What is in a name?

Hello!

Plenty! There was a time when names meant something. Not so much, anymore.

I've been pondering the name Angela. I am coming to grips with "my [spiritual] purpose, and destiny!" Here's what I found out.

1)  Baker's Evangelical Dictionary has a listing for Angel, and Angel of the Lord. The Angel listing states that God uses human and heavenly messengers. Angel of the Lord refers to a supernatural being bearing a message on behalf of God.

2)  Easton's Bible Dictionary had a listing for Angel; which by the way, was a family nickname for the longest. It was one less syllable to have to say! And don't I just know it! I prefer Angela. Angela means messenger in Hebrew and Greek.

3)  Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary did not have a listing for Angela, or Angel which is a derivative of it.

4)   Smith's Bible Dictionary has a listing for Angel of the Lord, and Angels. Angel of the Lord refers to the incarnation of God, and Angel refers to "Messengers of God."

5)  Topical Bible has three Angel listings:  Angel (a spirit), Angel (holy trinity), and Angel of the churches. All refer to celestial beings as helpers of God.

6)  Torrey's New Topical Textbook has an Angel listing. It refers to the characteristics and duties of angels.

You got me! I knew that the name Angela goes back to 'those trustworthy angels!' I never thought too much about humans as angels before, however. One thing is for sure, human or heavenly, angels serve the purposes of the Lord! Perhaps we all ought to strive to be the human 'Angels of the Lord' today, tomorrow, and always! I'm just saying! 

God loves, loves, loves you!

"Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#WhatIsInAName

#BibleGateway

#BibleStudyTools
#MerryChristmas
#HappyNewYear

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway and Bible Study Tools!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

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Ask the counsel of the Lord

Hello!

If we are not careful, we will get into the habit of making decisions; large and small, without seeking the counsel of God. I daresay it is because He will say:  1)  Go!,  2)  Stop!,  or  3)  Proceed with caution! We do not always want to hear what we think He will say. We make our own decisions in the name of faith, and hope that it works out for the best. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. God is Abba Father [Galatians 4:6 KJV], the lover of our souls, and our friend. He wants to do life with us! He wants what is best for us.

It is O.K. to get the counsel of a few trusted, true and tried Godly friends, but it is more important to get the counsel of the Lord God Almighty Himself! How many of us have not waited for; let alone, followed through on the counsel of God and lived to regret it? I know I have! If we ask, He will answer! He will impress the answer upon our hearts, and we will know that it is from Him. He will lead us to Scripture where the answer becomes apparent. He will put us in a position to see, or hear the answer for ourselves. Counsel can be Godly, or un-Godly! The type that it is matters!
     
The children of Israel knew that if they asked the counsel of God, He would not only give it to them, but that it would be well with them!

"And they said unto him, Ask Counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous [Judges 18:5 KJV]!"

"Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel [Judges 20:7 KJV]!"

"And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first [Judges 20:18 KJV]!"

"(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until even, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him.) [Judges 20:23 KJV]!"

King Saul did not follow the counsel of the Lord, and it was not well with him.

"So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse [1 Chronicles 10: 13-14 KJV]!"

We receive our inheritance through the counsel of the Lord!

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will [Ephesians 1:11 KJV]!"

His word is nothing but true!

God loves, loves, loves you!

"Happy Today, and Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela
#AskTheCounselOfTheLord
#BibleGateway

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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Excellent/Excellence

Hello!

Excellent, according to the Bible Study Tools Dictionary, is a translation of several Hebrew words. Most notably, it means: great, honorable, things that differ, are preeminent, etc. Merriam-Webster's synonyms for excellent are awesome, beautiful, fabulous, fantastic, grand, marvelous, splendid, and wonderful, to name a few. As far as I am concerned, God is excellence! The 951 names of God attest to that!

Know this ---

"He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves [Psalm 47:4 NKJV]!"

Let Him, let Him, let Him! His choices for us are "nothing but good, good, good!"

"Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds [Psalm 68:34 NKJV]!"

Strength is Godly! Strength is excellence!

"For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it [Ecclesiastes 7:12 NKJV]!"

Knowledge + Wisdom = Excellence!

"It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of our God [Isaiah 35:2 NKJV]!"

Excellence brings abundance, and joy! The glory of the Lord is in His excellence!

[Mediate on These Things] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy --- meditate on these things [Philippians 4:8 NKJV]!"

Want excellence? Get 'the Word!'

