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BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS


1 Sam. 17:45-48, “David said to the Philistine, “ You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword that the Lord saves, for THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S, and He will give all of you into our hands.” (emphasis mine).

Deut 20:, “When you go to war with your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you, When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army, He shall say, “Hear o Israel today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against the enemy to give you the victory..”

Isa. 54:17, ”No weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.”

The army has come up to your gates and threatens to huff and puff and blow your house down. This is a mighty and terrible foe, one who could very well do exactly as they have threatened they will do. BUT...this battle isn’t yours. Be strong and courageous, do not give in to panic, because it is the Lord who fights this battle, and it’s no contest! No weapon, means NO weapon will prevail against the Lord’s people. I love David’s first reaction to the threats that Goliath was shouting to the Isreal camp. David said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Got that? Next time satan comes around pretending to be a big scary lion, say, who are you to defy this Child of the living God?” and “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.”

Lord, We are your adopted children, who cringe before our foe when the battle is not even ours, we throw up our hands and give up before you’ve even had a chance to fight for us to give us the victory. We repent that we are so fearful. Please allow your mercy and Grace wash over us to give us the backbone to stand and face our enemy in your name and know that you are our salvation. Thank you that your love is everlasting and your mercy is forever.


BLESSINGS AND CURSINGS


There is a wonderful tree called a Benjamina ficus that only grows in poor soil. Most herbs only grow in what botanists call poor soil, soil that is not ‘rich’ in nutrients. The tree and the herbs get what they need from the air and water. They do not thrive with lots of richness. Its actually not good for them. What do I do when the greatest blessing I ever get from God is my worst curse? If All good gifts come down from the Father of Heavenly lights(James 1:17), why did this one go so wrong? And Did God really bless me or did He give me a ‘bad’ gift. Well, the Word of God says that we don’t know what’s good for us. “It is better to go to a house of Mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” Ecc7:2

God’s ways are higher than ours His thoughts are higher, His wisdom is more, He knows more Isa. 55:8-9. He has a much better idea of how we need to grow and what we need to help us grow. When all my dreams and hopes fall apart and make my heart ache, have I missed what God has called me to? Or have I done what He didn’t have as my correct course of action? So, I look back, I get on my knees and ask, God, have I gone where you were not leading me? How could I have done better? Did I miss your voice? Oh God, this is awful, do you want me to endure or run? Am I supposed to learn from this or am I to rebuke it, get prayed for so the bad things will go away?



......BUT GOD....



I hear so many sad stories, so much hurt and pain in this world, and I grieve for those in pain. I pray for these things and am reminded of Lamentations 3:19-23, "I remember my afflictions and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul; is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning: Great is your Faithfulness."



There is an old blues song that goes, "No body knows the trouble I've seen..." This is the theme behind the words in the first verse, "oh woe is me! I've known heartache and desertion. I've been abandoned and cast out, and I was so very sad because of this. But then I remembered God who is merciful and compassionate to me, and Hope rises up in me,in fact everyday God's got some new merciful blessing to show me. Great is God's faithfullness, He promised to help me and he has." OR I have many troubles...but God...



Lord Help me to be always mindful of your faithfullness, to know that you have said that you wouldn't waste anything but would take the worst that life gave me and make it beautiful, and you Will do this for Great is your faithfullness. And Lord I do thank you in all my circumstances for they may seem hard to me now, but God...In Jesus' name, Amen






SAVED OR ENSLAVED?


That which is of Christ liberates, that which is of the world enslaves. If I belong to Christ, I obey Christ, if I belong to satan, I obey him.

Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land and now he is old. He knows that his people are faithless, so he admonishes them saying,"Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the gods of the Ammorites, in whose land you are living. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."(Jos.24:14-15).

The world and its philosophies and pleasures are terribly alluring. We are not of this world, though we are in it. Everyday I face the temptations arising from this " evil and adulterous generation" as Jesus called it.

(1 Jn. 2:15-17), "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the will of God lives forever." See, the world will pass away, so why hold tightly to something that will be gone, lay up treasures in Heaven.

God has set standards and if we are not living up to them we are in the world and succombing to its evil ways. God says Do Not Commit Adultery; that means that sex outside of marriage is wrong. He says have No Other gods before Him. So new age with its rationales and justifications and reasonable sounding excuses are out! Remember, all is not what it seems. The worm looks really good to the fish until he swallows it along with the hook. Eastern Philosophy with its emphasis on self is also out. It is worship of a false God; self. Homosexuality is strictly forbidden, see Romans chapter 1 and check out in Genesis what God did to a couple of cities known for this particular sin. Sexual Perversion of other kinds is also wrong, that includes pornography and voyerism, which, by the way includes sexy books,movies and dirty jokes. Murder is wrong and we in the U.S. have killed over 34 hundred thousand babies since the late sixties.

There is a philosophy going around that there is no absolute truth, THERE IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH, It is found in the Bible. 2 Pet.2:19 says..."a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." and goes on to say20) "If they escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off in the end than they were in the beginning. 21) it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and turned their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them."

