Proven

Ezekiel 20:41 As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will prove Myself holy among you in the sight of the nations.

Do you enjoy the fragrance of burning candles?  I do…but only if the scent is pleasing to me.  Otherwise, I want to exit the room.

God loves the aroma that we bring to him when we enter his presence and allow him to mix his “essential oil” if you will, so that we burn and bring a pleasing aroma to the room.

He accepts us, because of Jesus. But then he doesn’t leave us in our broken state.  He takes us and heals us and makes us whole again.  He “proves” himself holy among us – in the sight of the nations.

America is anything but holy in the sight of others, at the moment. But we who love God can be that soothing aroma to our families, our neighbors, our cities, our states…and yes, our nations...

if we allow his mixing and burning to go on, so that those who sense the fragrance want to stay and linger a while…to enjoy the presence.

4 Things

That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the Lord has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

See.

Recognize.

Consider.

Gain insight.

It’s a process, isn’t it, this journey of realizing and experiencing his holiness?

First, we see it and we fear it, we tremble, or we run.

Second, we recognize that his holiness is beautiful, it’s loving, it’s kind…and we get it…we want it.

Thirdly, we consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, that holiness is attainable if we sit still and let him…

Lastly, we realize the potential and the value of allowing God’s holy work to complete itself in our lives.

The hand of the Lord is upon us all – those who trust in him.  And it’s a good hand, not a mean hand, but one that picks us up and shapes us, heals us, and set us…apart…for Him….forever.

Increased Gladness

Isaiah 29:19 The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the Lord, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Do you know, or are you among the afflicted…and the needy?

Of course, we all know and see and read about horrible tragedies that leave people destitute and in need.  Or we experience a time of affliction ourselves.  It’s not fun, nor desirable to do so.

However, there is hope. 

Always, there is hope.

We can increase our gladness in the Lord. How? By reading his Word and saying it.

We can rejoice in the Holy One, even in our time of need.  How?  Because he’s worthy.

God is always about restoration and healing, but sometimes we are completely entrenched in loss and illness.  It’s not a fun place to be.

However, it’s a place to cry out, give thank, be glad, and rejoice – because the Holy One is at work to rescue and save us.

It’s who he is…remember?

Calling Out

Isaiah 6:3

And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Have you ever called out to another the word holy three times? I haven’t.

But maybe this year, in 2017, we should look forward to calling out the holy aspects of God in ourselves and in others.

We too often fear and run from his holiness, afraid of being a disappointment to Him.

When, in fact, the opposite is true.  

The Holy One desires our presence and to share with us his holiness, so that we can experience ALL of who he is.

Holiness – sitting in the presence of God unashamed and in right standing with him – drinking up his goodness and bearing his image – is something to be desired.

It’s something to cry out…to one another…in a loud voice…as one.

3 Ingredient Dip

My sister made a delicious dip for us, for Christmas snacks, and it just requires three ingredients, all from Trader Joe's!

1 container bruschetta sauce
1 pkg feta crumbles
1 pkg steamed and fully cooked lentils

Just mix it all together and serve with tortilla chips - it makes a lot and tastes great!

Know Him

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Want to start 2017 on a good foot?

Fear the Lord.  Stand in reverence and awe of who he is, and determine to understand his great love and purposes in your life.

This is the beginning of all wisdom, to know the Holy One, to be acquainted with his ways, and to love them.

I don’t know what the end of 2016 looks like in your life.  Even if it’s crumbled and in shambles, stand and adore Him, give thanks, and worship Him, and expect to see restoration in the new year.

If you had an awesome year, do the same.

Fear Him – not in the kind of fear that makes you run away – but the kind of fear that makes you fall in worship.

Christmas Praise

Psalm 71:22 I will also praise You with a harp, Even Your truth, O my God; To You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

Merry Christmas Eve!

What are you singing today and tomorrow?  Christmas carols and melodies?  Great!

It’s a day to praise Him by proclaiming the truth of who God is, our Savior, our King, the one to be adored, the Lord, the Prince of Peace…

And the Holy One.

If you don’t feel like singing, then say the words. 

If you don’t feel like saying, then read the words.

Do something to experience the truth of who God is this holy day…the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus…and the giving and loving God who made us.

Is God

Psalm 68:5 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.

It may not look like it at time, that God is caring for the fatherless and the widows, but he is.  He’s a holy God and justice rules in his kingdom.

And sometimes…he uses us to care for these two groups of people.

I love knowing that God is holy, not only for his constant love in purifying me in attitude and heart, but in his constant care of the needy.

Fatherless and widowed – never God’s intent for his children.  That’s why He’s a good father and husband to those who are without if we will only believe…and hope…against all odds.

He’s holy.  It’s who he is.  And therefore, he vindicates and restores, it’s who he is.

Satisfied

Psalm 65:4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

I love this verse!

Most of us live our lives dissatisfied, looking for fulfillment in jobs, homes, relationships, sex, success and so on – all things that can vanish in a flash – and leave us completely helpless and undone.

