His Holy Name {Challenge 26, Immanuel}

I cannot believe today is our last study for the His Holy Name challenge. I pray you have enjoyed each and every study, and most of all, I pray you have grown in your knowledge of our precious Lord! Let's look at today's study.

God’s Attribute: Jesus is Immanuel—God with us. Matthew 1:22-23 says “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us.’”

How does this affect my daily life? Do you know people around you that are lonely or suffering? Or maybe you yourself feel that way. Do you feel like God has abandoned you in the midst of your struggles? Well, God never leaves us. He is always with you, and He is always with me. We are the ones that don’t look for Him, or we walk away, or we say we are too busy for Him. As believers, we can know with confidence that He is with us. He is Immanuel. Mary Foxwell Loeks said “It is because of the death and resurrection of the Immanuel that we can know God is with us.” What a comforting thought and a promise we can count on.

The book of Matthew starts with Immanuel, God with us in Matthew 1:22-23, and it ends with the promise that He will always be with us. Matthew 28:20b says “. . .surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We can count on His promise and know that He is with us in our joys, our sorrows, our busy times, our successes, failures, etc. Will you go to Him in all things knowing He is there waiting for you? Will you share Immanuel, God with us with those around you?

Ann Spangler says “Today let us ask for the grace to make Immanuel known to allow His light and His life to shine through us.” And what a great time of year to share His light! Last night as our pastor gave his sermon, he suggested that as we stand in a line of frustrated people or people in a hurry, offer to let someone go in front of you or even go to the back of the line. What a great way to shine our Immanuel to those around us.

As I studied for today’s post, I came across a prayer called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.” It is rather lengthy so I will only share my favorite part with you. St. Patrick wrote this prayer to strengthen himself with God's protection as he prepared to confront and convert Loegaire, high king of Ireland. Here is part of the prayer:

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I thought this particular part of the prayer was so beautiful and so appropriate for our study today. If you would like to see the rest of this prayer, just do a google search on “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.” You should get a lot of hits.

For my page today, I used the new release from Layers of Color called Touch of Elegance. I stamped the smaller flowers and the one larger flower. I then used Pop Dots on the smaller flowers to accent the center of each circle on the Basic Grey paper. I also added Stickles to the stamped images.
Papers: Basic Grey Nook & Pantry
Stamps: Layers of Color Touch of Elegance, Provo Craft 12 pt.
Stamp Ink: SU creamy caramel, Colorbox Fluid Chalk dark brown
Embellishments: Scenic Route alpha stickers, Stickles eucalyptus and cotton candy

The scriptures I chose were:
Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Matthew 28:20b ". . . surely I am with you always. . ."

And I used part of Matthew 1:23 to create my title "Immanuel, God with us."

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. Also, today is the last day to register for the RAK for the Scripture Challenge 2 that I will host next year. See my post here for details and to enter! Thank you all SO much for joining me in this study this year! I look forward to our study beginning in January, and remember Christ will never leave you. He is always with you. Merry Christmas,

His Holy Name {Challenge 25, Messiah}

God’s Attribute: Jesus is the Messiah. Dr. Henrietta C. Mears explains Messiah as “The Savior whom God promised to send. Jesus is the Messiah. In Hebrew, Messiah means ‘the Anointed One’. In Greek, the word for Anointed One is ‘Christos’. Christ is the name used in the New Testament to show Jesus is the Savior.”

How does this affect my daily life? Who is Jesus to you? He is the cute little baby you put out with your nativity set each year? Or do you truly look at Him as God’s promised Messiah that would save the world from their sins? Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew to show that Jesus is the promised Jewish Messiah. Matthew 1:21 says “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Jesus’ work on the Cross demands a response from us as believers. At the moment Jesus gave up His spirit, even the temple and the earth responded to His work on the Cross. Matthew 27:50-51 says “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.” How do you respond to the Messiah’s work on the Cross?

As believers, we are also to prepare others to see Christ. How are you sharing Christ the Messiah with others? Do you use every opportunity to share Him? During this season of Christmas, it is the perfect time to give others the gift of the Messiah. Will you share Him today? How about inviting them to your church or a Bible study you attend?

For my page this week, I wanted to use the color red denoting His work on the Cross and the color of the Christmas season. The photo corners were created using one of the new stamps from the Layers of Color Touch of Elegance set. The stamp is actually a square that I cut in half after embossing. I then sponged the edges of each photo corner.Papers: Webster's Pages 6x6 collection pack, Paper Trey Ink
Stamps: Layers of Color Touch of Elegance
Stamp Ink: SU ruby red & so saffron, VersaMark, Ranger clear EP
Embellishments: Scenic Route alpha stickers, misc. twine, Creative Café button, Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers), Robin's Nest dew drops, misc. ric rac

The verses I used this week were:
John 1:41b-42 ". . . We have found the Messiah (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus."

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. And if you missed my announcement about the 2010 study I will be hosting, please make sure you see my post here. :) I hope you will join us! Now go out and share the blessed Messiah! In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 24, Provider}

God’s Attribute: God is our Provider. He is our Yahweh Yireh.

