Promises Assured

He has given us both His promise and His oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie. Now all those who flee to Him to save them can take new courage when they hear such assurances from God; now they can know without doubt that He will give them salvation He has promised them. – (Hebrews 6:18, TLB)

 

God’s word and His promises are totally trustworthy, for He is truth and does not lie. All who come before the Lord for salvation can take courage, for He saves all who earnestly seek Him. We need not fear nor doubt, for we are assured that when we submit ourselves to Christ, He comes and dwells in us forever. May we take courage in the Lord and His word, for what He says, He will do.

 

The Lord at His word,

we can always trust;

for what He does say,

shall happen, it must.

For God cannot lie,

only truth be told;

thus courage is ours,

as our hand He holds.

Salvation’s assured,

when we seek His face;

choose give Him our heart,

rest in His embrace.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You give us both Your promise and Your oath, and that we can completely count on all that comes from You. Thank You that when we seek You for salvation, we can take courage, as we have assurance that it is promised in You. Forgive us for not trusting You at Your word, or for not seeking You in the spaces where we need to most. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would trust that Your word is true in all things and at all times, and that we would seek You in all. Show us how to love others in a way that demonstrates Your trustworthiness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust in Your promises and operate in courage, knowing that You will do all that You say that You will do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

When times are good, be happy. – Ecclesiastes 7:14

Encourage Each Other

But encourage each other every day, while you still have something called “today.” Help each other so that none of you will be fooled by sin and become too hard to change. – (Hebrews 3:13, ERV)

 

To live life as God intended, we need to be in community. He created the body so that we could mutually encourage each other to walk in His ways and be whom He calls us to be. Also, when we are invested in one another, we are accountable for what we say and do, and tend to be better protected from the snares of sin. May we sow where we are planted, and choose to invest and encourage in those who are in the community in which we dwell. Let us hold one another up, so that none will become entangled by the snares of sin, nor lost to a life they’re not meant to lead.

 

We all have been called, 

to choose to invest;

in community,

to give and be blessed.

Part of a body,

to walk alongside;

each other in love,

to help do what’s right.

Also to protect,

from the snares of sin;

together there’s strength,

to stand, fight and win.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You created us for community. Thank You that when we invest in each other, You use the relationships that we are in to encourage and protect us from the snares of sin. Forgive us for being too “busy”, or not prioritizing time to be invested daily in the body. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would be willing to encourage and lift up those around us each day, and live according to all that You say. Show us how to love all those who are around us well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to encourage and walk beside those in which You have placed within our community. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:5

The Work of His Hands

When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers – the moon and the stars You set in place – what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them? – (Psalm 8:3-4, NLT)

 

I so appreciate David’s grasp of the greatness of God. It is easy to get so caught up in our busy lives, that we forget to take pause and look around us. When we do, we cannot help but stand in awe at the mighty work of His hands, and revel in the remarkable that He who created all that is around us, would care for us, individually. The very same God who hung the stars in the sky, knows the number of hairs on our heads… That can only be known by One who is as near as our next breath. Love that sacrifices unto death on a cross, for even those who will never love in return, incomprehensible. May we take time to behold the beauty that surrounds us, and remember that He who created it all, knows and loves us, individually.

 

The moon and the stars,

image by bibleabc.net

were hung into place;

the work of God’s hands,

in power and grace.

The very same God,

Who called all to be;

both knows and He loves,

all humanity.

Not just as a whole,

but personally;

He knows minds and hearts,

and longs to set free.

