Z is for Zealous

st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo by WinterSixFour on Morguefile.com

"The zeal of the Lord...will do this.'" (2 Kings 19:31)

King Hezekiah had received a letter full of bad news, threats vowing to destroy Judah, his kingdom. Hezekiah wasted no time; he "spread [the letter] out before the Lord."

As a result, God, the Divine Protector comes on the scene dressed as a warrior, clad in zeal, armed with holy fervor—and brings destruction to Judah's enemies. A holy accomplishment done, [God said] "Because you (Hezekiah)...prayed..."

In 2 Samuel 26, David describes God's zealous response to his cries. When his pleas "entered [God's] ears", God came riding the winds, the earth shook, the heavens thundered—the results of one man's prayer!

Maybe you have received some not-so-good-news, or threats. Do as Hezekiah did; spread your concerns out before God and pray. Then listen for the thunder.

©2013 Virginia Jelinek

Y is for Yoke

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo by J Durham at MorgueFile.com

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me... (Matthew 11:29)

Imagine yourself wearing an oxen's yoke. Better yet, picture yourself as the ox wearing that yoke. Your neck is locked into a U-shaped  piece of iron. A crossbow extends from it across to a second U-shape, made for another neck—but it's empty. Before your eyes lies your work—to plow the farmer's acres. If you're an oxen with reasoning powers, you'd protest, "I can't do this job alone!"

I've said that many times. I "imagine" that God has yoked me into a job/mission that encompasses more than I can possibly handle—and left me to do the work by myself!

Nothing is farther from the truth. God's Word assures me that I am co-yoked with Christ. He works right alongside me, making any impossible task—possible!

©2013 Virginia Jelinek

X is for Xenial

First Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

“So now we can rejoice in our

wonderful new relationship with God –

all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ

has done for us in making us

friends of God.”

Romans 5:11

Xenial means friendly and hospitable. In friendship and hospitality, God reached out to us, even calling us “friends”. Surveys show we desire the following ten traits in a friend. Scriptures confirm that God embodies each one:

Trustworthy: ”Whatever God promises, he does;” Numbers 23:19

Honest: “God does not lie;” 1 Samuel 15:29

Attentive: “I cry aloud to God and he hears me.” Psalm 77:1

Caring: “God cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Faithful: “God is faithful and true.” Deuteronomy 32:4

Giving: “God gives generously and graciously.” James 1:5

Forgiving: “God will forgive us.” 1 John 1:9

Encouraging: “God, who encourages, encouraged us.” 2 Corinthians 7:6

Patient: “God is kind and merciful; he is patient and keeps his promise;” Joel 2:13

Accepting: “God has accepted you.” Romans 15:7

What more xenial friend could we find?

©2013 Pamela D. Williams

W is for Wise

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Revelation Song, posted by GatewayWorship

lyrics: "Glory and power be to You the only wise king."

"...to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen." Romans 16:27 NIV

Who do you go to for advice? Who is the wise one in your life?

I often go to my husband. He calms me when I get overexcited. He tells me when I need to let go. He is my sounding board here on earth. But, he is not my main "wise" man. My main man is God.

Wisdom comes from God, so I go to the source. His council is always available (OPEN 24/7), day or night. His council is like a rock, build on a solid foundation, it does not falter. If we go to the place where wisdom comes from, we will never be led astray. 

Pray for wisdom for yourself, for your friends and family, and for your leaders.

©2013 Dawn M. Hamsher

V is for Victorious

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo Credit - Microsoft Clip Art

He is righteous and victorious. Zechariah 9:9  

"What does 'victorious' mean?" I asked my daughter Makayla because I wanted my contributions to the 1st Writes A-Z Blogging Challenge to stay within a theme.

"When you run a race you are victorious," she answered.

"And who is always victorious?" I countered, figuring she would say mommy.

I was surprised when she said, "Well, he's bigger than the boogie man."

"Who is bigger than the boogie man?" I wondered, unsure that this was going anywhere.

"God! God is bigger than everything."

"You are so right, honey," I ruffled her hair.

"There's a song," she told me and started to sing, "God is bigger than the boogie man..."

"How does the rest of it go?" I asked, wanting to hear more.

"Mrs. Burkholder teached me but I forgot the rest because it's long."

"Maybe, she will sing it for you next time you go to school."

"Maybe. Can I have snack now?"

©2013 Brianna Renshaw

U is for Unique

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

United States Department of Agriculture.

