I Stand Amazed

Image Courtesy of [nuchylee]/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Holley, this post brought tears of recognition and joy to my eyes, because it is true. I am seeing the fruit of small steps I started years ago. Now I am blogging, which for me came as a call to minister to those with chronic illnesses, and I am see what God is doing with amazement. Do you know the old hymn, “I Stand Amazed in the Presence of Jesus the Nazarene?” That is how I feel sometimes, as this often in pain, fatigued sinner saved by Grace shares my heart. Glory to God in the Highest! He is absolutely awesome and amazing. 

The above was my response to Holley Gerth's January 16, blog post, and I just wanted to share my joy with you;  which is in my heart because of Jesus.  Usually, I share scripture with you, but see the words penned by Charles H. Gabriel, in Praises, by Edwin O. Excell (Chicago, Illinois:  1905).  

"I stand amazed in the presence

Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

Refrain

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

Refrain

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

Refrain

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Refrain"

His Mercy Is EverLasting

Lamentations 3: 16-24

With the horrible destruction wrought by Hurricane Sandy, this seems an appropriate time to meditate on Affliction and Hope, with the assurance of hope which the afflicted can have in God and his providence.   Those of us who have suffered tragedies, death, loss, and chronic illness in our families most certainly can identify with the pain of the prophet, for it is believed Lamentations was written by the Prophet Jeremiah, although that is not an absolute certainty. The person of whom we can always be sure is God.  

Hear the words of affliction:  He has made me to cower in the dust.   My soul has been rejected from peace;  I have forgotten happiness.  So I say,  My strength has perished and so has my hope from the Lord" (Lamentations 3: 16b-18).  What deep grief the writer feels:  he is suffering from loss of home, health, and emotional peace.  He is disturbed within, and he feels this to the innermost part of his soul.  The pain seems too much to bear; but then, there is a flicker of hope.  He says, Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the bitterness.  Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me.  This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope (Lamentations 3:19-21).

Courtesy of [Victor Habbick] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

His words of hope lift the heart and the soul:  God's light shines into the cave in which he sits.
Listen:  The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning;  great is Your faithfulness.  "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore, I have hope in Him" (Lamentations 3:22-24).  

What precious knowledge to store within our hearts.   There is no end to God's lovingkindness:  He is full of compassion and mercy.  Moreover, His compassions never fail (Lam 3: 22b)  Every morning  His compassions are new, which means there is freshness and new hope for  us to look forward to tomorrow morning, the next and the next with no end in sight.  We can wait when we know the Lord and we hope;  for then, we know we will have His mercy.  For His mercy is everlasting and His compassions never fail  (Lam 3:22b).  Amen.

All scripture is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).  
  www.lockman.org

Defined by His Mercy

Does God define you by your illnesses or your human imperfections?  No, He doesn't measure us by the world's standards.  It is not our emotional, mental, and physical strengths that are the standard God measures for salvation. What counts is that we love God and follow Jesus Christ.  Psalm 147:1-11 fills me with peace as I read it, and I immediately offer praise to the  Lord.  It speaks of building up Jerusalem and of gathering together the outcasts of Israel; and...

Joy Explained

John speaks of Jesus from the position of the closest of friends.  In fact, John was there from the beginning of Jesus' ministry and His baptism.  He ate with him, talked with him, witnessed Jesus' miracles and His teaching.  He stayed by Jesus' side as He was crucified on the cross and he ate with Jesus after He was resurrected (John 21).  He was known as the disciple Jesus loved.  If one was looking for a reliable witness to whom Jesus is, I believe that would be John.

John refers to Jesus as the Word of life, and indeed, Jesus Christ is the eternal Word of life.  He speaks of Him as having been with the Father, God.  John lets us know that eternal life was proved to him without any doubt.  Could you have witnessed the life, the death, and the resurrected Christ and not shared that truth?  John makes clear that his fellowship is with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Throughout this passage, he speaks in the plural using the pronouns we and us.  He is most likely referring  to the other disciples and believers who were intimately acquainted with Jesus, as well as Mary the mother of Jesus, who was given into John's care by Jesus Himself.  

Finally, in verse 3, I see in my mind's eye a continuous stream of believers in Christ reaching out to share the fellowship they have with one another because of their fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.  This is Life, whatever our circumstance, an abundant eternal life filled with hope.  I myself have had joy in the worst of circumstances:  my son lying in a hospital for 3 1/2 months,dying;  my mother's and father's death;  my own chronic illness, and other difficult life circumstances. I have experienced abundant joy even in those hard times,  and I have shared that joy with other believers also enduring difficult times.  This joy of which I speak transcends life's experiences:  it covers us.  It  is there waiting for us -- carrying us through, even when we cannot feel it.  Let the joy of Jesus Christ fill you with His love and hope that lasts for all eternity.  I echo John, "And these things we write to you that your joy may be full."

Prayer:   Father in Heaven, I pray that all who read this may experience the fullness of joy that can only be found in You.  May they see the truth of who Jesus Christ is, and I pray for them to connect with other  believers to share this fellowship of love and hope.  In Jesus Precious Name I ask these things.  Amen.

1 John 1: 1 - 4

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— ² the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— ³ that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

(A note for those who have problems reading and comprehending lengthy blogs:  I sometimes experience brain fog, which affects people with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  This devotion is a little longer than some I write.  Therefore, I suggest you read it through, and come back later to look at smaller portions of the piece.  It is wise to break it up into smaller portions, to savor and ask God for understanding of each section you read.  Even though, it IS important to read scripture in context, meditation sometimes requires us to consider smaller portions, and ask God how this applies to our lives.  I pray you will enjoy comfort and peace, the peace of our Father God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.)

Hope for the Weary

The trials of life are hard, but there is hope for the weary.  The passage below says it all.  There is hope beyond the problems of this life, and those of us that know Jesus as Savior have a hope that is inexpressible in it's scope.  We can rejoice, even put a smile on our faces at knowing God has prepared a wonderful heavenly home for us;  and one day, we will shed no tears.   

Born Again to a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-9

  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB." 
www.lockman.org

Prayer:  Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  Thank You for the hope that You have given us, and thank You for the knowledge that the trials we suffer here on earth are not without purpose.  What we struggle against becomes inexpressible joy as we relinquish control over our lives to the Lord of all and trust in His provision.  Amen

For Further Study:

As I was searching scripture on the internet, I found a sermon by Rev. John Piper called The Power of Hope , which is based on today's scripture.