Posted by: Administrator | June 7, 2025

Holy Assurance

Holy Assurance
Set Apart for a Special Purpose
by Brenda D. Flowers

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2: 9, NKJV)

In my China cabinet, I have a few serving items I have set apart for use on special occasions. They are valuable and useful to me. Some have sentimental meaning or value as they were given to me by a loved one or they were inherited from a close relative.

When I use these serving items at celebratory times, most people would not notice them as being exceptionally valuable. They are just serving items after all.

This year, as we have been writing on the topic of holiness, I have been intrigued by the deeper meanings of the word, holy. 

One important meaning of the word, holy, is set apart.

Think about this definition in relationship to our salvation and sanctification. Our holy God supplies the needed faith and helps to set us apart for His prepared purpose for us. We are to live for Him and to proclaim His good to all we meet. 

We, who trust Christ, are changed into holy standing before God (set apart from sin and the world), ready to be used in great service to God. 

Just as God called Israel to be holy (set apart unto Him), He calls us, as followers of Jesus, to be set apart as His holy people, the church.

Yet, God also has a unique holy service for each of us personally. We can ask Him to show us what our special purpose is.

We can talk to God and ask Him: 

Why was I born in my family, neighborhood, or country? 

Why am I facing my individual circumstances? 

What is my purpose for living? 

Our Holy God, who is set apart in His full perfection, created and designed each of us perfectly for the purpose He has prepared for us. 

It is a celebratory purpose! Rejoice in knowing deep down You are loved beyond words and God has a wonderful inheritance prepared for you. 

When we set ourselves apart to read God’s Word, we are given greater understanding and  assurance that God’s promises are true. In our times with Him, God assures us of our value. We are more than useful servants to Him, we are His children, inheriting and carrying His Kingdom message of hope to all the world. 

Meditate on this truth with me:

God’s Word gives us the assurance that He will give us the faith and needed help for us to live our lives honoring Him. 

Lord, may we approach You with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, knowing You have sprinkled our hearts clean from evil and washed our bodies with Your pure living water. May we celebrate Your goodness and give You the glory. (Prayer adapted from Hebrews 10:22, AMP)

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Posted by: judyhitson | May 21, 2025

Perfecting Holiness

Perfecting Holiness
by Judy Hitson

2 Cor. 7:1 NKJV Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

An important thing I learned in Bible Study years ago is on the word, “Therefore.” See what the there is there for! Look at the previous verses to understand. I looked back to 2 Cor. 6 titled, “The Marks of the Ministry.” The subtitle for v 11-18 “Be Holy” was profound for me to consider some of what it means to be holy. The following phrases startled me in 2 Cor. 6:14, “not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers” and in 2 Cor. 6: 17 “to come out from among them.” This brings to mind a phrase from James 1:27 NASB…..keep oneself unstained by the world.

Is being equally yoked with believers first in importance in perfecting holiness?

The promise of obedience I see to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers and to come out from among them is found in 2 Cor. 6:18 (God says) “I will be a Father to you. And you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

Walking with the Lord on this Christian journey, I discover the bottom line is to be filled with the Holy Spirit who gives life to live Christ. This is the only possible way for us to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Do you experience a Spirit filled life to walk in the Spirit and the love of Christ?

If so, you are on your way, perfecting holiness in your life by the Spirit.

If not, seek the Lord with all your heart and find Him. He promises to lead you in the way you should go.

For us Christians who long to mature in Christ to the full measure, we encounter battles with enemies of the flesh, world and devil. I’ve learned it is good to pause in these battles declaring, “The battle is the Lord’s!”

As we rely on Him and not ourselves, we taste of victory in Jesus. Our need is to surrender to the Lord and yield to His ways. Remember Christ in you the hope of glory.

More of Jesus Less of Me is a book I read years ago and it is the longing of my heart to have more of Jesus less of me to perfect holiness in my life. How about you?

Prayer from 2 Chron.20:12b: Neither know I what to do but my eyes are on You Lord to help me. Amen.

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Posted by: Administrator | May 9, 2025

Bathed in God’s Holy Love

Bathed in God’s Holy Love
by Brenda D. Flowers

John, to the seven churches, which are in Asia:  Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen . . .
Revelation 1:  4-6, NKJV

These words to the churches are to be heeded.

This school year, from September to the end of April, I have been participating in a study of Revelation with women from the middle Tennessee area through Bible Study Fellowship. In the “Apply It” section of the Notes from Lesson 28, “The New Heaven and Earth:  The Believer’s Hope”, this quote touched me in a powerful way:

“Only when believers see God’s unveiled glory and worship Him face-to-face will they experience the full joy God has planned for them. Our purpose will be finally and fully complete when we are bathed in His holy love forever, without the threat of sin and sting of death.”

