tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339571880698001202024-03-08T00:48:44.036-08:00Points to PonderDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-10397034572236119872011-04-17T11:39:00.000-07:002011-04-17T11:40:56.784-07:00The Resurrection of JesusThe angel at the empty tomb said, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said when He was with you in Galilee</span>" John 28:5-6 and Luke 24:5-8.<br /> <hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> <p> Historian Kenneth Scott Latourette said, "It was the conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which lifted His followers out of the despair into which His death had cast them ... But for their profound belief that the crucified had risen from the dead and that they had seen Him and talked with Him, the death of Jesus and even Jesus Himself would probably have been all but forgotten."<br /> <br /> Jesus Christ transformed the lives of His disciples, and for the last 2,000 years He has done the same for others. The established fact of changed lives is only one of many credible reasons for believing in the resurrection.</p> <p> Why does the resurrection matter?<br /> <br /> IF JESUS DID NOT RISE FROM THE DEAD, OR IF WE DON'T BELIEVE IT ...<br /> <br /> "... if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!" [and guilty before God] -- 1 Corinthians 15:17<br /> <br /> BUT IF HE DID AND IF WE PUT OUR FAITH IN IT ...<br /> <br /> "According to God's great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" 1 Peter 1:3-4 </p> <p> Ponder that, and have a wonder resurrection day. – David Shropshire</p> <div> *************************</div> <div> A 12' x 40' painting of the resurrection by internationally-known artist, Ron DiCianni, will be displayed in the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, Texas. Watch the artist describe his painting.<br /> <a href="http://downloads.cbn.com/cbnplayer/cbnPlayer.swf?s=/vod/MW131v2_WS" target="_blank">http://downloads.cbn.com/<wbr>cbnplayer/cbnPlayer.swf?s=/<wbr>vod/MW131v2_WS</a></div> <div> </div> <hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> "God has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And He has already appointed the judge [Jesus], confirming Him before everyone by raising Him from the dead." Acts 17:31 (MSG)Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-91249028276231907872010-06-02T12:29:00.000-07:002010-06-02T12:34:58.783-07:00The Message of the Cross<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> "<i><span style="font-style: italic;">The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out.</span></i>" 1 Cor 1:18 (The Message Bible)</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><br />The cross-centered life and teaching of Jean Norment inspired this edition of Points to Ponder. We are sponsoring Jean in person, one week from today. The cross has been her constant message, and God has opened doors for her to proclaim it all over the world the last 17 years. Don't miss it! See Montgomery meeting details below.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br />Jean writes: "PRIDE IS THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL! Rick Joyner recently said, 'The truth of the finished work of the cross is the first truth that must be restored to the church today before revival comes.' Why? It prepares the heart! God has deliberately chosen the cross of Christ and the Christ of the cross to destroy the wisdom of the world, put the proud to shame and conquer the mighty. Why? So that no man can boast in His presence. <br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"The cross is the center and the basis from which the Holy Spirit works in every area of our lives, enabling us to not only know who we are in Christ, but BELIEVE it and enjoy our inheritance in Him. He alone can reveal its power and glory to a humble seeking heart!" </span></span></p> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ponder that. – David Shropshire</span></span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">********************** </span></span></p></div><div> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jean's Montgomery schedule, June 2010: </span></span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fri Jun 4th, 7 pm, and Sat Jun 5th, 9 am until 2:30 (no child-care)</span></span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Gateway Baptist, 3300 Bell Rd, is one block south of Vaughn Rd.</span></span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sunday June 6th, Vaughn Forest Church (Bible study group, 9:30 am) </span></span></p> </div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-69205038532555922202009-09-30T20:36:00.000-07:002009-09-30T21:26:04.541-07:00The Holy Spirit Is A Person"<span style="font-style: italic;">When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth ...</span>", John 16:13.<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.</span>" The Gloria Patri.<br /><br />Do you worship the Holy Spirit as a person? If not, you are robbing Him of His due. The biblical view of the Holy Spirit is that He is a person of great majesty, and worthy of our worship and praise. Many Christians think of Him as an 'it'. The difference is huge.<br /><br />If we think of the Holy Spirit as merely an influence or power, our motive will be to get hold of the Holy Spirit and use 'it' for our advantage. The result is pride. But if we think of the Holy Spirit correctly, our motive will be to surrender ourselves to Him so He can use us for whatever purpose He chooses. The result is humility.<br /><br />That is something to ponder. – David Shropshire<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."