He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.--Psalm 147:10-11
To My Beloved Daughters
I so love this. What an encouragement for us to place our trust in Him! Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him and hope in His mercy. Our soul waits for Him...He is our help and our shield. Our hearts will rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His holy name.
Our God's eyes search to and fro over the entire earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal toward Him. He knows and sees our inward man. When we give Him our hearts and place our trust in Him...we give Him the glory...we magnify His name on the earth. We can shout for joy and be glad because we favor His righteous cause...we can say continually, Let the Lord be magnified who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. We who know we are wretched, poor, miserable, blind and naked can magnify His name by clinging to Him! Are you seeing His mercy and grace to us in this. How kind and tenderhearted of our Father to make the one thing that we really need to do anyway because of our wretched estate, the thing that glorifies His name. Oh, but how we resist our weakness and fraility! How often do we say in our own pride and arrogance instead, I am rich and in need of nothing.
Beloved, the God who made heaven and earth is the God of the poor and needy...of the broken and contrite heart. He delights when we trust in Him...when we depend on His wisdom and His power and place all of our hope in Him. Consolation...and I love that word because it reminds me of the kind of comfort you give a crying child...IS IN HIM. Blessed are we if the God of Jacob is our help and our hope!!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Temporary Diplomacy...by Anna
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Every now and then, I find myself taking life too seriously. Stressing over this and that as if it’s deciding to halt the expansion of the universe instead of deciding what clothes to wear this particular morning. Wishing a day had gone better—because I seem to think I have a finite number of days, when I have a limitless eternity of blissful ones ahead. Upset because of lost time with loved ones (which is when I remind myself ‘forever’ sounds long enough to get caught up on pretty much any amount of time). It doesn’t have to be like that. I don’t have to fret over lost days or which clothes or anything else (although the halt of further universe-expansion might be a bump in the road). What’s eighty, ninety years max compared to—again—ETERNITY? The Millennial Kingdom will way dwarf that—and His Thousand-Year Reign on earth is only the tip of the iceberg!
We are citizens of Heaven. We don’t belong here—not in this running-down, entropy-filled universe. We are ambassadors—of Christ—and our job is simply to save as many as we can from Hell before our brief stay here is over and we’re Recalled—back home! The only things that really matter here, then, is to do what we’ve been sent to do—everything else is fairly extraneous. There are, of course, things you need to do to survive—eat, drink, provide for your family—and there are pleasures here that, although mere shadows of Home, God has put here specially for His weary ambassadors, so we generally don’t get bored. But, caught up in these ‘extraneous’ things, we tend to forget (consciously, at least) that eating, drinking, sleeping, working, and playing—you know, having a life—is not your main job. We forget that life here is a stopover before true Life, a ‘night at a noisy inn’ (Spurgeon’s take) ‘before heading for home’.
That means that, if you’re a believer, your life here on earth can be, well, hell on earth (pardon the redundancy), you could lose everything and everyone that you cared about—and, in the long run, it wouldn’t matter. It would count as less than a bad day—a bad hour, maybe—in joyful Infinity with your Lord.
I take life too seriously. I forget to take Life anywhere near seriously enough.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Dire Straits...
Matthew 8:26-27 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord' we are perishing! He said to them, Why are you afraid, you men of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?
The disciples turn to Christ here in desperate need...Save us, Lord, we are perishing! There was nothing else to do and nothing else to try...they were at the end of whatever human means they could employ to save themselves. Jesus was in the boat with them...they could see Him and had already seen so many of the mighty works He had done and yet it still was not enough to calm their fear...God knows our frames...He knows we are weak and frail...and so very fearful in our flesh.
When we are up against that proverbial wall or in the midst of that terrible storm with no where to go and no human means to help even we as believers will cry out...Lord, where are you..wake up...can't you see I need You...can't You see I am perishing??? Why are you asleep...I am perishing!! Don't You care? Fear always springs from a lack of faith. Our trust in His perfect love is what is needed to quell those fears.
O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them--Psalm 89:8-9
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.--Psalm 46:1-3
Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.--Psalm 107:27-30
Our God will see us through each and every storm we will face in this life by His great power and wonderful love. Trusting in that reality, however, in our humanness is so hard! Even when we see His unmistakable hand in our lives...even when He has done amazing things on our behalf we still struggle...we still doubt...we still fear. His love and compassion may be encompassing us and yet we still are fearing. 1 John 4:18 says this:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Fear involves torment...in Christ's love there is no torment. Romans 8:1 tells us that "there is. therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Beloved, there is no reason to fear...even if we perish. He is our guide even unto death and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord forever. He can take care and will take care of His children...He will see them through.