So, you who think you have 'fire insurance' and can live it up now, ignoring the commands that the Lord passed on to us, will find yourselves without an excuse on the day of Judgement. So, choose this day whom you will serve, as for me I will serve the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Lord, teach me your ways so that I will know how best to serve you and avoid this world and its temptations, show me your salvation and liberate me to love you even more. In Jesus' name ,amen




SONSHIP


At a home Bible-study, we were told about an adoption proceeding one of our group had attended. The judge admonished the man, who was adopting his wife's son, that an adoption is viewed differently under law. While it may come to pass that a natural son or daughter may be disinherited for one reason or another, an adopted son is a son for life. He or she is to be given full-inheritance rights regardless of future problems. So, an adoptive parent is legally bound to that child forever.

I heard a teaching once that customarily an Israelite family was dominated by the oldest man, or the Father of the household, he was to be addressed by all, except slaves, as Abba, (like our 'daddy'). So, when we are told to call our heavenly Father 'Abba', Father (Rom. 8:14) "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of Sonship. And by Him we cry, "'Abba,Father'" we know we are legally bound to the family of God. And God knows who are His, (Rom. 8:29-30) "For those God foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and those He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified. Those He justified He also glorified." We see that he is giving us the family rights and position, due to our adoption.

(Rom. 8:38-39) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life; neither angels nor demons; neither present nor future; nor any powers. Neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God the Father has legally adopted us and given us the right to address Him as Abba. He has also promised that nothing will ever take us out of that relationship, at least on His part, because He is faithful.

(1 Cor. 1:8-9)"He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus our Lord, is faithful."

The evidence of our agreement with this sonship is (Rom. 8:14) " Because those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God."

Once God gave me a teaching on the gifts given to the prodigal son on His return home. First: the Father saw him, 'from afar off' and ran to the son, He kissed his son , which signifies acceptance. Then He gave the son the 'best' robe. this was to cover his 'nakedness'(sinful condition). It signifies; restoration or return to righteousness (i.e. the Robe of righteousness) . Next he was given the ring, which restored him to the 'family'. The shoes were for comfort, but also bring to mind feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace (Eph.6:15). Then they killed the fattened calf, to eat together. This father wasted no time showing his son that he was never 'out' of the family, even though he had wanted to be out. Eating was an important ritual, and ceremony in the Israelite home. It is shown to be a time of unity and togetherness. see Lk. 22:7-32,Lk 24:40-44, Jn 21:12, just for a start, also many Old Testament references especially the Passover, which was specifically a family celebration.

Finally the whole armor described in Eph. 6 is clothing, provided by our heavenly Father, for our protection and comfort. So we are sons and have Sonship!

Lord help us to remember that we are your children, you do want the best for us and desire that we remain in a relationship of fellowship with you at all times, trusting in your goodness, no matter what our circumstances. In Jesus' name, Amen.


STEWARDSHIP


Deut.10:13, “To the Lord your God belongs the Heavens, even the highest Heavens, the Earth and everything in it." 1 Chron. 29:11, “Yours, O Lord, is the Greatness and the power and the Glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in Heaven and earth is yours...". So, what am I saying? Everything belongs to God.

1 Cor. 7:30-31 (In this passage Paul is speaking of marriage, but he also addresses how we should think about everything we 'possess'),"...; those who buy something as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use things of this world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away." Here I'd like to address another part of stewardship. We don't think of things as having too great an importance because we cannot keep them anyway. There are no U-Hauls behind the Hearse. We are only here a short time, what we own is only ours to use while we are alive. Pv. 23:4, "do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint." Why? Because the things we kill ourselves to buy aren't ours, but God's, everything belongs to Him, so what should we do? I Jn. 3:17," If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? “I Tim. 6:8-10, “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a traps and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” and same chapter vs. 17, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

I could stop right there, but I'd like to relay some personal experience. I have a car that God, literally, gave me. I remind myself that it is His car,, when I have to add oil often because it burns oil, when I have to slide across the front seat from the passenger side, because the driver's side door hinge sags so bad that to close it I have to lift and shut, too difficult when I'm sitting inside. I thank Him for the use of this car, although I drive the ugliest car on the road, it does run quite well, I've never needed any major maintenance done, unlike the new cars I see around, and it goes up hills faster than the pretty cars. I don't live in a fancy house, but I like my home and it's quite adequate to my needs, and the Lord always provides for me to pay my living expenses. You see, the things I have aren't mine anyway, they belong to God, so I can count on Him to keep what I have going to provide for my needs. He has promised that He is my Husband and Provider and I can take Him at His word.

I am trying to grateful, also, that so far He has kept me from the temptation to trust in riches. When there is a little more than I need I always know of someone who could use what I don't need. Lk. 16:11," So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" Remember the parable of the talents. Those who used the money that the master entrusted to them to gain more, that is wisely, were given the cities to rule in the coming life, eternal life. I heard once that our reward in heaven will be what we have given or stewarded wisely in this life. So, when we lay up our riches in heaven, we are modeling the Christ-like life here. Our possessions are carefully managed so that we can be in a position to give when we are called upon to give, and to be able to let go of what really doesn't belong to us when God calls upon us to give to a greater need than our own.