How does this affect my daily life? When you think of “provision,” what do you think of? Material things? Food? Or do you think of things like strength and wisdom? And who do you look to to provide for your needs? A friend? Your spouse? We should be looking to God and trusting Him for His provision. And He not only provides the physical things but He also provides for our emotional and spiritual needs too. Think of the strength and wisdom He gives during times of trial. Think of the joy you feel even when you are not happy. Happiness is based on circumstances but He can give us joy even in those “unhappy” or difficult moments.

Notice God’s attribute is Yahweh Yireh. Well, Yireh means “to see.” God is eternal and all-knowing. He not only provides for our daily needs but also for our need for salvation. He provided for our eternal need through the death and resurrection of His Son. Romans 8:32 says “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Such a perfect scripture showing your Yahweh Yireh!

Today I wanted to share another one of my favorite old hymns with you—"Though Troubles Assail Us." Notice how each verse ends in “The Lord will provide.” What an amazing truth to remember.

Though Troubles Assail Us
Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail us and foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The promise assures us, “The Lord will provide.”

The birds, without garner or storehouse, are fed;
From them let us learn to trust God for our bread.
His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied
So long as ’tis written, “The Lord will provide.”

When Satan assails us to stop up our path,
And courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart cheering promise, “The Lord will provide.”

He tells us we’re weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we never shall obtain,
But when such suggestions, our graces have tried,
This answers all questions, “The Lord will provide.”

No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;
Yet, since we have known of the Savior’s great Name,
In this our strong tower for safety we hide:
The Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide.”

When life sinks apace, and death is in view,
The word of His grace shall comfort us through,
Not fearing or doubting, with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting, “The Lord will provide.”

I don’t have a page for you again this week. My husband is still ill, and though I am walking through this difficult time, I can trust that the Lord will provide for us in all things! So, the passage I have chosen for this week is the passage mentioned above:

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. I pray as you study this week that you will lean on our amazing Father, our Provider. Blessings in Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 23, Banner}

God’s Attribute: The Lord is my Banner. He is my Jehovah-nissi.

How does this affect my daily life? What is your constant enemy? Notice I didn’t say ‘who’ is your constant enemy? I think we can all say ‘the flesh’ is our biggest and constant enemy. In our flesh, we are jealous, fearful, angry, lustful, envious, depressed, etc. And when we are tired and overworked or when we have been called into a new ministry for Him, it is even easier to be attacked. As we face those challenges and changes in our life, rely on Jehovah-nissi. He will give you the strength. Walk with the Spirit and die to the flesh. And don’t surrender to Satan. Stand firm in Jehovah-nissi. You are not alone; look to Him.

Kay Arthur said “Under the banner of God, victory is always assured but apart from it, defeat is a certainty. Only by abiding under the power, the standard, the banner, the ensign of your Jehovah-nissi can you have victory over the flesh, the world, the devil, and your enemies and God’s.”

I don't have a page for you this week as we are still dealing with some things here but I wanted you to still have your study. :) The scriptures I personally loved for this week were:

Exodus 17:15 "Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner."
Psalm 60:4 "But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow."

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery! And remember not to deal with things in your own power. Give them to your Jehovah-nissi who will give you victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil. May the Lord fill you with His strength and cover you with His banner. In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 22, Peace}

Challenge Word 22: Peace
God’s Attribute: The Lord is our Peace. He is our Jehovah-Shalom.

How does this affect my daily life? Do you long for peace in a situation? Has fear gripped you or do you feel like you will ‘lose it’ if one more thing happens? Well, God is our Peace, and He is the source of all peace. But none of us can find that peace if we do not have a right relationship with God. If you have that right relationship with Him, then you know that regardless of our circumstances, His peace is perfect. He gives us internal peace by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. But to truly experience His real peace, we need to be in His presence daily. Are you too busy to study His Word? Are you seeking Him in ALL things? Are you trying to handle the situation on your own? If you have ever tried that before, then you know where that will probably get you. Give it all to Him in prayer so that you are not robbed of His peace.

Ann Spangler said “To live in the presence of God through the power of the Holy Spirit is to be at peace—at peace with God, with others, with ourselves. He is the source of true shalom, of prosperity, harmony, safety, healthy, and fulfillment. No matter how turbulent our world becomes, we can be at peace, showing forth His presence regardless of circumstances.”

For my page this week, I used the wonderful Webster's Pages 6x6 papers. I also used the Layers of Color Royal Birds stamp. It went so perfectly with this page, and to me, I see peace in all of His creation. So, the flowers on the page, the added bird, etc., show me the amazing peace that surrounds me. Papers: Webster's Pages 6x6 collection pack, Paper Trey Ink, Strathmore watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Royal Birds
Stamp Ink: Memento rich cocoa
Embellishments: Smooch molasses (bird's eye), Derwent watercolor pencils, Thickers jewelry box, Rose Moka brown alpha stickers, Bazzill ribbon

The scriptures I used were:
Isaiah 26:12 "LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us."
Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ."

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery! I will see you again on Nov. 8th with a new study. I hope that you remember that even though we enjoy His peace we still face difficulties that help us grow. Don’t turn away or be discouraged but instead depend on the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells you and experience that peace in all situations. Blessings and peace to you,

His Holy Name {Challenge 21, Sanctifies}

Challenge Word 21: Sanctifies
God’s Attribute: The Lord Sanctifies You. He is our Jehovah-mekoddishkem.