</span> 2 Corinthians 13:14Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-47413585361778370432009-05-18T05:20:00.000-07:002009-05-18T05:59:27.662-07:00If The Foundations Are Destroyed<span style="font-style: italic;">"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"</span> Psalm 11:3(NKJV)<br /><br />Grand-baby number seven arrived this week. I wonder, what kind of world Nathan Luke will find when he is a man? Will it be like an overseas country a friend visited recently, where few people smiled and despair hung over the land like a dark cloud? There is a reason a society experiences civil freedom and social happiness, or conversely, hopelessness and despair.<br /><br />Jedediah Morse, "The Father of American Geography" said: "To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys.... All efforts to destroy the foundations of our holy religion, ultimately tend to the subversion also of our political freedom and happiness. Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present ... forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them."<br /><br />It appears to me the foundations are under serious attack, and for many weeks I have been pondering the question: If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Then I 'discovered' that same question in Psalm 11 verse 3. I had forgotten that the psalmist David had asked it. Eagerly I read the remaining few verses to find the answer. Surely God would not raise the question without giving an answer. At first glance, I did not see an answer. It was as if the writer had changed the subject. Then I saw it!<br /><br />What can the righteous do? Keep on trusting God. Keep your eyes on Him. He is on His throne, is still in charge, so learn to see everything from His perspective. Yes, grieve over the injustice and evil around us, but don't fret. God sees, and will vindicate the righteous and will judge His enemies. Meanwhile, be an overcomer by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony (Rev 12:11).<br /><br />That is something to ponder. – David Shropshire<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”</span> (Revelation 11:15, NKJV).Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-10750027169702133022009-02-06T09:23:00.000-08:002009-02-14T03:05:00.013-08:00Hobab or the Cloud - Led By The Spirit<span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8 (New KJV)<br /><br /></span></em></span> <hr noshade="noshade" style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:-1;">We are living in perilous times, and learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit of God has never been more critical.<br /><br />Moses trusted God to lead Israel in the desert with a cloud, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. "... when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time ... when it lifted they set out" (Numbers 9:21-22, ESV). God’s guidance to Israel in the desert was unmistakable.<br /><br />But Moses does something really dumb. Moses asks Hobab to guide them: “Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us" (10:31). Hobab was Moses’ brother-in-law, a Midianite familiar with the desert. Hobab could make sense to me if God had not already clearly indicated His method of leading in the desert. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:-1;">(I can’t be too critical of Moses, because I can do dumb things too. When we flunk a test God does not condemn us [see Rom 8:1], He just lets us retake the test.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:-1;"><br />I think God gave us this illustration to contrast two ways of making decisions in life. The Hobab way makes sense; it is logical; your friends and family will understand when you explain it. But lets face it, following a cloud does not make sense. Explain that method to your friends and they will think you are crazy. <br /><br />Sometimes God will send us a Hobab, a trusted, knowledgeable advisor. But don’t put your trust in the advisor, put your trust in God. Learn to be led by the Spirit of God. That is something to ponder.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:-1;"> – David<br /><br /></span> <hr noshade="noshade" style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet ms;font-size:-1;"><strong><em>“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14, ESV).</em></strong></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-66517257931659893662009-01-29T08:25:00.000-08:002009-02-04T19:05:29.049-08:00Following In The Wilderness<span style="font-size:85%;"><i><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (English Standard Version)<br /><br /></span></i></span> <hr noshade="noshade" style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When God led Israel out of Egypt, He led them with a cloud – a puffy one at day and a fiery one at night. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“... the cloud lifted... and the cloud settle down in the wilderness...” (Numbers 10:11-12). </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was impossible to miss God’s leading. The people’s problem was not lack of direction, it was lack of trusting God as they went. Sometimes we are like that, especially when He leads us into the wilderness.<br /><br /></span> <div> </div> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is wonderful when God leads us into green pastures beside still waters (Psalm 23:2), but at times He leads us into the wilderness, just as His Spirit led Jesus there (Mark 1:12). Sometimes we end up in the wilderness due to our own stupidity, but sometimes it is because God sent us. Regardless of the reason, to benefit we must embrace the wilderness, not fight against it. Embrace it because a loving God who is all wise and all powerful is leading, and will cause all things to work for our good when we surrender to Him. