Christ Died for My Sins

Hello again, Tuesday!

I trust your holding on tight as our summer swirls and hurls us about like tumble weeds in a dust storm! HAHAHA! It's so crazy that we're already finishing out July and approaching the (not so scorching) days of August. <3

 I've enjoyed the studies I've been doing recently - most recently is the ones in books like, "Gospel, 90-day Devotional, (WOW!)" "Growing Together,(YES!)" "Exalting Jesus in Leviticus," and "Exalting Jesus in Acts."
Those last two mentioned are part of a series and they're SO helpful. 

To give you a bit of an overlook at what these books are, they're primarily commentaries written to help pastors develop a clear and concise mode of preaching through each book of the Bible.  Each book of the "Exalting Jesus" series helps a pastor to gain the understanding of the Gospel as it pertains to each book! 

These have been incredibly simple in their layout, their insight, they're connections from one passage of Scripture to another.  It is no wonder these are made for a pastor to deliver a sweet and clear message to his congregation about the supernatural grace and wonder of the Lord Jesus Christ - the Gospel! Everything is tied to it!
Side note:  no, I'm not a pastor by profession, nor do I plan on assuming such a role.  But I AM a born again Christian, hoping to bring the light of the Gospel to my surroundings and even to my own life.  It's the hope that is primary and essential, priority and converting.  Thus, as Peter said, "Such as I have, I give to you…" in the context of what I know.  What I DO know, I give, in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Lord of Grace, I ask that You be here right now.  That You be working and tenderizing.  That You will penetrate and fill.  That You would bring to light the Gospel and the way it works in our lives, both to save and to sanctify. 
In Jesus Name, Amen.

In your Bibles, there's going to be places that are more cryptic and bewildering than others.  You've most likely stepped up to bat in your Bible reading plan, reached the book of Leviticus, and signaled for a "pinch hitter."  I get that.  I totally get that. 
Some books of the Bible are easier to get a sense of the flow and nature of the character of God and the relevance of His Word.  I want to offer something to you: don't let that hinder your desire to learn of God, and get to know Him.  He is absolutely gracious as He offers 2 things to help us in our studies:
1. The Holy Spirit.  In Christ, we have a perfect communicator between us and God that will help us come to an understanding of His Word.  It's the Helper.  He's with us to help us.  When you come to a Bible passage that leaves you wondering, it's ok to ask for help.  It's ok to not know, to pray over a selection of the Word of God, and to seek His counsel.  It's ok.  AND, it's ok to need additional support from those who have gone before us to seek and study the hard and deep things of the Bible.
2.  Books and commentaries.  These are written for the explicit purpose of helping us "connect the dots" between books, the truths therein, and the relationship to God they have.  The commentary series I mentioned above has helped me immensely to travel through a book - LIKE LEVITICUS! - bringing incredible insight and guidance toward knowing and loving my Lord! 

We are NOT alone in our studies.  We are NOT alone in our questions. 
Tim Keller

Paul Tripp

Sinclair Furgeson

Don Carson

Albert Mohler

NT Wright
Tim Mackey
Mike Bullmore

Jen Wilkin

Tony Merida

David Platt

JD Greear

Melissa Kruger

Trilia Newbell…

…and more have been down those paths of not knowing, questioning, searching, and prayerfully considering the text of Scripture before them.  They're ever-learners just like you and me.  They're ever-seekers, longing to know more of God, as that endeavor is ongoing and cannot be satiated on Earth.  For our benefit in knowing the Gospel better, and certainly by the grace of God, they have provided the fruit of their studies, the gifts of their teaching, and the love of our Father.  God has been so kind to provide all the ways we need in order to know and follow Him better!

Having said all of that, I would like to give a short Gospel message:  Christ died for our sins.  That's it.  That's the entire Gospel message. 
Christ.
Died.
For.
Our.
Sins. 
A five-word, all-inclusive explanation of what it is we initially believed in faith when we came to Christ. 
A famous hymn put it another way:
Jesus.
Paid.
It.

All.

