Ever have a day with the best of intentions and what you hope and what actually occurs are miles apart? I finished my study in the morning and was refreshed and encouraged and ready to face the day. And the little “sinners“who live in my house began their arguments, declaring their innocence in said arguments, shocked that anyone would insist that they were culpable. Each child had been robbed of their rights and needed me to know of the injustice that was occurring right in my home. First couple of occurrences, my head was level and I was controlled.
I want you to hear I lost it. I sinned. I yelled. I cried. I asserted my rights when my kids were just plain disobedient. I wasn’t asking the Lord to intervene. I had taken the wheel and whoa, my course gave me a chance to see my flesh in a whole new light. It crushed me.
This morning, I talked through the day with my hubby. I confessed my faults, my sins to Joshua and I knew my heart was healing. I was being restored to a spiritual tone of mind and heart. I pray for tremendous power only found in Him. 16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. (James 5 AMP)
James had it right. Speak what swirls in your mind to a trusted friend or confidant. Don’t hide your sin. Don’t be ashamed of the fact, yes, fact that you are NOT perfect. We need people in our lives who are willing to be transparent. Asking for prayer for the deep things, the painful things, the things that are not solved with one conversation but with joined years of prayer. Jesus said, 48 You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5 AMP) We grow. We mature in godliness. Not in ourselves, but as we are transformed by the perfection of our heavenly Father. The question we should be asking is not what would Jesus do but what is Jesus doing here? (Scotty Smith)
“For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,” Titus 2:11-12AMP
My thankfuls today:
88. I’m thankful for the blessing of confession.
89. I’m thankful for music that touches my heart and sings my heart.
90. I’m thankful for friends who love me and my family just they way we are.
Can I just ask one more thing? If you are on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest, and you enjoy my meandering on this blog, would you consider sharing my blog with your friends? Thank you so much. Pray on. Pray on.
We haven’t seen the sun around here for a long time. I look, I gaze, I wait and long for the beautiful sunrises, beautiful sunsets. I know that behind the blanket of clouds, the sun shines. It will come back. I will see it again. You will see it again.
Sunrise from Pine Springs Campground in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas. by Fredlyfish4
I love my Father in heaven. I love how He uses word pictures to aid His sheep in understanding. (See? ) You and I can look at the cloudy skies and remember the sun shines behind it. We can link that truth with our understanding of the Word.
Malachi 4: For behold, the day comes that shall burn like an oven, and all the proud and arrogant, yes, and all that do wickedly and are lawless, shall be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.
He has come. He is coming. We have hope, we have comfort in knowing, expecting Jesus’ return…I think what means the most to me is the healing that is coming. Healing from the inside out. Do you long for healing? From physical or emotional pain? I do, friends. I hope and long for the touch of Jesus on this body.
Hearing the heartaches of dear friends yesterday, I long for their burdens to be lifted. This morning I woke thinking and praying for the burdens and I opened biblegateway.com and saw these verses:
Matthew 11:
27 All things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows andaccurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows andaccurately understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make Him known.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
When I have looked at these verses in years past, I have always focused on the yoke. I have always focused on who is encouraged to come. I’ve never really focused on this phrase: Learn of Me…
The word learn:
(a) “to learn” (akin to mathetes, “a disciple”), “to increase one’s knowledge,” or “be increased in knowledge,” frequently “to learn by inquiry, or observation,” e.g., Mat 9:13; 11:29; 24:32; Mar 13:28; Jhn 7:15; Rom 16:17; 1Cr 4:6; 14:35; Phl 4:9; 2Ti 3:14; Rev 14:3; said of “learning” Christ, Eph 4:20, not simply the doctrine of Christ, but Christ Himself, a process not merely of getting to know the person but of so applying the knowledge as to walk differently from the rest of the Gentiles;
Hey, doctrines are great. We need to know the doctrines of our faith. This passage suggests that understanding Jesus more, discovering Him results in rest, refreshment, blessed quiet. (I think that is my favorite, the concept of blessed quiet). What is He asking us to understand?
Gentle (praus) : denotes “gentle, mild, meek;” for its significance see the corresponding noun, below, B. Christ uses it of His own disposition, Mat 11:29; He gives it in the third of His Beatitudes, Mat 5:5; it is said of Him as the King Messiah, Mat 21:5, from Zec 9:9; it is an adornment of the Christian profession, 1Pe 3:4. Cp. epios, “gentle, of a soothing disposition,” 1Th 2:7; 2Ti 2:24.
Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time (Isa 41:17, Luk 18:1-8). Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5:23).
Humble (tapeinos): primarily signifies “low-lying.” It is used always in a good sense in the NT, metaphorically, to denote humble in spirit, Mat 11:29
The more we understand who He is, the more we can find blessed rest. Peace. In Jeremiah 6, we find the verse Jesus was quoting when He said, you will find rest for your souls. Look with me:
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
Friends, may this be an encouragement for you!! God be praised. We can know Him, we can ask for the hope of Jesus which by His death and His resurrection we have the hope of eternal paths. We can know the good, old way! We can walk in the truth and find rest for our souls. Our weary, tired, sad souls…
I have to include some more verses about our Jesus. Please read them out loud with me.
Isaiah 42: Behold my [a]Servant, Whom I uphold, My elect in Whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice and right and reveal truth to the nations.2 He will not cry or shout aloud or cause His voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth.
4 He will not fail or become weak or be crushed and discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the islands and coastal regions shall wait hopefully for Him and expect His direction and law.
5 Thus says God the Lord—He Who created the heavens and stretched them forth, He Who spread abroad the earth and that which comes out of it, He Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I the Lord have called You [the Messiah] for a righteous purpose and in righteousness; I will take You by the hand and will keep You; I will give You for a covenant to the people [Israel], for a light to the nations [Gentiles],
7 To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison.
8 I am the Lord; that is My name! And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Take a moment and just dwell in His plan. His wonderful, beautiful plan for our freedom…we are those Gentiles. He is our light. He has set us free. The God who created the heavens and the earth, oh my, has given us breath. Given us spirit!
Who is this Jesus? He is the Servant. He is our justice. When life has struck hard blows, when it seems like we have no options, we can remember He will prevail. He will have the victory.
I needed to remember this today. I needed to remember who my Jesus is today.
That’s my King. Inhale. Exhale.
My thankfuls today:
75. I’m so thankful for friends who understand.
76. I’m so thankful that this is not the best.
77. I’m so incredibly thankful for Jesus today.
78. I’m thankful for the audio Bible.
79. I’m thankful for snow that has come. Not much, but it put a smile on my kiddos faces.
Fortress of the Îlette of Kermovan, Britanny (France) by Llorenzi
Good morning, beloved,
Around me, the wind is blowing. The trees are dancing, the sky is dark. Wind reminds me of His Spirit, His power and His work. All point to Creator God. Our God.
As I wait for appointments, wait to have a plan, I realize that it is very easy for me to place my trust in what I know. I know the diagnosis. I know. Yet, what do I really know? I make plans..when we get this money, then we can pay of this and that. When we…when they..what I am doing, friends, is placing my trust and hope in what I can do. What a doctor could do. I make a plan for how our family should run…yet, my God who faithfully supplies all that we need, has given me blessing in the form of my husband who has God’s blessing to guide this family. Me, me, me. Trust, trust, trust.
Today I was reading the Word and came across some beautiful passages that speak to the importance of trust. Trust in the plan He has. The structure He has in place. The timeline He has for us. The resources He has in store.
“For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]” Ephesians 2:8-9AMP
Friends, I am striving! I am working. I am not accepting the free gift of God by this. Oh, Father, cleanse my heart, give me a desire to trust fully in You.
I found this prayer:
O Lord,
we ask for a boundless confidence
On August 31, 2012 a long filament of solar material that had been hovering in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona, erupted out into space at 4:36 p.m. EDT. The coronal mass ejection, or CME, traveled at over 900 miles per second. The CME did not travel directly toward Earth, but did connect with Earth’s magnetic environment, or magnetosphere, causing aurora to appear on the night of Monday, September 3. Pictured here is a lighten blended version of the 304 and 171 angstrom wavelengths. Cropped NASA
and trust in Your divine mercy,
and the courage to accept
the crosses and sufferings
which bring immense goodness
to our souls and that of Your Church.
Help us to love You
with a pure and contrite heart,
and to humble ourselves beneath Your cross,
as we climb the mountain of holiness,
carrying our cross that leads to heavenly glory.
May we receive You
with great faith and love in Holy Communion,
and allow You to act in us as You desire
for your greater glory.
