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

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

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

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