The disciples turn to Christ here in desperate need...Save us, Lord, we are perishing! There was nothing else to do and nothing else to try...they were at the end of whatever human means they could employ to save themselves. Jesus was in the boat with them...they could see Him and had already seen so many of the mighty works He had done and yet it still was not enough to calm their fear...God knows our frames...He knows we are weak and frail...and so very fearful in our flesh.
When we are up against that proverbial wall or in the midst of that terrible storm with no where to go and no human means to help even we as believers will cry out...Lord, where are you..wake up...can't you see I need You...can't You see I am perishing??? Why are you asleep...I am perishing!! Don't You care? Fear always springs from a lack of faith. Our trust in His perfect love is what is needed to quell those fears.
O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them--Psalm 89:8-9
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.--Psalm 46:1-3
Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.--Psalm 107:27-30
Our God will see us through each and every storm we will face in this life by His great power and wonderful love. Trusting in that reality, however, in our humanness is so hard! Even when we see His unmistakable hand in our lives...even when He has done amazing things on our behalf we still struggle...we still doubt...we still fear. His love and compassion may be encompassing us and yet we still are fearing. 1 John 4:18 says this:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Fear involves torment...in Christ's love there is no torment. Romans 8:1 tells us that "there is. therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Beloved, there is no reason to fear...even if we perish. He is our guide even unto death and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord forever. He can take care and will take care of His children...He will see them through.
Monday, July 30, 2012
COMMITTING YOURSELF INTO HIS CARE...
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.--1 Peter 2:21-25
To My Beloved Daughters:
Read through that opening verse carefully. It begins with "for to this you were called." What is the "for to this?" The prior two verses answer this question. "For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."
Read through that opening verse carefully. It begins with "for to this you were called." What is the "for to this?" The prior two verses answer this question. "For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."
All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer for righteousness sake. They will suffer because they do what is good. They will suffer because they name the name of Christ. Beloved, do not be surprised when it comes but glorify God in this matter. It is a token of His divine favor. You have been counted worthy to share in the sufferings of Christ and therefore will be counted worthy to share in His glory. A servant is not above His master...in Matthew 10 Jesus tells His disciples that they will be hated on account of Him. The path of righteousness is more often than not a path of unjust suffering. Jesus, the Beloved of God, the perfect and sinless One, the One who was completely obedient and in the will of His Father in Heaven suffered for what??? for doing good. He suffered in order to bring us to glory. He who was perfectly sinless and perfectly righteous and perfectly obedient and perfectly in the will of God was rejected by His own people and His own family. He was a Man of Sorrows...despised, misrepresented, mistreated, misunderstood, maligned, and hated by the very creatures that He not only created but had come to minister to and save by His death on the cross.
Peter says we have been called to suffering and our example in this is Christ. Jesus' path to glory was one of suffering for righteousness' sake. His darkest moment on earth brought the greatest glory to God and the greatest good for us.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So beloved, don't be surprised or shocked when it comes but in the midst of it look to Jesus...put your confidence in Him and His perfect righteousness. Follow His example in that when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. Jesus committed Himself into the care of His Father in Heaven. His final words on the cross at Calvary were these:"Into Your hands I commit my Spirit." and having said that He breathed His last.
No matter how much the world (or even your own family) may hate you, no matter how much you are misunderstood, maligned or mistreated, no matter how much they speak of your good as evil...YOU CAN KEEP HIS PEACE IN YOUR HEART. He is the perfect judge. He will fight your battles for you. Commit yourself totally into His keeping and care. Hold these verses close to your heart...commit them to memory. Jesus suffered as if he was the worst of sinners and was crucified with criminals. "BUT GOD"...AND HERE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE VERSES IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE: "AND THE PLEASURE OF THE LORD SHALL PROSPER IN HIS HAND." In context it reads this way:
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.--Isaiah 53:10-11
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.--Isaiah 53:10-11
Because Jesus willingly and totally submitted Himself to His Father in Heaven, the will (or the pleasure) of His Father prospered in His hand. "He shall see His seed" (that's us) "He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied." That is what I want...I want to "see" the labor of my soul and be satisfied! Beloved, God will exalt you in due time. Vindication will come...maybe not in this life but it will come. Surrender to him as your faithful Creator and do not grow weary in doing good, His pleasure will prosper in your hands and in your life. Look to the reward...press on...keep your eyes on the goal...lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares and run with endurance the race that He has laid out for you. Look to Him the Author and Finisher of your faith who for the joy (us) that was set before Him endured the cross.
