“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13: 7
“Jesus, you are soooo right! I mean, I can see some things You’re doing with my life. But just like the Apostle Paul so eloquently said… we see things imperfectly now; as if we’re looking in a cloudy mirror.”
My faith has gotten a lot stronger than what it was when I was a baby Christian, and it’s entirely because of the ups and downs in my life – more downs than ups (boy… there have been, and still are). What does the Bible say about being tried in the fire? It says despite being tried in the fire, I’m coming out as gold! I believe that. I really do believe that. I read something along these lines that I think will be a great interpretation of what Jesus means by “not understanding the way He does things”…
In the reign of King Solomon, the Bible speaks of the majestic Cedar trees in Lebanon; cedar trees that were the pride of the forest. If just for a minute we can imagine what those trees, the kings of the forest, would have looked like… They were strong and withstood many storms, which made their roots sink deeper and deeper into the earth. These mighty trees were home to many birds, as they would build their nests in its branches. The tree provided shade from the midday heat and offered shelter from raging storms.
Now imagine that one day axmen come into the forest - immediately our focus turns to those magnificent trees. We know that men with axes mean only one thing… “Timber,” the axmen yell as each noble tree, one by one come crashing to the ground. If cutting them down isn't bad enough, we see the axmen mercilessly stripping her of her branches. How devastating! If I didn’t know the rest of the story, I would think this was the end.
My friends, does this sound at all familiar? Could we be at a place in our lives where we are like these cedars of old? God’s ax of trials have stripped us bare. We see no reason and no understanding for such harsh and difficult circumstances. Next, we watch as those fallen and devastated trees are put on a raft and sailed across the Mediterranean. Can you see where this story is going?
We finally see these trees being polished and placed as glorious beams in the Temple of God. I’ll leave you with this scripture…
“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house.” Haggai 2: 9
You go before me... You shield my way... Your hand upholds me... I know you love me...
Awesome words. I wasn't planning to blog today. Even though I've sung along with this song a hundred times before, that particular chorus stands out. This is really mind-blowing for me... out of all that is wrong with my world, HE IS SHIELDING MY WAY!! In Lamentations 3: 22, we read that it could be much worse than it already is!
"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not." NJKV
"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we are kept from complete destruction." NLT
I thought mentioning this would be of so much value, encouraging us to persevere in this race of faith. Whatever circumstance or situation we're facing in our lives, the prophet Jeremiah lets us know that the Holy Spirit is holding back all of the evil that could overwhelm and destroy us. In other words, He has a leash on the "prince of this world."
"The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust." Psalm 103: 13-14
Take heart, my brothers and sisters. Remember that nothing in front of you is more powerful than the power behind you! Have a great night, and enjoy this beautiful song...
Today we are back on track with the prophet Amos. To recap, Amos collided with the false religious leaders of his day. He opposed false prophets who were proclaiming “Peace, Peace” for the nation of Judah. But it most certainly was a false peace - false security that mirrors today, starting with the church. I think two of the most important characteristics we can adopt are Amos’s boldness and courage to ignore danger and stand against sin.
“What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.” Ecclesiastes 3: 15
When I read messages about judgment in the Bible, I always think of those verses in Ecclesiastes. When I take a good look at this book, especially at the first half of this book… one word stands out, and that word is COMPLACENCY. Complacency is another word for self-satisfaction, self-righteousness, and contentment…. WITHOUT GOD!! This is a loaded word… it’s an accident waiting to happen!! Please realize that we are no different from the people Amos was prophesying to.
A complacent present leads to a disastrous future. Don’t congratulate yourself for the blessings and benefits you now enjoy. They are from God. If you are more satisfied with yourself than with God, remember that everything is meaningless without Him. A self-sufficient attitude may be your downfall. And insincere lip service to God is just as bad…
“I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
I will not listen to the music of your harps
Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” Amos 5: 21-24
God tells us He hates worship by people who go through the motions only for show. If we’re living sinful lives and using religious rituals and traditions to make ourselves look good, the Bible says God will despise our worship and not accept what we offer. He wants sincere hearts, not praise from hypocrites! So a good question to ask is when you worship, are you merely concerned with your image rather than your attitude towards God?
“Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel? No, you served your pagan gods—Sakkuth your king god and Kaiwan your star god—the images you made for yourselves. So I will send you into exile, to a land east of Damascus, says the Lord, whose name is the God of Heaven’s Armies.” Amos 5: 25-27
Think about the message throughout the entire Bible… Because the Israelites refused to worship and obey the one true God, they caused their own destruction. It's a good idea to remember and meditate on Ecclesiastes 3: 15.
As we evangelize the lost--we, who are the peacemakers… usually stir up antagonism and strife! Us peacemakers make war with others by our own Gospel message! Why?
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” John 3: 19
No one wants to hear they’re a sinner and they need to repent. The Bible tells us point blank they are not interested in giving their sin up. Let’s look at what Jesus has to say about this…
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Matthew 10: 34-36
Being committed as Christians may separate friends and loved ones. In saying this, Jesus wasn’t encouraging disobedience to parents or conflict at home. He was showing us that His presence demands a decision. Of course conflict is going to arise because some will follow Christ and some won’t. As we take up our cross and follow Jesus, our different values, morals and goals will definitely set us apart. Bottom line… the message of peace brings strife!
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5: 9
What exactly is peace? By the world’s definition, peace is the absence of war and conflict. I think if anything, history has taught us there is no true peace… that is, there is no true peace apart from God. Oh- there may be a temporary cease fire or a truce, but no true peace! The Bible has much to say about man's wickedness and lack of peace. Humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God. We must remember who we are in His sight—alienated sinners. Man is a violent creature, always having one conflict after another. Here are a few scripture verses that speak of this…
“Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3: 15-18
“But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Isaiah 57: 20
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God?” James 4: 1-4
I really like James—he tells it like it is! Quarrels and fights among believers are always harmful. James explains that these conflicts result from evil desires battling within us. When we don’t get what we want, we fight in order to have it. Unless our sinful natures are brought under submission to Jesus and we have a change of heart, we will never have peace! Biblically, God tells us that peace is all about resolving conflict. It’s all about reconciliation—“Once you were enemies with someone, now you are friends.” The Bible tells us that those who have peace with God, have been reconciled with Him through the death of His Son. The unsaved have no peace, like I said… they may have truces or quiet moments, but they won’t obtain true peace. They may not be openly hostile, most are probably nice people… but they will always have unresolved conflict.
So what is a peacemaker? It has nothing to do with a peaceful demeanor, tranquil heart or personal peace with your inner being… that’s the peace of God. Jesus tells us that citizens of His Kingdom carry the message of the gospel, telling others how to make peace with God. Citizens of His Kingdom are eager to let others know how they can be changed from an enemy of God to a friend of God! They are actively telling others about the real Prince of Peace! War ends when we embrace what Jesus did for us at the cross!
“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 18-20
But there’s an irony in this. Stay tuned to find out what that irony is…
My Memoir has been available in book form for awhile now. But something so special to me is that our Pastor arranged to have my memoir announced at our church, and for me to have a book signing. It's special because I see these people every Sunday, and since we have a large congregation, the majority don't know me... so now they can get to know the person behind the disability. They can read my story! That means so much to me. Praise the Lord... He is so Awesome!! So here are some pics my husband took.
Remember my dear friend, Nancy? She has an awesome testimony she wants to share with all of you. Pay close attention to the encouraging words God gave her. One word from God changes everything...
Praise, glory, and honor to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Help me Jesus. May there be MORE of thee and less of me. Amen.
Greetings, my friends, my name is Nancy. I love Jesus and Jesus loves me. My goal is to be a bold witness for Jesus Christ. He is the very essence of my life. He is my life. I am thankful for every opportunity to talk about Jesus. I love to talk about Jesus.
Four days after walking a half marathon, I was stricken by an allergic reaction to the laminating machine at school (a petrochemical). I was unable to breathe and was taken to the ER. This, my friends, was the tipping point of a downward spiral where my body was careening totally out of control. I was weakening by the minute. Pulmonologists, cardiologists, rheumatologists, and the top doctors at the University of Penn, all admitted that there was “something” wrong with me; however, they did not know what it was.