How does this affect my daily life? Do you want to be conformed to His image? Do you want that above all things? If you are hungry to be more and more like Him, you will pray, read His word, go to church, and be filled with the ways and thoughts of God. Are you filled with His ways and thoughts daily? We certainly shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. God is our only standard of righteousness and holiness. He is our greatest example. Already this year, we have seen that He is Holy, He is Faithful, He is our Rock and will not be shaken, etc. We can develop some of these through sanctification. Sanctification in the believer is the process of spiritual maturity in holiness or conformity to the image of Christ. I encourage you to read Romans 6:1-23 and 8:1-17. It is the work of the Holy Spirit and is a divine work. We must cooperate in that work by being in prayer, in Bible study, involved in church, involved in the worship of God and serving Him, and trusting the Holy Spirit to change our character. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I also encourage you to continue reading from Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 4:27-5:31, and Colossians 3:1-17.

In the book “Walking with Christ in the Details of Life,” Patrick Morley said “The holiness we are to exhibit is not our own but the holiness of Christ in us. We are not holy, and we will not become holy humans. Christ in us can manifest His holiness if we will yield our flesh to Him. This is not a human operation; it is a spiritual one. Jesus installs His holiness in us by grace. Not a once-for-all-time transaction; this is a daily, moment-by-moment striving to live more by the Spirit and less by the flesh. Becoming holy is a process which includes God’s part and our part. On one hand, our part is to stay out of God’s part—to yield, to surrender, to stop seeking God on our own terms. But our part is also to obey. It is to enter His rehabilitation program. We have no more power to make ourselves holy than a dying man has to save himself. We are weak and tired, and we cannot offer much help. However, we can submit to His rehabilitation program—sanctification. The key to our part is faith—to seek Him in obedience.”

How are you being conformed daily to His image? Will you follow Him completely starting today? How will you make Him the center focus of your life, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification?

For my page today, I used 6x6 papers by Webster's Pages. I chose the calendar because I want to remember that sanctification is a daily process. Papers: Webster's Pages 6x6 collection pack
Stamp Ink: Palette burnt umber
Embellishments: Bazzill bitty blossoms, Martha Stewart arch lattice punch, Scenic Route 'afterthoughts' rub-ons, KaiserCraft pearls, My Little Shoebox cream alpha stickers

The verses I used are:
Leviticus 20:26 “You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”
John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery! I will see you again on October 25th with a new study. I pray that you will cooperate with Him each day in the process of sanctification so that you will become more and more like Him. Blessings,

His Holy Name {Challenge 20, Bread of Life}

Challenge Word 20: Bread of Life
God’s Attribute: Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the Artos Zoes.

How does this affect my daily life?
Do you own a bread machine? Or do you go to bakeries where you can smell the bread baking? Who can resist the smell of freshly baked bread? Oh goodness, I know I can’t. It is irresistible and a “must have” once you smell that bread baking! Well, Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is able to take care of all of our needs both physical and spiritual. He satisfies the inner needs of our heart. Think about when you eat bread. What does it do? Bread nourishes us and gives us strength when we eat it. Jesus gives eternal life and nourishment to those who believe in Him. Do you want just a full stomach or do you want the Bread that truly satisifies?

Mary Foxwell Loeks said “A loaf of bread, golden brown and still warm from the oven, looks beautiful. But in order to do any good for anyone, it must be broken—first with hands or a knife, then with teeth. Finally the body’s digestive juices continue the breaking down process in order that the bread may do what it was meant to do. Jesus, the Living Bread, also had to be broken in order to do what He was meant to do—be life for us. What Jesus offers is not cake—sweet, temporarily filling, but not particularly nourishing. Jesus offers bread—something both desirable and good for us. He offers to be for us what we need to live. He Himself is the staff of life—eternal life.”

If you do believe, are you satisfied? Or are you still consumed by worldly things—money, pleasure, success, more crafting supplies? Are you living for the here and now or are you living for eternity and the things that will last? If you are not satisfied, are you soaking in His Word daily? Are you seeking His will for you each day or are you just “visiting” Him one day a week when you attend worship and then leaving Him at the door?

In Wiersbe’s Expository Outline on the New Testament when discussing John 6:22-65, Wiersbe says “the Bread of God is a Person from heaven (v. 33), and He gives life, not just to the Jews (as Moses did) but to the whole world! The way to receive this Bread is to come and take it; and this Bread will give life not only today, but also life in the future at the resurrection.”

For my page this week, I used a tree, leaves, and a baby to symbolize the different kinds of life. God is the creator of ALL things and gives life to ALL things so that is why I chose to create my page this way. The leaves, the baby, and the cross stamp all come from Layers of Color and were just perfect for this page! Papers: Bazzill, Scenic Route Ashville, Mustard Moon Ledger paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Nature Walk (leaves), Layers of Color Gothic Crosses (cross on journaling), Layers of Color Flower Child (baby)
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink vintage photo, Brilliance moonlight white
Alphas: Rose Moka brown alpha stickers, Making Memories tiny alpha stickers
Embellishments: We R Memory Keepers metal accents, Maya Road chipboard tree, Shimmerz December Sky, Stickles cinnamon, Glossy Accents

The verse I chose for my page is:
John 6:26-27 “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life . . .’”

