God is Holy...

I wonder how many of you after getting up from the thanksgiving table this past week looked down and found some food or drink on your shirt, pants, or skirt. Maybe another family member pointed it out to you (in love, of course - ha,ha,ha!) I suspect several of us could be included in  this situation. The point is the food, sauce, and/or drink does not belong there and we are usually quick to go about the business of removing the soiled spot if possible because it doesn't belong  there. How quick are we to go about removing other less visible uncleanliness in our lives?

God is Holy and His presence cannot exist in the presence of uncleanliness. When I think of the  Holiness of God, I think of how Isaiah responded in His presence, "Woe is me!"

Isaiah 6:1-5 (ESV)
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and  the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 

Isaiah was exposed to the absolute Glory and Holiness of God! Wow! I suspect he was dumbfounded, unable to voice a sound. Meanwhile seraphim are calling out to one another: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts...” I've read that the word 'Holy' is the only character attribute of God that is spoken three consecutive times anywhere in scripture. The scriptures don’t ever say “Love, Love, Love,” Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” or “Faithful, Faithful, Faithful”. His Glory and Holiness set Him apart from and above all things!

Friends, as His children we are to be set apart from the things of this world. When was the last time you humbled yourself before a Holy God and said, "Woe is me!"

Looking ahead ….

For those of you looking at our schedule for next year we are trying to lock in dates and locations for Tanzania, Ghana, and Thailand. Pray with us as we listen to God's direction. We, like Joshua, do not want to go without God because our man-made thinking is to get it on the books. We will wait for His perfect timing. And as we know, His timing is perfect.

Love you all so much,

His,
Vickie

P.S. A word from Deb Potter, Public Relations Staff Member –

You may have seen articles online or heard a media story about a new way to contribute to nonprofits through Amazon Smile. We are thankful that Amazon has decided to contribute .05 percent of every transaction through its smile.amazon.com website to a nonprofit of the buyer’s choosing. We want to make our friends aware that there is another organization that utilizes the Pure Joy International name, therefore if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity and want to be certain that Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry will benefit from your purchase be aware of the following. When you select the organization that you would like a donation to be made to, be sure that you select Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry based in Austin, TX. The other organization is based in Bolivar, MO and is not connected to our ministry.

Don’t forget to go to smile.amazon.com when you are shopping through Amazon.com this Christmas season.