Creator – Architect and Builder of My LifeHave you ever stopped to think what it means for God to be the Creator, Architect and Builder of YOUR life? This has been something He is bringing closer and closer to home with me. It is something I think of all the time lately. I am becoming more and more aware of how little I “know” and how much I speculate instead of walking in what He has already done. We are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2)
You are His masterpiece!
Think of an Architect and Builder who have together just finished the most exquisite building. They stand in awe of their work and have an open house for all to see.
God stands in awe of His Work in YOU and wants the whole world to see the Glory of His Work.
• What are you doing right now?
• What are you feeling right now?
• Embrace what He created you to be.
• Ask Him what it is.
The Bible says in Psalm 139 that He formed our inward parts, He weaved us in our mother’s womb, that our frame was not hidden from Him, when we were made in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. In Jeremiah 1, He told him, Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you, And before you were born, I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Now grasp this in the light of these passages:
• God created YOU!
• He “skillfully” wrought YOU in the depths of the earth
• He placed YOU in your mother’s womb
• He created beforehand the “work” YOU would do
He made a way to come to HIM through His Son and sent the H.S. to abide in YOU and accomplish the work in and through YOU that He skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.
Wow! So who has been talking to you? Do you know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made? Do you know that He has a plan for your life and it is for a future and a hope? That everything in your life right now is being worked out for good and taking you to the finish line He skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth? That no one else has the master plan for YOU. And that He will complete it because He said He would. Sometimes I feel as if there is no plan, or that the plan is not working but that is not from God. It is the enemy coming to me just as he did in the garden with Eve when he said, “Indeed did God say’? What are you hearing right now? God will make a way when there seems to be no way – Why? Because He planned it that way. Rest in the fact that Before You were He Was, is and evermore will be. That when He placed you in the family He did, He already knew all things and had taken ALL that in consideration. Trust the Creator, Architect and Builder. His plan works.

He Is- My Atonement

Hi! It's Stephanie here. We are so glad you are taking this journey with us! Leave us a comment and let us know you stopped by. Just click on "comment" at the end of our posts and follow the directions.

I’m sitting in my favorite leather chair right now. My laptop is appropriately, on my lap. My Bible is balanced on the arm of my chair and my notes are scattered on the floor and side table beside me. I’m struggling to write this. I’m overwhelmed and touched in the deepest part of my being by this word. It is real to me especially today.

Let’s just get the definitions out of the way.

ATONEMENT. The satisfaction or reparation for a wrong, injury. (The doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, as accomplished through the life, suffering and death of Jesus Christ.)

ATONE. To make amends for an offense or crime. To make up as for errors or deficiencies. (To atone for one’s failings.)

I love Jewish history and the picture of Christ the Old Testament so beautifully paints. One part of this history, the Tabernacle and all the details that went along with it, never ceases to amaze me. In particular, the Mercy Seat. What a picture!

God tells His people in Exodus 30:6 that He will meet them at the Mercy Seat. When I looked up the Hebrew word for atonement one of the words that came up was “Kaphoreth” it means mercy seat AND place of atonement

As Jewish law required each year on the Day of Atonement a sacrifice was to be made. The purpose of this particular sacrifice was to cleanse the priests as well as the people from their sins and to purify the Holy Place. It was a sacred day, a day that would “make up for” all the errors and failings of the last year. The Day of Atonement sacrifices reconciled Jehovah and His chosen people.

As I said I am overwhelmed by this word. As I always do, I go first to the dictionary to read the meaning of the word. When I read “to make up, as for errors or deficiencies” my heart just about burst.

It’s hard for us to admit we are deficient in any area isn’t it? It’s even harder to admit we have made a mistake, or an error. We or maybe I should just keep it personal and say I, fight my nature to shift the blame onto another person. (If they hadn’t done…..then I wouldn’t have done……) One thing that God showed me is that shifting the blame onto another person does not cover the offense. Shifting blame does not make up for my deficiencies! Even if another’s actions have contributed to my sin, another human being can not atone (cover or make up for) my errors, my deficiencies, my sin.

Old Testament law demanded a blood sacrifice to cover or ATONE for the sins of the people. Leviticus 17:11 says

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Hebrews 9:6-7 tells us
“When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room and that only once a year and NEVER without blood which he offered for himself and for the sins the people committed in ignorance.”

It is the blood that makes atonement for my life. Not just any blood, but the blood of Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:23-25
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement and through faith in his blood."

Every year they went through this process. Nothing the priests sacrificed would atone for their sin once and for all. It is only through Jesus that their sin, our sin was finally atoned for.

Once and for all. Hebrews 10:1-18 tell us this.

