Hebrews 12:28 and 29 “Let us show gratitude by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire”
I just sat and let a few words from this passage soak in as I did my quiet time: REVERENCE, AWE, CONSUMING FIRE…these are powerful words with passion and conviction. I was challenged to reflect on the aspect of God’s character as a consuming fire. Is my mind and heart full of reverence and awe towards Him? Do my words and actions flow out of a heart with gratitude and reverence for who God is to me?

Recently, I feel like God called me back to the book of James. In chapter 1 verse 25, it talks about the man who looks into the PERFECT LAW THAT GIVES FREEDOM. In his book, “The Pursuit Of Holiness” Jerry Bridges states “Imagine for a moment that God possessed omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence but WITHOUT perfect holiness. Such a one could no longer be described as God.” It is God’s holiness and character that allows us to trust His perfect law that gives freedom. This should be of great comfort to us as we strive to walk accordingly. He is always holy and always just, ALWAYS!

John 12 : 24 “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. If it dies, it bears much fruit”
What sort of deaths have you experienced? Maybe it’s been a death of a dream or something that has shattered your concept of what you thought you knew to be true. It may even be an actual, physical death of someone close to you. It is the trial, the grieving, the dying to ourselves that bears fruit and can become encouragement to others. Ultimately, it is often during the pain and trials in our life that we bring the most glory to God

Numbers 14:24 “He has a different spirit and has followed me fully”
These words were spoken from God about Caleb. What would God say about me? What kind of spirit would He say I have?

Hebrews 12 :1 and 2 “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us RUN with perseverance the race marked out for us... fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
For some reason, when I read this verse that I have read many times, it struck me differently. I envisioned some one running out of cumbersome clothes as they struggle to be able to pick up their pace. (Think about a runner trying to win a race with a snow suit on) When they have finally broken free, they RUN!!!!!! I imagine passion and determination, and this is how we are to live our life, eagerly seeking after God, striving for His will.

Deuteronomy 33:12 “The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety, shall dwell between His shoulders”
This verse was shared recently at a women’s retreat I attended. I don’t know that I’ve ever read this verse before. What a beautifully, comforting picture. I think of when I hold my children to comfort and protect them. Between His shoulders is next to His heart. How awesome that our Heavenly Father holds us so closely to Him. What a wonderful realization of His love.

Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom”
I heard someone recently say “To be around someone who has more knowledge than you is a gift because it is knowledge that ultimately brings power” I thought of how that is true in the spiritual sense. We should be applying our hearts to God’s wisdom so that we can live victoriously here on earth. I often apply myself to learning about new things or people around me, but do I apply myself to be a student of the Word with the same passion and frequency?

John 1:5 “The light shone in the darkness, and the darkness could not comprehend it”
Last week, my 3 year old daughter was given a “Glow Bear” (A CareBear that glows in the dark) We were trying to find a dark room where we could see it glow. When we were in our bathroom without the bear, it was pitch black and she was paralyzed. She wouldn’t move until we turned the light back on, but even with just the small glow of that bear, she was comfortable moving around. When I read this verse, I thought how hard it is not to focus on light when it contrasts the darkness. Yet, Jesus was the light and a lost world virtually ignored His presence. Am I shining as His light? Do I make a difference in those around me who are struggling in their darkness? Do I allow His light to penetrate the darkest parts of me?

2 Timothy 2:15 “A workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth”
We hear scripture quoted often in many places by many people. This verse says to me that there’s a responsibility to keep it in context, not use it to justify what we’re trying to say or to work in our favor to prove a point. To walk unashamed before God takes courage and knowledge of who He is. It’s easy to get tangled up into people pleasing. I am challenged to line up each action and decision with whether or not it’s pleasing to only ONE… God Himself.

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled”
I’ve heard this verse many times but recently, I was studying it and the word “LET” was the focus word. That word implies that we have a choice! Imagine...all that needless worry boils down to a choice! God is ready and willing to empower us with HIS peace through the most difficult of times if we choose not to let our hearts be troubled.

James 1:21-25
Two phrases popped out at me in this passage. The first is “Receive the Word IMPLANTED” We hear much in our society today about different implants. Think about what that means. An implant is pretty much there to stay, it’s serving a purpose, it’s with us at all times. Is this how God’s Word is in my life? We can read our Bibles without truly having it implanted into our hearts. We need to study it, meditate on it, have it become a part of us, something easily accessible in our thoughts. Secondly, the phrase, “Not a forgetful hearer, but an effectual doer” There again, how can God’s Word ever make a difference if we’re not taking it in daily and allowing it to transform us?!

2 Timothy 3:14 “Continue in the things you have learned and become CONVINCED of”
This verse had me thinking about what it means to be convinced of something. For me, when I’m convinced, I’m passionate about it. There is no wavering. The message of who God is and how HE has changed my life, the message of hope and forgiveness…these are some of the things I’m convinced of! How ‘bout you??

Psalm 73:28 “It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord that I may declare all Thy works”
The thing that hit me about this verse is the reason we put our trust in the Lord. It’s not so that He will deliver us or meet our needs, it’s so that we may glorify Him and declare who He is to others!

Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made so that they are without excuse”
This is the passage that sparked the concept of “The Wonder.” That passage and that song reminds and challenges me to absorb each piece of creation around me as a reflection of God’s power and creativity. The seasons, the stars, the sun, nature and wildlife, my children and the beauty of my own backyard, each little touch of Himself that God allows me to experience. We don’t have to look far at all to find beauty around us. We need to remember to give Him the credit!