Imagine being bathed in God’s holy love forever. . . .

We, who have trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord, are already bathed in His holy love. We are washed clean the moment we believe, yet there is an even greater hope we have.

One day, we will be changed completely. Our bodies will be resurrection bodies just like Jesus’s body. There will be no more sorrow, sickness or sin and we will be in full loving relationship with God and all those who trust His Word of Promise. We will live purposefully.

Love within, love without, and all about.

Imagine…

There is a prepared Kingdom where love reigns. It is a reality! Do you believe these words?

God has poured out His holy love and continues to pour out His love, cleansing us. Scripture attests to His love.

…For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without a spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9: 13-15, NKJV)

…so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9: 28, NKJV)

Join me in faith today and be in eager anticipation of Christ’s coming.

Love is calling.

You may want to worship our Holy God by singing Rita Springer’s beautiful song, “This Blood”.

(When I was searching You Tube for a song that captured the heart of this blog, I believe Holy Spirit led me to this song.)

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Posted by: judyhitson | April 22, 2025

Holy Ground

Holy Ground
by Judy Hitson

Acts 7:33 NKJV ‘Then the LORD said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.

What would it be like if we considered the ground we walk on as holy because God is here?

We can experience the presence of God wherever we are for God is everywhere. He is omnipresent. See Ps. 139:7-10.

James 4:8 NKJV says,  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…. James goes on to say in verse 8 Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. This verse brings to mind, Psalm 4:3-4 NKJV Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart….

This is good reason to….as some would say, “stay fessed up!” A Scripture that helps me is to pray, Ps. 139:23-24 NLT Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

As we look to the Lord to search us and show us our heart, we have opportunity to confess any sins that come to mind, repent and go God’s way instead of ours.

Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 NLT Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.   

Consider the lyrics to the hymn on YouTube, “This is Holy Ground,”  Todd Lowe:

This is holy ground
We’re standing
on holy ground
For the Lord is here
And where He is
is holy

These are holy hands
We’re lifting up holy hands
For the Lord is here
And where He is
is holy

We are standing
on holy ground
And I know that
there are angels
all around.

Let us praise
Jesus now
We are standing in
Your presence
on holy ground.

Closing Prayer:
Father in heaven, keep us aware of Your presence, standing on holy ground
wherever we are and wherever we go. In Your name Jesus and walking in the Spirit.
Amen.  

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Posted by: Administrator | April 10, 2025

Awed by God’s Holiness

Awed by God’s Holiness
by Brenda D. Flowers

“Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in splendor, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11, Amp)

The more I dig deep into God’s Word, the more I am awed by God’s holiness. I experience wonder and admiration in a way that is truly inexpressible. It’s more than a feeling!

Have you ever spent time meditating on God’s holiness?

I have been learning more about how to meditate on Scripture.

We have examples in the Bible of people who contemplated the wonder of God’s sovereignty and holiness, ones who have gone before us who trusted and loved God sincerely.

Let’s look closely at their words of praise and honor:

Give the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. (Psalm 96: 7-9, NKJV)

The LORD is great in Zion, And He is high above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy. (Psalm 99: 2-3, NKJV)

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; … (Hebrews 12:14-15a, NKJV)

For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.(Rom. 11:16, NKJV)

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16, NKJV)

As I read aloud these words of worship and declarations of God’s holiness, I try to imagine when these words would have been spoken or written. What were the circumstances of the people who recorded these words under the inspiration of Holy Spirit? How did God reveal His holiness intimately to them?

I have discovered that some of the greatest words of awe about God’s holiness were expressed at times when the writers were totally enveloped in His presence, often humbled by very difficult circumstances.

This has been true for me. When I am walking through the valleys of life, the Holy presence of God becomes more evident to me. I experience His love and wakeful watch in powerful ways.

 God is not distant in His holiness.

For Holy God so loved the world that He sent Jesus on purpose for a great purpose. Jesus demonstrated His holiness as He served people and as He prayed. He modeled and is the way to holiness. Jesus came to earth to help us to be restored to an intimate relationship with Him.

Resurrection Sunday this year, 2025, is April 20th. Those of us who are born again to new life, who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, have great reasons to rejoice.

Our Holy God is victorious! He reigns!

Let’s sing and shout with the angels. Let’s live our lives each day in a way that glorifies our Holy God.

Holy! Holy! Holy! is the Lord God Almighty …

Christ our Lord is risen! Hallelujah what a Savior!

You can experience with me the wonder and admiration of God. This beautiful spring season, rest in the awe of God’s holiness, as You trust and spend time with Him in His Word.

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Posted by: judyhitson | March 22, 2025

The Most Holy Place

The Most Holy Place
by Judy Hitson

Heb. 9:12 ERV Christ entered the Most Holy Place only one time—-enough for all time. He entered the Most Holy Place by using his own blood, not the blood of goats or young bulls. He entered there and made us free from sin forever.