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of histime in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.--1 Peter 4:1-2
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffersas a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.--1 Peter 4:12-16
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.--1 Peter 4:19
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord! --Psalm 27:11-14
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord! --Psalm 27:11-14
and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
But gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.--1 Peter 5:5-6
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.--Matthew 5:10-12
Monday, July 16, 2012
OUR GOD IS POWERFUL AND HIS WORKS ARE WONDERFUL...
VBS starts today...Joshua 3 and 4....The River Stood Still is the Bible story for the day. The verse is this one from Jeremiah:
‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
I LOVE VBS because when you study the lessons you are forced to see them through the eyes of the children whom you will teach. Here is what I saw...my God is big...my God is powerful. My God does MIGHTY AND AWESOME things....AND HE HAS POWER OVER ALL. MY JOB: TO TRUST HIM.
Chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Joshua were some convicting chapters of Scripture for me. What a reminder of God's sovereign care and love for His people. What a reminder to me who, like the Israelites, often needs memorial stones to remember the wonderful things God has done and still does in my life. God wants us to set up these memorials. He wants us to rejoice in Him always. He wants us to do this not just for us either...but for the generation that will come after us.
He desires us to talk to our children about the marvelous things He has done in our lives. He wants us to show them how the Lord blessed the teeny tiny steps of faith we took....He wants them also to know that when we took these teeny tiny steps of faith and got our feet wet in the waters of the Jordan...THE WATERS DID NOT overflow us AND that throughout it all OUR GOD WAS WITH US. He wants them to know that it was not anything we did, but it was the Lord our God who did it all. He was the One who performed all things for us and made all that concerned us perfect.
The Lord was with Joshua and He is with us. The Lord exalted Him in the sight of all in Israel and when we obey Him and wait on Him as Joshua did, He lifts us up. I love that as their leader Joshua spoke words of faith to the people God had placed in his charge. Read them now:
And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."--Joshua 4:5
Wow...what a great thing for your kids to go to bed hearing. Take a shower, brush your teeth ...tomorrow the Lord is going to do wonders among us. Be ready for it...look for it!
Too often my kids hear me grumble and complain. Too often they hear a lack of thankfulness in both my words and my attitude. How much better if I magnified my Lord. How much better if my words and my actions matched always with what I claim to believe. The faith of all those around me would be strengthened. God wants lives committed completely and utterly to Him...He desires living sacrifices that glorify Him in both word and deed. He wants us to dwell on those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report...He wants us to meditate on the praiseworthy.
As a believer, I can thank God in all things. In trials I can remember that He works all together for good and that His goodness and mercy follow me wherever He leads. In good times I can remember that also. I can sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to those around me always, because my past has been forgiven. My present is in Him who I can go boldly before to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. My future is secured in heaven. Things may look pretty dark at times, but in reality, I am blessed in the heavenlies by a Father who holds all good things in His hand that is forever stretched out in love toward me.
Each of us face an unknown future each and every day of our lives. We need our God to direct our steps and open our way. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being...encompassed in His love there is no fear. Our old life is buried beneath the waters of the Jordan...I can walk newness of life in Him and by Him. Praying that my kids today can look to my example and anticipate the wonderful things God can and will do in their lives also.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him.--Colossians 3:17
Saturday, July 14, 2012
A PLEA FOR THE UNBORN...
BY BILL LILLEY
According to recent estimates, 3500 unborn babies are slaughtered DAILY in the U.S. in a premeditated, legal, and culturally promoted act of CHOICE.
If you are against this sanctioned barbarism and are female you are vilified as being against women's right.
If you are male and have the gall to speak out in order to help protect the most helpless murder victims of our "enlightened and tolerant society", then you are likened to a Neanderthalic tyrant with hidden feelings of inadequacy purposely disguising your need to keep women subjugated.
