LIVING WATERS DEVOTIONALS page 3
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TRUST IN GOD
Our currency says in God we trust, but we really trust in currency, or at least, that's how we appear to be by our self-sufficiency.
If I say, I trust in God, but am worrried about the state of my bank account more than I concern myself with the state of affairs between the Lord and myself, who am I trusting in? I am speaking of myself here, I personally find it terribly difficult to believe that my finances are of any concern to God at all.
In Matthew chapter six beginning in verse 25 Jesus chides his followers by saying that they were acting like pagans, worrying about things like food, clothing, and things necessary to life. He said that it was obvious that a God who would care so lovingly for flowers and birds, would be even more concerned about people, especially those who serve Him.
He told them to seek to please God by turning to Him for their needs and trusting that they be met. they were not to fret about things that were not nearly as important to their well-being, like food and drink, as their relationship with their loving Father is to their spiritual well-being. He taught that trust meant letting go of worry and freefalling into the all-sufficient hands of the Lord.
Lord, as you well know, I'm prone to worry and being anxious. This is not good for me and indeed it is pagan behavior, I repent and ask that you help my unbelief in this area. Help me to know that no matter what happens it is a good thing and I can know for sure that you are perfecting me. That you are creating in me a Christlikeness that will be a crown of Glory to give you when I am received in heavenly dwellings. In Jesus' name, Amen
PROPHECY FOR THE CHURCH
I was unable to sleep last night so I began to interceed, at 5 am I had a sudden thought of something I'd read.
Just before an earthquake dogs and cats are noticeably disturbed. Haggai 2:5, "the Lord spoke to me and said, "In a little while I will shake the Heavens and the earth, and what can be shaken will be removed."
Amos 3:7 ,"The sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the Prophets." Now I understood what God was telling me about the dogs and cats being agitated before an earthquake, for the Lord is planning a huge shaking and the prophets are becoming edgy with the anticipation. Then He said, 1 Pet.4:17 "Judgment will begin in my house."
He said," Speak plainly to my beloved people so they will be ready." Thus says the Lord, "Get your house in order, trim your wicks, fill your lamps AND YOUR JARS, and come to ME for strength, yours is too little. Jer. 12: 5,'If you have run with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?'If you are in Sin, GET OUT!!!
For too long many of you have lived on the crumbs and scraps while I am spreading a banquet table before you. But you live on the few moments at your assemblies and do not seek ME with your whole heart so that you live on the leavings not on my fresh manna, the true bread and living water I provide for those who abide in me. There is to come a great shaking, and those who are not regularly replenishing their jars with oil wiil be like the foolish virgins, see Matthew 25:1. They will not be prepared. Ask, Seek, Knock!! Today is the day of Salvation, now is the time for repentance, Heed my voice, says the Lord."
LOVE NEVER FAILS
MT 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Love is the beginning and ending of the Law. PR 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Not everyone can or does love, in this world we will meet many who do not love us. But our response is not a harsh answer but a gentle one.
Sometimes the first gentle answer only makes things worse, but a continued gentleness will bring about a gentleness in the person who is unloving to us. I had a Pastor once who said, ”Respond in the opposite spirit” when we are confronted with those people who are hateful to us. I must say that this often produced astonishment in the receivers of this treatment, but after time the astonishment turned to acceptance. Jesus said we’d be hated because of Him, He was hated, and we will be also. In fact, many say Christians are the most hateful of all groups. This should not be. If we are truly, ‘In Christ’, then we have His compassion and love for others that we have for ourselves.
JUDE 1:2 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
It is quite possible I’ve found, by forcing myself to love the sinner and hate the sin, to love those who are persistent in their sin.
Forcing myself to love someone can only be done with God’s help, He Is Love, I must ask Him to change my heart and give me His heart for that person. It is not necessary to join in someone else’s sin to love them.
Lord, This world is so filled with evil and ugly things, and it is way too easy to allow myself to hate those trapped inside the evil, But I ask You to constantly remind me that its not flesh and blood who are our enemies but powers and principalities and rulers in the dark. Help me Lord to love those who have not found you yet and to guide their steps to you by our loving response to their anger. In Jesus’ name, Amen
SPOTLESS BRIDE
Jesus is 'coming back' for His Bride, pure and spotless, without wrinkle or impurity. I Thes. 5:23-24,"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it" Jas. 1:2-4,"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete (also translated at times 'perfect'), not lacking anything."
Trials and testing cause us to mature in the faith, it is our trouble in this world, it is in the bumps and bruises, the firey testing that completes us, for He is faithful to complete His work in us for His coming.
Dan. 12:7,"...When the power of the holy people is finally broken, all these things (it is talking about when Jesus returns) will be completed." I read this like this: that the Bride who inwardly is pure and spotless, for the Lord Himself is preparing His Bride to be spotless, will be broken and bruised, tested by fire, and indeed it says just that in Zech. chapter 13, and will come from the trials as pure gold. It matters not what we see, for God reads the heart.
The outward appearance means nothing, indeed, it is by her very outward impurities, the bumps and bruises that she is made into the Church that is qualified to be the Bride of Christ. So, consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of various kinds, for you are being made spotless!!!
Lord, help me to understand that problems and testings are not setbacks and failures, but are part of your plan to make this little part of the corporate body of Chirst, perfect. I praise you today for the many imperfections you are cleaning out of my heart and I ask that you strengthen me for the journey. In Jesus' name, Amen.
A FOUNDATION TREASURE
(Isa. 33:6) He will be a sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge: the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
This verse is tucked in among other verses that speak of plunder, locust swarms, brave men crying, destruction and deserted lands wasting away.
So what does this verse mean? While the words rich store and treasure become, in my mind a vision of jewels and gold, the passage can better be understood by the verses around it. This then can be made more easily interpreted if we look at a similar thought in Ps. 91:4 &7, "He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart", "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your hight hand but it will not come near you, you will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked."
So, when the chaos rages around and all seems destined for destruction,those who fear the Lord, will be in the eye of the storm, so to speak, huddled close to God, and receiving His protection.
Our enemy likes to whisper of disasters that loom above and around , making my knees buckle in fear and my heart race with the 'what ifs'.
It is at this time I must stand and say ,"You are my fortress and my refuge, my God in whom I trust."Ps. 91: 2. "You are the Sure Foundation for my times." I need not "fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday." Ps. 91: 5-6. And the key to this treasure is : The fear of the Lord!
JESUS: THE PROPHET MODEL
Text John 8:3, THE STORY OF THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY.
The story has been told and retold so I will focus on a small section.
Briefly, the Pharasees, who were jealous of Jesus and wanted to trap Him by making Him choose between their harsh tradition and God's love, brought a woman to him saying she was "caught in the very act", first: this sounds like a set-up to me, where was the man? Adultery is not a solitary act. But the Pharasees knew that Jesus had a soft spot for women. And by the way, women were held in extremely low-esteem in those days. So, the stage is set, these He-men type, self righteous, unctiously pious (just ask them they'll tell you all about their fasting, loud, public prayers and careful tithings), bring a probably terrified half-dressed woman to Jesus and say here you are you weakling, will you obey the LAW and order her stoned or will you disobey and show her 'mercy'? Can you see it? The Pompous men, the ragged, frightened woman, and Jesus hunkered down, writing on the ground. "Hey," they might have said, "didn't you hear us?" sneering, "She's an adulterous woman, let's stone her." Jesus' response was to continue writing. The word doesn't tell us what He was writing, but just maybe He was writing the sins of the men around Him, or maybe just referencing something each was ashamed of. Then He straightened up, stretched, and looked around as if noticing them for the first time, and said,"he who is without sin, cast the first stone."
Now publically each of these men was without sin. How do you suppose Jesus managed to convince each of these totally self-righteous men that they were sinners? We will never know, because Jesus, the greatest prophet ever known did Not point His prophet finger at anyone, it was pointed at the ground, but they all got the message.
This is not to say that there are not times when a public rebuke is in order, but when you 'God's prophet' are speaking truth to someone ask where to point your finger first, at the ground or at the sinner.
Lord, help me to remember to keep your agenda before me at all times, and just because you reveal something to me doesn't mean that it must be spoken. Enable me to have the love for your other sons and daughters that you have, and care and concern that I lavish on myself. Help me to remember to ask, "what shall I do with this information you have given me?"
LOVE IS NOT EASILY OFFENDED
I have had this message rolling around in my spirit for a long time. It will make some angry, It will offend some, It will uplift others who know that there are hard truths to our way of life. St. Paul didn’t tickle the ears of his followers, and neither did our Lord who is perfect.
I love to quote 1 Cor chapter 13, Love never fails, and I try to be loving with everyone, of course no one can please everyone, and the Word says offenses will come to us, insults, and persecutions. BUT, if I really love I can let the offenses roll off my back and not react in anger.
1 CO 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Our enemies say we are unloving , why is that? Maybe because they see us as the most easily offended of all groups. a bunch of prissy people. They say we are exclusive and proud, our noses firmly planted in the clouds. They say we think we are better than they are because we are so pure, that we are offended by the non-believers, so that we are no help to them. Where are the flint-faced warriors? The stoic soldiers of the cross? Those committed people to Christ, whose sole focus is Jesus and have blinders to all the junk around them that is meant to divert our attention (and, instead, like good little disciples of the wrong master we obediently think of and follow all but Jesus). Jesus touched lepers, he rolled up His sleeves and mingled with the crowd. He was not an infighter, He rightly rebuked those who professed to Love the Father but only for show. Those who were truly seeking He loved and forgave. WWJD? Well, He’d not be easily angered or offended by His brothers and sisters, He would love sinners instead of acting like He was too good to talk to them. He ate with tax collectors and allowed sinful women to touch him. That’s the equivalent to loving homosexuals and abortionists. I did not say condoning their practice of sin, Jesus didn’t either, but loving them anyway. That’s for those outside the church. Now for our brother’s and sisters.
There is no lack of critical spirit in the Church. We can find faults easily. But then since I am a sinner saved by Grace, I should be able to give my sister, with whom I may possibly not agree, the benefit of the doubt and remember to let the Holt Spirit deal with the speck in her eye, while He deals with the log in mine.
BEING OFFENDED IS NOT LOVING
Lord, Help me to remember that changing us is your job, not mine. And when I meet another Christian who believes its their job to change me, help me be patient and NOT offended or angered. In Jesus’ Name,Amen
LOVE THROUGH SUFFERING
For years I have heard people tell me about how God has given them an understanding of how much He loves them. I have prayed that I too will receive this confirmation. Never having really loved anyone, I have not known what real love was or how it felt, no frame of reference. A few days ago I was listening to a friend pour out her heart with her story of a painful and anguished life. At some point in our talk, God filled me with a rush of His love for her, and I wept for her. Then, as I was praying for her, my own heart broke for her great pain and longing. Later, I realized that if God loved her that much, that He, who is no respecter of persons, loved me that much as well. Now I can have a frame of reference as to what love feels like, and can receive His love for me as well. But that's not all because I also realized that it was through my suffering for her that my own love was expressed. And indeed that is the only way true love can be expressed. For "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him may be saved" John 3:16. Now that was real love! (and suffering) Romans 12: 15, " Mourn with those who mourn." A devine directive to suffer with those who suffer. Gal. 6:2, " Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This last verse refers to helping to lift a brother out of sin, what a wonderful exxpression of love through suffering that is. Anyone at all can condemn, and indeed it is our natural inclination, it is so natural, that we like to defend our right to do so. But "Love is the fulfillment of the law." Romans 13:10. "To love our neighbor as ourselves."Gal.5:14
Lord, show me your love for my brothers and sisters, and strengthen me to be able to carry their burdens when it becomes too heavy for them to carry. Give me, as a gift the task of loving them in their suffering, to fulfill your law in my heart. Impart to me the ability to suffer for their sakes. In Jesus' Name, Amen
EASIER TO WALK ON STILL WATER?
Is it easier to walk on water when it is still and calm? (Mt 14:28-30) Peter has seen Jesus out walking on the water to the boat that the disciples are laboring to bring to shore. Peter says, "Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water. "But when he saw the wind he was afraid and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me". Could Peter, have walked out on the water more confidently had the water been smooth and flat?
Ps.30: 6-7, "When I felt secure , I said I will never be shaken. O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed."