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.   John 1:18 NLT

Many unbelievers ask how they can know a God that they have never seen?  In this verse John revels that if you want to see the mind and nature of God, if you want to see His attitudes, look at Jesus. In this one verse John gives us the key to knowing God.

If seeing Jesus is like looking at a mirror image of God then the disciples knew our unique God.  By studying their detailed journals of Christ, the New Testament becomes a road map to an intimate relationship with God. 

As with the disciples before us the more we know the closer we want to get, and the closer we get the more we want to know this unique God we serve. 

Dean Drawbaugh

©2013 Dean Drawbaugh

T is for Trustworthy

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore
the characteristics of our awesome God!

           

“Almighty LORD, you are God, and your words are trustworthy.”

2 Samuel 7:28

Photo by Midiman on Flickr

Words are powerful. Thus I want to speak words of life, encouragement, and praise, not criticism, doubt, fear and discouragement. So how can I accomplish this?

By constantly monitoring my speech? But that seems like an insurmountable task. Oh, perhaps for a few minutes, or even several hours I could watch what I say but before long my attention would wander and out of my mouth would come complaining, worry, or criticism.

Luke 6:45 says that “out of the abundance of his heart, man speaks.” Once again I am reminded to partake of God's Word, to fill my heart and my mind with His Truth, bringing life to my soul and blessing, not cursing, to my lips. I will speak life, love, health, peace, and encouragement as I speak what God says. HIS words are trustworthy and true. 

©2013 Sandy James

S is for Sovereign

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Wien - Schatzkammer - Crown Jewels Photo by thisisbossi

Proclaim this message from the Sovereign LORD....

Ezekiel 6:3

The word sovereign means lord, master or owner. A sovereign ruler has authority that trumps the power of courts,  parliaments or popular opinion.  Our God is sovereign, but He always rules with love.

Not so long ago, I was concerned about an upcoming decision I had to make and I was pleading with Father God for direction. A still, small voice whispered to my thoughts: "So, you want Me to tell you what I think so that you can decide what you're going to do?"

Oops!If God's word, written in the Bible or spoken to our hearts, is not the end of the discussion for us, then He is not sovereign. And if He is not sovereign, He is not really Lord, is He?

Who would not want such a wonderful Sovereign?

           

©2013 Joan Disbrow

R is for Righteousness

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo by xandert on Morguefile.com

The word righteous speaks of being in a right standing with God. The scriptures tell us that there is none righteous. No one can be in a right standing before God on his or her own. God's word tells us plainly that we all have sinned and come short of God's glory. But our God is righteous and through his Son, that righteousness—that right standing—is passed on to us.

So many times we find ourselves struggling with guilt, sin, and failure...But our God reminds us in His word in 1 John 1:9 that as we confess our sin, he will forgive and cleanse us from that unrighteousness that we abhor and make us righteous in his sight. Jesus sacrifice on the cross puts us in right standing with the Father once again. We have been made righteous through Christ, the Righteous One.

©2013 Carol Isbister

Q is for Quotable

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;

tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them

when you sit at home

and when you walk along the road,

when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

“It’ll get better before you’re married,” Daddy always said, whether you had suffered a skinned knee, a bruised heart, or a shattered ego.

After becoming a mother, I quoted my dad’s words to my own children. To be honest, the truth behind them has carried me through recovery from surgery, loss of a beloved pet, and disappointment in myself.

Our Heavenly Father offers us eternal wisdom and truth packed into 66 little books. God’s words will benefit anyone and everyone, and are not just worthy of remembering, but are vitally important to pass along.

Like the proven wisdom of my earthly father, God’s words withstand time and testing. Experience has taught me God’s Word is reliable, dependable, and unchanging. Without hesitation, I can say, our God is truly quotable.

©2013 Pamela D. Williams

P is for Provider

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo courtesy of Stock.xchng

“God’s name is JEHOVAH-JIREH, the Lord will provide."

Genesis 22:14

There are many scriptures that speak of God's loving provision. For instance Philippians 4:19 says, “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Unfortunately, in our society self-dependence is lauded, and anything not logical is considered false.  But in God’s kingdom, His Truth supersedes fact. 

Some years ago my husband and I were struggling financially, but the Lord enabled me to fearlessly tithe, and give to ministries or others in need as He prompted me. My checkbook said I didn’t have enough money to pay the bills but miraculously I was always able to do so.  I don’t know how God did it, but I believed He would provide and He did.

“JEHOVAH-JIREH”, Provider, is not just who He is but what He does. He is faithful to live up to His name.