Why these despicable ad hominem attacks?
Because reason, morality, compassion, and decency are all on the anti-abortion side. The only thing abortion supporters have left is either ice-cold, counter-factual arguments about the unfeeling, non-personhood of babies in the womb, or vile schoolyard, name-calling attacks that impugn the motives and intelligence of their opponents.
Underneath all the spitting and screeching in favor of the right to abort, is a a monumental selfishness that tolerates not the slightest encroachment. The cry of "WE CARE ABOUT WOMEN" from these modern thinkers stops dead (literally) at the wall of the womb.
In truth, girls in the womb, are the most unprotected victim class in this country. Female sex-selective abortion is not only a prevalent practice world-wide, but on the rise in the U.S.
And please, please, enough with the vapid arguments about the supposed suffering of "unwanted children". What's worse morally, living a life in whatever circumstances with a chance, at least, of betterment, or having that life summarily executed before it even has opportunity to emerge?
We protect more endangered species in this country than you can shake a stick at, but helpless babies in the womb? You are on your own.
According to recent estimates, 3500 unborn babies are slaughtered DAILY in the U.S. in a premeditated, legal, and culturally promoted act of CHOICE.
If you are against this sanctioned barbarism and are female you are vilified as being against women's right.
If you are male and have the gall to speak out in order to help protect the most helpless murder victims of our "enlightened and tolerant society", then you are likened to a Neanderthalic tyrant with hidden feelings of inadequacy purposely disguising your need to keep women subjugated.
Why these despicable ad hominem attacks?
Because reason, morality, compassion, and decency are all on the anti-abortion side. The only thing abortion supporters have left is either ice-cold, counter-factual arguments about the unfeeling, non-personhood of babies in the womb, or vile schoolyard, name-calling attacks that impugn the motives and intelligence of their opponents.
Underneath all the spitting and screeching in favor of the right to abort, is a a monumental selfishness that tolerates not the slightest encroachment. The cry of "WE CARE ABOUT WOMEN" from these modern thinkers stops dead (literally) at the wall of the womb.
In truth, girls in the womb, are the most unprotected victim class in this country. Female sex-selective abortion is not only a prevalent practice world-wide, but on the rise in the U.S.
And please, please, enough with the vapid arguments about the supposed suffering of "unwanted children". What's worse morally, living a life in whatever circumstances with a chance, at least, of betterment, or having that life summarily executed before it even has opportunity to emerge?
We protect more endangered species in this country than you can shake a stick at, but helpless babies in the womb? You are on your own.
Friday, July 13, 2012
My Eyes Are On You...
For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you,
Father,
Write these verses on my heart. My help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. In You, my God, I place my trust. You will not leave my soul destitute...You will keep me from the snares of the enemy. You pluck my feet out of the net and keep me from falling. My eyes are on You! It is You who bring me out of my distresses, afflictions and pain...it is You who forgives all my sins. You guard and preserve my soul and deliver me. I will wait on You.
Let me look to You, Father, as the eyes of a servant look unto the hand of their master or as a maiden unto the hand of her mistress...my eyes will wait upon You until You have mercy upon me.
The battle is Yours. I will not be afraid nor dismayed. You will fight for me and I shall hold my peace! With my enemies is the arm of the flesh but with me is the Lord my God who is great and terrible in battle. You, O Lord, will not fail me nor forsake me! Strengthen me, help me...uphold me with your right hand. I am Yours. You formed me and have redeemed me....You have called me Your name. I am Your beloved and You are mine. When I pass through the waters, You will be with me, and through the rivers, they will not overflow me; and walk through the fire, it shall not burn me nor flame be kindled upon me. I am precious in Your sight my God and my Redeemer!
Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you,
Father,
Write these verses on my heart. My help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. In You, my God, I place my trust. You will not leave my soul destitute...You will keep me from the snares of the enemy. You pluck my feet out of the net and keep me from falling. My eyes are on You! It is You who bring me out of my distresses, afflictions and pain...it is You who forgives all my sins. You guard and preserve my soul and deliver me. I will wait on You.
Let me look to You, Father, as the eyes of a servant look unto the hand of their master or as a maiden unto the hand of her mistress...my eyes will wait upon You until You have mercy upon me.