That was the beginning of my “medical mystery marathon”. I am practicing alternative medicine. I have had many types of procedures done. I had all of the mercury removed from my mouth. I had root canals extracted. I have done chelation. I am presently very allergic to my environment. The scent of perfume or cologne will stop my breathing. I cannot shop at fabric stores or the malls because of the formaldehyde that they spray on clothing. The same applies to carpeting and building materials. I cannot use fluoride in my toothpaste. I cannot swim in a pool and need a special filter on my shower for the chlorine in the water. I have trouble at the grocery store from the out gassing of the products there. I can only use unscented products on my body or in my home. I am not able to travel well. My environment is toxic.
I am now “disabled” and have trouble walking from here to my car in the parking lot. All of this forced me into early retirement. Others think that early retirement is great. Friends, let me tell you that early retirement with disability is not great. You lose your job, your income, your friends, your family, your mobility, your health, and your life as you once knew it.
BUT GOD promised me in January 2007 when I was most ill, in Psalms 118:17 I WILL NOT DIE BUT LIVE, AND WILL PROCLAIM WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE.
Friends, the Lord has sustained me through all of this, He has provided, he has encouraged me, he has supported me, he has given me friends, he has loved me. The scriptures tell me, DRAW CLOSE TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW CLOSE TO ME (James 4:8). I know that he has a plan for my life. FOR I AM GOD’S MASTERPIECE. HE HAS CREATED ME ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO I CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE HAS PLANNED FOR ME LONG AGO. (Ephesians 2:10) That plan is not clear, But I will be obedient to all that he asks of me. The Lord says, “I WILL GUIDE YOU ALONG THE BEST PATHWAY FOR YOUR LIFE. I WILL ADVISE YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU. (Psalm 32:8). He tells us in His word that HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US.
God has not chosen to heal me. God tells me in Joel 2:25 I WILL RESTORE TO YOU THE YEARS THAT THE SWARMING LOCUST HAS EATEN. He tells me in Zechariah 9:12, I WILL REPAY TWO BLESSINGS FOR EACH OF YOUR TROUBLES. Friends, God does not lie. These are promises that I stand on, they cause hope to well up on the inside of my soul. God can do what man cannot. I know who I am, and Who’s I am. 1 Peter 4:19 says, IF YOU ARE SUFFERING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL, KEEP ON DOING WHAT IS RIGHT; AND TRUST YOURSELF TO THE ONE WHO MADE YOU, FOR HE WILL NEVER FAIL YOU. In 2 Corinthians, chapter 12 Paul tells us that he was given a thorn in his flesh. In verses 8 and 9, Paul says, THREE DIFFERENT TIMES I BEGGED THE LORD TO TAKE IT AWAY. EACH TIME HE SAID, “MY GRACE IS ALL YOU NEED. MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS.” In other words, I won’t take it away, but I’ll help you manage it. I’ll empower you with enough strength, in a way that will make others able to see My Power in your life.
Friends, every single moment, the Lord gives me breath. I am trusting Him for my every breath. As long as the Lord provides that very breath, I will continue to tell others all that the Lord has done for me and how very great He is. I will do so until He decides to remove that breath from me.
On June 1, 2010, I was given the diagnosis of Scleroderma. This diagnosis started to “get the best of me”. I have read some alarming things about Scleroderma. The diagnosis was bigger than me. However, during the middle of the night, the Lord woke me and spoke very loud and clear, “you have Scleroderma, but you have Jesus.”
In closing, I consider my present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to me!!!!!!!!!! My eyes are on the glory!!!! (Romans 8:18)
I serve a mighty God and I praise and thank Him for all that He does for me. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
He was only a humble shepherd, but God gave Amos a profound vision of the future, and told him to take His message to Israel, the northern kingdom. Amos obeyed. He was a man of God. I think this teaching and the study of this book will take a few posts. And as we read and meditate on this book, we really need to listen; perhaps even put ourselves in the shoes of the Israelites who initially heard these words from God. Perhaps we need to silently ask ourselves… Have we grown self-satisfied and smug? Have other concerns taken God’s place in our lives? Do we ignore those in need or oppress the poor? Amos was bold and brutally truthful in denouncing sin. He wasn’t intimidated by priests or kings. Sad but true… many of the conditions in Israel during Amos’s time are evident in today’s society.
