Matthew 5:44 but I say to you love those who hate you and pray for those who persecute you...
these words are spoken by Jesus himself... sorry to say... that is a very hard concept for me... oh I will pray for them all right... but not for God to bless them or save them or change them... I am an old testament warrior... I tend to pray that those that persecute me or persecute those that I love will die or be removed from my world...
and I am wrong... I want to save the world... but not the same world that everyone else wants to go to heaven I'm thinking... I am learning the hard way... that much of the church world or the so called christians are the ones that need saved... I don't so much mean saved from the worldly ways... maybe I do mean that... the people in the church have turned out to be the meanest people I have ever had to come in contact with... I used to just go to church without being involved in it... and now.. now that I guess you would have to say I am part of it... I find that the majority of church servants and leaders are mean and hateful people... aren't these supposed to be the saved ones??? aren't they supposed to be the ones out here saving the world in action and deed? apparently I am so confused about the role of church...
I had the imagination that church was to be a light in a dark world... I promise you that I have never been dogged out and talked about in the world like I am in the church... when I was talked about in the street... it was truth... I was doing what they said I was doing... NOW... I am doing NOTHING... and people are accusing me of doing sinful things... don't get me wrong... I don't pretend I am not sinful... (for goodness sake I just told you I want these people to disappear...)but I am not doing what I am being rumored to do...
you know... I had told someone once that the change that we are to make is in the church... and I guess I never realized the significance and truth of that statement... I too was confused about my role in the kingdom.. I thought the souls to be changed were the ones in the street... and I believe it will be... but I think maybe it has to begin with change in the lives of the people in the church... including me...
so... apparently instead of wishing/praying for their demise... I will begin this day... this new year to pray for the church to be delivered and to become more Christlike... and I will pray this same prayer for myself... because if I am wanting folks to disappear or die... I am not so much like Christ either...
let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me... let there be love on earth and let it begin with me... let there be Christ on earth and let it begin with me...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Dinner...
I had not cooked in the past several years because there is no one there to eat it.. so I just had been going to someone else's house... there is just something about cooking for a man that makes it seem worth while... (yes, I know that sounds stupid..)but I decide I am cooking this year for Christmas dinner...
I buy a turkey and a ham... keep remembering that I have not cooked this in several years... and the turkey has a gravy packet with it... ???? and the ham has a glaze packet with it... ????...
apparently... I am too old school for today... I make my own ham glaze and I use the juice from the turkey and some shredded up turkey to make the gravy... now I will tell you that I thought I would try this gravy packet... ugh.... it didn't thicken like the flour mixture I would normally make and use... wondering what happened to being taught how to cook by someone... I wasn't taught by my mother... I was taught by my wilbur... my kid's grandpap... and he taught me all old school stuff... like how to make gravy from nothing... and how to make glaze for a ham... and truth told... he taught me how to make pig feet and chitlins... and I can even cook a groundhog so you won't know it is a groundhog... (lololol... that is a true statement...)(I keep telling you people I come from the REAL hood... and no one believes me...)
I taught myself how to make sweet potatoe pie... because the women in my world I have asked to show me how don't want me to be able to make it from scratch... and last year... it tasted good but looked like orangish pudding... BUT.... this year... for Thanksgiving... India took it back to school with her... and they ate it all and she didn't get any... but she said they said it was great... I was still suspect... cause you know... kids will eat anything... BUT... this Christmas some of her friends came over and they tried it... and they went to work talking about it was really good!!! yay me!!! I am very excited about that!! and only took 2 tries...
so... Christmas dinner came out good... and I can make sweet potatoe pie... and I am very happy about that... next is the souffle... I am hoping to have that down by Easter...
I buy a turkey and a ham... keep remembering that I have not cooked this in several years... and the turkey has a gravy packet with it... ???? and the ham has a glaze packet with it... ????...
apparently... I am too old school for today... I make my own ham glaze and I use the juice from the turkey and some shredded up turkey to make the gravy... now I will tell you that I thought I would try this gravy packet... ugh.... it didn't thicken like the flour mixture I would normally make and use... wondering what happened to being taught how to cook by someone... I wasn't taught by my mother... I was taught by my wilbur... my kid's grandpap... and he taught me all old school stuff... like how to make gravy from nothing... and how to make glaze for a ham... and truth told... he taught me how to make pig feet and chitlins... and I can even cook a groundhog so you won't know it is a groundhog... (lololol... that is a true statement...)(I keep telling you people I come from the REAL hood... and no one believes me...)
I taught myself how to make sweet potatoe pie... because the women in my world I have asked to show me how don't want me to be able to make it from scratch... and last year... it tasted good but looked like orangish pudding... BUT.... this year... for Thanksgiving... India took it back to school with her... and they ate it all and she didn't get any... but she said they said it was great... I was still suspect... cause you know... kids will eat anything... BUT... this Christmas some of her friends came over and they tried it... and they went to work talking about it was really good!!! yay me!!! I am very excited about that!! and only took 2 tries...
so... Christmas dinner came out good... and I can make sweet potatoe pie... and I am very happy about that... next is the souffle... I am hoping to have that down by Easter...
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
rumors and reputation...
this morning I am reminded of Mary... the mother of Jesus... she was 'come upon' (whatever that means) and has become pregnant by the spirit of God to have a child.. and these people... surely talked about her...
people are mean... they can never seem to be happy for anyone... they can never think that maybe things happen as they are the will of God or people love one another... it can never be a happy rumor.. only the mean hateful ones where the woman is a seductress and the man is weak and he has succumbed to her evil plot and now she has him whipped by her amazing sexual feats... (surely you can see how stupid that sounds???)
maybe... just maybe... the will of God is coming to pass and you don't need to try to make is ugly or sinful... maybe it is just the will of God being manifested in human form... for goodness sakes... allow people to be happy for once in our lives... sheesh...
people are mean... they can never seem to be happy for anyone... they can never think that maybe things happen as they are the will of God or people love one another... it can never be a happy rumor.. only the mean hateful ones where the woman is a seductress and the man is weak and he has succumbed to her evil plot and now she has him whipped by her amazing sexual feats... (surely you can see how stupid that sounds???)
maybe... just maybe... the will of God is coming to pass and you don't need to try to make is ugly or sinful... maybe it is just the will of God being manifested in human form... for goodness sakes... allow people to be happy for once in our lives... sheesh...
Friday, December 4, 2009
personal pet peeve...
this really about nothing... with no answer in sight... just something that REALLY annoys me...
have you ever known a woman that will only talk on the phone when her man is not around?? boy does that annoy me... now... I realize that men tend to get irritated when they are not the center of your existance... they think you need to hang up as long as they are in your presence... but still... do you really have to go along with it? why can't you answer the phone... talk a few minutes... (like under 3 even..) then say okay... well I'm with the man right now and will call you later... but you don't even answer the phone... I promise you that I will not remember whatever I was suppposed to say to you when you call me later...
and men... what is the issue... I mean... I can understand that she shouldn't be on the phone gossiping while you have a little personal time with her... and if ya'll are 'busy'... of course you wouldn't answer just then... but to think that every time she is in your presence she just won't answer the phone at all... that would tend to make me think something is going on... if I am with a man and his phone is off or on silent and he won't pick up ANY calls... there is something he is hiding...
my personal opinion is this... answer the phone... talk a few minutes and hang up... both sexes... truthfully... any time we are on the phone more than 10 minutes, it turns into gossip anyways so we really should not be hanging on the phone all like we do... and I don't know about you... but I sometimes make excuses for my gossip... such as... it was the truth... it may have been... but I am learning the hard way that if what you are saying does not encourage, edify and bring life... we don't need to say it... maybe if we don't say it.. we will eventually get to the place where we don't think it... maybe....
whew... feel better now... really had to get that off my chest...
have you ever known a woman that will only talk on the phone when her man is not around?? boy does that annoy me... now... I realize that men tend to get irritated when they are not the center of your existance... they think you need to hang up as long as they are in your presence... but still... do you really have to go along with it? why can't you answer the phone... talk a few minutes... (like under 3 even..) then say okay... well I'm with the man right now and will call you later... but you don't even answer the phone... I promise you that I will not remember whatever I was suppposed to say to you when you call me later...
and men... what is the issue... I mean... I can understand that she shouldn't be on the phone gossiping while you have a little personal time with her... and if ya'll are 'busy'... of course you wouldn't answer just then... but to think that every time she is in your presence she just won't answer the phone at all... that would tend to make me think something is going on... if I am with a man and his phone is off or on silent and he won't pick up ANY calls... there is something he is hiding...
my personal opinion is this... answer the phone... talk a few minutes and hang up... both sexes... truthfully... any time we are on the phone more than 10 minutes, it turns into gossip anyways so we really should not be hanging on the phone all like we do... and I don't know about you... but I sometimes make excuses for my gossip... such as... it was the truth... it may have been... but I am learning the hard way that if what you are saying does not encourage, edify and bring life... we don't need to say it... maybe if we don't say it.. we will eventually get to the place where we don't think it... maybe....
whew... feel better now... really had to get that off my chest...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
have you ever wished you weren't saved?
today I am somewhat thinking that way... this sacrifice of myself is more than I can take some days and today is one of them...
last night... I had to deal with some of the most selfish and inconsiderate people of my existance... and I upfront admit that I did not handle it in a Christlike manner... I screamed and yelled and told people they are rude and selfish... I yelled at some kids (which is really not unusual, but usually I am playing...)and that wasn't right either...
