"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." (Song of Solomon 2:1)

The Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valleys, named to remind us of the beauty and sweetness we find in His relationship with Jesus. The rose, fragrance sweeter than honey, chief of flowers. The lily, preferred by our Christ as clothing even above that of Solomon in all his glory.

Sharon is probably where the best roses grew and in most plenty; some have termed it the "rose of the field" depicting the gospel of salvation for all. A common salvation, that whosoever will may come and gather the rose-buds of privileges, comforts, sweetness, fragrance, that grow in the covenant of grace.

He is not a show rose, not one to be locked up in a garden, but one in whom all may come and find comfort.

He is a lily for the whiteness, and a lily of the valleys for sweetness. For when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, His fragrance will linger and lead us to His protection, comfort and strength.

He is the lily of the valleys, or low places, in His humiliation and "crushing" experienced on the cross of Calvary.

As you walk through your valleys (notice the plural—we're promised there will be more than one), take heed of His fragrance. It will be there.

As you hit the low points in your life, remember that He is a rose that has been bruised and crushed and His fragrance is become sweeter and stronger. Look for Him there also.

In the darkest of days and the longest of nights, you will find Him with you there as well.

The fragrance of His love will lead you through and remind you that He is in your midst regardless where you are.

He loves you, He yearns for you, He's bidding you to come into His chamber where He can lavish His love upon you . . . from now throughout eternity.

Dearest Lord, I am overwhelmed at the thought of your awesome love toward me. I can almost hear You say, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away" (Song of Solomon 2:10). Lord, I will follow you wherever You lead. I will respond to Your passion for me with an ever-growing passion for You! May my heart melt at Your call. May my love for You draw me closer to You than ever before. Lord, I love you and I will stop and seek out Your sweet fragrance in the flourishing fields as well as in the dark valleys. And in whatever circumstance or situation I find myself, I will know beyond a shadow of doubt that You, my precious Lord, have not left me. Rather, You are with me alway, even unto the end of the world (ref. Matthew 28:20). Amen!

"I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon." (Hosea 14:5-6)

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"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

Fear, the enemy of our faith, is knocking on the door of our hearts in its attempt to kill, steal, and destroy our confidence in God's protection.

Recently, I've had an opportunity to learn first-hand the difference between fear and faith. They are direct opposites; one cannot live in fear and in faith at the same time, just as it cannot be night and day at the same time. You either live and move and have your being in fear or in faith.

Fear erodes the foundation of faith, quickly and thoroughly if not soon recognized and dealt with. During these uncertain times, it would be so easy for us to fall prey to fear, causing our focus to turn from God to the uncertainty of the future. But, our future IS certain, whether in the flesh or in the spirit. We should know in whom we have believed and be persuaded that He is able to keep us, in peace and in war, in sickness and in health, in plenty or in want. God is fully able.

It's easy to understand why the prophet Isaiah wrote as led by the Spirit of God in Isaiah 41:10-13, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Dear friends, don't allow the enemy to cause your heart to be filled with fear. Let peace reign on the throne of your heart . . . the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that will testify of God's great goodness and tender mercy even our times of uncertainty. We are the bearers of peace. The Peacemaker has made His abode in us. Allow the peace that is found in the presence of the King to comfort you today and every day.

Father, many around me fear what tomorrow may bring. Help me, Lord, to remain firm in faith, believing and knowing that You are indeed my Help, my Protector, my Comfort, and my Peace. Father, as I cling to the hope I have found in You, help me to share the Source of my hope with those whose hearts have been gripped with fear for whatever reason. Use me, Lord, to be an instrument of Your peace in the earth today. In Jesus' precious name, amen and amen!

"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." (Isaiah 41:13)

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"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)

We live in a world of change. People and things are constantly changing. However, even though we are surrounded by an ever-changing environment, God never changes. Actually, we can't even talk of what God "has been" or what God "will be" because HE IS. To say that God is unchanging is to say that He never differs from Himself.

Because God cannot change, His promises cannot change. Because God cannot change, His purposes cannot change. Because God cannot change, His provisions cannot change. Because God cannot change, His personality cannot change. Because God cannot change, His Word cannot change. Because God cannot change, WE must change.

How can you change? In what ways do you see God moving you into position for change?