The times when I am securely in God's favor; everything is marching along in my life like it is supposed to, I can feel very confident. Many times I have said, Ok, Lord, I can pass that test now, I will continue to praise you right on through any hardship that comes my way because I know for sure I can walk on water with you, but the wind blows and my footing isn't easy and I, like the Psalmist says, "am dismayed", and like Peter, must call out, "Save me, Lord."
Its not what's in our heads that gives us the assurance of salvation but what (who) is in our hearts. No matter how great someone sounds its the fruit that shows what path our feet are on. Its all who we are trusting. If I trust myself I say, “I know I can…” but only what my mind says is possible. With God, All things are possible. Then the fruit of my walk is what I accomplish with Christ living in me, the truly miraculous, in His strength or the utterly mundane, in my own.
Lord, In you I live and move and have my being. I am dust, and without you can do nothing. Use my weakness to glorify your strength and do great and mighty deeds through my life. In Jesus' Name, amen.
OLD MANNA IS FULL OF MAGGOTS
I had just finished writing about 3/4 of today's devotional,I sighed and threw it in the trash. It was terrible. Just then the Lord spoke to my heart and said old manna is full of maggots. I thought about that and had to agree. I knew I couldn't rely on yesterday's Bible-reading or yesterday's prayers.
Concerning the manna God was sending them, Ex:16:16 says: "This is what the Lord has commanded: Take an Omer for each person you have in your tent". Verse 19: "Then Moses said," No one is to keep any of it until morning," However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning but it was full of maggots and began to smell".
God provided Manna to the Israelites in the desert so they would have food to eat while they traveled to the promised land. This manna was a type of Christ. Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life, broken for us. He came to be a bridge from the Father to us so that we might have renewed fellowship with Him, like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, before they sinned. Their sin/our sin caused a separation between the Father and us, and Jesus restored our fellowship. He was the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Our dependence on Him and His redemptive work can be compared with our need for "bread". And just as we need bread every day, we need fellowship with God every day. We acknowledge this need for Jesus in our taking of communion (another word for fellowship), in that we actually take the symbolic Bread of life inside our bodies. Gathering manna was supposed to be done daily, except for the Sabbath, just as our renewal of our relationship with God must be done every day. When I rely on yesterday's manna, I find maggots and stink. It does not nourish. It does not prepare me for the day's problems, or needs.
Old Manna will not keep my armor secure or ready to defend me against the onslaughts of the enemy, I then become a naked target for the lord of the flies (satan) who can then send out his flies to lay eggs and cause maggots to be in my life.
How does this work? If I don't daily read His word and pray I won't continue to believe His promises the Bible tells me are mine to hold onto. When I'm not praying everyday I don't hear from God daily and my relationship (God being spirit and I, flesh) with Him isn't strong and healthy. Unhealthy flesh is very attractive to flies.
Therefore my output, or fruit is not Healthy, if I'm not daily partaking of the manna of fellowshipping with God. And my own life suffers as well.
Oh Precious Lord, Help me to stay in constant fellowship with you, so that I am nourished to do Your will to live in You, to allow You to provide for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
THE TRAITOR’S KISS
I can hardly make it through the stories of the crucifixion. The whole horror of what Jesus went through for my sake, makes me so sad. I can’t conceive of the agony, the pain, the humiliation he must have endured. And He knew that this was to be, exactly as it happened. He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of creation. He knew what was going to happen, He went willingly. This makes me sob with gratitude for this awesome gift He gave. AND YET…..
He said If you love me you will keep my commands (John 14:15). And do I? Do I obey Him by being kind to others? Do I obey Him by refraining from sin? Do I love my fellow man? The answers are NO!!
I can cluck about Judas and his ultimate betrayal by a KISS, the most intimate of public gestures of love. “How could He?”, I say, how could a man who had been with Jesus for three years betray Him, and with a KISS? Is this kiss an expression of the love to be given to one who gave us so much, or is it a mockery?
But then, how can I for whom Jesus gave so much, the changed life, the deliverances, the blessings, His acceptance, His death for ME, be so disobedient? How could I choose so often to be evil when it’s the good that God asks of me, and is indeed more pleasurable. I always feel better when I’m obedient and so miserable when I disobey. So when I am disobedient I give Him a traitors kiss, not the penitent’s kiss of humility and understanding of His Grace. ‘For what I want to do, I do not, but what I hate I do’ Rom 7:15.
Lord, I am so sorry for the times I have taken your Love for granted, the times I have not trusted you and have gone my own way and not obeyed you. Forgive me for the kisses of the traitor I have given you. And help me to see your Grace in the midst of my sinfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUST IN STRAW
I went to a seder put on by a Messianic Church yesterday. As part of the service the symbolism of the entire plan outlined by God as history unfolded concerning the Passover observance was explained to us from the Jewish perspective. One item that was mentioned was that (Ex. 5:1) when Moses told the Pharoah that God wanted His people to leave Egypt to worship in the desert, Pharoah said that the Israelites were just lazy.
Pharoah told the slave masters not to give the Israelites any straw but they had to make as many bricks as before.
We were told that sometimes our ministries are hampered because somehow "our straw is taken away", or we don't have an easy road.
Once as I read the Fifth chapter of Exodus I meditated on this very thing. It sometimes appears that just when God promises deliverance, things start getting harder. It is at this time I have a choice, believe God, concerning my circumstances or trust in the Straw.
The straw here represents the easier way to go, the comforts and the path of least resistance. So, will I choose to a soft life, or give my life away in service to the Lord? Do I serve only when its easy or work through the difficulties towards obedience of a life GIVEN to the Lord, as He gave His for me. Do I say No Lord, its too hard, or do I say yes Lord, I trust in you not in straw, you will see me through because you are faithful. I can look at Jesus through my circumstances or look at my circumstances through Jesus who is totally faithful.
Remember Jesus built His Church with "inferior" materials; fisherman, tax collectors and also women, who had no power or status in that society at all. Maybe I just don't need straw.
WHAT SPIRIT AM I OF?
Jesus and a couple of His disciples went to Samaria but were only passing through, the inhabitants were not pleased that Jesus wasn’t going to stop to heal their sick, so James and John asked Jesus if they could ask Heaven to call down fire from Heaven to destroy the ‘mean’ Samaritans, Jesus rebuked them and said “You know NOT, what spirit you are of.” Luke 9:52-55.
Its easy, when someone doesn’t agree with my doctrines, my ideas to want to turn on them and ‘tell them off’. BUT, then what spirit am I of?
I hear many Christians tell me that they must ‘correct’ these errant people whose doctrines do not agree with theirs. They say that it is their duty, their mission. But is it of God? It’s the Holy Spirit that directs our steps IF we let him. These same people say that they have discernment from God to scream and harass those in error.
Too many times the ‘God-given gift’: spirit of discernment is really only the totally temporal gift of Suspicion.
The strident Christian says They MUST tell the truth in Love, for the Word commands them to. But the Word also says that the wisdom that comes from above (James 3:17) ,’ Is first of all pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of Mercy, and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.’ If we aren’t being those things then we are NOT telling the truth in Love. And we know not spirit we are of.
Jesus, you who confronted the Pharisees, I ask for your heart of compassion when I am confronted by what looks to me as error. Help me to see people as you see them. In Jesus’ name, Amen
PRECIOUS, ARE YOU
Grace backed away in disgust. It was uglier than any living thing she’d ever seen. It was filthy, matted and the few golden hairs that popped up among the large splotches that looked like huge festering wounds seemed to mock the total ugliness, AND it was growling. Grace was sickened, the smell was horrible, and it was the stench of death. But escape was not possible. As Grace trembled with fear the creature before her trembled with Anger (?) Hate (?) Pain (?), no…., fear?????
Grace twisted her head just a bit to the left, that grotesque creature was guarding something behind it?? “Oh”, she, sighed, ”garbage.”… a torn garbage bag was emitting much of the smell she recognized.
Just then a small boy screamed, causing the huge ugly dog to turn away and Grace ran, she ran for all she was worth.
All that day she thought of that ugly animal, she thought about what could have caused it to be so ugly, so filthy, and so sick… But pity soon replaced revulsion, and Grace found herself buying a hamburger, and carrying it to the alleyway where she last saw that hideous dog.
“Here, boy, come on, try this.” She called, not seeing it at first, “C’mon, Precious, (naming him), here is a nice clean supper for you?” but, the ugly dog didn’t come out.
Grace decided to wait, so she backed into the shadows and stood quietly. In what seemed like a hundred loud heartbeats the dog, crawled out sniffed the air and the napkin that the hamburger that lay on it, growing cold. Nervously Precious crept toward the food while watching Grace and uttering a low growl. Finally starvation overcame its fear and it gulped the ‘burger’ and fled to the shelter of the garbage cans lined up against the back door of the house that darkened this alley.
Grace went back, day after day always bringing food, usually cans of premium dog food, that she put in a nice dog bowl labeled ‘Precious”.
Soon Precious was allowing Grace to touch her with fingertips stretched out to full length, Precious would not allow Grace any closer, but occasionally Precious would reach out and tenderly lick Grace’s fingers after eating.
Grace had a few run-ins with the homeowner, a large mean man who screamed at the both of them, telling Grace in rough language of Precious’ many faults. The stealing, the overturning of the garbage cans, the howling late at night. Grace gasped at the hatred the man had for the dog and even saw him kicking Precious. That made Grace very angry and she realized that Precious needed to get away to a safer place. Since he was so afraid of everyone, even herself, Grace decided to catch him, for his own good and get him to a vet and maybe even find it a home!
Grace brought a cage to the alley and left the dog bowl full of food inside.
As Precious ate, Grace quietly closed the door. She took the cage to her home to clean precious and get him ready to go to the vets.
Before she was able to clean Precious she carefully put her hand in the cage placing a collar and leash on Precious.
Letting Precious out of the cage, Grace held the leash and precious began to leap into the air, and howled, screamed and growled… Grace knew the leash wouldn’t work, so she gently picked up the still filthy dog while speaking quietly and firmly. Precious allowed her to carry him to the bathroom where the transformation began.
WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING
2TH 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The background of this verse in this the second letter Paul has written to Thessalonica, and this one is concerning the time of the end. Paul has just been exhorting the Thessalonians to keep up the good fight; He commends them for their faithfulness in the face of trials, their perseverance in the face of hardships. He mentions the Godless and the reward They will get for the troubling of the saints and warns of the consequences of not obeying the Gospel. It is at this point we pick up today’s text.
In the heart of tribulation, and all of us have some form or other of that, we are to stand fast; to resist the thoughts of revenge and not to lose heart for God has our back, because He will continue to count you worthy of your calling, and your ministry will bear great fruit, but it requires the determination on our part to stay the course, fight the fight and come out the other side victorious, Because why? God is with us.
In Hebrews we read:
HEB 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
That cloud of witnesses mentioned are those mentioned in the previous chapter, the faith-chapter where the author commends all those who have been standouts in the faith department. From Abraham, Joseph, and Esau to Rahab~a prostitute; all are remarkable for their faith, their trust in God, their perseverance. These were counted worthy of their calling. So no matter who and what you are you also can be considered worthy of your calling. And your ministry can be just as fruitful, because God by his power may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
It is a prayer I include for each of you and for myself all the time.
REV 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.
Overcoming, that’s perseverance, because we know God will finally bring us through.
Lord, Help me to fight the good fight and finish the race to be an overcomer, to earn a pillarship in your temple, To please You. Always count me worthy of your calling, Lord, help me to persevere, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Carefully Grace washed the wounds, picked the burrs out and cut away the parts of fur that were too badly matted to brush out. Grace never let go of Precious because she knew that he was only tolerating the cleaning, and would run away if allowed.
Slowly there emerged a lovely, if still a bit ratty golden fur, that glowed in the sunlight coming thru’ the window.
Grace then took Precious to the vets to be vaccinated. The vet was sympathetic but told Grace that Precious was probably too far gone to ever recover. The ribs were painfully obvious to even gentle probing under the long fur.
Grace cried and begged the vet to help. Dr. Rob said he’d do his best and put Precious into a kennel to be cared for later after he had stopped howling and trying to get away.
After work, Grace went to see her new friend at the vet’s office. Dr. Rob told her that Precious was a girl. She would probably never survive the night, much less be a healthy pet, He advised Grace to put Precious to sleep.