I don't want to do any of this anymore... I want to go back to the street... I want someone to show me physical love... I want someone to think I am center of the universe again... I want to be drunk... I want to be out in the club dancing and getting attention... I want to be who I used to be... I want to be comfortable... for just 10 minutes...
my spirit knows that I have come to far to turn back now... God has been too good... regardless of how sickening people become... God is the center of the universe and He is the one that I am ultimately supposed to be focused on...
so this day I will suck up all this hurt and disappointment and walk on in the path that God has set before me and know that God will deal with my enemies.. God will deal with anyone who tries to harm me even if it is just emotionally or spiritually... I don't answer to man... I answer to God...
Father forgive me for my mouth... forgive me for my attitude... forgive me for not portraying you in my life... I ask that you will fix all the mess that I have created and create in me a right spirit and clean hands because this day I have neither one of those things... change me into the person that you desire for me to be... love me in spite of me... in Jesus name I ask it.. amen...
last night... I had to deal with some of the most selfish and inconsiderate people of my existance... and I upfront admit that I did not handle it in a Christlike manner... I screamed and yelled and told people they are rude and selfish... I yelled at some kids (which is really not unusual, but usually I am playing...)and that wasn't right either...
I don't want to do any of this anymore... I want to go back to the street... I want someone to show me physical love... I want someone to think I am center of the universe again... I want to be drunk... I want to be out in the club dancing and getting attention... I want to be who I used to be... I want to be comfortable... for just 10 minutes...
my spirit knows that I have come to far to turn back now... God has been too good... regardless of how sickening people become... God is the center of the universe and He is the one that I am ultimately supposed to be focused on...
so this day I will suck up all this hurt and disappointment and walk on in the path that God has set before me and know that God will deal with my enemies.. God will deal with anyone who tries to harm me even if it is just emotionally or spiritually... I don't answer to man... I answer to God...
Father forgive me for my mouth... forgive me for my attitude... forgive me for not portraying you in my life... I ask that you will fix all the mess that I have created and create in me a right spirit and clean hands because this day I have neither one of those things... change me into the person that you desire for me to be... love me in spite of me... in Jesus name I ask it.. amen...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
unconditional...
we all desire to be loved unconditionally... we want someone who will love us despite the issues we have or the things that we say that we shouldn't... yet how often are we really willing to give this to someone else?
God loves us even while we are still in our filth and sin... if God loved us the way that we love others, what a terrible situation we would be in... we like to think that we have come such a long way and are so wonderful... and maybe we have come a long way... I know that I have... yet I am not yet what God is calling me to be... that is a daily struggle... daily I have to die to the desires of self in order to be the woman of God that He desires me to be... God wants us to love people despite what they do or say... that is not an easy task... yet that is what God is requiring of us...
Father... I desire to love the people of this world... not only the people of God... but all people with the same love that You have shown to me... I am not worthy of the love You give me.. and I want to love others when they are right as well as when they are wrong... open my spirit eyes... the eyes of Love and show me my faults daily that I can be more like You... I ask this in Jesus precious name... amen.amen.amen. I love You more than I show...
God loves us even while we are still in our filth and sin... if God loved us the way that we love others, what a terrible situation we would be in... we like to think that we have come such a long way and are so wonderful... and maybe we have come a long way... I know that I have... yet I am not yet what God is calling me to be... that is a daily struggle... daily I have to die to the desires of self in order to be the woman of God that He desires me to be... God wants us to love people despite what they do or say... that is not an easy task... yet that is what God is requiring of us...
Father... I desire to love the people of this world... not only the people of God... but all people with the same love that You have shown to me... I am not worthy of the love You give me.. and I want to love others when they are right as well as when they are wrong... open my spirit eyes... the eyes of Love and show me my faults daily that I can be more like You... I ask this in Jesus precious name... amen.amen.amen. I love You more than I show...
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
what it looks like...
have you ever noticed that the promise of God coming to pass usually doesn't look like you thought it would...
I think we get this romanticized idea of what things should look like and then we stand there waiting to see what we thought up in our head... don't get me wrong... I am not at all complaining or trying to be negative... I am just saying that it isn't what we expected... maybe over time it will get to be what we thought... but surely not in the beginning... sometimes so much so that we don't even realize it has happened until God tells us it did...
an example would be... let's say God has put a particular ministry in your spirit... doesn't really matter what it is... and you are all gung ho thinking it will be so pretty and everyone will love it and be happy about it and it will all be roses... so you get started and first of all... it is ALOT OF WORK... and not work like you are used to... seems like everything that can go wrong does... then PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT... or they don't react the way you want them to... this is very hard to deal with and still keep pushing forward...
but God is good and if we continue on the path that He has chosen for us... He will be faithful to us as we are faithful to Him... don't you just love Him??? I know I do!!
thank you Father, for your will coming to pass in my life.. on the days it looks like I want it to as well as the days it does not.. help me to remain faithful and on the right path.. keep me focused on You, not man, not circumstances.. keep my sight in the spirit realm so I can see what You are doing in my life.. I love you Lord.. I adore You, I praise You, I bow down before You.. thank you Father for your love and goodness to me... I love you with an unchanging love...
I think we get this romanticized idea of what things should look like and then we stand there waiting to see what we thought up in our head... don't get me wrong... I am not at all complaining or trying to be negative... I am just saying that it isn't what we expected... maybe over time it will get to be what we thought... but surely not in the beginning... sometimes so much so that we don't even realize it has happened until God tells us it did...
an example would be... let's say God has put a particular ministry in your spirit... doesn't really matter what it is... and you are all gung ho thinking it will be so pretty and everyone will love it and be happy about it and it will all be roses... so you get started and first of all... it is ALOT OF WORK... and not work like you are used to... seems like everything that can go wrong does... then PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT... or they don't react the way you want them to... this is very hard to deal with and still keep pushing forward...
but God is good and if we continue on the path that He has chosen for us... He will be faithful to us as we are faithful to Him... don't you just love Him??? I know I do!!
thank you Father, for your will coming to pass in my life.. on the days it looks like I want it to as well as the days it does not.. help me to remain faithful and on the right path.. keep me focused on You, not man, not circumstances.. keep my sight in the spirit realm so I can see what You are doing in my life.. I love you Lord.. I adore You, I praise You, I bow down before You.. thank you Father for your love and goodness to me... I love you with an unchanging love...
Monday, November 9, 2009
role of a woman...
this one will be very unpleasing to the ears of women but it is still truth I am finding out...
we keep thinking that we are of value in ourselves... the bible clearly states that woman was created for man.. we were created with one purpose.. to be the help of a man... before covenant... I would suggest that one man would be Jesus... but after covenant.. we were created for the man God has created you for and we were each created for a man... it might take until you are old to find him, if that is the will of God, but it does not change the purpose... you will find no where in the bible where a woman was created to do great things in herself... even when a woman has serious spiritual gifts, such as teaching or evangelizing... still she is under the a man who is her head... she may have gifts, but her gifts are not her purpose... her gifts are given to aid in her purpose...
I know that none of this is anything we want to hear... it is nothing I desire to hear either... I keep running into a brick wall because over and over again I think it is for me to make decisions... it is not... I know who my covenant partner is... I am to remain in submission to him at all times... when comfortable and when uncomfortable... when it makes sense and when it doesn't...
I don't understand the ways of God many times... somehow He always shows me just what is expected of me... anything that lifts me up is usually pride and not of God... I am to be a servant... Jesus was a servant to all mankind... what would make me think I would be any different than He was...
Thank you Father... for your voice... even when I don't like what You say.. please continue to change me and lead me in the path You have chosen for me.. help me to learn and give into submission... in Jesus precious name. amen.amen.amen.
we keep thinking that we are of value in ourselves... the bible clearly states that woman was created for man.. we were created with one purpose.. to be the help of a man... before covenant... I would suggest that one man would be Jesus... but after covenant.. we were created for the man God has created you for and we were each created for a man... it might take until you are old to find him, if that is the will of God, but it does not change the purpose... you will find no where in the bible where a woman was created to do great things in herself... even when a woman has serious spiritual gifts, such as teaching or evangelizing... still she is under the a man who is her head... she may have gifts, but her gifts are not her purpose... her gifts are given to aid in her purpose...
I know that none of this is anything we want to hear... it is nothing I desire to hear either... I keep running into a brick wall because over and over again I think it is for me to make decisions... it is not... I know who my covenant partner is... I am to remain in submission to him at all times... when comfortable and when uncomfortable... when it makes sense and when it doesn't...
I don't understand the ways of God many times... somehow He always shows me just what is expected of me... anything that lifts me up is usually pride and not of God... I am to be a servant... Jesus was a servant to all mankind... what would make me think I would be any different than He was...
Thank you Father... for your voice... even when I don't like what You say.. please continue to change me and lead me in the path You have chosen for me.. help me to learn and give into submission... in Jesus precious name. amen.amen.amen.
Monday, November 2, 2009
talkative vs. social....
I am pretty talkative during the day... I can hold conversations with just about anyone.. but when I get home in the evening... it's a whole nother story... I don't usually want to talk on the phone... I don't even want the tv on sometimes. I like to sit in the quiet by myself, just me and God...
I think this hurts people's feeling sometimes... it seems like many people don't really like their own company. That is strange to me... I love me some me... somedays I am the only one that really understands me... as I cannot get away from myself.. it seems important to like myself... so if someone wnts to come over in the evening I tend to make up some excuse about something I need to be doing... cause I'd rather just sit by myself...
