Friday, June 23, 2017

Scars To Your Beautiful: His Masterpiece- Eph. 2:10





 This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred sixteenth inspirational message dated Friday, June 23rd, 2017.  The title of this message is, “Scars To Your Beautiful”: His Masterpiece - Eph. 2:10, Psalm 139:13-14”.  The first four words in the title of this message are also the title of the above song/video (with lyrics) entitled, “Scars To Your Beautiful” as sung by the singer Alessia Cara.  The scriptures for this message come from two passages: one New Testament and one Old Testament passages of scripture – Ephesians 2:10 and Psalm 139:13-14:

Ephesians 2:10

New Living Translation (NLT)

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Psalm 139:13-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

{The below excerpt was taken from the Internet from “Compelling Truth – Psalm 139:14)

What does it mean to be fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)?

Psalm 139:14 makes the well-known statement, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." This verse is often quoted, but what does it mean?

First, these words are a clear statement about the amazing capabilities of the human body God has created. Our bodies are made of billions of cells and a myriad of parts that can only be adequately explained by a loving and wise Creator and Designer (
Genesis 1:26-27).

Second, this verse gives an indication of our value from God's perspective. He designed us. Much care is involved in the creation of each human being. As the verses immediately following
Psalm 139:14 say, "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139:15-16).

Third, this verse reveals the inestimable worth of all human life. A direct application of this verse is the protection of life at all levels, from the womb to the final breath of a person's life. This is why Christians care deeply about the protection of life in the womb (
Psalm 139:13), caring for those mistreated or undervalued by others in society (Proverbs 31:8-9), and for the elderly and those with terminal illnesses. As 1 John 4:19 shares, "We love because He first loved us."

Fourth, God's qualities of having all power (omnipotence) and all knowledge (omniscience) are revealed in this verse. God asked Job, "Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?" (
Job 38:36). It's a rhetorical question; the answer is, of course, "God." No one else can take the credit for creating every person. No one else knows each person at the most intimate level. The same God who created the universe (Genesis 1:1) also knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7).

Finally, in this verse we find yet another reason to worship the Lord Almighty. He has created us in such wisdom, power, and love, and the only proper response is to honor Him and glorify His name. As the Psalms note elsewhere, "There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God" (
Psalm 86:8-10).

 (The below passages were taken from the Internet: The Expository Files: “I am Fearfully & Wonderfully Made: Psalm 139:13-14)

God wove you. Like a tapestry, each of us is a complex creature (Exodus 26:36). All of our parts work together; each with a different job to do and all depending on the other parts (1 Corinthians 12:14-18). God works with the skill that confounds man. We recall the first creation which began it all (Genesis 2:7;22; 1:27). When God formed that initial human pair, He skillfully added mechanisms which would operate on the basis of natural law so that they would be able to re-create themselves. The Psalmist correctly identifies God as the Master Worker who is the source of our origin.

This should elicit praise and thanksgiving from our hearts (Psalm 139:14). We are "fearfully" (awe) and "wonderfully" (to distinguish) made. Each of us are unique in many ways, but also similar in many; each an original masterpiece of the Creator. Don't deny this aspect of your identity (too many have done so). God can use your special abilities (Psalm 139:16); He has a purpose for you!



{The below passages were taken from the Internet : Greg Laurie - A New Beginning – “God’s Masterpiece”}

God’s greatest masterpiece of creation is you. And it is me. We are God’s greatest masterpieces.

In fact, we read in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (nkjv).

That word workmanship could be translated, “we are His work of art.” We are His poem. Or as another translation puts it, we are God’s masterpiece.

Without question, man is God’s greatest creation. Man is His crowning achievement.

The psalmist wrote of this when he said, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it” (Psalm 139:13–14 nlt).

If we look at Scripture, it would appear that God has a plan for us, even before we are conceived. In Jeremiah we read, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (1:5 nkjv).

God has His plan for a child, even before he or she is conceived, not to mention afterward.

And according to Scripture, there is a unique and custom-designed plan that God has in store just for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ. God selected you and chose you so “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7 nkjv).

That is what God wants to do for you.

If God were to reveal to you today how much He loves you, it would overwhelm you. It would devastate you to think of the love that He has for you in light of the way we all behave sometimes.

All He can give us at this point is the down payment of the Holy Spirit, and that alone overwhelms us at times. But in the ages to come, He is going to reveal His kindness and goodness toward us.

As I pointed out earlier, Ephesians says that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (2:10 nkjv). In addition to “workmanship” speaking of a poem or a work of art, it is a word that speaks of something that is perfect. It carries the idea of rhythm, orderliness, and beauty.

{The above passages were taken from the Internet : Greg Laurie - A New Beginning – “God’s Masterpiece”}

PRAISE GOD! YOU are HIS MASTERPIECE!

You are His work of art – and He wants to WORK Through YOU – for HIS GLORY!