Spend some time today and ask Him how He would have you change. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Father, Your ways are so much higher than mine, Your thoughts higher than mine . . . You change not . . . so in order for me to become more like You, I must change! Help me, Lord, to be as clay in the Potter's Hand . . . moldable, transformable, and changeable! Help me change, O Lord, to be like You, to glorify You, and to be what You want me to be! Amen!

"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6)

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"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)

Faith is a strange thing. It carries us through rough times, allows us to build hope on nothing but a promise, gives substance to the things for which we are believing God, and provides an avenue for total trust in God in areas that we may otherwise be weak. Faith is a small word with a big meaning.

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has been called the "Faith Hall of Fame" by Bible scholars simply because it is written testimony of the patriarchs and their unwavering faith in the God whom we love and serve. Many of our forefathers believed God for things He had promised to them, yet some of them died not having received the promise. But, they never stopped believing. As a matter of fact, they believed that God would perform that which He had promised if even after their death. Just because they were no longer living didn't mean that God would or could not perform His Word.

Such faith. Such trust. Such persuasion!

God has made many promises to us in His Word. Our goal is to be able to embrace those promises and be persuaded that He will perform His word regardless of whether or not we see the manifestation with our own eyes.

There used to be a popular bumper sticker that said, "God Said It, I Believe It, and That Settles It!"

Well, to tell you the truth, if God said it, that settles it. His words are "Yes" and "Amen." There is no variableness or turning with Him. He is committed to perform His Word.

Praise God today that no matter the circumstances in your life, God will perform His Word. "He's faithful to perform that which He had promised." And, if we die in faith, not having received the promise but have seen them afar off and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, the day will come when it shall be done.

Abraham did; let him be our example.

Father, I confess that sometimes it's so hard to see—to envision the things that You have promised in Your Word. I know You said that You are my defense, but when the attacks come from every direction I struggle to not be afraid! I know You said that You would provide for me, but when the bills are piling up, I often wonder where You are. I know that you said that I and my household would be saved, but when my children are rebelling, my faith in your absolute ability to save tends to waver. Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on You; help me to believe Your Word above all else…help thou my unbelief. Amen!

"They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever." (Psalm 125:1-2)

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"So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations." (Psalm 79:13)

The Lord has been good to us. So very good! All that we ever need, He's been there to supply. He washed our sins away. He turned our darkness into day. He has abundantly blessed us.

Many people have memories they hold dear to their hearts about a grandparent holding them on their lap and telling stories. These dear elders took every opportunity afforded them to pass on family history, telling of the days past. Very often they would include in their storyline the rich heritage of God's love which abounded in their own home as they were growing up. They would plant a seed of hunger for the things of God into the life of that precious youngster sitting in their lap.

Now, however, many of us who were once that youngster have children and grandchildren of our own. It is so important that we take every opportunity afforded us to plant those same seeds into our children and grandchildren. The heritage of God's love and goodness is undoubtedly the most valuable gift you could ever give a child who is so eager to learn.

Make a point to spend some special time with those small children in your life and share with them the love of God. It will be seed planted in fertile soil and it will create special memories that will cling to them throughout their lives. You will be blessed by doing so. They will never, ever forget you. And, you will have touched their lives with an eternal treasure.

Show forth His praise to all generations.

Dear Lord, my heart is overwhelmed with love and thanksgiving for all You have done for me, yet many times I forget to stop and say, "Thank You, Lord!" So, I'm saying it right now. I pray, Lord, that my life will testify of your goodness even to the generations to come as I plant seeds in the lives of my children and grandchildren. Lord, as I plant these seeds, I pray that you water them and cause them to grow so they, too, will one day be able to sit down with their children and grandchildren and pass on the heritage of the goodness which You have shown to all generations. Lord, I will give thanks to You forever. Be blessed as Your people honor and praise You forever and ever, amen!

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (1 Chronicles 16:29)

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"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Fear is one of the strongest emotions to control. Fear comes in many forms. It causes nervousness, timidity, procrastination, intimidation, tears, laughter . . . and the list goes on and on. Fear can even cause physical problems AND physical problems can cause fear.

Fear is a tool in the enemy's hand, but we have the ability to stop it for if we didn't, the Lord would never have told us to "fear not."

God has given us the remedy for fear. "Be strong and of good courage." Keep your attitude right, your eyes fixed on Him rather than on the situation or circumstance that would bring you fear.