The battle is Yours. I will not be afraid nor dismayed. You will fight for me and I shall hold my peace! With my enemies is the arm of the flesh but with me is the Lord my God who is great and terrible in battle. You, O Lord, will not fail me nor forsake me! Strengthen me, help me...uphold me with your right hand. I am Yours. You formed me and have redeemed me....You have called me Your name. I am Your beloved and You are mine. When I pass through the waters, You will be with me, and through the rivers, they will not overflow me; and walk through the fire, it shall not burn me nor flame be kindled upon me. I am precious in Your sight my God and my Redeemer!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Silencing the Critics by Doing Good...
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—--1 Peter 2:15
To My Beloved Daughters in Him:
THIS. IS. A VERY INSTRUCTIVE VERSE. This one has kept me from sin and wrong speaking more times than I can count. Girls, our single greatest evangelistic tool is how we live our lives. So often people will speak ignorantly and foolishly...they will judge wrongly. A foolish man in the bible is one who is disobedient to the word of God...He is a non believer. He is willfully ignorant of God's truth, but attacks it anyway. We are to silence them not by what we say but by doing what is good and what is right. We are to do as it says in verse 12 of this same chapter...We are to have our conduct honorable among the Gentiles so that when they speak against us as evil doers, they may, by our good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Wow...crush the critics not by words but by doing right. Give your enemies no foothold...walk blamelessly before your God in uprightness of heart. It secures you in His will and stops the mouths of the lying and the foolish. Don't fret..it only gives them power and causes you harm. Keep your upright course. Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify for your Father in Heaven.
Here is something you probably already know...this is not easy. It is not easy to have your good called evil...to have your words twisted and your deeds maligned. No one likes to be hated without a cause but therein is the encouragement. Our Jesus was despised and rejected...His words were twisted and His deeds maligned. Look to Jesus then for your example. See how he reacted...
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
To My Beloved Daughters in Him:
THIS. IS. A VERY INSTRUCTIVE VERSE. This one has kept me from sin and wrong speaking more times than I can count. Girls, our single greatest evangelistic tool is how we live our lives. So often people will speak ignorantly and foolishly...they will judge wrongly. A foolish man in the bible is one who is disobedient to the word of God...He is a non believer. He is willfully ignorant of God's truth, but attacks it anyway. We are to silence them not by what we say but by doing what is good and what is right. We are to do as it says in verse 12 of this same chapter...We are to have our conduct honorable among the Gentiles so that when they speak against us as evil doers, they may, by our good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Wow...crush the critics not by words but by doing right. Give your enemies no foothold...walk blamelessly before your God in uprightness of heart. It secures you in His will and stops the mouths of the lying and the foolish. Don't fret..it only gives them power and causes you harm. Keep your upright course. Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify for your Father in Heaven.
Here is something you probably already know...this is not easy. It is not easy to have your good called evil...to have your words twisted and your deeds maligned. No one likes to be hated without a cause but therein is the encouragement. Our Jesus was despised and rejected...His words were twisted and His deeds maligned. Look to Jesus then for your example. See how he reacted...
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Christ suffered that we might live. Shine your light so others might live. There are no true offenses against you...they are against God. Your life is not about you..it is about glorifying Him in and through it all so that you can lead others to Christ. The key verse for me from this section of 1 Peter 2 especially when going through this kind of trial is this one:
"but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously"
I am never to look to and desire the praises of men...I am to desire the praises of my God. I am not to get entangled in foolish disputes in an attempt to clear my name. They take the focus off of God and place it on me...so instead of seeing Christ in me others just see me. They keep the focus on earthly things rather than heavenly things and distract from the task at hand. I am to commit myself then...all of me...to Him. I am to surrender to what He has for me. It is not my job to worry about my critics. It is His. My job is to do good and keep my conduct honorable.
"but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously"
I am never to look to and desire the praises of men...I am to desire the praises of my God. I am not to get entangled in foolish disputes in an attempt to clear my name. They take the focus off of God and place it on me...so instead of seeing Christ in me others just see me. They keep the focus on earthly things rather than heavenly things and distract from the task at hand. I am to commit myself then...all of me...to Him. I am to surrender to what He has for me. It is not my job to worry about my critics. It is His. My job is to do good and keep my conduct honorable.
These verses above from 1 Peter 2 and the ones below from Psalm 37 are gold to be treasured and obeyed. As you follow your Lord's example, He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day and you will delight yourself in an abundance of peace.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth,
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in abundance of peace
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
THEREFORE...