This alone is the gift of God, by His grace.  The Gospel is the core belief system of a Christ follower.  And in Christ, we are meant to live, breathe and eat by it! 
Not only that, but it's strewn throughout the Bible.  It's laid out in the whole story of Scripture and plays out beautifully from beginning to end.  

For example: Proverbs 14:9 which says,

"Fools mock at the guilt offering,

    but the upright enjoy acceptance."

At first glance, it's easy to pass right over this verse in Proverbs with a quick nod to its teaching.
"Fools, bad."
"Upright, good."
Then we move on with a sense of, don't be a fool because it's better to be upright. 
In themselves, those statements are true.  There is a positivity to "upright" and "enjoy." We like those words.  Sounds bad, being a "fool" or one who "mocks."  But, what does that even mean!?
Why was this written?
Who wrote it?

What's the less obvious implications of "fool" vs. "upright?" 
Upright in what?
Guilt offering, huh?

To be as concise as possible, "fool" is used to describe those with no real sense of what life is about: God.  "Fools" are those who say, "there is no God," who live life in recklessness and carelessness.
Ok. Got it.  That's bad.
Upright.  Ah, more complex.  But simply put, he's the one who lives within his God-given boundaries.  He's wise and God-fearing.  He's moral and has a sense of justice.  He's conscientious of God and his standing before the Creator.
Cool!  I wanna be THAT guy (or gal).

So we have a stark contrast in characters here, which is the overall gist of the book of Proverbs.  It's the 31-chapter book of the Bible that lays out differences between one who fears the Lord and one who does not in great detail.  You can read Proverbs for yourself and get a pretty good idea of it's layout.  Praise the Lord for understanding!

Alrighty, but what of this guilt offering in relationship to a fool?  And how does that contrast with the upright who "enjoy acceptance??" 
This is where commentaries come into play.  There is a lot of background and history to the culture of the world that was; a lot of context that comes into play when dealing with who wrote this proverb (Solomon, son of David), and the audience to which he wrote it (the nation of Israel).  Having read the "Exalting Jesus in Leviticus" commentary (particularly surrounding Leviticus 5 and 6), I looked at this passage with more than a sense of right and wrong; more of a deep-hearted thrill for God!  For Jesus!  For who He is.  For what He's done. 

Leviticus is the law of God to the people of Israel.  They were given strict and detailed instructions about being the chosen nation of God Almighty.  What did life look like?  What did worship look like?  What did relationship look like?  What did sacrifice look like?  Why sacrifice?  What is the purpose behind ceremonies, festivals, purifications? 
All of Leviticus details the particulars of God's heart toward the nation of Israel, that they be holy, as God is Holy.  Set apart, different, in living and in worship from all other nations. 
In His love and because of His holiness, He provided a way - through rituals and observances - for the people of Israel to be reconciled to Him, grow closer to Him, and worship Him.  What a good God to be so kind as to provide a way in which we can be in a right relationship with Him!
In Leviticus 5 and 6, we get the finite details of what pursuing that relationship with Him looked like through something called, the "guilt offering."  This offering would be done by one who sinned unintentionally - broke the law without knowing it either because they didn't know it was a law, or because they simply forgot.  We'd call this a "mistake." Something done without intent.  Even still, it was a failure before the LORD; a sin nonetheless.  Just because we don't know a law exists doesn't make us any less guilty when we break it. 
This offering is made also when someone cheats another individual in any way.  If one took from another individual, one incurred guilt, and God gave direction as to how to make that right, both by making the offering as well as returning what was stolen, plus some. 
You can probably imagine how often this would have happened.  Unintentional sin?  Cheating another?  The priestly office was always a necessity - the burdens borne on the backs of the ones who brought these offerings before God was a heavy one.  Each. And. Every. Time.  Following the "ample" (I use that term loosely) sacrifice made by the priest, the idea and hope would be that said "offender" would walk away with a repentant heart - a heart of Godly grief - and live accordingly. 
Proverbs is alluding to this by saying that the "fool" mocks this offering as being inconsequential; unnecessary; a waste; a bother; an annoyance.  When you mock something, you're making less of the gravity of which it consists - the gravity of our sin (unintentional at best) is so heavy, and the "fool" mocks at it, and the offering that must be made in order to be reconciled to God and others.
Then, there's the opposite reaction to sin - the better and ideal way to handle it.  The Bible calls this being "upright."  The one who longs for that reconciliation with God and others, is the one whose prize possession is that relationship with God, His acceptance and His intimacy.  In bringing this guilt offering, Proverbs says that the "upright" does what is necessary to make things right, with godly grief and godly intention.  "A broken and contrite heart, the LORD will not despise," says David (Psalm 51).  