O Jesus, most adorable Heart
and eternal fountain of Divine Love,
may our prayer find favor before
the Divine Majesty of Your heavenly Father. St. Pio of Pietrelcina
I love that image, as we climb the mountain of holiness. As we carry our cross, heavenly glory…behold the picture..our God made, He controls the heavens and the earth. Our God reigns!
My heart falls heavily for the people on the East Coast. My heart is heavy for our dear friends..the wife, my dear beloved friend, has been struggling desperately with liver cancer. She received more crushing news yesterday. So this is when faith must pour in. This is when prayers giving His Word back to Him become critical..
The God of Angel Armies is always by my side! My heart strengthens when I hear this song. Whom shall I fear? Whom will you fear? You know who goes before us!!
31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.
The God of Angel Armies is always by your side. Pray on. Pray on.
“Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” Ephesians 5:19-20AMP
Good morning, friends, beloved of God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ!
These two verses are instrumental in my life today. I have struggled to balance physically and as a result, a balance in my life has tipped. What I thought to be the most important, well, has been slowly stripped away as this disorder has overwhelmed me. This morning, early, early, my husband and I were awake and turned on Moody Radio‘s Music Through the Night, every song was exactly what we needed to hear, every testimony Mike Kellogg included spoke directly to our hearts and we joined in prayer. I have had great stress on caring for my children and caring for them well. God reminded me this morning of where my focus truly needed to be. I have been so panicked that they get their schoolwork done, checked off a list, kept a clean house, that I forgot the most meaningful call I have, which is to guide them to Jesus first. Keep their eyes focused on Him, all else will fall into place.
Elephants (Loxodonta africana) crossing the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. by Geoff Gallice
Well, friends, I’m here to tell you today, my greatest calling is to speak out these psalms to my family…
1 Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil—for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city’s] gate.
Keeping it real over here. What does that actually mean? Seriously.
I’ve become an avid Facebook watcher. Sometimes it is hard for me to read and it shouldn’t, but…
Got up early, went for a run, had a delicious homemade breakfast for me and the kids..bring it on! or…
I love my life. My kid is…
I love my life. My husband did…actually, I did write these posts. It’s amazing how things have changed.
Now, I know if I was in my right mind, ha! I would have a first response of oh, that’s great! Praising the Lord with you..but somehow, I resonate more, right now with…
Had a hard day homeschooling today. I know it will get better but today was just hard. or…
Would you pray for my xxxx? or…
Don’t get me started on all the political ads. Good grief, they will know us by our love. Really? however I feel about these issues, we will certainly not be known for our love.
I am very interested in the Gospel of Christ being spread. Verses in the hands of desperate people, desperate for hope. Resources that have blessed me and my family in these days that rattle my nerves.
I’ve gotten to the point in my health where I’m not driving. Dizziness plagues me. Talking is painful. My neurology appointment is tomorrow. My only outlet for hearing how people are doing is through Facebook. I ache. People text me, people write back and forth with emails and Facebook messages. I can pray for what I see.
Where is my hope? God brought this song to my head and it is so true. There is one line that resonates with me today, well they all do but…
My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness…
Matthew 28…Jesus’ final words before He ascended to heaven.
18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
Jesus has…
all authority
all power of rule in heaven
all power of rule on earth
been given it all
Jesus has commanded us to teach the disciples of all nations. Well, we need to make them, don’t we? Tell me something, how will blasting, criticizing businesses, government officials help us to make them? When a person peers into our page, what will they be able to tell from our likes, our posts, our pages?
O my friends, o beloved, don’t miss this. As I sit in my quiet house with a cute, slumbering dog, my family is at the AWANA parents’ night at our church. My heart aches to be there. I sit. I am reminded.
Jesus is with me…all the days.
Perpetually.
Uniformly.
On every occasion.
Jesus is with me now. Filling this house, interceding on my behalf before the Father. Friends, that’s the news that should be filling our pages! What God has done for you? Celebrate in the pages! What verses meant the most to you as you studied His Word? Share ‘em! Tell us why! Encourage us all.
God bless you. God bless you as you fill your life. Pray as you post, as you share, as you “like”. Let your light shine before men.
Matthew 5:
15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
Burn bright all to the glory of Him who made you. Pray on. Pray on.
Panoramic image of Santa Severina village, Calabria, Italy. by Ggia
Good morning, beloved,
Labor day..history, there ya go, interesting to me that we celebrate work by taking a day off. Yet, the Blue Better Bible has a terrific post on rest…read on!