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, --Ephesians 4:1
In Ephesians Chapters 1-3 the Apostle Paul speaks of the incredible blessings and privileges we have as children of God...as believers. This is our "high" position in Christ. As is Paul's custom he switches gears with a "therefore". He is finished discussing doctrine and is now going on to duty. Doctrine is the basis for duty...it is the why of our doing. Therefore...or because we have been given such great and precious privileges we are to desire out of love and affection for our God to walk just as He walked.
I have not only been created by God but I have been bought with the price of the precious blood of His Son. I am now a slave not to sin which leads to death and eternal separation from my God but to righteousness which leads to life and an eternity with my Father in Heaven. Paul beseeches (begs) his brethren here to walk worthy of the calling with which they have been called. John MacArthur says that we have a high calling that demands a low walk. I. LOVE. THAT. Jesus was humble, meek, lowly, gentle, patient, forgiving and kind and He Himself is our peace. In Him we are united in one body with others of like and precious faith. Our lives should reflect the life and character of our Father! No longer do we live for the praises of men but the praises of God! Beloved, our salvation should look like something! Because of all the kindness we have received in Christ Jesus we are to conform to our God's standards...we are to become like Him. We are to walk worthy!
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—1 Peter 2:15
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,--Philippians 1:27
Before we get into the qualities that Paul says characterize the worthy walk, let's remind ourselves of all we have been given in Christ. (All that comes before Paul's therefore) In listing them I am going to be using the first person...as you read substitute yourself in the "I" position.
Ephesians 1:4 I have been chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:5 I have been predestined in love and adopted as His beloved daughter.
Ephesians 1:6 I am made to the praise of His glory and am accepted in my beloved Jesus!
Ephesians 1:7 I have been provided with redemption and forgiveness.
Ephesians 1:8 I have been given the wisdom of my God!
Ephesians 1:9 He has made known to me, the mystery of His will.
Ephesians 1:10-11 I have an inheritance that He planned for me from before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:13 I have been given His Holy Spirit who dwells in me! I have been sealed with His Spirit who is the guarantee of my inheritance.
and that was just chapter 1 and that list is not exhaustive...on to chapter 2...
Ephesians 2:1 I have been made alive...me who was spiritually dead, a child of wrath headed for hell...He has made alive
Ephesians 2:6 I have not only been made alive, but I have been raised up together with jesus and now sit with Him at the right hand of the throne of my God.
Ephesians 2:8-10 I am His workmanship...and my salvation is His free gift...nothing but belief and acceptance required. I have been brought near by the precious blood of His Son.
Ephesians 2:13-15 I have been made into one new man with Christ.
On to Chapter 3:
Ephesians 3:3-6 I have been united with both Jew and Gentile by the gosepl in the church.
Ephesians 3:17-18 He strengthens me with His Spirit so Christ's love can root and ground in my heart and i can be filled with His unfathomable love!
Ephesians 3:19: I (ME!!) can be filled with the fullness of God!!!
Ephesians 3:20: I LOVE THIS LAST ONE a lot...I can know His power in my life!
I, therefore, urge you, my daughters, in full agreement with Paul, to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called!
In Ephesians Chapters 1-3 the Apostle Paul speaks of the incredible blessings and privileges we have as children of God...as believers. This is our "high" position in Christ. As is Paul's custom he switches gears with a "therefore". He is finished discussing doctrine and is now going on to duty. Doctrine is the basis for duty...it is the why of our doing. Therefore...or because we have been given such great and precious privileges we are to desire out of love and affection for our God to walk just as He walked.
I have not only been created by God but I have been bought with the price of the precious blood of His Son. I am now a slave not to sin which leads to death and eternal separation from my God but to righteousness which leads to life and an eternity with my Father in Heaven. Paul beseeches (begs) his brethren here to walk worthy of the calling with which they have been called. John MacArthur says that we have a high calling that demands a low walk. I. LOVE. THAT. Jesus was humble, meek, lowly, gentle, patient, forgiving and kind and He Himself is our peace. In Him we are united in one body with others of like and precious faith. Our lives should reflect the life and character of our Father! No longer do we live for the praises of men but the praises of God! Beloved, our salvation should look like something! Because of all the kindness we have received in Christ Jesus we are to conform to our God's standards...we are to become like Him. We are to walk worthy!