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery! I will see you again on October 11th with a new study and attribute. I pray that you are hungry for more of Him instead of the worldly pleasures around you. Soak in His Word daily. Seek His will for you. Serve out of love for Him. He gives abundantly and has enough for all. In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 19, The Word}

Challenge Word 19: The Word
God’s Attribute: Jesus is the Word. John 1:14 says “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Jesus is the Word made flesh.

How does this affect my daily life?
Who do you believe Jesus is? Do you believe He is a prophet? A teacher? Or do you believe He is God? John 1:1-2 clearly states that Jesus, the Word, is God. It says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” Jesus is the Word made flesh. Dr. Henrietta Mears says “Christ became what He was not previously—a man. But Christ did not cease to be God, He was God-Man.” Jesus came because He wanted us to know the Father as He knows the Father. He came so that we might believe and have eternal life with Him. Jesus, the Word, and the Bible, His Word, are living, eternal, and life-giving. Do you believe? Do you know with assurance that you will be eternally with Him? If not, I pray that you will do that today. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have questions.

And if you do know that you have eternal life with Him, are you soaking in His Word daily? His amazing Word has been preserved for us so that we might continue to know who He is. The Bible, His Word, is His love letter to us. God speaks to us as we read His Word. Are you listening or are you only making requests? When God speaks, things happen. Genesis 1:3 says “And God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light.” John 2:7-9 says “Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet’. They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.” God speaks and there is light. God speaks and water turns to wine. What is God telling you? Are you listening?

For my page this week I used some old Mustard Moon paper from 2006. I need to pull out my older stash more often! I also used the gorgeous Layers of Color Royal Birds stamps and Old World Flourish stamps. Papers: Bazzill, Basic Grey Lime Rickey, Mustard Moon Ledger Brown
Stamps: Layers of Color Old World Flourish (corners of scripture), Layers of Color Royal Birds
Stamp Ink: SU garden green
Alphas: Heidi Swapp lemonade stand chipboard alpha, Making Memories tiny alpha stickers
Embellishments: Cactus Pink chipboard lace, Shimmerz Spritz baby's breath, Creative Café felt trim, Stickles lime green, Folk Art wicker white paint, Nestabilities scalloped square dies

The scriptures I chose were:
1 Thessalonians 2:13 ". . .When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the Word of God is living and active. . ."
Romans 10:8 "The Word of God is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart. . ."

Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery! I will see you again on September 27th with a new study and attribute. May the Lord increase your love and knowledge of His Word. In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 18, Rock}

Challenge Word 18: Rock
God’s Attribute: God is my Rock. He is my Yahweh Tsuri. He is the Rock that always keeps His promises, He never changes, He protects us, and He is always with us.

How does this affect my daily life? Have you ever been fearful of something or someone? Sure you have. We all have. Well, this week, my dear sister-in-law lived through that fear, and I know God, my Rock, was with her as a man tried to rob and abduct both her and my niece in broad daylight. Praise God he was caught and arrested, and he will probably be in jail for a long time to come. The day after the incident, I sat down to study God as my Rock. He gave me this amazing scripture which was so appropriate for this week:

2 Samuel 22:2-4 “The LORD is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior—From violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”

You may have never been that fearful of something, and I pray you never will be but we can all trust that He is the Rock whom we can trust and who will give us a peace no matter how big or small that fear is. Ann Spangler put this so perfectly. She said “What better word than ‘rock’ to represent God’s permanence, protection, and enduring faithfulness? When you pray to the Lord your Rock, you are praying to the God who can always be counted on. His purposes and plans remain firm throughout history.”

He does protect us, and we can always count on Him. I encourage you to build your life on Him—the Rock—that firm foundation—and you will not be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 says “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

For my page this week, I was inspired by the bright colors of the Sassafras Lass paper. I did not want to use grey tones or a picture of a rock. I wanted something that showed warmth and happiness knowing He is my Rock. Knowing that completely comforts me. Papers: Bazzill, Sassafras Lass Vintage Yummy
Stamps: Layers of Color Old World Flourish
Stamp Ink: SU summer sun
Embellishments: Bo Bunny button, hemp from Hobby Lobby, Fancy Pants flowers, misc. brads, Shimmerz candle light, DMC floss, Rose Moka alpha stickers, Pink Paislee aqua alpha stickers, Stickles walnut stain

The scriptures I chose were:
2 Samuel 22:47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!"
Isaiah 26:4 "Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD is the Rock eternal."

Enjoy studying about our never-changing God, our Rock! Remember to use Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. I will see you again on September 13th with a new study and attribute. In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 17, Faithful}

Challenge Word 17: Faithful
God’s Attribute: God is Faithful. As the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” says:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

How does this affect my daily life? Do you ever get discouraged because the world is full of distrust and unfaithfulness? Unfaithfulness in business, marriages, friendships, etc.? It definitely can be discouraging but for believers, we can hold onto our Heavenly Father and know that He is faithful in all He does. And He is faithful all of the time! That is so comforting to know that in any difficulty we face, we can completely trust that He is there, and He is our constant shield. Psalm 91:4 says “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” And 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

Even when things in our lives seem rough or we are walking through a difficulty, we can lean on Him and know that He is faithful in all situations. Arthur Pink said “Far above all finite comprehension is the unchanging faithfulness of God. Everything about God is great, vast, incomparable. He never forgets, never fails, never falters, never forfeits His Word.” Oh such a wonderful thought. Do you doubt His faithfulness or do you cling to Him with assurance knowing that He is faithful in all things?