God loves, loves, loves you!

"Happy Today, and Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#Excellence
#Excellent

#BibleGateway

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

Privacy Regarded

Rise up, warrior!

Hello!

The Lord God Almighty is a warrior [Exodus 15:3 NIV ; Revelation 19:11 NIV]!

The most well known warrior of all times was King David [1 Chronicles 11, 12, 28 NIV]!

We are called to be 'a warrior,' too [Judges 6:12 NIV ; Judges 11:1 NIV ; 1 Samuel 16:18 NIV ; 2 Samuel 20:7 NIV , 2 Samuel 23:8 NIV ; 1 Chronicles 5:24 NIV ; 1 Chronicles 7:40 NIV ; 1 Chronicles 8:40 NIV]! "The great day of the Lord is near - near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry [Zepaniah 1:14 NIV]!" "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing [Zephaniah 3:17 NIV]!"

We are to be strong and mighty, as a warrior! "But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced ; their dishonor will never be forgotten [Jeremiah 20:11 NIV]!" We do so by getting in His presence every chance we get!

Apostle Paul admonishes us to put on the full armor of God, that we may be able to stand in these last and evil days, in Ephesians 6:10-19 NIV. He also encourages us to pray in the Spirit, for the church and for each other, always...

We war by ---

1)  Casting down strongholds, breaking bondages, and destroying yokes:  with the words of our mouths! Strongholds are ways of thinking inconsistent with the Word of God. A bondage is  enslavement to a way of being or doing things that are not His! Yokes are those things which are at cross purposes with the Kingdom of Heaven. They can hinder us...

2)  Speaking light, and life into situations with His authority and power! We proclaim His Word as He has given it to us in the bible! We share His revelation knowledge; too, as revealed by the Holy Spirit!

Know this:  we cannot war effectively without both steps!

FEAR NOT to put on the mantle of God, doing His bidding! In our homes, in our neighborhoods, and in our workplaces! Wherever we are, and in whatever we do! For whatever is lost for His sake and the gospel's shall be returned 100 times over in this lifetime [Mark 10:30 KJV]! And; then, there is the eternal reward too!

Go, now! Ain't no words like the words to yourself! Just saying...

God loves, loves, loves you!

"Happy Today, and Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#RiseUpWarrior

#BibleGateway

#KingJamesBibleOnline

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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The King of our hearts

Hello!

Israel asked for a king like all of the other nations, rejecting God as their king [1 Samuel 8 NIV]. Samuel warned them; solemnly, that the king would want to "claim his rights!" The people refused to listen. God said, "Give them a king." Before King Saul was anointed as king, God worked through priests, prophets [Judges 4 NIV] or other leaders who ministered before the Lord on behalf of the people as needed. Each was able to do that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He was "the king of their hearts!"

I have often wondered what Israel would have become if they had continued on 'in the way of the Lord!'  God still wants to be "the king of our hearts!"

1)  "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul [Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV]!"

2)  "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me [Proverbs 8:17 NIV]!"

3)  "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart [Jeremiah 29:13 NIV]!"

4)  "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you [Matthew 7:7 NIV]!"

5)  "So I say to you:  ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you [Luke 11:9 NIV]!"

6)  "For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened [Luke 11:10 NIV]!"

7)  "God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us [Acts 17:27 NIV]!"

Through the highs and the lows, seek Him! Through thick and thin, seek Him! We will find Him! There is no substitute, for there is none like Him! If we stumble, let us right ourselves, and keep going - through Him! If we fall, let us get up, shake the dust off of our feet, and keep going - through Him! Giving up is not an option!

God loves, loves, loves you!

"Happy Today, and Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#TheKingOfOurHearts

#BibleGateway

#KingJamesBibleOnline

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

Privacy Regarded

Truth, and nothing but!

Hello!

[The print in this blog is not the same in size, or boldness throughout as usual. I am not sure why, and I have not been able to correct it. I hope that it will not be too much of an inconvenience for you. Thank you for reading Even Greater Things...]   

Who is truth?

Our precious Lord & Savior Jesus Christ is truth! 

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me [John 14:6 NIV]!"

What is truth?

Truth is the Spirit of God [the Holy Spirit], and freedom! 

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth:  for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:  and he will shew you things to come [John 16:13 KJV]!"

"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth [1 John 5:6 KJV!"

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free [John 8:32 KJV]!"

When does truth come?

