He Paid My Debt

Today I was drawn to read through the whole chapter of Romans 3. Normally, when referring to this chapter, we read only verse 23 and I wanted to refresh my mind of what the whole chapter says. Currently, I am studying with the Complete Jewish Study Bible. This is mainly because it has lots of facts about the Jewish tradition and has helped me, in many ways, to better understand why certain details were placed in scripture. It is harder to understand the scripture when trying to think/apply it according to our generations traditions and habits. Everything in scripture is relevant to our day and Age, however, we do need to do some digging to understand the old traditions so we can see where it is found today.

One key phrase that is repeated in this chapter is: "For in his sight no one alive will be considered righteous on the ground of legalistic observance of Torah commands [the law], because what Torah really does is show people how sinful they are." (3:20, 28).

One thing we can understand is that the Jews and the Gentiles (the two groups of people that Paul is speaking to) are still trying to take care of their sin by atonement and the law. At this point, Christ has already died on the cross; and yet, there are still many who do not understand what has happened and what the Messiah did for them. I hope that you, dear Reader, will be able to understand. If you do already understand, may this study encourage you to continue to understand and to lift up praise to the One who paid it all!

Paul begins to explain to the people that the law could only show them how sinful they were (3:20). It had no power to not sin. It could only expose what was sin and where it was. Sin, as Romans 3:23 clearly explains it, is "falling short of the Glory of God" [KJV] and Paul clearly states that everyone has sinned and falls short. Never, in the history, had their been record of a man who was without sin, until now. Jesus Christ, the one true Son of God (John 3:16), has changed history for them. Salvation, forgiveness of sin, and the power over sin could now be "...accomplished by the Messiah Jesus." (3:24).

This next verse is the one I mainly am going to focus on since it was the verse that opened up afresh to me: Romans 3:25, "God put Yeshua [Jesus] forward as the kapparah for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death. This vindicated God's righteousness; because in his forbearance, he had passed over [with neither punishment nor remission] the sins people had committed in the past;" The key word is "kapparah". Now, many translations use the word "propitiation" and I feel that it does not do this verse justice. "Kapparah" is a key word that both the Jews and the Gentiles were able to understand. The Gentiles, who were either Greeks or served Greek gods, understand this word because it was a ritual they used to appease an angry Greek god (found in the study notes in my CJ Bible). The Jews understood this word also because this was a form of atonement: they would wave a chicken over the persons head and then slaughter and sacrifice it according to the Jewish rules for sacrifice. Now that we understand how meaningful this one word was for both groups of people, we can also better understand the fullness of what Paul was telling these people. He's basically saying, Don't you people get it!?! Christ, the Messiah, He was the "kapparah" for you and me! He "passed over the sins people had committed" He is righteous, faithful, and without blemish and God used Him to wave over all our heads and then sacrificed Him to pay the debt for our sins'. Wow! I was blown back when I finally understand the fullness of the message Paul was trying to say to these people.

We may not practice this ritual and sacrifice chickens for our sins', but maybe there is something else we are doing that causes us to believe that "if I do this or say this, then I can have my sins' erased"? Dear Reader, I want you to understand that Jesus Christ already paid the debt. All we need to do is come to Jesus and accept Him into our heart. Then, the righteousness [doing what is right in the eyes of God] of Jesus comes into our heart. Over time that righteousness becomes apart of us and we then do what is right because we want to. There is no tradition/ritual you or I can do to have our sins' forgiven or erased. You must simply come to Jesus (wherever you are) and say, "I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins. I know you paid the debt for me and I ask you to come into my heart today." He will come in and He will change your life for the good!

Please leave a comment below of what God has spoken to you about this chapter.

God bless!

The Ministry of Bitter Trials

1. Entering into the Bitter Waters: Ruth 1:19-22, "So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred with excitement over them. The women asked, “Can this be Naomi?” “Don’t call me Naomi [pleasant],” she answered them; “call me Marah [bitter], because Shaddai has made my life very bitter. I went out full, and Adonai has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? Adonai has testified against me, Shaddai has afflicted me.” This is how Naomi returned, with Rut the woman from Mo’av, her daughter-in-law, accompanying her from the plain of Mo’av. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest."

• Naomi has the confession of life no longer being "pleasant" [Naomi], but now it is "bitter" [Marah].

Exodus 15:22-25: "Moshe led Isra’el onward from the Sea of Suf. They went out into the Shur Desert; but after traveling three days in the desert, they had found no water. They arrived at Marah but couldn’t drink the water there, because it was bitter. This is why they called it Marah [bitterness]. The people grumbled against Moshe and asked, “What are we to drink?” Moshe cried to Adonai; and Adonai showed him a certain piece of wood, which, when he threw it into the water, made the water taste good."

• Two key words to make note of: “Marah” = bitterness & "Wood” = humanity 

• The Lord uses each one of us to minister and be ministered to--many times we are not even aware that we are doing so. 

• It was not sin, I believe, for Naomi to make this confession because she was in the will of the Lord. However, she remained out of sin because she allowed God to move her through the bitter waters. 

2. Finding the Purpose of  the Bitter Waters: Ruth 3:1, "Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, I should be seeking security for you; so that things will go well with you." 

• Naomi saw that Ruth needed to be taken care of (security). Ruth, not a Jew, needed things to be put in order in her life for the Lord’s will for her life to be fulfilled. This could only happen through Naomi.

• If Naomi remained in isolation (refusing to allow her daughters-in-law to come along); then, not only would she have missed God, but Ruth would have struggled unnecessarily. God may have used another people to fulfill His will for Ruth. But, as it is said of Esther, Naomi was created for such a time as this! Naomi was brought into the bitter waters to bring Ruth into her calling. 

• Now was not the time for Naomi to wallow in her sorrows and live daily in a pity party. It was time for Naomi to be the voice of the Holy Spirit to Ruth and guide her to know the Lord’s will and ways. We must realize that to love someone we must allow ourselves to be brought to a low point to lift them up. Ruth, though we might now realize it, was also at a low point. Here she is in a foreign land--different culture, different God, different mentalities, etc... If Naomi had returned with a rejoicing spirit, then she probably would have completely overlooked Ruth's need. The bitterness was not to destroy Naomi, if I could be bold enough to say, it was to humble this woman of God. She was a well-known and loved woman; and yet, God saw fit to humble her so that she could see the need of her daughter-in-law.

• So, if you are brought to the bitter waters, remember, God saw it fit to humble Naomi so that she could see the need of someone already in a low state and lift her up into new waters.

3. The Fruit of Enduring the Bitter Waters: Ruth 4:13-15, "...Adonai enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Adonai, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Israel. May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 

• Because Naomi endured this long trial and allowed Ruth to be the wood tossed into her life, she has found the sweet sweet waters again. 

•  “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. Worship God if you want the best; worship open doors to all his goodness.” – Psalm 34:8-9 MSG 

• Her daughter-in-law has now produced an heir who will continue the family line (the Davidic line which Christ would be born of). What once was impossible, we now can clearly see is possible and has happened. 

• There are children, young men, and parents in the kingdom of God. Spiritually, we are given children to mature, young men to become fathers, and fathers to be a covering. Ruth was fruit to Naomi and she was fruit the produced more fruit and that fruit would produce much more fruit (more heirs). Spiritually, we must apply this to our own life. There is fruit in our life that is waiting to be produced: a calling, a people, etc...

Conclusion

• If you feel that you are trying to drink the water in your life and it tastes bitter; don’t be discouraged or angry at God. Pay attention to what wood He is bringing into your life. Proverbs 27:4 tells us that iron sharpens iron and that applies to the water and wood situation. The wood/iron is doing a work to bring us to a new level of fruitfulness in our life along with others. If you are praying, “Lord, I want to be more fruitful for your kingdom”, then don’t be discouraged when things become bitter and unpleasant. He is answering your prayer. Just take one day at a time and observe all the things that He is doing to bring you to a point of fruitfulness. Hold fast and do not give up because you are indeed created for such a time as this—even if you may not know what “this” is yet. 

