Jesus Only - in All Times of Trouble

Jesus Only.

I was reading an article recently, as I read this thought echoed in my head. Years ago I saw an illuminated text like this.

“JESUS ONLY”

It is a bible verse, from Matthew 17:8: 

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Isn’t It what we long for? 
To see Jesus only! 

For Jesus only died and rose again! 
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:18
     

Jesus only saves . 

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Jesus only 
for keeping power at all times!
The LORD Jesus said: 
And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish,  neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 20:28 

Jesus only 

...is preparing a place for those who believe in Him.
John 14:1-6 (link here)

Jesus only is coming again 

.. I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 John 14:3

Let's look at Matthew 17.

Matthew 17:1-2,5-8 
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Wow! 

You cannot imagine really what an awe-inspiring sight Peter, James and John saw!? 
God revealing His diety, yet in part.
Brilliance such as rarely seen by human eyes, hearing the voice of the Father rarely heard by human ears, felt fully (if only understanding in part) the power of the Almighty! 
How quickly they were to forget the words: 
"Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

They still saw Jesus as their Deliverer from Roman rule,  not as the suffering Servant, Saviour and Redeemer,
as prophesied in Isaiah 53. 
*****
"They saw no man save Jesus only."

Isn’t this what we long for in our own lives? 

To see Jesus only!  

AND that others, when they see us, that they would see Jesus only!

Oh, that when we look out on the troubles of our day, that we would simply see, believe,  trust, hope in ...
JESUS ONLY! 
Let us so lift up Jesus ONLY in our lives.

This is so important, dear sisters.
We are here to be Lights, that others might see Jesus only in and through us, and desire to know Him also! 
 For Jesus said:
If I be lifted lifted up I shall draw all men unto Me.

I thought of this hymn below as I  meditated on this subject (including some background for those who maybe interested. Excerpt link here, background of "All hail the power of Jesus' Name ")
"As we examine "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name" the opening line is the perfect place to start, the power of Jesus Name. 
Acts 4:12 declares "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." 
 There is power in the name of Jesus to Save, this is in fact, the only way to be saved, to call upon the name of the Lord. 
The word name in Acts 4:12 is the Greek word onoma and it is used to denote the person himself. Albert Barnes describes it "As we would say, there is no one who can save but Jesus Christ."

The name of Jesus also has power to Secure. The Bible says in I Timothy 2:5 that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. The word "mediator" is the Greek word mesitēs (pronounced mes-ee'-tace) and it means a go between a reconciler, one who intervenes. It is through Jesus, not Mary that we have an advocate, a mediator."

Today's hymn (1779) was written by Edward Peronnet, a missionary to India, and a contemporary and fellow preacher at time of John Wesley. No tune for this hymn was written with words. It was left to a congregation to choose melody to fit the meter.

Link for hymn also here.

Trust that these precious scriptures will bless your heart as it has mine.
I also want to thank especially those who encourage me so much with your comments. You are deeply appreciated. 

Remember no matter how dark and stormy the sea is upon which we are cast, Jesus ONLY can still the storm and say:
 " PEACE,  be still"

Praying for you and all your dear ones, in these troubled times may we keep our focus ever upward - let us "keep looking up, its only mud underneath".
Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz. X

CCOVID-19 update for Aust, as of today we have in Aust 28 deaths and 5,314 cases, seriously ill is still at 1% which is a blessing. In our local town we have 11 cases. In all things the Christian can claim Psalm 91 (Read here) as his insurance policy.. esp verses 2 & 3.

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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The Power of God's Mercy

Hi there 😊 Am very blessed to have been asked to write a guest post for a dear sister in Christ, Cheryl of Homespun Devotions.

For new folks, my name is Shaz in Oz, this is my Christian blog,crafty one here. As many know I live on east coast of Aust. in NSW, I asked the LORD Jesus to be my Saviour, down by the beach here at Beach Mission, over 50 years ago as a child (full testimony is Here). 

Here in Oz we are protected from things a bit, but we also have Covid-19. Not many compared to some countries with 8 deaths (as of 24th Mar). Government like others has restricted entry, public gatherings, state borders closed. More restrictions as the days pass, what I write now, will be out of date tomorrow.

As I’ve multiple chronic conditions, I’m isolating as much as possible. 

This below is what the Lord laid on my heart to share.

I pray it blesses you too!

*****

Recently I wrote these words to a friend: 

“Take care sis, praying much you’ll all be kept well. Not looking good for Italy. 

Praying for them and for many nations especially third world nations! 
Pleading that the LORD will prove all wrong on duration, and severity!