In particular verse 4 says

“it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Hebrews 2:17 says
“For this reason, he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”

Look at Leviticus 17:11 one more time.
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Read that first part again…the life of a creature is in the blood. We can not live without it. Jesus poured out His blood, his life as the final atonement sacrifice. My life is what it is because of that single sacrifice.

Jesus Christ, the perfect lamb, the Atonement for our sin. He is the Atonement for MY sin.

Oh my sister, do you know Him? I pray that you do and that you realize just how precious you are to Him.

Have a blessed week,
Stephanie

He is... Our Risen Lord

Sunday April 12, 2009
He is...Our Risen Lord

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood,
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing;
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Phillip Bliss composed “Hallelujah! What a Savior” in 1875. Can you imagine what that song will sound like with thousands of saints singing it together in the heavens? Will you be a member of that choir? Are you one of the ransomed He will be bringing home? I look forward to lifting my voice in song on that glorious day, but until that day arrives, I must be purposeful and intentional about the work He has given me today.
How can we become purposeful and intentional servants of the Savior?

2Cor. 3:5
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” As we grow spiritually, we will more fully depend on the Father and He will equip us to better serve. Then, when God calls us to a task, we won’t hesitate to act. We will not entertain any thoughts of disobedience by turning away from His call. What has the Savior called you to do? Be assured that He hasn’t made a mistake. You don’t need to hesitate or disobey. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, but don’t let that prevent you from the purposeful, intentional task at hand. Take a moment and think about all that the Savior has done for you. How can you best serve our Risen Lord? Ask Him. He will be sure to answer.
Serving a Risen Lord,
Debbie

Debbie lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia with her husband Carl.

HE is … "ALL"

An old Webster’s Dictionary that belonged to my precious mother defines the word “all” as “the total entity.” To apply that definition to describe God leads me to say that He is total, entire, utmost. To stop here would NOT be taking anything away from Who He Is! He is "ALL" -- nothing more because nothing can be added. He is the grand total of everything we need and nothing less because He is perfect. Consider that He is the perfect number, the completed and perfect circle, no beginning and no end. I drew the following diagram in my journal....

G
O {I wrote "me" in the middle of the O}
D

He completely surrounds me, encompasses me. Does His presence surround you daily? Do you feel His encompassing Spirit every minute of your day? Does He complete you? Is He the Essence of your being? Is He truly ALL you need?

“In Sylvia Gunter’s “He is the I Am,” she reflects on Exodus 3:14, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM...I AM has sent me.’” Her commentary on that scripture says "He is the I AM, before all things, the uncaused cause, eternally existent."

To me that means God existed before ALL things. He created ALL things. He existed BEFORE creation. His nature is unchanging. He is the same ALL the time. He never wavers. I’m overwhelmed by trying to comprehend ALL that He is!

In Philippians 2: 9-10 we read, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every (all) name(s), that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” The authority and glory of God is revealed through the Name above ALL names, Jesus Christ!

I recently attended a conference featuring speaker Dr. Bruce Wilkinson and learned about a name for God that I did not know. Dr. Wilkinson explained how God is our "dream giver." WOAH...GLORY! What the Lord showed me during that weekend was more than amazing. Stay tuned to my next post in May when I tie together "He is...ALL" to what the Lord revealed to me that weekend!

Before I close for this encounter you need to know that I cannot write about my faithful and glorious Abba Father without lifting praise through song. Music lifts my soul and completely rocks my world! Please ponder the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, “You Are My All in All/I Will Praise You” by Dennis Jernigan. These lyrics capture the essence of the word “All” in a powerful way to me.

“You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek,
You are my All in All.
Seeking You as a precious jewel,
Lord to give up I’d be a fool,
You are my All in All.

Jesus Lamb of God; Worthy is Your name

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame,
Rising again I bless Your name,
You are my All in All
When I fall down You pick me up,
When I am dry You fill my cup,
You are my All in All

Jesus Lamb of God; Worthy is Your name.

All that I am, all I will be,
All that I know and all that I cannot see,
All that I was is no longer me,
For my Redeemer, my Lord, set me free,
He rescued me!

I will praise You, For all that You have done for me,
I will praise You, For redeeming and setting me free,
For loving me!

I was so lost and You seemed so far,
But redeeming blood washed me to right where You are
Now I am Your Child and You are my God,
Your redeeming love just leaves me standing in awe
Of Who You are!

I will praise You, For all that You have done for me,
I will praise You, For redeeming and setting me free, For loving me!”

In His Service,

Debbie Murphy

Debbie lives in Dacula, GA with her husband Sonny and 4-legged wonder Bandit.