I wanted to share the verses of the day…then dive in.
16 Come near to me and listen to this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it happened, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent His Spirit in andwith me.
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go.
18 Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.
We have been struggling with bickering siblings in our household lately. Ok, not lately, always. And I have always had different techniques for coping with the fighting. Trying different ways to deal with the little sinners saved by grace..ahem. Well, last night I walked each of my kids separately (except for the eldest) through Matthew 18..after reading another book, this time, though, I kinda felt this family had an edge on the advice market. The Duggars. I have been very blessed by reading these two books they have authored.
One thing has been how they teach their children to do chores. It has helped my stress level tremendously. The other has been this teaching. Matthew 18 was memorized by their whole family with hand signs and repetition and as they meet sibling “controversy” they walk through the verses.
So I began this last night, and realized something very profound to me. It is one thing for me to teach the children not to bicker because it is the wrong thing to do, it is quite another when we are speaking Jesus’ words to one another and He is doing the teaching. Aha.
15 If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (then a bunch about bringing in the church…ahem.)
19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and [g]everything] they may ask, it will come to passand be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.
So we went phrase by phrase together, how does this look?
If your brother wrongs you, go show him his fault, between you and him privately.
So your brother wrongs you, in our family it’s not an “if”, it’s a “when”. Jesus finishes Matthew 18 with 35So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses. Brothers, sisters wrongs you. Offense. Our first response has to be..yep, I’ve been wronged. What does God expect? A free forgiveness…no chains. However, it is our responsibility to go show him his fault. For as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:12 And when you sin against your brethren in this way, wounding and damaging their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Sin against Christ? I think it is so critical we remember who our sin is actually against. The Lord Jesus. A bit of perspective, wouldn’t you say? Colossians 3:13Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. We are a forgiven people. The Lord has freely forgiven us! We can do NO better.
And how do we show our brother his fault? Ah, yes, the critical part in our family…you did this, you are wrong, you! you! you! The pointed index finger also is a big help over here. Leviticus 19: 17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart; but you shall surely rebuke your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. The sin is on us if we do not rebuke our neighbor, if we harbor hatred. Psalm 141: 5Let the righteous man smite and correct me—it is a kindness. Oil so choice let not my head refuse or discourage; for even in their evils or calamities shall my prayer continue. We are righteous when we correct one another with kindness…that of course can be misconstrued. Please don’t…at this point, a discussion of how wrongly the church can interpret is not my focus. We are to treat one another with kindness.
What do we gain when we obey this? Our brother!! Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men—he gathers and receives them for eternity]. By allowing forgiveness, kindness and hope to flow through our speech, we are wise, righteous, life flows through us. And we gain unity with our brothers and sisters! What hope! Not to give in to the whispers of the evil one, but to say yes to life. Romans 12: 21Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.James 5:19 [My] brethren, if anyone among you strays from the Truth and falls into error and another [person] brings him back [to God],20 Let the [latter] one be sure that whoever turns a sinner from his evil course will save [that one’s] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins [[a]procure the pardon of the many sins committed by the convert].
This is Jesus’ cry to us! We have a responsibility to live our life overcoming evil. How? Mastering it with good! We turn our brother or sister towards life instead of death.
So, part one. I’m going to watch the Odd Couple now. LOL. Have a wonderful day…of rest. Pray on, pray on.
On this blog, I have shared my heart and my soul. It is always my hope that you would benefit from my ramblings and more than that, this would bring God glory. I haven’t been consistent this week to which I am sorry, yet, I receive notes saying people are blessed by this offering. Ministering in the midst of pain, I believe, is a great gift we can give to our Most High God. Not pretending everything is “fine” and having a stiff upper lip, but as you serve, make your time an offering to Him. Beautiful. Yesterday as stress started to overwhelm me, I began saying aloud every verse I knew. Not only did the kids stop their verbal spat with one another to listen, they began speaking truth back in the form of peace in the household. (Had to do this many times..) Another way grace filled our house, music. I smile as I think of this, I let Luke and Ella wear their swimsuits in the bath last night so they could play in our huge tub. (Another grace..) I began to sing this song and they both in a minute or so began singing it too. So cute.