This book opens as God is giving a message to Amos. First let me set the stage and give you a little background on the condition of Israel at this time: They were politically at the height of their power, and enjoyed peace and economic prosperity. Idolatry and hypocritical religious notions replaced true worship. They were morally and spiritually bankrupt! They had become a selfish, materialistic society, who ignored the needs of others and were totally indifferent to God.
The message God gave was an announcement of judgment - First condemning all of the nations who had sinned against Him and His people, and then - pronouncing judgment on the nation of Israel itself! So can you imagine being one of the Israelites hearing Amos’ rendition of God’s message? How they must have enjoyed hearing words of God’s denunciation on Aram, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab. I can almost hear the Israelites shouting, “Amen!!” How the tables must have been turned when Amos suddenly turned to the people of Israel and pronounced God’s judgment on them! Unlike the pagan nations who were condemned for what they had done to other peoples, Israel’s sins were committed against fellow Israelites. They had taken men into slavery for nonpayment of debt and foreclosed on mortgages of petty amounts. And they had done all this in spite of God’s efforts to teach them righteous ways.
“The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the Lord, refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors. So I will send fire on Judah, and all the fortresses of Jerusalem will be destroyed.”
This is what the Lord says:
“The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished!
They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals.
They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way.
Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting my holy name.
At their religious festivals, they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security.
In the house of their God, they drink wine bought with unjust fines.” Amos 2: 4-8
Wow, these words should be taken as a warning to our society also. The Israelites were greedy and unjust, and they took advantage of the helpless. This reminds me of something my friend and I were talking about last night… she was telling me that some of the well-known Pharmaceutical companies grossed billions and billions of dollars in profit last year! That is enough to break your heart when you realize that all or most of that money is gained on the backs of helpless and hurting people:( Today is just an introduction to this book. We can get many insights here. More to come on Amos…
I hope everyone of my friends in the US had a blessed holiday. But whoever the Son sets free is FREE INDEED!!!!
I love the song "Hero" by Mariah Carey. Beautiful words... I had no clue what those words meant before I met Jesus.Mariah may have not known it, but as far as I'm concerned... she was singing prophetically over my life! I just want to share a portion of a post I wrote last year about this very song. Every time I hear it I cry...
Back in 2000 is when this crazy disease appeared, I went from doctor to doctor trying to find a diagnosis... I knew there was something wrong, but all of the medical tests said my health was normal. But how could that be with the crazy stuff going on with my body? So the doctors I saw just sent me to physical therapy- in hopes exercise or something could get me better- They didn't know. Well it was at one of those visits to physical therapy; lying on one of the matted tables doing some crazy weight lifting exercises (I was so distraught knowing that they were doing absolutely nothing to improve my walking and coordination problems), when the song "Hero" by Mariah Carey started playing on the intercom. So there I was- doing these stupid exercises and listening to Mariah…
"There's a hero… if you look inside your heart... You don't have to be afraid of what you are…There's an answer… if you reach into your soul...And the sorrow that you know… will melt away… And then a hero comes along… with the strength to carry on...And you cast your fears aside… and you know you can survive...So when you feel like hope is gone…look inside you and be strong…And you’ll finally see the truth…that a hero lies in you.”
As I’m listening to these words I’m saying to myself… “I need answers. I'm trying so hard, and I'm looking inside myself. I'm not strong enough. I don't get it.” My eyes started tearing. “I’m hurting so bad. I just don't get it. I’m no hero. What does this song mean?”
In the past few days, I've listened to this and cried and cried. But this time, they were tears of joy because I've finally gotten it! God has been trying to get the message across to me that Jesus is my hero!! God gave me the answer 9 years ago, but I just didn't understand. The lyrics continue..."You can find love... if you look within your soul, and the emptiness you know will disappear."