The earlier in life that we realize that the only satisfaction that lasts comes through drinking of his goodness in his “holy” temple, where he resides in rest and purity and mercy and love, the earlier we rest from our striving and experience a blessed life.

I think that’s maybe why martyrs, and those who are part of the suffering and persecuted church, survive and even thrive.  They have realized his goodness toward them and his salvation to rescue them from death,  and they are satisfied and content to be of service to him…no matter what.

There is no other satisfaction in this world…it only comes through the goodness of our God.

Established

Deuteronomy 28:9 The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.

Prior to this verse there are multiple passages about keeping a holy convocation (gathering of people) on the seventh day.  God wanted to establish that in order to be in his presence, holiness was required…not an option…but required.

Keeping God’s commandments has always been a requirement of a relationship with God.

However, as we all know, we’re not good at keeping them.  We sin.  We turn away from his holiness,  we mess up, we become unclean in attitude and deed.  But God has always been about establishing us in holiness.

Why?

So that we can be with him and experience all that He is.

God cannot change who he is, he is the same always.  However, he requires change in us, and that’s done by the work of His Spirit, through the blood of his son, who came to be the holy one, so that we could then be holy…as he is holy.

It’s always been a requirement and it always will be.  Nothing unholy or impure can stand in his presence.

And that’s a safe place to be.

One X 3

Romans 14 says For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself. So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

The word “one” is in this passage three times.

We don’t live for ourselves.  Everything we do affects those around us in a good way…or a bad way.

We don’t die for ourselves.  What we leave behind us after we’re gone affects those in our realm of influence.

We do give account of ourselves…to God.  He will ultimately look at what we’ve done and didn’t do.

And thankfully, we are under the blood and grace of Jesus, or we’d all fall short.

Knowing that each ONE will give account, let’s make sure our assets column far exceeds our deficits.  And the only way to do that is to be ONE with him in heart and soul in our love for HIM first and then for others…as we love ourselves.

A Holy Day

Exodus 35:2 “For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.

A stiff penalty, don’t you think?  We’d all be dead now if this command was still in place. 

But think about it. 

What God says is holy – that day of complete rest in his presence – must not be tampered with.  We must not think that we can enter his holy presence in disobedience.  To do so, results in certain death.

This is why Christ came. He was the ultimate sacrifice and suffered and died in our place, so that we don’t have to be “put to death.”  He was put to death for us.

However, we can easily put to death that work he did on the cross when we neglect to recognize what it means to have access to a holy God through the blood of his son.  It’s a sacred, beautiful, merciful thing God did for us – and we will only live life to the fullest when we realize it and respond.

And rest.

The Holy Day

Exodus 20:11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

I find it interesting that God made the day of rest holy.  He didn’t make the other six days where he created amazing things and people and animals and plants holy; instead, he made the day of rest holy.

I think, at least in my own experience, I fail to recognize His presence in the doing.  I tend to realize it and experience it in the sitting, in the contemplating, in the rest, and in the quiet. 

It’s up to us to consecrate and set aside time to rest, at least once a week, so that we can experience his holiness.  When it’s noisy and full of busyness, the holiness is obscure.  When it’s quiet and full of rest, His presence can be felt.

If you’re too busy for a restful day once a week, you’re too busy, and you’re missing out one incredible aspect of your God.

Holy Ground

Exodus 3:5 

Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Moses came near the presence of God and God asked him to come no closer, but to remove his sandals – because of the holy ground on which he was standing.

God removes our sin when we confess it.  It’s gone.  It’s his doing, as we can’t do it ourselves.

However, in this instance, God is requiring Moses to do something, to respond to His presence.

We can’t remove sin, only the blood of Jesus does that.  But there are times when we encounter his presence that we must respond by recognizing the holiness of our Maker, and taking off that which he requires…

For example, we can pray and ask God to forgive us for wrong doing, but it’s up to us to then respond to his presence in awe and wonder and reverence…when he says to do so.

That’s so cool.  He could have zapped Moses shoes right off his feet if He’d wanted to, but he told Moses to remove them himself.

Interesting scripture….

Shared Holiness

Hebrews 12  Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of ^[spirits, and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.   All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Maybe you had an absent father who never disciplined you at all, or one who disciplined in anger and hurt you over and over.  Our earthly fathers corrected us the way they knew how, but it was imperfect in motive and deed. 

However, God only disciplines us for good. Why? So that we can share in his holiness.

Discipline is not fun, it hurts, and it surely does no good when we are beaten and abused.  And a child who is never disciplined runs wild and ends up destroying himself and others.

But when we allow God to discipline us in his love, allow it to “train” us, we will then yield this ripe juicy fruit called righteousness – or holiness – where we are without shame, wounds, lies, etc – all of those things that plague us now.

I’m looking forward to living that kind of peaceful life…are you?  It requires discipline, but the kind that brings life…not death.

