God Promises to Walk Among Us

“As God has said:

‘I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.’ (Lev. 26:12; Jer 32:38; Ezek. 37:27)

Therefore,

‘Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.’ (Isaiah 52:11; Ezek 20:34,41)

And,

‘I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.’ (2 Sam 7:14; 7:8)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1

The Saturday Song – God Will Lift Up Your Head

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9

And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” John 16:22

 

 

God Will Lift Up Your Head
by Jars of Clay

Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up
God will lift up
Lift up your head

God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
He will lift up, lift up your head

Leave to His sovereign way
To choose and to command
Then shall we wandering on His way
Know how wise and how strong
How wise and how strong

God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
He will lift up, lift up your head

Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy,
Soon end in joy
Soon end in joy,
Soon end in joy.

God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
He will lift up, lift up your head

 

God Promises Our Suffering Will Produce Hope

God Promises to Be a Refuge

 
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold
in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust
in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who
seek you.
Psalm 9:9-10

Sunday Praise and a Prayer on Pentecost

Before we get to our prayer, let’s look for just a moment at Pentecost. 

With the Lord there are no coincidences.

First, Passover is the observance of the time in Egypt when God caused the plague of death to pass over the those who’d taken refuge inside homes where the doorframes were covered with sacrificial lamb’s blood.

And Passover was the day God ordained the crucifixion of Christ, the perfect sacrificial Lamb, and the shedding of His blood so that spiritual death would pass over any who would take refuge in the blood of Christ through belief in Him.

Likewise, fifty days after Passover is Pentecost (which means fifty), also known as the Feast of Weeks, the celebration of the first fruits of the wheat harvest.

It was also the day God ordained to send His Holy Spirit to indwell the disciples of Christ, referred to several times in the Bible as wheat, reaping the first fruits of the harvest of Christ’s work on the cross.

For those of us who believe in Christ and are filled with His Holy Spirit, we are the continued harvest of those seeds Christ planted all those years ago. 

Not only is Passover a day to remember that miraculous, joyful time in the lives of the first disciples, but a celebration of what God’s still doing today.  


Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your glorious name. Thank you for your perfect ways and for the beauty in all your plans. 

Thank you for the gift of salvation and of your Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom, teaches us, ministers to us, comforts us, and leads us through the treacherous terrain in our lives. We are forever grateful for your grace and mercy. 

Father, we pray you would use us to continue your work, and that many more harvests would come as your Holy Spirit works in and through us. In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray, amen.