A Death-Dark Ravine: Learning Discipline & Trust

"A psalm of David: Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water, he restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name. Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me."

Psalm 23:1‭-‬4 (CJB)

I have enjoyed reading this very familiar Psalm in the Complete Jewish Bible Version (CJB). It has worded it in a way that has provoked me into seeing this passage in a fresh way. The two works "rod" and "staff" in particular. We find their definition through looking at these two words in Hebrew.

His rod (SEBET) - "authority" and "discipline"

His staff (MISHENA) - "trust" and "support"

It is because our Heavenly Father loves us (with a balanced love) that He shows us both discipline and support/trust. As we come to certain paths in our walk, we can find that they are like a ravine; which is dark as death itself. It is here where we can find ourselves in a position that will push us to find more support on the Word of God, or, the opposite. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path... (Ps. 119:105). If we are not tentative to His word and not daily reading and studying it, then we will find, I'm situations like this, that our lamps won't be bright enough for us to even see our feet. We know that keeping our lamps full and lite is important to the Lord because of the parable of the women with the lamps. Half had extra to keep their lamps always full, no matter what. The other half calculated and only had enough, which, in the end, was not enough. 

Also, time will push us to consider the heavy load we carry on our backs. Because of the Christmas season still close, it reminds me of the scene in a Christmas Carol. Jack Marley comes, in ghost form, to see his business partner, Ebenezer Scrooge. He shows him the chains he formed in life. And then, consider Christian, in Pilgrims Progress, with his heavy burden on our back. Many people are walking with both chains and burdens. We cannot help them if we too have these chains and burdens on us. On the ravines, we are brought to a point of desperation; where we cry out to God to help us to unload what is not ours to carry and what are chain(s) of bondage. Both, Scrooge and Christian experienced a revealing of their life and we both full of desperation to have a change in the course of their life. Desperation is not to doubt if God can/will help us; but, it is to know that we are useless and have to TOTALLY rely on Him because He is the ONLY One who can help us so we can make it to the end of that path.

How is this relevant to our day and age? Well, we are living in a time where everywhere we go, it will spiritually be a death-dark place. We must have the discipline worked in our lives, and, we must already have the trust and support placed only upon Christ. We will NOT survive if we continue to live life careless and full of weaknesses and bondage's. Christ entrusts more to those He can trust and these people are ones who allow the rod (discipline) and the staff (trust, support) to reassure them in their walk.

For the final thought we must look at Zechariah 4:6, which says, "It's not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirits, says the Lord." We become more free as we practice speaking in tongues daily. We will find a strength we did not know we had within us, a strength to be changed and to lead. When we lack our own words to say, the Holy Spirit can utter words to our Lord on our behalf. 

Read His Word to learn and know His ways and path, be set free by His staff that disciplines us, and speak in tongues to receive the power that is needed for each new day!

Be blessed!

Being Transparent in the Light

"And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." Psalm 37:6

The theme of this verse is light and our character. Genesis reveals to us that God is the Creator of light and all throughout scripture, it is revealed that we must major in character. God created light because He loves everything it represents. Light reveals, nothing is hidden, transparency, and the list could go on.

We can either walk in the light or the Lord can shine His light on us to expose us. Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, a place fully exposed to natural light and the light of Jesus. When someone accepts Jesus into their heart, the light of Jesus comes into them. That light then has a lifetime task to expose hidden, dark, and un-transparent areas in the Christians life.

"As the noon-day - The original word here is in the dual form, and means properly “double-light;” that is, the strongest, brightest light. It means “noon,” because the light is then most clear and bright. The idea is, that he will make your character perfectly clear and bright. No cloud will remain on it" (Barnes Commentary).

Looking at character now, Adam and Eve, they must of been prefect because they were created by God, right? That it's the truth, however, man was created with a will, a choice. God did not create man to be slaves or robots. He gave us a will of our own. What we will (our choices) to do reveals many things about us, but in particular, our character. Adam and Eve were tested and the light exposed that Adam chose human love about God's love.

Do not despise the light when it comes into your life because it is God trying to get your attention on a flaw in your character. We all have flaws and God knew them when we entered at the gate of salvation. The important thing now is, what will our response bee when the light comes and exposes a dark/hidden area? Let us be found humble and honest before the Lord.

Be blessed!

Author and Finisher of our Faith

I have been studying Psalm 37 and I want to share my study notes in how that some off my readers would be encouraged.

Psalm 37:4,"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Just knowing this simple truth should be enough for us to commit our ways into His hands. He is not just the Author but He is the Finisher. We can have confidence, that the world does not know, that He will complete the work that He has started in us (Phil. 1:6).

When we place our trust on Him, we are trusting in Someone solid. He is our Solid Rock. Psalm 62:6-9 (NKJV) says, "He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor."

Psalm 37:5 encourages us to, "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." (NLT) If we have little faith then we won't release everything to God because we are lacking. I chose this translation of Psalm because there will be times where our faith will be lacking. But, God is one who does not abandon us. If we cry out for help, He will come. Committing our ways to Him is a day by day thing. Take it one day at a time and do not worry about tomorrow until it is today (Matt 6:24-34).

Abundant Blessings!

To Delight or Not to Delight, That is Your Choice

"Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4

I believe one of the reasons this Psalmist wrote "delight yourself" is because delighting is a choice and often times it's not in the top 5 choices. What we choice to delight in often reveals what it rock is. We must examine, daily, the things we choose to delight in. See how stable our ways are.

Do we delight too much in food, games, social media, tv, etc? I am not listening these few things to condemn people because I struggle too with delighting too much in some of them. My point is, choosing to delight is not a one time confession. It is a daily confession because each day is a new day and with new struggles, trials, and temptations. A dear friend once told me that delighting to do God's will is often developed later on. It isn't always a beginning decision. However, as we do it in obedience and keep an open heart without bitterness or rebellion, we will soon learn the delight.

So when you find yourself not delighting always, don't persecute yourself for it, but know that if you are obedient and maintain an open heart, delight will creep in and take root in your heart. If we don't, then bitterness and rebellion will creep in and consume us.

God bless!

Psalm 18 Part Two

This verse, I have realized will take me weeks to get through. There is so much to take and eat from this verse. I will only address "The Lord is my rock" this time.

What are some qualities of a rock? they are hard, they can be both small enough to pick up and throw, and also large enough to climb up and stand high upon. They are also known as "stones".

How are these qualities of a natural rock a means to revealing Christ, our Rock? God is Omnipotent (All-Powerful; Rev. 19:6) and He is our ultimate strength (Ps. 46). Christ is a solid rock in which we can stand upon and build upon without worrying if our building will shake and fall (Matt. 7:24-29; Ps. 62:6-9) because He is the Most High (Ps. 47:2; 61:2; 121; Dan. 4:17). Christ is the Living Stone and we are to be the living stones that build up the spiritual house (1 Pt. 2:4-10). Those who are disobedient will stumble on this Rock and those who are rebellious will be crushed by this Rock (Matt. 21:44; Luke 20:18).

In each quality of a natural rock we can find a hidden piece of who Christ is, as our Rock. Christ is more than able to give us the right piece of Him so that we can overcome and conquer in each area of our life. That is, after all, the desire of His heart, that all would be overcomers and conquerors; being able to be more than conquerors in every area of our life (Rom. 8:31-39). He gave His life to save us and help us through each trial and temptation (Jn. 3:16). Our Rock has given His all and is our Helper (Ps. 54:4-5; Heb. 13:6).

God bless!

