Tuesday, 31 December 2019

FOLLOWING on in 2020! Looking unto Jesus!

As we face a new year, 2020, to me it seems quite incomprehensible that we are at such a date!
These verses  (Daily Light 31st Dec. Evening) really resonated with me in the midst of this sense of wondering what lies ahead...
There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. Josh. 13:1

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:12

Be ye therefore perfect Matt. 5:48

Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. II Pet. 1:5-7

pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. Phil. 1:9

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. I Cor. 2:910

There remaineth ... a rest for the people of God. Heb. 4:9

Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isa. 33:17
It certainly grabbed one... much land yet to be possessed.. a certain slackness!
Indeed for NOT.. already attained!
BUT I FOLLOW AFTER!
It's not What but Who we follow after that matters!
Apprehended of Christ, .. ie taken hold of by Christ?!!

I have chosen you” (John 15:16). 
Keep that note of greatness in your creed.
 It is not that you have got God, but that He has got you." 
My Utmost for His Highest, October 25, 837 R by Oswald Chambers
Or 
"Ask not if you have hold of God, 
but has He hold of you?"

It all made me wonder.. When saved Jan 4, 1966.. how much of me did I give? 
As a young child, I gave simply... simply thankful that One loved me enough to die for MY sins! 
That angels in heaven  rejoiced over one sinner who repented! It was a day of such deep joy to my young limited-knowledge heart, my happiness was real. 
Simply God took hold and He has never let go.

I know, understand  much more now, so there is much more to give, but I wonder if in my young innocence I gave more then?
Remember the widow's two mites (verses here)? She gave out of her want or lack! The Pharisee out of his much, yet the mites were the greater gift!
How much have I pulled back from Christ, understanding more, yet not wanting to surrender that bit?
It's a daily battle. 
We win sometimes,
but must be watchful always for Satan is a roaring lion (click for  verse)..
May "..I follow after, 
if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
... for then we will be perfect.. 
Perfected! 
Oh, JOY indeed..
 For one day it shall be all made plain.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. I Cor. 2:910

For we've never seen or even imagined what God has for us ahead.. so really why try? 
...
Why worry what 2020 will bring! 
And oh, what things we do have to look forward to! 
A rest... 
Yess! blessed rest!
(as I write this sleepless at 3am, that seems truly wonderful)...

There remaineth ... a rest for the people of God. Heb. 4:9

Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isa. 33:17

This prayer of Paul's below from the reading seemed a good one to end with, dear ones! How blessed we are in Jesus!
No matter where we are in our Christian walk, once Christ's, we are always His.
We are seated in the heavenly places .. wow!
JOY!
Video link here
What a great gift this is! Sometimes, too often sadly, its easy to lose sight of it. 
Let's face 2020 afresh with JOY in our hearts!
For my beloved is mine and I am His!
.....
I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. Phil. 1:9 

In Jesus' precious Name above all Names,
AMEN 

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 🙏🤗
Fire rain update: Praise God two days rain over Christmas,  a great gift, put out two fires near us, one 183,000 hectares (300,000+ acres). However two small ones started, and so many, many more fires, lives homes, farms, animals, have sadly been lost.
Oh, dear ones, we need rain in so many places another fireman gone, 3 now, and more folk lost defending their homes.
Oh Lord, PLEASE have a great outpouring of Thy amazing grace and mercy on poor, poor, sinfilled Oz.
Truly as Ezra prayed, our sin has reached up to the heavens (Ez.9:6)!
Forgive us Father, heal us please, send rain soon please! Such wonderfully gracious drought-breaking rain all across Oz.
We have no might, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon Thee.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on.
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6 comments:

  1. Oh, this was a great blessing to me when I needed it very much today. Thank you for sharing. Sometimes when things for awhile seem to be doing better, there comes an unexpected great discouragement and trouble from another angle I wasn't looking for. So easy to be dragged down with it, and forget that we have an enemy who is intent on getting us there and taking our eyes off of our Saviour! Thought you would be interested in this - it encouraged me to know there are more of God's children desiring to take prayer seriously in these things: https://www.sermonaudio.com/unitedprayer.asp

    Praying for you, and greatly need prayers to be faithful always myself!
    Thank you for encouraging others with these posts.

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  2. What better way to mark the new year than with encouragement from God's Word! Thank you dear sleepy one, may the Lord bless you with rest. We are praying for Australia, may He have mercy on us all.

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  3. Hope your Christmas was wonderful. Happy new year,

    Lilian B

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  4. Just popped over from commenting on your other blog post dear Shaz. Thank for these scriptures to bring in the new year. I pray it is a year filled with people recognizing their need for God and His love for us. May you be blessed in the new year with health my dear friend. I'm praying continually that the fires will be quenched and no more lives lost.
    Much love and many blessings,
    Betsy

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  5. Happy New Year Sharon. I love the song serving Jesus. Praying for you each day. Lots of love Ruthxo

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  6. When you are as thankful as we are to our Savior for all he has done for us, it never feels like we have done enough to give back, the more we love him and are thankful the more we want to give back and have others feel that same thing, oh how he touches us so deep down, that amazing grace!

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Thank you so very much for your visit and your encouragement.
'..by love, serve one another ' Gal 5:13.
This is my aim - to be a blessing.
So thanks for blessing me in turn, especially if you're able to comment.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X

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