#908, 14AUG

Daughter of THE King

I had an opportunity yesterday to shine – to be an encourager – to speak to 170 Human Resources and Communications leaders at my company – about a small slice of our science and about me, but most importantly I took the opportunity to thank them for doing their work. I knew it would make their day. I KNOW that the Lord gave me that opportunity – I tried to make the most of it for Him. and yes I had fun too, at the end I even put up my photo of when Elvis gave me a stolen kiss on my birthday at a work volunteer event at a nursing home, the king! But I know who THE REAL KING IS.  Someone called me a star for giving the presentation but it is He, our God, who aligns the stars. I believe that those people needed encouragement, so He found a way and made room in my day. Gave me the peace and the place. I even was forced to finish the presentation slides last week before the power went out only a few hours later, and stayed out for 4 days. He, our God, is the director, who knows, who goes ahead… if only we would listen more. He is the ultimate in making things work for His best interests… Even though the folks heaped their praises after the presentation, it is me who should be praising Him – He needed this – even the rocks will cry out if we do not praise Him. Give credit where credit is due. He deserves it all, and only Him.

Daughter of THE King, 14AUG

Why was I made the daughter of THE King? NOT because I need to show people my crown but instead to tell the world that I have been healed because of our brother and Lord, His Son, who traded His Heavenly crown for a thorny earthly one so that we all could be saved.

Why was I made the daughter of THE King?  NOT because I should glamorize myself, even when treated like royalty. Remember, even Cinderella had to get her own dishes done before heading out to the ball.

Why was I made the daughter of THE King? NOT because I should be treated like a rock star but learn to acknowledge the star which rocked our world, a bright one over a baby in Bethlehem.

Why was I made the daughter of THE King? Because He is the one who makes me sing.

Why was I made the daughter of THE King? Because I need to tell folks that my shine is His, not mine.

Why was I made the daughter of THE King? Because I am branched from His Vine. Fruit, gifted to us, is intended to point back to Him.

Why was I made the daughter of THE King? So that I would crave the pure spiritual milk that He feeds, so that I may grow up in my salvation.

Who makes us His Daughters? His Sons? Our King does. He is our Holiest of Holies, our Father above all others, our God.

Why? So that we would be His.

We are given freedom to serve.

I am thankful to live for Him.

Amen

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1st Peter 2

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,  “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.  “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”  For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.