In His great mercy put a stop as he did in answer to David’s intercession, with the angel of death poised over Jerusalem, when David sinned by numbering the people.

God’s mercy is there for our asking - if we but ask. 

Mind you, we deserve so much worse than He gives us. 

Our sin is so very great. 

Fail so often, fall so far short.”

and as I wrote them I thought upon why we are here as believers! 

Why? 

To be LIGHT and to be INTERCESSORS!

Yes! we are not here for our own good pleasure 

but that of our LORD’s.

“... for thou hast created all things, 

and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev. 4:11b 

******

Let’s look at that story (whole passage look here), sharing key verses.

1 Chronicles 21:2,7-8,13-17,26-27 (also 2 Sam. 24)

"And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord ; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem.

Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord ; and He answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof."

****

How great is God’s mercy?

The door of Forgiveness and Grace is opened by Confession and Turning from our sin. 

We read of the pleading by David for his poor sheep, he and elders were clothed in sackcloth! 

Repentance..

 David was sorry, truly pleading for mercy. 

As David said:

.. "let me fall now into the hand of the Lord ; for very great are his mercies.."

So God’s mercy was AND is mighty indeed.

When we pray we don’t know what a mighty power we are wielding!

( Sweet Hour of Prayer- hymn link Here also.)

Prayer is a weapon that Satan cowers before!!

Dear sisters, we are in such a time as this "pestilence", as David was, it's for a reason. 

God wants our attention!

Does He have it?

Now we can either:

*worry, fret, stress OR

* rest, trust, pray!!

(See Ps 37:1-8 here).

We need to pray much.. for near and dear ones, to plead for those we love further away. Our great Father God can reach through His power and Spirit, where we never can.

We can pray for  poor nations. I pray over "Maps app" on my phone. As I look close up at locations, where dear ones my heart is cheered.. 

God is here, AND He is there! 

He is omnipotent,  omnipresent, omniscient!

How often I limit God!

Pray please for poor nations... where if this virus hit the population would be decimated. 😥

Pray primarily for souls there to be saved, for God's pure Light of the Gospel to shine in these dark places, pray that as the Angel of death was stayed over Jerusalem, that the LORD in His great mercy would stay the hand of death upon these poor peoples!

Pray man's predictions in all this will be wrong, and it will be stopped, or weakened in its onslaught.

Pray for medical staff and supplies to be strengthened and extended in God's mercy. 

Pray for our nations, our states, our churches, our leaders to be guided of God, that Satan's power will be bound in Jesus' name.

That there would truly be an awakening of the Spirit of God as there has never been before..

.. a real revival!

Let us fulfill our purpose as servants of the Living God, to be Lights brightly burning, and Women of the Word and Prayer!

*****

And dear precious sisters, as you pray and plead over your burdens, I pray and agree with you. By faith we may met and agree together at "the Throne of Grace, where we find grace to help in time of need." Heb 4:12

"Prayer is power.

It brings about the Power of the Almighty ".

 "Fear looks back,

Worry looks around,

FAITH looks up!"

Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗

 Shaz in Oz.x 

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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The Word Only - He careth for YOU!

I know their sorrows. Exo. 3:7

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isa. 53:3

Touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Heb. 4:15

Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Matt. 8:17

Jesus ... being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well. John 4:6

When Jesus ... saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. John 11:33

Jesus wept. John 11:35

For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted. Heb. 2:18

He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death. 
Psa. 102:19, 20

Link here for Hymn, also.

He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path. Psa. 142:3

He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye. Zech. 2:8

In all their affliction He was afflicted; and the angel of His presence saved them. Isa. 63:9

"Our Heavenly Father knoweth."
 "He careth for you."
God sees what none else can.
He is always only a prayer away.

These scriptures blessed me this week.
I do hope this blesses you also.
Believers have  since Christ went to heaven  lived in varying times and distresses.
But in Christ is HOPE!
We are NEVER alone.

Praying for all of you, dear sisters, and your dear ones across this planet  too! Mercy, Lord, please - mercy!
Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻 🤗  
Shaz in Oz.x

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.
If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link. Thank YOU.

"For Such a Time as This?" Est. 4:14b

Well, ‘twas in prayer that this subject came to me, praying for our nation, leaders, dear ones everywhere!
How much prayer is needed!
We in Oz had drought, many prayed, the rains came, drought not in all places broken, but many have been so blessed.
Then we had the dreadful fires so we all prayed some more and God in His mercy put out those fires with this rain, which is still falling here.
God is faithful!
So again a need arises.
The call to earnest, fervent, fasting prayer once again goes forth. 
This verse came to mind, as I pondered and prayed! 

