us not keep it to ourselves, but let our hearts burn with HIS heart for all humanity;let it overflow our lives and our lips, proclaiming loud The Good News in CHRIST JESUS!

Let us bear those precious souls GOD has intersected our lives with in prayer, knowing “HE is willing that NONE should perish”, and intercede on their behalf - that CHRIST, by HIS SPIRIT, will invade their lives, and that The FATHER will draw them to HIS SON - to the Cross of HIS SON!

John 6:44 “No one can come to ME, unless The FATHER who sent ME draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 12:32-33 “‘And I, if I am lifted up from the earth will draw all peoples to MYSELF!’ This HE said, signifying by what death HE would die.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

Vulnerable HE hung on a cross on a cursed hill,

Battered and bruised and bearing all our ills.

A sight too achingly common, yet unspeakably rare,

Unrecognized, DEITY, for all humanity hung there.

Shame inexplicable, degradation beyond compare,

The single motive – Love, for lost sinners did HE bear.

To the ends of creation HE willingly did go,

To give us life in HIS death – HIMSELF did HE sow.

A rescue unparalleled, breathtaking and ambitious,

Only GOD could conceive, so costly and audacious.

HIS own life did surrender, yielded up for all,

Hear HIS longing resonate, crying, “Respond to MY call!”

You were there in HIS heart, HIS yearning, HIS thoughts,

It was in spilling HIS blood your salvation HE bought.

To HIM you were worth every agony HE had to endure,

And you’re yet in HIS heart - let HIM your rescue secure!

thought for the journey …

1 Corinthians 2:2 “For I determined not to know anything among you, except JESUS CHRIST and HIM crucified!”

The Cross of Calvary - how familiar many of us are with this object of suffering, sacrifice, substitution and death; and how often we’ve heard its message of resurrection Life and of victory!

Yet …. how well do we really know The Cross? Is it reality in our lives, do we live daily under its shadow, do we grasp its reach of grace, do we fathom its bloody price? Do you see The Cross as a “symbol” or do you know it in its power? The power of GOD ALMIGHTY to justify us, to conquer, atone and defeat our sin! Do you recognise and truly know THE CHRIST Who hung upon its crude beams, giving up HIS sinless Life in substitute for ours - so hating our sin, yet so loving us lost sinners that HE was willing to take our judgment and punishment?

How intimate are we with the power of HIS resurrection life coursing through our veins? Have we “died” with HIM, and are we now “living” in HIM?

We are called to a life that echoes the truth of Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with CHRIST; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST lives in me …..”

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 “but we preach CHRIST crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block (offense) and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD!”

Romans 5:6-10 “For when we were still without strength, in due time CHRIST died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But GOD demonstrates HIS own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by HIS blood, we shall be saved from wrath through HIM. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD through the death of HIS SON, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by HIS life!”

1 Corinthians 15:16-17 “For if the dead do not rise, then CHRIST is not risen. And if CHRIST is not risen then your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”

Hallelujah we belong to, and serve, a Risen CHRIST - HE conquered sin and death - so let’s live in that “blood washed” and “blood bought” knowledge!

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

Because we have JESUS as our HIGH PRIEST and HE has compassion for us and HE sympathises and commiserates with us in our weaknesses in every area of our lives – our feebleness, our moral frailty, our sickness and our lack of strength and power – and not ony that, HE understands us; our needs, our struggles and our suffering. So because HE knows what we are going through, let’s come with boldness and confidence, with assurance of a loving welcome; let us approach openly, not hiding or hanging our heads afraid of our reception, but with frankness, bluntness and freedom of speech, let’s be unreserved, speaking openly and clearly and saying exactly what we’re thinking - to the Throne of Grace! To the seat of GOD’s own power, and of HIS very graciousness toward us and of HIS favour to us and on us!

Let us not hold back, but rather come to this throne of our Gracious GOD so that we may lay hold of, seize, obtain and receive the very mercy that HE offers us – HIS compassion that removes the misery that sin brings into our lives! And also at this throne of GOD’s gracious favour we are able to find, to see and perceive, to obtain and to get help – timely help and aid from our GOD Who gives us HIS favour and grace.