Truth comes when the Comforter [the Holy Spirit] comes and dwells in us, and when we study the word of God! 

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me [John 15:26 KJV]!"

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [2 Timothy 1:15 KJV]!"

Where does truth come from?

The truth dwells in us the believers, and we get it through the anointing! 

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you [John 14:17 KJV]!"

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him [1 John 2:27 KJV]!"

How does the truth come? 

Truth comes through God's saving grace, through the word as spoken and found in our precious Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, through scripture, and in worship!

"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth [1 Timothy 2:4 KJV]!"

"If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus [Ephesians 4:21 KJV]!"

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth [John 1:14 KJV]!" 

"Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth [John 17:17 KJV]!"

"God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth [John 4:24 KJV]!"

God loves, loves, loves you!

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#TruthAndNothingBut

#BibleGateway

#KingJamesBibleOnline

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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The beauty of holiness

Hello!

Spring Ready-To-Wear 2019 fashion shows have come to a crawl. They are fascinating! And some say beautiful, even! 

Most of the scriptures in the Bible concerning beauty are found in the Old Testament. The King James Version has 49 (with none in the New Testament) ; The New International Version has 28 (with three in the New Testament)...

Beauty is viewed; mostly, as:  1)  physical attributes with no faults,  2)  outward adornment such as a nice hairstyle, fine clothes and good jewelry, and  3)  utensils or buildings made with or having inserts of precious metals and stones. Oh; but, you knew that! The greatest beauty of all; however, is the beauty of holiness! 

To be holy is "to be like Jesus!" How we long to be like Him! It is not about being perfect as we like to think of it as. It is about maturing in Christ, and becoming more like Him...

King David thought of the Lord as beauty [Psalm 27:4 KJV]! He wanted to gaze on Him! He was perfect [Psalm 50:2 KJV]!

To love, honor and glorify the Lord is beauty! In other words, it is beau-ti-ful! "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness [1 Chronicles 16:29 KJV]!" "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever [2 Chronicles 20:21 KJV]!" "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness [Psalm 29:2 KJV]!" "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him all the earth [Psalm 96:9 KJV]!" 

When we walk in the Lord, we (and the works of our hands) are beauty! "Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty [Job 40:10 KJV]!" "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it [Psalm 90:17 KJV]!"

Shine, Jesus, shine: in us, of us, and for us! 

God loves, loves, loves you! 

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#TheBeautyOfHoliness
#BibleGateway
#KingJamesBibleOnline

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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If Job waited on the Lord, why can't I?

Hello!

Remember that song? That was when gospel was gospel! Isaac Douglas could sang, as Aunt Roberta used to say!

Challenges will come, and they will go. Some will come because we live in a fallen world. Period. Some will come because we have sinned. [Hey, it is what it is! Abba Father never asked us to 'ask for forgiveness!' He did ask us to confess our sins! He then freely forgives.] Some will come by a lack of knowledge. And some will come because God has entrusted us to take His Word to the marketplace; AKA, the masses! Imagine that! That is quite the entrustment! An entrustment that will come with persecution, especially here in the latter days. Evenso, to walk with God is an adventure! We might as well buckle up for the ride!   

We know our shortcomings. You know yours, and I know mine. Yet even in the midst of it all, God equips us to be "His revelation Word!" He knows what He put in us. He knows what it will take to bring it out of us. Some of us will shine the harder times become. Some of us will have to be built up so that we can shine the harder times become. Hard times will come...

Job had the opportunity to turn his back on God, to renounce Him, to look the other way. He chose not to. He decided to endure. You see, Job was in a relationship with God. Job knew something about the grace of God. It was inevitable that he would stick it out...

I like the fact that Job did not necessarily understand 'what he did or didn't understand'! Ha! No double talk, here! He not only endured, he overcame. God was in him, and God was with him...

As you or someone you know grapple with the after effects of Hurricane Florence or some other situation ; if you ain't grappling, you ain't living ---

1)  Encourage one another in the Lord!

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin [Hebrews 3:13 KJV]..."

"Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord [Acts 11:23 KJV]..."

"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God [Acts 15:32 KJV]..."

"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort [1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV]..."

2)  Be patient!

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass [Psalm 37:7 KJV]..."

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:  and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit [Ecclesiastes 7:8 KJV]..."

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life [Romans 2:7 KJV]..."

God loves, loves, loves you! 

