November 3, 2020 – Our God is Awesome…

     You give life; You are love; You bring light to the darkness.
     You give hope; You restore. Every heart that is broken
     Great are You, Lord!

We search for Someone who is greater and more powerful. Someone we look up to and worship.  Someone who protects and transforms our hearts. Someone who loves us with abandon.  Someone who brings us peace and joy.

It is not another man; it is God the Father, the One Who created us in His Image.  For you formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  Psalm 139:13.

He binds up the waters in His thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them. He covers the face of the full moon and spreads over it His cloud. He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.

 “The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at His rebuke. By His power He stilled the sea; by His understanding, He shattered Rahab. By His wind, the heavens were made fair; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.  Behold, these are but the outskirts of His ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power, who can understand?” By His power he stilled the sea… Behold, these are but the outskirts of His ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of His power, who can understand? Job 26:8-14.

This is the God I can worship.  This is the One God who cares.  He is the awesome God who brings salvation through His One and Only Son, Jesus. Oh, the sacrifice He made to allow His son to be born as a little baby on earth, to grow up and give His life to bring us salvation.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17.

The one thing we often fear, Jesus erased this fear when He arose from the grave after his horrific crucifixion, shedding blood as a sacrifice for all of us.  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” I Corinthians 15:54-55.

This same Jesus, Son of God, died for us, and He gave us Peace. God sent us the Holy Spirit when He rejoined God the Father.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  John 14:26-28.

This same Helper, The Holy Spirit, presents gifts to live a peaceful, assured life in Jesus.  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. Galatians 5:22-23.

Our Lord is always available in our deepest need—His Presence is continual for each of us. When the world terrifies us, we just have to call to Him.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.  Psalm 18:1-3.

How do I know the way to go in this life?  How do I know who to believe?  How do know for certain Jesus is true?  When Thomas was filled with doubt and he wanted answers. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”  John 14:6-7.

Jesus is the Way.  He is the Truth, and He is the Life.  Jesus is One with the Father, and knowing Jesus through His Words in the Bible, we know the God the Father, too.

This month of November is the Month of Gratitude leading to Joy.  Each day, we praise God and thank Him for His Goodness and reasons for Joy.  No matter what the circumstances are that bring concern, we simply praise God and put it in His Hands.

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:11-13.

How can I be sure of a peaceful and joy-filled walk in the Presence of our God the Father?  Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:4-8.

         “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”   John 13:34-35.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:3-7.

Our God is Awesome!