Lord, all I have is yours, I thank you that you have provided for me so abundantly and I ask that you give me the opportunity to give to those who need what I have been given to hold for a time. In Jesus' name, amen.


WHAT DID YOU GO OUT TO THE DESERT TO SEE?


LUKE 7:18-25 The background: John the baptist was in Herod's prison for saying something to him that the King did not want to hear. Prior to this John had confidently announced Jesus as being the Lamb, and the bridegroom, he, John was the bridegroom's friend who must now become lesser and the bridegroom greater. But now John has been sitting in prison for rebuking the King's sin. Had he missed what God was telling him? Was he, John really hearing from God? If so, then why was he in prison? And if he missed God about the rebuke of the king, just maybe he was wrong about Jesus too.

So John had his followers go to Jesus and ask Him, Are you the one who was to come or should we look for another? Jesus, in the meanwhile had just raised a young dead man back to life, He was healing the lame, the blind and the deaf. All predicted in Isa. 29:18. John's followers asked Jesus if Jesus was the Messiah and Jesus reminded them of what Isa. 29:18 said and then reassured John by saying, "Blessed is the one who does not fall away because of me."

Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said,"What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? " In other words did the people go out to see a prophet who would be swayed by popular opinion? NO, John rebuked a king for his sin and was thrown in prison. Jesus went on, "If not what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces...."

By this Jesus was giving us a pretty good defination of what to expect of a prophet.

First: a prophet is not a people pleaser, He speaks the Word of God,uncompromisingly. John went to prison for his unpopular speech. See also what King Ahab said about another famous prophet; Elijah. 1 Kings 18:17.

Ahab called Elijah "you troubler of Isreal" because Elijah had asked God to bring a three year drought on Isreal . Many times Ahab and his wife Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah.

Second: prophets generally were considered eccentric to say the least. Mt. 3:4, and Mk 1:6, both state that John dressed in a camel skin, and a leather belt. John was a Nazarite so he never shaved or trimmed his beard or cut his hair and he never drank wine but both of those references said that he ate locusts and honey. This was unusual and John was definately considered a strange person. Don't ever think that the people in Jesus' time were unsophisticated, stupid or generally brutish. They had a very proscribed life, they dressed in their own conventional styles, ate normal foods, and lived in houses. John the Baptist was odd in their society. But then prophets generally are.

You probably won't find one in an expensive suit styling with Kings and CEO's, but then you might, God's ways are not our ways. The point is this, be careful how you judge the body of Christ. Is there one among you who just doesn't quite fit in, a young man who is mentally slow but comes out with flashes of insight for the Body to consider. A man who is not the norm, maybe dresses in older clothes and and speaks as an oracle of God, not in the nice benedictions and flowery speech of the seeker-sensitive evangelist but as the finger pointing man of uncompromising holiness, who says, "You brood of vipers " to the evil ones and names their sin. If you see someone like that, DO NOT JUDGE or condemn, for God's word says "touch not my annointed, do my prophets NO harm." Rather say to God, ,"is this, what he/she told me really what is going on, O Lord I repent and ask your forgiveness." for what do we go out in the wilderness to see?

Lord, Please help me to be teachable, pliant in your hands, bendable to your correction. I do not want to be like the strong oak that breaks in a wind, but like a reed in the river that bends in perfect obedience to your word. In Jesus' name, Amen



THE WICKED WILL NOT INHERIT!

HEBREWS 12:1B Admonishes us to"THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES." This reminds me of a poorly kept barn where I used to live, the former occupants of that homestad left old baling wire lying around outside where they cut up the bales of hay to feed the horses and cows. Everytime I walked around that yard I became tangled in hidden wires. My feet were always hung up by some strand left there. When we harbor our secret sins it leaves snares for us to trip over and we stumble.

1 Cor. 10:8-10, gives us as it states some examples of entangling sin:"We should not commit sexual immorality as some of them did-and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died .We should not test the Lord, as some of them did-and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble as some of them did-and were killed by the destroying Angel." Pv.16:25 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Gal 6:7-8,"Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked, A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the spirit will reap Eternal life."

And 1 Cor6:9, "The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God" I know that this flies in the face of the teachings of the eternal security crowd, but consider this: Matt.7:22"Many will say to me [Jesus] on that day [judgement day] Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" [paranthesis remarks mine] Does this sound like something a rank 'unbeliever' would say? Would your average unsaved aquaintance say to Jesus, on the day of Judgement, "Hey I drove out demons, preformed miracles and prophesied in your name!"and see Jesus reply to them Mt7:23,"Then I will tell them plainly,'I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers.'"

What's my point? The wicked will not inherit. There is little time left, get rid of sin, repent, get right with God and sow to please the spirit. He desires a spotless Bride notone who flaunts his/her sinfulness, or even flirts at the edge, testing God.=20

Lord, burn these scriptures into my heart and mind, keep them handy so that I will keep my focus on you, I will make you my foundation, I will not grumble, or test you, or rebell against your disscipline, I will keep my thoughts and body pure for you are my husband and my rock. In Jesus' name, Amen

HIP-DEEP IN ALLIGATORS

The Word in Gal 6:9, says"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."