I have been super swamped these past few weeks, and I only had time to study and write it up for you today. I thought it was more important to give you the study than to get my page completed for you. :) I hope you understand. So, I may not have a page to share but when I create it, these are the two verses I have chosen to use:

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

I urge you today to cling to Him with assurance that He is faithful in all things! Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. Until next time, In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 16, Judge}

Challenge Word 16: Judge
God’s Attribute: God is Judge. He is God our Shophet. He judges all people in His truth. As our Maker, He is the Law Maker and the Judge. James 4:12 says “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”

How does this affect my daily life? Have you ever been wrongly accused of something? Have you ever judged or wrongly accused someone else? I am sure we can all answer yes to those questions. At one time in our lives, we have acted as judge and we have been misjudged ourselves. God is the only Judge, and only He knows the hearts and motivation of each person. He knows the secrets of our mind, and only He has the power to judge rightly. J.I. Packer said “When the Bible pictures God judging, it emphasizes His omniscience and wisdom as the searcher of hearts and the finder of facts. Nothing can escape Him; we may fool men, but we cannot fool God. He knows us, and judges us, as we really are.”

And one day, we will all be judged by Christ Himself. Unbelievers will experience a punitive judgment and will pay the penalty for sin. This will be dreadful judgment, and if you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to do so today.

Romans 2:5-8 “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.”

Believers will experience an evaluative judgment on how they have served Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

2 Timothy 4:8 “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

I pray that the next time you think of judging someone that you will remember there is only one Judge. I also pray that you will live mightily serving Him who Judges all.

For my page today, I used the newer Basic Grey papers, June Bug, and the wonderful Layers of Color stamp set called Nature Walk.Papers: Bazzill, Paper Trey Ink, Basic Grey June Bug
Stamps: Layers of Color Nature Walk
Stamp Ink: SU night of navy
Sketch: Suepup Sketch D
Embellishments: Heidi Swapp chipboard alpha, Bazzill brads, KaiserCraft pearls, American Craft felt flowers

The scriptures I chose were:
Isaiah 33:22 "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is He who will save us."
Romans 14:12-13 "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another."

I pray you enjoy and really think about today's study. Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery! I will see you again on August 16th with a new study and attribute. In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 15, Immutable}

Challenge Word 15: Immutable
God’s Attribute: God is Unchanging. He is Immutable. Malachi 3: 6 says “I the LORD do not change. . .” He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

How does this affect my daily life? Do you ever wonder how the God of Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, etc., could be the same God of today? Do you feel like He was different thousands of years ago? Well, the God of a thousand years ago, the God of all creation, the immutable God is the same God we have today. He does not change as clearly stated in Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. . .” He is the same today as He was yesterday, and it is what He will always be.

We change our minds, our jobs change, and we are surrounded by change. We change in how we view things as we grow in our knowledge of the Lord. I am a completely new person in Christ than I was before coming to know Him in 1997. Have you changed? Are you becoming more like Him as you walk in obedience to Him? However, it is important to remember that while we are to change and grow in Him, our God does not change, and He does not change His mind. 1 Samuel 15:29 says “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change his mind.” We can rest in Him knowing that nothing about Him changes. J. I. Packer said “Created things have a beginning and an ending, but not so their Creator. The answer to the child’s question ‘Who made God?’ is simply that God did not need to be made, for He was always there. He exists forever, and He is always the same.”

As the third verse of the hymn “Immortal, Invisible” says:
To all, life Thou givest—to both great and small,
In all life Thou livest—the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Oh so true, and we can rest in that and trust that He will not change! Praise be to God! My page for this week shares two of my favorite verses:
Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change.”
Psalm 102:27 “. . .You remain the same and Your years will never end.” Papers: Memory Box biscotti cranberry, Making Memories Sabrina
Stamps: Just Rite dater
Stamp Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk blackbird
Embellishments: Karen Foster Scrappers Floss white, Liquid Pearls white opal, Making Memories tiny alpha stickers, Basic Grey Offbeat button, Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers), Elle's Studio tags, Deluxe Designs chipboard flourish, Glimmer Mist graphite

Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. I pray that you will remember this—no matter how your circumstances change, the immutable God will always be there to love, protect, guide, and comfort you! Blessings to you,

His Holy Name {Challenge 14, Eternal}

Challenge Word 14: Eternal
God’s Attribute: God is Eternal. He is El Olam. He has no beginning or end. The Life Application Study Bible defines eternal and everlasting as:
Eternal—“perpetual; forever; characterized by abiding fellowship with God.”
Everlasting—“perpetual or enduring through all time, see eternal.”