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#IfJobWaitedOnTheLordICanToo
#BibleGateway
#KingJamesBibleOnline

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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Fear not!

Hello!

We are admonished to fear not, in the Word of God! Not anything! Not anyone! Easier said than done; unless of course, we begin to grasp this...

1)  Fear is a lack of developed faith! We all believe in something, or someone! "Think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith [Romans 12:3b KJV]." "And the Lord said, if ye HAD faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye MIGHT SAY unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you [Luke 17:6 KJV ; emphasis mine]." A mustard seed is small, but it CAN grow into a mighty fine tree! If we use the faith that we are given, we too can grow into a mighty fine tree! But we must use it, faith! Learn to use faith by exercising faith! Put it on! Day in, and day out! In large, and small things! It will come!

2)  Fear is a spirit! It is not of God! "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [2 Timothy 1:7 KJV]." We have access to the mind of Christ! Tap into it! Where there is Christ, there is truth! Where there is truth, there is freedom! Where there is freedom, there is a boldness! A boldness to be, and to do everything that God has placed in us to do! We can! We will! We shall! Tap. Tap. Tap...

If we labor in anything, let it be in the Word! If we know the Word, we know the Son! "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth [John 1:14 KJV]!" Who wouldn't want to know the Son; the glory, and all that it entails? I'm just saying!

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#FearNot
#BibleGateway
#KingJamesBibleOnline

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

Privacy Regarded

Thy art holy

Hello!

Dealing with "com[ing] short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23b KJV]" requires thought, and purposeful action...

God is holy! To sin, or to come short of the glory of God is to be:  1) apart from God or  2)  out of the will of God...

"Do we want to sin?" Let's hope not! King David; in spite of his weaknesses, was a man after God's own heart! He looked sin in the eye, and called it what it was!

I am reminded daily:  we can NOT trample all over the powers of darkness without Him, and His weapons [primarily the sword, which is, the Word of God]! We can NOT trample all over the powers of darkness without Godly men and women determined to go through too, and to see us through! 

In spite of living in a fallen world, we are made in His image! We are overcomers! Sometimes, quickly. Sometimes, not so quickly. Perseverance in Christ through fasting, praying, and meditating on the sword of the Word of God is what it takes to be who and what He has called or chosen us to be. Yes, He has called or chosen you! Yes, He has called or chosen me! He has many wonderful plans in store for us! No matter the age! I thought I had better add 'the age,' for those of you sensitive about it. If you are still breathing; Glory to God, do something of  Him!

The bible is for the "followers of Christ!" The Old Testament; is written primarily, to the Hebrews (or Jewish people). The New Testament; is written primarily, to the Gentiles (people who are not Jewish). All consist of 'The Church,' and find  all of 'The Word' (or scripture) edifying. Let us get in it, and stay in it!

I beseech thee; brethren, acknowledge who He is and what we are through Him!

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela 

#ThyArtHoly
#BibleGateway
#KingJamesBibleOnline

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway and King James Bible Online!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Even Greater Things   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

Privacy Regarded

Guard your hearts, and minds too

Hello!

As I walk to town, I notice the light coming in through the trees. The light appears to be dancing beside me! How I long to capture that motion on film, or in a photograph! It is dazzling! It gives me joy!

Sometimes it seems as if the issues of life come at us like the speed of light! How fast does light travel? As fast as one can imagine, and some! 

As the light of the world [*Matthew 5:14 NIV], we cannot be hidden. Our light will shine through, no matter where we are, who we are with, what we are doing, or what else is going on around us. In this age, that will be:  plen-ty! I beseech thee; therefore my brethren, "Guard your hearts (and your minds) in Christ Jesus [*Philippians 4:7 NIV]..." 

Everything that we do (or don't do) is determined by what is going on in the heart! *Proverbs 4:21 NIV states "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Moreover, *Proverbs 4:23 KJV states "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life..." 

There was a time when I would give folks the benefit of the doubt, un-til! As much as it pains me, I do not do it nearly as much as I used to. Instead, I:  1)  set out to fill my mind with the word of God as often as I can so that I can walk in His Peace, and  2)  "test the spirits!" *Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world [1 John 4:1-4 KJV]!"

It is what it is!      

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela

#EvnGreaterThings2018

#EvenGreaterThings

#GuardYourHearts

#BibleGateway

*Translations, and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

"I am a king and a priest unto thee [Revelation 1:6 KJV]!"

 Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove      

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Tithe thyself, first off

Hello!

The best gift that we can give to God is ... ourselves!

If I want to have a productive day; I tithe myself, first and foremost! In praise, and worship. In reading, meditating on, and speaking the Word. In listening to Him, and journaling...

There is something poignant about seeking the Lord during the wee hours of the morning. It is a quiet, and peaceful time. "My voice shall thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up [Psalm 5:3 KJV]." "Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn [Psalm 57:8 NIV]." Not only will we awaken ourselves, we will summon the Lord God Almighty to work on our behalves, and call forth the day that we desire! 

We may not always get to say or do everything that we want to with God early on in the mornings, but the Holy Spirit + our spirit will work together in tandem throughout the day. The words of our mouth will not only shape the day to come, but they will shape the weeks, months and even the years to come! "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof [Proverbs 18:21 KJV]." Speak the promises, day in and day out, written and revealed! They will come forth! As pure gold!   

Fast forward to the new covenant, or the New Testament. Upon close inspection, not only did the apostles get IT, they took IT to another level, and they were able to turn the world upside down for Christ! Read *The Fellowship of the Believers in Acts 2:42-47 [NIV]! The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' : 1) teaching, 2) to fellowship, 3) to the breaking of bread, and 4) to prayer! They did this! Every day! In the temple, and in homes! Wonders, and signs followed! Well, I reckon! They persisted, and they persisted, and they persisted! Individually, and corporately! Need I say more? I think not! I rest my case!  

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela
#EvnGreaterThings2018
#EvenGreaterThings
#TitheThyself
#BibleGateway

*Translations and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

"I am a king and a priest unto thee [Revelation 1:6 KJV]!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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More on faith

Hello!

I tell you the truth...

"Our measure of faith is for the sole purpose of tapping into the faith of God!"

We read the Scriptures; on one level, to have faith. We read the Scriptures; on another level, to persevere in faith. We read the scriptures; on yet another level, to receive revelation information! 

Faith; for all intent and purposes is, as the late Rev. Dr. Adrian Rogers stated on the Wednesday, August 8, 2018 radio broadcast (which is NOT showing up on the line up as I am writing), "the response of the heart to the character of God!"  

Jesus is the Word, and the Word is Jesus! 

*John 1:1 NIV states:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...

*John 1:14 NIV states:  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...

Moreover, the Word is powerful! It is of the authority + power of Christ!

*Hebrews 4:12 NIV states:  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart...

IF Jesus is the Word et al, and he and it are dynamite, we respond to him/the Word [his authority + power] in the affirmative to have faith, to persevere in faith, and to receive revelation information! 

Are we there, yet? 

*Ephesians 3:16 NIV states:  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being...

We reach into Jesus/the Word, AKA, his Spirit for whatsoever we will or may! Isn't it marvelous how we can read Scripture on one thing, and receive an answer to that, and something else altogether different while at it? GOD IS! 

As the Apostle Paul prayed, *May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give y-o-u the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better [Ephesians 1:17 NIV]! Amen!

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela
#EvnGreaterThings2018
#MoreOnFaith.
#BibleGateway

*Translations and scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

"I am a king and a priest unto thee [Revelation 1:6 KJV]!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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The love of Christ

Hello!

I was startled into a deeper awareness of the love of Christ last week...

While reading *Ephesians 3:19 KJV, the words love that surpasses knowledge leaped from the page! I had read it before. Many times, I'm reckoning. But, it never had this impact before...

When a scripture captures my imagination, I will read the scripture before it, and the scripture after it. I will also read the entire chapter. Sometimes I will read the entire book...

*Ephesians 3:19-20 NIV states:  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us...

*Ephesians 3:19-20 AMP states:  And [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God's presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]. Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us...  

*Ephesians 3:18-19 TLB reads:  And may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself...  

*Ephesians 3:14-19 MSG states:  My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit - not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength - that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God...

What is most telling is not *Ephesians 3:18 in and of itself, but in the scripture that follows it in all of the translations. We can not comprehend the love of Christ, no matter what we say, do or ask of Him! It is so all encompassing! It is so vast! It is light years ahead of us! To know love is to know Christ! To know Christ is to know love! If you are not already, learn to walk in the freedom to receive, to give, and to live in the completeness that He has so graciously bestowed upon us!    

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela
#EvnGreaterThings2018
#EvenGreaterThings2018
#TheLoveOfChrist
#BibleGateway

*Translations taken from Bible Gateway!