©2013 Sandy James

O is for One

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo Credit - Morguefile.com

 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV).

"Who is the daddy - God or Jesus?" My daughter Makayla asked on the way home from church.

"God is Jesus' daddy," I explained.

Two weeks later she asked the same question again. And she asked again this week. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, she struggles to understand or remember that Jesus is God's son.

However, when I asked her, "How many Gods are there?"

She responded confidently, "One! There is just one God and He made everything!"

Sometimes we may be unsure of God's plans or struggle to understand God's Word, but we can always be confident that there is only one God and we can always rely on Him.

©2013 Brianna Renshaw

N is for Near

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our amazing God!

Song "Come, Draw Near to God"

No other nation, no matter how great, has a god who is so near when they need him as the Lord our God is to us. He answers us whenever we call for help. (Deuteronomy 4:7 GNB)

It has been awhile (the whole winter season) since I felt near to God. It's my own fault. Lack of prayer and Bible reading has lead to DSS (Dry Soul Syndrome). My time with the Lord had been limited to 5 minute prayers before bedtime, like when I was a child.

"Hi Lord, it's me, Dawn. Amen."

Last month, I volunteered at a teen retreat and that was just what I needed to get right with God. Our youth pastor encouraged all of us to commit to reading the Bible. He handed out scrolls for us to write down our commitment (ex. daily for 10 minutes) and then we gave them up to God by placing them in the offering plate. As I began to pray daily, I began to feel God's presence again.

God is always near to us. It is us who stray. So, as the song says, "Come, draw near to God, he will draw near to you." It's true. Won't you draw near to him?


  ©2013 Dawn M. Hamsher

M is for Merciful

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo courtesy of wikimedia.org

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving,

even though we have rebelled against him."

Daniel 9:9

We know that our God is merciful and extends grace to all even though we don't deserve it. At times the grace and mercy of God is beyond our human comprehension. When we tell the Lord we are truly sorry, He immediately extends mercy to us - so much so that it sometimes takes our breath away. Other times we find it difficult to accept. Are we able to extend mercy to others as He does to us? We can only do so through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

It is the mercy of God that melts and transforms our lives. God's mercy takes a hardened sinner and turns him or her into a Christ-like saint of God. That is each one of us. As we examine our lives, we find that we are hopelessly lost and cannot help ourselves or others...but the mercy of God steps in and we are changed from glory to glory. Thank God for His mercy extended to us through our wonderful savior.

©2013 Carol Isbister

L is for Love

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our amazing God!

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Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God.

Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4: 7-8 

God loves the whole world—the flowers and trees, people and animals, everything—even me.  The greatest proof of God’s love was when he sent his only son to die for us.

Jesus loved us so much he was willing to do what he did.  John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. When we put our trust in Jesus we become one of those friends that he loves.

©2013 Paula Bridegam

K is for King

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Hurley_Gurley182

God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Revelation 19:16

His title, King of kings and Lord of lords is proper. He is sovereign over the kings and lords of the earth, and all nobles and princes are under his control - a rank that properly belongs to the Son of God. 

History is riddled with rulers that had incredible power, but wanted more.  To name a few, Alexander the Great, Genghis Kahn, Napoleon, Hitler, Caesar, and most notably Satan.  They wanted to control everything and everyone. 

As soon as these rulers changed their focus from sitting on their throne, to sitting on God’s throne and becoming King of kings they doomed themselves to failure. 

We all have kingdoms; our homes, our families, our jobs. Are we allowing God to rule in these areas, as a part of His Kingdom, creating a perfect order?

Dean Drawbaugh

©2013 Dean Drawbaugh

J is for Just

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo by Kittisak

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9 (NIV)

"It's not fair!" echoes through millions of homes every day.

"You never make him (or her)...."

Parents know that fairness and justice are not the same things, but the difference is difficult for youngsters to grasp. Fairness implies a comparison, a measuring of one against another. Justice is absolute.

That is why it is just of our Father God to forgive everyone who acknowledges his guilt and receives what was purchased by Jesus on the cross. It is not at all fair that He received the consequences of our misdeeds. But justice says that the debt for that has already been paid and we no longer owe it.

How grateful we can be that God is not fair, but just.

©2013 Joan Disbrow

I is for Invisible

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Stereogram courtesy of Blue Mountain Ecards. 

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17

"What does God look like?" my four-year-old daughter asked.

"Well, He looks like us," I replied, thinking of how we were made in His image.

"Like a girl?" she wondered.

"Well, no. Like a human," I tried to clarify.