Psalm 18 Part One

Lately, it has been a great struggle to do anything. Any way I go, I find opposition and struggles to be faithful to do the tasks that have been set before me. So, with these struggles, I have put my nose into Psalm 18 and will blog about all that the Lord reveals to me and that the Holy Spirit brings to my remembrance. I hope that these posts will serve as a strengthening and encouragement to you; just as the Lord strengthens and encourages me too.

Psalm 18:1 begins with a cry of the hearts who seek after righteous things. I will be reading from the NKJV, and it says, "I will love You, O LORD, my strength." Those who love the Lord are those who seek righteousness; they seek to find out what displeases the Lord and what He hates and they avoid doing that and walking in those ways in their own life. To love the Lord is to fear the Lord because the fear of the Lord is what keeps us from sin. Sin is what God hates, it is not part of God's perfect plan for us, and it causes us to fall short of His best for each of our lives. We love the Lord, but, at times, this love must grow and be strengthened. The love of a 5 year old towards his/her parents is different than their love for his/her parents when they are 30 or married. Their love for each other has grown and strengthened. It is strengthened through the history they experienced and fought through together. This love spoken of here is not an immature love, or something kind that someone is saying to the Lord, but, indeed it is a love spoken with history that has drawn this person closer to the Lord. They have seen the Sovereignty of the Lord and they have become more attracted to Him. Those who say these words are those who realize that they cannot because more pleasing or more righteous without Him.

Let this be an ongoing cry and passion of our own hearts towards our LORD.

What is Your Identity?

Sometimes I thought that it would have been easier to be an animal. They have no worries, they do not have a worry about self preservation of image, etc. They always seem content and sure that they will find what they need to stay alive one more day. However, I overcame that thought. It might be an easier route, but that is not the identity that the Lord has assigned to me. I am to be a human. A woman! We all have identities that are hidden and revealed. The thing that we worry about the most are those things which actually are hidden. We are so focused on our own faults and errors that we truly believe that others see them as clearly as us and are judging us. The truth is, we all are doing the same thing about ourselves. We all focus so much on our own self that we do not truly see another persons true identity.

Whether you believe it or know it yet, God is our Creator and He created everyone and everything for a very specific purpose! There is NOTHING that the Lord has created that can be deemed pointless from the beginning. There are dessert and dry wilderness experiences that we will face in our walk through life. During those times we will feel meaning things (empty, pointless, wandering aimlessly, etc). However, despite those thoughts, He does have a satisfying point and purpose for our life. We have to press through those hard and dry moments and be that faithful servant who serves the Lord despite what the circumstances around us look like.

Moses told the Lord that He could not speak (Ex. 4:10), however, the Lord took his mind and caused Moses to see things differently. Moses saw speaking as something that was pointless, hopeless, meaningless in his own life, but the Lord open it up in Moses and it blossom into a beautiful and bold ministry for Moses. God took Moses mouth and used it to set the captive (Children of Israel) free.

Naomi, who lost everything and began to see her life as pointless (not a suicidal pointless). Her name was changed to Mara, which means "bitter" (Ruth 1:20). However, the Lord was not finished with Naomi. He gave her a faithful daughter-in-law who stayed with her, took care of her, worked to bring food in. Naomi, who could not offer Ruth anymore sons, was not able to offer Ruth someone else in the family. Someone who was in a great position, who truly loved her and Ruth him. Naomi was able to give Ruth wisdom in handling situations that Ruth had never experienced or understood before because of different cultures.

We see, through these two examples in scripture, that the Lord took the meaningless and the bitter experiences and turned the tide. Do not make conclusions based on how you feel or what you see because we write others off and even ourselves off sooner than God does. He is a God of second chances and if we made a mistake, then He is more than able to restore. He is able! Do you truly believe? He is the God who created the Heavens and the Earth and nothing is greater or too difficult for Him!

Instead of telling God all of the things you cannot do; tell Him how you are an open vessel that is willing to be used to fulfill, by His grace and strength, the things that you are ordained, by God, to do! If you say you cannot, then you will not. If you place your trust in Him and understand that your are only a tool that is being used by God, then things will happen and lives will be changed. What is your identity? a cracked vessel that has given up or a restored vessel who believes in the God who is more than able!?!?

Many blessings!

"Love One Another; as I Have Loved You!"

One of the main themes that the Lord seems to be repeating over and over in my life is the message of Love. Christ gave to us a new command after He died and rose again. We find this command in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." It is something that is precious and everyone wants to feel and experience it. I must confess that recently, one of my friends who once was walking with the Lord returned. The Lord strongly convicted me (I'm glad to say immediately He convicted me) of my attitude towards her and expectations of her. You could say that they "stank". They were rude, recording of wrongs, not hopeful, etc...The Lord reminded me something that I heard all throughout my childhood and teenage years: God's heart is towards the backslider. This cause me to realize that my heart should also be towards the backslider. Now that does not mean that we should give them ministry and positions in the church immediately and act like nothing happened. Even King David had to reap from the sin that he sowed. However, we are not to continually remember or talk about the backsliders faults and sins. We should not talk of how much they missed and how they have wasted so many years because our God is more than able to restore those lost years. 

After I repented of my wrong thoughts and expectations towards this person I felt free to actually love them the way the Lord wants us to love our brethren. The last thing someone who has fallen and scrapped up their leg is for you to hit it our push them back down on it again. That is the same towards the backslidden. They are tender, still has hurt, burdens, bondages', etc and the last thing they need is for us (the church) to push them backwards. Love! It is one very small word and yet if we use it correctly, it holds great power.

What is love? I Corinthians 12:4-8a (NIV) tells us what love really is, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."

Moving down to verse 11 it says,"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." Part of putting away childish things is by learning the importance of loving one another as Christ loved us. He accepted us with our imperfections. He does not want to stay that imperfect person, but He received us with open arms and was patient and kind. He was not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not proud, but He was the opposite of those things, Love! We must learn to put aside, little by little and day by day, our childish opinions, thoughts, mentalities, beliefs, etc...We, believers, must realize that God's heart truly is towards the backsliders. 

Jesus loves them and He does not desire to see anyone perish, just as 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) tells us, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." We must be patient when we see someone come back to the Lord. Do not expect a quick change, but do not continually bring back up their faults and errors. We all have them and that is the last thing we need to remind someone of. Then in verse 13 of I Corinthians 12, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Love will look for the positive and the good in someone and will talk about it, nurture it, and help the person to grow stronger. Just as a mother looks at her child and talks about the positives, the child hears those words and is encouraged by those kind words and then wants to do more good. That is the same for the backslider; it is vital that we help them get back up, strengthen them, and bring them to the place where they are on stable ground once again. The best kind of teacher is one who raises up pupils who succeed higher then them self. We must help the backslider and not push them back into what the Lord has brought them out of (hurt, offense, weakness, etc). 

Love one another as Christ has loved you! If you cannot see the love that Christ has shown you and daily tries to show you, then cry out to Him and ask Him to open your eyes to what you cannot see. Do not believe that God does not love you because truly He does. He loves each and every one of us and if it were not so, then He would not of created us or given us a purpose/plan in life. Listen and learn to feel the love and compassion of our Father so that you can then go out and show that love to others. " What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy" (Rom. 9:14-16, ESV).

God bless!

Taste and See that the Lord is Good!

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." 

James 5:16

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." 

Psalm 34:8

These two pieces of scripture are very precious to me. I want to share them with you, my fellow Readers, because the Lord has ministered much to me and I want to pass it on to whomever else needs encouragement. 

You see, as a human being, I am flawless and I see those flaws everyday and I wish everyday that they were not there. Lately, the Lord has been speaking to me the importance of showing goodness to those around me. When someone makes a mistake or is forgetful, I confess that I do not respond to them in the right or good way. The Lord also reminded me that I am also not the only human being who has faults. Just because you cannot see someones faults or do not hear them talk about their faults; it does not mean that they are not there. I always saw people as being perfect and that I am the only one who has faults. This is a self-centered mindset that I needed to get ride of and the Lord is helping me still to get ride of it. 