HE will wrap ropes around us, to hold us up out of danger, to prevent our demise just like sailors do to save a ship or a boat that is in danger in treacherous conditions. HE will lift us up and rescue us with well-timed, opportune aid – right when we need it!

thought for the journey …

The Throne of Grace!

We should be forever grateful that such a throne exists ….. imagine our worlds without it! How blessed we are that not only does our GOD sit enthroned upon a throne of grace, but HE bids us meet HIM there! Because of CHRIST - our GREAT HIGH PRIEST! Not only are we invited to meet with HIM there, but we are called to run to HIS throne of grace whenever we are in need - in any and every area of our lives; and there HE offers us real and literal help.

Hebrews 5:9 “And having been perfected (greek ‘teleioo’ = to fulfil), HE became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey HIM,” As we follow and obey our SAVIOR we can rest confident in the completeness of HIS work of grace on our behalf upon The Cross - HE made a way where there was no way, HE opened wide the throne room of ALMIGHTY GOD’s grace for us, paving a path that was washed in HIS Blood - HE is The WAY!

Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of YOUR Throne; mercy and truth go before YOUR face.”

A Throne of grace founded on righteousness and justice, of The One True GOD Who is full of mercy and truth, - righteousness that has been imputed to us who believe in GOD Who raised up CHRIST JESUS (Romans 4:24), at Calvary- and is the reason we can approach our Heavenly FATHER with such unquestioning confidence …

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For HE made HIM Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in HIM!”

Romans 3:22-24 “even the righteousness of GOD, through faith in CHRIST JESUS, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD, being justified freely by HIS grace through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS,”

We are welcomed, desired, called and embraced because of The CHRIST - EMMANUEL, MESSIAH … HE has justified us, made us righteous and ransomed our lives with HIS own, rescuing and redeeming us because of HIS Great Mercy and Grace. HE represents us to The FATHER - JESUS our Great HIGH PRIEST; so let’s not waste a moment standing in the shadows outside The FATHER’s Throne of Grace, ashamed and hesitating in our injured pride…. but let us run and hurl ourselves in humility upon HIS lap, crying out for HIS help, trusting how dearly HE longs to provide it - for HE knows better than we, how desperately we need it!

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

O have you heard the voice of GOD, the whisper of HIS words?

Have you felt HIS Presence near, the love that HE has stirred?

Have you wept in HIS embrace?

Felt HIS breath, warm, on your face?

For once you have, forever you’re changed,

Your heart so captured, your soul rearranged!

You will pursue this Wondrous LORD,

Your “self” lay down upon your sword.

In life you’ll rise to follow HIM,

This Awesome SAVIOR, Captivating KING.

No more will you seek selfish desire,

For HIM you’ll adore, this Matchless MESSIAH

This world no more can hold your heart,

From its treasures and riches you will joyfully depart.

The hand of GOD resting warm on your back,

HIS intimate closeness, O what could you lack!

For I have met this Glorious GOD,

In the face of HIS SON, Root of Jesse’s Rod.

For this world I am ever ruined, I so gladly confess,

For HIM my heart overflowing with more love than can express.

My life is now poured out in an offering of praise,

In the highways and the byways the message of HIS grace I’ll raise.

For the longing in my soul is to see HIS heart rejoice,

As one by one HIS prodigals come home when hear HIS voice!

thought for the journey …

Ephesians 1:17 “that The GOD of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, The FATHER of glory, may give to you The SPIRIT of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of HIM,”

What an amazing, life altering promise - GOD The FATHER gives us HIS HOLY SPIRIT to indwell us when we yield to HIM at Calvary’s foot and rise up as followers of JESUS (John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, The HELPER will not come to you; but if I depart I will send HIM to you.”).