Maybe I really am not as social as some people think I am... I don't know why I am like I am.... but just because I don't always want to talk doesn't mean I don't love you... I have been alone a long time... its comfortable to me...
I think this hurts people's feeling sometimes... it seems like many people don't really like their own company. That is strange to me... I love me some me... somedays I am the only one that really understands me... as I cannot get away from myself.. it seems important to like myself... so if someone wnts to come over in the evening I tend to make up some excuse about something I need to be doing... cause I'd rather just sit by myself...
Maybe I really am not as social as some people think I am... I don't know why I am like I am.... but just because I don't always want to talk doesn't mean I don't love you... I have been alone a long time... its comfortable to me...
Monday, October 26, 2009
tired of being tired...
yesterday is the last day of yesterday...
as of today... God can do whatever He so desires... and I will accept it... but I am done chasing after it or looking for it...
no matter what the future holds, God has changed me into a better person.. He has transformed my mind and my actions... I no longer am the same person that I used to be.. I am a new creature in Christ, all the way down to my soul...
and whatever He decides is His will... I will be good with it...
as of today... God can do whatever He so desires... and I will accept it... but I am done chasing after it or looking for it...
no matter what the future holds, God has changed me into a better person.. He has transformed my mind and my actions... I no longer am the same person that I used to be.. I am a new creature in Christ, all the way down to my soul...
and whatever He decides is His will... I will be good with it...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
what is down deep?
we are having a stewardship series at my church this month... and he asks anyone who is not financially stable to sign up for a budgeting class at the church to be held this week... and as I cannot manage my way out of a wet paper bag... I will go... but this is my true thoughts on the issue...
bad financial management is really not about a budget... come on now... I feel like anyone can write down what your bills are and manage out which pay you should be paying what bill... we also can figure out that we need to let this go or that go in order to be able to pay what we need to pay... the troubles come because first of all you don't want to give up what you can't afford... even if it is the right thing... even if you get them to give up what they can't afford... as soon as there is light at the end of the tunnel... because they are impulse shopper/spenders... they will think they can buy something they really can't afford...
but the true root of this is deeper than finances... that is just the outlet it is showing up in... here is my own sad story...
Jesus has pulled me out of financial distress over and over... but I keep ending up back in it...
my first trouble is my love language is gifts... so I keep buying myself stuff to make me feel loved... (did I just say that out loud???) some days I will even use the excuse that Jesus is buying it for me (cause God knows He is the one that will be paying for it...) (fyi... I need a new love language...)
my second trouble is (this one is for you Rev. George Miller who so kindly pointed this one out to me...) low self esteem... here is the explanation...
when I was in the world... my value came from my looks... (in my head anyways...) so I dressed sexy and got attention from men and hate from women... so I spent all my money feeding this 'look'...
when I got in the church... I looked sexy, so I didn't fit in... so I changed this... now I dress more conservatively and fit in with the church women and the women give me attention and the men ignore me cause I don't draw attention (usually... sexy still comes out every now and then...)so... I feel like I have to be the best dressed unattractive church woman ever... feeling like if I can't get attention from men because I am gorgeous... at least I can get it from women because they are hating...
trust me... I do not do any of this stuff on purpose... this is all subconscious.. I mean for real now... no one intentionally does crazy stuff like this...
so... the dilemma is... I guess I will go to this class because it is the right thing to do... and Jesus will dig me out of this hole one more time... but unless the root issues are dealt with... I will be right back in it... sadly enough...
you know... some people just don't have a gift with everything... you know, we all have strengths and weaknesses... money management is NOT my strength... the husband Jesus has prepared for me will have to be good at it and I will promise not to argue with him about what he says I can't spend...
bad financial management is really not about a budget... come on now... I feel like anyone can write down what your bills are and manage out which pay you should be paying what bill... we also can figure out that we need to let this go or that go in order to be able to pay what we need to pay... the troubles come because first of all you don't want to give up what you can't afford... even if it is the right thing... even if you get them to give up what they can't afford... as soon as there is light at the end of the tunnel... because they are impulse shopper/spenders... they will think they can buy something they really can't afford...
but the true root of this is deeper than finances... that is just the outlet it is showing up in... here is my own sad story...
Jesus has pulled me out of financial distress over and over... but I keep ending up back in it...
my first trouble is my love language is gifts... so I keep buying myself stuff to make me feel loved... (did I just say that out loud???) some days I will even use the excuse that Jesus is buying it for me (cause God knows He is the one that will be paying for it...) (fyi... I need a new love language...)
my second trouble is (this one is for you Rev. George Miller who so kindly pointed this one out to me...) low self esteem... here is the explanation...
when I was in the world... my value came from my looks... (in my head anyways...) so I dressed sexy and got attention from men and hate from women... so I spent all my money feeding this 'look'...
when I got in the church... I looked sexy, so I didn't fit in... so I changed this... now I dress more conservatively and fit in with the church women and the women give me attention and the men ignore me cause I don't draw attention (usually... sexy still comes out every now and then...)so... I feel like I have to be the best dressed unattractive church woman ever... feeling like if I can't get attention from men because I am gorgeous... at least I can get it from women because they are hating...
trust me... I do not do any of this stuff on purpose... this is all subconscious.. I mean for real now... no one intentionally does crazy stuff like this...
so... the dilemma is... I guess I will go to this class because it is the right thing to do... and Jesus will dig me out of this hole one more time... but unless the root issues are dealt with... I will be right back in it... sadly enough...
you know... some people just don't have a gift with everything... you know, we all have strengths and weaknesses... money management is NOT my strength... the husband Jesus has prepared for me will have to be good at it and I will promise not to argue with him about what he says I can't spend...
Monday, October 19, 2009
the seductress...
Proverbs 5:3-6 The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet,her soft words are oh so smooth.But it won't be long before she's gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.She's dancing down the primrose path to Death; she's headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.She hasn't a clue about Real Life, about who she is or where she's going.
my daughter was home for the weekend.. she sees a woman that she does not know and asks me who she is and I tell her the woman's name and she says mom, you know what I'm asking you... and I say what do you see? she said she has a bad spirit... I say, do you recognize what the spirit is? she said no but it seems to have the jaws of death on it... I say the spirit is lust...
this morning on my way into work... God said to me... the spirit on that woman is the spirit that men are being warned about in proverbs... about a woman that will eat you alive and you cannot seem to get away from her... and I say ooooohhhhhh... with recognition... then He says... that is the same spirit you used to have... then I say woooowwwwwww...
the lesson in this to me is that if there is something you see in someone else that bothers you very badly... it may very well be something that you carry or that you used to carry... and as we tend to judge someone else... instead we should be praying that they are delivered, just as God in His power and mercy chose to deliver me... where I used to have no emotion, just physical desire, now I am able to open my heart up and love someone... that is a great gift that God has given me... it started with a softened heart... He removed in me the heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh... I pray that God will allow this other woman to learn what love really is and to be blessed in her life with love and able to let go of the coldness and misery of lust... in Jesus' name. amen. amen. amen.
my daughter was home for the weekend.. she sees a woman that she does not know and asks me who she is and I tell her the woman's name and she says mom, you know what I'm asking you... and I say what do you see? she said she has a bad spirit... I say, do you recognize what the spirit is? she said no but it seems to have the jaws of death on it... I say the spirit is lust...
this morning on my way into work... God said to me... the spirit on that woman is the spirit that men are being warned about in proverbs... about a woman that will eat you alive and you cannot seem to get away from her... and I say ooooohhhhhh... with recognition... then He says... that is the same spirit you used to have... then I say woooowwwwwww...
the lesson in this to me is that if there is something you see in someone else that bothers you very badly... it may very well be something that you carry or that you used to carry... and as we tend to judge someone else... instead we should be praying that they are delivered, just as God in His power and mercy chose to deliver me... where I used to have no emotion, just physical desire, now I am able to open my heart up and love someone... that is a great gift that God has given me... it started with a softened heart... He removed in me the heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh... I pray that God will allow this other woman to learn what love really is and to be blessed in her life with love and able to let go of the coldness and misery of lust... in Jesus' name. amen. amen. amen.
Friday, October 16, 2009
stewardship...
most times when we think of stewardship... we think of money... and that is valid because the handling or mis-handling of our finances is part of stewardship and we are to be a good steward of all God bestows upon us...
but stewardship is greater than that... it also has to do with our relationships... we like to think that someone is ours and that is never the case... no matter what the relationship... the other person is still God's and only given to us on loan.. and we are to be a good steward of that relationship...
we can say this is the case in marriage... the marriage is not ours, it is God's and if we do not properly manage it... God may take it from us... we are to treat one another with love and respect... wives are to submit themselves to the husband "as unto God"... women don't want to hear that... but it is in the bible, I promise you.. husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it... if a man loves you like Christ loves the church, and you are not trying to run things... God is the head of the marriage... everything might turn out all right..
our children are also only on loan to us from God... I have a son that has so far to date... been in alot of trouble... he was raised the same as the daughter attending Spelman College... but he is different than she is... I do not love either one more than the other... my son has seizures... and one day God said to me... who are you that you think I would not take your son, when I gave my only son? and I am reminded of this from time to time and although it is very painful for me to imagine... all I can do is say Thy will be done... I have done all that I could do in my relationships with my children... I have not always done the right thing.. but I have raised them in the ways of God and I have to believe that when they are old they will not depart from them... I pray that God has decided that I have been a good steward of my relationships with my children and if He so chooses to take my son... as man took His... all I can do is pray he is saved and will go to heaven...
but stewardship is greater than that... it also has to do with our relationships... we like to think that someone is ours and that is never the case... no matter what the relationship... the other person is still God's and only given to us on loan.. and we are to be a good steward of that relationship...
we can say this is the case in marriage... the marriage is not ours, it is God's and if we do not properly manage it... God may take it from us... we are to treat one another with love and respect... wives are to submit themselves to the husband "as unto God"... women don't want to hear that... but it is in the bible, I promise you.. husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it... if a man loves you like Christ loves the church, and you are not trying to run things... God is the head of the marriage... everything might turn out all right..
our children are also only on loan to us from God... I have a son that has so far to date... been in alot of trouble... he was raised the same as the daughter attending Spelman College... but he is different than she is... I do not love either one more than the other... my son has seizures... and one day God said to me... who are you that you think I would not take your son, when I gave my only son? and I am reminded of this from time to time and although it is very painful for me to imagine... all I can do is say Thy will be done... I have done all that I could do in my relationships with my children... I have not always done the right thing.. but I have raised them in the ways of God and I have to believe that when they are old they will not depart from them... I pray that God has decided that I have been a good steward of my relationships with my children and if He so chooses to take my son... as man took His... all I can do is pray he is saved and will go to heaven...