Grace sobbed, “Can’t you just try to keep her alive and I’ll take her to my house to live out her days in comfort?”
Dr. Rob agreed to try but said the cost would be very high. Two weeks later Dr. Rob called and told her to come get Precious. Grace could not believe the change, Precious was strong and golden, her shiny long fur was still in patches but it showed promise of renewal. Grace snapped on the leash, but Precious balked and crawled back into the back of her cage.
Grace reached into the cage and pulled the dog close carrying her to the car, and home. Precious growled and whimpered the entire time, even snapping at Grace’s attempts to pet her and smooth her fur.
Grace tried very hard in the next few weeks to help Precious to learn to be loved, to be cared for to allow herself to be healed. All to no avail, Precious stayed as far away from Grace as she could. Nothing Grace could do would convince Precious to trust her. Precious would constantly try to steal anyfood left out, she would get into the garbage to eat whatever she could find. Grace gave Precious more and more food in her dish, but it didn’t help. Precious would howl at night to get more food. She made every attempt to escape whenever the door was open, she also scratched on the door ruining the paint.
One day Precious Did escape, Grace wore herself out looking for her, finally finding her in the same alley she took her from, eating garbage.
No way would Precious allow Grace near her. Many months later Grace found out that Precious died there in that alley.
This is a compilation of two true stories but its not the end of The story…
When God finds us, hiding in the alley of despair, filthy and matted, covered in our own sin, sick and wounded by our sin, He takes us to himself and makes every attempt to help us, he gives us ALL we need. God’s cost for us was the highest price, He had to give His Son in payment. But some people think that God is our captor and we howl at the ‘injustice’ of being confined and not ‘free’ to eat garbage or wallow in our sin…
Not all of us are like that, but some do. Some don’t think that God’s ways are best for us, Some want much more than we receive at His hands and howl for more, and some refuse to trust God to supply our needs at the proper time. Some use any open door (temptation or trouble) to run away to go back to ‘sin’. These die, they return to their old lives and suffer for it.
St. Paul said 1 Tim 1:13 “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
1TI 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
St. Paul saw himself as a sinner, undeserving of grace, but God took this man, clothed in his filth and cleaned him up and gave him a new life and a wonderful testimony. A man yielded to God who allowed God to change his life. In 1 Tim. St. Paul warns us not to shipwreck our faith:
1TI 1:18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
See what St. Paul says about the two who have allowed their former sin to drag them back?
So, God asks us to trust Him, even when He is cleaning the sin out of our lives, like the dog with the matting and burrs in her fur, being cleaned out.
We are to trust even when our faith seems to be confining and limiting our ’fun’. We are to allow him to do a deep work in our lives, even if it seems like we don’t have enough, like Precious never seemed to have enough. Howling, like the Israelites in the desert always wanting more and more, is not trusting. Thinking we can better manage our lives, like Precious running away is not trusting.
Lord, help me to trust you to stay, even if its uncomfortable or I feel like you are late in giving me what I need. Help me to not only to wait and to trust but to be thankful for the many blessings I’m enjoying while I am in ‘want’. Show me, Lord that in you and you alone is my greatest Joy and Peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen
HE’S ALIVE AND I’M FORGIVEN!
He had said it. He knew I’d do it and I didn’t even realize what I was doing while I saying those things. He said I’d deny Him and I did. But I was so scared and it all happened so fast. ooooh how could I do such a terrible thing?
And now its too late, I can’t explain to Him I can’t ask Him to forgive such a betrayal. I messed it all up and nothing will ever go back to the way it was. I always mess everything up. I always mess everything up. And look what
they are doing to Him. I couldn’t watch anymore, I’m so ashamed. I have to hide, to run, or they’ll come after me too. I can’t believe that everyone hates Him so much! What did He do that made people hate Him so much. There were so many, Many soldiers, scared, ashamed, lost. Oh what can I do now? Where can I go,will they come for me? And I did just what he said I’d do, Three times!! How could I? He’ll never know how sorry I am, I always mess up, I’m no good. NO GOOD!
….three days later….
What? Who? How can this be? OH NO, go away I’m so bad, I denied you and I’m so sinful, go away! Love? You? I like you. (how can I say 'love' after what I did? How can I say I love you when I did the unspeakable, Do you know what I did? I’m worthless, go away)) But you know, you must know I have failed you again, I’ve failed you so many times. Love? Yes, I do But, Yes, I will feed your sheep.(?) OH, Lord, Thank you for forgiving me.
Psalm 30:6 says:
When I fell secure said I will not be shaken, Lord when you favored me you made my mountain stand firm.
So many times I have Thought “Okay, Lord, now I’m ready, Throw me your test and this time I will stand firm.. THIS time I will praise you right through all the hardship, I won’t whine and beg for mercy..” every time I fail, EVERYTIME I plead with God to take it away. I can’t handle this LORD you got to let up. its too much. If a person learns from failing, I must be the smartest woman on the West Coast. I’m not. I’II fail again, as long as I’m trying to do it without His strength.
And Peter, how did he do? He led Three thousand people to The Lord after his first sermon! Now how’s that for being imbued with power from on High!
Lord, you know I am a mere human being, I want to do right but I fail and fall so much, help me to persevere, no matter what the provocation. In Jesus' name, Amen.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, honor one another above ourselves” Rom. 12:10 “Love” Now this isn’t a sappy, drippy, hearts and flowers love, ignoring all faults and sins. This love is an acknowledgement that we are all different, important: deserving respect and honor so that we are seeking to build one another up In our most holy faith. see I Cor. 13:1-8“for love never fails”. The notes in my new Bible say St. Paul when writing this section about didn’t use the Greek word Eros, which is strictly sexual desire or PHILOS which means esteem and affection. Instead, he chose a rarely used Greek word, Agape which describes love that is based on a deliberate choice on the part of the one who loves rather than being based on the worthiness of the one who is loved.
‘Love is patient, kind, doesn’t envy or boast is not rude, not thinking evil. rejoices with the truth and bears all things. That is the passage in part, also. LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED, or as the NIV puts it is NOT EASILY OFFENDED. While we are exhorted by the Word to, instruct each other in the TRUTH and restore an erring brother we, at the sometime must not take offense easily.
This is very hard to do. If someone says something hurtful. I should tell them why they are wrong. Right?
I used to hear, regularly. a lying spirit who told me All about The offenses committed against me. ”Hey”, it would say to me. “Did you hear what so and so said?
That was cruel/ mean/spiteful/rude circle your choice) and unscriptural! Be offended!” I was quite unaware of what was happening, and the error in my thinking until a friend pointed out to me that I was not reacting in love, just who was I listening to? I was taking offense. I was easily attended. Now, because I’m aware of this failing I can bring myself up short and seek forgiveness and restoration , with God, and my brother or sister who by my taking offense are hurt. Here’s a trick I use. I ask. ‘why did you say that? What do you mean by ‘that’ this is because do not want to take seriously someone’s action or statement that I may have misunderstood or misinterpreted.
Sometimes people really are being offensive, then another verse covers the problem, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.” Rom 12:20
Remember ‘Iron sharpens iron Pv.2Z:l 7 It is a sandpaper brother of sister that God often uses to teach us unconditional love, and how to truly honor one another above ourselves. This Glorifies God!!!!
Lord, teach me your ways that I may walk in your truth, give me an undivided heart and I will fear your name. Help me to love as you loved, to love without thought to the worthiness or unworthiness of the other person, to walk brotherly love. In Jesus name, Amen
CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
I have been watching a pair of Canada geese, who visit me where I work. . There is a small pond close where I suppose they are setting up housekeeping. I know that geese mate for life and it is interesting to watch their commitment to the roles assigned them by God.
The gander (male) ~ precedes the goose (female), and watches over her, guarding her as she eats first and best. He always keeps himself between her and any danger. The gander cares for her as Christ cares for the church, giving himself up for her sake (giving up his agenda). see Eph.524
The term Husband comes from an old farming term for a farmer, the husbandman- It means a careful, thrifty manager. If we look at how a good farmer treats his farm, we get a better idea of the roles God has assigned to a husband and wife The farmer doesn’t boss and order his farm to produce. It produces because he carefully nurtures it, managing the plowing,
planting, and care of the animals to bring forth the maximum yield from his farm. A farmer puts himself in danger to protect his farm, from fire or marauding beasts or invading insects.
This is how God has designed marriage. The husband is “boss” only to the extent that all responsibility for success and failure falls on him. The wife submits so that her own and their greatest good brought forth. This is the ideal marriage.
Sometimes one will do his or her job properly and not the other, here again God call us to overcome evil with good. He calls us do our job well and not be offended, or give up when our spouse isn’t doing what we think they should. This works in us, patience, goodness, brotherly kindness and love and can change the heart of our erring spouse..
One thing I tell girlfriends is that when the wolf at the door (an old fashioned saying for when Trouble knocks) the ladies con say “its for you, dear." Hallelujah, that’s better than women’s lib! Or rather that IS women’s liberation.
Lord, help me see your assignments for my life as freedom rather than restrictions, help me to bend like the reed in the river Jordan bends with the current so they don’t break. Show me your will for my life and strengthen me for the journey. .In Jesus’ name, Amen.
TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for
their labor. (The NIV says “ a better return for their work) For if
they Fall, one will lift up his companion . But, woe to him who
is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.. .·
Ecc.4:9-1a
For the six days God was creating the heavens and earth. God
said all that all He created was good, except that it was not
good for man to be alone. Even God was not enough for the
man, he needed one of his own kind, in this case a mate.
We need each other as friends, as husbands, as wives. As the
family of God. we belong in fellowship with each other- We are
Christ’s body, here on earth. The Church is referred to as the
Family of God. We are a cohesive whole not a bunch of parts
running around doing ‘our own thing’.
When one of our family members falls, hurts, stumbles or sins.
we are to reach out with helping hands to lift them, back to
their feet -Honoring one another in brotherly love, and above
ourselves is to seek the highest good for others. We should
not allow envy, fear, hurt or offense to stand between us and
our ‘family member’
The grief we experience over our troubles should lead us to
grieve equally over the troubles of others. And when it comes
to getting things done, TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE.
Lord help us to share joys rejoicing over others triumphs and
feel each others’ griefs, and extending our hands to them. In
OUTWARDLY AND INWARDLY
We are refined (purified) in the furnace at affliction. Tests and trials clean our hearts and cleanse us to make us more like Jesus.
How many of the worlds religions teach people to put an overlay of gentleness and sweetness over a hideous tomb of ‘dead men’s bones’ a veneer of goodness-clean and nice on the outside but on the inside a putrid heart.
“…out of the overflow of The heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up him.” Mt I 2:34-35 It goes on to say we will give account for every word brought out of our hearts. (related teaching see Mt 15:1-11. concerning people cleaning up the outside but with their hearts far from God.
Jesus wants our hearts to be purified. Sometimes I see myself as someone who will willingly give all I have to serve God, But my heart? Ah, that’s the hardest thing to give. I might get hurt!! Jesus continuously knocks on my heart seeking admittance- willing acceptance. an invitation to enter and abide, and to be cleansed. So, though outwardly I am wasting away, inwardly I am being renewed day by day.
Lord, I invite you to come in and dwell into my heart and sup with me. to purge me from the weeds and wrong thinking that have been allowed to row up in the garden of my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen
I WILL LEAD THE BLIND
ISA 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them
“I”, God is speaking here. “Will” it’s a promise, “lead the blind” if one is blind, they don’t know what obstacles there might be in front of them. But God, who is un-seeable, and can’t be actually touched, said He would lead the blind. And He shows that we are all blind!
Its not possible to memorize a place one has never been. So the challenge here is for God who can’t actually take a person by hand to lead them in a place they’ve never been. To reinforce it He says, “along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;”
Then he says, “I will turn the darkness into light before them, and make the rough places smooth.” So God isn’t just going to help us navigate a dark place, He will actually turn the darkness into light, we won’t just weave in and around dangerous obstacles but allowing us to see our way around! And the places where our foot could catch on a rough patch, He will smooth out so that our way in unobstructed.
“These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” All through the Bible God tells us how faithful he is, how we can trust Him:
And
Lord, Please help me to persevere through all the times I feel as though I’m walking blind through a minefield, show me how you faithfulness draws and guides me, smoothing and lighting my path. Help me Lord to give my fear to you and trust in your love and faithfulness to bring me to safety.