Hopefully this ties some things together for you.
1. The holiness of God vs. the sinfulness of man
2. The grace that made a way for man to be made right with him through sacrifice.
Finally, that this initial model of guilt pardoned, sin covered, and reconciliation extended was not the full and perfect mode God to reconcile people to Himself - it was however, a pointer to something - SOMEONE - greater.
Because of sin, the damage done, and the consistency of it, they (we) could not slaughter enough animals, wash enough hands, say enough prayers, do enough mourning, pay enough recompense to earn our right standing with God.  We are limited.  We are finite.  We are imperfect. 
This is not a gloom and doom thought.  This is a sobering thought, to be sure, but it is to serve as the preface to something more amazing, more deep, more radically different, and more unfathomably gracious: the Gospel.
 

As much as Proverbs points to Leviticus and Leviticus explains the Proverbs, they both "tip their hats" as Jen Wilkin would say, to the new and perfect covenant - Jesus Christ.  The covenant that God makes with His people now is through the perfect blood of the once-and-for-all, eternal, completely satisfactory sacrifice made through the Son of God.  

HE is the perfect offering for guilt to pardon our sins (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
HE is the perfect priest who brings our guilt before God (Hebrews 3-5).
HE is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29, 3:16).
Christ.
Died.
For.
Our.
Sins.

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures," 1 Cor. 15:3.

Jesus paid it all.  All to Him I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. 
OH PRAISE THE ONE WHO PAID MY DEBT AND RAISED ME UP TO LIFE AGAIN!

Much love,
Deeds

Everything God Does Lasts Forever

Happy Tuesday, creative worshipers!
I like June.  I just do. 
For many reasons.
It's marked by colors, warm winds, bird symphonies, and a whole lot more.  It's a hopeful month.  It's a happy month.  It's a time of the year that I wish could stay around forever.  Literally, forever.
I enjoy when thunderstorms make their entrance. 
I love when my annuals bloom.

I love the happy laughter that comes from kids who have made it through the winter's anticipation of Spring!
I love open windows full of fresh air.
I love the puffiness of the clouds in a sky that closely resembles a painting.

I love early sunrises and late sunsets.

I really do - I wish this month could last forever.

Stamps used: Time Well Spent, 

All of Me Alpha, Chunky Alpha, 

Messy Stamped Alpha, 

Consider the Wildflowers.

But, obviously that's not reality.

I get to watch warm and forgiving winds give way to Summer heat that burns my freshly cut grass.  I get to see full blossoms cower at July's roar.  By August, it's difficult to know whether or not that gorgeous fuscia once existed!  Dear, sweet, Rosalias, you may fade in a couple of weeks, but I will always await your timely return. 
The Bible speaks the concept of coming and going.  It lends a persuasion to the finite-ness of our fallen world, here; right here in Ecclesiastes.    Now, please don't be depressed; my goal today is to purposely draw out the underlying grace of God in this book.  Because even though it seems like a difficult piece of antique literature, ALL of God's Word is His inspiration to us.  ALL means ALL.  Ecclesiastes is written in its own unique fashion, yet remains worthy of note, and full of purpose. I'm still studying to figure this stuff out!

As we peek into this "weird" and seemingly misplaced piece of Scripture called "Ecclesiastes," one thing we pull away is a "teacher's" lessons on life, particularly relating to time and death.  Boy, sounds like a valuable class!  "Come hear lectures about the speed at which time passes, and the length of your life which is like a breath."  Hmmm...where do I sign up?