Thursday, October 15, 2009
what people see...
Matthew 25:40 The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
my church is in what some people would call a bad neighborhood... I have found in life experiences that what most people consider a bad area is really one of the safest places to be... the streets protect their own.. now if you are not of the street... well... that may be another story...
last night I was crossing the street in front of the church and one of the neighborhood women asked me if the church would be feeding people soon... I was confused because my church does not feed people... she said don't they have a dinner for thanksgiving? I said yes they do. (now in reality the dinner is a gift from the pastor to the members.. but he is a Good man and would not mind an extra mouth I am believing) so it is lightly raining out and she has only a tank top on and no umbrella and I tell her it is cold out and she needs to get in from the rain... she said yes, that she only lived around the block... I ask her does she come to our church? she said no, that is only for the rich people... that broke my heart... I told her no, that is not true... the church is open to everyone... she said maybe I will try again... I say you are welcome to find me and sit with me... she said thank you and went on down the street...
what is the image you are portraying to people? God expects us to be warm and welcoming... loving... we are the only image of God's love that some people will ever see... what is your image? I pray that mine is shining of Christ's love...
my church is in what some people would call a bad neighborhood... I have found in life experiences that what most people consider a bad area is really one of the safest places to be... the streets protect their own.. now if you are not of the street... well... that may be another story...
last night I was crossing the street in front of the church and one of the neighborhood women asked me if the church would be feeding people soon... I was confused because my church does not feed people... she said don't they have a dinner for thanksgiving? I said yes they do. (now in reality the dinner is a gift from the pastor to the members.. but he is a Good man and would not mind an extra mouth I am believing) so it is lightly raining out and she has only a tank top on and no umbrella and I tell her it is cold out and she needs to get in from the rain... she said yes, that she only lived around the block... I ask her does she come to our church? she said no, that is only for the rich people... that broke my heart... I told her no, that is not true... the church is open to everyone... she said maybe I will try again... I say you are welcome to find me and sit with me... she said thank you and went on down the street...
what is the image you are portraying to people? God expects us to be warm and welcoming... loving... we are the only image of God's love that some people will ever see... what is your image? I pray that mine is shining of Christ's love...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
grace vs. righteousness...
2 Samuel 22:21 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
Isaiah 26:10 Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD.
I think many of us are looking at our salvation wrong. I think that we sometimes think that we can do whatever we want and God's grace will cover us and we will continue to walk in salvation of the Lord.
I am thinking differently than this. I am thinking that maybe we are not saved until we are willing to give up sin for salvation.
I have been "saved" since I was about 5 years old, but did not walk in righteousness. Of course there have been times throughout my life that I did walk in righteousness, but ended up going back to the ways of the flesh. I think that while I was trying to be righteous, I was doing it in my own power and so I could not really retain the change.
When we really have salvation from God, through the death of His Son on the cross, we are thankful and desire to please God. Then we begin to desire righteousness. There is nothing we can do of our own power to make us sinfree or righteous, but God in His grace, will change the desires of our hearts so that we are willing to give up the pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of sinfulness. Then we can begin to walk in righteousness of God, not man. Grace is what covers us as we strive to be what God has called us to be, but we sometimes fall short. We will never be able to work our way into heaven or into God's grace. If we strive to do better each day, with a prayer on our lips, asking God to give us the grace this day to do His will, not our own... maybe we can make changes and be a window of light to the fallen world. If we strive to be a window in which Christ can shine out of our hearts onto others, maybe we can help others to find true salvation also.
Let us all this day, strive to be more like Christ and less like man. Father create in me a clean heart and clean hands this day.
Isaiah 26:10 Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD.
I think many of us are looking at our salvation wrong. I think that we sometimes think that we can do whatever we want and God's grace will cover us and we will continue to walk in salvation of the Lord.
I am thinking differently than this. I am thinking that maybe we are not saved until we are willing to give up sin for salvation.
I have been "saved" since I was about 5 years old, but did not walk in righteousness. Of course there have been times throughout my life that I did walk in righteousness, but ended up going back to the ways of the flesh. I think that while I was trying to be righteous, I was doing it in my own power and so I could not really retain the change.
When we really have salvation from God, through the death of His Son on the cross, we are thankful and desire to please God. Then we begin to desire righteousness. There is nothing we can do of our own power to make us sinfree or righteous, but God in His grace, will change the desires of our hearts so that we are willing to give up the pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of sinfulness. Then we can begin to walk in righteousness of God, not man. Grace is what covers us as we strive to be what God has called us to be, but we sometimes fall short. We will never be able to work our way into heaven or into God's grace. If we strive to do better each day, with a prayer on our lips, asking God to give us the grace this day to do His will, not our own... maybe we can make changes and be a window of light to the fallen world. If we strive to be a window in which Christ can shine out of our hearts onto others, maybe we can help others to find true salvation also.
Let us all this day, strive to be more like Christ and less like man. Father create in me a clean heart and clean hands this day.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
battling a beast...
I have been recently battling a horrible beast called depression... I have nothing to be depressed about... truly... compared to many people... I have no problems... and all of the problems that I do struggle with I created on my own...
I tend to be fairly good humored... I don't deal with alot of depression... there was a time in the past when I was unable to even get out of bed because of depression... in my own experience... the times that I was depressed were times I was out of the will of God... when I got back to where God wanted me to be... then the depression lifted...
I don't believe that I am in that same situation right now... and if I am... it is nothing that I can control on my own... I need the hand of God to move me forward... I have gone as far as I can go on my own...
so I stay on my face in prayer... and I keep my spirit light by praising and worshipping... and I wait upon the hand of God to move... thank you Father... for Your love and kindness unto me... I praise You at all times...
I tend to be fairly good humored... I don't deal with alot of depression... there was a time in the past when I was unable to even get out of bed because of depression... in my own experience... the times that I was depressed were times I was out of the will of God... when I got back to where God wanted me to be... then the depression lifted...
I don't believe that I am in that same situation right now... and if I am... it is nothing that I can control on my own... I need the hand of God to move me forward... I have gone as far as I can go on my own...
so I stay on my face in prayer... and I keep my spirit light by praising and worshipping... and I wait upon the hand of God to move... thank you Father... for Your love and kindness unto me... I praise You at all times...
Friday, October 2, 2009
it's not about me...
you know, I like to imagine that I am pretty close to God in relationship... that we are close... then He slaps me upside the head and lets me know that I am not nearly as wonderful as I would like to think...
I have been alone for a long time... apparently (according to God...) I have spent much of this time focused on me... and what I want... and how I think... and what I feel or don't feel... and He is telling me... it's not about me...
I can't imagine much of anything I would like to hear less than that... we are raised to believe that we are supposed to find someone to take care of us... then if that doesn't work out.. we figure out that we can take care of ourselves and we need no one... again... keeping the focus on me...
this is not the ways of God... God thinks that everything we are... everything we have... is to be used to the glory of the kingdom of God... and the focus is to be on others... not on ourselves... it's not about me being happy... it's not about me being comfortable... it's not about me having knowledge or gifts or wisdom... all of it is about God's kingdom... everything I am... everything I have... everything I do is to bring glory to God...
we are always so focused on our personal comfort. we never advance the kingdom of God because we cannot get past our own misery. we cannot be used because we do not look at God's view, only our own... we are not looking at people as an opportunity to minister by action or by word... we are looking at them as an annoyance... we are so busy as a people struggling to advance ourselves, that we cannot be advanced because we are stepping on too many heads on the way up...
desire for attention is really an ugly beast that apparently has to be put to death daily... we are to be meek and humble in spirit... yet we often practically scream out look at me... look at me... even when it is not intentional... even when we do not mean to do so... yet we do... we use our looks... we use our biblical knowledge... we use our personality... we use our family name... we use our problems... we use so many things... trying to draw attention to ourselves... the attention is to be drawn to God and the kingdom of God... not us... one day... day by day... we will get a clue.... (sorry if this sounded directed at anyone else... it is not... this was all about what is wrong with me...)
help me Father to be all about You and none about me...
I have been alone for a long time... apparently (according to God...) I have spent much of this time focused on me... and what I want... and how I think... and what I feel or don't feel... and He is telling me... it's not about me...
