"Let Me See Your Hands!"

There are certain phrases that I believe that all parents have said or will say while raising their children. I don't care who you are or where you are from, some things are just universal! Let me give you some examples: 
"did you make your bed?"
"did you finish your homework?
"take a bath and be sure to use the soap!"
"did you wash your hands?" .........See what I mean? Some things are just common to parenting! Or how about this one? You send your child to go wash their hands for dinner and they come back too soon! What is the first thing that we ask them to do? "Let me see your hands!!" ....Kind of funny but true! Have you ever wondered why the hand towel ends up so dirty? I mean if our hands are clean when we dry them, shouldn't the hand towel reveal this? The problem is, we wash away most of the dirt; the dirt that is on the surface, that comes off just with the rubbing together of your hands! But, what about between your fingers and under your nails? We tend to leave behind the dirt that gets into the hidden places! and over time, the hand towel begins to reveal the truth about our so called,  "clean hands".
When life gets dirty, due to our sins, short comings, wrong decisions, and disobedient life styles, we get to a point when we realize that something is wrong and we begin to raise questions! Why is my life broken? How did I end up here? How can I make this right? Is it too late for me to start over again? Will God forgive me?
Can I really give up, what is hindering me? How can I fix this?.....Ever asked yourself any of those questions? Have you ever tried to get cleaned up, only to find that you were still on the outside of God's Promises for your life? What could be wrong? I mean, you prayed about it and you repented of most of your sins! Well, the one's you were tired of doing! But, what happened when there was no change in your situation?  Let me tell you what happens! We try to clean up our own lives, by getting rid of this or that; mostly because we don't like it anymore; and we kick that thing or the other to the side, because it's just not our thing anymore, and then we try to give it to God as our best! But, what if He turns around  and says, "come here!", "let me see your hands! Are you giving me your all? You are trying to clean yourself up, and leaving behind too  much filth! I cannot help you if you aren't willing to allow me to cleanse those dark areas, those hidden areas, those areas around your wounds and scars; areas that MAY SEEM too painful to clean, but is necessary for proper healing! Let me see your hands!! I still see un-forgiveness and pride! Show me your hands! I still see that relationship that has left you broken! Let me see your hands! because I still can see the dirt from doubt and frustration! hopelessness and fear! I want you to "go back!" and try it again! But this time, go wash with prayer! go back! and this time, wash with fasting!  go back and wash with the Word of God! and allow it to cleanse those places that you cannot cleanse on your own; Allow it to help you to let go of things that you cannot let go of, on your own! Jesus died so that YOUR HANDS would be clean! Only HE can cleanse hands that hide unseen dirt, only HE can cleanse hands and make them suitable for eternal life! With Jesus as our covering! We have nothing to worry about! Go ahead and give them to Him! Because HE will present them as faultless! He will present them as blameless, He will present them as spotless, on that great getting up morning, when you and I will stand at the entrance of the Kingdom, before Our Father, as He says:  "LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

Jude 24 Says, "Now unto Him, who is able to keep you from falling; and present you faultless in the presence of his glory, with exceeding great joy!"

Thank you Lord for saving me from the sins and filth of this World! I tried to clean up on my own, but I failed, because I did not have the power or capability to cover my own sins. I thank you that when your father looks at my hands, he sees your hands instead, as a stamp of approval! I'll sing praises to you forever, for what you have done for me!

You Are Just The Right Size!!

YOU ARE JUST THE RIGHT SIZE

Scripture: Isaiah 61:3 says, to "put on the garment of praise, in exchange for the spirit of heaviness."