May we stand in awe,

as others have done;

at all that God is,

and hope that’s to come.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the mighty work of Your hands that is both in us and all around us. Thank You that You who created everything, care about us individually and personally. Forgive us for losing sight of Your greatness, and help us to keep a proper perspective of Who You are and how amazing Your love is for each of us. Teach us to see the world and others through Your lens, so that we might continually see the beauty all around us. Show us how to love others, as You so tenderly and intentionally love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pause and take in all that You have created around us, and go forth loving all that You have made as You do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you.” – Exodus 33:19

Reconciled Through Christ

For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave the world at just the right time. – (1 Timothy 2:5-6, NLT)

 

Without Christ, there would be no reconciliation to a right relationship with God. The former ways of rituals and sacrifices, merely made man aware of our sin, rather than providing a permanent road to redemption. When Jesus came, everything changed. He who knew no sin, bore the weight of all that fractured the freedom between humanity and heaven, and opened the way for all to be restored unto righteousness once more.
Because Christ came and poured Himself out as an offering on our behalf, we have the freedom to live life rooted and established in Him. Help and hope are ours, both now and forevermore. May we receive the freedom that Christ has freely given, and by faith, walk out our days loving God and loving people according to His good and perfect plan.

 

Purchased for a price,

this freedom we know;

through Christ’s sacrifice,

we take root and grow.

The old former ways,

needed sacrifice;

to just pacify,

but never suffice.

At just the right time,

God opened the way;

for people restored,

to openly pray.

Removed was the veil,

that kept us apart;

now we can come close,

have Christ in our heart.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, and the significance of what Jesus did through His life, death and resurrection for all who choose to believe. Thank You that Jesus removed the barrier between us, and that we can now come close and speak to You directly and know Your nearness for ourselves. Forgive us for not embracing the freedom that You have given in You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would draw ever nearer to You, seeking Your help and hope in all things and at all times. Show us how to love others in a way that points their hearts to You. Be glorified O God, as we walk in the freedom of knowing Your nearness because of the love and sacrifice of Christ. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25

He is Risen

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. – (Luke 24:1-3,  NLT)
The very same women who had stood at the foot of the cross in horror on Friday, then set to task making burial spices that night, were stuck staying in their space of sorrow on the Sabbath, and now, at last on Sunday, as they thought that they could go and anoint the body of their beloved Savior – discovered He was no longer in the grave! Panic gave way to praise as the angels of the Lord explained to the women what had happened and why Jesus was no longer lying in the tomb. Recalling the truth that they had been told by Jesus before His death on the cross, the ladies rushed back to tell the other believers what they had discovered. As we awaken to the truth that today holds, may we feel the same sense of urgency to go and let the truth be made known.

 

A matter of days,

and everything changed;

a sorrowful space,

now all rearranged.

Where death had seemed reign,

the truth became clear;

hell was defeated,

through Christ coming near.

He took on the cross,

all our sin and shame;

laid it in the grave,

set free by His pain.

It did not end there,

on Sunday He rose;

up out of the grave,

so His grace, we’d know.

Jesus has risen,

and we are set free;

forgiven and loved,

all praise unto Thee.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to make the way for us to have a restored relationship with You. Thank You Jesus, for taking all of our sin and shame upon Yourself, so that we might have life everlasting. Thank You that it did not end at the cross, for the grave could not hold You, as Your love is too great for us, Your created. Forgive us for not recognizing the magnitude of Your love and sacrifice that is given freely unto us. Teach us to embrace all that You give, so that we might have life abundant in You. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they too, may come to understand the greatness of Your mercy and grace that You freely give. May many choose to place all of their trust in You. Be exalted O God, as we give all glory and honor to You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10

Rest As Required

They went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint His body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law. – (Luke 23:56, NLT)

 

The women who had faithfully followed Jesus and watched in sorrow as He breathed His last breath on the cross, were without many options as to what they might actually be able to do in response to such a seeming tragedy. The only role they knew was to faithfully prepare that which would grant their Savior a proper burial. I imagine they worked feverishly and with painstaking care, to finish the preparations in hope of going to the tomb right away, prior to their required rest. Sabbath sunrise arrived just after their work was done, and the ladies were left in a holding pattern of not yet.