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ponder that. – David<br /><br /></span> <hr noshade="noshade" style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet ms;"><b>"<i>Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.<br /><br />"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" </i> (Romans 8:35-39 NLT)</b></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-80822640802173411482009-01-18T19:58:00.000-08:002009-02-04T19:01:50.303-08:00Pondering Following Jesus<span style="font-size:78%;"><i><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oh, how I love all you've revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long. Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete. I've even become smarter than my teachers since I've pondered and absorbed your counsel. I've become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me. Psalms 119:97-100 (The Message Bible)<br /><br /></span></i></span> <hr noshade="noshade" style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Trust your own vision as you follow the Lord. ... Don't try to plan your life, but follow Jesus and you will find yourself being moved along by God. ... Keep your humility intact, and keep your mind on God. He will use people to assist the vision, but He is the source. ... Open your heart and let Jesus speak through you. Don't try to build up great plans for yourself; He has plans you cannot imagine." </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">They were the last words of council my dad gave me before he went to be with the Lord a few years ago.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Jesus beckons us to follow Him. Much of the time it is not clear to us where He is going or what He is doing. We may have a general idea, but the details are often very unclear or even confusing. Consider how Joseph must have felt looking frantically for lodging that evening in Bethlehem. As Mary’s labor pains intensified, I can imagine Joseph screaming at God, “Hey, where are you? Don’t you know this is an emergency? Where is the plan?” That stressful hour for Joseph and Mary was part of God's perfect plan. </span> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Maybe you are in a stressful hour, trying to find God's perfect plan. Maybe you are in the middle of it and don't recognize it. God is always at work even in the mundane affairs of life. His plans are usually hidden, disguised as ordinary circumstances. Ponder that. – David<br /><br /></span> <hr noshade="noshade" style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet ms;"><b>Jesus said: <i>I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me</i>... John 12:24-26 (NLT)</b></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-62692248300844995402008-04-30T05:26:00.000-07:002008-04-30T06:08:55.099-07:00Choose: Human Systems Or An Invisible KingdomMany of us have lost sight of the goal. Amid the noise of political debate and the warnings of economic disaster, along with the daily cares of life -- it can be a struggle to keep a Kingdom perspective. A nugget from Dallas Willard helps me adjust my focus. <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br /> "Jesus did not send His students out to start governments or even churches as we know them today, which always strongly convey some elements of a human system. They were, instead, to establish beachheads of His person, [His] word, and [His] power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with Him.<br /><br />"We must make no mistake about it. In thus sending out his trainees, He set afoot a perpetual world revolution: one that is still in process and will continue until God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. As this revolution culminates, all the forces of evil known to mankind will be defeated and the goodness of God will be known, accepted, and joyously conformed to in every aspect of human life. He has chosen to accomplish this with and, in part, through [us] His students." excerpt from <span style="font-style: italic;">Renovation of the Heart<br /><br /></span>That's something to ponder.<br /><br />David<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-40543946433217507112008-02-25T20:05:00.000-08:002008-03-08T19:02:13.301-08:00Sincere PrayersGrowing up in a non-liturgical church, we almost never recited a written prayer, not even the Lord's prayer. In our tradition, prayer had to be spontaneous in order to be sincere, or so I thought. But as an adult, I began to discover the rich prayers in the Bible, and often relied on them to express my feelings to God in heart-felt prayer.<br /><br />Any written prayer can be made your own, and will be heard by God, if it expresses the desire of your own heart and is in harmony with the will of God. At times the following prayers have served to focus my heart and mind when talking to God. I have seen Him answer many times. They are an adaptation from Glenn Clark, one of the most widely published authors on the life of prayer in the 20th century. You will find they are in harmony with the Bible, and that God is eager to answer them.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />David<br /><br />1. I pray for Your spirit to enter me and fill me completely. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)<br /><br />2. I pray for Your kingdom to come in earth as it is in heaven.<br />"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." (Jn 14:13)<br /><br />3. I pray for my will to become completely and utterly Your will. "...I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (Jn 16:23)<br /><br />4. I pray for my actual needs to be met by the right supply in the right way and at the right time. "We receive from him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him." (1 JN 3:22)<br /><br />5. I pray for the right persons to come into my life, at the right time and in the right way. "And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him." (1 Jn 5:15)<br /><br />6. I pray for the right ideas to come to me in perfect sequence and in perfect order, in the right time and in the right way. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (Jn 15:16)<br /><br />7. I pray for my deepest soul's sincere desire to be fulfilled in the right time and in the right way. "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." (Jn 11:22)<br /><br />8. I ask You, Father, for the health and strength that will enable me to serve You, and never fail You. "Ask and it will be given to you...For everyone who asks receives." (Matt 7:7-8)<br /><br />9. I seek from You, Father, the money and things that will supply the resources for a creative and fruitful life. "Seek and you will find...for he who seeks finds." (Matt 7:7-8)<br /><br />10. Open the door, Father, to the right work that will enable me to make my finest contribution to mankind. "Knock and the door will be opened to you...for to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8)Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-13376574819284984252007-09-20T02:20:00.000-07:002007-09-20T02:24:16.526-07:00Pondering 'Ordinary' DiscipleshipI often ponder the nature and meaning of "discipleship." The cost of discipleship appeals to me, perhaps because I love a challenge. But that is based upon human zeal, and human zeal will not take a person very far.<br /><br />Oswald Chambers reminds us that "discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on the water is easy to impulsive pluck, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is a different thing."<br /><br /> "We do not need the grace of God to stand crises -- human nature and pride are sufficient. We can face the strain magnificently; but it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours in every day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a disciple, to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in [ordinary] paths, among [ordinary] people, and this is not learned in five minutes."Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-37312518299053700692007-08-20T04:41:00.000-07:002007-08-20T04:56:31.037-07:00Holy DesperationWe are not likely to have a significant encounter with God until we become desperate. Desperation provides the impulse necessary for us to be willing to lose our lives; and in so doing, we discover life. God will use dissatisfaction, frustration, and consternation to lead us to the place of reckless abandonment. There we will get a such a wonderful revelation of God that we are willing to make known to the world the truth of His Kingdom regardless of the price.<br /><br />Jesus said: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me" ... John 12:24-26 (NLT)Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-48020330387710215402007-08-09T03:04:00.000-07:002007-08-14T01:25:59.310-07:00The Birth of A VisionDo you have a vision for your life? God does.<br /><br />"I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). When we surrender our plans, God gives us His plans. As we seek an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we begin to get a vision of how His plans will unfold. That becomes our vision.<br /><br />Vision must be birthed in each of us by the Holy Spirit. God may use other people to plant the seeds of our vision, but until the vision becomes personal it will never be our passion.<br /><br />Owning another person’s vision will not suffice, even if that person impacted a generation or a nation. The other person’s vision may be noble, pure, and scriptural, and God may give me the same vision, but if I only receive it from a man and not from God, the fruit of my labor will be limited by human strength. We need God's strength if we are to accomplish God's work.<br /><br />Ponder and pray over your vision, and God will bring it into sharper focus through failures and successes.<br /><br />"... for this I toil, striving with all the energy that God mightily inspires within me" (Col 1:29).<br /><br />And that is a point to ponder.<br /><br />DavidDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33957188069800120.post-64496736426602890232007-03-30T10:27:00.000-07:002007-03-30T11:51:44.229-07:00The Beauty of HolinessWhen the writer of Psalms 27:4 tells of his deep desire to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, what exactly is he talking about? Ponder this: God's beauty is related to his holiness. I must admit, when I think of beauty, the first thing that pops into my head is not 'holiness'. At least not until now. Perhaps that is about to change.<br /><br />This world's way of thinking has distorted our concept of both beauty and holiness. The Bible exhorts us to "... praise God in the beauty of His holiness ..." (2 Chronicles 20:21, KJV). In another place (Exodus 15:11), the writer asks rhetorically "who is like the Lord -- majestic in holiness."<br /><br />"Beautiful" and "majestic" -- both of these words imply their object is admired, appreciated, and appealing to the beholder.<br /><br />God designed us to appreciate beauty. Interestingly, some religious groups associate holiness with drab, unattractive clothes. They think of beauty as worldly, and drabness as spiritual. The Bible does not support such thinking. "Consider the lilies of the field ... even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed with such splendor and beauty" (my paraphrase of Math 6:28-29).<br /><br />God's holiness is manifested in His works (Psalm 145:17), in His law (Psalm 19:8-9, Romans 7:12) and at the cross.<br /><br />And that is a point to ponder.<br /><br />TopShropDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781631676724168705noreply@blogger.com0