ECC 7:2 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.
3: Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
So God is backwards, right? No, we are, He can see the end from the beginning He knows how we’ll spend a huge fortune or how we’ll fall from grace if we are rich, or how we’ll rely on our wealth to keep us rather than depend on God. He sees our future and knows what’s best for us. I know this, yes I do but still I cling to what I want by my fingernails for fear of the future. I know God will take whatever happens and make it turn out the best for me, yet still I plead and beg for MY WAY.
RO 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I know this too and it makes no difference I want what I want. A wise man said:
PR 30:8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.:9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
So, In everything I do I need to remember that God knows best and to ask for His highest will in my life. This doesn’t mean I can’t request my needs be met, because He wants me to do that, and just maybe when I’m really tuned in to Him, I will begin to pray for those things are His will regularly.
He wants the best for us and He will provide as long as we are in His will, He gives us the best and helps us to clean up our acts and to grow in maturity. Wow what a love that is. Even as Parents we can’t emulate that kind of love. Why do I say that? Because we want to shield our children from all harm get them out of all troubles. He helps us get out of troubles but He wants us to learn from them so we suffer with the consequences of our actions, more often than not. No, we don’t consider that to be good, just like we do consider getting rich to be good, yet God doesn’t always. He says it’s better to go to a house of mourning than to a party.
Lord, Give me neither poverty nor Riches if I can’t handle it; I want to stay in your perfect will, I want what you want for my life. I ask for your provision, and your vision for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
MERCY
PS 6:9The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
PS 9:13 O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
The Lord gives us mercy when we ask for it, When life gets really awful and we ask Him to spare us the trials we have He sends us cooling rain, level paths for our feet and guides the blind in ways they know not of. We deserve pain and condemnation and He gives us Mercy. I find that amazing, especially in light of the fact that Mercy is not the first thing I want to give to those who make themselves my enemy. I literally have to stop myself and ask how best to show Mercy in the face of belligerence, and we all have problems in this world, Even the mildest, kindest people end up getting harassed at the very least. This is a harsh world and as we Live for Christ we become targets for satan’s little helpers to give us grief.
Years ago when I was in a church school we were told about a regiment in WWII who were told to recite the 91st Psalm over themselves each day, they suffered no casualties when they recited this. But, they changed the wording just a bit, they personalized it.
Like this: Psalm 91
PS 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the LORD, who is my refuge-- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Becomes this:
Psalm 91
PS 91:1 I who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save me from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover me with his feathers, and under His wings I will find refuge; I will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near me. I will only observe with my eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If I make the Most High my dwelling--even the LORD, who is my refuge-- then no harm will befall me, no disaster will come near my tent. For he will command his angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways; they will lift me up in their hands, so that I will not strike my foot against a stone. I will tread upon the lion and the cobra;I will trample the great lion and the serpent. Because I love Him , the LORD says, "I will rescue her; I will protect her, for she acknowledges my name. I will call upon Him, and He will answer me; He will be with me in trouble, He will deliver me and honor me. With long life will He satisfy me and show me His salvation."
There were times in my life when I recited that as many as 4 times in a hour. God always came through for me, I was doing like David said, encouraging myself in the Lord. I was asking for God’s Mercy.
As awful as our lives can be it’s worse when others instead of having compassion on us; point fingers and add to the pain. Many times our leaders will have problems, and I needn’t make any reference to those leaders who have fallen, but if we as God’s children would ask for God’s mercy on them instead of condemning them like the world~ in it’s glee to discredit Christians~ does, then they can repent and be received back. Because don’t we want Mercy?
Lord, so often I find it so hard to forgive and Love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, that I may be a son of the Father in heaven. Help me to know how to hold my peace when I am hurting and to ask you to spare them your wrath. And to plead that as a result hot coals are not heaped on their heads. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
PRAISE IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS
REV 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
~~~
REV 7:11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
~~~
AND
REV 11:16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
Here we see what those who just came out of the tribulation are doing while in Heaven, what the angels are doing, and what the elders are doing. What? Praising God? Yup. I see no flitting about from cloud to cloud on gossamer wings eating cream cheese bagels. They are all praising God, and did you notice the first group were wearing white robes, nary a wing in sight, However, there may have been harps.
PS 33:2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
We know David was a man after God’s own Heart and He played the harp to praise God.
AND
PS 98:5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn--shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
There might be trumpets and ram’s horns too to Praise Him!
1CH 25:6 All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.
Even more instruments sanctioned by God to Praise him.
So if praising Him here is too onerous maybe Heaven isn’t the place we think it is?
When I am in the midst of troubles, and by the way yesterday was one of those days when everything went wrong, I don’t much feel like praising God. I guess many people are like that…
PS 22:3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.
The King James Version says “But thou art Holy, Oh thou that inhabitest the praises of His people.”
One time when I was very down and the world was pressing me into the dirt I asked God what to do.
He said, “Praise Me.”
I shook my head and said I just couldn’t and He said, ”Don’t you want Me in that problem with you?”
I believe praise is the natural order of things no matter what our circumstances and surely we’ll be spending an eternity praising Him.
Here’s a good start
Psalm 66
PS 66:1 Shout with joy to God, all the earth! 2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name."
Selah
5 Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!
6 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot-- come, let us rejoice in him.
7 He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations--let not the rebellious rise up against him.
Selah
8 Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; 9 he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.10 For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.12 You let men ride over our heads;we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you--14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.
Selah
16 Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help."You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
WHY THERE IS WARFARE
2 Co 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
What are our weapons? And how can we use them?
2 CO 6:7 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
Ok so the list of weapons is so far:
Anything else?
I can’t find any specific verses to confirm this Except for the one I cited last week about how God is in the praise of His people,
are two more of our weapons and important ones indeed. If He is there where we are praising we are safe.
Why do we need to fight? Because if we are doing anything satan doesn’t like-if we are serving God- we are targets for his wrath. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression: if everything is going wrong; you must be doing something right.
My best advice here is to Ask God before starting a ministry, because running ahead of God is not exactly serving Him.
Here is a verse that comforted me when times were really tough:
Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
The problem is.... we can rebuke satan when the problem could be:
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Again, my best advice is to Ask God. And here’s more about warfare:
EPH 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
And for the best most satisfactory method of warfare is praise, God never objects to that.
See also all of Psalm 18,and 144, 1 CO 15:57
Lord, I am troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, not in despair; Persecuted, not forsaken; cast down, not destroyed because of your Grace, I praise you for your goodness, your majesty, and for your goodness, for I am never ever forsaken. You train my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
ANSWERING
What do we do when people ask hard questions about our faith, about God, or [gasp!] about ourselves…. I want to talk about the last one.
Satan knows just how to push our buttons. He can get someone to come into our lives and make us seem to ourselves that we are just a pure fraud. What if there is truth in what they say? Or even worse what if it’s a complete lie? How do we handle it?
For myself when someone lies to me about me, it makes me furious. I’m so conscious of my shortcomings anyway that I usually go right along with what they say and shake my head at my perfidy. Then I think of it a bit and realize that what they said is NOT true, and that’s when I get mad, still that’s not a sin. It’s how we react that determines our character, and how God feels about that character.
Here are a few things the Bible says about our words:
PR 25:11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
ECC 5:3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
PR 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
So, it’s foolish to answer someone who is lying to you.
Yet the very next verse is:
PR 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
I believe this is where we refute lies without debating them.
I do not want be a fool as in Psalms 36:
PS 36:2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.
PS 36:3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
When I react, my words can be just as harsh as those spoken to me, but if I reflect on the kindness of God I will be gentle and forbearing, allowing for possible misunderstanding and giving others the benefit of the doubt they may not be giving me.
MT 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Luke 6: 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
RO 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Lord help me to stop and consider my words, not only those I speak to others but also my internal dialog. Help me to see your love for others so that I do not react, but gently respond. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
LOOKING THROUGH SEWAGE-COLORED GLASSES
More and more these last few weeks I’ve seen this happen. Troubles and problems consume us, they overwhelm us and cause us to focus in on strife.
I belong to a website that focuses on health matters, and environmental problems. Sometimes it’s just too much, I’m just overwhelmed and after a while I’m seeing the boogeyman in everything.
Sewage, or problems is a part of life, and it’s everywhere. It’s good to be aware of problems, to avoid pitfalls, but once we begin to obsess about them and begin to allow it to overflow, we are not allowing the benefit of the doubt to others. Yes there are some really awful people in the world, and we should guard against them, but when we give in to our prejudices and unhappiness and they color our world we end up seeing everyone else through these sewage-colored glasses.
There is a Lady at a church I've attended who is not friendly, she refuses to meet my eye, doesn’t want to shake hands or exchange pleasantries, and in that super-friendly church it really stands out. I instantly stuck on my sewage-colored glasses and decided she must be very stuck up. In my past I’ve noticed that people who act like she is are stuck-up [see the sewage?] Today I yanked those glasses off and thought, hey, maybe she’s just very unhappy, or busy, or just isn’t all that friendly, or maybe she has OCD and doesn’t like to shake hands?
I’m in public life, since I write a blog and invite comments, I sometimes get negative comments and I seem to have acquired a self-appointed thorn-in-the-flesh. I believe she is seeing me through her own sewage-colored glasses because as bad as I know I am, I’m not quite as bad as she makes me out to be.
The Bible says this about sewage-colored glasses:
PHP 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 …And the God of peace will be with you.
The world is full problems; we have no end of troubles yanking on our hems like a cranky child.
BUT…
2PE 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
AND:
PS 121:3 He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; PS 121:4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
PHP 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There was a man who was over at out house the other day while I was watering my garden, I offered, as a neighborly gesture; some plants [I have lots of perennials that are extra, and his mind went instantly in the wrong direction], He exclaimed, ”You have pot plants?” My husband said, that was just his mindset and it’s so true, our mindset causes us to jump to conclusions that can be horribly wrong.
Lord, help me to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. Help me to see through your rose-colored glasses, to know you are God, and act accordingly. To live Justly, to love Mercy and walk humbly with You.In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
LIVING WATER
JER. 2:13 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jn.7: 38 Who ever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Once again I thought I was going to write about one thing and am ending up writing about what God wants me to write about. When I write something, I think of myself as the flavor of the garden hose that delivers the Living Water. I thought I was going to talk about doing any ministry but instead I’m going to talk about the things God wants us to do. While the Word does say:
Ecc. 910 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Doing just anything isn’t what He wants us to do. Each of us is annointed to do a certain job, to function in a certain way. He gives us talents and abilities to help us to accomplish His purpose and gives us our greatest happiness when we are functioning in the proper role. He gives us a framework of what needs to be done: Feed the poor, visit those in Jail, minister to the sick, comfort the widow and help provide for the orphan. And He gives gifts to facilitate in those ministries:
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, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
These are the gifts that build up the Church, not all of us are any of these, but we all have gifts to edify the church.
Rom. 12: 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Separately they are prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading.
-Of course everyone wants to prophesy, but trust me on this it’s not what it’s not as much fun as you’d think it could be. Remember the injunction the word has against false prophesy. It’s not really about knowing the future but to confirm what God has told others. And pride is something that must always be subdued. Now, I’m not talking about the office of a prophet here, that’s a whole nother thing.
-Serving is something no one really wants to do, but some are God-gifted to be just that, a person who is best at serving, and naturally in this self-centered wrong-thinking, gets very little accolade. Actually no one should expect much accolade, To God goes all the glory.
-teaching. Oh here’s something I think we all believe we are qualified to do and it also comes with a warning about being a false teacher and in Rom 2:20 there is an injunction against the do as I say not as I do, sort of thing.
-Encouraging. Here is one thing we can all do, but some better than others, it involves being “otherly” to look at other people and actually see them, and to remind them of God’s word and their place in His heart and scheme.
-Giving. God has placed some in a position of giving, they have the means and the heart to give. And it’s not all in cold hard cash either.
-Leadership. Now this is where the apostles, prophets, preachers and teachers come in.
We All have at least one of these gifts and He expects us to operate in one of them withal our might. There will come times when He prunes us, and we no longer work in one or more of these gifts, but there will be a day when we resume.
It will become apparent to us at some point in our Christian life that it’s time to begin to function in our gifts. And do not envy those with many or very powerful gifts.
