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

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

Words that Sing Poem Series - Words of a Feather

Art and photo by Dawn M. Hamsher, 2013

1st Writes did a study on "words that sing". It takes time and practice to find just the right word to get your point across.

For fun, we asked our writers to write a poem about words. I will share the poems this week. Here is the second one.

Words of a Feather

by Joan Disbrow

Words of prey dive

sinking talons deep into the heart

tearing through softened tissue seeking

the tender part.

Words of compassion bring gifts

of healing that also sink deep

into wounds of ago

restoring the ripped,

bringing rest,

soft as breast feathers  lining a nest.

Words of rejoicing echo

the heartbeat.

Sharing the fullness of life

lived anew.

Words that sing to the author

of healing:

You heard me and sent me

the words.