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14
.. come for such a time as this?

Why are we here, dear ones?
 Some of you like me I know have been at death’s door, at different times yet we are still here?
Why?
Our work is not yet done, the call has gone forth - to PRAY!
What if we altogether hold our peace...? 
Yes, we need to comfort or "to speak a word in season  to him that is weary"(see link Isaiah 50:4)
However it struck me that our lack of prayer in such things might be holding our peace. 
We need to pray much, each and every day, and very, very often.
Without ceasing.. for our nations, for our leaders, for medical staff, for all men everywhere to repent, for Satan’s power to be bound in Jesus’ name, that the LORD Jesus Christ might be lifted up and glorified in our lives in the lives of dear lost ones. We are in a battle that souls might be won for eternity.

Our time might be limited for quiet, secluded prayer, but we can pray instead of relaxing at night over some choice activity, or in the car, in transit, wherever we are going in our day!

Or as did Susanna Wesley, (John & Charles Wesley's mother) a home schooling mother of 19, she simply bowed her head, placing her apron over her head. Her children knew not interrupt, mother was in her tabernacle of prayer.

Esther was a woman in special place for a special time.
As a result of her courage a nation was spared, for the nation of Israel was under threat. 
Read the very short ten chapter book, it’s a quick read and will cheer your heart (Link here). 
This was a lady willing to be used of God, she listened to the wise counsel of her uncle Mordacai, she stood firm behind the onslaught of possible death through a jealous man, Haman.
But what was key behind this action of Esther?
See these verses HERE, especially note v17.  
Gather together to fast... and although it’s not added, the Jews fasted and prayed together.
The key 🔑 to Esther’s success and blessing of God was the prayers of faith - of herself and of others.
As dear Bro Mac. now in glory said: 
“Prayer is power, 
it brings about the mighty action of the Almighty.”
We are here for such a time as this.
This is not simply a physical battle we see around us with the current virus or Covid-19. It’s a spiritual battle for souls too.
More enter eternity in any given day through abortions, or diseases like heart attacks, strokes or cancer, than CV, yet we scarcely blink an eye about them!? 
Do we run around in fear panicking, stocking up our cupboards, lest it come our way? 
No, of course we don’t, they’re known conditions!
Familiarity does breed contempt. 
Let us pray earnestly for souls to be awakened in this time, and PRAY for grace to be given to all medical staff suffering under acute shortages, unimaginable ones ... 

Oh, may we awaken out of our slumber, and do as Esther did.. to pray earnestly for our nations, our leaders, our people, who are lost blind leading the blind. 
It’s prayer that will make the difference. 
I’m praying over world maps, I'm acutely aware, as are many others, that it’s the third world nations that will suffer. 
A dear 70 y.o sister, an "Esther" midwife in Suriname (near equator in Sth America), her village hasn't even clean drinking water! Suriname has one CV case.  Also our church has another dear Esther in the front line in a hospital in Liberia, Nth Africa ... they’ve just one case also of Covid-19 in Liberia (acc to Aljizeera, can't find that now. However is Here and here). 
That’s all it takes.
You know what the Liberian hospital has for breathing apparatus? a box with few hoses, etc which have been used multiple times  and will be again. 
This hospital was at the forefront of the Ebola epidemic. God brought them through it! 
I say God because they’re are believers there. 
So let us awake to pray and pray and pray believing!
This leapt out at me afresh yest. as I prayed:
… "or if I send pestilence among my people; 
If my people, which are called by my name, 
shall humble themselves, and pray, 
and seek my face, 
and turn from their wicked ways; 
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, 
and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 - 15

For as we pray then the LORD will bless. 
We are here.. to work - but most of all to pray.
So let us pray.. yes! there are meals to prepare, homes to clean, etc. but let us be like Esther, and fulfil our call to be women of prayer as well as action of obedience in doing, be a Mary and a Martha in one. 
"Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit,  saith the Lord." 
Zech. 4:6b
And as you pray, I will agree with you by faith in your prayers, meeting at the throne of grace, where we find grace to help in time of need.
 A few weak women can become a mighty powerhouse of prayer.
May the Lord bless you dear ones.
I pray for all who come here, that the Lord will bless, and keep you and that all those for whom you’re burdened safe, 
and bring each of them through to a saving knowledge in Christ.

“Fear looks back,
Worry look around, 
Faith looks UP!”

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻 🤗  
Shaz in Oz.x

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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"Be of good cheer" "PEACE, be still!"