There's more.  He describes life as a striving - a grasping for something unattainable like smoke or wind.  You cannot hold it.  You have no control over it.  It looks solid in nature, but when you reach to take it in your hands, you come up short. 
This is Ecclesiastes in a nutshell.
There's more. 
The Bible is divided into sections.  Ecclesiastes is a part of the "wisdom" section.  With the scholarly help of theologians before us and even of our time, understanding of this book's puzzling content is available.  I got my help from the website, bibleproject.com.  Now I can better see how Ecclesiastes fits into the divine narrative of the whole Bible!  God is giving us as clear view as possible into the mind of man and what we are made for; how we live in this world as workers with greater purpose and an eternal perspective.
What a good God! 
The following passage of Scripture aids in helping us to see why this book is not just about the mortality of man, and the finality of our endeavors.  It's about God.  It's about God as the central entity and focus of who we are.  It's about His being the reason for life, the reason to work, the reason to enjoy life, the reason to enjoy work, the reason for joy, the reason for hope.  The list goes on. 

"I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. " (Eccles. 3:14 ESV)


Life, indeed, is a complex summation of situations and responses.  To make matters more complex, we have motives and intent.  We think about and emote throughout it all.  As Ecclesiastes educates us on the futility of our work, or the vanity of our constructions, it also brings about the overall and overarching point of life: God.  God is the point of life. 
The reason why we become disappointed, the teacher says, is based on our living life apart from the will of God.

The very reason we become seriously vexed by dashed expectations, according to our professor, is based on our striving to make more of ourselves, and less about our Creator. 
Our friend, the "teacher," is making us aware of the infinitely more worthy and glorious Being, and His being the focus of our endeavors in life. 
Life IS a vapor.  It is a timed sprint.  It's a fast and furious couch-to-5k, for all you running junkies out there.  From dust we were born and to dust we'll go.  We don't know what time frame we're given to walk the Earth.  The Bible even tells us to learn how to "number our days" (Psalm 90).  But the questions is not if we will die.  The question is not even when will we die. 
The sweet grace of this Scripture above gives the answer to life's ultimate question: why am I here?
Why are on Earth are we here on Earth?
What are we supposed to be doing?
What is this life all about?

God.
It's God. 
Because what God does is perfect (Psalm 18:30).
Because what God does is abundantly good (Psalm 31:19).
Because what God does is higher (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Because what God does lasts forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

Our lives, according to God, are valuable and useful.  We are made to work.  We are made to worship.  And we're made to do both at the same time.  Life, though a vapor, is not wasted we are focused on the central Character of Scripture; it's enriched.

Much love,
Deeds
IG: mercies_journaled
aff. link: www.sweetnsassystamps.com/?aff=7

Blessed Nation

Hello again, friends!

 I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  I spent a good portion of Memorial Day reflecting on my freedoms and the blessings I have because I live in this great nation.  I am thankful for the sacrifices so many throughout history have made.  It's almost incomprehensible, to think of all the lives that have been lost to protect our freedom and way of life. 

Psalm 33

¹ Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
² Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
³ Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.

⁴ For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
⁵ The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

⁶ By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the people of the world revere him.
⁹ For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

¹⁰ The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
¹¹ But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
    the purposes of his heart through all generations.

¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people he chose for his inheritance.
¹³ From heaven the Lord looks down
    and sees all mankind;
¹⁴ from his dwelling place he watches
    all who live on earth—
¹⁵ he who forms the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do.

¹⁶ No king is saved by the size of his army;
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
¹⁸ But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
¹⁹ to deliver them from death
    and keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
²² May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you. 

I pray, Lord, that we never forget as a nation, where our hope comes from.  I pray we never forget the sacrifices made so that we may live as a free nation.  I pray for each and every service member, that they may seek You and know You and that they live a life in service to You, first and foremost.  Protect them, as they protect us, Lord.  I also pray for the family members of our armed forces.  I can not imagine the countless sleepless nights they endure waiting to hear from their loved ones.  Give them strength and comfort, Lord.  