"I don't get it," she said.

I knew she wasn't 'getting' it, but wasn't sure how to explain. I tried my best: "Well, no one has ever seen God. He's a spirit."

"Like a ghost?"

"No! He's not like a ghost. He's...everywhere - in everyone and everything. We just can't see Him."

"Oh, you mean He's inbisible."

"Yes. That's right - He's invisible."

"Why didn't you just say so in the first place, you silly goose?"

Why indeed?

©2013 Brianna Renshaw

H is for Holy

First Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo courtesy of Alice Popkorn

H is for Holy

“And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him,

and a voice came from heaven which said,

“You are my beloved son, in you I am well pleased”.  Luke 2:32

Our God is holy, as in the Holy Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit directs us in how to live our days as God’s holy people. The Holy Spirit is always with us no matter where we go.

The Holy Spirit also guides us in our prayers. When we don’t know what to pray, or when our prayers seem “un-holy”, the Holy Spirit speaks to us and for us.

When I think about the Holy Spirit I always think of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit appearing as a dove. With the Holy Spirit’s help, I try my best to live a holy life. My prayer is that God will be well pleased.

©2013 Paula Bridegam

G is for Good

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo by Kramerhawks

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Psalm 34:8

“Ummm, ummm, good! “

Remember that line from the Campbell’s jingle? The steaming bowls of savory soup they showed always made me want to heat up a bowl and sing along.

Psalm 34:8 says that the Lord is [ummm, ummm] good. All we need to do is “taste” and we will see!

How do we go about “tasting” to see for ourselves that the Lord is good?

• We can get a taste (and a whole lot more) of what God is like by reading the Bible.
• Getting together with Christian people can give us another taste of God’s character.
• Talking with God and listening for his replies is another way to “taste” the waters of God’s goodness.

Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good? How about offering someone else a sample?

©2013 Pamela D. Williams

F is for Faithfulness

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the infinite characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo by Pam Williams

The old hymn of the church, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" declares the faithfulness of God in song. The verses speak of the changing of the seasons, the dawning of each morning and the awareness of God's steadfastness.

He is a God who doesn't change, whose character and holiness never waiver. Most importantly, we are blessed by His unchanging love, poured out to us on a daily basis.

The knowledge of God's faithfulness has carried my family through the joy and the heartbreaks, through the feast and the famines of life.  Whatever we face, God is always present.

The long-cherished song of the church makes a grateful child of God want to shout it to the housetops--GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS!

He is a faithful God.

©2013 Carol Isbister

E is for Encourager

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo by Saad Akhtar

“David said, ‘You are the lifter of my head.’’

Psalm 3:3

Over 300 cards with words of encouragement have come to us during the past 2 years of my husbands’ illness!

So often in life, just like David, I get tired of the day to day trials. I need to be encouraged! God has an encouraging heart and He reminds me how much He loves me. He gives me the strength to get through each moment when I ask for His help.

His encouragement comes in many forms. It may be in a quiet whisper to my heart or it may arrive in the words of those cards sent by others who have responded to His gentle urging.

He encourages me by reminding me that I am not alone. I only need to listen for His words of hope and eternal encouragement.

Like David, I must know where to turn when I am discouraged! God will provide a ray of encouragement on the cloudy days and He will lift my head and fill my heart with hope in the most difficult of circumstances.

©2013 Cheryl Andreus

D is for Deliverer

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo from Stockvault.com

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve [me]

for His heavenly kingdom. To Him [be] glory forever and ever. Amen!

2 Timothy 4:18

Jesus is the one who delivers us from evil; He is our Deliverer.

Initially, He delivers us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Light. But His work of deliverance continues as we realize and acknowledge our need for freedom in certain areas. If we’re controlled by anything, we are captive to it.

I was a prisoner of alcohol, cigarettes, fear of heights, and emotional wounds but Jesus set me free from it all.  Food, shopping, jealousy, and pornography, are but a few additional areas where one can be held in bondage.

The good news is that Jesus, the Deliverer, is able and willing to set us free from all that has kept us imprisoned.   We must set our hearts and minds on Him and His love for us, and His forgiveness which was accomplished on the cross before we even sinned. We ask Him to set us free. We invite His Spirit to take control of us and then we enjoy His freedom, peace and love.

We must not allow ourselves to be discouraged.  Jesus is the one who will be doing the work.  Our job is simply to allow the enabling power of His grace to complete the work He has already begun in us.

Jesus is our Deliverer and His love is powerful! 

©2013 Sandy James