Our Heavenly Father of Lights

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of the truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures (NASB, James 1:17-18).

Image courtesy of nuttakit/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How I love these verses!  Can you picture our Father-God in the heavens, the creator -- not the created?  He exercised His will to bring  forth man -- that's us;  moreover, he made us to be special -- a kind of first fruits among His creatures (v. 18).  Man is not ordinary:  he is beloved by God.  

Not only that, but God brought Jesus Christ into our world in the form of man, and He is a kind of first fruits, as well.  He is the only-begotten son of God (John 3:16), he died , was buried, was resurrected and lives in a glorified body.  According to 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus is a kind of first fruits of those who have died and will be resurrected.   And someday, we who believe will be with Him.  

Image courtesy
of Nuttakit/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There is more that touches me in this passage:  God is the Father of lights (v. 17).  All the stars that we see in the skies, the planets, the beautiful pictures that astronomers have taken of nebulae and other things that exist in outer space.  That is His territory too.  He made it, and it is wondrous and beautiful.  

Finally, James tells us with whom [God] there is no variation or shifting shadow (v.17).  God never changes:  we can always depend on Him to be God.  He has no hidden agendas:  we can trust Him.  And we can trust the words that He sent us in the Bible.  Our God is loving, faithful, and reliable.  He loves you and me.

Prayer:  Father of lights, Creator of all that is good, I praise you.  I lift my voice up in thanksgiving for your many blessings.  And, I thank you for the reminders of your great power and love You have left in the heavens for us to see.  As I watch the night sky, I am in awe of the immensity of your creation and You.  There are not enough words to express how You fill my heart.  In Jesus Name,  Amen

Praying Psalm 143, Part 1

Hear my prayer, O Lord...
so why did I not come to your word for comfort yesterday?
The words were there,
   the ones I needed to hear
           the words I needed to say.

A N G E R
generating sadness, confusion, frustration, confusion
    in my mind, in my heart;
          It pervaded everything.
I couldn't escape it with music, with reading, with art, with friend' words.
          Anger colored all I did,            
               Shading it with colors I didn't like.

Give ear to my supplications!
Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!
And do not enter into judgment with your servant,
For in Your sight no man living is righteous.

         "Prayer" coutesy of graur razvan ionut/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thank you for reminding me, Lord,
            You have the answers,
                You are faithful,
Even when I have trouble with that--
             You are righteous, and I am not;
                                And yet,                                             
                                      You still hear me.

Psalm 143: 1-2
“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB." 
www.lockman.org