Surrounded By God Thoughts by Spurgeon

        God surrounds His children.  He dwells in them.  "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds.  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you" {Deut. 33: 26-27].  These verses show that the Lord is above, around, and underneath HIs saints.  "Lord, You  have been our dwelling place in all generations" {Ps, 90:1}  We are surrounded by you as the earth is surrounded by the atmosphere:

                                                 Within Thy circling power I Stand,

                                                    On every side I find Thy hand:

                                                  Awake, asleep, at home abroad,

                                                  I am surrounded still with God.

The eternal God is your dwelling place and your rest, and underneath are the everlasting arms. The soul has come to its resting place in God and is supported by divine strength.  The heart has learned to live in Christ Jesus and to lean on Him day and night.

     We are like Noah's dove, weary and about to drop into the destroying waters.  But Noah puts out his hand, takes her, and draws her into the ark{Gen. 8:9}.  The dove found a refuge that surrounded and upheld her.  The hands covered her on all sides.

     The hand of God sustains those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abides under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; and my God, in Him I will trust" {PS>91;1].

Do Not Fear

                        

                   Fear not, I am with you; O be not dismayed,

                   For I am your God and will still give you aid;   

                   I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,

          

                  When through the deep waters I call you to go,

                  The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,

                   For I will be with you in trouble to bless,

                   And Sanctify to you your deepest distress.

       

                   When  through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,

                    My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply:

                    The flame shall not hurt you; I only design

                    Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

                    

                    E'en down  to old age all my people shall prove

                    My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;

                    And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,

                    Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

                                                                   unknown author

                     He gives more strength to those that are faint.  If they will wait-expectantly on the Lord.

The Alabaster Box

Mary comes into the home of Simon carrying a beautiful Alabaster Box.  The room was filled with men.  It was not a time or place for a woman.  The only woman invited was Martha Stewart of Bethany.   She was cooking in the kitchen.

This was a bold move on Mary's part.  She had sit at Jesus' feet and heard that He was going to die.  She knew what she was going to do must be done quickly.  At his burial there would not be time to give Him a proper burial.

She brings a very expensive box made of Alabaster.  That was found in palaces.  If that box was today, would cost about thirty three thousand dollars.  Scholars say her family won't have had that kind of money to buy an expensive gift.  It may have been a heirloom passed down from generation to generation for a dowry for her.  When she got married it would have been her money, if she got a divorce .  She could not work outside of the home, so it would be money to live on.  If her husband died this would provide money to live on for her and her children.

She is so courageous.  She let down her hair in the presence of men.  Never heard of before, this was an act done in private in her home.  She bathes His feet with her hair and with this precious perfume from India.

The box had to be broken before the oil would pour out.  This was a picture of Jesus blood that was a bout to be poured out.  His body would be broken on the Cross to save us from our sins.

God so loved the world that He gave His Alabaster Box and laid HIM on the hay in Bethlehem.  Jesus born to die.  He crushed His Alabaster Box on the Cross of Calvary.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours,
Faydean Bishop

The Upward Look is Best

Look Down

See dirt
See yourself and how small
your faith is.L
See things as they are today
Get discouraged.

Look Around
See those that have it better than you.
See earthquakes, fires, poverty, and lack.
Get distressed.

Look Up
See the stars
See destiny
See things as they were meant to be.
See things change.
See tomorrow

Don't look at the size of your faith.
Don't look at the size of your problems {mountains}
Look at the size of our great God, who is able to move mountains.
Our mountain moving God, and be blessed.
He never slumbers or sleeps.
  Keep looking up our redemption draws nigh..

Be Careful Where You Look

We must be careful where we let our focus stay on today.
1.  Keep your attention to long on yourself and all your problems and you will soon be discouraged, and begin to feel powerless.

2.  Looking around you and the mess the world is in with all of it's problems will certainly overwhelm you and make you depressed.

3.  In Hebrews 12: 2 The Bible tells to have the right focus to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

 

If we have received Jesus as our Savior.  Soon and very soon we shall see the King.  Keep looking up our redemption is at hand.

If you have never ask Jesus to be your Savior do it today.  He paid the price for your sins on Calvary.  Ask Him to come into your heart and take away your sins.   Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you have prayer request send to faydeanh@gmail.com

Be careful where you look