Every life has a choice
To rise up to fill the void
Every heart has a mission
And we are called to be humanWe gotta do better than this ’cause we only got
One chance to make a difference
We gotta do better than this ’cause we only got
One life that we’ve been given
A little love, a little kindness
A little light in this time of darkness
It’ll be what makes us different
It’ll be what makes us human
I’m human, you’re human, we are human
We are marked with His image
And we are scarred with indifference
Maybe now we should listen
Hear the cry of God’s children
We gotta do better than this ’cause we only got
One chance to make a difference
We gotta do better than this ’cause we only got
One life that we’ve been given
A little love, a little kindness
A little light in this time of darkness
It’ll be what makes the difference
It’ll be what makes us human
I’m human, you’re human, we are
We are human
I’m human, you’re human, we are
We are human
Gotta do better than this ’cause I only got
One chance to make a difference
Gotta do better than this ’cause I’m only
Just one
I’m human, you’re human, we are
We are human
I’m human, you’re human, we are
We are human
It’ll be what makes the difference
It’ll be what makes us human
We are marked by His image..oh friends, when God sees us, He sees Jesus. Jesus. My dear friend has struggled with fear. One thing the Lord impressed upon me to share with her was to say His name. Jesus. This morning I want to look at the power of His name. It will not be an exhaustive list but let’s look at what it means to just say the Name.
1 Corinthians 6: 11 And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.
We are purified. I think of towels we get at a hotel. They are so white. I love that. Of course, it’s the bleach..not great. When we travel to the Bruinius family, we stop at hotels and insist on baths or showers for our crew. Now after we use the towels, ahem…not so white and then we throw in the bathtub, um, after water’s been drained. Anyway, according to Paul guided by the Spirit of God, because of the work of Jesus, we are purified. We don’t walk in the ways of darkness, we can remember we are clean, made free from the guilt of sin. We are set apart. We are pronounced righteous. How? My friends, we trust in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit.
He doesn’t throw us away like a towel when we mess up. He continues to love faithfully. We confess our sins, remaining in communion with Him.
Ephesians 5:19-21 19 Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
We are on this earth to be an encouragement to one another. You are worth more than gold. Sharing worship with one another.
I’ve sung up front in church. I love it. I’m not a great singer. Yet, they still want me. Joy. I love it. I watch my kids worship. I get a chance to share in the ministry of worshiping the High King of Heaven. And we give thanks. in whom? Our money? Our treasures on earth? No way…in the name of Jesus. Out of reverence for the Anointed One..be subject to one another.
Philippians 2: 9 Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus, let’s face it, stooped low to come here as a baby. He gave up so much out of His deep, deep love for us. Think of all He endured for us, God knew and He has highly exalted Jesus. That name, my dear friends, is over and above every other name. No other name has the power. Jesus’ name brings every knee down to the ground. “Should” is the past tense of “shall,” implying authority or compulsion.
So, my friend, when you are in a train wreck, emotionally speaking, call upon His Name. Confess what you know of Him. I’m going to take this with me today. God bless you. Pray on, pray on.
A new day, a new week, a new chance to glorify God in all we do…My Mom just called and shared that she slept last night and is breathing again. So thank you so much for praying for her.
As we enter our final week of summer, I want to smash in all I can to say goodbye to a very lovely season. So many blessings have come our way! Our garden we started is giving us many good foods. Our children are thriving at our church. We are getting established in the church and people are praying for us. We have community. Ella is walking beautifully without any brace or walker. She is running.
Clematis ternifolia by Challiyan
Noah is still struggling with his leg and so we do need to carry on with the leg brace/boot. He slipped a couple of times this weekend and twisted it. Yet, he is so excited because today his youth group pastor and wife are taking him out to lunch.
I was hoping for a park day but rain is hedging those plans. We’ll have to see. I give thanks. I give honor to the One who brought us to this place.
Now, today we are to read all of 1 Peter. Remember, we closed Sermon on the Mount on Saturday and now to our new study! I listened to the letter by using biblegateway.com…so here is the link:
Of course, we know that Peter, the apostle wrote this letter to: ”To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, andBithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” 1 Peter 1:1-2
This letter is an exhortation to faith in the Beloved Trinity.
This book has so much to say to us. So much encouragement for the faithful, for those who need a lifting of their heads…God be praised for the gift of this letter.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercyhas caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith fora salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that theproof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1
I could keeping going on…hmmm..