I have given that verse a lot of thought this past few weeks, Sometimes life can be like wading through molasses; just slogging along, never seeming to go anywhere or achieve anything. Our daily life is dull, or difficult and our hours are long and the rewards are few or non-existant. Even our prayer life is dull and routine, maybe even we stop bothering. Distractions like hardship, illness waylay us and keep us from the refreshment God has for us or worse it's a dry time with God too! This is the time that that verse is talking about. Its somewhere between that first blush of our coming to Christ, and His giving us our ministry and actually doing the ministry. Its like the child asking," And when I get there, how will I know it?"



It doesn't have to be a huge physical sin that separates us from God, it can just be the long wait for our next orders. We can be doing just what we are asked by God to do, but it becomes so difficult or arduous that we tire of it wanting something different.



I read a saying in an office once and all I can remenber was the last line," When we are hip-deep in alligators we can forget that our objective was to drain the swamp." Our objective is to bring as many people to a saving knowledge of Christ as we can, but each of us has a small part to play in this drama, and we all have what He has given us, and He expects us to be doing this when He returns. He told us to have our lamps ready, wicks trimmed and extra oil in our jars. The good servant is about His master's business, Luke 12:35 and see also the parable of the ten virgins, five wise and five foolish:Matthew 25:1-13, be ready because we do NOT know the day or the hour!!!!!!



Lord, help me to be steadfast in your service, to keep from wavering even in the dull routines of life, Light my lamp so that I can reflect your glory in this world, and to show the world your love for them, In Jesus' name, Amen

IN TIMES OF DISASTER

In Luke, 12: 27-31 Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about the basics of life, because God will provide for our needs, in verse 32 goes on to say'Do not be afraid little flock for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."



These are uncertain times and many worry about the future. As if God has not said He would provide for us. If you read the text, Jesus says to prepare our hearts and not our storerooms. He says to seek first His kingdom, (and in Matt. 33:6 it adds His righteousness) and all these things (what things? food, clothes etc.) will be added to us.



OK, so this is what is happening here: Jesus is saying that God values us and knows we have needs to live, but if we seek God and do His will, that God will provide for our needs.



So, why are Christians so panicked about possible disasters that may occur and are stocking their basements, buying guns and living in Fear?



Satan knows that if we have our focus on disaster instead of God, we will not survive. Panic is a satanic tool to divide and maim the body of Christ. The Word also says, in 2 Chron 20:9: If calamity comes upon us, whether the Sword of Judgement, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your name and will cry out to you, in our distress, and you will hear us and save us." God doesn't change, He saves today too.. Also Psalm 37 is filled with promises from God to preserve the righteous, but two in particular I'd like you to see, Ps37:18-19: "The days of the Blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of Famine they will enjoy plenty."



Oh and by the way, God will not be surprised by any disaster that will happen, and He's preparing protection for His people, and since He uses people to bless other people, there are those who, out of obedience are stockpiling. So, if God has told you to prepare something extra, then by all means do it, if not, Please don't panic. The Battle belongs to the Lord, and He will care for you.



Lord, I submit my life to you and my times are in your very capable hands. I know that you are a Good God and will keep me safe in your shadow, Thank you, In Jesus' name, amen



PRUNING

Some time ago, the Lord impressed upon me to write about pruning. John 15:1-4: "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardner. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

My neighbor is a gardner, so I asked him to tell me about pruning. The first thing he said was, Pruning must be done while the tree is dormant.

In the summer, when it's warm and sunny the nourishing sap rises from the root, bringing food to the branches to help it in it's process of putting out leaves and then fruit. In the fall and winter months, the tree is in a holding pattern, in a manner of speaking. It is not productive because it is in a season of rest. It's okay to be in this time, it's part of the cycle. This is the best time to make adjustments to the shape and capacity of the tree. We are like the tree in that we have times when we rest from our labors, even the good stuff we do for God must cease for a season, though we often protest that we aren't tired. (Do you hear an echo of your children in this?) God, who, by the way is much smarter than we are determines these times, and brings our labors to a resting time. See verse 2, " He cuts off every branch in me that does bear fruit..... "

So, here we are in a dormant period, and we are pleading with God to send us out into our callings to fight the good fight, and God does What? He prunes us. He cuts OFF the fruitful branches that we know are doing Good for God!! Now here's the kinds of pruning I learned about from my neighbor.

He said sometimes the tree will have a branch start to die for no aparent reason, it's because that part of the root is not well. So, to anologize, God sees that maybe there is a part of our walk that isn't an accurate portrait of Jesus, so He trims that part away, "No God not THAT!" we say. "It's always worked so well for me in the past!" But the Lord in His infinite wisdom says, "No that is not part of my perfect plan for your life, so it must go."

Then a tree begins to become a bit top heavy, so the gardner removes the top branches so that the SONSHINE can reach every part of the tree. (do you like that?) This is pretty much self-explanatory.

Then there are those things that gardeners call suckers (possibly works we've called ourselves to, not God appointed things, but deeds of our own vanities? God calla these filthy rags). They are straight branches that just take over a tree. They are either high up, or coming straight from the root in the ground. You will recognize them when you look at a tree, they are straight, and usually do not have any rhyme or reason in the attractive shaping of the tree. They put out many leaves and no fruit. Do you see why they must go? So, in our walk with the Lord, when our ministries are glorifying the tree (ourselves) and not the vine, or root (God), by not putting out fruit, what do you suppose has to happen?