God promises never to leave us nor forsake us. What more assurance could we ask for? What better way to free us from fear? If we don't have to worry about Him turning His back on us, then what could possibly cause us to fear? If our God is for us and not against us, whom shall we fear?

Be bold. Be strong. Be of good courage. Be no afraid. God is with you today and every day. And, if circumstances should overwhelm you, don't allow fear to grip your heart. Just know that "He's an on-time God, yes He is!" Amen!

Father, thank you for the assurance that You will never leave me nor forsake me! It is in this realization that I find freedom from fear, for what can harm me as long as you are for me and not against me. Why You should ever love me, Lord, I'll never, never know, but I'm so glad You do, amen.

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour" (Isaiah 43:1-3)

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"And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments" (Daniel 9:4)

The New International Version translates Daniel's confession as "O Lord, the great and awesome God . . ."

There was a pastor who had been married several years with no children. They had applied for adoption and finally the call came . . . there was a perfect, beautiful baby girl waiting for them. They were thrilled, to say the least. This little girl soon became the apple of her daddy's eye and could do no wrong. Everywhere he went she was with him and, of course, each little thing she learned he showed off. One day they were in line at a fast food restaurant and she had just learned how to say the word "awesome." But when she said it, she assumed this cherub-like expression that could win over your worst enemy. As the dutiful daddy he was, he showed off her new word to many who were in line, including a dear friend of theirs. Of course, everyone "oohed and aahed" when she said it at the young age of 18 months. This friend sat with the wife and child while the daddy visited some friends for a few moments. Wanting to test this baby's abilities once more, the friend asked the little girl to say the word "awesome" once again, but instead of saying the word, she assumed the same cherub-like expression and pointed to her father and said, "Daddy."

In this child's mind, her Daddy and the word "awesome" meant the very same thing. She adored him. She loved him. He was the greatest thing in her life. No one could take his place.

There's no doubt that Daniel's feelings toward the Lord were much the same; no one could take His place.

What is YOUR definition of "awesome" today? Has someone else or something else taken the place of your Heavenly Father in the ranks of "awesome"?

With all that is happening in the world today, we all are faced with the temptation to allow "things" to take our attention and focus off of God. Be careful not to allow this to happen but follow in Daniel's footsteps declaring, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands".

Father, You are truly awesome. There is none like you, there is no one or nothing who could ever take Your place. Knowing You is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Help me, Father, to keep focused on You and to not allow the things of this earth to cloud my view of You in all I do and everywhere I go. You alone deserve my worship, You alone deserve my praise. You alone are holy. You alone are awesome. Amen and Amen!

"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands" (Nehemiah 1:5)

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"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

The Psalmist, through the picturesque words penned at a time when he was awesomely aware of God's presence, was probably speaking about the 'hill' on which the temple was built, Mount Moriah. When he was at a distance, he would look toward the sanctuary, knowing that from his help came, from the secret of his tabernacle. He knew his help and strength came from the Lord . . . he had no doubt.

We must all encourage our confidence in God with the fact that He made heaven and earth, and He who did that can do anything. He made the world out of nothing, and by a mere spoken word the world was created.

Regardless of your situation today, a mere word spoken into your circumstance can and will make a way where there seems to be no way. Not only is He our Waymaker, He's the source of our strength, He's the strength of our life, He's holy, wonderful, marvelous, glorious, magnificent and righteous, and mighty!

Lord, my circumstances at times seem to overwhelm me and I fall short. I worry, fret, and allow fear to take hold in my heart. Father, help me remember that You ARE the strength of my life. You ARE the source of my strength. Help me hold onto your unchanging hand as we, You and I, walk through these next days together. Lord, I lift my heart to You in total praise. There is nothing too difficult for You, and that's why I can say without reservation, "My help comes from the Lord!" Amen.

"Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places." (Deuteronomy 33:29)

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"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." (Romans 14:10)

As humans, it is so easy for us to get caught up in everyone else's wrongdoings and neglect to see our own errors. We all struggle with this problem to one degree or another—it is doubtful that any of us are exempt.

A familiar Sunday School song gives us cause to stop and consider: "Be careful little hands what you do . . . be careful little hands what you do. For the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little hands what you do!"

Oh, if we, as adults, would only take a few minutes to meditate on this simple truth. Take care for what we do, pay attention to our own faults and stop being so quick to judge others. Be careful . . . what we do.

