Tag: glory

Pain That Earns a Crown

Posted on by Dorci

“1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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.” Romans 5:1-5

Did you know that in the Greek, the word for rejoice in verse 2 –  “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God”….is the same word for glory in verse 3 – “glory in tribulations…”

Rejoicing and glorying in the hope of the glory of God: yes. But they aren’t exactly the first words I think of when I think of my tribulations – or pressure – as the Greek describes it. In our modern vernacular we might say “being stuck between a rock and hard place.” There’s no place to go, no way out, and nothing we can do about it.  And for this we are to rejoice just as we are to rejoice in the hope, or expectation, of the glory of God.

How can we do that?

Just as we can rejoice in what will come as a result of our hope, our faith, our expectation: the glory of God, we can also rejoice in what will come as a result of our tribulations: perseverance…character…hope. Just as we wait for the glory of God Himself, we wait for the glory of God to be made manifest in ourselves through our sufferings.  It’s through pain and suffering that we’re conformed to the image of God’s Son.

Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 as a runner who competes.  A lot of training goes into an athlete before competition, and spiritually speaking, tribulations are our  God-given trainer.

A runner runs until his feet bleed, his shins ache and his muscles spasm, but he doesn’t give up.  A boxer hits a speed bag, a heavy bag and a sparring partner until he’s bruised, bloodied and his knuckles are raw, but he doesn’t give up.

No matter what opponent you’re facing, don’t give up.   It may be more than you bargained for, it may leave you in tears and breathless, it may bruise your soul, but don’t give up. Trust in the One who sees you, the One who uses pain to produce in His children His own character.  Allow our loving Father to discipline and prepare you, to mature and perfect you for whatever He has planned – in this life and the next – so that you may run the race and win the crown.

Grace and mercy,

Glory to God in the Highest!

Posted on by Dorci

“And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be registered, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee to be taxed (out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David). And he took Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.

And while they were there, the days for her deliverance were fulfilled. And she brought forth her son, the First-born, and wrapped Him, and laid Him in a manger– because there was no room for them in the inn.

And in the same country there were shepherds living in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came on them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were grievously afraid. And the angel said to them, Do not fear. For behold, I give to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this is a sign to you. You will find the babe wrapped, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it happened as the angels departed from them into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Indeed, let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord made known to us.  And hurrying they came and sought out both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

 

And seeing, they publicly told about the word spoken to them concerning this Child. And all those who heard marveled about the things spoken to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, meditating in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as was spoken to them.”
Luke 2:1-20

From my home to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and pray today and everyday you are reveling in the joy of the Gift that is above all gifts, the gift of a Messiah, a Savior, the only one by whom we can be forgiven for our sins and given the promise of heaven, Jesus Christ. I pray you know Him, and not only that you know about Him from your parents or grandparents, or from going to church, or because you live in the America, but because you’ve repented of your sins before Him, put your trust in Him and received Him as your own personal Lord and Savior.  If you have not done that, you can do that today, right now, right where you are.  You will never receive a greater gift.  And I pray that you are endeavoring to walk with Him so closely that you hear His heartbeat, that you breathe His scent of servitude and compassion, that His light is your light, and that it all flows through your spirit as a witness to the world around you of His great grace and mercy and love and joy and peace…..   I could go on and on!

Merry CHRISTmas!

That’s What Christmas is All About

Posted on by Dorci

There is something even more special about the Christmas message when it’s spoken by a child. Hoping and praying your Christmas time is filled with the joy and peace that comes in keeping the glorious hope and faith in Christ in your heart every day.

The Name of Jesus

Posted on by Dorci

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (prophecy foretold in Isaiah 7:14) (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-24

The name Jesus is translated from the Greek for Joshua or Jehoshua, which is the English spelling for its most literal translation, Yeshua.

Yeshua comes from the Hebrew for Jehovah (or Yehowah)-saved which is derived from the two words:

1.  Jehovah, or Y’hoshua – a name for God meaning Self-Existent or eternal

2.  Yasha – to free, to deliver, to rescue, to avenge, to bring salvation.

To get victory.

Now that is good news!

However you pronounce it, His name should be reverenced and spoken with awe and wonder.  For “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Acts 2:21

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11

“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.”   Rev. 19:13

“I will bow down… and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” Psalm 138:2

Proof that great things really do come in small packages.

Merry Christmas!