Keep in mind that at that time I was unsaved. I was sharing this revelation with the ladies in my NEVER ALONE group, and one of them gave me the scripture..."While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me."
And you will finally see the truth. That a hero lies in you." Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!
"When I was hemmed in, Thou hast freed me often." Psalm 4: 1
Today I read this poem, and I believe it to speak volumes of walking by faith, trusting in the omnipotence and providence of God Almighty, and it also speaks of Spiritual Warfare. So be encouraged, dear soul...
The devil may wall you 'round But he cannot roof you in He may fetter your feet and tie your hands And strive to hamper your soul with bands As his way has ever been; But he cannot hide the face of God And the Lord shall be your light, And your eyes and your thoughts can rise to the sky, Where His clouds and His winds and His birds go by, And his stars shine out at night.
The devil may wall you 'round; He may rob you of all things dear He may bring his hardest and roughest stone And thinks to cage you and keep you alone, But he may not press too near; For the Lord has planted a hedge inside, and has made it strong and tall, A hedge of living and growing green; And ever it mounts and keeps between The trusting soul and the devil's wall.
The devil may wall you 'round, But the Lord's hand covers you, And His hedge is a thick and thorny hedge And the devil can find no entering wedge Nor get his finger through; He may circle about you all day long, But he cannot work as he would, For the will of the Lord restrains his hand, And he cannot pass the Lord's command And his evil turns to good.
The devil may wall you round With his grey stones, row on row, But the green of the hedge is fresh and fair, And within its circle is space to spare, And room for your soul to grow; the wall that shuts you in May be hard and high and stout, But the Lord is sun and the Lord is dew, And His hedge is coolness and shade for you, And no wall can shut Him out.
So why do I have the book of Lamentations on my heart today? This is a book about grief, written by Jeremiah, also known as “The weeping prophet." Lamentations is a book of tears; a funeral song written for the fallen city of Jerusalem, as its people were exiled into Babylon. A few months ago we were studying the Minor Prophets, and things kind of gotten sidetracked! And getting sidetracked is not a bad thing when God's in it - remember that everything has a season and a purpose. Today I was reading this verse of scripture in Lamentations…
“The elders no longer sit in the city gates; the young men no longer dance and sing. Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.” 5: 14-15
What was in the margin next to those verses is what really stood out to me, almost begging for my attention... Amos 8: 10 was referenced for those verses in Lamentations. If you remember, Amos just happens to be the next Minor Prophet book we were studying before things got sidetracked (God-tracked)! These words, along with the words in verses 11-13 are as follows…
“I will turn your celebrations into times of mourning and your singing into weeping. You will wear funeral clothes and shave your heads to show your sorrow—as if your only son had died. How very bitter that day will be.”
“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.
People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.
Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the Lord’s word.”
The people had no appetite for God’s word when prophets like Amos brought it. Because of their apathy, God said He would take away even the opportunity to hear His Word. Many still look everywhere for answers to life's problems except in scripture. God’s Word is available to us now.. This means we have to help people know it before a time comes when they can’t find it.
We need to keep our focus on Jesus. We can’t have one foot in the world, and the other foot in the things of God. Jesus said whoever or whatever we spend our time on, that’s where our heart is; and that is what masters us! So back on track with Amos!
My husband and I are working together to make some pretty cool stuff...
Michael recently started using a site called SMUGMUG to showcase pictures he takes for his clients. He uploads his photo files there and SMUGMUG makes the photos available in various sizes. There is also some really cool merchandise available with your photos on it (Stuff like mousepads, mugs, magnets, cards, etc.)!
I'm excited because there is a gallery on my husband's site called Photos by Michael~Designs by Lori. Basically, my very talented husband takes photos(usually flowers and beautiful girly things), then I put a beautiful design or filter on them, and then add scripture! Also, I tried to make pricing affordable for whichever size print or whatever merchandise available. All I can say is God is good! So we'll see how this goes. Check out our new gallery... If you have time, I'd love any feedback!
Oh, FYI - if you decide to order, make sure you have it cropped so the scripture doesn't cut off!