I can't imagine much of anything I would like to hear less than that... we are raised to believe that we are supposed to find someone to take care of us... then if that doesn't work out.. we figure out that we can take care of ourselves and we need no one... again... keeping the focus on me...
this is not the ways of God... God thinks that everything we are... everything we have... is to be used to the glory of the kingdom of God... and the focus is to be on others... not on ourselves... it's not about me being happy... it's not about me being comfortable... it's not about me having knowledge or gifts or wisdom... all of it is about God's kingdom... everything I am... everything I have... everything I do is to bring glory to God...
we are always so focused on our personal comfort. we never advance the kingdom of God because we cannot get past our own misery. we cannot be used because we do not look at God's view, only our own... we are not looking at people as an opportunity to minister by action or by word... we are looking at them as an annoyance... we are so busy as a people struggling to advance ourselves, that we cannot be advanced because we are stepping on too many heads on the way up...
desire for attention is really an ugly beast that apparently has to be put to death daily... we are to be meek and humble in spirit... yet we often practically scream out look at me... look at me... even when it is not intentional... even when we do not mean to do so... yet we do... we use our looks... we use our biblical knowledge... we use our personality... we use our family name... we use our problems... we use so many things... trying to draw attention to ourselves... the attention is to be drawn to God and the kingdom of God... not us... one day... day by day... we will get a clue.... (sorry if this sounded directed at anyone else... it is not... this was all about what is wrong with me...)
help me Father to be all about You and none about me...
Thursday, October 1, 2009
what are you receiving?
do we really realize that whatever we allow into our mind... we are receiving...
the mind is the true battlefield of this spiritual warfare we are in...
realize just how much easier it is to receive an image than it is to cast it out... if we see something ugly... we somehow see this over and over in our minds... and we keep on talking to these people... we keep on reading these emails... we keep on with out change... what sense does that make?
why do we not instead seek out good things? things of love and of life? our friends should be people who speak life... not death... our house should be a place of refuge from the ugliness of this world... not a place of anger and strife...
this world can be a different place... each one of us needs to sow seeds... seeds of love... seeds of peace... seeds of forgiveness... seeds of kindness... seeds of compassion...
let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me...
the mind is the true battlefield of this spiritual warfare we are in...
realize just how much easier it is to receive an image than it is to cast it out... if we see something ugly... we somehow see this over and over in our minds... and we keep on talking to these people... we keep on reading these emails... we keep on with out change... what sense does that make?
why do we not instead seek out good things? things of love and of life? our friends should be people who speak life... not death... our house should be a place of refuge from the ugliness of this world... not a place of anger and strife...
this world can be a different place... each one of us needs to sow seeds... seeds of love... seeds of peace... seeds of forgiveness... seeds of kindness... seeds of compassion...
let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Philippians 1:1-11
v1. Paul called himself and Timothy 'bondservants'. meaning individuals that demonstrate the same servant like attitude of Christ. my pastor told me that you cannot lead if you cannot serve... many times we want to be leaders without being willing to be servants... we might feel we are above those we lead... but obviously Jesus did not see this as the case as He was a servant first...
v3. He thanks God every time he remembers or is brought to his mind this church... wouldn't it be wonderful if we prayed and thanked God for those we love every time we think of them? Can you imagine the changes in the world behind this much thankfulness for the people in our lives... (it might help our churches out too...)
v5. fellowship in the gospel is considered intimacy with Christ... when was the last time we were really intimate with God? really spent QUALITY alone time with Him... hopefully it was recent...
v6. he is confident that the work the Christ started in them, He will not stop working on them, until He comes back for them... what a blessing that is... that God does not give up on us every single day as we continue to sin in some manner... whether it be pride or anger or gossip or lying... whatever your particular sin might be... and we faithfully try to do better, but cannot without God's help...
v8. he longs for the with the affection of Jesus... this is true christian love... I pray I can come to the place where I show true agape love to all at all times... regardless of the circumstance... he says they are in the center of his deepest feelings... usually the only one in the center of our deepest feelings is ourselves... not fellow christians...
v9. he is saying that he prays their love may abound in knowledge and discernment so that they can have an intimate understand of someone and be able to show them love in spite of their actions maybe... able to discern spiritual truth of someone...
can we imagine the change in the world if the people of God would treat one another like this... can we see how people would then be drawn to the church... isn't this the calling on each one of our lives? Father change me... that I can be a person to show love to all people... not just love of man, but love of God... love that does not fade, is not tarnished... change me that I am able to love my fellow man in the manner that you are loving me... so I can see them through the blood that Christ shed for them.. same as He shed it for me... they are no different than I am... we are all sinners... I am just saved by grace... maybe if I can change.. others will desire to know the God that I love... in the name of Jesus Christ... my Lord and Savior I ask these things... amen.
Let there be love on earth and let it begin with me....
v3. He thanks God every time he remembers or is brought to his mind this church... wouldn't it be wonderful if we prayed and thanked God for those we love every time we think of them? Can you imagine the changes in the world behind this much thankfulness for the people in our lives... (it might help our churches out too...)
v5. fellowship in the gospel is considered intimacy with Christ... when was the last time we were really intimate with God? really spent QUALITY alone time with Him... hopefully it was recent...
v6. he is confident that the work the Christ started in them, He will not stop working on them, until He comes back for them... what a blessing that is... that God does not give up on us every single day as we continue to sin in some manner... whether it be pride or anger or gossip or lying... whatever your particular sin might be... and we faithfully try to do better, but cannot without God's help...
v8. he longs for the with the affection of Jesus... this is true christian love... I pray I can come to the place where I show true agape love to all at all times... regardless of the circumstance... he says they are in the center of his deepest feelings... usually the only one in the center of our deepest feelings is ourselves... not fellow christians...
v9. he is saying that he prays their love may abound in knowledge and discernment so that they can have an intimate understand of someone and be able to show them love in spite of their actions maybe... able to discern spiritual truth of someone...
can we imagine the change in the world if the people of God would treat one another like this... can we see how people would then be drawn to the church... isn't this the calling on each one of our lives? Father change me... that I can be a person to show love to all people... not just love of man, but love of God... love that does not fade, is not tarnished... change me that I am able to love my fellow man in the manner that you are loving me... so I can see them through the blood that Christ shed for them.. same as He shed it for me... they are no different than I am... we are all sinners... I am just saved by grace... maybe if I can change.. others will desire to know the God that I love... in the name of Jesus Christ... my Lord and Savior I ask these things... amen.
Let there be love on earth and let it begin with me....
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Jonah 4
I am thinking that Jonah was embarrassed. He would go and tell the Ninevites that God was going to kill/judge them. Then God turns around and spares them, which made him FEEL like everyone thought he was making it all up. And maybe they did. What difference does that really make? Why are we so concerned about what others think of our walk with God?
So Jonah gets angry because he felt the Ninevites were supposed to die because they were gentiles. They were not the favored of God. They were not Israelites. And they were not worthy of God's love. In Jonah's eyes. Who have you looked at lately and felt they were less than you or worthy of less than you. Yet God shows compassion and love on them and you are angry. God states there are more than 120,000 Ninevites and they cannot tell their left hand from the right, meaning they have no knowledge of God. How could He condemn them so quickly without giving them opportunity to turn from sin? Truth told, because they had no real knowledge of God and they were not true to God, in 612 b.c, the city of Ninevah really was completely destroyed, but God had saved THESE people.
Isn't it also amazing that just days before, Jonah was the one seeking God's compassion on him while he is in the belly of the fish, but does not give compassion to the multitude. And we aren't talking about someone who had personally wronged this man, we are talking about 120,000 strangers... What is it about us that does not care if people are saved. Why do we not care if people know the love of God? I hate to inform us all... but that is why we were created. To bring glory to God. To worship God. Our entire lives should be devoted to advancing the kingdom of God. Instead we are constantly looking to advance ourselves. Father change me so that You are all that really matters to me.
So Jonah gets angry because he felt the Ninevites were supposed to die because they were gentiles. They were not the favored of God. They were not Israelites. And they were not worthy of God's love. In Jonah's eyes. Who have you looked at lately and felt they were less than you or worthy of less than you. Yet God shows compassion and love on them and you are angry. God states there are more than 120,000 Ninevites and they cannot tell their left hand from the right, meaning they have no knowledge of God. How could He condemn them so quickly without giving them opportunity to turn from sin? Truth told, because they had no real knowledge of God and they were not true to God, in 612 b.c, the city of Ninevah really was completely destroyed, but God had saved THESE people.
Isn't it also amazing that just days before, Jonah was the one seeking God's compassion on him while he is in the belly of the fish, but does not give compassion to the multitude. And we aren't talking about someone who had personally wronged this man, we are talking about 120,000 strangers... What is it about us that does not care if people are saved. Why do we not care if people know the love of God? I hate to inform us all... but that is why we were created. To bring glory to God. To worship God. Our entire lives should be devoted to advancing the kingdom of God. Instead we are constantly looking to advance ourselves. Father change me so that You are all that really matters to me.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Jonah 3
many times we seem to think that God will change His mind if we don't want to do something... if God has made His mind up and you are the one chosen, then He will change you, not His will... God says something to us, we wait, or ignore it and keep thinking then that God will say something else... we are the ones on the time constraint... not God... He has been here since eternity and will continue for eternity... we are the ones who die... not Him... so He waits... and while we are thinking He is silent, really... He is just waiting for you to get up and do the last thing that He told you to do...
