Testify

 Have you been in church and had the speaker ask if anyone has a witness or testimony to share of what God is doing in their lives?      

So many times nobody shares anything! Is it really possible that the Lord is not doing something in their world? Or is it more likely that they are not recognizing what He is doing? I remember deciding one Sunday that I would never let the Lord go without a testimony. I have realized that even if we think that there are not great humongous miracles happening in our lives the Lord is still blessing us in multiple ways. 

The Sunday that I made this commitment to not see a time go by without the Lord having someone stand for Him and share a testimony, I shared the joy that I receive from Lightening Bugs! I really doubt that the Lord had to make a bug that would Light up the darkness and make us smile, but He did! And it even happens when the weather is comfortable for us to sit out and watch the little creatures do their light shows!

Is there not something in your life that you recognize as a special gift from the Lord? Birds? Flowers? Clouds? Trees? A spring rain? The beauty of everything covered with snow in the winter? Surely if you stop and think about it you can come up with something to speak of as a testimony or witness to God's goodness. Think about it and speak out! Testify to God's goodness!

I know a lot of God's people talk about His love. It is a very popular subject and well received! But the message that I most often am prompted to share is about His Holiness. Holiness is an under considered thing in God's Kingdom. God is Holy and we're called to be Holy. 

     Yes, there are times we mess up and we need to repent and try again, but there are quite a few people out there that don't really realize that "Holiness" is what we are called to as part of God's Kingdom. 

     I hear praise songs often that are more focused on "woe, woe, woe is me!" than on anything that leads you to recognize God's glory and holiness. I think of the hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul" and compare it to hymns these days and they come up pretty short. The hymn writer wrote these words after a terrible tragedy in his life~ 

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

     

He didn't focus on his hardships, he focused on God's goodness. I believe when we are growing in the holiness that we are called to then this is the same attitude that we will reflect to the world. Maybe that's why God has called us to be Holy as He is? Maybe it's His love that has called us to be Holy?

but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written: 'You shall be Holy, for I am Holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16

Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Psalm 28:7-9

 

In Spirit and In Truth

    I was awakened one day in church when I heard a man close to me saying his prayer. He was praising God with his whole heart, he was praising God's attributes. It was then that I realized that I didn't really know where to begin to praise God in spirit and in truth.  

    God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   John 4:24

    I want to share with you a way I found that enabled me to learn God's attributes. I started reading through Psalms, they are full of the character of God! As I read Psalms I kept a notepad close to hand and wrote down each of God's attributes as I read them in His own words.

This is an example~ Psalm 3:3-5 But You, Lord, are a shield around me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying out to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.

From this scripture I can see that the Lord is a shield around me, He is my glory, He lifts my head, He answers me, and He sustains me. 

These are all great attributes to praise the Lord for. I don't ever want to realize again that I don't know the Lord's character in a personal way that allows me to truly worship Him in spirit and in truth.

5I lay

Psalm 27:1

 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom should I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom should I dread? Psalm 27:1

Psalm 27: 14

 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. 

Psalm 27: 14