Father God, thank You for the ultimate sacrifice made by your Son, that allows us a place in Heaven, if we only accept Him as our Savior!  Help us to be a nation of Christian soldiers, ready to sacrifice what ever You ask of us, for the glory of Your Kingdom.  Amen.

Page Details:

I started this page by drawing and painting the flag and flag pole, using acrylic paints.  Then I stamped the large floral cluster from Consider the Wildflowers using a light colored ink and messily colored it in with acrylic paint.  I stamped back over the image with black Stazon ink, after the paint dried.  I repeated this process with the cross from the Rustic Easter set.  I covered up my flag with pieces of paper and sprayed the sky with a light blue mister spray I made using Derwent Inktense Blocks and some water.  I added some clouds with white Distress Paint.  It was at this time, I felt like I might not have left enough room for my title and decided I would have to stamp over the top of my flag to have room.  I tried using Archival Ink to start with, but the word was getting lost in the flag.  Embossing powder to the rescue!  I used Versamark Ink with black embossing powder and the Chunky Alpha and Mini Grunge Type Alpha to complete my title.  And because I had some stray embossing, I used some black paint splatters to finish off my page. 

(Before the title)

Until next time, catch up with me on Instagram and Facebook @simplyjillsjourney.

Jill

Cleansed, NOT Consumed

 

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.

O Israel, the one who formed you says,

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters,

I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.

For I am the LORD, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT

Have you ever wondered why God allows the trials and burdens in our lives?  I think we all have at some point in our faith walk.   The Bible never promises us a life without struggles.  Trials are inevitable.  In Isaiah 43:2, God says "when" we go through rivers and "when" we walk through fire, it doesn't say "if".  

God allows us to face these trials and hardships to cleanse and purify our hearts and to draw us closer to Him.  Just like steel, we can be strengthened in the fire; we can learn  from our struggles.  We can learn to trust more fully in the Lord.  We can learn compassion, humility, and vulnerability.  We can learn prospective and to be more thankful for the many blessings God gives us.  

The struggles we face can strengthen our relationship with the Father, if we remember that He is with us, just as He promises in the verses above.  He instructs us, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you".  He is our Creator and Redeemer.  He calls us His.  He promises to be with us as we walk through the fire.    

If you are in the fire, I pray you use this season to cleanse your heart and strengthen your relationship with the Lord.  I know the struggle is hard, but do not be consumed.  God will create beauty from the ashes.   

Page Details:

I started this page by painting flames, using acrylics in the lower corner.  Then I layered the beautiful black and white florals from Consider the Wildflowers over the fire and at the top of the page.  I used the  Girl Power set to stamp out an image to represent myself.  I stamped my title using the Cold Coffee Alpha and Messy Stamped Alpha.  I finished it off by adding some star stenciling and paint splatters to the background.  The blueish purple specks on the page are actually bleed through from the entry on the reverse of this page, but I decided not to let that bother me and let it be apart of the "sparks" floating up from the fire. 

Until next time, catch up with me on Instagram and Facebook @simplyjillsjourney.

Jill

God is Gracious

So…Leviticus.  

I think there's something to be said about Leviticus.  I know what I've said in the past about it: can't I just skim it?  What point does it serve for the modern disciple of Jesus Christ?  How does it speak to us and should we be concerned with it?  What's the governing principle and purpose we could potentially take away?  Are there any?

Well, the answer to all of those questions is wrapped up in the overarching truth that ALL scripture is God-breathed, profitable and instructional, correctional and beneficial.  (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

In fact, even more overarching - if that's possible - and perhaps more helpful to our theology involving all of scripture is that ALL of the Bible is telling ONE. BIG. STORY.

As post-Acts disciples of Jesus, we understand that the New Testament is a new covenant.  It's exhaustive in defining the true follower of Jesus - how a true disciple should look in light of our salvation by Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.  AMAZING GRACE!

But as I heard Jen Wilkin once say in her message at Proclaim Truth 2020: "The Old Testament points toward the New; and the New Testament tips its hat toward the Old." 
What's she saying is, as much as we behold the New Testament, it is just as essential to follow the story of God through the Old.  It is just as impactful, necessary and beneficial to get a sense of God, His purpose, His plan, His ways, in the Old Testament. 
As we tackle the New Testament writings, it is profitable for us to understand the Old as it pertains in continuity and connection!  You can't understand one without the other; there's no way to understand the whole story of scripture if the entire Bible is not taken into consideration.