How many times have we been misjudged or our actions misinterpreted? Once, twice, a few times, or many times? It is easy to assume we've been the wronged more than once in our lifetimes. But the question we need to ask ourselves is this…How many times have we misjudged someone else or misinterpreted someone's actions?

Take a few moments right now and allow the Holy Spirit to bring these times to your remembrance and ask the Father's forgiveness for more carefully tending to other's faults while your own have gone unchecked. You may be led to right the wrong by going to one or more people who were hurt by your misjudgment of them; if so, don't hesitate. The greatest restoration comes with confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

There's no better way to still the work of the avenger in our lives than by setting things in order. Then from that point on, we need to "be careful . . . what WE do" and allow the Father to take care of what others do. If we take care of ourselves properly, we'll more than have our hands full and we won't be so quick to criticize others.

Father, I have wrongfully misjudged so many people and at the same time I have neglected to see wrong in my own life. Lord, forgive me; I truly mean it—I need Your forgiveness. Father, show me those who have been hurt by my quick and misjudgment of them; show me if You would have me go to them to restore the relationship. Father, I long to release others from my judgment and, at the same time, I pray that You will help me to change my ways. Father, I thank You for Your love which covers the multitude of sin; I thank You for looking at me through Your eyes of love and restoring me to full fellowship with You as I learn to "be careful . . . what I do." In Jesus' precious name, amen.

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:37-38)

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"Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified." (Psalm 40:16)

After they had gotten the ark situated and the tabernacle built, the Levites assumed their work was done and began to walk off. David immediately stopped them, telling them that their work had only just begun. You can hear the Levites complaining to David: "But, David! We just walked miles with the ark on our shoulders; we've prepared and sacrificed thousands of animals to the Lord. Aren't we done yet? And besides, there's no veil or Holy of Holies!"

David told them, "No. I didn't restore the Levitical office only to have the ark abandoned here like it was abandoned in Shiloh. Put your ephods back on. Get out your psalteries and harps again. Some of you can go eat lunch, but the rest of you are staying right here!"

The Levites, stunned at his command responded, "Well, who are we staying here for, King David? Do you want to listen to us play again? You hear us play all the time; we're tired and we've done enough."

David turned to them with a passion not understood by his Levites and said, "No, no, you're not playing for me - it's for God, an audience of One. He wants us to worship Him continually. There will never be a time when we've done it enough."

David appointed psalmists to tend to the ark day and night with musical praise, worship, and celebration.

We are so used to coming into the presence of the Lord. We feel His presence, acknowledge it with a few tears and words of praise, and we simply say, "Gotta go!" and we're on our way. Too often we want just enough of God to make us feel good or to give us the tingles or chill bumps up our spine. But He is asking, "Will you stay . . . will you spend time with me?"

Worship . . . an audience of One. It's not about us, our time schedules, our distractions, or our energy level. It's not even about whether we worship Him 5 minutes or 5 hours without ceasing.

God's passion is to be with us; He desires for us to have that same passion to be with Him.

God isn't asking for temporary visitation rights; He won't be satisfied until He has full custody.

Use David as your example and pursue the same passion for worship that David had and don't settle for less.

Father, please forgive me for being in a hurry, for not taking the time to linger in Your presence, for not seeking Your face with a passionate desire. Lord, forgive me for taking You for granted and for forgetting that my praise and my worship is for none other than You. Lord, You are my audience . . . my "Audience of One." Father, be blessed and exalted as I devote my life to worshiping You, amen.

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)

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"Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah." (Psalm 77:9)

We've all been there . . . perhaps you're there right now. You feel that God has removed Himself from you, that He has shut up His bowels of mercy toward you or, at the very least, just not responded to your pleas for help. Nothing can overwhelm us more than life's circumstances—family, job, friends, health, money, decisions, ministry . . . the list goes on!

Please be assured: God has NOT shut up His bowels of compassion toward you, He has not removed His presence from your life, AND He hears your cries for help. He has never left; He has never forgotten to be gracious. God's presence is with us always; He's omnipresent . . . present everywhere, every time, in everything.