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

"I am a king and a priest unto thee [Revelation 1:6]!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

Privacy Regarded

Faith

Hello!

The word faith is used 336 times in the King James Version of the bible, according to Biblegateway.com. It is used 56 times in the Old Testament, and 280 times in the New Testament... 

Faith seems to mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I was the most curious about  Jesus' words Oh ye of little faith [Matthew 6:30, Matthew 8:26, Matthew 16:8 and Luke 12:28 KJV]...

According to A Commentary on the New Testament From the Talmud and Hebraica by John Lightfoot as found at BibleStudyTools.com, Matthew 6:30 is referring to faith for daily needs, such as food and clothing...

Matthew 8:26 is not directly addressed in the above commentary; however, in verse 23 Jesus is getting into the ship when the storm at sea arose. He rebukes the storm. In verses 28 - 32, He comes across two men possessed with devils in Gergesenes. He casts the demons out of them and into the swine, before sending them on their way...   

Matthew 16:8 is not directly addressed in the above commentary, either ; however, in verse 7 Jesus admonishes the disciples to beware of the leaven in the bread (or the teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees). In verses 9 - 12, He reminds them of how the loaves of bread were multiplied. He also admonishes them once again to beware of the teachings of the religious leaders...

Luke 12:28 is not directly addressed in the above commentary, either. In verses 24 - 27; however, Jesus talks about how the ravens are fed and the lilies and the grass are arrayed and clothed... 

Jesus did not make a real distinction between types of, or levels of faith! People either believed, or they did not believe! If they believed, they believed wholeheartedly! If they did not believe wholeheartedly, they had not tapped into the faith of Jesus! Our measure of faith is for the sole purpose of tapping into the faith of God! Now go ye therefore and encourage your brethren to take the Lord at His word!

"Happy Today!"

"Happy Weekend!"

Shalom!

Angela

#EvnGreaterThings2018

#EvenGreaterThings2018

#Faith

#BibleGateway

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

"I am a king and a priest unto thee [Revelation 1:6]!"

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove      

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

Privacy Regarded

Whatever happened to Sunday evening services?

Hello!

I have to tell you:  I love church! I could go all day, every day! Mostly, I go Sundays. Sunday mornings...    

"Back in the day," the 7th day or Day of Rest began with Sunday School. Morning worship came next. Like clockwork, there was a singing engagement for the young adult choir at other churches after lunch. YPHA, in addition to an evening service, occurred once a month... 

Somewhere along the line, churches began to get out of Sunday morning services promptly at 12:00 P.M., or shortly thereafter. And, they began to drop evening services altogether...

I can't help but wonder. Did we become too busy to go to church twice a day on Sundays, or what? I didn't. As a matter of fact, I worked part-time in retail on Sundays in the Shenandoah Valley partly for that very reason. What I had become accustomed to no longer existed. At least not to the extent that it had before...

Does dwindling church attendance reflect a lack of a biblical worldview on our parts? I prefer to refer to it as a biblical worldview rather than a Christian worldview because Christian worldview can mean so many different things to different people. A biblical worldview is more conclusive...

George Barna found that only 10% of professing Christians have a biblical worldview! Would lack of church attendance have any bearing on the dismal results? Possibly. Probably. Let me put it another way. It does not help! So, what are we going to do about it?  

We must become aggressive, with a capital 'a,' in bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth! We must be discipled, and disciple!   

Alright; now, let's go!  

God bless 'ya!

Happy Father's Day! 

Angela

#EvenGreaterThings

#TheKingIsComing

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"

"I am a king and a priest unto thee..." Revelation 1:6

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove   

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Pay! Thaaaaank you!

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Live on purpose

Hello!

Since December 2017, my high school class has lost 4 members. One of which died 5 days ago. We celebrated our 40th reunion September 2017. One able to attend is among the other three no longer living. This and the death of fashion designer Kate Spade has me pondering the meaning of it all, life and death, purpose...

As I take in the things swirling on around me, I can't help but note, "Some  of us live as if we have nine lives!"  Oh to be able to worship as Jacob did, even as he was dying [Hebrews 11:21 NIV]!

Although Ecclesiastes 3:2a tells us that there is "A time to be born, and a time to die, living without a cause is worrisome. I am convinced that some do know 'the hour' of departing. Others not so much. None of us know 'the hour' that the Lord cometh [Matthew 24:36, 42 and 25:13 KJV]. How do we prepare for the inevitable, saved or unsaved?