Luke 12:48…”From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” This is from the Parable of the talents where Jesus criticized those who didn’t use their gifts to further His Kingdom.
Also those on the frontline will receive more fire from the enemy, but are also more protected by God.
And Just because you haven’t used your gifts yet doesn’t mean you’ve lost them:
Rom 11: 29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Lord, Help me to work in the calling you have on my life and fulfill to the max those gifts you’ve given me to help others. Lord, always count me worthy of your calling, that by your power I may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by my faith. In Jesus’ Name.
TRADITIONS
Matthew 15:1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"
Jesus here was questioned not about removing grime from grubby fists before sitting down to eat but the ceremonial washing that God had required in the laws He’d given Moses when they were wandering in the desert. Actually God never insisted on a public show of washing the hands but it was a precaution against pathogens just as we today wash our hands before meals.
Jesus was referring to the big show stuff that the fake religious people were performing and insisting that others do too to show who was the better Jew.
Jesus went on to observe that these religious leaders were not doing their more private duty to God by honoring their parents, but just showing off for the rest of the church [Temple].
Then He quoted Isaiah by saying:
Matthew 15:8-9 " `These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men.' "
How does this relate to us today? Well if you see a church member who isn’t conforming to some rule you believe they should be following maybe it’s because there are other factors involved.
In Jeremiah 17:10 God says” "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
One time, years ago God asked me to stop listening to all rock music regularly. So I did, I missed certain music I used to really love to listen to, but I did give away all my old music cassettes [see I told you it was quite a long time ago]. Later I met some good Christian brothers and sisters and tried to insist that they too quit listening to the kinds of music that I’d given up, and I pretty much looked down on as “unGodly” those people who still listened to it. Then in the midst of an argument, I suddenly realized that God never told me that others shouldn’t do this, but that He wanted me to quit. I was enforcing a ‘rule’ not in the Bible. It was only my tradition, not God’s.
Some churches don’t approve of women wearing pants but there are women with damaged or missing legs who wear them and for them, God, who sees their heart may have different ’rules’. Some people cite the rule in Deuteronomy that says women shouldn’t wear clothes that pertain to men, but if we really wanted to get technical~ Jesus wore a dress and women actually wore pants first in history [harem pants]. No, I don’t want to get entangled in this argument but was just giving an example.
I believe Jesus wants us to ‘tend to our own knittin’ as they used to say, to allow others to be trained by God in the way THEY should go. Appearances are not important to God like they are to us. I have an allergic reaction on my face, I would wear make-up to cover it but don’t want to offend anyone by being all ‘painted up’ so I’m just wearing a face that looks like it was beaten with a strap instead.
St. Paul said this about appearances, 1 Corinthians 8:1
“Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.”
He was talking about the practice some had of eating the meat that had been sacrificed to idols in one of the many pagan temples in that city, The early Christians were poor, many of them and ate what they could find. Paul had heard the other churches complaining that it was unseemly and against the rules. He knew it wasn’t ‘wrong’ if those who ate it were thankful to God for their food but if it caused others to get all worked up he concluded with:
1 Corinthians 8:9-13
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
Romans 14: 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
In Romans it says 13:10
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
It’s good to keep a tight rein on ourselves with regard to what God tells us.
Romans14: 22 says “ So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
Basically it is, if you believe something is a sin, then it’s a sin, but just for you. It’s also a good idea to keep others from being offended by what we do, or approve of.
Lord, Keep me from offending others by what I do, or to make up rules for others to follow. I want to do what You say is good. To live at peace with everyone, to offer others the mercy you give me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
FEEDING THE SPIRIT
Gal.6:8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Those thoughts we allow ourselves to entertain, the negativity, depression, anger, fear and self-doubt, are sowing to the flesh. Anything we do or think that is not [NOT] in line with the Word of God are from our sinful nature.
Satan enters in when we allow these thoughts to rule our lives, when we are depressed and no longer believe that God’s plan for our lives is not a good one or that we are not getting His blessings for whatever reasons.
When we’ve become weary of the fight or are a perma-wetblanket over our own lives and the lives of others, when we are angry a lot, when we sink into self-pity; we allow satan to enter and fulfill our predictions of doom and gloom. And he will; he seeks to kill and destroy us, and that’s no hyperbole, my friends.
When I first got saved there was a lying spirit that attacked me really bad, it kept telling me that God might love everyone else, but I was the exception, he told me that I was worthless and ugly and deserved to die, that no one had ever or could ever love me. Of course because I was listening to these thoughts the very things he said to me were robustly manifested in my life. I lived a tormented and tortured life, words can’t begin to tell you how awful it was. Then I heard a sermon on TV about satan’s lies and I took this verse into my heart:
John 6:37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
I had an edge, finally; I had the understanding that I had an enemy to whom I had done nothing yet was trying to kill me, my ministry, I had the TRUTH on my side.
Then I had to learn how to take captive my thoughts to make them obedient to Christ. [2Cor 10:5] I had to learn how to demolish every argument and pretension that set itself up against the truth. It wasn’t easy and at the first sign of hardship all of that pain and hurt comes flooding back to attack me. I was delivered from the lying spirit but it’s always there waiting in the wings to speak to my mind and try to yank me back to depression.
This is where discipline comes in.
If we allow ourselves to think thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God we’ll be sowing to the flesh, and reaping Death and destruction.
Lord, You know how easily I lose heart and faint with the cares of the world, I ask that You strengthen me and firm up my resolve to live by faith and not by sight. Cover me with your hand, hide me from the evil one and always count me worthy of my calling. Give me your heart for the ones who need your Word and guide me to green pastures. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
THINK ON THOSE THINGS
PHP 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
This, by the way in our negative thinking, angry, pessimistic society is not easy. If you can accomplish it you will be going against the flow. But we go against the flow as Christians all the time, do we not?
And also when troubles beset us it’s just not easy to just keep the faith and think only good thoughts, but God commanded it so we should be able to do it, right?
We if are supposed to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ, just how can this be done? [2COR 10:7].
We don’t want to speculate in futile thoughts and vain imaginings but how can we stop?
The Bible says to take these thoughts captive. If you have a captive it is in a locked place right? So, when a thought comes stealing into your mind, lock it away and replace it with another thought, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. If it comes back, which I assure you it will, stop and think about praiseworthy things again.
Psalm 199 is full of praise for God’s Word. It is good to meditate on Scripture. When I start thinking about my troubles, I catch myself and begin to remind myself What God has brought me through, and how His Word always precedes His blessings. I remember He says All good gifts come from The father of Heavenly lights and He has a good plan for me, That He is a Good God, and All things [all those troubles] will work together for Good. [JAS 1:17] [JER 29:11] [PS. 73:1] [ROM 8:28].
Lord, You know how hard to is for me to stay positive and keep my faith-level high, I ask that you strengthen my mind so when those flesh thoughts come in I can recognize them immediately and exchange them for thoughts of your restoration. I know you only have my good in mind, and to serve you is my highest and greatest Joy, help me when satan comes in to challenge the secret gifts you’ve given my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
ABIDE IN ME
John 15:7) If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.
There was a time many years ago that I was homeless, for the Third time! I was so defeated, so tired of the fight, and just wanted to quit, I was staying in a “Christian” homeless shelter. It was run by a ‘pastor’ who employed unorthodox methods. Anyway I was just miserable.
I had a van that I slept in that had no engine so it had a huge hole in it. It was winter and so very cold that even wrapped in a feather blanket, sleeping on the floor I was so cold and miserable I’d whine and cry all night [in prayer] because I couldn’t sleep. I was sick, miserable and alone, The ‘Pastor’ decided anyone who read the ‘wrong ‘ version of the Bible was evil and he tremendously persecuted me for that major crime.
Life was horrible and I decided that God didn’t love me. I talked to a friend who asked me what kind of answer I was getting from God about my homelessness. I told her he’d said, “Abide in ME”. But I insisted, practically, that was no answer at all.
In those days I read the word extensively going from cover to cover over and over again, for years I’d done that.
Later when I finally was able to drag myself out of this plight, I had a revelation. I HAD learned to abide in Him.
HEB 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.
HEB 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
I’d learned to live by faith and was much closer to God, I had begun to connect the dots and He delivered me from depression and later the lying familiar spirit that had attached to me at age 6.
No, life wasn’t perfect but I was no longer homeless.
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.
I’m not trying to put God in a box here, but revealing some truth.
First if we lack Faith like the Apostles did ask for faith. Luke 17:5
Because we know without faith it’s impossible to please God and if we are pleasing God, we are then in line with His agenda for our lives.
And of course there’s the one everyone quotes but few really understand:
PS 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
First- delighting yourself in the Lord involves a little more than going to church, even several times a week. It results in really seeking Him, Praise and Worship-prayer-ministry. I finally knew what this meant when I began to be diligent in Bible reading and face-time [time spent praying, seeking His face, on mine].
Second-The desires in my heart will be the ones He has placed there. Not mere wishes to the Genie-God.
Finally I knew that my unbelief was contrary to God and displeased Him. We all have times of weariness, times when we need to go to the source and get replenished with His love and presence. For me that occurs in Praise and Worship, the time I spend seeking His presence by praising Him. And yes, at times it’s really a sacrifice* to do it, because at the lowest times I just wanted to curl up in a dark corner and feel sorry for myself.
* HEB 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
And one more thing:
ISA 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
I interpret this this way, God will be our under pinnings the part of our life we can always count on, He will save us and give us the wsdom and knowledge we need to go on, and how can we access this, by fearing Him, by KNOWING that He is who He says He is all powerful, All knowing, and all-sufficient for our needs, no matter what they are.
Lord, My highest calling is to serve You, to know You, and to praise You. Help me not to weary in well-doing but to continue the fight without complaint. This is the valley you told me was coming, the one I vowed while on the last mountain I’d overcome by remembering that you have always brought me through, that no matter how MY dreams seem shattered the next mountain will be higher and better for the journey.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS
MT 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Job describes those who do not serve God:
JOB 24:11 They crush olives among the terraces; they tread the winepresses, yet suffer thirst.
Because hunger and thirst is for God, not just physical hungering and thirsting.
If you are unsure of my interpretation read this:
JN 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
And Isaiah tells of the trials of those who have turned from God and how He will rescue them.
ISA 5:13 Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst.
ISA 41:17 "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
God tells us we need Him and we search for him in a dry and thirsty land.
AM 8:11 "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land--
not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
AM 8:12 Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.
AM 8:13 "In that day "the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.
Jesus told the woman at the well in Samaria:
JN 4:13… "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
In Amos chapter 4 God tells the Israelites that He will send adversity to draw His people back to Him. Read it; it will tell you how He intends to create a hunger and Thirst for Him as well as a physical hunger and thirst to teach the people how to seek after God.
I know after I got married 7 years ago I’d let my walk with Him slide and relied on my own understanding to get by, until He created in me a physical hunger and thirst for Him, as well as a real hunger and thirst in the form of sickness and poverty.
In Revelation The Lord explains that in our future, in heaven with Him.
REV 7:16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
We know God promises to take care of us, to heal us, provide for us, to bless us and to nurture us and keep us safe. But we weren’t created to be His pampered pets. We were created to worship Him. So, when we are empty we go back to Him to fill up on our need.
When we have are beset with problems, it is to draw us back to Him.
He allows us to go through troubles to refine us, to help us become more like Him and to teach us to hunger and thirst for His righteousness.
Lord, I know you are my provider, but at times I’ve tried to provide for myself then I find my heart lonely, dry and hungering for You, for You satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things. My soul longs for you and my heart thirsts for you like the deer who pants after water. I ask that you give me a constant hunger and thirst for You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
PURE JOY, TRIALS, AND PERSEVERANCE
JAS 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
2COR 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Three times in the last few days someone has said to me. I was taken, by God “to a place where He could teach me, or give me the knowledge, bless me, or heal me.”
Each of us had to be taken, by force it seemed, by our circumstances sometimes grueling, sometimes literally painful, sometimes seemingly long and cruel , always harsh.
Let me explain.
~One friend had a devastating childhood that taught him to feel the pain of others and he has a remarkably successful ministry helping others get over their own pain.
~One couple was taken through several heartbreaking family problems, personal illnesses, deaths and losses of several kinds to find at the end of it was a wonderful loving family and an awesome ministry.