The reason we must show goodness to those around us is because we are not here to condemn people when they make a mistake. It is better to avoid being unkind or harsh to someone because usually after we are unkind to someone about a fault they have, we then face a situation where we find that same fault in our self. I have experienced this too many times. I hope that I have learned my lesson :P haha 

Tasting the goodness of the Lord is to experience and know the Lord's goodness. When we taste His goodness it can help us to then show/share that goodness to others. For example, when someone gives you an out of the blue gift you then feel wonderful and want to do the same thing for someone else. Once we taste His goodness we then want others to taste it too. 

When dealing with faults of our self or others; we must be gentle, kind, and patient. Beating our self or others up when we see our flaws is not the solution. Our Lord brings these things to the surface because He is saying to us that it is time for the spoon to come in and remove that bitter tasting flavor in the soup bowl. 

I do hope this makes sense to you or is an encouragement to you. If you have not tasted of the Lord's goodness, then cry out that you may taste and see that the Lord is good. Also, when a flaw comes to the surface in your life, do not condemn yourself or try to push it back to the bottom. When you see a flaw in another person(s) life, be patient, kind, and loving. Know that you are not the only one going through a trial even if it may seem to you so obvious. Pray for your brother when you see them in a state of struggle.

God bless!

Total Surrender

A thought for today: "Total Surrender"

This is instant and yet progressive. One must purpose within their heart that they will be totally committed and yet one must also be tried and found true to that commitment they made. There are struggles and trials and we will stumble and fall at times, however, it is the after response that is vital. We must get back up and realize that we just stumbled upon a vision of reality of our self. Our Heavenly Father sees our faults and sins that we struggle and battle through, but He also has the solution. When it is time to have a "total surrender" moment He will bring the area to the surface and when it comes to the top we must let it go and not push it back down to the bottom.

We can be on fire and have a passion that releases words of commitment and statements of "I SURRENDER ALL!", but then when a trial comes along and we mess up, one tends to germinate thoughts that bring confusion within our hearts. I know that I am guilty of this! Those moments are not for us to feel like we are the worse person on the earth and that we have messed up and the Lord will not forgive us. Those moments are the Lord quietly speaking to us that it is time to surrender this area.

I have been studying Jonah and also the Kings (in the book of Chronicles). One thing that has been drawn to my attention is all of their desires. That is what the decision of surrendering boils down to, desires! Jonah did not desire to see his enemies come to repentance and experience the mercy of God. He wanted to see them experience the wrath and anger of God. There were some kings who were righteous and there were some kings who began doing the things that pleased the Lord, but eventually forsook God and did not uphold His laws and were destroyed (killed). One king in particular, Joash (also known as Jehoash; 2 Chr. 24). He was taught and counselled by his uncle, a priest, but once his uncle died, he forsook the law of the Lord and his end was not good.

At the end of the day, we will find it easier to surrender if we allow our Heavenly Father to kill the desire to do those things which are wrong. I believe God part of the reason God chose Jonah to go to Nineveh was because He wanted to deal with an area in Jonahs life that was not surrendered to God. At times we will face difficulty because the Lord wants to bring bitterness, resentment, anger, etc... to the surface and have it removed so that when we act we do not act in our own emotions.

Paul better puts it, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Rom. 7:19). Do not be discouraged, but when you find yourself doing what you should not do (criticizing others, speaking harshly to others, etc...) cry out to God in that moment and ask Him to lay the ax to that root and kill that desire to do it. Understand too that IT DOES TAKE TIME! The Lord has a different watch then us. Change does not happen overnight, although we do wish it to be true, it does not happen that fast. Do not be discouraged or condemn yourself when you fall or stumble in your walk. The enemy wants us to stumble, fall, and stay down in that pit of discouragement and confusion. Our response after the revelation is vital and may we remind ourselves daily that it takes practice for something to become a habit and a part of us. Practice what the Lord teaches you and you will find one day yourself doing it and wonder, "When did this happen? It is now a part of my life. Praise the Lord!" I know that I have had those moments and so I can tell you that if you have not had that experience, it will come. Just keep doing what the Lord tells you to do and you will make it!

Be encouraged Readers!

He is in Complete Control!

A missionary spoke at my church tonight and what she said left a great impression on me. It makes so much sense and yet is the greatest debate and doubt that dwells within most human beings who believe in God. Her words were simply this:

"Either God is in control or He is not in control!" - Audrey Kropf

The enemy is like a thief that comes in to steal. He comes to steal what seems so important and what we make to be our stability. However, once he does this, he also steals our peace. If we have our trust and our hope in God, then we will not put so much value and importance on earthly things. Another great thing that this missionary said was this, "If the enemy comes to steal, then it is because God is the one who has allowed it." Therefore, we do not need to lose our peace because God is in complete control even from before time was created.

Are you willing to follow the Lamb wherever He goes (Rev. 14:4)? Make the Lord that one and only thing that you delight in and He will lead you to places where we never would have imaged we would go. We can go there because there is peace. Instead of worry about things, or trying to figure out what is going on, take those steps (whether in light or darkness) and know, within your heart and with your whole heart, that He is in complete control.

"Either He is in control or He is not in control!" 
God bless!

We are the Joshua Generation!

I had the thought today on Joshua Generation. We are the Joshua Generation. What does this mean? How does this affect us? Well, it affects us more than I think we really realize. We are a generation that will bring us in to a new move of God. In order for this to happen we need to be molded, shaped, and formed in to someone who can be not only bold and courageous, but someone who can handle the great pressure and mantle that God wants to bestow on us. I get these words:

We are the Joshua Generation

With boldness and courage

We must press in with our all

No more turning back!

You have given promises to us

The land and heathen

We will fight with our all

For You are our All in all!

We cannot become stronger if we keep going back to our old bad habits. We must shake that old dust off of us, no longer touch it, and strive to move on. We cannot be conquerors if we have our hands full with vain things. We have to let them go and allow God to take things out of our lives (even if they are good). We must give Him our all so that He can be our All in all. 

I want to encourage those who read this: do not reminisce on things of the past. Whether they were good or bad, whether you regret or want to relive, do not look back. We want to have minds that are willing to be changed. Do not hold on to an old mindset for it will eventually shut the Holy Spirit down and limit God in your own life. Out with the old and in with the new. The biggest opponents to revivals are those who experienced the old revivals. Why? because they wanted to experience the old revival and see a repeat of that, but God is greater than repeats. He is able to greater things than that which has already occurred. Let go of your mindset (I am not saying to go free and wild with your thoughts); allow the Holy Spirit to be free in you to do new and greater things. 

May you be encouraged and seek to know more and not settle with the old!

God bless!

In the Slough of Despond

Bunyan, John. "The Pilgrim's Progress." The Pilgrim's Progress - Google Play:
"Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk they drew nigh to a very miry slough that was in the midst of the plain, and they being heedless did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here therefore they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with dirt ; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire. 

Then said Pliable, Ah ! neighbour Christian, where are you now ? Truly, said Christian, I do not know. At that Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of ? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey's end ? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me : And with that he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next his own house : so away he went, and Christian saw him no more."

What does it mean to be in the slough of despond? One who is in the slough is one who has become dejected and lose confidence. They are in a state of unhappiness and low spirits. One doesn't seem to know where he/she are at or what is going on. However, our response is what is the most important. Pliable became offended, angry, and left the path. We have to go through these experiences in order to be brought to a newer level of maturity. Don't give up, but press in. Christ is always near and is able to help us. 

The last thing you want to do is sing, but David shows us that this is a great way to lift up a cast down soul. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. For He has done great things for us!"

God Bless!

