I Am What I Am

1 Corinthians 15:10 (New International Version)

¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
I am saved by grace
By His mercy and kindness
I am what I am

No Less Blind

John 19:21 (New International Version)

²¹The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
Today many dismiss Jesus, the One Who claims to be the Son of God.  They are no less blind than the ones that shouted, "crucify him!" long ago.  

Cloth

The fabric of our lives

Serves as cloth for God to weave

Our heavenly robes

                                                  

He Who Does

Matthew 7:21 (New International Version)

 ²¹"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Believing you believe

Does not replace obeying God

That is love defined

Dust

Genesis 2:7 (New International Version)

⁷ the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

As the dust settles

Clay jars that remain empty

Return dust to dust

He Appeared

1 Corinthians 15:7 (New International Version)

⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
The word apostles applied to all those who saw the risen Lord.  We may have missed the first opportunity, but we can make sure we don't miss Him the next chance we get.

Tears

Genesis 29:11 (New King James Version)

¹¹ Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
There are those moments
When only tears are spoken
Of things beyond words

Not Heard

Matthew 16:11 (New King James Version)

¹¹ How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
The word once spoken
Though finding and giving life
Is not always heard

One Thing I Know

John 9:25 (New International Version)

 ²⁵He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
I may not know this or that thing, but one thing I do know- the change in me.  The same Jesus healed yesterday and today.  Don't you see?

Save Those

Grace is for everyone

No one is beyond God’s grace

Save those who say no

Seeks

Ezra 7:10 (New King James Version)

¹⁰ For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
A heart after God's own heart, to seek and do His will.  A heart such as this the Lord seeks.

Being Less

Matthew 23:9 (New Living Translation)

⁹ And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.
We are all equal, brothers and sisters in the church of the living body of Christ.  He that humbles himself will be the greatest in kingdom of heaven.  Doing less is being less.

Song Of Deception

Revelation 12:9 (New King James Version)

⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 
The old fairy tale of the Pied Piper comes to mind.  The good news here is that he is no longer accusing us before God.  The bad news is that he and his band of deception have been cast down to earth.  They do not play any music heard or learned in heaven.
The lyrics to his song of deception begin with "did God really say that?".

Becoming Wise

1 Corinthians 3:18 (New International Version)

 ¹⁸Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.
A person becomes wise by forfeiting his own wisdom for the wisdom that is Christ.  What seems right to man may not be right before God.  His ways are not the ways of the world.  This is why it is considered foolishness.

All Three Of Us

Matthew 17:27 (New King James Version)

²⁷ Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money;^[a] take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
We are free from the "tax" of sin.  He provides for all three of us: He, you, and me.

A New Song

Psalm 40:3 (New Living Translation)

 ³ He has given me a new song to sing,
      a hymn of praise to our God.
   Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
      They will put their trust in the Lord.
The Song of Moses, the joyful praise of Mary, and the rejoicing voices of those who are saved all join together to sing of His Amazing Grace.

Times Of Ignorance

Acts 17:30 (New King James Version)

³⁰ Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
The days of justification by ignorance are past.

Thus We Abide

John 5:39 (New International Version)

³⁹You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
Through the lens of God-breathed Scripture we can begin to see His Son embodied in the words, as we are powered and enabled by the grace of His Spirit.  Keeping these words, we embody Christ.  Thus we abide.  

As It Is And Shall Be

Genesis 15:5 (New King James Version)

⁵ Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
God speaks to Abram, foretelling the children of heaven, numerous and bright, like starts in the night.  Look up!  What awe and wonder must have coursed through the man!  He was looking at you and me, as it is and shall be.

The Blessing

Revelation
Who is blessed and why?
Rev 1:3

The Morning Star

2 Peter 1:19 (New King James Version)

¹⁹ And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
Jesus is that morning star which is the light of the world and shines in our hearts.

The Word Revealed

In the Book of Revelation, how many revelations were given?
To whom and by whom is it given?
The answer is in Revelation 1:1.

To And Fro

Genesis 8:7 (New King James Version)

⁷ Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth.
Noah released two birds from the ark to test for land.  The first was a raven, an unclean animal that feeds on carrion, dead flesh.  In the Book of Job, God asked Satan where he'd been.  Satan answers, "From going to and fro on the earth,..."

Learn What This Means

Matthew 9:13 (New International Version)

¹³But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
He does not desire a religion that goes through the motions, but a changed heart.  The quote referenced in the verse comes from Hosea in the Old Testament.  Sacrifices were put in place to get us ready for the coming of Jesus.  The word will teach us what this means.