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5: 8
Only the pure in heart – they, and they alone, will see God. So the question is… What does pure of heart mean? In order to understand what a “pure” heart is, we need to first identify what Jesus means by “the heart.” In scripture, the heart is almost always identified as the foundation or the seat of our inner person. It’s the source of where everything in our mind flows from. It’s essentially the center of our personality... the center of our being... our inner man. The problem is that all of us are born with fallen hearts, and this is the issue of life. It’s our root problem…
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6: 5
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17: 9
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51: 10
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4: 23 “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” Matthew 12: 34-35
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds.”
OK, what about a pure heart? To make things interesting - in the Greek language, pure was often referred to as a cleansing, especially with metals, removing the impurities or any foreign elements that would “corrupt” the metal. Like metal, aren't we being tried by fire to remove all of the dross and impurities in our lives? A pure heart requires a change of heart, a cleansing that can only be given by God at salvation; He gives us an uncompromising devotion to Jesus Christ. It’s not that we have a perfect pure heart – none of us do, but that we have a desire to be single-minded of Christ…
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. I want to do what is good, but I don’t (again, look at Paul’s desire). I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.” Romans 7: 15, 19, 21-23
“I delight to do your will, O my God. And your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8
“Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts.” Psalm 119: 2
“I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (my natural inclination is to wander from your commands, so your word is in my heart!)” Psalm 119: 11
David messed up and failed so often, but God said he was a man after His heart.
“… For they shall see God.” I believe the latter part of this Beatitude speaks of NOW and the future. Even while on this earth we are separated from Him, we see with the eyes of faith… we see The Living God on the pages of scripture. As true believers, we also see God in creation, trials, mundane and ordinary events, etc... He’s everywhere we look! And here’s a awesome truth…If we couldn’t see Him, we couldn’t persevere! Amen?
"It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the One who is invisible.” Hebrews 11: 27
Nobody willingly walks down the road to Calvary. There is no human being who has ever been eager to embrace the cross. This isn’t going to be a message or an article that gives you the warm fuzzies… I’m talking about suffering. I’ve been blogging for two years, and I hope you have confidence in my words, knowing that I will always speak the truth as I know it to be from God’s Word. My purpose in anything I write is to bring glory to God through writing about my daily experiences. When I say “embracing the cross,” I don’t mean loving and accepting what Jesus has done for you. Anybody can do that. I’m speaking about death – your death.
Sometimes (well, most of the time), through God's mercy, we are forced to walk down the road to Calvary. It's a road that speaks of genuine brokenness and a crushing of self, which is used to afflict the heart and conquer the mind . Your way of thinking and the dependence of the earthly things that bring you comfort are stripped away to make you learn who you really are. You learn that you have absolutely no control over your life… the loss of something you hold dear, something maybe you take for granted, something in your world that is so important. This could be any number of things, but because I lost my health, we’re going to talk about that.
I get it. I know why there are so many out there who don’t know what God says about suffering… “If everything is OK in my world, why should I even go there?” is a common thought among believers. Yes, it’s generally the way most (but certainly not all!) healthy Christians/Believers think. Even though I wasn’t a believer when I thought the world was at my feet, I pretty much thought the same. The death of my “perfect world” has caused me to find those treasures in the darkness God talks about…
“And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches.” Isaiah 45: 3
God has performed a spiritual heart transplant on me… and that spurs me on to be a voice for disabled/suffering people, who fall prey to others who claim to know Christ, yet can be so hurtful with the words they say. I think this best describes what I am trying to say, so I’ll quote this from Streams in the Desert (you know how I love this book…LOL) –
“Today many people are attempting to use their mental capacity and logical thinking to obtain sanctification, yet this is nothing but a religious fabrication. They believe that if they just mentally put themselves on the altar and believe the altar provides the gift of sanctification, they can then logically conclude they are fully sanctified. Then they go happily on their way, expressing their flippant, theological babble about the “deep” things of God.
Yet the heartstrings of their old nature have not been broken, and their unyielding character, which they inherited from Adam, has not been grounded to powder. Their soul has not throbbed with the lonely, gushing groans of Gethsemane. Having no scars from their death on Calvary, they will exhibit nothing of the soft, sweet, gentle, restful, victorious, overflowing, and triumphant life that flows like a spring morning from an empty tomb.” G.D.W.