One of my favorite things to do is to go shopping! However, there is one thing that I have never understood and that is "One Size Fits All" clothing! I mean, who came up with that! Talk about a misunderstanding! Does one size fit all tall people? all short people? all thin people? all "fluffy" people (like me)  :) ? .....Who exactly, are they referring to? Well, after trying on a couple of things that sported this label, I soon found out, that One Size! definitely does not fit all!!! And in this life! I am convinced that most things are not made to fit everyone! These types of labels, lead you believe that as long as you  fit OUR mold for what the right size is...then you are PERFECT for our garment!!!
Well, I came across a garment that really does fit ALL and it does not matter what size you are!! Nor does it matter what color you are, how old you are, where you came from, or what gender you are!!! Sound too good to be true?? Well, in this world!...it is too good to be true! However, in the life of a believer, this is a "must have" clothing item, and is a garment that you can wear anytime you want to and it does not matter whether it is night or day; sunshine or raining; Winter, Summer, Spring, or Fall...this garment will fit you perfectly! Throw away that measuring tape because you don't need it here!!! Why? Because God says, that you are just the right size for THIS garment!! No need to diet, or gain weight! no need to let the hem out or put one in!!!! There is no need for adjustments here; not now, not EVER!!! FOR THIS IS THE GARMENT OF PRAISE!!! And it's sure to look good on you!!!! .....So, go ahead! put it on! Put in on when you wake up in the morning and realize that God has breathed breath into your lungs, one more time; Put it on before you go to work, and when people say, "you look nice today!", tell them, "It's my garment of Praise!!!".....Go ahead, try it on! when the enemy tries to put doubt in your head about something that God has given you a promise about! Put on the Garment of Praise, when you feel tears of disappointment running down your face! Try it on...it looks good on YOU! Wear it well, because God made it just for YOU! He wants you wear it at all times, so that praises will always remain in your mouth!!!! We are going to take back those things that didn't fit us! We are taking back that garment of depression and exchanging it for a garment of praise!! We're taking back that garment of fear! and getting a refund, so that we can obtain a garment of confidence, for free! We're returning that garment of doubt, because the garment of Faith, fits so much better! Clean out those closets, and clear out those attics, because now that you have a new "garment maker", there is no room for them anymore!
 Now! go and tell everybody that you know, that, "I know about a garment that you can put on that will change your life; and all it cost is a willingness to wear it!! You don't have to worry about this garment fitting too tight, being too loose, or revealing...it's perfect for all occasions! It's the true One Size Fits All, so go ahead!
God is saying, "go ahead, put it on!" You're JUST THE RIGHT SIZE!!!!

Why Abide?

During some recent study time, the Lord brought my attention to the word ABIDE! At first glance of the word, I thought it was just something that I needed to learn a little more about; you know, at least look up the definition of the word! (the quick and easy way out!), However, after looking up the definition, it didn't seem to be enough! I thought to myself, "I feel a spiritual classroom moment coming!" ... Have you ever had things on your agenda and you just want to get your study time in so you can move on to the next part of your day, and just when you start to wrap it up, The Lord says, "not so fast!" ...."I need you to hang out with me for a little while; abide in my presence, for a moment longer!! hmmm..I guess "abiding" is something that I need to learn a lot more about!!



Today, I will use some excerpts from a wonderful book of devotions, called, My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers)


I want to start off looking at the word Abide in its different forms:



Abide: To accept or act in accordance with; to (stay, stand, endure, reside, remain, wait)
So, those who abide in the Lord, are those who are "waiting" in the Lord, enduring, yet residing in Him. And it is them, who he said, will be able to ask what they will; so to abide is actually God giving you the key to how to obtain his favor.



Abiders: Those who abide in Christ, while making Him the "central point" of power in their lives. We have a way of making all sorts of things a "central point" in our lives. Sometimes it can be our jobs, our finances, our education, and even our busyness in our church; but in order to be a true abider in Christ Jesus, it must be Him and Him alone who is your central point of power! As abiders, we must become those who are one with God in spirit!



Abiding: Living in accordance to HIS will! Standing, enduring, residing, and remaining under his authority. Are we abiding? Are we taking the time to abide?

"What is the greatest factor of power in my life? Is it work, service, sacrifice for others, or trying to work for God? The thing that ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the Atonement of the Lord. It is not the thing we spend the most time on that molds us most; the greatest element is the thing that exerts the most power!" ~Oswald Chambers


Do we have a willingness to abide? Are we truly abiders in Christ? and can we describe our service as abiding service?  Is Jesus Christ dominating every interest in my life, more and more? If the one central point, the great exerting influence in my life is the abiding in Christ, then every phase of my life will bear fruit for Him.



*EVERY GREAT TRIUMPH OR EQUALLY GREAT DEFEAT WILL BE QUANTIFIED BY THE QUESTION OF ABIDING COMMUNION ~commenter, K. McGuire



John 14:13 says, "Whatever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do."


For further scriptures on the benefits of Abiding, see JOHN 15 in its entirety!!  Praise the Lord!!!!