How does this affect my daily life? First, it truly is hard for us to understand an eternal God because everything we know has a beginning and an end. Think about it—our daily schedules, the time we go to church, birthdays, deaths, the time you go into the office and go home, holidays, the time you wake up, etc., etc., etc.—everything has a beginning and an end. But our God has no beginning or end. He is infinite. He is not limited by time or place, and He has worked and will continue to work His good purpose through the ages.

While it is hard to comprehend, it is also comforting. His love for us endures forever; it is an everlasting love. His plans are perfect, and they stand firm forever. Psalm 33:11 says "The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." He is also there supporting us at all times through the good and the bad. Deuteronomy 33:27a says “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms . . .” Oh that is so very comforting yet incomprehensible. He is forever with us comforting us, loving us, supporting us, leading us, etc. Amazing!

And as God is an eternal God, you too can have eternal life that is offered through Jesus Christ. We have all sinned and rebelled against our eternal God, and you will experience eternal suffering unless you are reconciled (made right) with God by asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Through Jesus Christ, you can have eternal life and fellowship with Him. If you have not accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, will you do that today? Feel free to e-mail me with questions. A.W. Tozer said “God’s eternity and man’s mortality join to persuade us that faith in Jesus Christ is not optional. For every man it must be Christ or eternal tragedy.” I pray you will accept Christ today and avoid eternal tragedy.

For my page today, I used two scriptures:
Psalm 90:2 "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Jeremiah 10:10 "But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God, the Eternal King."Papers: Bazzill, K&Company Wild Raspberry
Stamp Ink: Memento tuxedo black
Embellishments: Heidi Swapp lemonade stand chipboard alpha and journaling spots, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss white, Bo Bunny brad, Liquid Pearls white opal, Making Memories mini circle tag and tiny alpha stickers, Creative Imaginations buttons, Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers)

There were so many great scriptures to use, and I did search on both eternal and everlasting when I did my study. I hope that helps you as you study.

Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. Blessings to each of you as you study. In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 13, Jealous}

Challenge Word 13: Jealous
God’s Attribute: God is a Jealous God. He is El Kanna. He desires us completely.

How does this affect my daily life? What is first in your life? Your children? Your husband? Money? Things? Crafting? Or could God be first in your life? God shares many times in the Bible that He is a jealous God. Well, when we think of His attributes and praising Him for who He is, how can we praise Him for being jealous? In our humanness, we are limited in understanding His jealousy. It is not a negative term as we perceive it. God being a jealous God means that He wants our total love and worship of Him. He is to be first in our lives. Our greatest desire should be to be completely loyal and faithful to Him. We are to love Him, honor Him, praise Him, and glorify Him in all things. He is jealous for His name and His character.

J.I. Packer said “God’s jealousy is not a compound of frustration, envy, or spite as human jealousy so often is, but appears instead as a (literally) praiseworthy zeal to preserve something supremely precious.”

I just love that! Do I have an intense passion for the Lord? Is He supremely precious in my life? Do I have an eager desire to love Him, obey Him, and glorify Him in all I do and say? Even in the way we use His name should be honoring and glorifying. Do you take His name in vain? If so, remember He is a jealous God.

For my page this week, I chose the color orange. This color helps me remember to have that zeal for Him. The verses I chose were:

Exodus 34:14 "Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."
Romans 12:11 "Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."Papers: Bazzill, Daisy d's Autumn Collection
Stamps: Just Rite dater
Stamp Ink: VersaFine onyx black
Embellishments: Heidi Swapp lemonade stand chipboard alpha, Rose Moka white letter stickers, Maya Road chipboard frames, Basic Grey offbeat button, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss white, fabric from Freehand Scraps June 2009 kit, misc. ribbon

Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. Blessings to each of you as you study, and I pray that you will think about our Jealous God and have such a zeal for Him that you live for Him in all things. Our view of Him can never be high enough!

His Holy Name {Challenge 12, God Who Sees}

Challenge Word 12: God Who Sees
God’s Attribute: God is a God who Sees. He is El-Roi. He is everywhere all of the time; He is omnipresent. Here is some wonderful information I found on Precept Austin:

"EL" is another name used for God in the Bible, showing up about 200 times in the Old Testament combined with other words for descriptive emphasis. "ELAH" is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God.

How does this affect my daily life? Are you suffering with your finances, in your marriage, with your children, or other difficulties? Do you think that God doesn’t know about you or see your current suffering? Well, He does. He is all-seeing. He knows everything about us, He sees it all, and He understands in a way that no one else could. Kay Arthur put it beautifully. She said “The omnipresent God is there, and His eyes are not shut. He isn’t asleep, unaware of all the circumstances. He sees.” We are never alone. He is always there with us though we tend to forget about Him or even ignore Him. Do you recognize His presence?

Maybe you are sending a child off to elementary school or even college in the Fall. Or maybe you are becoming an empty-nester. Are you fearful of your children leaving? Put your faith and trust completely in Him because our omnipresent God is with them when they leave home. He is watching your children too just as He watches over you. Recognize Him in your joy, your sorrow, and your suffering. He is always with you, and He sees everything. He doesn’t forget about the sparrows and He certainly doesn’t forget about you or your precious children. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. Matthew 10:29-31 says “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

I encourage you to read the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 this week and read about how Hagar recognized God as the omnipresent God. Then turn to Genesis 21:1-20 and read about how God was with Hagar’s son when he grew up. It is all so perfect for our lesson this week, and I pray you take the time to read these passages.