So…Leviticus.

In Leviticus, there is a familiar theme that I don't think we recognize as we're reading the repetitive statements of "he shall bring his offering," and "and the priest shall burn it on the altar."  The requirements for a "guilt offering," a "sin offering" a "restitution offering," etc., are remarkably similar. 
One must bring the appropriate sacrifice which will be made by the priest at the altar.  The animal of such a sacrifice must have particular qualities.  Parts of the animal will be used for sacrifice (namely the blood which was to be spilled on the altar), parts for burning completely, parts for the priest to use.

But whatever offering was coming for whatever transgression was made, it always required a costly sacrifice. 

I am far from understanding all the implications of Leviticus as it relates to my relationship God and His plans for a better life for mankind. 

I am bewildered at the enormous amount of detail that the LORD speaks to Moses, so the people could be reconciled to Him in a right relationship.  It's truly a lot to digest.

But I'm clear on one thing about the ever-becoming-endearing book of Leviticus in scripture: God is gracious.

God is gracious?

In Leviticus?

Excitedly, I confess that what was once a mundane read in my yearly Bible plan, is now one of my favorite books to work through!

I don't know how better to emphasize the connection of Leviticus to its importance in our lives; our understanding of its pertinence and significance.  I believe its God -breathed scripture and what I'm seeing is the foreshadowing of something much bigger, better, perfect and complete.  Jesus.  Jesus our perfect, ultimate, final sacrifice for sin!

But how does it show us that God is gracious?

Ahh, I am so glad you asked. 
In the book of Leviticus, there are explicit details of ways to break fellowship with God; different forms of sin that replace a harmonious connection to the LORD Almighty with brokenness.  Mentions of intentional and unintentional; guilt and restitution.  Over and over…and over…and over… and over. 
Think about this:

God is holy. Holy, holy, holy, to be exact.  This holiness is a divine and set apartness that separates God from everything else in creation.  As holy, He defines the truth and standard of all things: love, existence, boundaries, relationships, sin, right living, etc.

God is relational.  In the beginning, we see in creation that He set up the perfect place for something with the imprint of His image to subdue - rule and keep.  In this relationship, God set the precedent of relating to Him and doing what is right.  With the intent on "becoming like God, knowing good and evil," man disobeyed the loving, protective Lord, consequently causing a fracture in creation, and all things to fall from perfection to an inherent corruption.  Sad stuff.  Man has never had a perfect relationship with God since.  However, this is the part where we can say,
God is gracious.  Because sin would mark every person ever made (except Jesus the Beloved Son of God), God knew there would be necessary rules of engagement between people.  In Leviticus you can see how He defines and details all the ins and outs of God-loving, God-following people.  It's intense.  So intense, it's impossible.  It's IMPOSSIBLE. Those sacrifices that we talked about above were not things to do - it was God's temporary plan of reconciling a sinful people to Himself.  The repetitive script of the one bringing offering, the priest in his duties, and the forgiveness that would then be granted is God reaching out to humanity for relationship. 
It was a GRACE to understand what separated people from a Holy God.
It was a GRACE to bring a sacrifice to offer for restitution.

It was a GRACE to bow in humility, recognizing how badly we need Him.
It was a GRACE to offer worship in this mode.

It was a GRACE to be forgiven and restored to peace with the LORD.

God is GRACIOUS, even in His holiness and justice, to reach down into humanity giving us a foreshadowing of what was to come: the ultimate sacrifice; the perfect sacrifice; the final sacrifice; the unconditional love; the extended forgiveness of sins once and for all: JESUS CHRIST.

This is why we read the Old Testament.  It's the part of the story without an ending, until you get to the New Testament where Jesus breaches the walls between man and God for one final sacrifice, nullifying all sacrifices from then on, bringing about peace between God and man forever, and re-establishing a connection to all who believe on His name.  WOW!