How often do we too, in our seeming inability to do anything to help a situation, resort to that which we know, only to get to a place where we hit a wall, and find that we are stuck in a space of waiting or not yet? Often, it is much like it was for the women. Sunday is yet to come. That which is ahead, is exceedingly more than we could hope or imagine, even if it is something that has been promised before. Christ had told those who were faithful followers of His that He would rise, yet something about His foretelling did not ever really register with any of them. Often our places of pause or required rest, are strategically spaced just prior to a promise fulfilled or movement of a miracle. May we seek the Lord in our spaces of Sabbath, and simply rest in the assurance that He is good and His faithfulness never ends.

 

In that restless space,

when we hit the wall;

we can’t move forward,

on Him, let us call.

Ever so often,

that‘s the very place;

where He intended,

that we seek His face.

It’s in the seeking,

that we come to find;

His help and His hope,

He’s patient and kind.

Often the forced pause,

that space where we rest;

a season to find,

what‘s coming is best.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are present and moving, even when it seems that we have hit a wall or come to a place of helplessness where we can do nothing more. Thank You that this is the very space where You bring us to rest in You. Thank You that You showed us that things were still and silent, and the world had to wait for the promise to be fulfilled, just as You had said it would be. Thank You for the difference that the next day brought. Forgive us for resisting rest when it seems to be required, or for not making time to sit quietly before You to fix our eyes on You and all that You have done. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You in all things and at all times, regardless of how things appear. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they too may look to You in the quiet stillness where rest is found. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You on our Sabbaths, and trust You in our spaces of waiting. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. – 1 Peter 2:19

Owning Our Iniquities

But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. – (1 John 1:9, NLT)

But if we own up to our sins, God shows us that He is faithful and just by forgiving all of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done. – (1 John 1:9, VOICE)

 

God is faithful to forgive, if we are willing to come before Him and confess that which we have said, thought or done that does not bring honor to His Name. Every unkind thought, every reckless word uttered, and every decision that we make that is not based on loving God and loving people well – He will forgive, if we will choose to own our offenses before the Lord. Not only does He forgive, but Christ deems us righteous before Him, as we are purified from the pollution of our ruptured relationship. May we choose to confess our sins before Him, and trust in His faithfulness to cleanse us from our unrighteousness, so that we may exercise our existence covered in His goodness and grace.

 

If we will confess,

all that we have done;

before Jesus Christ,

the battle is won.

For in His Great Name,

we‘ll be forgiven;

if we go to God,

for our wrong living.

He takes all our sin,

and washes us clean;

impurities gone,

and His love is seen.

When we choose stay near,

in step with the Lord;

light and life made plain,

as grace is outpoured.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that if we confess our sins before You, You are faithful and just to forgive us all of our unrighteousness – not because we deserve it, but because You love. Forgive us for not owning our iniquities to confess before You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would be sensitive to Your still small voice and be quick to confess all that we think, say and do that does not give glory to You. Show us how to walk in forgiveness with others, just as we are forgiven by You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, as they see the goodness that comes from a life lived in You. Be glorified O God, as we confess all of our sins before You and walk out our days free and forgiven from all that would keep us from honoring You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

May God Almighty grant you mercy. – Genesis 43:14

Wages vs. Gifts

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – (Romans 6:23, NIV)

The payoff for a life of sin is death, but God is offering us a free gift – eternal life through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King. – (Romans 6:23, VOICE)

 

In our natural state of sinfulness, we deserve death. Not even the kindest and most gentle of individuals is without sin. The consequence for such, is death. However, God sent His Son to extend to us, the opportunity to choose life – life everlasting in Him. There is nothing that we can do to earn this gift that He gives, but rather we must choose to receive what is being freely offered. When we choose Christ, we choose life. We are not promised pain-free pleasantries each day of our lives in the here and now, but in Him, we have the glorious hope of our future freedom from all such things, for all of eternity with Christ. There is no greater gift than He who laid down His life for our sin and shame, so that we could have life abundant in Him. May we receive all that He is offering, as we walk into this weekend of remembering not only His death on our behalf, but Christ’s resurrection from the grave that could not contain Him, so that we could enter eternity with Him.

 

Though we deserve death,

He’s given to us;

the gift of His Son,

life in Christ Jesus.

When we choose receive,

new life becomes ours;

where hope is our truth,

and Love empowers.