This has been on my heart for a few days. Know I love you. And I just want to tell those with anything going on with your health… as long as you are surrendered to Jesus, you are exactly where He wants you to be. So please don’t pay any attention to what other “Christians” may say regarding your physical circumstance… You are being tried by fire, and if you hold on you will come out as gold!
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1: 12
Let me be a voice of encouragement today! I know some of us, at times, think our prayers are just bouncing off the ceiling and not being heard. If that’s the case, I want you to think about the life of Jesus… When we read about Him in the Scriptures, did He ever turn anyone away? He never rejected anyone who came to Him. For some of us, our prayer requests have not been answered. Ahhh, there it is… But our prayers have been answered! Here’s what God says…
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5: 14-15
The emphasis here is His will, not our will. We don’t demand what we want (Hmmm… maybe that’s why??), rather we discuss with Him what He wants for us. If we’re abiding in Christ and living in accordance with His commands, we can be confident our will is lined up with His will, and we won’t be inclined to request something that’s out of God’s will.
That’s the key – His will, not ours. Chew on that, my friends…
"Please allow Clayton's God inspired message to move in your hearts. There are so many things in this life that distract us from understanding what is truly important." ~God Tube
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5: 7
The fifth beatitude is all about true love and true compassion. True mercy is something so uncommon in our society. In this beatitude, Jesus is describing mercy as a quality of citizens of the Kingdom. The basic concept is... compassion for those in need, taking steps to alleviate the pain and misery of others.
"For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another (I remember when I "hated the world"). But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3: 3-7
Paul is saying that we have been changed on the inside-given a new heart (Ezekiel 36: 26), and because God is merciful... we're also motivated to be merciful. Have you ever run into people who are all talk and no action? I think all of us have. If we just say "Well... I'll pray for you," but have the resources to meet that person's needs, James says that our words are worthless...
"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
There are many practical ways to show mercy. If we take a look in Matthew 25, Jesus talks about meeting physical, emotional, and social needs...
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me, I was in prison, and you visited me.
And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers or sisters, you were doing it to me!" Matthew 25; 34-36, 40
You'd be surprised how many lonely people are out there. Think of people who are isolated from the world because of an illness... think of people in nursing homes - visiting someone who's old and somewhat forgotten, or maybe you can comfort someone who is greiving... not comfort them with a sermon, but just comfort them by physically being there. Can you think of someone who may need encouragement... maybe just a phone call or an email would make all the difference in the world to them?
I believe God laid the word "Fortitude" on my heart today. So the first thing I did today was do a Google search on the word. Here's what I found...
"The gift of fortitude brings to those who have it a dauntless spirit of resolution, firmness of mind, and indomitable will to persevere with a quiet faith in God’s providence that overcomes all obstacles. It also brings courage to persist in the practice of virtue despite trials, illness, persecution or external failure. "
Just like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz, sometimes we all need... c-c-c-ourage!!
Check this out - while I was googling "fortitude" I came across this, and to really understand we need to trace things back to the nature of life in Biblical times. A fort is where this word comes from. To protect themselves and to be secure, humans gathered together under the safeguard of a fort...
"Forts took one of two forms. Either the city itself was a fort because it had a protective wall with strong gates for entry and towers for observation and defense, or a fort was nearby, dedicated to being a refuge in siege and the place where military men served to observe and protect not only the nearby city but also key roads and routes of travel. This is why the tone of the gift of"Fortitude" is one of unflappability, constancy and reliability. The fort is always there and is watchful, since being alert and on guard is as important as one's skill in actual defensive battle. One can think of the fort as being like what we call today "homeland security." A person who has the gift of "Fortitude" is like a person who serves as either their own and their family's self-contained "fort of refuge" or a person who is secure in knowing that a fort of refuge is nearby."