Heat and Pressure on Max

Lately, the Lord has been turning up the heat and pressure in my life. It seemed, in the beginning, to be ridiculously hard, but now I have doubts about this. It's only ridiculously hard when I try and fulfill God's will in my own strength. I need His strength and His grace to go through it and endure to the end of it all. God does not bring us through trials to crush us and destroy us. He brings us through the fiery furnace to try us and to burn away all the meaningless things that are attached to us. His works have a perfect purpose, it's to make us tried and true.

I felt (I sometimes still do) overwhelmed by it all. I want to encourage all who read this, Don't give up! Keep pressing in because God does not make us go through things we cannot handle. His work is perfect and all His ways are just! Submit, be obedient, keep and treasure His commandments within your hearts. Sometimes I just sit and cry because of how overwhelmed I feel, but that's okay, God wants to hear our hearts. Tell God how you feel and allow Him to come and speak to you in your circumstances. He wants us to know Him even more through each experience He brings us through. If we go through a trial and come out not knowing anything more about God, then I would be worried. We want to go through those trials, meet with God and have an encounter with Him.Coming out of the wilderness leaning on our Beloved (Jesus Christ) and having an experience that the enemy cannot possibly take away from us.

Looking at one other reason why we want to go through the heat and pressure is because God wants and needs to enlarge us now. When revival comes there will only be more and more pressure and heat. Those who already have the light and know Jesus will have no rest because they will be busy taking care of those who are lost and desperately looking for the right way. God needs to expand us more and more to be able to hand the pressure that He knows we are going to go through during this end revival. I don't want to say, "No more Lord!" I must go on and press in and endure to the end.

Press in with all of your strength, don't give up for God is here! He is here. He's always near. He won't let go, so don't you fear!

God bless!

Imparting of More New Faith

Today our church gathered together to pray for revival. One of the ladies shared something with the congregation and it really hit me on the forehead along with a "duh" after it. One of the many keys to obtaining a breakthrough in our life is, asking God to impart His faith in us. Just as Peter couldn't take the leap out of the boat and onto the water without Jesus' faith, the same it is with us. We cannot do it on our own, but we need Him to draw us and impart His faith within us. Having faith to see what once appeared to be a mountain before us, is now a small and conquerable hill/bump.

I sometimes wondered why I didn't have a fire within my heart as much as others did. Now I am learning that it is because I lacked asking God to make it real to me. Revival is something many long for, but is it really real in you? Is there a burning fire of desperation to see God move personally, locally and corporately? There should be and the only way there can be is when we ask for that fire. God can give us that faith and He can help us to expect something new. Not holding on to the old experiences, but having open hands and hearts to receive new faith for something new.

God is lately, impressing on my heart to ask Him more. I never really understood what that meant until now. I only saw it in the light of mine own eyes. Now, I realize that God wants me to ask Him more questions and to find out what His mind is in more areas of my life. It's not quantity so much, but it is learning to ask and be dependent more and more on Him. I must learn to start asking God, more and more, for His imparted faith. Also, allowing the faith, which is already imparted in me, to grow and come to a greater maturity.

God bless!

Are You Leaning on Your Beloved?!?

I just completed a class on the book of Song of Solomon. It has been a very encouraging, enlightening and motivating book for me!

Through reading, what most would call a "love letter", there has been a stirring within me to desire new growth in my spiritual life. To become a little more mature and to have a deeper relationship with my Beloved Heavenly Father. We can only come into His presence when He draws us, but what makes Him want to draw us? It is a heart that is wanting to do what is right and pleasing to Him. I want to have that heart that yearns for more of Him and desires to do what is right. Having all these hindrances, idols and distracts cut off from me and out of my life so that I can be just one step closer to Him.

Reading through the different stagings of the Shulamite woman's response to the relationship she had with Solomon; it posed the question within my heart, how do I view my relationship with Christ? Am I making all the callings and saying all the commands? Yes, I am ashamed to say that that is what I saw when I looked upon my relationship with Christ thus far. I had the opportunity to go and minister at a nursing home today and I felt the Lord's presence there with me. It was so wonderful and I didn't want to let it go. He place upon my heart to share about experiencing His love each and every day. There are so many dimensions of His love as we read in Ephesians 3:17-18. He wants us to experience new love every day. I come to the point that I didn't want to go to the nursing home in the first place. I had a lot on my plate already, but I decided to go anyways. I allowed God to make that decision and it turned out better than I imagined. I no longer want to be the one who is "running the show" in our relationship. I must learn, now, to start asking God what He thinks in every word, situation, and decisions I have to face.

I share my heart with you in hopes that you can examine your own heart and desire too a deeper relationship. One that is you totally leaning on your Beloved. Coming out of the trials of valleys and wildernesses where you are leaning more and more on your Beloved. It won't always be easy, but remember that we serve the same God of Jacob. Jacob had character flaws, but he had a heart that desired to do what was right and God worked on him to free him from the hindrances. He came out of those experiences leaning on the Lord. As you continue to have a heart that desires to do what is right and you obey what He says, then He will help you through it all. He will bring you in the trial, remain with you faithfully through the trial, and you will find yourself coming out of it leaning on Him.

God bless!

Along Life's Narrow Way

Thinking about this new year and my heart's desire is not to fulfill my wants and my ideas of "happiness". I want to draw closer to my Creator. As I reflect on times past and realize what I have done, I see that I am nothing without Him! I want, not only more of Him, but also I want God to be my all in all. I say that He is my everything and I want my actions to reveal my words to be true! I don't want to be one who is full of words, but to be one who has actions to prove my words to be true. I this year to be one where I draw closer to the Lord and have the actions that prove that He is my all in all!

Below the image are words that the Lord has given to me. You can call it a poem if you want, but this is a cry of my heart. May it minister to you as it has to me :) 

Along Life's Narrow Way

You are my Light and Salvation;

Only in You will I trust.

Shine Your light deep with my heart,

And help me to walk in Your ways.

Lead me, Lord, I pray.

Cleanse me with Your living Word.

Guide me with Your light and Spirit,

Along life's narrow way.

You are my Rock and my Fortress;

Only on You will I stand.

Though Satan may temp me,

Still I choose to follow You!

Help me, Lord, to obey.

Direct me by Your Grace.

Sustain me with Your love,

Along life's narrow way.

- Rebecca M. Anderson

God bless!

God is Faithful--Only Wait

"When I cannot understand my Father’s leading, And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate, Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading, God is working, God is faithful—Only wait." –A.B. Simpson

What an encouraging quote this is for me right now. When I first read this quote, I will admit that I did not fully grasp everything that the writer was saying. Now that I have read and re-read it and meditated on those words, it makes sense to me. I hope that it ministers to you if you are struggling right now in your walk with the Lord.

We aren't always going to know or understand what the Lord is doing or where He is leading us. God did not give Abraham specific instructions, He just told Abraham to go and leave his home land. That is how it is for us, God does not tell us everything right up front. This is how trust is worked in our lives and how it becomes a part of us and our every day life. Many times I have said, "If I just knew everything right now, then it would make things so much smoother and easier." The more I think about this the more I realize how wrong I am :) Yes, I admitted that I am wrong! If we knew everything in the beginning, then we would just be thinking of all the possibilities, analyze everything to try and find a "better way" to do God's will. His will is the absolute best will for us and we must stand on this truth and trust in God. In Proverbs 3:5, we are told to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Lean on Him and He will cause you to understand what you need to know. All of the knowledge and understanding that we have now is from Him and because He has allowed us to have it. God's ways are so high, so great, and so perfect and amazing that no man is able to attain a full comprehension of His purpose and will. 

I remember, as a little kid, how I would get so frustrated (sometimes to the point of crying) in school because I could not understand what I was being taught. It is hard when you are being taught and nothing is helping you to understand what the teacher is trying to impart into you. That is how many may feel when they are living each day when they don't understand what is going or where they are going. The wonderful thing is that God is not a selfish or deceiving God. He wants us to know and to understand. He doesn't want us running around in circles, crying tears of frustration, or being lost. God wants His people to trust in Him and to know what they need to know in His perfect time.