~Another was healed after spending years with a scary and painful illness, enabling her to find peace that would never have been had God healed her instantaneously.
~A car crash brought one couple closer, paid for their move and they were still able to keep their car.
[While all of these stories are true; all of them are composites bits of stories added together, none of you, my friends, are being singled out here]
I have heard story after story about hardships and troubles that not only taught people Godliness, showed them that God’s promises are true, but brought them to a higher place, a more successful, happier place than the one they were headed for [on their own] anyway.
God told me recently that the lower the valley, the higher the next mountain. In other words, the worse the problems we have the better the result at the other end. And that’s when we will say, "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Because every time we go through awful problems God is refining us, and afterwards our earthly lives are better, more fruitful or just more pleasant and we are getting more and more like Him.
When we have problems it is really hard not to whine and beg for relief [and busily rebuke satan for our troubles!], but if we confidently wait for His deliverance, I guarantee it will happen on time! While we are feeling confident in God’s deliverance we might want to ask Him what it is we are supposed to be learning in the valley this time. He will tell us because He has said:
. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Lord, I always spend so much time worrying about my problems, I keep begging you to help me to get rid of my troubles when I should be thanking you for the trials that are besetting me and are also achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So [I will] fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING
2TH 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The background of this verse in this the second letter Paul has written to Thessalonica, and this one is concerning the time of the end. Paul has just been exhorting the Thessalonians to keep up the good fight; He commends them for their faithfulness in the face of trials, their perseverance in the face of hardships. He mentions the Godless and the reward They will get for the troubling of the saints and warns of the consequences of not obeying the Gospel. It is at this point we pick up today’s text.
In the heart of tribulation, and all of us have some form or other of that, we are to stand fast; to resist the thoughts of revenge and not to lose heart for God has our back, because He will continue to count you worthy of your calling, and your ministry will bear great fruit, but it requires the determination on our part to stay the course, fight the fight and come out the other side victorious, Because why? God is with us.
In Hebrews we read:
HEB 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
That cloud of witnesses mentioned are those mentioned in the previous chapter, the faith-chapter where the author commends all those who have been standouts in the faith department. From Abraham, Joseph, and Esau to Rahab~a prostitute; all are remarkable for their faith, their trust in God, their perseverance. These were counted worthy of their calling. So no matter who and what you are you also can be considered worthy of your calling. And your ministry can be just as fruitful, because God by his power may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
It is a prayer I include for each of you and for myself all the time.
REV 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.
Overcoming, that’s perseverance, because we know God will finally bring us through.
Lord, Help me to fight the good fight and finish the race to be an overcomer, to earn a pillarship in your temple, To please You. Always count me worthy of your calling, Lord, help me to persevere, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
BROKEN BY THE ROCK
Mt.21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
Jesus had just told the crowd the parable of the Landowner’s vineyard, the tenants who wanted the entire crop for themselves, the owner sent his servants but the tenants beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. The owner then sent His son. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance. So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
When the owner comes back; “What”, Jesus asked, “will he do to those tenants?"
The crowd replied that the tenants would be punished and left out. Jesus had been telling people why the ones considered the worst of sinners would enter the kingdom of heaven before the so-called perfect Pharisees.
He said:
" `The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' ?
So the interpretation of our original verse is that those who humble them selves and ask Jesus to be Lord of their lives will be broken, but those who refuse to give up control, who try worldly methods of getting what they want, [In God’s vineyard] will be crushed. We all are broken because even if we give ourselves to God, we had the flesh nature, you remember, the one that wants it’s own way?
He loves us too much to leave us prideful, mean and grasping, the way we come from our mother’s womb. We need breaking like a high-spirited horse. WHAT? What about the abundant life the preachers promise us if we only give our hearts to Jesus.
I guess that depends on the definition of abundant. According to the world’s standards what I am going to say next will sound crazy, but those of us who have known God a while will concur. NOTHING in this world is better than Serving God. NOTHING.
You can drape yourself in diamonds and pearls, you can drive the biggest and most expensive car, you can eat the finest, priciest of foods, but NOTHING satisfies for long, the diamonds and pearls won’t, the car will get old and need replacing the food will make you sick, But Jesus, He is always there. When you are serving Him, there is nothing better than That rush.
But What about those who refuse to acknowledge God? This is what He says about their actions: The owner sent his servants but the tenants beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. The owner then sent His son. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance. So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
When I think of people who seemed to have been crushed by the Stone [Jesus], I think of those who died surrounded by greedy relatives, the ones who live profligate lives and died alone and very sick. I think of Friedrich Nietzsche, an affirmed God-hater… the originator of the relativism we have plaguing our society now, He said God is dead so we are our own gods. We must decide what is good or bad for ourselves. Friedrich Nietzsche died mentally ill at 66.
One quote of his I find particularly telling
“And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
He died after descending into madness some say caused by syphilitic infection. He sounds crushed to me, As for me, I’d rather be broken, even wish and pray for it.
I can do His work and be His servant, I can help the future or cause more heartbreak.
Lord, I fail when I think of this breaking you do in me, I know all flesh dies and I choose to leave a legacy of life rather than just a rotting corpse. Break me to Your will and perfect me for your use, Give me your heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
WE ARE NOT ABANDONED
JAS 117 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
I’ve been talking a lot lately about how to persevere through trials, but there are other ways to look at it. What satan means for bad for us and we know of course, all good gifts come from God, God will turn into good for us could be oppressed or distressed, but we are not down for the count!
2Co 5:9
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
If that’s you today, Look up for your deliverance is close. God never ever gives us more than we can bear, He does fix us. Never camp in the valley because THAT’S NOT OUR HOME! Keep moving because He will provide, don’t count yourself out yet. And Never count God out. He is there, He is our deliverer, He has done it once He’ll do it again and again, Never believe this is the end. He has a use for you and Never will He abandon you.
Rom 4:17 [Because He is] the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
Keep on, Keeping on. Trust God and He will be there for you. When the times look roughest, the troubles overwhelm, the bank account is at it’s lowest, the pain is at it’s peak, the misery of our lives becomes almost more than we can bear, Look up for your deliverance is at it’s closest to you. Be expectant, be excited, be ready. I call this phase pre-abundance. I say not that I hurt so bad, I’m so poor, my family is torn apart, my problems are too big, my situation is hopeless! I say I’m pre-abundant. Because we know He is the father in Heaven who takes those things that aren’t and says they ARE!
PS 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills[problems]-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
I gotta tell you, I know all this, in my head but in the midst of misery, I have a terrible time remembering with my heart.
I see the problems but God sees the end, He sees how we have been stretched and purified by our troubles, He has shown us that we can make it, He knew it all along, We needed to see it.
I know of some folks who believe they need to put on a good front to the church, they don’t want people to see their suffering, and I can certainly understand that but God’s Grace wants to stretch over you and heal you, Ask for prayer, He will heal, He will restore, He will renew you, it’s ok to receive.
Lord, When my strength fails You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. You are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
I thank you for your rescue, I stand and wait in pre-abundance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SPIRITUAL ABSCESSES
Sometimes when we have a problem or sin in our lives and we don’t deal with it, the skin of that wound heals over and the infection rages inside. The festering creates an area of soreness, an increasingly painful place that causes us to hunch protectively over that spot to make sure no one touches it.
The Word calls us to be transparent: Jas 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
If that area is a sin, and yes often we can harbor sin in our lives by thinking that this sin is a small one and it’s not so bad. God gave us 10 commandments, each and every one of them is equally important, and if we look hard enough, our sin is in there. Yes even the times we despair of the body or character we were born with is a sin, it’s called coveting. We feel someone else got a better break and God calls it coveting, and yes, it’s one of the ten biggies.
David said: PS 66:16-19 Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. but God has surely listened, and heard my voice in prayer.
God answered David, Because he didn’t have a secret sin. He had confessed it and was forgiven and he received the petition he’d had before God.
There is another kind of abscess… we could be just allowing a problem we have fester instead of asking for prayer about it. Sometimes we are just embarrassed by a problem we have, as if we are above the common rabble and shouldn’t have problems, or even just not That problem…
You see this is exactly what the Church is for. The Church is not the building we put on our fancy-go-to-meeting clothes on to go sit in an air-conditioned room on a nice soft seat. The Church is the members, and we as members are meant to exhort, edify, admonish and lift up the other members. Period. We are created to be a blessing all the rest is window dressing. Maybe your neighbor in church is afraid to confess their sin or ask for prayer because they don’t want to be gossiped about. That’s absolutely not allowed.
There is one more reason we could get a spiritual abscess, and that’s if we let our past rule our present. St. Paul had plenty of reason to feel bad about his past but he said: Phil 3:13
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
He said the present and our future was more important.
No matter what the reason for a spiritual abscess there are only two outcomes if it is untended to, possible. One is for it to burst; spewing its foul contents abroad, and the other is for it to fester and infect the blood stream and kill the afflicted one.
There is a better way.
Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Did you see that? We need to allow the sharp sword of God’s Word pierce into what looks like healed flesh and to open up that sore and release the infection.
We confess, get prayer and heal, in that order. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and Just to forgive, and forgiveness is the path to restoration.
Ah, you say; she is telling me I have a problem, no, I write because these are the things I’m going through. I’m confessing MY sins, MY unbelief, MY problems, MY painful, mistake-ridden past. I have no idea why God insists I write this stuff, but just perhaps someone else is going through it too.
Lord, I have the sinful things in my life I try to keep to myself, the embarrassing problems, the past regrets and failures I just want to hug them to myself because even talking about them is painful, But your Word insists I be transparent before my brothers and sisters in Christ. Take your Word that mighty sharp sword and piece that wound to its core, release your healing and take those ugly things from me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
BLESSING OUR CITY
PR 11:11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
I was going through the Bible looking for blessings and I got stopped on this one. Can you imagine? The righteous person actually blesses his /her city just by living there?
Jesus lives in us and we live in a town/city or rural area, and that area is blessed just because we are there. AND if we are praying for our area it is even more blessed.
In Genesis chapters 18 and 19 the story about Abram and Lot comes alive. God wanted to destroy all of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their great sin in God’s eyes. Abram made a deal with God that He wouldn’t destroy them if Abram could find 10 righteous people there, but the only ones were Lot and family. Abram included the prospective sons-in-law in the order to run for their lives but the young men either didn’t believe it or weren’t righteous so they stay and were burned along with the rest of the people there. The point here is that Lot and his family were all that caused God to stay the execution long enough to get them out.
Conversely the very ground we sin on is defiled. If someone wickedly defies God it causes the very ground upon which they live on to be cursed.
The entirety of Proverbs 11 is admonitions for living justly, and just what happens to both the honest and dishonest person.
Pr.11:3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
What a nice promise, it makes it so much easier to obey this one:
Rom 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
RO 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Pr 11: 17 The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.
So, by being a child of God and in obedience you are not only doing yourself a world of good [being blessed by God] but also your home and location.
I always try to pray for my town, we are very oppressed here a very poor small town in a very poor State. Many of the businesses that sustained this area [you’ve heard of the Auto industry?] even our local nursing home is gone [more ground defiling] have moved to other countries or states.
Greed and avarice have taken the place of sanity. It seems like everyone wants to make “a killing” on every transaction, but we as Christians are called on to be honest in our dealings. In fact the chapter of Proverbs I’m quoting today begins with:
Pr 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.
If we are just and honest in our dealings we are blessed and this blessing extends itself to our city.
Today, Lord, help me to be a blessing to give rather than expect to receive from others. Help those I know who are hurting, heal them Physically, emotionally, spiritually, and Financially. Raise them up to know you better and to be warriors for these times, always count them worthy of your calling, give them a hunger and thirst for Righteousness, and keep them hidden from the enemy under your hand. Help me, Lord to bless my city.
WHO AM I?
Romans 8:15 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." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
~We are, according to God’s Word, Children, His Children, co-heirs with Christ, we share in His glory, but we have, will and are suffering With Christ For His Glory.
Eph 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
~Over and over the writers of the Epistles refers to the members of the local Churches as Saints. We are all Saints of God.
Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John the Baptizer was proclaiming Jesus’ ministry to the crowd.
And Luke 9:55 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" Apparently Fire from heaven was a concept Jesus had discussed with His apostles. But as it says later in that chapter, “Jesus rebuked them and said, “You know not what spirit you are of.”