There is a place of maturity each one of us needs to attain. On that road to maturity, there are times when we may feel all alone, when life's circumstances seem to overwhelm us. These times are given to us for a purpose, to allow His will for us to be perfected in us. We can't be on a spiritual "high" every day of our lives. We have to learn to "maintain" while walking through those dark areas on the road to maturity. We need to learn to trust Him when we "feel" Him and when we don't. It all boils down to FAITH. Take Abraham, for instance. He went years and never saw the manifestation of God's promise in his life, yet He believed God, he believed His promise to him and it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Exercise the arm of faith while in the midst of your difficult time. Trust God that He knows exactly what He's doing in your life and that it will bring about fruit that is mature and pleasing in His sight.

Father, help me to trust You even when You seem so far away. Help me to hold on to You even when the doors of heaven seem shut as I pray. Lord, I thank You that Your mercies are never-ending, that Your love is steadfast and never ceases, and that Your faithfulness toward me is great. amen!

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

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"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

It is ALWAYS the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us that we give thanks in everything. We don't have to wait for Thanksgiving or any special holiday to make a way for us to "Give Thanks."

We are so often reminded that we are "kings and priests" – "ambassadors" – "joint heirs" – and so on. These are all true, and accurately assess the position of the believer. There is a balance, however, that is hard to maintain and yet so necessary. It is called "Humility."

Humility is a virtue that expresses itself in thankfulness, lowliness, and servitude. The will of God for us is to walk with the assurance of our position in Christ with humility of heart, a rare mixture that will produce a "peculiar" creature indeed. Perhaps that's why we're referred to as a "peculiar people."

While maintaining your busy schedule, remember that the greatest possible gift you could ever give is love. It is more costly than gold, more precious than diamonds, and more meaningful than anything money could buy.

Be a bearer of love, giving thanks in all things . . . this truly is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Give thanks.

Lord, I have a song on my heart that expresses my prayer today: "Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son! I give thanks!" And, Lord, when I am weak, because of You I can be strong, when I am poor, because of You I am rich, all because of what You've done for me. And, I give thanks to You. With a humble heart I bow before You and give thanks, not only because it's your will, but because it is my heart's cry today to let you know how grateful I truly am for all You've done for me, amen!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." (1 Chronicles 16:34)

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"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15)

If there ever was a crooked and perverse nation, we are living in one . . . no matter where you live. The times in which we are living attest to this day after day as mankind imposes its evil deeds on anyone and everyone without regret, without conscience.

If there was ever a time when our light should shine, it is now. Light shines the brightest in the midst of the greatest darkness. As darkness surrounds us, we must take care to nurture our relationship with the Lord as the children of God, being found blameless and harmless only because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. But it is by His blood that we can shine as beacons in the darkest night.

How is your light? Is it burning bright with fervent heat or is it a tender flicker that will go out with the slightest touch?

Today is the day to make a commitment to yourself and to the Lord to allow your light to shine brightly so as to let the whole world know that Jesus is Lord. He alone deserves all the glory and honor for it is His light that shines brightly in those who are blameless in His sight.

Father, being one of Your children is indeed a privilege that carries with it an awesome responsibility to let our light shine even in the midst of the darkest night. Lord, shine through me and let the world know that You are coming soon . . . very, very soon, amen.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

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"I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell." (Psalm 86:12-13)

All of us deserve the lowest hell. There is not one of us who would be able to escape eternal damnation without the mercy of our Lord applied to our lives.

Mercy. Unmerited favor. Unearned forgiveness. Undeserved love.

Where else could we go to receive such a priceless gift?

Our response to the mercy of God comes in many forms: praise, worship, obedience, sacrifice, humility, all of which glorify Him, edify Him and exalt Him.

Take a few moments today to reflect on the awesome benefits of His mercy toward you. Consider the depths of hell you deserved as compared with "[He] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6)

"For great is thy mercy toward me..."

Father, I am so undeserving of Your mercy toward me. I realize more today than ever before that all that I am and ever hope to be is a result of your unboundless love and undeserved mercy toward me. Thank you for loving me enough to make a way for me to escape the depths of hell I deserve . . . Thank you for the shed blood of Jesus which made a way where without it there would have been no way! Amen!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." (1 Chronicles 16:34)

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"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:" (Ephesians 5:8)

"Ye were sometimes darkness." What a beautiful expression of the contrast between our past and our present. All of us were in darkness before we came to know the Lord. We walked in darkness . . . there was no light in us.

"But now are ye light in the Lord." A reminder that in and of ourselves there is no light, any light that we have is in the Lord.