I am taking a class this week on "Prayer" and one important thing that my teacher has bee emphasising to us is that: we need to pray a prayer. Those who have a prayer life are those who have order. and they have a real relationship with God. Those don't just know God through what they read in the Bible or what they hear their Pastor preach in services. They have a communicating relationship with their Heavenly Father. They have disciplined themselves and practice praying every day. That is how we learn to do something and perfect it in our lives: practice it. I want to be able to confess to God and man that I know that it is okay even though I don't exactly know what is going on. When we pray, there is an impartation of peace, from God, that passes all human understanding. It's like we are in the middle of a maze and we have no clues and no signs to direct us to the exit. However, we have peace and we don't get frustrated. We walk through the paths until we finally find the exit. Praying is a key tool that helps us to get through life, which seems to be like a maze at certain points in our life, and make to the end. Hitting the mark is only accomplished as we choose to never give up and continually choose to trust in the Lord. We really can only trust in the Lord as we choose to surrender our human intellect and learn His nothing is impossible for God to do. 

Practice and discipline yourself to pray each day; so that way you can hear "that gentle whisper ever pleading, God is working, God is faithful—Only wait".

Amen!?!

Our Desires Becoming Aligned with His!

Just something brief to share and a prayer that the Lord placed on my heart today while I was walking. It is, "Lord, help me to live what I confess and confess what You want me to be."

I don't want to be someone who talks the whole day and at the end of the day accomplished did nothing. We all have desires within ourselves; some pop up out of the blue and others have been desires within us for years. What are we doing? If those desires are of God then are we confessing them and living them out? or are we just saying, "Man I really want..." or "I wish I could..." If they are of God, then don't be afraid or hide them, but confess, "Yes, Lord, I desire that too. Help it to come to pass in my life". If those desires are not of God, then we must be willing to open our hands and let those desires go. For the ladies, you go shopping and you see all of those clothes that are on sale and you WANT them but you don't NEED them. You only have so much money that you can spend and so you must let some things go in order to stay within budget. Men, you can relate this too tools, gadgets, or some men can relate to clothes and shoes. Our will is the one thing that is our own. Our will becomes aligned with Christ will as we choose to desire our own wants and desires when it is necessary to do so. We cannot try, in our own might and strength, to make those desires fit into God's plans. We have to open our hands and let them blow away with the wind. There is only strength to do what God has purposed us to do. Let us not struggle to do what we are not suppose to do, but let us desire to do what our Creator has created us to do.

It's something to think about for sure. I want my confession to be those things that God desires and has planned for me to live out and be.

God bless!

A Broken and Contrite Heart

We find broken and contrite heart is mentioned two times in the book of Psalms. First, in Psalms 34:18, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." and second time it's mentioned in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

What do these two words mean?

Broken: having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order
Contrite: feeling or expressing remorse (deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed); affected by guilt.

While I was meditating on this I had a picture of a heart and in this heart there are many channels. Lets bring out hearts into this picture now. We have a heart that has channels that are closed and we consider this to be our old nature. Our old nature is what we did before we came to Christ. Now, we come to Christ, but we still have closed channels in our heart. This is where brokenness comes in to play. We want to submit to the work of God's hands upon our lives so that He can break those channels and make the way for more of His Spirit to flow through us. I don't see brokenness so much to be a rip or tear in our heart, but an opening up. Brokenness also refers to humbleness and we must have a humble heart when we come to the Lord. When we come with a heart that is humble it will hurt less when God opens this channel. If we are stubborn and resistant, then it will be more hurt to us than what God had planned for us. 

Now to the contrite heart, the definition above is very interesting to me because this is what links our minds to our hearts. When we have guilt in our heart it generally is because we have been thinking and re-thinking about those things that we regret doing. It is necessary to feel guilt; that is the alarm that goes off in our minds that tells our heart that something is not right. However, the speak after feeling guilt is confessing what you have done before the Lord. This is what the enemy does not want to happen and so he tries to stop us and keep us in the mode of guilt. The enemy plants just one thought and the human mind just goes off on it's own. Learn and practice girding up the loins of your mind so that you do not allow that seed thought to come in and grow and choke out the truth. 

Brokenness and contrition work together. We do not know when something is wrong until we have guilt in our hearts. Once we have that guilt we must come to the Father with a humble spirit and allow Him to break open that channel. Once that channel is broken we no longer have that blockage and the Holy Spirit is now free to expand more in our lives. 

By God's grace we are able to do this. May we be placed on the right path and remain on this path so that we continue to be made more beautiful in the sight of our Lord.

God bless!

The Power of the Blood of the Lamb

In class this week, we are studying Minor prophets. Today is the first day of class on this course and one thing the teacher spoke that I want to share is concerning the struggle of our sins. 

God is a loving God and often we think of Him as a condemning, criticizing, and slow to forgive God. This is one of the mindsets that we need to get rid of. We are afraid of the after results, but if we continue in that sin, then the after results will only increase for the worse. Our mind sets are often the main hindrance for many people. We don't ask because our mind does not think that way at first. Repentance is the changing of our minds and this is a gift that God desires to give to those who are willing to change. God only wants to make us hate that sin that we struggle to not love. That is the reason many people fall back; it's because they still have a love for that sin. There is no power in our own strength. We often want to try and fix it ourselves, but we only end up failing every time. Sin is something that we need the blood of the Lamb for to get rid of it.

A wonderful and famous hymn: There is Power in the Blood

Would you be free from the burden of sin?

There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; 

Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;

There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?

There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;

Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;

There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?

There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;

Would you live daily His praises to sing?

There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

The first step to repentance and restoration is admitting your sin. This will take the grace of God and courage, but we must take that step. May your heart cry out, "Lord, would you pour your blood over me. I need you because I cannot do this on my own. Would you kill this love for this sin in my life."

God sent His Son on a mission to come and conquer sin. Jesus did and by His blood we are now able to have power. I believe that the time of victory is near for many of God's people. Don't give up but cry out to God with a broken and contrite heart, asking Him for that power and victory. God wants His people to be free and so if we ask, He will give you the power. Lastly, if you find that your heart still loves that sin, then cry out to God and be willing to be made willing!

Amen!

Keep the Light Shining on the Right Path!

I have been meditating and re-meditating upon Psalms 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path." I want to briefly example this verse to you, the way I see it.

First thing this verse addresses is our feet. We must not forget to study God's Word daily because it is through reading His word daily that we can begin to see the condition of our feet. It is important that our feet are in good condition so that we can walk the Christian walk properly and at the correct pace. No one will survive if they have sore, scabby, and blistering feet. Our feet must be properly cleaned and covered by the right shoes.

Second thing this verse talks about is the path. The word is a light unto our path and each day we are to be taking one step in the right direction. How can we make sure that we are going in the right direction? By reading the word daily! If you don't, then you are as a person who is wandering aimlessly. Having no vision (which we attain by reading scripture) and press toward no mark.

We want to find out where we are to go (have a vision) and to keep the light on that path (by reading God's word daily) so that we don't lose the path and wander in another direction. Don't allow yourself to stop reading God's word every day. If you miss a day, don't be discourage, but read even just one verse. If you do not have a time where you meditate and read God's word, then I recommend that you start. Cry out to God that He would give you a love for His Word and an unquenchable hunger for His Word.

God bless!

30, 60, or 100 Pieces

If there was one thing that I had to choose to do on my down time, it would be putting together a puzzle. There are some puzzles that are 10 pieces, 50, 100, or 1000 pieces. They all offer their different levels of intriguing difficulty and excitement. While I was putting together a puzzle with some friends this past Thanksgiving I was thinking how puzzles really paints a picture that links life in the natural with the spiritual. 