~We are baptized with water and fire.
Acts 20:26 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
~We are bought with blood, a high price was paid for us.
Heb 10:1-10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
Then I said, `Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll--
I have come to do your will, O God.' "
First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
~We are covered by Christ’s blood and our sins are washed away.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Many interpret this as the prayer language God gives us that some call speaking in tongues, if you have this; wonderful, it really helps us to pray in those times when we have no words. Further study, not for today, shows us that this prayer language is different from the kind spoken out loud in the church and needs interpreting. It is actually praising God in a “language” He gives us to help us pray. Remember Psalms 22: 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. Some version say He inhabits the praises, so if we are praising He is there, exactly what we want when we are petitioning Him to help our neighbors, or heal us, etc.
~We can be tongue-talkers, but we definitely can be praisers, pretty much the same thing for our purposes here.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
~So our faith supersedes anything that comes at us that doesn’t jive with what God tells us.
When satan comes into your house and says hey look around, are you really a child of God? Are you really living the abundant life God says you are entitled to? Are you really as powerful as God says we are if in This much pain? Heartache? Poverty? [insert the problem of your choice here?] Who are you anyway, you are weak, stupid and worthless.
We can retort with, “I know who I am, I’m a Saint, a co-inheritor with Christ to a heaven no one can possibly imagine, I am a fire breathing, Tongue talking, High Praise singing, Blood bought, faith walking child of the Most High God. And what’s more I know who you are, you are a lion roaring[I Peter 5:8], an evil liar[John 8:44], a snake and a scorpion, and you are under MY feet [Luke 10:19], and you lose, sucka, so just shut up[Revelation 20:3].
Lord, when I’m hanging out in the valley and my life looks like it’s swirling down the drain, show me your love and build my faith so I can know who it is I am and who I serve. Help me to reaffirm that You are The best and everything You say is true even if it doesn’t look like it at present. In Jesus' Name, Amen
LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE EVIDENT TO ALL
PHP 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
I have to say being sick all week has really dampened my ability to write and of course the energy needed was lacking too. Inspiration has also been mising too, and it wasn't until I overheard a discussion in a group I’m in did I come up with any kind of working thesis. We’ll see where God takes me on this one, I know where I want to go, but What does He want to say?
We were discussing legalism and it is a subject that bothered the early church also. Many early church members were poor and they were getting leftovers from pagan ceremonies to eat. I guess we can liken this to some of the controversies we have in our churches as to what is good, proper and righteous to do, sing, think, listen to, to wear, to believe and days to observe.
Oh the verses talking about this?
Romans 14 the whole chapter but verse 5 is where I want to go, don’t omit the earlier parts about not judging someone else’s servant, etc. Any way here is:
Romans 14:5
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
I picked this one because most of the thrust of the chapter is on eating meat originally sacrificed to idols. We don’t exactly have an equivalent of that these days, so I’m using the verse St. Paul dropped in there to make the whole controversy more salient to the ages. Thank you Paul. It then, at least in My Bible [margin] refers to
Galatians 4:10
You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Just to put it into perspective. Jews had holidays ordained by God, designed to illustrate Jesus’ role in the salvation of Man, they show how Jesus fulfills the law.
Some people were and still are very strict in observing the Old Testament laws. Some of us call that Legalism.
Yet He admonishes us to let our Gentleness be evident, our Mercy to those who insist on whatever seems to outsiders to be a rigid standard. Perhaps God has spoken to their hearts and told them that, for them a stricter ‘set of rules’ must be maintained for their own good. Some things would be a snare to one person and not to another. Some churches insist on having no musical instruments in Worship, and others laugh at that. But we are free to choose the set of rules we will live under.
It’s always good to have an overseer, a leadership that reflects the kind of ‘walk’ God has given each of us to maintain. Whatever we decide is best for us, it is good if we remember to let our gentleness be evident on the subject. Especially when we discuss it with others who aren’t as ‘liberated’ as we feel we are.
Remember: Romans 14:1-4
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him
Because:
Romans 15:1-3
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
I have a tale to tell on myself in this area. I used to love really good rock music, I loved certain artists and kinds of guitar music. One day God convicted me of this and asked me to give up even what might seem the most innocuous of musicians and writers. So I gave up all secular music, I kept the Classical because of them were originally Praise and Worship anyway.
After this I was in the company of others and began to argue vehemently that they shouldn’t listen to any secular rock music either. Then I realized that the direction God had given me was only for me and I had to apologize and explain that it had been a personal revelation, and indeed it had propelled me into a deep appreciation of all praise and worship music and turned out was my own personal gateway into His presence. I found out that God wasn’t limiting me but was opening me up for a greater blessing. How Like God to do that for us.
God Bless
In Jude 22 it says:
Be merciful to those who doubt
Lord, when I see your will so clearly and I want to point it out to others to tell them of your rules remind me that you only have 10 and loving each other is the highest one for dealing with my fellow man. Help me to be gentle with others who haven’t been ‘enlightened’ as I am. Help me to have Mercy and to forgive as you have forgiven me, and let my gentleness be evident to all. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
BE A BLESSING
James 2:16-19 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 2 Corinthians 9:6-12Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
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;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; to be loved as to love.
I don't really need to say more, but that never stopped me before. If I have it in my means to help a need the Lord has shown me and I ignore it, I worse than an unbeliever. What do I have I earned ON MY OWN? What am I; did I grow anything I am in MY OWN GARDEN UNAIDED? WHAT IS MINE ANYWAY?What I am NOT saying:~I not saying to give to one person, only. ~I am not saying to impoverish yourself for others, UNLESS God asks you to.~Not all help is material or financial.~Just because I give doesn mean I will receive more later.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS, if I see a need I can fill I will try to fill it. One of the first rules is of course to Ask God. I gone off half-cocked a few times giving help to people and found out later when God reminded me that I am not that person source He is, that God had in mind something else for that need.
Matthew 10:6 Freely you have received, freely give
yet we need to be:
Matthew 11:28Therefore be as shrewd as snakes yet innocent as Doves.
I Matthew 5:42 Jesus said. to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
And yet: PR 22:26 Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;In fact we are to: PR 6:-51 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
This is yet another reason to Ask God first.
~~~
A man came across a beautiful beach and as he walked on the beach he started noticing more and more starfish stranded on the beach when the high tide went back out. He walked further and saw thousands of starfish and a young boy who was throwing them back in the ocean. He stopped and asked the boy, do you bother to rescue the starfish when clearly there is nothing you can do to make a difference to so many. The boy didn answer just kept on throwing them back. Again the man asked in a louder voice. The boy picked one up and looked carefully at the starfish just before he threw it also back into the sea, and he said, made a difference to that one, didn it? size=3>My Pastor likened all the problems in this world to ocean of trouble and all we can do each of us is to take out our own bucketful. If I see a bucket of trouble and I dump it out, it made a difference to that one, didn't it?
Lord, Help me to see the problems in this world others are going through as my problem as something I can do something about. Help me Lord to ask you first if it a need you want me to fill and provide the means for me to help. I ask that you give each of us so much blessing that we can bless others with what overflows from our cup. And help me Lord to open my hands and let go of what I seen as mine, share with others; to scoop my bucketful out of the world. In Jesus Name. Amen
POWER OF THE TONGUE
PR 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
“Be careful of your words”, he said , “Make them sweet, because you might have to eat them”. My favorite Pastor preached on this years ago. It must have made an impression because of all the things I’ve forgotten, I remembered his words.
How many times have I said something and wished I could take the words back. Hurtful things especially, sometimes just the tone of my voice was more harsh than I intended, or the choice of wording was a bit off or even way off. But our words, the sound keeps going. If you don’t believe it here’s something: Scientists say the universe is continually expanding at the speed of sound.
Gen 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
There’s the proof, God said let there be light and His words are still being obeyed.
What has this got to do with the power of the tongue? Well, what we speak into our lives is what is going to be manifest. If we speak much of how sick we are, we will be fighting our own bodies that we’ve programmed to be ill in order to get well. The computer programmers call it garbage in, garbage out. We are what we program ourselves to be. And our children tend to live up or down to our prophesies over them or *in their hearing*….
“You’ll never amount to a thing if you don’t quit being so lazy.” The child hears you’ll never amount to a thing, and you are Lazy.
“If you don’t start going out and making friends, you’ll always be on the outside looking in.” The child only hears, you’ll never be part of anything, you will never belong anywhere.
But we put these things in our own lives as well. I have a manual dexterity problem and when I get frustrated with trying to do simple things [yeah simple for you maybe!] like maneuvering a paperclip or other small object ; threading a needle or even buttoning my blouse! When these small, necessary tasks elude my abilities anymore I tend to call myself names, like “Stupid fingers!” Or “You worthless $%^@#@.” I’ve also been really sick for a very long time and I often succumbed to the temptation of talking about how sick I was. This made it hard to get well, after nearly a year, now, of working on getting myself healthy, reversing diabetes and get the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue under control, I’m making a lot of progress.
Psalms 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this--those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.
We sing that song which is strictly scriptural:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so:
Let the sick say, “ I am well.”
Let the weak say, “I am strong.”
So, I’ve changed my internal dialog too, I say, “I am healthy, Wealthy and Beautiful.” Hey why not! You have your affirmations, I have mine.
Here are some more verses to ponder:
Proverbs 25:11 A word aptly spoken, is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15:4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
And we cannot forget: "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech" (1 Peter 3:10).
Some of these are for our words to others and some for how our words affect ourselves.
But wait, the way we treat others does affect us. We are all in this together and there is nothing worse than seeing the effects our words have to mess up other people.
Lord, Help me to keep my Words only what You are speaking to my heart, Help me to be sweet to others and myself. Let the words from You shout to other’s hearts and those not from You, fall dead to the floor. And help me to be sweet on the inside; because I know no matter how bumped or jostled a cup full of sweetness will never spill any bitterness over its side. I cannot do this on my own Lord, I am so weak, but in You I am strong, and healed and rich! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Carpe Diem
That’s Latin for Seize the day. It means, don’t wait, Do it now.
2 Corinthinians 6:2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. ~Charles Richards
Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting. ~Dr. Seuss
Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think. ~Chinese Proverb
Live every day as if it were your last and then some day you'll be right. ~H.H. "Breaker" Morant
Go for it now. The future is promised to no one. ~Wayne Dyer
Every man dies. Not every man really lives. ~Braveheart
As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do. ~Something I've learned.
Sometimes we look at our lives and say, “Well, when I’m grown-up, I’ll be happy.” Then it’s, “When I get my driver’s license, I’ll be able to live a full life” Then, “When I get married, I’ll be happy.” Then, “After I have kids I’ll got back to school.”
The worst one is, “After I have my fun, after I’m all washed up, and old Then I’ll get saved. That’s when I’ll clean up my act and begin to follow Jesus’ example, I’ll be good then, I’ll be old and won’t care that I can’t have any fun.” This isn’t actually NOT what I was going to talk about, I just threw it in because I felt you were expecting it.
No, I want to talk about wasting our time, waiting to live, waiting for something to happen to us. I’ve known so many people who go to church and decide to leave because no one came up to them to make friends. Hahaha, guess what? They are waiting for you to come up to them!
If we spend our lives waiting for something else, we spend our lives doing nothing. Yes, lots of time we have to wait, but we should NEVER get in the habit of waiting. If we are in a time of inactivity it’s a good idea to do something. Let’s say you have a goal for your life and you have several steps to go through to get to your goal. If you have to wait for one step, go onto another or just do something else.
Some people say, “I don’t want to lose weight, or go back to school, or plant a fruit tree, because it will take so long to accomplish.” So, if it takes 5 years to finish school, you are planning to still be alive then, right? God willing, you could be better off in five years or you could be the same. The same five years go by, you are now skinnier, better educated, you are now in possession of a fruiting tree, whatever your five year goal is, there you are.
God wants us to stay occupied, to be busy to keep moving forward. I know this because I’m a victim of chronic inertia. You remember a body in motion tends to stay in motion…It’s hard for me to start that motion.
Jesus talked about this concept in: Luke19:11-26
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. `Put this money to work,' he said, `until I come back.'
"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, `We don't want this man to be our king.'
"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
"The first one came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
" `Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. `Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
"The second came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
"His master answered, `You take charge of five cities.'