The Beauty

II Corinthians 7

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Defilement of flesh and spirit…

When I was growing up there was a lot of “making holy” the outward appearance and the actions – without much focus on the inward spirit.  We couldn’t go certain places, wear certain things, or do certain activities because they were wrong.  We didn’t know why it was wrong to go to movies, but we just were told it was wrong.  And although I’m sure there was teaching of wrong inward attitudes, the outward rules were the ones we strove to do, in order to be pleasing to God. That was easier than allowing Him to change our insides, our hearts, and our minds.

Defilement of the flesh and spirit go together, don’t they?  When we are abused physically, it wounds our spirit, and the two are scarred…forever.

But wait.

We serve a holy God who desires that we be holy, like him.

So he cleanses us from any defilement in both flesh and spirit, perfecting us in his sight.

We don’t have to adhere to rules first, then hope to please him, second.

We instead surrender to his love first, and our flesh responds second.

That’s the beauty of holiness.

His Great Name

Ezekiel 36  I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

Remember when we read a couple days ago that holiness befits his house?

Here we realize that we have pushed holiness right out of his house, away from his great name, and that in fact – God’s name has been profaned.  That means we have treated his name with irreverence and disrespect.  This is why the nations do not recognize or know the Lord as the one true God. This is why the people say they are looking to the universe and “vibes” to lead the way for them.  This is unholy and it causes us to scatter and allow his name to be profaned

Profanity, in my mind, has always been about cursing, saying bad words, or using God’s name in a derogatory manner when we are angry or mad.  But here, we see that God’s name is profaned when we allow unholiness in the land.  Ezekiel 36 is a good read.

God is vindicating his name, because he is holy, and it would behoove us to sit tight and listen to the ways we have profaned his name, repent, and rise to the realization that we serve a holy God, one whose name is above all names.

Walking the Highway

Isaiah 35

The scorched land will become a pool
And the thirsty ground springs of water;
In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,
Grass becomes reeds and rushes.
A highway will be there, a roadway,
And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean will not travel on it,
But it will be for him who walks that way,
And fools will not wander on it.
No lion will be there,
Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;
These will not be found there.
But the redeemed will walk there,

Are you burned up, thirsty, feeling haunted by your past?  Unable to find a way out?

There’s this roadway called the “highway of holiness.”

It’s travel lane ONLY for those who walk “that way.”

It’s not for the unclean, fools, or for lions or other vicious beasts.

It’s only for the redeemed (those who have been washed in His blood)

This tells me that there is a path on which I can walk where I am not constantly chased, beaten down, or made to feel shame anymore.

And it’s a path where I’m safe from all those who have been walking with me on the other path I’ve been taking (like discouragement, doubt, despair and despondency)

In fact, all of Isaiah 35 is a happy story.  Read it. 

A highway of holiness.  Can you imagine that?  I feel like most of us use it like those fast lanes on the highway, we want to get to the left and zoom past all others, to arrive to our destination before them.   However, it’s a highway like none other, and it’s closed off to those who don’t follow Him.  It’s a highway where we walk.  Did you catch that?

The highway of holiness is a walk…daily…moment by moment…with Him.  And being next to him is the place where no one and nothing can get to us to harm us.

That’s holiness.

His Character

Psalm 93 The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;

The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength;

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.  Your throne is established from of old;

You are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,

The floods have lifted up their voice,

The floods lift up their pounding waves.

 More than the sounds of many waters,

Than the mighty breakers of the sea,

The Lord on high is mighty.

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;

Holiness befits Your house,

O Lord, forevermore.

Five short verses make up this chapter. 

It starts with establishing who God is and that he established the world that cannot be moved, because it was spoken into place by his Word.  That’s huge.  The earth isn’t going anywhere until the Creator says it’s time.

It then says he is from everlasting…he was, he is, and he will be.  That speaks of continuity and steadfastness and dependability, something no human can give without His power. That’s huge.  That knowledge brings peace and rest.

Then three times it mentions floods, BUT more than the sounds of waters, the Lord is mighty.  He is in control.   Waters can pound and they can roar, but one Word from Him and they are quiet and they recede.

Finally, we read that holiness “befits” His house.  It’s who he is.  He’s a perfect match.

He establishes.

He is everlasting.

He is mighty.

Holiness befits him.

Majestic in Holiness

I’m starting a look at holiness.  Not the holiness of wearing modest clothing and staying away from bad behavior, but the kind of holiness that makes us fall to our knees and acknowledge His worth.

Here we go:

Exodus 10: “You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.  “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?“ You stretched out Your right hand, The earth swallowed them.

The Children of Israel were set free from bondage, but the enemy kept following them.  Finally, the enemy was destroyed in the very waters that parted for the children’s escape.  This passage is referring to that big  miraculous event where God destroyed their enemies once and for all!

This passages asks questions, to which the answer is the same “No one is like you.”

I think that’s one mark of holiness, where we acknowledge who God is – majestic and powerful and one who works wonders – and we realize there is no one else like Him.  And this causes us to praise him and adore Him for who he is.