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

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

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

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

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

C is for Comfort

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 courtesy of Morguefile.com

“The God of all comfort who comforts us in all of our afflictions…”

2 Corinthians 1:3

Although he tried to hide it, I had never seen my husband so anxious. The next morning he was to be transported from our local hospital to another, further away, for heart surgery. I couldn’t go with him but would meet him there.  

He had never experienced anything like this. I prayed that God would be a real presence inside that ambulance! I also needed to feel God’s comfort because I was anxious myself!

When I knew they were on the road, I left to pick up our daughter who lived in another town. Due to heavy traffic, I was concerned that we would be unable to arrive in time to meet the ambulance.  Praying as I drove, I pulled back onto the highway. Much to our amazement and relief I was directly behind the ambulance carrying my husband! He was able to see us following along!

I had asked for comfort and God, Our Comforter, responded out of His love and awareness of our anxieties to comfort all of us! In the midst of our trials we can always call on Him and know that He will answer!

©2013 Cheryl Andreus

A is for Awesome

To Arlee: This challenge is a blessing year after year. Thank you for sharing your brainchild with all of us. Our prayer is that God will bless you as you continue to serve Him.

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!

Photo by Pam Williams

For the Lord your God is God of gods...the great God, mighty and awesome... (Deuteronomy 10:17 NKJV)

"Awesome!"  That's the word my grandson uses to describe anything he considers exceptionally good, from pizza to his college professors.

According to Webster, the original meaning of 'awesome' was "expressive of awe...inspiring awe." Nowadays, the word is often drained of its esteem, reduced to a flippant expression, meaning, in today's vernacular, "cool, sweet, or terrific."

Seeing God as "cool" is one thing, but sharpening our spiritual vision to behold the beauty and magnitude of God brings awe: an awesomeness that takes away our breath, puts us on our knees, similar to what Job experienced when he confessed at the end of his troubles, "My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5)

Hearing about God is good. Seeing His awesome glory is life-giving--changing a mediocre friendship with God into a vibrant relationship that can best  be described as "awesome!"

©2013 Virginia Jelinek

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PSSST...DID YOU KNOW IT IS ARLEE BIRD'S BIRTHDAY? 

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME!

Stop by Arlee's blog today and wish him a good one and thank him for founding the 

A to Z Challenge!

Photo by Dawn M. Hamsher, 2011