Let us choose embrace,

this gift given free;

so all may come know,

Christ dwelling in me.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we deserve death for our sinfulness, You made way for our lives to be redeemed through the gift of Your Son. Thank You Jesus, for dying in my place, so that I might come to know the truth of who You are, and how You love. Thank You for the hope that we hold forever in You. Forgive us for not living with an eternal perspective, as all in the here and now will one day fade away. Teach us how to trust You more, so that we will see things through Your lens. Show us how to love others well, so that they too may come to know the hope that is found in You alone. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we receive the gift of life that You freely give. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. – Psalm 145:7

Blessings for Patient Endurance

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. – (James 1:12, NLT)

Great blessings belong to those who are tempted and remain faithful! After they have proved their faith, God will give them the reward of eternal life. God promised this to all people who love Him. – (James 1:12, ERV)

 

One thing is certain – we all will go through times of testing and temptation. It is part of the package that comes with being residents of a fallen world. We are called to patiently endure all that we face before us, so that we may receive that which ultimately awaits. The enduring that is asked of us is not something that we are meant to do on our own, but rather through the strength of He who dwells within us. God is faithful to be present in our every need, and will walk beside us and give us the strength that we need to endure all things. May we rise up in faith and trust He who is more than able to see us through every trial and test that lies before us, so that we can patiently endure to the end and receive the crown of life that God has promised to all who choose to love Him.

 

With patience, may we,

endure all that comes;

not in our own strength,

but through Christ, the Son.

For when we choose trust,

dependence on Him;

He’s present to help,

see us to the end.

His promise is clear,

as we set pride down;

trust His grace and love,

eternal life’s crown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You bless those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Thank You that we have the hope of eternal life to hold, as it is promised to all who love You. Forgive us for our lack of faith and fearfulness in the throes of trials and temptations. Help us to trust You more, so that we would seek You and place ourselves in Your hands in all things and at all times. Show us how to love others so that Your hope may be made plain through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we patiently endure all that comes our way, trusting You to be our strength and our hope each new day. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

For the Lord your God will bless you, …and your joy will be complete. – Deuteronomy 16:15

Truth Be Told

As Jesus was on the road to Jerusalem and the people began to shout out praise and adoration for all that they had seen through Him, some of the Pharisees objected strongly, and asked Jesus to rebuke those who were following Him.

He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” – (Luke 19:40, ESV)

 

When the truth of God need be told, it will come forth – be it naturally or supernaturally. God often uses unlikely places to speak His truth in a way that helps our hearts to hear Him best. For Jonah, it took time in the belly of a big fish to get his attention. For Saul, who became Paul, he was blinded through a heavenly encounter along the road. For another, a talking donkey; still others, pillars of fire, a burning bush, parted seas, plagues, writing on a wall… The list goes on. God comes close and meets us where we are, so that we might turn to Him and seek His face. In our space of seeking, we come to find His nearness, and how faithful He is to listen to our heart’s cry. He walks beside us through the wilderness, and leads us to safe pasture where we find rest. He is good, and His love endures forever. May we ever speak of the wonders that He has done, so that others too, may hear His heart for people.

 

Let’s not be silent,

for we’re called to praise;

speak of His goodness,

for all of our days.

For if not from us,

the truth still be told;

the rocks shall cry out,

all praise to behold.

It is our calling,

what we’re charged to do;

to speak of His love,

and how we’re made new.

It is by His grace,

our story to tell;

may we share in faith,

with hope, it is well.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to participate in the sharing of Your story. Thank You that we each have a story of how You have come into our lives and changed our hearts as we have sought after You. Thank You that You love people so much that if we did not speak the truth of who You are, even the rocks would testify on Your behalf. Forgive us for staying silent when we are meant to speak. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would be courageous and not fear what others might think of us when we share of what You have done for us, personally. Thank You that You have done so much. Show us how to love others so that they may see the hope that is held in You alone. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we speak of Your goodness and grace, and how You love in even the most broken space. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. – John 11:41