"Then another servant came and said, `Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
"His master replied, `I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
"Then he said to those standing by, `Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
" `Sir,' they said, `he already has ten!'
"He replied, `I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. “
the second half of v13 "Put this money to work until I come back" - which in the King James Version is translated as "Occupy till I come"
I think this whole concept is best said in Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun-- all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
So, live life, work towards goals and enjoy it. Do it NOW!
Lord, I know I tend to spend much of my life in stasis, I procrastinate and wait for more favorable times, Forgive me for not occupying my time and help me to get motivated, I know with all those cattle You own; You must have a cattle prod lying around somewhere. Give me the occasional prod and get me moving to where You want me to go. In Jesus’ Name,
A LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL
Katy Brezger
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BOWING TO HIS WILL
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God nothing is impossible with God.""I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said" Then the angel left her.
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name.
Luke 1:35-49
We hardly even think about Mary, unless we are Roman Catholic, but here was a woman who was totally and completely in the Will of God; yet her lot was a very difficult one. She was hailed by an Angel who announced that she would bear the child the world would by turns revile and worship as Savior.
She did not say, no, I cannot, I am not married; what will the neighbors say? No, she asked how it could happen, and when told, she acquiesced without a whimper.
Now let me tell you that Nazareth was a very small town, and Mary, while betrothed was not married and believe me on this; sex outside of marriage just didn happen back then unless you wanted to risk being stoned to death, Literally. Small towns are not exactly noted for being kind to people who were not conventional, and an unmarried pregnant woman was treated like dirt by even her own family. In fact her parents probably reviled her daily for bringing this shame on them. No doubt this is why she took off and visited the only other person who could possibly understand, her elderly cousin Elizabeth, as the angel had told her, Elizabeth also even in her old age, was having a special Godly child.
Joseph was kind enough to not put her aside when he found out she was goods But that was not the end of it, not by a long shot. You can be sure that all these things were running through her mind when she bowed her head and agreed to the angel wishes.
In fact, when the time came for Joseph to be counted in Bethlehem, she did not need to go with him but went along, even so close to her due date. The long journey could not have been easy for her but getting away from angry pointing fingers and wagging tongues must have been like heaven to her.
Keep in mind here that Mary was right smack center in The Will of God; she was doing the biggest job in that or any time knowing for absolutely sure she was doing right, yet her lot was not easy.
How often have I said to God why? Why is my life so hard when I doing your will? Why are you allowing hardship when I doing all the do things and none of the do not things?
This time of the year we think about the Birth of our Savior. We sing about the sweet quiet little baby lying in hay in a cold stable rejected by the conventional hostelry, glorified by angels and worshipped by lowly sheep herders and exalted by wise men. But we are not thinking about how Jesus, that tiny baby grew up and knowing He had to die a horrible death, in fact He was slain from the foundation of the earth. So, he knew from the time he was old enough to know anything that this would be His end, yet He bowed to the Will of The Father and lived out a life that Glorified God, he taught, He healed, and raised the dead, all the while He did not spend his free time whinning to all who would listen that He would have to be crucified, feel sorry for me. No, He never even mentioned it until the end of his ministry when He had to let His Apostles know what was going to happen.
They call Him the man of Sorrows, but I will just bet He never gave it much thought until that last night when He prayed "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."Mark 14:36
He waited until the last minute to start being unhappy about the pain He would have to suffer. He bowed humbly to the Will of the Father as did Mary. Life was no picnic for Jesus either, I am sure He had no fancy SUV to ride around in nor any new picture taking Iphone either.
Yet here I sit with an imperfect life and I am pretty sure I am in The Will. "Why are You not rewarding me for all my faithful service?" Blech!
Jesus died for me, Mary suffered, St. Paul Suffered, all the Apostles were either killed right away or: St. John the Revelator was boiled in oil, didn die, so they banished him to an island. He was not killed in the boiling oil but I will bet it hurt pretty bad.
Lord, I am ashamed of my lack of faith, my whinning and not being grateful for your love and being alive, I ask that You in your graciousness forgive me for not bowing my head in submission as Mary did, as indeed all the Great Church Fathers and Mothers did who led the way. Teach me perfect obedience that I may Glorify and bless You in all that I do. In Jesus Name, Amen
Merry Christmas and a very bless New Year to all of you
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BEING CONTENT
The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Proverbs 19:23
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:10
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 3:5
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
As St. Paul said, know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty, but the secret is living in the Lord. Know He is who He says He is and what He says He will do He will do.
The first verse says the fear of the Lord leads to a life where we can be content and untroubled, no matter what our circumstances are we can rest in the knowledge that He is in control, so we can relax and quit worrying.
So what is the Fear of the Lord; everyone in the Bible was actually quaking on the ground when even an angel appeared before them. Perhaps if we actually beheld even the smallest part of his splendor we really be terrified. If the God who created all the heavens and earth, He who knows all; is all and is beyond all time showed himself to us we would be quaking. If we could really comprehend that God is not the Queen, not the President but much, much more, would we be suitably impressed, would we nod our head in acknowledgement or would we fall on our faces and wait on His pleasure?
I doubt that the God who tells us to come boldly before His throne, tells us He is our friend and brother, wants us quaking in fear of Him. But I am absolutely sure he wants us to be extremely reverent of is being.
What does that look like? Well First Jesus said: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37.
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.2 John 1:6.
Do you suppose that by obeying God we are showing the reverence due Him so that we are living right with Him and will be, as a result more content? I think it worth a try. I do know that the times I allowed myself to rest in the knowledge that He will bring me through all of life trials and temptations were the easiest times of my life.
I believe when the first verse cited says we wouldn be touched by trouble that while trouble tries to overwhelm us we can allow ourselves the luxury of letting Jesus handle all of that stuff, and if we are not troubled by trouble, we are content, no matter what our circumstances.
Lord, I seem to be having so much stuff intruding in my life that has caused me to worry and be in a state of unrest, instead of just remembering that you are my problem-solver. Please forgive me and help me to rejoice and not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make my requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. This is the real contentment I am aiming at. In Jesus Name, Amen
THE YEARS LOCUSTS HAVE EATEN
"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten--the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm--my great army that I sent among you.
Joel 2:25
lo·cust (lkst)
n.
1. Any of numerous grasshoppers of the family Acrididae, often migrating in immense swarms that devour vegetation and crops.
2. The seventeen-year locust.
~~~~
Locusts will eat everything in their path, nothing edible in the vegetable Kingdom will remain after a swarm.
The Lord makes us many promises in His Word, this is one of the most precious. We can all look back and see times in our lives that seemed barren and painful to us. We can, many of us see long years that felt like they’d never end while we were miserable. If this is you, then you can rest assured that there will be a time when he will make it all up to you.
You may be so down that you don’t know which direction is up, and many people are this sad or depressed around this time of year, but someday soon up will happen again.
I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber;
Psalms 121:1-3
I remember when I was first saved, I was in a deep depression [I was delivered from it later] but at the time when I found the locust verse in the Bible I had a terrible time believing it. Yet, He is Faithful. After that when I would go through trials I’d think of the locusts and how God would restore me as He did Job.
When times are hard I’d recommend reading Job. Here was a man who lost everything. He lost his herds and children and his wealth. Even his friends came around and accused Job of not being Godly enough. Then his wife said “Why not just curse God and die.” Poor Job, but Job hung in there; he trusted in God, yes he had his moments but all-in-all he believed God would restore him and God did. In fact Job had more children and more wealth than he had had before.
Job had the years he had lost; restored and he was even better off than before. All God asks you to do is keep on doing the job He has ordained for your life, to be faithful in His service and you too will be restored.
How long was it after I was saved before my depression was gone? Seven years, But the ones after have been wonderful. Sometimes our Valley times can last a long time but the mountain top afterwards is lovely, and those Valley times are not all bad, it is in that time we learn how to lean into God, no one learns much on the mountain top.
Usually the Valley times end when we have learned what God wanted us to, I was stubborn and willful and it took much longer, now I know when God tells me He wants me to do something, I obey as rapidly as possible.
We all have a different walk from everyone else. God deals with all of us as individuals so I would never try to convince anyone there is a formula, but some Biblical truths are for all of us. His promises to us are universal and He insists on being number one in our lives, other things are not the same for us all. We all have our own calling, We all have our own special moments with the Lord. For me it is Praise and Worship, For others it is the time and place of prayer. For all of us the Valley/Mountaintop times will happen, but they manifest in many different ways.
Lord, I need your help, I have doubts and times when I can’t force myself to believe, Times when life gets so hard, or the problems pile up, or when I am so alone, that I feel you are not close to me, It is in that time I know I’ve wandered away, not you. Give me the faith to know you are who you say you are, the restorer of years lost to locusts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
JEALOUS GOD
Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!" JEREMIAH 16:20
Commandment #1 "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. EXODUS 20:43-6 And just in case we forget we are reminded: "Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." DEUTERONOMY 4:23-24
"This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." JEREMIAH 17:5-10
The Lord wants us to worship Him only, to trust Him only, to desire His counsel over all other things, all other desires, all other passions. He wants His people to abide in Him to be rooted in Him, to keep Him on the Throne of our hearts. Addictions and yearnings that are not of Him are gods we set up to worship and serve, even to the setting up of ourselves on that Throne.
I remember a time when I was given a Word over me that included an indictment that I had put myself on that Throne and was serving only myself. I was horrified, but of course it was true. And it an ongoing problem. Too many times I found myself wanting things God
When I was homeless I asked God, not expecting much of an answer, why I was in this awful position and how to get out of it, He said in me. Not in an audible voice but I knew
I moved a lot in my life, I started out as a baby in the household of an Army officer who moved us at least every three years and sometimes [often] three times a year. I kept that up as an Adult. I very mobile by nature; once I moved 13 times in 18 months! I putting down roots now, it not easy, but I already putting down roots in Jesus, so the physical roots will follow.
God wants me rooted and abiding in Him because he is a jealous God who desires my full devotion.
And with the Lord favor comes:
"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." DEUTERONOMY 20:4
Lord, so many times I put myself on your throne, scooted You over and took on your responsibilities vis- my life. I know you want my whole life; given over to service to You. I need Your help to quell my restless spirit, to stop, reach my tiny roots down in your fertile soil, so I can begin to bloom here where You have planted me. So I can abide in Your presence, stay in Your will. In Jesus Name, Amen
PRACTICE HOSPITALITY
Romans 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
hos·pi·tal·i·ty (hsp-tl-t)
n. pl. hos·pi·tal·i·ties
1. Cordial and generous reception of or disposition toward guests.
2. An instance of cordial and generous treatment of guests.
[Middle English hospitalite, from Old French, from Latin hospitlits, from hospitlis, of a guest; see hospital.]
hospitality
Noun
pl -ties kindness in welcoming strangers or guests
Practicing hospitality is not just something one does in their own homes. It is also treating strangers cordially. I’ve been to many communal dinners at Churches and picnics for Churches and have noticed that people tend to clump in family groupings leaving single people, widows and those whose families are missing all alone. Well I’m here to tell you that if you are at a communal dinner and sit only with your own family or clique, you are better off just going home.
In fact I went to one breakfast held by a church I was going to. I sat at the last table by myself and hoped someone would come sit with me. I was a single woman over 50 then. I sat eating my food until the pastor’s son came over and told me to move so a largish family could sit there. Ther was plenty of room at the table and I could have sat with them, but was told to get up and move so I took my plate, tossed it in the trash and went home. A Church that allows people to sit in close family groupings and does not provide for single people, widows and the stranger are simply breaking God’s rule of practicing hospitality.
St. Paul wrote:
1CORINTHIANS 11:17 22 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
I know this is about people who greedily eat communal food and don’t leave much for others but the concept of leaving others out of Fellowship is also addressed here. Divisions are not Godly, keeping oneself or one’s families away from contact with others who might be lonely is the height of rudeness.
One wants to stand up and say, if you want to huddle in your little family enclaves why not just go home to eat.
Lord, I know I’ve noticed this and I’m sure you showed it to me because other’s too have felt the sting of being excluded in gatherings that were meant as ways of drawing people together. I ask that you forgive me for any time I may have cliqued in with others and not included those who may be lonely and in pain. I also ask that you forgive people who have drawn away from me and left me alone and lonely. In Jesus’ Name.
A LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL
Katy Brezger
webriter@verizon.net
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