*Above all, by living on purpose!!!

Rick Warren tackled it well in his book Purpose Driven Life. I still have my copy of the original which I received as a gift. We are not our own no matter which way we look at it. If we live for God, we are His. We also have family, employees or employers, neighbors and other community members, etc., to do life with. If we do not live for God, we are still living for someone or something else larger than ourselves whether it is acknowledged or not. How does one ascertain purpose? By going back to the bible, of course...

The Lord always has a purpose, beginning with His! "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose [Romans 8:28 KJV]!" As I made my way into town this morning on foot, I acknowledged that I should have consulted the Lord more on various issues over the years. Just imagine some of the heartache and frustration that I may have saved myself had I ... about everything! He has purpose, clearly. If He has purpose, we have purpose too...

It is my heart's desire to do everything that He intends for me to do. As He has and keeps on revealing things to me, I marvel. I would not have thought of some of the things that He has thought of! I am glad that He made me, and that I have a relationship with Him that needs to deepen even more daily through prayer and reading the scripture. As I've often heard some say, we keep on doing what He last told us to do until He tells us to do something else! We are bound to be happier if we are falling in line with what he has created us to be and do...

Decide today that you too will live on purpose, that you too will live with a cause, that you too will worship even unto 'the hour!'

God bless 'ya!

"Happy Today!"

Shalom!

Angela
#EvenGreaterThings
#TheKingIsComing
#LiveOnPurpose

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
"I am a king and a priest unto thee..." Revelation 1:6

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies   |   O My Dove   

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Wallet! Thaaaaank you!

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Persevere, persevere, persevere

Hello!

The times call for it!

October 10, 2017. My journal. "You have to have an ironclad will to follow me!"  If I didn't know it then, I know it now!

I was told by a pastor about a year ago that it is easy to serve God! I don't know what planet she came from, but some times it is and some times it isn't! That said, we have hope through Jesus! We have His authority, and His power! We must use them, con-sis-ent-ly!

We are admonished to!

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers [1 Timothy 4:16 NIV]..."

I want my relationship with Christ to grow, and I want others to come into relationship with Christ! I want to press in to Him, when it is easy and when it is not easy! I desire all that He has for me!

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him [James 1:12 NIV]!"

"As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy [James 5:11 NIV]..."

Be encouraged, and be an encourager! When all is said and done, He is worth it!

God bless 'ya!

"Happy Today!"

Shalom!

Angela
#EvenGreaterThings
#TheKingIsComing
#Persevere

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever!

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
"I am a king and a priest unto thee..." Revelation 1:6

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies 

* Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Wallet! Thaaaaank you!

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What is grace, actually?

Hello!

Grace means so many different things to so many different people. It is sometimes hard to wrap one's head around it all...

Bible Gateway mentions grace 159 times in the King James Version of the bible: thirty seven times in the Old Testament, and 122 times in the New Testament...

Spiritually speaking, the English Oxford Living Dictionaries describe grace as...

*The free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings

*A divinely given talent or blessing

*The condition or fact of being favoured by someone

The Bible Researcher goes on and examines grace as that and more. In other words, grace is seen as an attitude and an action. It originates from the Greek word charis. It is the power behind what we believe. It is the justification for what we believe. We could not come into salvation but by His grace, and we can not go forth but by His grace. He is grace!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life [John 3:16 KJV]" is grace!

"Now concerning spiritual gifts et al [1 Corinthians 12 KJV]" is grace!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law [Galatians 5:22-23]" is grace!  

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you [Luke 10:19 KJV]" is grace!

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth [Acts 1:8 KJV]" is grace!

To wrap it up, grace is His love from the very beginning and what He has done for us!

Grace is what He so graciously gives to, and unto us!

Grace is His empowerment to be, to go, and to do!

Grace is the personification of whom, and what He is to us!   

But for grace!!!

God bless 'ya!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Shalom!

Angela
#Grace
#EvenGreaterThings
#TheKingIsComing

NOTE:  I Adorned You [digital magazine] is coming your way, whenever! 

ALV & Co., "The Gold Standard!"
"I am a king and a priest unto thee..." Revelation 1:6

Angela L Vann, Ms   |   Far Above Rubies 

*Like this? Gifts are accepted at Google Wallet! Thaaaaank you!

Privacy Regarded