Jonah was vomited up by the fish... God again said the exact same thing to him... He didn't change it up... He didn't give any short cuts to make it more attractive... He said the same thing over again... this time Jonah listened...
the Ninevites believed God, declared a fast and all of them were mourning and lamenting... asking God for forgiveness.... even the king... and their hope was in God... hoping that God would relent, show compassion, and turn from His anger and let them live...
and He did... God is full of mercy at all times... always looking for us to turn it around and listen to Him, to act according to His statutes... our God really only wants to save us... why do we seem to have such a hard time allowing it and turning from sin and from the ways of the world??
Jonah was vomited up by the fish... God again said the exact same thing to him... He didn't change it up... He didn't give any short cuts to make it more attractive... He said the same thing over again... this time Jonah listened...
the Ninevites believed God, declared a fast and all of them were mourning and lamenting... asking God for forgiveness.... even the king... and their hope was in God... hoping that God would relent, show compassion, and turn from His anger and let them live...
and He did... God is full of mercy at all times... always looking for us to turn it around and listen to Him, to act according to His statutes... our God really only wants to save us... why do we seem to have such a hard time allowing it and turning from sin and from the ways of the world??
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Jonah 2
in the belly of the fish... at the bottom of the ocean.. we don't even have the ability to imagine the feeling of this... as he was sinking to the depths of the ocean and unable to breathe, surely he is realizing that he was oh so stupid to not agree to just go to Ninevah... thinking anything would be better than what he is going through right now... then a big fish comes and swallows him up... and can you imagine the smell inside a fish... uuuugggghhhh.... no understanding of that one!!
and as he is in this fish, thinking he is on the verge of sure death... then God pulled him up and saved him... he is in the fish, praising God for saving him... thankful to be alive, even inside a big fish.. as his life is slipping away.. he remembers God... when will we begin to remember God daily... no matter what is going on around us, good or bad... when will we really come to the realization that no matter what it looks like, our entire reason for being created is to bring glory to God... and whatever it is that is supposed to do that... then that is what we are to do... we are all too concerned about bringing glory to ourselves... the spotlight on us... the pity, the honor, the adoration... we want all eyes on us... when they are supposed to be on God...
Father never let me need to go in the belly of a fish to realize who You are.... and after Jonah gives God all the praise and honor and glory... then the fish vomits him up onto shore...
funny thing about that... first it is sickening to imagine being thrown up... but... notice he didn't even have to swim to shore... God provided the housing while needed, then the transportation to get up on shore... our God is an awesome God...
and as he is in this fish, thinking he is on the verge of sure death... then God pulled him up and saved him... he is in the fish, praising God for saving him... thankful to be alive, even inside a big fish.. as his life is slipping away.. he remembers God... when will we begin to remember God daily... no matter what is going on around us, good or bad... when will we really come to the realization that no matter what it looks like, our entire reason for being created is to bring glory to God... and whatever it is that is supposed to do that... then that is what we are to do... we are all too concerned about bringing glory to ourselves... the spotlight on us... the pity, the honor, the adoration... we want all eyes on us... when they are supposed to be on God...
Father never let me need to go in the belly of a fish to realize who You are.... and after Jonah gives God all the praise and honor and glory... then the fish vomits him up onto shore...
funny thing about that... first it is sickening to imagine being thrown up... but... notice he didn't even have to swim to shore... God provided the housing while needed, then the transportation to get up on shore... our God is an awesome God...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Jonah 1
and the word of the Lord came to Jonah... how many times has God spoken to you? and how many times have you ran in the opposite direction? isn't it amazing how we want God to be a 'gimme God' who we can receive from but maybe not have to ever give anything back... how many relationships work if only one person is the one that is giving? none.... relationships work if all parties are giving and receiving... what would make us think it would be any different between us and God?
God does not leave us alone, just because we didn't want to do what He called us to do. He will come after you... I would pray that it would not be a storm used to come after me... (I would so prefer the still small voice...) but it usually is some sort of storm... financial crisis, marital crisis, death of a loved one... and how many times do we try to sleep through it... and do you ever notice... it doesn't only affect you... it affects everyone else in your world too...
and Jonah tells them to throw him overboard... now that is a little different than most of us... most of us would hold on for dear life... and if we realize this... God is sending Jonah to Ninevah to warn of God's judgement.... instead... the sailors will die if they do not throw Jonah over... which they of course think will kill him... so... if we do not do the will of God, we die anyways... sheesh... that was a rough one... right?? originally, these sailors were calling out to their gods, but in the end, they call out to the Living God... so even our running from God can be used to bring people to God if He sees fit to do so... and God sends a great fish to swallow up Jonah... and he is inside the belly of the fish three days and three nights... (like the Son of man was in the depths of the earth three days and three nights...)
God does not leave us alone, just because we didn't want to do what He called us to do. He will come after you... I would pray that it would not be a storm used to come after me... (I would so prefer the still small voice...) but it usually is some sort of storm... financial crisis, marital crisis, death of a loved one... and how many times do we try to sleep through it... and do you ever notice... it doesn't only affect you... it affects everyone else in your world too...
and Jonah tells them to throw him overboard... now that is a little different than most of us... most of us would hold on for dear life... and if we realize this... God is sending Jonah to Ninevah to warn of God's judgement.... instead... the sailors will die if they do not throw Jonah over... which they of course think will kill him... so... if we do not do the will of God, we die anyways... sheesh... that was a rough one... right?? originally, these sailors were calling out to their gods, but in the end, they call out to the Living God... so even our running from God can be used to bring people to God if He sees fit to do so... and God sends a great fish to swallow up Jonah... and he is inside the belly of the fish three days and three nights... (like the Son of man was in the depths of the earth three days and three nights...)
Friday, September 18, 2009
listening...
I have a co-worker that has been married for 22 years and recently finds her husband in a compromising position with another woman... she is divorcing him...
she is a person who talks constantly (even worse than me...) and she knows something about everything (again, even worse than me...) we joke here at the office that if we said we know someone with prostate cancer, she would say that she had that before... it is very annoying to say the least...
I keep to myself at my job... stay in my office much of the time... don't really talk personally with anyone... so this morning as I am making my hot tea, the boss comes to me and tells me this person had said yesterday that she told her husband he never talked to her...
sirens go off... lights flashing...
this man talked to her... or at least he tried to some time... and she didn't hear him... she was always thinking of what her answer would be while he was telling her his side... and I could see that I could easily have this same issue... I wonder how many divorces are caused by women who never listen... or at least this is a contributing factor...
most men really don't usually talk all that much anyway... so I am thinking that when they do, it is VERY important for a woman to know how to be a listener... not always a talker...
she is a person who talks constantly (even worse than me...) and she knows something about everything (again, even worse than me...) we joke here at the office that if we said we know someone with prostate cancer, she would say that she had that before... it is very annoying to say the least...
I keep to myself at my job... stay in my office much of the time... don't really talk personally with anyone... so this morning as I am making my hot tea, the boss comes to me and tells me this person had said yesterday that she told her husband he never talked to her...
sirens go off... lights flashing...
this man talked to her... or at least he tried to some time... and she didn't hear him... she was always thinking of what her answer would be while he was telling her his side... and I could see that I could easily have this same issue... I wonder how many divorces are caused by women who never listen... or at least this is a contributing factor...
most men really don't usually talk all that much anyway... so I am thinking that when they do, it is VERY important for a woman to know how to be a listener... not always a talker...
Thursday, September 17, 2009
who are you, really?
people tend to think that they know someone that they talk to on a regular basis... sometimes we are not at all what we look like or even what we sound like...
most of us wear a mask... whether it is a mask of self confidence or a mask of beauty, maybe a mask of quietness.. we all wear some sort of mask hiding who we really are on the inside... many people who appear to be very outgoing are really very quiet when out of a crowd... many people who appear to have self confidence really are very insecure about themselves... sometimes we dress to cover our weakness.. sometimes we talk to cover it...
before we think we know what someone would do, or who someone really is... think about yourself... what is your mask? what is it you are hiding from the world? what weakness are you covering? then realize maybe they are not what they appear to be either...
most of us wear a mask... whether it is a mask of self confidence or a mask of beauty, maybe a mask of quietness.. we all wear some sort of mask hiding who we really are on the inside... many people who appear to be very outgoing are really very quiet when out of a crowd... many people who appear to have self confidence really are very insecure about themselves... sometimes we dress to cover our weakness.. sometimes we talk to cover it...
before we think we know what someone would do, or who someone really is... think about yourself... what is your mask? what is it you are hiding from the world? what weakness are you covering? then realize maybe they are not what they appear to be either...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
why are you really alone...
Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
For the longest time, about 12 years now, I have been very content alone. I like to have companionship sometimes, but I prefer to be able to choose how often people are in my personal space. My kids are over 18 now and away from home. In my usual self, I would be very content. Very much at peace. But somehow, that is not what is happening. God is changing me. And instead of being at peace, I am lonely. Not alone, lonely. Definitely two different words. I know that I have God in the house with me. I actually have 3 cats also. They are very affectionate with me too. Jerry pulls my hair in the middle of the night and sleeps up by my head, just to let me know how much I am loved. I don't know how this thing happened. It seems as though it has creeped up on me slowly. Not all at once, but it seems like I am realizing it all at once.
Previously, I was alone because I chose to be. It is easy to find a man. Trust me. It is easy to find a man. It is even easy to keep one. They really don't want that much. A man usually has three basic needs. Food, Caregiving, and Sex. That is all they really want. They appreciate it when you are quiet, but they usually will deal with your mouth as long as the three needs are met. So I could have a man if that was the issue.