When we come into the presence of God, it is the Most Holy Place. It is a time to bask in His presence and experience fullness of joy (see Ps. 16:11). He is worthy of our time and we are blessed to take it. We are not under law. We now live under God’s grace (see Rom. 6:14). Grace so amazing that we have the privilege to enter the Most Holy Place, the very presence of God.

When I first came to know the Lord, I met a woman at church who invited me to her weekly prayer group and soon after to a Women’s Weekend Bible Retreat. I learned the importance of having an early morning quiet time for prayer, Bible reading and Bible Study. This became a treasured time through the years that continues to be a daily discipline in my life.

After reading The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, teachings on The Secret Place and a study of The Four Keys to Hearing God’s Voice by Mark Virkler,  I practiced keeping a Two-Way Stillness Journal and gained understanding on the importance of the Most Holy Place. This wasn’t just a time of praying rote prayers, reading through or even studying the Bible but times of intimacy with my Lord and God Jesus Christ to worship and adore Him, to commune with Him in prayer, to hear His voice and follow Him day by day, even moment by moment. This takes time and practice.

As Christ entered the Most Holy Place by using His own blood to make us free from sin forever, I know in my heart and life I am covered by the blood of the Lamb. I am free from sin forever. Christ has set me free to walk and live with Him by His Spirit giving me life. Until He comes a second time, the battles of the flesh, world and devil can be disturbing. Yet, knowing the best is yet to come, it is worth persevering on this faith journey to the end. Christ will come again. I look for His appearing and occupy here on earth until He comes.

Prayer: Thank You, Father in Heaven, for sending Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and giving me eternal life. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for giving me life to live Christ and to enter His presence, the Most Holy Place. Amen.

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Posted by: Administrator | March 4, 2025

Jesus Christ: Wholly Holy

Jesus Christ: Wholly Holy
Wholly God, Wholly Man, Wholly Devoted to You
by Brenda D. Flowers

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-25, NKJV)

The more I read the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, the more I see God’s holy, perfect plan for our redemption and sanctification. God’s word reveals how He is wholly devoted to us with a love that is beyond our full understanding.

This past month, I have been meditating on Scriptures with the synonym for the word, holy, (wholly). As I have done this, I have been amazed how God has revealed to me a greater understanding of His perfect plan to save us from sin and death and to give us His abundant life.

I have seen more and more how God shows his love to us by giving us the freedom to choose to honor, trust and obey Him.

While searching and meditating on these Scriptures, I have asked myself these questions:

 Am I trusting God with my whole heart?

 Is Jesus Christ truly my all in all?

 Am I wholly devoted to God as Jesus is to me?

As David prayed, I pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139: 23-24, NKJV)

Here are three scriptures that have been especially meaningful to me:

Jesus answered him, “… ‘…And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment…” (Mark 12: 29a-30, NKJV)

… Caleb, the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the LORD.’ (Deuteronomy 1:36, NKJV)

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

 (1 Timothy 4:15, KJV)

You may consider meditating on one of these Scriptures or another Scripture with the word, “wholly”. Ask God to speak to you as you read His word and to guide you to His truth. I trust that He will because He has done that for me.

I can testify to you that Jesus is faithful and true. … “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6: 3, NIV)

 Jesus loves you and is reaching out to you right now.

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Posted by: judyhitson | February 18, 2025

Be Holy

Be Holy
by Judy Hitson

1 Peter 1:16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God is holy. The important thing for us is that He calls us to be holy.

I hear: “Holy is to be pure and unstained by the world.”

This is seen in 1 Peter 1:15 Amp. But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct (be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage);

The following words of 1 Peter 2:1-5 reveals more understanding of God’s call on our lives to be holy.

1 Peter 2:1-5 Amp. So put aside every trace of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander and hateful speech; like newborn babies [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment], if in fact you have [already] tasted the goodness and gracious kindness of the Lord. Come to Him [the risen Lord], as to a living Stone which men rejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God. You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

In my daily Bible reading I found the following words of Job that seemed to parallel the words of Peter above.

Job 27:3-6 NIV as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies. …..till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.

Oh that I could speak the words of Job 27:3-6 for my life and walk in the light of the exhortation of 1 Peter 2:1-5, but battles of the flesh, world and devil persist. Thank God for the precious reality of the Holy Spirit giving life to live Christ. This is worth fighting for as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father in heaven, help us by Your Spirit in Jesus’ name to be holy as You are holy in all we do and wherever we go. Amen.

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Posted by: Administrator | February 4, 2025

God’s Holy Love

God’s Holy Love
by Brenda D. Flowers

…In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another….