Imagine for a moment, that your life is a puzzle (I’m sure this is not too hard for most people to imagine), and there are so many things you want to do with your life. However, you cannot seem to figure out where you want to start. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, then the puzzle begins with salvation. At salvation, there are important fundamental foundations that are to be laid down. Those we can imagine these fundamentals to be the border pieces of our puzzle. After the foundation is laid, we must go on and mature in our walk with the Lord. These are the rest of the pieces that go inside of the borders. 

I have never seen a puzzle piece that has center pieces on the border. That would be too confusing because you  would not be able to know which side the pieces are to go on. This would take up twice the amount of time and effort then usual. How do we know if we are being given a puzzle piece or even where to put that piece? God has given us His word (scripture) so that we can understand this mystery. Our ministry, the purpose of the church, and the revealing to us what our purpose in this life is quickened to us through the Word of the Lord. As He hands us a puzzle piece we are to receive it, wait upon the Lord to hear where we are to put it down on the board. 

One vital thing we must remember is that God will never give us a puzzle piece to another person’s puzzle for our own. He may give to us a puzzle piece for us to give to another person, but we are not to keep it and try to make it fit into our piece. A friend may be struggling with knowing what the wants them to do in their life and God may give to us a word (a puzzle piece) to give to them. We don’t keep that word (puzzle piece) for ourselves, but we give it to them. We are to help each other out to hit the mark in our life here on earth. This life here on earth is just the foundation for our life in Heaven. We are one body and we must build each other up and help each other make it. 

Also, there are times where we see a puzzle piece and we think we know where it goes. It appears to fit in that spot, but later on, when we find ourselves stuck, we find that the piece we forced in was not in the correct spot. God may give us a piece of the future. We are to hold on to that piece, but not try to make it work and fit in the now when it is meant for the future. You may ask, "Why does He give it to me now then?" God gives us pieces of the future to give us a vision to work towards. If we didn't know what was to come, then life would seem like it had no point. We look to the future plans and purpose that God has for us and we work to get to that points. 

We must learn to quiet ourselves and allow God to not only give us those pieces, but to instruct us where exactly they go on the board. So many times, as humans, we want to take the control and do things ourselves. However, this, more often than not, ends in disaster. Each piece has its own small image of the whole picture. Allow God to not just give you the piece, but show you what it is and where it goes.

There were some times that I remember working on a thousand piece puzzle and there would be parts where I could not find one specific piece. That can be how we feel at times in our walk with the Lord. There is one piece missing and we try to find it on our own efforts and we get so discouraged so quickly. We seek to find it on our own. Sometimes it is because we are seeking for something that we are not suppose to know or see just yet. Other times it may be that we are looking for a piece that is not a part of our puzzle. 

Now, I get to the purpose of my title: “30, 60, or 100 Pieces”. We read in scripture of the 30, 60, and the 100-fold Christians. Also, the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. Those who are 100-fold are those who have entered and dwell in the Holy of Holies (Gods presence) and they have hit the mark in their lives. We want to make sure we have completed the puzzle. We can only do that if we put all of the pieces together and put them in the correct spot. Looking at marriage, one of many examples, we must marry the right mate, otherwise the other pieces that are suppose to go in place after that piece will not fit. It is so very important that we understand the importance of marry the right one.

When we come to the end of our life here on earth and we go to see our life. How much of our life is measured up to what God’s plan was for us? Will it be only 30 out of 100 pieces put together, 60 out of 100 pieces, or 100 out of 100 pieces put together. I want to have my puzzle complete. I not only want to see the whole beautiful picture that tells the story of my life with Jesus on earth, but also see the joy in my Heavenly Father’s face as He sees me completed in the beauty of Holiness, Jesus Christ within us.

Let us strive to make sure that we are receiving the pieces God hands to us. That we learn to wait to hear from God where the pieces go. Lastly, make sure we don't try and put other pieces, that do not belong, in our puzzle image! 

God bless!

Four What's to Consider in our Walk

What do you want you want out of salvation?

We pray and seek the Lord that revival would come, but do our actions show our prayers to be true or empty and false? If we want to bring glory and exalt His name, then we do that by living each day obeying what God says to us. We aren't just listening, but we are putting things to action in our daily walk. Pushing forward can only occur when we release the past.

I read this quote once, “Hours and days will surely pass, but we can direct them purposefully and productively.” We can only direct them purposefully and be productive when we do what is required of us. Seeking Him early in the morning is when we can find out what we are to do. Walking with the Spirit throughout the day is how we find out what is required of us. 

God doesn't force anyone to obey and do His will. So I ask you again, what do you want out of your salvation?

What are you holding on to? What are you doing?

We might be holding on to something that is preventing us from drawing closer to God. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken and a contrite spirit. Obedience is what God asks for. It’s not so much the outward things that we do that pleases Him, but it’s our heart. When He asks us to do something and we obey Him, that is showing Him our love. Letting our own hearts be broken from our own will. Our will is what will take us off the path; our own will, our own ways, our own plans. But if we will have a broken spirit and a broken heart, and obey His voice, then we will stay on the path.”

When God speaks it is important, but when He repeats it is vital that we listen and obey. If we do not obey, then we are sinning. One who has an enlarged heart is one who has allowed God to empty them of their own desires and wants and filled them up with His desires and wants for them. If we truly want this, then we must stop holding on to things or doing things that God wants us to release. To have enlarged hearts we must be emptied of clutter. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."   John 1:1-5

If we hold on to something, then it is as a door that we are locking on Christ. It is an area in our life that the Living word (Christ) and the written Word cannot shine through. Allow His word to penetrate us—meet the Living Word through the written Word.

I ask you now, what are you holding on to? Or I should say, what is holding you back from drawing closer to God?

Where are you going? 

If we want to finish this race strong, then we have to know where we are going first. We don’t just run and hope that you’ll get there. 

Are you running away from the call just as Jonah tried to run away from what God told Him to do? Do not try escape the call because it will follow you your whole life!

To study grace is very interesting. Grace is a person just as the Holy Spirit is a person. Grace follows wherever the Lord goes and if God tells you to go and you stay, there will be no grace with you. The grace that is of God will go where God goes regardless of whether or not you go or stay. We must have direction from God and we must obey! God holds us up when we are walking in obedience just as He did for Peter. He was given direction and when he was obedient and leaped out, in faith, and walked on the water, Christ held him up with His arms. In Christ arms we can feel the His love and joy, which are two things that strengthen us.

Some of you may know what the call of God is upon your life, but there are many out there who do not or not totally sure about what area of ministry they are called to. Don’t stop seeking God because He wants us to know so that we have direction. Without a vision we will parish. A lot of our trials that we go through help us to understand better what kind of ministry God has for us.

What is the Commander and Chief calling you to do? 

Are you seeking to find out or are you just running and holding tight to meaningless and useless things?
I would encourage you to cry out to God and ask Him: "Lord, would You give me Your desires. Give me Your grace to let go of those thing(s) that I am holding on to that You want me to let go of. God would open my eyes and ears; give me direction and give me Your faith to do what is required of me."

God Bless!

The Ball is in Your Court!

I have been reading through the book of Luke and I came to chapter 19 this morning. We find a well known Bible character here named Zacchaeus. 

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV):

"He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Going back to about a week ago, I was facing battles left and right of overwhelming thoughts and realizations of my short comings and flaws in my character. The battle in the mind is the most common battle man-kind faces daily. Once we see and think about something, it doesn't take long and is very easy for the wheels to start turning. Once they start it can be a very hard thing to stop. 

Going back to the life of Zacchaeus, he rich man (tax collector). Most men despised tax collectors because many collectors stole money from the people they collected from. As you read earlier, Zacchaeus heard that a man called Jesus was passing through Jericho; so he ran to go and see Him. Little did Zacchaeus know that that day was going to be one of the momentous day's of his life. Jesus came to Him and brought to Zacchaeus two gifts: the gift of repentance (a changing in the mind) and the gift of conversion (the turning around and changing of ones action(s). 