This is what happens if a tree is Not pruned, and left to itself, and you have seen both trees and people like this: The tree is huge and magnificent, the branches leap up into the heavens, the leaves are beautiful, but the fruit is small, crabbed and sour, or bitter. So, when we are pruned, instead of calling it suffering, (and rebuking satan) we need to remember that God is Good, all the time and He does have everything under control, He does know what He is doing, and we will be a more fruitful tree in His service next summer.

Lord, help me to know the difference between, true oppression and your loving care of my life. Help me to joyfully receive correction and to flow in the direction of co-operation rather than strain against your trimming away from my life the deadwood. In Jesus' name, amen.

HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT

There is no hope in THIS world. When a nonbeliever thinks about death, he 'knows' that this life is all he has and there's no hope for anything else. "you only go around once, so give it all the gusto..."

There was a song many years ago, sung with an erie detachment that went,"Is that all there is? Is that all there is?..."It went on to say that life is pointless. Even things that should be exciting, like a circus or a house fire were pointless and boring. No hope anywhere.

Ecclesiastes says that everything is vanity (things done in vain) and all is striving after the wind. Ecc. 6:16 speaking of our labor (career) "...is also a severe evil, just exactly as he came, so shall he go, and what profit has he who has labored for the wind."

How futile it all is, how worthless, how hopeless life is. We are born, do various meaningless things and then we die. Even people who believe in reincarnation don't know for sure they'll come back (and come back to what? This?) and they may come back as an animal. How truly hopeless.

In one of the Star wars movies, the hero stood with the arch-villain and watched as his men were being defeated, and I thought at the time, how awful for him, he has no hope. He was trusting in himself and his mighty warriors, but they were being defeated. He can't appeal to God, because he didn't acknowledge God.

Romans 15:13 : "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hope here is the translated Greek work 'elpis' meaning confident expectation.

Romans 5:2-5 "...we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, but we also glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope and hope will not disappoint us because of the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us.

And Rom 8:32: "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

So, when we are hurting or sorrowful, we have the confident expectation, that the Lord who died for us and was raised from the dead, will raise us also from the dead,both literally and figuratively. This builds in us the knowledge that hope does not disappoint. Hallelujah, HE HAS RISEN!

Beauty for ashes

There is an old legend of a bird, called a Phoenix, from ashes and death rises this beautiful bird, MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS BURNED!

The testamonies of people who have given their lives to Jesus, speak of death, theirs. We die so that Christ can live in and through us.

Romans 6:8 states "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him". and verse 11"...count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

The wonderful thing about being dead is that there is no self-esteem to achieve. We have Christ-esteem, its his reputation that is on the line, so to speak, not ours. The dead have no rights to defend, they have freedom in Christ. The dead have no actualization to work towards on their own, they have Jesus to work through their yieldedness and obedience to achieve His goals. We talk about fulfillment and yet go about getting it by demanding, working feverishly, and ending up with an ulcer. Let's just look at that carefully: The Lord will, through our obedience, work through us His purposes, and by doing His will we are thereby fulfilled.

Just as one example of this - I am always amazed at the number of people who marry without asking for God's opinion first. How can we expect, with our limited wisdom and understanding to find the right mate? Now, I don't mean that a person who is now married to the "wrong" mate should get a divorce, because when they marry, the will of God is that we stay married. This is the time (ashes) to allow God to work in our hearts so that we become the right mate for our spouse(beauty).

In so many aspects of our lives we've proved over and over that we are incapable of doing 'it' ourselves, and we end up sitting in the ruins of our plans and dreams. This is Why we give our lives to Jesus in the first place.

And when our identity is in Christ- the risen, triumphant Christ, we become dead to our own agenda, then he takes our ruins and creates good. He gives us Beauty for ashes.

LEST YE BE JUDGED

Turning to the Vine's Expository dictionary I checked on the verb: judge, from the Greek word krino, to wit, to judge or pronounce judgement.

This will be the meaning in the context of the action of judging that we will explore today.

Mt.7:1-2, 'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"

Now why is judging such a big deal? Why did Jesus say to not judge other people?

Rom. 2:1 in speaking of the ways of pagans and the lofty thoughts the converted pagans have of themselves after they become Christians says,"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you condemn yourselves, because you who pass judgement do the same things."

You see, God doesn't grade our sins, He doesn't say, well coveting isn't so bad, but murder now that's really bad. There are no "good" sins. (Rom 2:4)"Now we know that God's judgement against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape judgement? Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you towards repentance?" Remember that it is the measure we use that will be used for us.

Rom.14:13, "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another, instead make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."(This verse is referring to the practice of eating meat in front of a brother who doesn't consider meat a 'good' food.) but it lends itself just as easily to any practice that is a put-down to a brother or sister in Christ. St. Paul has this to say concerning judgement, I Cor. 4:4-5,"My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."