God. Is. Gracious!

I'm spellbound.  I'm humbled.  I'm in awe.

What are your thoughts?  What do you think about Leviticus?  Maybe the next time you read it, you'll look at it through the lens of the Gospel wherein God tells His story of love, hope and grace.

Much love,

Deeds

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Created to Glorify God | Psalm 34

"I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."  (Ps. 34:1)

It's the end of August, and we're wrapping up the different projects and pages shared here on the blog.  We've been so pleased with the God-honoring, God-centered posts we've seen all over the Sweet n Sassy facebook pages and Instagram!

Y'all...

This was a crazy - CAAARRAZY - month on so many levels.

The entire summer has been difficult with all sorts of camps, retreats, church events, vacations, and birthdays of many!

By now, we've wrapped up the summer with our final vacation that lasted for 10 days total: 6 days travel, 4 days stay.  Whew!  I'm still recovering, and not quite up to speed, but I'm much better than I was when we pulled into our garage.  

I'll never forget that night.  

I'll never forget that feeling.

I'll never forget that surreal-ness...

And ya know what?  I'm glad.  I need to remember what happened because it's what happened that brought me to my senses regarding God's overall care and control of a situation.  

My house what not as I'd left it.  It was not as I remembered.  When we pulled in, the floor of our garage was under water, inches deep.  Through the door into our laundry room, and turning the corner into the boiler room we saw the damage.  And we saw the source.

A leak just over a mist had popped on our hot water heater.  It sprayed so peacefully into our boiler room onto the neighboring wall, saturating ultimately all that hung on it, and causing sadly mold to develop on the wall of the next room.  Oh... boy...

There are not enough words for how my countenance had fallen; not enough words to explain that feeling that encompasses tired, weak, depleted, drained, bitter, and sad all at the same time.

My enemy was after me, and I knew - I KNEW - that his battle would rage against me somethin' fierce as I worked with the hubster to settle in and deal with some 100+ gallons of water from our garage floor.

"Singing Praises" stamp set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  Affiliate link below.

The morning after this all happened, I awoke with unease and that sinking feeling... you probably know that feeling I'm talking about.  As I mentioned in my processvideo on my Youtube channel, God drew me to my Bible that was lying open on my dining room table.  It was like something out of a movie as I moved from room to room, dismal and drained, to find the Word of God waiting for me among the piles of things still to unpack.  Even more surreal was turning to the next passage in my Bible reading plan, and seeing Psalm 34 in a completely different and relate-able way.

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I soul will boast in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice! Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.  I sought the LORD and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; they shall look to Him and never be ashamed.  This poor man called out and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all of his troubles." (vv.1-6)

"In His Image" stamp set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  Affiliate link below.

There are far less words I can muster on just how faithful God is and was during this time.  We've not yet done full repairs to what was damaged and cannot recover what's been lost, but His hand, heavy and glorious, lifted my burden and I felt a weight transferred elsewhere.  It was unreal, supernatural and completely welcome.

David wrote of tragedy and loss, despair and attack, but usually from the posture of praise!  Usually, his position in the LORD of all Lords, and the God of all gods, reminded him often (as it should the rest of us who are in Christ) that he was protected, watched, cared for and loved.  His heart was safe, secure in the hands of God the Creator and Sovereign.

The flooding of my downstairs was bad, but it could have been worse.  PRAISE!

The damage to our house was awful, but it could have been so much more.  PRAISE!

The loss of goods and items was countable, but we are still being taken care of by a good God. PRAISE!

"Let's Do This," stamp set by Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  Affiliate link below.

Dear God, your praise will ever be on my lips, so far as it is in my power to do so!  I count on Your Holy Spirit to continually nudge and convict me of how much You have blessed, that I may praise You all the days of my life, sun up to sun down.

I love You, LORD.  

I adore You, Yahweh.

I praise You El Roi, the God who sees.  Amen.

Much love,

Deeds

Links to stamps below!

Link to "In His Image," here.

Link to "Singing Praises," here.

Link to "Let's Do This," here.