"Walk as children of light." The point of the verse: we once were in darkness, now we're in light. So, "Walk as children of light." The responsibility of the light bearer is to make sure the light always shines.

We cannot walk as children of light if we're not following in His footsteps, if we're not on the straight and narrow path. Our will must be His will, our desires, His desires.

Is your light shining brightly or is it dimmed by a lifestyle that does not glorify the Lord? It is so important to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk." Walk as children of light. Let your light shine. You will ultimately glorify the Lord and draw others to Him.

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)

Father, the darkness of my past is something I never want to return to. I'm walking in Your light now and that's what I'm determined to do for the rest of my life. Lord, help me to let my light shine;. not only just a little bit, but brighter and brighter as the days go on. Lord I long to glorify You in my life and through my life. I love You . . . shine through me, amen.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9)

© Jan Ross
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"The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted" (Psalm 104:16)

The trees of the Lord are full of sap, saturated and abundantly supplied with that which is necessary to their growth. There is no want, no lack, of that which is needful to them. The trees of the Lord—the cedars of Lebanon are the loftiest and most magnificent of trees on the face of the earth. The trees being so lofty and large, it seems as if one none of them could be planted except by the Lord God Almighty Himself.

The "trees of the Lord" would remind us of the "trees of righteousness" which are the planting of the Lord, planted in his vineyard. They are full of sap, for what God plants he will water, and those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God (Psalm 92:13).

We have to ask ourselves this question: "Are we full of sap?" This verse indicates that we have been given ample supply to cause us to grow into high and lofty trees, a glory to the earth in which they are planted. Are we growing? Are our roots digging down deeper and deeper as time goes on? Are we bearing fruit? Or, are we not doing anything with our "sap"?

It is a sad thing to meet people who are not doing anything with what God has invested in them. Matthew 21:19 talks of a certain fig tree which was bearing no fruit; Jesus cursed the tree and it withered away. To be a lavish, fruit-bearing tree is important to God, perhaps similar to a return on His investment.

We have been blessed with an abundance of life-giving, life-sustaining, life-changing sap. Be careful to draw on that sap to grow your roots deep into His Word and love for you thus fulfilling His plans for your life.

Father, help me to be like the Cedars of Lebanon . . . firm, sound, unmoveable, unchangeable, having roots that run deep, an abundance of sap to sustain me, and bearing much fruit. Father, take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. As you care for the beast of the field, for the fish in the sea, and for all of creation, Help me, Lord, to use what you have invested in me, bearing much fruit, for Your glory, amen.

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psalm 1:3)

© Jan Ross
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"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1)

What does it mean to "dwell in the secret place of the Most High?"

Ask yourself these questions: Are you at home in God . . . at rest in Him? Are you acquainted with Him throughout your whole being? Is your heart-work the service of God? Do you worship within the veil, loving to be alone with Him and converse with Him in solitude?

Marriage between a man and woman has two faces . . . one that is seen in public and one that is perceived only in private between the husband and wife. A married couple holding hands, walking arm-in-arm, exchanging winks or touches . . . all these are "public" faces of a marriage relationship; all these are good and necessary but superficial and not intimate by definition. But, that which takes place in the "secret place" need not be spoken of, but the fruit of the intimate relationship can be seen without any word of public testimony.

Have you found that place of true intimacy with the Lord? Do you love being alone with Him, conversing with Him, sharing with Him, learning from Him? Have you learned to set aside some quiet, alone time to be in His presence where an intimate relationship can develop and grow?

Don't take your time with Him lightly, but nurture it and allow it to grow deeper and deeper day after day. For, if we DWELL in that "secret place" of the Most High, we will ABIDE under the shadow of His wing, and no safer place can be found in all of creation.

Father, although our relationship has grown and blossomed since I first met You, I long for a deeper, more intimate relationship with You. I long to find that "secret place" where I can dwell and find my safety under the shadow of Your wing. Lord, help me love You more, know You more, serve You more! Lord, help me surrender to You more and more each day, that our relationship can be seen and perceived by all who meet me without ever having to say a word. Father, be glorified in our relationship today and every day, amen.

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." (Psalm 57:1)

© Jan Ross
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"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 89:1)

Praise . . . not much will put a song in your heart and a spring in your step like praising the Lord all the day long.

A song stirring in your heart can dictate the mood of your day when it's a song of praise that's welling up within you. You can be working in the worst of circumstances, but no one can take that song out of your heart. You can be facing the worst circumstances in life, but when there's a song of praise in your heart, you can face anything.