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—1 Peter 2:15
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,--Philippians 1:27
Before we get into the qualities that Paul says characterize the worthy walk, let's remind ourselves of all we have been given in Christ. (All that comes before Paul's therefore) In listing them I am going to be using the first person...as you read substitute yourself in the "I" position.
Ephesians 1:4 I have been chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:5 I have been predestined in love and adopted as His beloved daughter.
Ephesians 1:6 I am made to the praise of His glory and am accepted in my beloved Jesus!
Ephesians 1:7 I have been provided with redemption and forgiveness.
Ephesians 1:8 I have been given the wisdom of my God!
Ephesians 1:9 He has made known to me, the mystery of His will.
Ephesians 1:10-11 I have an inheritance that He planned for me from before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:13 I have been given His Holy Spirit who dwells in me! I have been sealed with His Spirit who is the guarantee of my inheritance.
and that was just chapter 1 and that list is not exhaustive...on to chapter 2...
Ephesians 2:1 I have been made alive...me who was spiritually dead, a child of wrath headed for hell...He has made alive
Ephesians 2:6 I have not only been made alive, but I have been raised up together with jesus and now sit with Him at the right hand of the throne of my God.
Ephesians 2:8-10 I am His workmanship...and my salvation is His free gift...nothing but belief and acceptance required. I have been brought near by the precious blood of His Son.
Ephesians 2:13-15 I have been made into one new man with Christ.
On to Chapter 3:
Ephesians 3:3-6 I have been united with both Jew and Gentile by the gosepl in the church.
Ephesians 3:17-18 He strengthens me with His Spirit so Christ's love can root and ground in my heart and i can be filled with His unfathomable love!
Ephesians 3:19: I (ME!!) can be filled with the fullness of God!!!
Ephesians 3:20: I LOVE THIS LAST ONE a lot...I can know His power in my life!
I, therefore, urge you, my daughters, in full agreement with Paul, to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
An Exhortation to the Word...
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.--Psalm 119:11
To My Beloved Daughters in Him:
The word of God is important. In fact, Psalm 138 tells us that our God has magnified His Word ABOVE his name. Wow! It is that important. Paul tells us in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God and says this in the same chapter:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?... For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!
The word is necessary for salvation but it is also necessary for continued sanctification....Peter tells us that the word is how we grow. Crave it...desire it as a newborn babe desires milk because it is necessary for life. Cling to the word like that...depend on the word as a newborn depends on the milk it gets from its mother. Make it your life source...because it is your life source. Jesus is the Word.
James tells us to receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save our souls. He also reminds us that a quick look is not what is in order...we are to gaze deeply into the mirror of His word. We are to look long and hard and allow it to transform us as we surrender to what the Spirit of God shows us.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.--2nd Corinthians 3:18
The writer of Hebrews says this about God's word:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Paul speaks of it this way in Romans, Chapter 15:
To My Beloved Daughters in Him:
The word of God is important. In fact, Psalm 138 tells us that our God has magnified His Word ABOVE his name. Wow! It is that important. Paul tells us in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God and says this in the same chapter:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?... For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!
The word is necessary for salvation but it is also necessary for continued sanctification....Peter tells us that the word is how we grow. Crave it...desire it as a newborn babe desires milk because it is necessary for life. Cling to the word like that...depend on the word as a newborn depends on the milk it gets from its mother. Make it your life source...because it is your life source. Jesus is the Word.
James tells us to receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save our souls. He also reminds us that a quick look is not what is in order...we are to gaze deeply into the mirror of His word. We are to look long and hard and allow it to transform us as we surrender to what the Spirit of God shows us.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.--2nd Corinthians 3:18
The writer of Hebrews says this about God's word:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Paul speaks of it this way in Romans, Chapter 15:
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
But here in Psalm 119 David gets very practical...why is the word of God important...so that I might not sin against you. The word protects us from sin. If we do not know the Word of God, we can't protect ourselves from sin. Knowledge of the word is our prevention and protection against sin. Where there is ignorance, there is sin. Where there is not introspection and self awareness...gazing into the word and allowing it to reveal to you the thoughts and intentions of your heart...there is continued and ongoing sin. Without the word of God, we are defenseless. We cannot walk worthy of Him who died for us and now lives to make intercession for us. Knowing the word is what enables us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. And..this is very important....Once we know what it says, we are then to become doers of what we know.
