Month: November 2017

TeacherStudent

Seeking Solitude with God in a Door Buster Season

 

SOLITUDE FROM THE LORD

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. (Mark 1:35)

 In the early morning,

Shoppers line up,

Waiting , already tired.

Locks click, doors open,

A rush to grab bargains.

Searching, hunting,

Flyers in hand,

Sales! Sales! Sales!

Crowds, multitudes-

Pushing, shoving, hustling.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

Hands reaching up

For the last item,

Snatching it away,

One hand victorious,

Other hands empty.

Waiting in long lines,

Sprawling like snakes,

Clutching prizes,

Tired, hungry, thirsty.

Is there an end?

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:30-32)

Hours ticking away,

Treasures dwindling,

Clerks in numbers,

Seeking customers–

More sales to capture.

The final announcement–

“Closing in ten minutes!”

Rushing to cashiers,

Exiting into the  night,

Bags heavy in both hands.

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. (Luke 4:42)

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. (Matthew 14:23)

 In our hurried, bustling, hustling crowd culture, the example of solitude is given by Jesus. The escape route to contemplation and communication with God is the path to peace and freedom from anxiety and societal pressure.

Solitude with God is our safe refuge.

 

 (Sharon G. Tate blog 11/26/17)  teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

 LET US BE GRATEFUL!

Whatever is true: 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Without Him, how would we find the way, know the truth, or have eternal life?

Whatever is noble:

 1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?  ²The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps an oath even when it hurts,   and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.  Whoever does these things will never be shaken.(Psalm 15)

Without Him, how would we know how to live a life that is noble before others? Where would we seek guidance to find the way to work on becoming that person who is beyond reproach before our children, our family, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters—and before Him?

 Whatever is right:

For the Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. (Psalm 33:4)

Without Him, how would we know what is “right and true” and how would we know the real meaning of faithfulness, only given through His Word and the example of Jesus?

 Whatever is pure:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. (Psalm 119:9)

Without Him and His Word, what would we have to guide us–at any age– on the right path that leads us to Him?

Whatever is lovely:

 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Without Him, how could we grasp the concept of true beauty—that which is within us from Him?

Whatever is admirable, excellent or praiseworthy:

 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. . .  22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:15-16, 22-26)

Without Him, how would we know the way to developing a good and honorable character, one that can bring others to Him?

Thank you, Lord, for Your Word and Your example of how to live in this mortal life–that we might prepare to enter that eternal home with You. We are ever grateful!  Amen.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/19/17) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

 

 

 

TeacherStudent

We Are Orphaned Without God

ADOPTED CHILDREN-WITH GOD.

Orphans none with God

 ORPHANED- WITHOUT GOD.

O: Outcast
R: Rogue
P: Poor
H: Hungry
A: Abandoned
N: Needy
E: Excluded
D: Desperate

Outcast: We are the cast out from God’s promise of heaven if we do not follow and obey His Word.
Rogue: Without the Father, we are wandering beggars in this world without the hope of His grace and Providence.
Poor: We are only rich through the love of God, through His blessings, through the sacrifice of His Son, and through His grace. Without Him, we face the poverty of an existence devoid of God.
Hungry: Within every human being, God embedded a soul that yearns for His Presence. When we ignore this longing, we remain constantly hungry and unfulfilled.
Abandoned: God cannot bring us into His Light if we do not accept Him as the Father and His Son as our Savior. We are alone, abandoned in the darkness.
Needy: As the Lord provides for the birds of the air and the flowers in the field, His adopted sons and daughters are cared for more abundantly than we can ever imagine. Our needs are never met without Him.
Excluded: When the Judgment Day is upon us, we will not be welcomed into His Presence, excluded from His grace and love for a timeless eternity.
Desperate: Our situation is desperate without Him. There is no hope; there is no true understanding of love; there is no future; there is no peace in our souls. The final desperation will be upon us when He speaks the words: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:23)

We are not Fatherless, unless we choose to be ORPHANED- WITHOUT GOD.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/12/17)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

Inside God’s Light: The Absence of Darkness

 

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:5)

Eyes stare–

Finding no focus;

Feet drag–

Shuffling in fear;

Hands grope–

Unable to touch;

Inside the darkness—

Absence of Light.

Called out of Darkness to the Presence of Light:

 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of Me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ ” (Acts 26:13-18)

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (II Corinthians 4:6)

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.(I Peter 2:9)

Eyes stare—

Focused on Jesus;

Feet move—

Swiftly to Him;

Hands reach—

Touching the Savior;

Inside the Light—

Absence of darkness.

 

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/05/17 )  teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word