Lean on, depend on and TRUST the LORD – He has GREAT plans for you – see Jeremiah 29:11 –

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)


11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Please enjoy the above song/video (with lyrics) entitled, “Scars To Your Beautiful” as sung by the singer Alessia Cara.


 (I do not own the rights to this song.)
 

BE BLESSED!

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Beauty For Ashes - Isaiah 61:1-3





This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred fifteenth inspirational message dated Saturday, June 3rd, 2017.  The title of this message is, “Beauty for Ashes – Isaiah 61:1-3”.  The words in the title of this message are also the title of the above song/video entitled “Beauty For Ashes” as sung by the Christian singer Crystal Lewis featuring Ron Kenoly.  The scripture comes from the first three verses of the 61st Chapter of the Old Testament book of Isaiah – as written by prophet Isaiah  (focusing on the 3rd verse):

 

Isaiah 61:1-3

New King James Version (NKJV)

61 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

 

The below excerpt was taken from the Internet via Sermon Central, entitled: “Beauty For Ashes, Joy For Mourning, Praise For Heaviness” as  contributed by Thomas Dibble (on May 22, 2003)

 

The Bible speaks of the Holy Ghost as being the Comforter. Aren’t you glad for the Holy Spirit of the Lord? He is the Comforter.

In our scripture text it says that God would appoint, or as the NKJV says, God would console those who mourn in Zion. There is enough of God to comfort all who mourn around the world. But His word specifically states those in Zion or those in God’s house are going to get God’s attention.

God’s people who are in:

 

-        Calamity

-        Desolation

-        Crisis situation

-        Mourning

-        Trouble

-        Hard times

-        Difficult circumstances

 

God’s people will surely get His attention. And if there is anybody who I want to have their attention – it’s God. I want His eyes upon me. I want His ear tuned in to my cry. I want to be underneath the umbrella of His protection. I want to live in the secret place of the Most High and abide under His feathers and under His wings.

The Bible says that He will give us beauty for ashes. In Bible times it was the custom for the people of that day to in great times of mourning and difficulty to lay in ashes. Just think about that. You’ve got a problem in your life and you just sit down in a pile of ashes. There is nothing beautiful about ashes.

But the scripture says He is going to take your difficult, disgusting, depressing and horrible situation and give you beauty. He is going to pick you up out of the ash pile of life and make something beautiful out of you.

The Hebrew word for ashes is "epher" and the Hebrew word for beauty is "pheer". Just move the "e" and you have a new word. And just as quickly as it takes for you to move one letter God is going to turn your sorrow into joy. He speaks and it is already done.

You may feel like your life is ugly and insignificant right now. But sometimes things that appear ugly just need the right climate to grow. There is a species of century plant called the “Maguey”. It grows for years with great course leaves as thick as two hands put together. It’s three inches thick and very long. It puts out sharp thorns and it’s just as ugly as can be. The longer it’s alive and the more it grows, it just gets uglier all the time. But suddenly it shoots up in just a couple of days and a great shaft tall and thick begins to grow. It decks it’s spreading head with thousands of flowers and becomes a beautiful plant.

The possibility of all that fragrant beauty was always in that detestable ugliness. Just as the fragrant beauty of your life is sometimes hidden underneath the calloused ritual. It is smothered by daily schedules and monotonous grind. Sometimes painful experiences cause beauty to come forth.

Written by Thomas Dibble 
 

Personally speaking, I have experienced “beauty for ashes” in my life…as I’m sure so many of you have, as well.  As a result of many of my most difficult circumstances - there has sprung up “blessings of beauty”, which never could have been blossomed in any other way – unless from the “ashes”.

Recently, I was watching a television show when a doctor stated that because of the unfortunate miscarriage of his and his wife’s first baby – he became an OB/GYN trained doctor so that he could help “safely” deliver future babies.  This doctor was able to turn his own sad, “personal” experience to “joyful experiences” for the families of the thousands of babies he successfully delivered. God blessed him to turn the spirit of “heaviness”  (he had experienced at one time) to the spirit of “joy”!

How has God changed a situation for “you” around!  How has God given YOU “Beauty for Ashes”? How has God given you “peace” for “despair” or "gladness for mourning"? God KNOWS your need, just believe what HE says!

Read the below scripture to remind you – how God works ALL things together for GOOD!

Romans 8:28


New King James Version (NKJV)


28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God is concerned about “YOU”– He cares for you – read the below text from Isaiah 43:1-7 :

Isaiah 43


New King James Version (NKJV)


The Redeemer of Israel


43 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
Everyone who is called by My name,

Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
 

Please enjoy the above song/video (with lyrics) entitled “Beauty For Ashes” as sung by the Christian singer Crystal Lewis featuring Ron Kenoly.
 
 (I do not own the rights to this song.)


BE BLESSED!