Immerse yourselves in the word, girls. Let it be always in your thoughts. Make it such a part of your life and your daily walk that you would not go anywhere without it or not go an hour without thinking on it. Let the word be the abundance of your heart. Speak of it to your children...see the application for it everywhere. Use it in your life and in your children's as Timothy exhorts...
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
To know the word and do it is to stay in the will of your God. When you were small, I likened the Word of God and His will to an umbrella. If you went outside of His will you got wet, but if you stayed under that umbrella you were under His protection and care and blessings would abound. Very simple, I know...but I liked it because the simplicity of it spoke to my heart as well.
Here is my final exhortation:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, doall in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.--Colossians 3:16-17
Okay one more...Isaiah 8
To the law and to the testimony!
But here in Psalm 119 David gets very practical...why is the word of God important...so that I might not sin against you. The word protects us from sin. If we do not know the Word of God, we can't protect ourselves from sin. Knowledge of the word is our prevention and protection against sin. Where there is ignorance, there is sin. Where there is not introspection and self awareness...gazing into the word and allowing it to reveal to you the thoughts and intentions of your heart...there is continued and ongoing sin. Without the word of God, we are defenseless. We cannot walk worthy of Him who died for us and now lives to make intercession for us. Knowing the word is what enables us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. And..this is very important....Once we know what it says, we are then to become doers of what we know.
Immerse yourselves in the word, girls. Let it be always in your thoughts. Make it such a part of your life and your daily walk that you would not go anywhere without it or not go an hour without thinking on it. Let the word be the abundance of your heart. Speak of it to your children...see the application for it everywhere. Use it in your life and in your children's as Timothy exhorts...
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
To know the word and do it is to stay in the will of your God. When you were small, I likened the Word of God and His will to an umbrella. If you went outside of His will you got wet, but if you stayed under that umbrella you were under His protection and care and blessings would abound. Very simple, I know...but I liked it because the simplicity of it spoke to my heart as well.
Here is my final exhortation:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, doall in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.--Colossians 3:16-17
Okay one more...Isaiah 8
To the law and to the testimony!
Monday, July 9, 2012
ALWAYS BEFORE HIM....
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices. My flesh also will rest in hope.--Psalm16:8-9
To My Beautiful Daughters in Him,
These two verses are so beautiful and instructive. My God tells me in Psalm 139 that He knows everything about me. My rising up, my sitting down, my path, my words, my ways...and even my thought afar off. My God knows it all. He created me...He hedges me behind and before and has laid His hand upon me. I am never alone...I am always with Him. He never leaves me nor forsakes me. Are you getting where I am headed. I AM ALWAYS BEFORE HIM. He has inscribed me on the palms of His hands. My "walls" are continually before Him!
Because of this...Because of the great love He has for me...Because I am continually before Him and His thoughts toward me are precious and cannot be counted, I WANT TO SET HIM BEFORE ME ALWAYS. I want my heart and my mind so saturated with my God that my every waking moment is interpreted and referenced in His light. Look at the reward...therefore my heart is glad, my glory rejoices and my flesh can rest in hope! Setting Him before me will bring me great joy and peace. Why? Because instead of seeing all that happens to me through the filter of "Jean" and how it affects "Jean" I see it through the lenses of my God. My view is now filtered through the divine. My heart and mind are now in the heavenlies focuses on those things that are above and eternal...the things that you know...last. I will then react differently to each and every situation I face because I will not be looking at it in my flesh but in my spirit. I can then handle whatever this life may throw at me because it is not about me...it is not mine to handle...it is God's. My life is not about me...what happens to me is not about me...it is ALWAYS about Him. I died and my life has been hidden with Christ in God. I live for Him...I live to do His will and glorify Him. To put it practically when someone hurts "my" feelings...it is not me they are hurting then it is Christ. My reaction will be to see it only as an opportunity to glorify my God. The me, myself and I...the trinity of stupidity...as Pastor Lloyd Pulley calls it, has been removed from the equation and oh what peace that brings. My heart can rejoice and be glad...My God is in charge and control. His will for me is from His heart of love. I am His beloved...I am always before Him. He cares for me. Come magnify the Lord with me!
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
Psalm 34:1-5
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