For my page this week, I once again found several scriptures I loved; however, I only had room to put one. So, I used 2 Chronicles 16:9 because it was so encouraging to me.Papers: Memory Box Butterfield, K&Co. Wild Raspberry, Paper Trey Ink
Stamps: Just Rite dater, Provo Craft Circa 12 pt.
Stamp Ink: VersaFine vintage sepia
Embellishments: Stickles frosted lace, Mking Memories tiny alpha mixed ledger, Doodlebug white rub-on letters, Jenni Bowlin butterflies, Scenic Route rub-on, Basic Grey boxer buttons, Fancy Pants flowers, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss brown, Elle's Studio 365 tag

Note, when searching for scripture, I searched on "the eyes of the LORD," "the LORD watches," and "God who sees." I pray that helps you find the scripture that speaks most to you.

Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. May you have a blessed week ahead, and remember that in all His fullness, He is everywhere all of the time. See you for our next study on June 21st. Blessings,

His Holy Name {Challenge 11, Shepherd}

Challenge Word 11: Shepherd
God’s Attribute: The Lord is my Shepherd. He is my Jehovah-rohi or YHWH-Ra’ah. He protects, provides, leads, and cares for us. He gathers us into His arms and comforts us. Isaiah 40:11 says “He tends his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young.”

How does this affect my daily life? Most of you have probably heard that sheep are not the smartest animals on the block. But Mary Foxwell Loeks describes them as “willful creatures, often straying, searching for something better, somewhere else.” Wow, that sounds a lot like us, and the Bible does refer to us as sheep over and over again. Sheep need a shepherd to guide them. If they do not have a shepherd, they will go astray. We too need a shepherd to guide us. If we do not put our trust in Him, our Good Shepherd, then our willfulness, our selfishness, our fear, and our drive to be 'the best we can be' can cause us to make bad decisions and choices.

For those of us that keep our eyes on Him, we should be growing more like Him; therefore, we want His will and not our own. By following Him, we are not led astray. Mary Foxwell Loeks continues saying “The Good Shepherd is indeed gentle and patient, a loving provider of care and nourishment. He is also strong and able and will push or pull hard when love for His sheep dictates the He do so.”

Kay Arthur said “Even though we do dumb things, even though we are not perfect, even though we all stumble in many ways (James 3:2), we can succeed because the Lord is our Shepherd. God designed us as we are so that we would see our need of Him. In Him, we find all that we need. Thus we can say with total confidence and conviction, ‘The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.’ (Psalm 23:1).”

For my page this week, I really wanted to focus on the scripture again. There were so many great ones to use, and I wanted to choose verses other than Psalm 23. Here is what I created for todays name: Papers: Basic Grey Wisteria
Alpha: Lil' Davis Designs chipboard 's', Dymo labeler
Stamps: Just Rite dater
Stamp Ink: VersaFine vintage sepia
Embellishments: hemp from Hobby Lobby, misc. ribbon, Basicy Grey buttons, Fancy Pants flower

Do you know His voice? Do you trust Him and follow Him? Do you respond to His call? I hope you will pray about that this week and seek Him for everything.

Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. I pray that you will listen for His voice and follow Him daily. Blessings, and I will see you for our next study on June 7th! In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 10, Lord}

Challenge Word 10: Lord
God’s Attribute: God is Lord. Ann Spangler says “Adon is a Hebrew word that means ‘lord’ in the sense of an owner, master, or superior. It is frequently used as a term of respect and always refers to people. Adonay (a-do-NAI) is the plural form of ‘adon’ and always refers to God as Lord or Master.” LORD in all capital letters is translated from the Hebrew ‘Jehovah’. Lord in upper and lowercase letters refers to ‘Adonai’.

How does this affect my daily life? God is our Lord, and as our Lord we are to have a relationship with Him. He is our Master, and we are His servants. Today, that is not a popular statement. People want to rule their own lives and can’t imagine being a servant to anyone. His title of Lord demands our total obedience, and He has the right to rule over us and expect our obedience. Do you treat Him as Lord over your entire life or just over the things you want “help” with? If we fear what He controls, it will lead to bad decisions. Kay Arthur says “Our Lord—our Adonai—is our Jehovah, YHWH. As Jehovah He is to be obeyed. He is God; we are human. He is the Creator; we are the created. Therefore, every knee should bow.”

Do you ask Him to show you what His will is for you? Do you follow His will as He calls or do you question it for six months or so before following through? If we delay His call for our lives, it is not obedience but disobedience. In Exodus 4:10-12, we see Moses called Him Lord but he was not willing to obey immediately. When He calls us, He will enable us. He provides us everything we need to do whatever He calls us to do for Him. As our BSF teaching leader said “Serve with God-confidence not self-confidence.”