It is HE, The SPIRIT of Truth, sent by FATHER and SON (John 15:26) Who reveals the heart, mind, character, nature and will of GOD to us - in short, HE discloses and manifests WHO GOD is …. that we might know HIM increasingly, growing in the grace and knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST ….

Philippians 3:10 “that I may know HIM and the power of HIS resurrection, and the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being conformed to HIS death,”

2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. To HIM be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Our Beloved SAVIOR GOD wants us to know HIM, HE desires intimacy with us - HE is The GOD Who speaks (as Abraham discovered thousands of years ago, from The Self-Revealing ONE) - what treasure, what privilege, what honor we have, what an opportunity; let’s grab it with all of our being - pursue the knowledge, the ‘knowing’ of our Glorious, Mighty GOD, Who walked this earth Incarnate, and now indwells all those who have been born again, who are followers, disciples, believers in The CHRIST and HIS Mighty Cross…. How dearly HE loves us, how could we ever offer HIM anything less than a totally surrendered and yielded life that loves, adores and obeys HIM? How can we do anything less than preach HIS Good News to all we know and love?

Don’t you desire to know HIM, to know HIS heart, to have HIM share HIS heart and secrets with you?

Psalm 25:14 “The secret of The LORD is with those who fear HIM, and HE will show them HIS covenant.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

You’ve fallen in a pit so deep

Your life lays at your feet, a heap,

Failure felt, so raw, can’t speak

Your tears are crusted and you can’t weep.

No strength to even shout your rage

Life’s at an end with no new page,

Some useless actor shunted off your stage

Living death’s become your lifelong wage.

Where can you go from here too now?

Has defeat become your final bow?

Your cherished dreams of youth turned sour,

Is this the end, you face your final hour?

Gripped within, the crushing death of hope,

Can’t find breath as on your grief you choke.

A feeble silent plea escapes to GOD Who spoke,

To HIM Who roused the dead, the sleeping HE awoke.

Is there a chance that HE can pull you out,

Lift you from this pit of hell, raised in triumphant shout?

How can you muster a shred of hope, so crippled by your doubt,

When all you see is hopelessness and emptiness about?

HE knows as well as you do, you don’t deserve HIS grace,

Yet you hear HIS urgent voice say, “Child MY SON took your place,

I am the GOD who rescues, will you choose to seek MY face?

Just put your trust within MY SON – your sin did HE erase!”

“I am the GOD of hope, the LORD of each new day’s dawning,

I am The One who breathes HIS life on the ashes of your mourning.

It is I who lifts you up and transforms your defeat,

SON of GOD Alone, Whom your deepest need does meet!”

 thought for the journey…

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness.”

How sorely we need to learn to cling to The SON of GOD, to ‘present ourselves to HIM’, to yield to HIM, to abandon ourselves in surrender to HIM - don’t shut HIM out when you struggle, don’t try to ’soldier on’ yourself - instead, depend upon HIM, lean upon HIM, let HIM pour HIS strength into you!

For then our most difficult trials can become the source of our greatest blessings - intimacy with ALMIGHTY GOD and the inexpressible joy that only comes from HIS Presence, from throwing ourselves with total trust into HIS arms! Paul the Apostle learnt this lesson, and that is why he was able to say in 2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for CHRIST’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong!”

True failure is to shut The LORD out, to try to be ’strong enough’ all by ourselves, to be ’self’ sufficient and to cut ourselves off from HIS grace, HIS forgiveness & restoration - it is not that we stumble, for in truth we all do at times (as long as we aren’t using HIS grace as an excuse to wilfully sin); but it is to withdraw from HIM in our shame, self pity & sorrow, or in self righteousness (I’ll do it my way, on my terms, I’ll fix it by myself…). When we fail we should run with urgency into HIS embrace, confessing our failure & our desperate need of HIM - it is grave folly to think we don’t need HIM; for we need HIM every moment of every day, in our successes and in our failures, more than the oxygen we inhale!

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, HE is faithful & just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

HE is The GOD of second, third, fourth, fifth …. chances. We need HIM!