Tag: faith

Uncategorized

Holy Character, Holy God – Part 1

tameasa

I have often paused to reflect on God’s nature, attributes, and character. His characteristics are immutable…He never changes. There is no variance with God, which makes Him completely trustworthy in a topsy-turvy world filled with chaos.

I am not certain how you are coping in this world that seems to be on fire. It would be no surprise if you felt like God has turned His back and is completely unaware of the tribulation. However, I promise you that He is not unaware, and He has not turned His back, as that is not in His character or nature.

What does the Bible say about God’s character?

He is holy

How can we know that God is holy? Firstly, He tells us that He is.

“For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.” (Leviticus 11:44)

Furthermore, in I Samuel, Hannah declares that God is holy,

“There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2)

His holiness is also proclaimed by the heavenly hosts, as taught in Isaiah,

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1-4)

Last, but not the least, John, while exiled to Patmos, was given Revelation from God. John is shown that He is holy,

“And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.” (Revelation 4:8)

It is important for us to understand that God is holy, and that we are called to be holy. Many times in the New Testament the apostles exhort us to be holy, as it does in this verse in 2 Corinthians,

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
(2 Corinthians 7:1)

This is a daily task. We must, each day, pursue holiness. It must be intentional, purposeful, and consistent. The Lord sets in our hearts, upon believing on Jesus, the will to follow Him in perfect holiness. I petition God each morning to guide me in holiness. I am not always successful, as I let the world’s chaos creep in from time-to-time. However, when I do lose sight, I repent. God is faithful to forgive me, and I pray that I will be faithful, as I move forward.

Do not lose heart, but dwell in the holiness of God. He is there and we are welcome to come boldly to His throne.

Soli Deo Gloria

Uncategorized

God, Grandparents, and Cherry Dumplings

tameasa

When I was a young girl, growing up in rural Virginia, I would spend a couple of weeks at my Mammaw and Pappaw’s house with my siblings during the summer. There were fields to explore, barns full of freshly mowed hay, and cows.

We played hard and worked hard whilst we were there. Mammaw and Pappaw would have us help picking vegetables in their massive garden. There was always an abundance of vegetables to bring in and put up. In addition to the garden, we would pick Cherries. I think we ate as many Cherries, as we picked. They would explode with sweetness and tartness in my mouth, and then the fun of finding out who could spit the pits the farthest. Mammaw would say, “If you keep eating so many Cherries, you’ll get a belly ache.” Did we heed her warning? No, and sure enough I’d end up with my belly aching.

After a day of bringing in String Beans, Corn, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Cherries came the task of snapping beans, shucking Corn, and pitting Cherries. We’d sit on the back porch, with bowls in our laps working to get it all done. Honestly, by the end, we were hot and tired.

Mammaw would shoo us off to the bathtub, while she started preparing supper for us all. I loved coming back downstairs to the aroma of the food she was cooking. There was a big pot of those beans we snapped, fried Squash, sliced Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Salmon patties, and yeast rolls. She would summon everyone to the supper table and Pappaw would sit at the head.

We’d bow our heads to thank God for the wonderful bounty set before us and His provision. Mammaw would pour us all a glass of Sweet Tea with Lemon, and then we all filled our plates. I remember so well sitting there with my feet (which couldn’t touch the floor) swinging, and all of us chattering about the day. Pappaw would laugh at our antics, and our older siblings tricking us younger girls into eating sour Persimmons.

As Mammaw would clear our emptied plates, we would detail our time jumping from the loft in the barn into the hay and how we didn’t have a care in the world. Just enjoying the simple life, as young Virginians being loved and cared for by those who peopled us.

Then Mammaw would surprise us all with a bowl of Cherry Dumplings that she had cooking on the back burner of the stove. The breeze blowing through the open windows cooled us a bit, while we would sink our heads and lift Spoonfuls of that sweetness Mammaw turned out with those hard picked Cherries.

As I look back on that time in my life, I am thankful for Mammaw and Pappaw. More importantly, I am thankful that a sovereign God placed us with those lovely people who infused the love of Christ into our lives. It permeated every task we did. It was experienced in Pappaw’s lap, as we giggled while he pretended to chew our ears off. Oh, how deeply appreciative I am of knowing that God loved us so deeply in every crook and cranny of that home.

How blessed I am to have had the abundance of God in a warm bowl of Cherry Dumplings. Oh, how deep is that love and how wonderful His goodness.


Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting: The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who smote great kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting: Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Who remembered us in our low estate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. (Psalms 136:1-26)