Nehemiah said, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Thankfully, praise keeps us in touch with the joy of the Lord, which continually gives us the strength we need to face our problems.

What better way to praise the Lord than to sing of His mercies. After all, it is His mercy that bought our deliverance from the bondage of sin and death. It is His mercy that gives us hope.

And, finally, what better way to give hope to your children and your children's children than to teach them to sing of the mercies of the Lord, and to make known His faithfulness to ALL generations.

Father, my mind is bombarded with thoughts that would consume me and silence the song of praise in my heart. Help me to recognize those attacks quickly and to take hold of the reins of my mind and cast down all thoughts that prevent me from singing of your mercies continually. Father, teach me to keep that fire burning – the fire that consumes all the wood, hay and stubble but that purifies all that is precious to you. Let a new song spring forth from my heart declaring your mercies and proclaiming your goodness to all generations. I love You, Lord, and I give you all my Praise … amen.

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16)

© Jan Ross

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"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)

Holiness . . . commanded more than once in the Word of God:

Leviticus 11:44 says, "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy".

Lev 19:2 says "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy."

Lev 20:7 says "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God."

Matt 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The question is what is holiness? It appears that holiness is not fashioning ourselves according to the former lusts in our ignorance . . . as obedient children. (See Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 2:3.) Holiness is living a life that is set apart from the world's influence and separated from sin while being yoked together with Christ. In essence, holiness is righteousness in action.

Holiness is not based on outward appearance, although your outward appearance will most definitely reflect the Righteous One living within.

Holiness is not a rigid set of do's and don'ts, although one walking in holiness will refrain from all appearance of evil and do all as unto the Lord.

Living a life of holiness is the duty and should be the desire of every Christian. We should strive to be holy in all manner of conversation, in every area of our lives . . . towards all people, in business affairs, and in all circumstances - when we're prosperous or otherwise.

We are to imitate God . . . God is holy. He is perfectly, unchangeably, and eternally holy; and we should desire to be like Him.

The Word of God will lead us and guide us on our path toward holiness. The Word of God is alive and is able to cut away from us all that which is unpleasing in the sight of the Lord. Read it and accept its convicting power; follow it and give God the glory due His name by living a life holy unto the Lord.

Father, my desire to live a life holy and acceptable to You grows day by day . . . "take my heart and form it. Take my mind and transform it; take my will and conform it . . . to You. Holiness is what I long for; Holiness is what I need. Holiness is what You want from me." Help me be pleasing unto You. Lord; help me to be holy even as You are holy…amen.

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)

© Jan Ross
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"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20)

God's grace . . . what a gift! In these last days we're seeing sin abound . . . some even say that the state of this world would make Sodom & Gomorra blush. Whether or not that's the case, it still remains that this generation has surpassed previous ones in its ability to perpetrate evil in unthinkable ways without conscience!

The good news is, however, that as sin increases, so does the Grace of God!

Greater measures of God's grace can be found in:

Grace to Endure . . . When the sinfulness of those around us seems to have increased, we can praise God that His grace has also increased our ability to endure persecution.

Grace to Shine . . . When it seems like there's nothing to be happy about, God's grace gives us the ability to keep smiling, to keep praise on our lips and a song in our heart . . . not because of the condition of this world, but because of Who He is!

Grace to Evangelize . . . An increased measure to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being found in the hearts of believers today. It seems the more we see God's goodness and grace in our lives, the more we want all those around to share in His amazing love!

Grace to Go Through What's Happening In the World Today . . . persecution, trials, tribulations . . . an extra measure of God's grace enables us to face whatever comes our way!

Grace Inwardly and Outwardly . . . God gives us a supernatural ability to resist sin and temptation by His Grace.

When you feel evil all around you . . . when you feel the weight of oppression bearing down on your life, look up . . . God's Grace has made a way for you to endure whatever you're facing. His Grace is absolutely and unquestionably sufficient!

Father, thank you for your Grace . . . when I'm in need, when things around me seem to be falling apart, when I'm weighed down with oppression, when I feel that I can't go on any longer, your Grace becomes my way through. What a wonderful expression of Your love toward us . . . toward me -- Your Grace so completely sufficient! Amen!

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." (James 4:6-8)

© Jan Ross
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