That is not the issue. The issue is when you want to do the will of God, but sometimes we have our own time line. Now I am not sure that I am the one that is off on the time line of God. It could be that the man He picks is. (I do recognize that it could be me.) For one thing, I am not used to having any emotions, then I get some, and have literally NO IDEA what you are supposed to do with them. In the past, I would ignore you most of the time. I didn't tell you what I wanted. I didn't tell you where I went. I didn't listen to much of what you had to say. Words were unnecessary because I was going to do what I wanted to anyways. So, now that I have all these emotions, are they to stay between me and Jesus? Am I supposed to tell everyone how all of a sudden screwed up I am?
Here is another thing. Just a short while ago, you couldn't tell me that I wasn't the most gorgeous thing you ever met. I was the best you ever would think about having and I knew it. But now, with this emotional person that I have become, somehow I have also become insecure. What in the world is that about??? How do you go from being the queen of the universe to being unsure someone could think you are attractive or a good person? Someone said to me recently that maybe I am becoming less prideful and more loving of someone else. (?????)
See, this is exactly why I need the man brain back. This here brain I am working with has got NO SENSE... it is crazy and delusional...
For the longest time, about 12 years now, I have been very content alone. I like to have companionship sometimes, but I prefer to be able to choose how often people are in my personal space. My kids are over 18 now and away from home. In my usual self, I would be very content. Very much at peace. But somehow, that is not what is happening. God is changing me. And instead of being at peace, I am lonely. Not alone, lonely. Definitely two different words. I know that I have God in the house with me. I actually have 3 cats also. They are very affectionate with me too. Jerry pulls my hair in the middle of the night and sleeps up by my head, just to let me know how much I am loved. I don't know how this thing happened. It seems as though it has creeped up on me slowly. Not all at once, but it seems like I am realizing it all at once.
Previously, I was alone because I chose to be. It is easy to find a man. Trust me. It is easy to find a man. It is even easy to keep one. They really don't want that much. A man usually has three basic needs. Food, Caregiving, and Sex. That is all they really want. They appreciate it when you are quiet, but they usually will deal with your mouth as long as the three needs are met. So I could have a man if that was the issue.
That is not the issue. The issue is when you want to do the will of God, but sometimes we have our own time line. Now I am not sure that I am the one that is off on the time line of God. It could be that the man He picks is. (I do recognize that it could be me.) For one thing, I am not used to having any emotions, then I get some, and have literally NO IDEA what you are supposed to do with them. In the past, I would ignore you most of the time. I didn't tell you what I wanted. I didn't tell you where I went. I didn't listen to much of what you had to say. Words were unnecessary because I was going to do what I wanted to anyways. So, now that I have all these emotions, are they to stay between me and Jesus? Am I supposed to tell everyone how all of a sudden screwed up I am?
Here is another thing. Just a short while ago, you couldn't tell me that I wasn't the most gorgeous thing you ever met. I was the best you ever would think about having and I knew it. But now, with this emotional person that I have become, somehow I have also become insecure. What in the world is that about??? How do you go from being the queen of the universe to being unsure someone could think you are attractive or a good person? Someone said to me recently that maybe I am becoming less prideful and more loving of someone else. (?????)
See, this is exactly why I need the man brain back. This here brain I am working with has got NO SENSE... it is crazy and delusional...
Monday, September 14, 2009
hosea 4:11-14
11-14 "Wine and whiskey leave my people in a stupor. They ask questions of a dead tree, expect answers from a sturdy walking stick. Drunk on sex, they can't find their way home. They've replaced their God with their genitals. They worship on the tops of mountains, make a picnic out of religion. Under the oaks and elms on the hills they stretch out and take it easy. Before you know it, your daughters are whores and the wives of your sons are sleeping around. But I'm not going after your whoring daughters
or the adulterous wives of your sons. It's the men who pick up the whores that I'm after, the men who worship at the holy whorehouses— a stupid people, ruined by whores!
well... my first reaction to this is to be mad at God...
if we were taught understanding while young... of the sanctity of giving your body to another person... we would be much different than we are... fathers do not act like fathers... husbands don't act like husbands... could be wives don't act like wives... we are all basically looking for love and many people use sex to try to find it... if we understood that sex does not bring emotion for a man-brain, it turns it off... because the physical release the man-brain is looking for was reached...we might not jump to sleeping with them... now when I say man-brain, this is not necessarily a man... other's shut all emotion out to stop any pain from being able to seep in and get near them... this is the mind of my man-brain... shutting someone out... I would say these people usually sleep with very few people because it is a violation of their body to let someone in... but you feel like your body needs this release... the ones looking for love seem to sleep with lots of people because they are just looking for some type of intimacy...
we allow man to be our god... and think he can replace the God of the heavens... that will never work... the only pure love there is comes from the love God gives to you... He is the only one who's love is secure... and from this passage here... God is really mad about the way that people take sex for granted... the way that we use it and allow it to be a controlling force in our lives... I have been celibate for 3 years now... I promise you that my entire look at sex and intimacy is different now then ever before... now I want it to be about love... while I am terrified to let someone in... that is just what I intend to do... to stand naked and not ashamed before the man God has chosen... naked emotionally and intimately... (whew... that was scary to say out loud...) all the while keeping God as the focus... not the man... I asked God recently how you are supposed to love a man but not let him have your 1st place... He told me to let him in my heart... but keep my MIND on God... I think that is one of our greatest mistakes... when we love a man (or woman..) they get our head... God is to keep your focus...
15-19 "You've ruined your own life, Israel—but don't drag Judah down with you! Don't go to the sex shrine at Gilgal, don't go to that sin city Bethel, Don't go around saying 'God bless you' and not mean it, taking God's name in vain. Israel is stubborn as a mule.
How can God lead him like a lamb to open pasture? Ephraim is addicted to idols. Let him go. When the beer runs out, it's sex, sex, and more sex. Bold and sordid debauchery— how they love it! The whirlwind has them in its clutches. Their sex-worship leaves them finally impotent."
what is it that has your focus? is it a person? is it a job? is it money?
we talk about being saved and being a good christian... but are we really? or do we instead turn our heads when we see a need? do we keep our thoughts focused on our own desires and not maybe on the needs of someone else... I am thinking if we think alot less about ourselves and a little more about others... then we would probably be able to keep our focus on God...
I read somewhere that God uses marriage to make us a better christian... that marriage is the one place that God can grind our selfishness down and change us faster than any other... because we don't have a choice but to look at the other person... we don't have a choice but to hear their voice... we don't have a choice about tending to their needs... unless we divorce them... could that be why marriage seems to be so rough for people... we want to run from the thing being used to change us... the scripture says the the church is the bride of Christ... I think that Christ uses the church to change us and purify us... the same way that marriage is done to do that same thing... we can have all the bible knowledge in the world... but unless it changes our hearts and purifies us... what has it done for us? what good is knowledge that you don't use?
or the adulterous wives of your sons. It's the men who pick up the whores that I'm after, the men who worship at the holy whorehouses— a stupid people, ruined by whores!
well... my first reaction to this is to be mad at God...
if we were taught understanding while young... of the sanctity of giving your body to another person... we would be much different than we are... fathers do not act like fathers... husbands don't act like husbands... could be wives don't act like wives... we are all basically looking for love and many people use sex to try to find it... if we understood that sex does not bring emotion for a man-brain, it turns it off... because the physical release the man-brain is looking for was reached...we might not jump to sleeping with them... now when I say man-brain, this is not necessarily a man... other's shut all emotion out to stop any pain from being able to seep in and get near them... this is the mind of my man-brain... shutting someone out... I would say these people usually sleep with very few people because it is a violation of their body to let someone in... but you feel like your body needs this release... the ones looking for love seem to sleep with lots of people because they are just looking for some type of intimacy...
we allow man to be our god... and think he can replace the God of the heavens... that will never work... the only pure love there is comes from the love God gives to you... He is the only one who's love is secure... and from this passage here... God is really mad about the way that people take sex for granted... the way that we use it and allow it to be a controlling force in our lives... I have been celibate for 3 years now... I promise you that my entire look at sex and intimacy is different now then ever before... now I want it to be about love... while I am terrified to let someone in... that is just what I intend to do... to stand naked and not ashamed before the man God has chosen... naked emotionally and intimately... (whew... that was scary to say out loud...) all the while keeping God as the focus... not the man... I asked God recently how you are supposed to love a man but not let him have your 1st place... He told me to let him in my heart... but keep my MIND on God... I think that is one of our greatest mistakes... when we love a man (or woman..) they get our head... God is to keep your focus...
15-19 "You've ruined your own life, Israel—but don't drag Judah down with you! Don't go to the sex shrine at Gilgal, don't go to that sin city Bethel, Don't go around saying 'God bless you' and not mean it, taking God's name in vain. Israel is stubborn as a mule.
How can God lead him like a lamb to open pasture? Ephraim is addicted to idols. Let him go. When the beer runs out, it's sex, sex, and more sex. Bold and sordid debauchery— how they love it! The whirlwind has them in its clutches. Their sex-worship leaves them finally impotent."
what is it that has your focus? is it a person? is it a job? is it money?
we talk about being saved and being a good christian... but are we really? or do we instead turn our heads when we see a need? do we keep our thoughts focused on our own desires and not maybe on the needs of someone else... I am thinking if we think alot less about ourselves and a little more about others... then we would probably be able to keep our focus on God...