BUT, I saved the best reason for not sitting in judgement on a brother for last: Jas.4:11," Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you, who are you to judge your neighbor?"

GOD, Almighty and most worthy Lord, I repent and ask for forgiveness, for I have judged my brother, every time I had an unkind thought or believed an ugly rumor, or even just listened to one. Help me, Lord to walk in uncritical thinking and speaking, cleanse my heart of the tendency to judge for I want to be pure in my thoughts for the family of Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.



HUMILITY

We all have received giftings, and talents from the Lord. Nothing good that we have came from anywhere else, because" every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights" Jas 1:7. So, that should preclude any boasting we might be tempted to do, OR any Glory we may want to keep for ourselves. All Glory goes to God, Here's why:Pr. 11:2, "When Pride Comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom", Pr. 15:33 "The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor." Ps. 147:6,"The Lord sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground" Phil. 2:3"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Titus 3:2" ...slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and show true humility toward all men."Ps. 18:27 "You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty". Is. 66:2b "...This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit; and trembles at my word.", Jas. 4:6b" God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Ps. 138:6 "Though the Lord is on High, He looks down on the lowly, but the proud He sees from afar." Col.3:12"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience".

There is room for only one on His throne. Not one of us merits or deserves any glory, it is all His. C.S.Lewis once wrote,"Any creature who deserved salvation, wouldn't need it" We, have all like sheep gone astray, We are all sinners saved by grace. We are all just doing our jobs as assigned and enabled by God, to Him be the Glory, both Now and Forever, amen! Please note the story of a servant in Luke 17, this not often preached parable speaks of a servant who comes in from working in the field, who then must prepare the master's dinner, vs 8 says,"would he (the master) thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?"

Speaking from practical experience, I either humble myself or I am humbled, and that particular dish tastes a bit like humiliation.

This is the famous Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi, which finishes this off better than I could:

Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light, and where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; and to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.



TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

There was a game show in the early years of TV called Truth or Consequences. The contestant was required to answer an impossible question in about 5 seconds or face the consequences, usually something like a pie in the face. When we are not living in God's truth there are consequences, and they are usually not funny like a pie in the face.

In my family blame and fault were stressed. One never really forgave anything because it would let the violator off the hook. We carried heavy burdens, everything we ever did wrong, and everything we were not forgiving others for. Both of these were the baggage that had to be carried around all the time. I remember, as an adult, walking around my house ranting and raving about an injury done to me. "how could she?" "How dare he do that?" "I'll get them for that!"

I can also remember also, lying in bed with waves of shame rolling over me as I remembered all the mistakes I had ever made, even the small things like forgetting someone's name! Every failure, mistake or infraction would be stuffed into my bag of shame/blame I carried. How would I ever atone for all this shame I was accumulating? At the same time the hurts I was collecting passed in review as a twisted sort of justification for the vengefulness in my nature. This did not balance the scales, it just made me sadder.

Over the years the numerous bags of shame and the boxes of fault were heaped on my shoulders. So, I was bowed down with a very heavy load.

Then Jesus appeared to me and said with outstretched arms,"Here, let me take those, you were never intended to carry this burden." I wish I could say that I just handed it all over to Him like a good little child of God, but I didn't and suffered the consequences.

(1Cor. 11:29-30), "For if anyone eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord (His church: others we are to forgive), eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep."

Jesus' blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins, I won't try to prove that to you, just check out in the Old Testament why the blood sacrifices were made. Communion, which is what this passage is about is our reflecting on that sacrifice of Jesus. That is His redeeming us from our sinful state to restore us to a place where we could be in the Father's presence( who is too pure to look on sin, Hab. 1:13). So, by covering us with His blood we are restored to a right relationship with the Father. But if I don't accept His forgiveness or extend it to others , something is missing and I am not fully under God's protection.

Possibly my continual chewing on my old forgiven sins may have given me some tooth problems, And if I "shut up the Bowels of compassion" not forgiving my brothers and sisters I may have digestive problems. How much are we hurting ourselves when we don't forgive? So, I need to live in the Truth or suffer the consequences.

Lord, Show me your mercy as I am dust and don't grasp your infinite love yet, Help me to walk in your ways and to forgive and receive forgiveness, In Jesus' name, Amen

` HOW CAN I FORGIVE

The Lord once told me something about forgivness. He said that if I had chapped hands I would put hand lotion on them, but I would know, in advance, that the first application would probably not solve my problem. So it is with forgiving. The forgiveness must be rubbed in again and again just like the lotion to make my hands (and conscience) soft and smooth.

Next, the Lord has been speaking to me about love. He says that He loves me. I don't earn it in any way but I am indeed loved. I could invent, maybe, a new color, so astoundingly beautiful it would leave everyone breathless, or write some Praise music that made even God's heart ache with happiness, yet He would not love me more or less for them. I could be oh-so-good and never do any bad thing, yet here I would still rank with all the other beloveds of God's. And at the same time I AM special, planned for, received, accepted and gifted in ways to help His kingdom. And, it is at the very moment I can understand this I can turn to a fellow offender and say you, too, are loved and forgiven, and I can then Love and forgive you.

