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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B is for Banner

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!

"White Flag" by Chris Tomlin

“...the Lord is my Banner...Hold high the banner of the Lord!”

Exodus 17:15

Banner - a graphic image that announces a name, identity, or product. 

 
Banners are everywhere. Pennants and clothing feature our favorite sports teams to show team spirit. Billboards sell merchandise and services. Banners on blogs give the first impression of who the author is and what the blog is about. Banners are a way to get your message out and good ones make people stop and take notice. 

In Exodus, Moses built an altar to God and named it "The Lord is my Banner." Moses then instructed the people to "hold high the banner of the Lord." What does that mean to us?


I think it means that we should treat our bodies as altars to God. The way we live, love, and share Christ is our banner. The song "White Flag" by Chris Tomlin declares complete surrender to God. Lifting the white flag high declares Christ has won and love has come. We can reflect that in all we do.

Have you accepted Christ? Do you boldly declare Him to be your Savior?  What does your banner look like?

©2013 Dawn M. Hamsher

A to Z is Coming!

1st Writes is going to do the 
A to Z Blogging Challenge again this year! Starting in April, our writers will post every day except Sunday.

Our topic: Attributes of God 


Are you participating in A to Z? Do you have a topic?