“9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you hadnot received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2
Prenj mountains, BiH by Martin Brož
“23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himselfbore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2
“12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. ” 1 Peter 4
Oh, friends, it’s going to be a rich study. I could keep going on! Join me, won’t you? And if you live in the Lake County area and don’t have a home church, please join us at Gages Lake Bible Church, my pastor is going through this book on Sunday mornings at 10:45. (Ok, shameless plug over..LOL)
Now, if there is any way that I can pray for you, won’t you share with me? Share the sufferings and be encouraged that you are never, ever alone. Ever. How ever long God wills for the blog to continue may these writings be to the glory of Him who made me. I pray for you as you read this. Know this. Know you are loved.
Godavari Bridge Image taken using Ramesh Ramaiah’s Samsung camera.
Good morning friends,
It has been one of those lazy mornings where I pray a neighbor doesn’t stop by cuz I’m still in me pjs. LOL. Course if they did stop by, my kids would open the door and welcome them in and they’d see me as I truly am so…bring it! (or maybe I’ll go get dressed…) Joshua and the two olders are helping over at Gages Lake Bible Church. Luke, Ella and I have had a glorious morning of watching one of our favorite movies and cleaning up a bit. I was able to have time to talk to a dear friend who now lives in Texas. I love how the Lord times things exactly when I need them. I needed fellowship this morning. God knew how much…
I was wondering if you could be praying for my Mama? She has a terrible sinus infection and has not been sleeping for nearly a week now. I’m praying and praying for God to release rest and peace over her body. Would you join me? I would so appreciate that. I’m trying not to worry, but she’s my best friend…and the worry is a love transmitted into constant thought and prayer.
I think about that and wonder about God’s will in that suffering. Not sleeping is horrible. Not being able to breathe right…yuck. Where is the glory of God in suffering? His perspective is what I look for today. And the verses we are looking through are perfectly timed…
21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?
23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].(practice lawlessness..)
24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.
25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.
27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.
These verses are full of contrasts. Those who do the will of the Father and those who disregard His will. Those who listen and obey and those who do not…
…he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Let’s look for some more verses that “flesh” out the will of the Father..
Romans 12: 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Which might be suffering, pain, loss…yet God’s will is eternal and our lives, if found in Christ, are eternal bound.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,4 That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor,5 Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will,
1 Thessalonians 5: 18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
I give thanks that Mom can pray at all hours. I give thanks that she is with me and is so devoted to my family. I give thanks that she has been married to my Dad for forty some years. I give thanks that she can continue on, and that God will heal her, it may not be until she looks into the eyes of Jesus, but my Mom doesn’t complain. I’m amazed. I’m pretty honed at the art of complaining and there will be days when I get off the phone with her and realize..I never asked how she was doing…sigh.
Hebrews 13:21 Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).
So we are getting what His will is, right? By no means a complete list, but a good start! Now let’s look in depth at “Practice lawlessness).
Practice (ergazomai): practice is in the present tense which denotes continual action. (p.115, SOTM, @Precept Int’l)
1) to work, labour, do work
2) to trade, to make gains by trading, “do business”
2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness
To work for, work out contempt for the law, violating the law, to work for wickedness…gag.
I do not want to be known as a foolish woman. I want none of that, thank you very much. Lord, I want to build my house on the rock. I’ll ask the Lord…help me stand! Please listen to this song..I’ve included the lyrics:
wake up to another day
I don’t know if I can face
All the fears, that is tearing me down
Yea, I’m trying to be brave
But I’m afraid, about to fade
I wanna stand but I don’t know how
I look up and all I see is Your love holding me
When I feel like giving up
When my heart is hurt too much
Feels like I’ve reached the end
No, I won’t turn and run
This battle will be won
When I’ve done all I can
I stand stand stand
I stand stand stand
Some days I lose my place
It’s a fight to keep my faith
But You are with me, I am not alone, no
But all around my work is late
Toss like an ocean wave
You are my rock and the storm clouds blow
I look up and all I see is Your love holding me
When I feel like giving up
When my heart is hurt too much
Feels like I’ve reached the end
No, I won’t turn and run
This battle will be won
When I’ve done all I can
I stand stand stand
I stand stand stand
On Your promise, I will stand
Oh look the ground is sinking sand
On Your promise, I will stand
Oh look the ground is sinking sand
Sinking sand oh who woooh
It’s sinking sinking, yea ye
When I feel like giving up
When my heart is hurt too much
Feels like I’ve reached the end
No, I won’t turn and run
This battle will be won, yea yea
So I’ll stand stand stand
I stand stand
I’ll stand stand stand http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/brittnicole/stand.html
Let’s look at one more word as we finish this beautiful study by Precept Ministries International. How I thank God to finish this study! Such encouragement…lets look at this..the affect it had on the crowds…
1) to strike out, expel by a blow, drive out or away
2) to cast off by a blow, to drive out
a) commonly, to strike one out of self-possession, to strike with panic, shock, astonish
3) to be struck with amazement, astonished, amazed
Literally, the crowds were blown away! Astonished! How about you? How does it feel that you love the greatest Teacher EVER? The crowds were struck! You can be filled with the Spirit of God causing you to walk in wisdom and light and truth. How I wish I could hold your hand and show you what He has shown me over these past few years of pain and suffering that it was all worth it to know Him. And I don’t even pretend to know Him well…So imperfectly do I follow my King! Yet, His love is so powerful so filling!