Lord, Change my heart to be able to see your beloved creation as you see it, to judge as you do, with mercy and not in anger. Help me Lord, to know that it is in your Grace, that I find peace.In Jesus' name, amen

FORGIVING OR TORTURE?

When someone I have trusted, say maybe someone I thought was a friend, says something untrue or just hurtful about me; or let's say someone commits an unspeakable crime against a loved one, what is my response? What does Jesus say? He said,"Love your enemies". Wow, how could I do that? Or why does He say I must?

I must admit, that most of my life I was just plain angry, I railed and hate, but Jesus says,"forgive, love".Psalm 4:4 says,"In your anger,do not sin. When you are on your beds, search your heart and be silent". That's when I used to lie awake and rehearse all the sins committed against me, I'd roll them over in my mind like the tongue rolls a candy from side to side in the mouth. I would chew on the wrongs, reciting every detail like it would vindicate me. But what does this verse say? When you are on your beds be silent, search your hearts. When we really search our hearts we find that we, too, are at fault in most every situation. Innocent victim? Ha, who am I kidding. Now here's one I can really sink my teeth into, Romans 12:19, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath." Sometimes I worry though, God is so merciful, maybe He'll forgive my persecuter before he is punished, or at least before the truth comes out. So, that's why I lie in bed and fret, oh, God, so-and-so did this to me and it wasn't this it was really that, and on and on. But the word says lie there and be silent , and leave room for God's wrath.

So, I ask for His peace and start putting on hand lotion, and again until I've starved that anger right out of me. That is really the only way, starve the anger, give it no fuel. Philippians 4:9 says," whatever is: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on THOSE things." Thinking on Those things is NOT the rehearsing of wrongs done to me! We are transformed by the renewing of our minds, but we must, daily train and exercise our minds to be righteous and steadfastly refuse to think any more putrid thoughts. That is thoughts that produce rotten fruit. (like revenge). Remember the servant who was forgiven much, like a million dollar debt and he wouldn't forgive his fellow servant a few hundred dollar debt? The master then turned the unforgiving man over to the torturers Mt. 18:23-34. Believe me, staying angry and unforgiving IS torture but remember God says if we don't forgive we are not forgiven, there's more torture. So, as hard as it is to forgive, take it on faith, it's harder on us if we don't forgive.

Lord, I thank you that you have given each of us your very precious salvation, and at such a cost to you! You have forgiven us, forgiven me, and have asked that I also, following your example forgive my fellow servant. I know that the cost is high indeed for failure to forgive, so as an act of my will, I choose to forgive, now and as often as the subject comes up in my mind. and Lord I know that it is your work through me that effects this forgiveness, I ask that you enable me to do this very hard thing. In Jesus' name, amen

HOW DO YOU SEE JESUS?

Jesus the tiny babe laid in the manger so sweet and quiet, That's our image,at this time of year. a nice manicured manger scene, a few animals, a mother always wearing blue, and a dad worshipping a glowing baby. Soft and gentle is how we view our first picture of Jesus.

Thirty years later we see the man, walking confidently, teaching calling, feeding healing,showing the way. Confrontations with the powers that were, a man to be reckoned with, turning the tables on the great thinkers of that time.

Next we see the broken beaten body on the cross, bleeding for us. Meek as a lamb he died for us. exposed to the world, however as an apparent failure.

Enter the risen Lord, magnificent, and triumphant seen by 500, ascending in plain site to the heavens. Someday we will again see this Jesus, coming in His glory to vanquish His foes forever.

We will see Him coming in the clouds with all the angels. He will judge in righteousness. He will call the dead and living He knows to himself. What a wonderful thing that will be!

FAITH VS FEELING

But I don't feel like praying now. No, I don't want to go to church, I just feel like sleeping now. I don't feel like praising God.

I don't want to forgive him/her, I just don't feel like it. I don't feel repentant, so I'll wait to repent for when I feel like it. SO wHAT!

2 Cor. 5:6-7 "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight." In this section of scripture we see St. Paul struggling with the flesh, knowing that the flesh has its desires but God has His requirements of us. He says that thoough he is longing to be with God, here he is talking literally, he still has to deal with the demands of his flesh. Our flesh is at enmity with God, Rom.8:7, my version says the sinful mind, but it's the same thing. What we, our flesh, wants is NOT what God wants. So, we live by the faith of knowing that our wants are not what's important here. Wants are often spoken of as feelings, I feel hungry so I want to eat, I feel angry, or Hurt, so I want to hold a grudge. I feel tired so I want to stay away from church and sleep, etc. God gave us our feelings to protect us. i.e. a stove feels hot to us, so we don't touch, our stomach is empty so we feel hunger and eat.

Feelings are not bad. But allowing our feelings to rule us and therefore not allowing God to rule us is bad. That's the neat thing about being dead, we don't feel anything but faith. Our death to ourselves, allows us to be ALIVE in Christ.

This was brought home to me the other day as I was asking God for forgiveness. Try as I might I could not work up a real good sobbing repentance. I searched my heart, yes I really was sorry, but all the sweat and tears that are 'supposed' to accompany 'real' repentance were missing. hmmmmmmm. Maybe I'll try later, but God spoke to me saying , My righteous one will live by Faith. So, I prayed, feeling almost nothing, and I believe I am forgiven.