In choosing scripture for today’s attribute, it was a bit tough. My search on Biblegateway came up with 6,477 scriptures for Lord. Wow! I ended up finding Psalm 135 which is full of wonderful verses. I used Psalm 135: 1, 5, and 13 here on my page. Papers: Bazzill, Crate Paper, Basic Grey Porcelain
Alpha: Making Memories tiny alpha
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Hope, Provo Craft Circa 12 pt. and 18 pt., Just Rite dater
Stamp Ink: VersaFine vintage sepia, Tim Holtz Distress Ink old paper
Embellishments: hemp from Hobby Lobby, misc. ribbon, Basicy Grey buttons

Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. I pray that you will seek His will for you and serve Him completely because He is our Lord and Master. Blessings, and I will see you for our next study on May 24th! In Him,

His Holy Name {Challenge 9, Redeemer}

Challenge Word 9: Redeemer
God's Attribute: Jesus is our Redeemer (Ga ‘al). Jesus was willing to pay the price to free us from the power of sin. He offered His life for all!

Webster’s definition of redeem is “to deliver from sin and its penalties as by a sacrifice made for the sinner.” Jesus was that sacrifice. He is our Redeemer! He paid the ransom price. Mark 10:45 says “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

How does this affect my daily life? It is only fitting after studying the Lamb of God that we look at the price Jesus paid for us. What price did He pay, and why did He pay it? Sin is detestable to God. We all are sinners, and “fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24)

God’s requires a blood sacrifice to redeem us from our sin. Jesus paid that price with His precious blood so that we could be set free from sin and to grow more like Him. He was not guilty yet He suffered for my sin and for your sin! Do you live like you have been redeemed? Are you growing more like Him over time? Do you obey Him in all things? Notice I asked “all” things. That includes making that photocopy of just that ‘one page’ in a book or burning that copy of a CD for a friend or obeying the speed limit signs even when the traffic around you is going much faster. The list could go on and on.

It was a huge cost to Jesus, and we need to live like we have been redeemed. And unbelievers are watching. Our actions speak louder than our words. Our actions can have huge consequences. Do you live like you belong to Him or the world? We are to be set apart. We are to live in this world but not be of this world. We should look different. Do your actions back up what you say you believe? Ann Spangler says “Live as though you have been redeemed.” And one of my favorite hymns says this:

To God be the Glory v.2
“O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Chorus
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory great things He hath done!"

For my page this week I wanted to use red to symbolize His blood shed for me. I also used the beautiful Gothic Crosses set from Layers of Color. I thought that particular cross was perfect for this page. The verse I chose was Isaiah 48:17 "This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.'"

I pray you enjoy your time in His word and reading about our Redeemer. Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery! Blessings to each of you! Now, go out and live like you have been redeemed by our precious Redeemer, Jesus Christ!

His Holy Name {Challenge 8, Lamb}

God put it on my heart this morning to post this challenge early. This post is so appropriate for Easter today, and I pray that you rejoice in Him today! He has Risen! He has Risen Indeed!

Challenge Word 8: Lamb
God’s Attribute: Jesus is the Lamb of God (Amnos Tou Theou) or Lamb (Amnos). He voluntarily gave up His life so that we might have eternal life.

How does this affect my daily life? God requires a blood sacrifice to make atonement for sin (to reconcile God to man) for the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Not just physical death but spiritual death and lost fellowship with God. Even as far back as Adam and Eve, we see the sacrifice of an animal to clothe them for their sin. (Genesis 3:21) A Bible Study Fellowship lesson this year put this in such an amazing way:

Salvation requires the shedding of blood.
*One lamb for one person (Adam and Eve, Genesis 3:21)
*One lamb for one family (at the time of Passover, one lamb could stand for one family, Exodus 12:3)
*One lamb for a nation (at the Day of Atonement at Sinai, Leviticus 16:34)
*One lamb for the world (blood of Jesus alone atones for all; no salvation apart from Him, John 1:29).

We no longer have to repeat the Old Testament sacrifices to atone for our sin because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. His blood was shed for me, for you, for all.

I shared the following in my Scripture Challenge last year. It was so wonderful and such a visual for me that I think it is appropriate to share it here also. Max Lucado in his book “He Chose the Nails” said:

“Between His hand and the wood there was a list: our mistakes, our lusts and lies and greedy moments. A list of our sins. The list God has made, however, cannot be read. The mistakes are covered. The sins are hidden. Those at the top are hidden by His hand; those down the list are covered by His blood . . . What kept Him from resisting? He knew the price of those sins was death. He knew the source of those sins was you, and since He couldn’t bear the thought of eternity without you, He chose the nails. Jesus Himself chose the nails.”

Jesus was not a victim. He was the Lamb without blemish that willingly gave up His life and His spirit on the cross for you and for me. (John 19:30) God the Creator came to earth as a Son, lived a blameless life, and became the Lamb that shed His blood so that our sins might be forgiven, and we can live and have eternal fellowship with Him. What an amazing gift He has given us! Have you accepted that gift? If not, will you do that today? Feel free to e-mail me with questions. And if you have accepted His gift, will you thank Him for His sacrifice for you? Will you live for Him daily so that others might also receive the gift?

For my page this week, I used papers from Crate Paper and the stamps are from Our Daily Bread Designs. The scripture I chose was:
John 1:29 ". . . Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Remember to use the Keyword HHN09 when posting in the gallery. Blessings to each of you, and enjoy the rest of this Easter Sunday thanking Him for His priceless gift and His amazing love for you! In Him,