Love you all, can’t wait to meet you in heaven…:) Pray on. Pray on. Oh, and btw, I’m starting up 1 Peter with Precepts on Monday..join me?
Rock’s tree peony (Paeonia rockii). The plant is grown up in a garden. Ukraine. by George Chernilevsky
Good morning, friends,
Well, another weekend has begun and with it a gaggle of children. Noah had some friends sleep over last night and Ella had a friend with her as well. As I reflect on the week, so much blessing came this week. I have prayed for the duration of our time here that our house would be filled with happy children and that I could begin to open my house to others and this week they came in packs. It made me very happy to hear laughter ring through these walls. So long it felt like only tears, frustration and fear reverberated off these walls. It has been as if all the windows have opened, the sunshine broke through and spring is finally here. Praise God!
“Thus says the Lord Who made [the earth], the Lord Who formed it to establish it—the Lord is His name: Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” Jeremiah 33:2-3AMP
Dust sunbeams through tree by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos”.
25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?
28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
Sunbeams by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries andanxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
God’s specific instructions:
Don’t be worried about your life: eat, drink, clothes
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness
Do not be worried about tomorrow
Seek first His kingdom…
Seek (zēteō)..
1) to seek in order to find
a) to seek a thing
b) to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into
c) to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after
2) to seek i.e. require, demand
a) to crave, demand something from someone
kingdom (basileia)..
1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule
a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom
b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah
c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom
2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king
3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah
With these definitions in our back pocket, we can find some answers! Crave, demand, seek in order to find His royal power, kingship, dominion and rule in your/my life. How about it? Beginning your day with the cry out prayer of asking for Him to guide you in seeking first His kingdom, asking His Spirit to fill you, guide you and move you towards His purposes for your life.
Promises in Matthew 6
Your Father feeds the birds of the air..are you not worth more than they?
If God clothes the grass of the field..will He not much more clothe you?
Your heavenly Father you need all these things
Let’s look through some other verses that encourage our faith and trust!
Philippians 4:19And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
God will give you all you need. Christ Jesus’ glory and riches will give you all you need.
Philippians 3:7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.
8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as losscompared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him,not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired),but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
His kingdom, His glory, His riches:
a priceless privilege of knowing Jesus
becoming more deeply and intimately recognizing and understanding Him clearly and fully
winning/gaining Christ
righteousness comes by faith in Christ
truly right standing with God..by saving faith in Him!
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to beholdand gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.
5 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.
6 And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].
Oh, Lord, I love this!
seek so that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life
to behold and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
instead of fearing: I will offer sacrifices and shouts of joy, singing praises to the Lord
38 Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.
40 But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!
41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42 There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.
if we look at what Mary was doing: who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching. Look at the word: feet (pous),It is used in phrases expressing subjection, 1Cr 15:27, RV; of the humility and receptivity of discipleship,Luk 10:39; Act 22:3; of obeisance and worship, e.g., Mat 28:9; of scornful rejection, Mat 10:14; Act 13:51. Washing the “feet” of another betokened the humility of the service and the comfort of the guest, and was a feature of hospitality…
Mary was seeking first His kingdom and Jesus was commending her on her choice.
) You and I can look at the cloudy skies and remember the sun shines behind it. We can link that truth with our understanding of the Word.
Pray on, pray on.