But Then God has been speaking to me lately about feelings anyway, how I see people thinking that worship is a matter of working up some really good-looking emotions. Ha, true worship is way beyond emotions. Yes, our emotions are involved but real worship superceeds our emotions, we don't have to feel anything to touch God's heart because its all a sacrifice anyway, we offer up a sacrifice of Praise. Anything that's easy isn't a real sacrifice. In 1 Chron 21 we see the story of David as King, we had done wrong and wanted to make amends with God by sacrificing. He was offered the wood and oxen for free to make his sacrifice, but said " I will not ...sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing." vs. 24.

I never knew that this teaching would have so many facets, here is the final offering I have for you Mt6:33, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Because if we are seeking God and dead to ourselves (not gratifying our flesh, feelings), He attends to our needs, as we attend to God. It is so simple but so very hard to do.

Lord, I ask that as I come to you and praise. or repent that you allow me to be simple and trusting, to be yours even though I don't feel like it. Help me, Lord to know that it is your work and not my 'working up', In Jesus' name,Amen



THE PROPHET TODAY

EPH. 4:11, "It was He who gave some to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, some to be Evangelists, and some to be Pastors and teachers."

Amos 3:7 ,"Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets."

A prophet's job nowadays is to point to the truth, they are not fortunetellers, they know only what the Lord tells them. A prophet is usually not all that well-received. Many times he must tell someone something that the person does not necessarily want to hear. Jeremiah spent some time in a muddy well for speaking the truth. One old prophet, unnamed, in 1 Kings 13; told the king something the king did not want to hear, one of the king's followers then tricked the old prophet into disobeying God and for that he was killed by a lion. God keeps his prophets very close to the line in obedience and other people don't want to believe what the prophet say. Hmmmmm... Being a prophet is not really a fun job sometimes.

1 Chron. 16:22, "Do not touch my Annointed ones, do my prophets no harm." That's what I wanted to say, be careful who you're criticizing, God says don't harm the Prophets. If you are unsure whether or not someone else is speaking as an oracle of God, say nothing. And if you are speaking as an oracle, make sure it's from God.

Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. In Jesus name, amen.

THE WORKS OF MAN

1CO 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

PR 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,but in the end it leads to death.ISA 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf,and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

What God calls us to do, is ordained for us as our duty to Him. What He doesn't call us to do, is NOT ordained and He does not consider it to our credit, He calls them filthy rags, and says they will be burned up at our acceptance into heaven, this is Grace. There are, however, some things that He does not ordain us to do that He calls sin if we do them and have far-reaching repercussions. This story begins in Genesis 28:19. There is a town called Bethel. Beth is the Hebrew word for house, El is the word for God. Jacob named it that because as he lay with his head on a rock, for a pillow he dreamed about a ladder, or staircase to heaven, with angels ascending and descending all night. Jacob decided that that place was the house of God and the name was honored as the house of God until later in Jewish History.

King David took many wives, both before he became king and afterwards, According to Deut 17:15 a king was not to take many wives, but David did it anyway, Then he became interested in a married woman, had her husband killed and married her. Later they had a son, Solomon, who also became king, he also disobeyed the rules for kings in Deut. 17:15. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam, who behind him had a legacy of kings doing as they pleased, lost most of the kingdom to Jeraboam, who took the Northern part of Israel (the nation) for himself. Now we have Israel divided into Israel (Israelites) and Judah(Jews). Because all Israelites/Jews were to worship only in Jerusalem which was in the territory held by the Jews, Jereboam had a brilliant plan. He built 2 idols of gold (well, the arc of the covenant was gold, so any gold symbol should be ok, right?) and placed 1 in Bethel, and 1 in Dan. Since there had been no real teaching going on in Kingly circles concerning how God felt about the way one was to worship, a man had an idea that seemed right to him. Later a prophet named Elisha was passing through that area, and some very rude children came out and harrassed him. Elisha had just seen his good friend and mentor Elijah being taken up into heaven by a chariot of fire, and he was still grieving the loss. Here is what happened:

2KI 2:23 "From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths."

Baldheadedness was considered a curse in Israel. The children were reviling a true man of God.

Not all the sins we commit come down directly on us, some are passed down to the children, due to lack of good teaching. God gives us specific directions, both in His Word and in our lives, attested to by the Holy Spirit in us, to go against those is the Works of Man (filthy rags). If something we want to do is not in alignment with the Word of God, you can bet its not something He is instituting. I was actually told once by a young woman that God wanted her to have an affair with a married man. Our times are perilous, its very important to keep our lives pure, to have our wicks trimmed (so we won't give off smoky, dim light), our lamps lit (to be the bright light in the World, a light out from under the bushel, to be seen), and our extra jars full of extra oil (so we won't run out when the Bridegroom is here, AT LAST!)

Lord, so often my heart tends to wander and my desires are not what you have laid before me, I repent and ask You to remind me to Ask You before I go off and do my own works, my own thing, instead of what you have for me to do. Please help me to build on your foundation, not mine. In Jesus' name, Amen

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