"Cheer up - or be of good cheer."
 Jesus sees, He knows, He  sees the dilemma, our great distress, or our shortfall in our certain situation.
The very struggles that seem to steal our peace, are the VERY ones He is using to draw us to Himself.

Buffeted as the disciples were in that boat on the sea of Galilee, so in our life we are battered upon cruel, fearful waves of dread, doubt and dismay. 

 Mark 4:35-38 

(*note the references are of two (2) different events upon Sea of Galilee recorded by Mark.)

"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full."
****

 "And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?"

Mark 6:50

"For they all saw him, and were troubled. 
And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, 
Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."

"Cheer Up" 
or "Be of good cheer"

When the Lord Jesus cries 

"CHEER UP!" 

NO FEAR CAN ENTER IN.
Asleep on a pillow... perfect rest for a trusting Saviour. 

Where He leads I will follow! (Video also here)

With and In  Jesus, our Anchor holds.

Without Jesus, we fumble, flail about and fall, full of fear. 

Mark 4:38-40 

"And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"

"PEACE, be still!"

Amen!

Peace, really lasting peace IN the storm is by being still.
Be still, by our will, 
BUT in God's strength, 
So still those thoughts.

Phillipians ends with some pithy treasures for then and this very day!

Philippians 4:5-7

.. the Lord is at hand.

Be careful (= be worried) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 ..the LORD is AT our very hand!

His coming is as sure as the dawn (see Hos.6:3).
He is at our hand! 

"Amen, even so come Lord Jesus."

"Look up, for Thy redemption draweth nigh."

The verses of Jesus in sea storms are a beautiful  correlation of passages, full of beautiful truths for everyday life.

God's Word is our anchor. 
Anchor our heart in God's word, and we will -
Cheer up! 
Peace, be still!

Being in

the Word, 
hiding it, memorising in our hearts,  
having on walls or around our home.
YES! 
Have it somewhere  in every room...  to capture our eye and heart. 
 Most know these words of Moses telling us to have the word before our eyes, on walls of our home (see verses HERE).
WHY did Moses say this?
He knew God's Word is the ONLY Anchor that holds in the storms of life!

How much of the Word, our anchor, do we have around our home to battle, and overcome fear, worry, etc,?

Anchors only hold if they are in use.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. —Romans 8:37

"We are more than conquerors through Him” “IN all these things”; 
 Yes, in the midst of them. 

A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. 
Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4). 
From Oswald Chambers,  Utmost for my Highest. "The Source of Abundant Joy".
"As he thinketh in HIS heart, so is he." 
Prov. 27:3a

If media is on constantly, filling our thoughts with every latest update, discussing it at every moment in our head and heart -
we set ourselves up for fear! 

Too often "news" is rumour, innuendo, half truth, or facts, blown out of proportion.

Thinking only on such "news" the heart will founder upon the rocks of fear. 
Less of 24/7 media and more in God's word: for we live in end times. 

It's a world run by the prince and power of the air.
Satan is happiest when we look to the world for information. 
To be honest, the TV is rarely on here. It's too demanding. 
It steals too much peace, time.
It's is a personal choice. 
But it does bless much.
Keep up to date, but not in media's clutches. 
Remember the 24/7 media has to bombard us every moment of every day, with NEW news.

Never the good stories: 
eg 150 quarantined in Aust with Coronavirus from Diamond Princess cruise from Japan.
Less than 1%, just one elderly man, with pre-existing lung condition sadly died.
Ten out of 150, less than 7%, caught it, in this instance.
Coronavirus is not new.  They've been other previous infections, best known is SARs from 2003
To read up on the four types, see link Here. Another link here on comparisons of other CV. 
Excellent article HERE compares stats in factual non dramatic way.

What is new - with Coronavirus, or more correctly, Covid-19 is the accompanying widespread fear epidemic.

God is still in charge.
"Our Heavenly Father knoweth."

In Eph 6 we have the Christian's armour, nearly all are for defense.

ONLY one is a weapon.
The Sword of Spirit the Word of God!!

Do I  use that weapon,  or is it neglected ... or read in a brief, & rushed way?

Do I spend as much time in Word, in communion, meditation, in prayer,
as I do watching TV, using devices or other tools??

Look to the Lord alone.
He IS trustworthy.
"Rest in Lord 
Trust also in Him, 
Wait patiently for Him,
Fret not thyself.." 
Ps. 37: 4 -7

So let's pray, rest, trust.. and wash our hands! 😁

Prayer hugs 🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz.x 

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.
If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link. Thank YOU.