That's very interesting; even though we don't find the word "fortitude" in the Bible, how many times is God compared and referred to as a secure fortress and mighty strong tower? So here's my take on fortitude... a person who has "fortitude" has a calm, quiet spirit in the face of life's greatest adversities; they know without a doubt their God is so much bigger than anything that comes up against them in life...
"No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Isaiah 54: 17
A person with fortitude doesn't sweat the small stuff, but knows where their priorities lay. This person is not only looking out for themselves, but truly concerned, protective, and caring of others. It's a gift of the Holy Spirit; true fortitude can only come from God's own heart.
What’s the opinion you hold about yourself? A sermon from my church’s teaching pastor this past Sunday is playing over and over in mind, so I think I’ll share it with you…
To an unbeliever, this is the only life we have, and it’s only natural for them to strive for the things this world holds dear and extremely important: money, popularity, prestige, pleasure, and power. Right at this moment, I want you to seriously think about the importance you are assigning to “things.” Be honest with yourself… Your nice big home? Your job status—does it define the way you think of yourself? Do you have an Ivy School education, and nobody’s education compares to yours? Are you blessed with material stuff and lots of comfort things? These things are certainly blessings, but we must remember that all of these things were given to us… they were not gained by our own merit. Some of us actually think they were??
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2: 20
Paul is laying out the truth… You’re opinion about yourself must die. Legally, God looks at us as if we had died with Christ. My dear brothers and sisters, I love all of you with and because of the love of Christ. I only ask you to examine your lives. I will leave you with these scriptures…
“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise, you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” James 4: 13-17
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5: 6
Essentially what this means is… the mark of true conversion is that you want to grow. That is the striking difference between citizens of the Kingdom and everybody else. But what does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness? The Bible speaks of “Imputed Righteousness,” which in other words is a legal righteousness or justification – something only God can do on our behalf; God gives us the legal right to be righteous with Him through Christ, which is internally done at the second birth…
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Corinthians 5: 21
“But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” Romans 3: 21-22
I’m a truth teller,and will always tell you what God says in the Bible… if I step on toes I am just the messenger. Let me spend a moment showing you what Paul says about Abraham…
“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have something to boast about, but that was not God’s way. For the scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Romans 4: 1-3
The Jews were proud to be descendants of Abraham. Paul uses Abraham as a good example of someone who was saved by faith. By emphasizing faith, Paul is not saying that God’s law isn’t important, but only that it’s impossible to be saved simply by obeying it.
“But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why Not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law, instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,
I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble,
A rock that makes them fall
But anyone who trusts in him
Will never be disgraced.” Romans 9: 30-32
There is a horrible teaching in some churches which says, “You can make Jesus your Savior without submitting to Him as Lord—you can trust Him to save you, but it’s really optional that you obey Him—it’s preferable, but it’s really up to you.” Let’s look at what Jesus says…
“If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31
So the fourth beatitude is essentially this… True believers can’t live without Him—just as a starving man can’t live without food. One more scripture…
“Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3: 13-14
We are not content with just Salvation, we keep growing!
O my goodness ~ I am sitting here crying because of the pure TRUTH of God's Word (crying tears of joy, and just crying tears of pure delight!). A few days ago I told you about how I was feeling rather spiritually dry. I just wasn't able to tune into God like I usually am (Read "I was Made to Love").
The Holy Spirit somehow gently got through to me that the reason why I felt 'blocked' was because I had allowed the enemy to come in like a flood; opening up the door by complaining and speaking negatively (speaking words of death rather than words of life). Anyway God brought me back, but let me show you scripture that speaks of this very thing.
Some of you, just like me, may be saying...
~ "I used to be on fire for Jesus when I first got saved, what happened?" ~ "I don't have the appetite for Jesus that I used to have. How do I get that back?
"So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness." 1 Peter 2: 1-3
Since Peter talks about craving milk, let's talk about digestion. What kind of food are you "taking in?" What are we feeding on? Junk food? What are we reading? What are we watching on TV? Music? Get rid of the junk food. If we're healthy, then we'll have more desire to grow. How sad it is that some never grow up. Once we see our need for God's word and begin to find nourishment in Christ, our spiritual appetite will increase, and we will start to mature. How strong is your desire for God's word?