Many people believe that repentance and conversion are a one time thing, but it is to be a repeated occurrence. When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts and proclaim Him as our Savior, that is not the end. When we are saved, that does not mean that everything is alright in our lives and that everything is covered by God's grace. We are not saved forever, but we can lose our salvation. Many believe too that we are no longer under the law, but under grace. That is false! We are under the law because the law is what reveals to us our bondage's (sin) and short comings. We need a change in our minds and in our actions. 

Thinking about Zacchaeus I also thought about the rich young ruler found in Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV):

"Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,' and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."

We see here a man who is also rich, like Zacchaeus, but he is one that God already knows. He knew Jesus and Jesus knew him. However, there is one difference between these two men that make, what I see as a life impacting decision. Zacchaeus was despised by many and saw unfit to have Jesus come visit him, but Jesus came and Zacchaeus accepted the gift of repentance. We see proof of this because he repaid the money and interest to all the people that he stole from. He changed his mind and direction. Now, this rich young ruler knew the Lord and yet when he was instructed, by the Lord, to sell all he had and follow Christ, he did not. The young ruler was sorrowful and did NOT change his mind or actions.

I am not trying to be hard on the rich young ruler. In-fact I am contrasting these two lives because we all are capable of being like these two men. Doing things daily that we don't recognize or think of them as being wrong or something that is holding us back from getting closer to God. The difference between these two men is that, one accepted the two gifts God brought to him and the other did not. 

Going back to my week ago battle in the mind. I shared that with you because we all have, are, and will struggle with our flaws and short comings in our minds. However, if we just dwell on them, we will go nowhere. Here are two men who had flaws and they didn't even know it, but only one of the two responded correctly. When we see a flaw in our character, then pray that God would grant you a change in mind (repentance) and give you His grace to change your actions (conversion). I will not tell you that it will be easy and instantly you will be able to change your actions because that is not true (for most cases). It will take time, but as you take that one step God will take steps too. 

The ball is in your court and now will you choose to walk away sorrowful? or will you take that step of change and throw that ball back into God's court for Him to take the next step? The choice is yours...

God bless!

Be Ye Salts of the Earth

"Ye are the salt of the earth:but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."   Matt. 5:13-16

God, our Creator, had a purpose for each and everyone of our lives before the earth was created. One of the purposes of the children of God is to be the salt of the earth. What does it mean to be "salt of the earth"? One way I can remember this is:

Seek Him

Ask Him

Listen to Him

Trust Him

As children of God we are to seek Him. Why do we seek? because there is so much of Christ that we need to know. We cannot teach others about Christ if we don't know Him ourselves. We are created in His image and therefore He too has a desire for relationship. He wants a people who are willing to seek after Him and would desire to surrender themselves so they can know more and see more of His Glory. Anything that has eternal value we must pay some type of a price for it. Christ is valuable and the same with His truths. If we want to attain more than we must be ones who are willing to seek after in, pay the price for it, and sell it not (Prov. 23:23). What do you want? Look at the things you are seeking after and that will show you where you heart is at. We want is to enter in to the presence of the Lord for He reveals what we have and want we need. Stand up and march forward; seek after Him all ye who are the salt of the earth!

Asking Him! One of the names of the Godhead is, God the Father. When I think of "father" I think of a child who when he needs something runs to his father and asks him for what he needs. God gives to us things to do (teach, be a missionary, lead songs, lead the youth, etc). God doesn't just give us things to do and abandon us. He wants us to ask Him, "how are we to do those things?" As we teach, ask Him what direction should the teaching go? If we lead songs, then ask Him what does the Lord want to do in the hearts of the people during that service? Ask Him and He will answer. However, there must be a balance! We are not to go to God the Father only when we need things. Ask all ye who are the salt of the earth! 

Listen to Him! Once we ask we must listen for the answer. We must always have a listening ear because we may be just walking one day and the Lord would speak to you to go do something. Or even, He may reveal an answer that you have been asking all your life. Those who truly are sons and daughters of God will wait until they hear from God. We cannot hear Him if we are filling ourselves with things of this world. Take care of your spiritual life because we can tend to lose focus and get caught up in the busy life in the world. Listen to Him all ye who are the salt of the earth!

Trust in Him! An action for trusting someone is obeying them. Obedience is the key to growth and maturity in the Lord. Christ wants those those who are following after Him to trust and obey Him. Looking at the Peter we see that he trusted Jesus and we know that because he obeyed when he stepped out on to the water. God will call us at point in our life to step out on to that water. Will we hold ourselves back and not obey or will we take that leap of faith and step out in obedience?!? Trust in Him all ye who are the salt of the earth!

The next part of the verse says, "but if the salt have lost his savour". If we neglect being salt, then we lost our abilities. If we are seeking after worldly possessions, asking council from the ungodly, listening to the voices of the world, and trusting in man-kind, then "it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Seek, ask, listen, and trust in the Lord! "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Amen!

Uphold the Laws of the Lord!

God is looking for those who are willing to lay down their own self will, uphold His laws and be faithful to complete His will for their lives. He corrects those whom He loves and that correction is through His laws (Heb. 12:6). When there is law; sin abounds (Rom. 5:13, 20, 6:15; I Jn. 3:4). If there were no laws then everyone could live however they wanted and do whatever they felt like doing. God created a law to set us free from sin (bondage). Those who obey His law are free men and women. The world portrays laws as being a hindrance, burden, or a bondage. However, they are backwards because those who do not obey are  really the ones who are in bondage.

Obedience is truly the key and may we desire to obtain that key to life. Obedience is a hard thing and many try to be ignorant or remain in ignorance so that they don't have to obey. Their attitude is, "what I don't know won't kill me," but in actuality that is exactly the way to death. What you don't know can lead you to hell. If you don't know Christ, if you don't know His laws, if you don't know His will for your life, then you are walking on the path to death.

Those who are true sons and daughters of Christ are those who will seek and find, listen and obey. It is not enough to just listen, but we need to obey. Learn to meditate on the laws of the Lord and allow Him to write them down on the fleshly table of our hearts (Prov. 3:3, 7:3). We want to have united hearts to fear His name (Ps. 86:11). Allow God to reveal to you His calling for your life. Allow Jesus Christ to teach you His ways and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you step by step until the end. As is says in Job 8:7, "though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase." It is the end that matters not the beginning and we must finish the race.

We want to be cleansed and made acceptable, a living sacrifice for our Lord (Rom. 12:1). In Matthew 5:8 it says, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." If you desire to see our Creator then you must be pure in heart. We must submit our will, be cleansed by the Word and be purified.

One way of seeing this is: picture yourself as a big black dot and Christ as a big white dot. When we accept Christ in to our hearts that white dot is placed over the black dot and now God the Father is able to look on us through Christ. However, we are still a black dot and throughout our Christian walk we are to be changed from glory to Glory. Having our black dot be transformed little by little in to that white dot (Christ). Christ gave us laws so that we can be changed to be like Him. Through the laws of the Lord we are able to better understand what the Lord loves and hates. Obeying His laws and holding fast to the words that He has spoken to us plays a huge part in us becoming whiter and whiter. "And be not conformed to this world:but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12:2). We want to be transformed from black to white and transformation comes through a renewed mind. A renewed mind comes only through repentance and repentance is a gift from God (Rom. 2:4, 11:29). Not everyone is granted repentance and so we must not push the goodness of the Lord. God is good, but also Sovereign and we must be one who will lay down their self will and follow the will of the Lord.


Obedience is the heart desire of our Lord Jesus Christ and may we cry out to God and be obedient sons and daughters of God.

God Bless!