Begin and End

God is the Alpha and Omega- The First and the Last - The Beginning and the End!

 

As far as a beginning and ending, God wants me to: 

 

Begin a new life with Him ---End my sinning 

  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new us is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV 

 

Begin to love                  ---End any hate

     “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  

     Matthew 5:44 NIV

 

Begin giving                    ---End my taking

     “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly of under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

     2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

 

I have choices in creating an ending and a beginning, and I am so glad God gives me a desire to choose Him and His way. 

 

 

The Mustard Seed

Year 2023 is ending today, but a new year will usher in to tomorrow. What better way to end and start a new year than with a bit of Mustard--Seed faith for the last and the first days! In fact, we are told by the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End to have a bit of mustard-seed faith.

My Mustard-Seed

I have only a tiny seed.

I hope it will grow something good; 

Not just a bitter weed.

A tiny mustard-seed I hold in my hand,  

But I am about to toss it into this tilled-up land.

I’m resolute,

It’ll take root;

Grow fruit.

It only takes a bit of faith and belief 

To see growth of a tiny leaf

Created by the Commander-In-Chief.

It only takes a bit of faith to blossom

Into something awesome;

It only takes a bit of water from tender tears,

Intermixed with prayers

For a tiny mustard-seed to take root,

And bear fruit.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 12/31/2023 

 

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17: 20 NIV. (v21 KJV “Howbeith this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.) 

 

1 Day Until Thanksgiving

     I am thankful for the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! 
     I am thankful to God who controls the universe.  I am thankful God chose to create me, mold me, and love me throughout my life.  
     I am thankful to Jesus who chose to be separated from His Father so He could be born in a lowly manager and walk among men.  I am thankful to Jesus for choosing to allow men to persecute and ridicule Him so I could saved.  I am thankful Jesus allowed Himself, for my sake, to be nailed to the cross.  He suffered and bled for me.  For that I am grateful. 
     I am thankful for the Holy Spirit which fills my soul and directs my path.
     This Thanksgiving season and daily, every season, let me praise God for who He is, the great Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End!

Made in USA

      The label, “Made in USA”, indicates the product is made in the United States. As an American, I am proud to buy American because it helps our failing economy. Sadly, many manufacturing companies have long since moved out of the United States in order to produce goods and products with cost effectiveness and profitability in mind.

     Thinking further, I began to wonder when the first manufacturing products began and where it all started. Playing with this thought, there is no doubt about it. It all started “in the beginning.” God started it when He created the heavens and the earth and when He created man. God is the owner of the first manufacturing industry and remains, actually, the owner of them all today allowing those inspired to open their own companies to run them as they see fit. The only difference between God’s and man-made ones are that His are for the whole world. It is nation-wide, and God is not stationed in any one area. As owner and CEO, God travels the world daily. God oversees his plan and his designs. He creates His products for everyone and provides well-written, never changing instructions. He gave us Jesus, grace, and salvation. These are not taxed to us, but are given freely to anyone and everyone who will claim them. God designed and fashioned peace, love, and good-will all around the globe. If there are any flaws in His products, they are man-made by our own sin and neglect in not looking to His guidance and direction and by not inviting Him into our lives.    
     I believe if we will custom our products by the example of the One true manufacturer, lives will  be different. If we would package our products by the Word and its advice, the world would prosper universally.  We are told about love, it "suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itslf unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Charity never faileth...And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."  Wouldn't it be great if all manufacturing companies and their workers would add a touch of love into each and every product.     
     Regardless, whether products are “Made in USA,” or “Made in China,” or made anywhere else in the world the first label and the last label belong to God. In the end, there will be a new earth and a new heaven, God will be the manufacturer of that, as well. He is omnipotent, all knowing, and all power; He is omnipresent.

 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighy.” Revelation 1:8

 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.”  Revelation 21:1

A Timeless God

     Our pastor talked last Sunday about how God is alive and how He is eternal, ever-lasting, and ever-present.  He also gave us several descriptions of God.  God is Holy, Glorious, Omnipotent, Authorative, and Revered.  We are to stand in awe of Him.  As I comtemplate all this in "A Friendly Shade," I decided to try to sum up my worship experience and thoughts as follows :  

 

A TIMELESS GOD

With God there is no time.

He was here before it all began;
The world was void and without man.

 He is Alpha and the Omega;

The Beginning and the End.

He is forever, into eternity;

It is God all generations can come to know;
From Him all blessings flow.

God was alive! He is alive! He will be alive!

He has dominion,
Contrary to some’s opinion.

He created the air, the land, the universe.

God’s in charge of the seas, the wind, the sun, and the rain.
There is no escaping Him, though we may try in vain.

He is the First and the Last;

The Beginning and the End.

God is ever present!

Wherever there is life, He is there;
He’s found in the day, the night, and everywhere in the air.

God waits!  He’s patient! And does not go by the clock-of-time.

He reaches out His hand
To everyone across the land.

When the world will be no more,

There will be God loving the souls of man;

Men who have found the open door-

Those who have accepted His plan.

 

There is strength in this mightly God, 
He is all-knowing and wise; 

By His power the dead in Christ will rise. 

 

With God there is "no time!"

He is the great, "I Am."

                                      Mary Crisp Jameson – 10/9/2013

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

 I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  Revelation 22:13