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1 John 4: 10-11 & 16, NKJV) 

Have you ever cleaned out a storage box and discovered a love note or letter from someone special in your life, possibly a person whom you have not seen in a long time? I recently discovered a note written by mother on a book of poems she had given me for my 31st birthday, over forty years ago. My heart was touched as I read her sweet note of love to me. 

I often think about how God reveals His love in the Bible. When I read His Word, I feel as though I am reading a love letter from Him.

Many people though are searching for love. Some search for God’s holy love in religions other than Christianity. In these religions, they have to work for God’s love or they have to be good enough to earn His love. 

Some may pray to “Loving God” but they do not seem to know God’s words of love as expressed in the Bible. Maybe it is because they have never taken the time to read the Bible or to search for Truth. 

I believe when people do not read His love words to them, God is grieved in His Spirit. 

   My husband, Eric, and I will celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary in June of this year (2025). I am thankful for the way God brought Eric and me together and for how He has intervened in our lives to keep us together. 

In August of 1976, I had been dating Eric for only a few weeks, when I had to move from Tennessee, where I was attending graduate school, to Georgia, where I was going to begin my first teaching position. 

Eric and I promised we would write each other. Young readers, this was a time before cell phones and even talking long distance by phone was considered a luxury. 

  I had been teaching several weeks and had not received a letter from Eric. I was waiting to hear from him before I would communicate with him.  I guess I wanted to see if he truly cared enough about me to pursue me. 

Finally one evening, I heard the phone ring. When I answered the long distance call, I heard Eric’s tender somewhat sad voice greeting me and asking me, “Why haven’t you written me?” I answered that I had not received a letter from him. Then he shared, with love and care in his voice, about how long he had spent writing his first letter to me. He had wanted me to know how much he missed me.

I never received Eric’s first love letter,  but I am thankful I was willing to answer his long distance call. 

I often wonder what would have happened if I had refused to answer Eric’s call. 

On January 21, 1976, I answered God’s call to me when I trusted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. I realized that day how much God loved me. Jesus was willing to die for me. 

I believe the Bible is God’s love letter to all of humanity. In my heart, I can feel God’s sadness when people reject His love or when they search for His holy love in the wrong places. 

I pray people, who have never read the Bible, and others, who only read scriptures out of context, will come to understand that God longs to have a close relationship with them as was His original intent for creating people in His image. 

God’s written word has been kept from being destroyed because He wants us, who live today, to know His great love for us.

 As I share this message, God is calling many. Are we willing to answer His call? 

I pray that during this year as we study God’s holiness, we may experience His holy love with a greater depth of understanding. God not only loves us, His essence is love. We can love because He first loved us.

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Posted by: judyhitson | January 21, 2025

God’s Holy Name

God’s Holy Name
by Judy Hitson

Matthew 6: 9 GNT …..Our Father in heaven: May Your holy name be honored.

This past year I had nights with difficulty sleeping. I asked the Lord about it. I said, “Lord, You say in Your word that You give sweet sleep,” Pr. 3:24.

He said, “Pray the Lord’s Prayer.”

This became a process and a pattern in my life to pray the Lord’s Prayer on those nights I couldn’t sleep.  Now it is a habit for me to pray the Lord’s Prayer when I lie down at night to sleep.

As a child I was taught to memorize this prayer and prayed it by rote, like meaningless repetition. After being born again as an adult, I was assisting a 6th grade Sunday School class where I helped the students one by one practice reciting the Lord’s Prayer. Suddenly, it was like a light bulb was turned on to consider each word of the prayer. It was at this time, it was no longer meaningless repetition for me but Jesus’s instructions for me to pray. This was a powerful transition in my life of prayer. The words of the Lord’s Prayer came alive as an intimate communion with my Father in heaven.

The night the Lord called me to pray the Lord’s Prayer when I had difficulty sleeping, the first thing that struck my heart were the words, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

In the midst of chaos and evil in this world at this time in history, it is wonderful to imagine God’s kingdom and will on earth as it is in heaven and to pray these words to come into being. “On earth as it is in heaven” are words that captured my heart. Then the Lord revealed in this prayer that He first spoke of addressing our Father in heaven asking His holy name to be honored.

Taking time to research what it means for His name to be honored, I see it is to hold His name in high respect, to revere, worship and glorify Him.

In other translations we find the words “hallowed be Thy name.” This is to make holy, venerated, revered, respected, distinguished, consecrate, sanctify. This is a call for believers to honor that holiness in their lives.

Greg Grandclamp’s quote from Christianity.com article, “Why do we say Hallowed be Thy Name?”:

“We are to glorify God’s holy name. That name is holy – set apart above all others. His name is to be worshipped by His creation above all other gods and authorities as the one, true God. Yahweh.”

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