Washed

Hallelujah! I am cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and by His Word! I am so grateful that I am forgiven, washed and free from a sin-conscious mind. My sins have been cast as far from Him as the east is from the west, cast into the sea of forgetfulness to be remembered no more. I will not allow the enemy to throw me into confusion, doubt and condemnation because of past failures and shortcomings. I thank my Lord that He is my righteousness, and that He is leading me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. The Holy Spirit brings conviction when I need it, and He leads me into all truth. So I can relax and be free from shame. Hallelujah!

"He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. " Micah 7:19

Psalm 51:10; Proverbs 20:9; John 15:3; Revelations 7:14, 19:8,14; Isaiah 1:18, 43:25; Ezekiel 16:4-14; Hebrews 8:12, 10:2; I John 1:7; Ephesians 5:26; Psalm 103:12; Philippians 3:13; Romans 8:1

"Washed" is a photo by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. Artwork and blog entry by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Forgiveness

I have been forgiven so much throughout my life, Lord Jesus, and I love You so very, very much for forgiving me. I owe my whole existence to You. Thanksgiving wells up in me as I meditate on all Your tender mercies. How could I do anything but forgive those who sin against me? I release every one who has ever injured me, for You have commanded it, and it is my duty. Even when my heart is broken, I come before You and spill out all my love to You in worship. I lift up in prayer all those who have hurt me and I ask you to bless them with Your presence, that they might be healed. I can lose nothing by pouring myself out to You, as I am totally Yours anyway. All I can be, then, is more filled up with You.

Luke 7:47-48; John 20:23; Colossians 2:13; Psalm 85:2; Matthew 6:12-15; Luke 23:34; Matthew 18:21-35

Psa 86:5
For You, Lord, [are] good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

The artwork "Forgiveness" is a montage of my photos, by Karen Gladys Henry ©2009.

Art and blog entry by Karen Gladys Henry ©2009. All Rights Reserved.

Bouquet of Blessings

Greet this day with a joyful shout all you lands of my heart! I will serve the Lord with gladness! I come before His presence with singing! I know that it is God who made me, and I am His person, His sheep. I belong to Him. He is my Good Shepherd and my King. His pasture is green, and He directs and guides me with love.

I enter His beautiful gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. I express my thanks to you for all your tender mercies, which are everlasting. You are so very good, my Lord, therefore I bless your name. Your truth endures to all generations! I loose your truth on all the people in my family, on all those in my sphere of influence, that thanksgiving and praise may abound towards You. I choose to be a blessing to You today by spreading the fragrance of your love.

I desire not to come before You empty-handed, so I arrange a bouquet of thanksgiving to offer you. I call to mind all the multitude of your blessings, the answered prayers, the provisions, the people in my life small and great, the freedoms I enjoy, the ways in which You have spoken to me and touched my life. With each blessing I recall, I speak my thanks to you. Each is a flower for this bouquet. The fragrance of thanksgiving rises and clears out all the bad odors of passivity, discontent, grumbling, complaining, negativity and unbelief.

I stir up my faith with thanking You for all You have done for me and for all that You are. I appreciate You more each day-- Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit-- and I again bless your name. I lift this bouquet of blessings as a wave offering of thanksgiving to you. My heart dances with joy and my body responds with lightness of step.

God, You are good, good, good, and I thank you again today for Your great salvation!

Psalm 100; Exodus 34:20; Romans 1:21; Colossians 3:15; Psalm 97:12; Psalm 107:8; I Thessalonians 1:2, 5:18; Song of Solomon 1:3; II Corinthians 2:14-15; Revelation 4:9, 11:17

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." II Cor. 2:14

"For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." II Cor. 4:15

"Flowers Say I Love You" is a photo composite by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. Art and blog entry by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. All Rights Reserved. See title link for stock photo credits.