I read somewhere that God uses marriage to make us a better christian... that marriage is the one place that God can grind our selfishness down and change us faster than any other... because we don't have a choice but to look at the other person... we don't have a choice but to hear their voice... we don't have a choice about tending to their needs... unless we divorce them... could that be why marriage seems to be so rough for people... we want to run from the thing being used to change us... the scripture says the the church is the bride of Christ... I think that Christ uses the church to change us and purify us... the same way that marriage is done to do that same thing... we can have all the bible knowledge in the world... but unless it changes our hearts and purifies us... what has it done for us? what good is knowledge that you don't use?
Friday, September 11, 2009
hosea 4:1-10
this is a formal complaint that God is charging Israel with breaking the covenant between them and Him
MSG 1-3 Attention all Israelites! God's Message! God indicts the whole population: "No one is faithful. No one loves. No one knows the first thing about God. All this cussing and lying and killing, theft and loose sex, sheer anarchy, one murder after another! And because of all this, the very land itself weeps and everything in it is grief-stricken—animals in the fields and birds on the wing, even the fish in the sea are listless, lifeless.
NKJV 1 Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “ There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
v 1. No one is faithful, no one loves, no one knows the first thing about God... God recently has said to me that I know nothing about the love of God... that I don't even know how to love humanly... so I cannot come close to understanding the love God feels for His people... mercy is loyalty or devotion... no one has loyalty or devotion to God.. no one has knowledge of God... this is meaning that no one is recognizing God as their authority.. they are not recognizing Him as their covenant partner...we often wonder about the decline of marriage and rise of divorce... we are not keeping covenant with man nor with God... some one needs to step up and recognize the seriousness of what covenant really is... if we cannot keep covenant... then we have no business getting married at all... no one told you this would be easy... if they did, they were lying... we marry with all the wrong intentions... then we walk away when things are hard... and we carry this into our relationship with God... if He is not being the genie or fairy godfather that we want Him to be.. then we walk away and turn our back... in reality He is our authority... but since we cannot discern headship or order, we cannot understand the importance of His authority...
v2. this mentions 5 of the 10 commandments being broken by the people... how many commandments are WE breaking in our holier than thou world? how many are we taking responsibility of and seeking repentance and turning from them?
v3. when God comes in judgement it will affect ALL living things... we look at the nation around us... and we can easily wonder if we might not be in the judgement of God... as everything is falling apart.... a once prosperous and powerful nation now in debt with a large percentage of people out of work... how will we eat? how will we pay our bills? how will we have healthcare? but for the grace of God... there go I... it could be any one of us in that position... people wonder how a person becomes homeless... well, I am thinking many people are realizing just how it might happen...
NKJV 4 “ Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. 5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
MSG 4-6 "But don't look for someone to blame. No finger pointing! You, priest, are the one in the dock. You stumble around in broad daylight, And then the prophets take over and stumble all night. Your mother is as bad as you. My people are ruined because they don't know what's right or true. Because you've turned your back on knowledge, I've turned my back on you priests.Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God, I'm no longer recognizing your children
v 4-6. failure of their leaders have now brought about their fall... even the priests were not leading as they should.. lack of knowledge.. the priests failed to teach the people the laws of God... failed to explain to the that the wages of sin is death... instead preaching flowery messages about prosperity and God's love, but failing to explaing that there is judgement with disobedience... this type of priest would serve a special judgement for this sin... God will terminate the priestly line... they did not teach the people that the law of God is the source of life... this could be applied to any one of us... are we teaching our children the ways of God? are we living under the laws and protection of God Almighty? are we obeying His will? are our lives and example to an unbeliever?
NKJV 7 “ The more they increased,The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.
MSG 7-8 The more priests, the more sin. They traded in their glory for shame. They pig out on my people's sins. They can't wait for the latest in evil.
v 7-8. the honor of God was attached to the priesthood... sinful priests forfeit the honor of being called a servant of the most high God... they were profiting from the people's sins... are we profiting from our sin? are we forfeiting our royal background? are we living as a peculiar people separated unto God?
NKJV 9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. 10 For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.
MSG 9-10 The result: You can't tell the people from the priests, the priests from the people. I'm on my way to make them both pay and take the consequences of the bad lives they've lived. They'll eat and be as hungry as ever, have sex and get no satisfaction. They walked out on me, their God, for a life of rutting with whores.
v 9-10. they were accepting the hypocritical ways of the people instead of calling them out in their sins... they would worship other gods.. baal was supposed to (in their mind) give them good harvest and many children... but they would not have enough to eat and would not multiply because they are worshipping baal who is nothing... how many times have we worshipped our own "baal"?have we looked to a man for love? have we looked to our jobs for money? have we looked to our government for peace? only God is the source of all things... you can have a man but his love not be satisfying... (I really wasn't talking about sex.. but wouldn't that be horrendous... sex that doesn't satisfy???) there is also religious prostitution in our day... people are not all there for God... some come for all the wrong reasons... if we are not calling them out on sin and teaching of judgement... how are we any different than the priests of Hosea's day? be sure you are in a church that is teaching the ways of God... the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph... not the god of man or god of money... looking to please the people... if the people are upset about the preaching of the pastor... he is doing right... he is a true man of God...
MSG 1-3 Attention all Israelites! God's Message! God indicts the whole population: "No one is faithful. No one loves. No one knows the first thing about God. All this cussing and lying and killing, theft and loose sex, sheer anarchy, one murder after another! And because of all this, the very land itself weeps and everything in it is grief-stricken—animals in the fields and birds on the wing, even the fish in the sea are listless, lifeless.
NKJV 1 Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “ There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
v 1. No one is faithful, no one loves, no one knows the first thing about God... God recently has said to me that I know nothing about the love of God... that I don't even know how to love humanly... so I cannot come close to understanding the love God feels for His people... mercy is loyalty or devotion... no one has loyalty or devotion to God.. no one has knowledge of God... this is meaning that no one is recognizing God as their authority.. they are not recognizing Him as their covenant partner...we often wonder about the decline of marriage and rise of divorce... we are not keeping covenant with man nor with God... some one needs to step up and recognize the seriousness of what covenant really is... if we cannot keep covenant... then we have no business getting married at all... no one told you this would be easy... if they did, they were lying... we marry with all the wrong intentions... then we walk away when things are hard... and we carry this into our relationship with God... if He is not being the genie or fairy godfather that we want Him to be.. then we walk away and turn our back... in reality He is our authority... but since we cannot discern headship or order, we cannot understand the importance of His authority...
v2. this mentions 5 of the 10 commandments being broken by the people... how many commandments are WE breaking in our holier than thou world? how many are we taking responsibility of and seeking repentance and turning from them?
v3. when God comes in judgement it will affect ALL living things... we look at the nation around us... and we can easily wonder if we might not be in the judgement of God... as everything is falling apart.... a once prosperous and powerful nation now in debt with a large percentage of people out of work... how will we eat? how will we pay our bills? how will we have healthcare? but for the grace of God... there go I... it could be any one of us in that position... people wonder how a person becomes homeless... well, I am thinking many people are realizing just how it might happen...
NKJV 4 “ Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. 5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
MSG 4-6 "But don't look for someone to blame. No finger pointing! You, priest, are the one in the dock. You stumble around in broad daylight, And then the prophets take over and stumble all night. Your mother is as bad as you. My people are ruined because they don't know what's right or true. Because you've turned your back on knowledge, I've turned my back on you priests.Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God, I'm no longer recognizing your children
v 4-6. failure of their leaders have now brought about their fall... even the priests were not leading as they should.. lack of knowledge.. the priests failed to teach the people the laws of God... failed to explain to the that the wages of sin is death... instead preaching flowery messages about prosperity and God's love, but failing to explaing that there is judgement with disobedience... this type of priest would serve a special judgement for this sin... God will terminate the priestly line... they did not teach the people that the law of God is the source of life... this could be applied to any one of us... are we teaching our children the ways of God? are we living under the laws and protection of God Almighty? are we obeying His will? are our lives and example to an unbeliever?
NKJV 7 “ The more they increased,The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.
MSG 7-8 The more priests, the more sin. They traded in their glory for shame. They pig out on my people's sins. They can't wait for the latest in evil.
v 7-8. the honor of God was attached to the priesthood... sinful priests forfeit the honor of being called a servant of the most high God... they were profiting from the people's sins... are we profiting from our sin? are we forfeiting our royal background? are we living as a peculiar people separated unto God?
NKJV 9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. 10 For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.
MSG 9-10 The result: You can't tell the people from the priests, the priests from the people. I'm on my way to make them both pay and take the consequences of the bad lives they've lived. They'll eat and be as hungry as ever, have sex and get no satisfaction. They walked out on me, their God, for a life of rutting with whores.
v 9-10. they were accepting the hypocritical ways of the people instead of calling them out in their sins... they would worship other gods.. baal was supposed to (in their mind) give them good harvest and many children... but they would not have enough to eat and would not multiply because they are worshipping baal who is nothing... how many times have we worshipped our own "baal"?have we looked to a man for love? have we looked to our jobs for money? have we looked to our government for peace? only God is the source of all things... you can have a man but his love not be satisfying... (I really wasn't talking about sex.. but wouldn't that be horrendous... sex that doesn't satisfy???) there is also religious prostitution in our day... people are not all there for God... some come for all the wrong reasons... if we are not calling them out on sin and teaching of judgement... how are we any different than the priests of Hosea's day? be sure you are in a church that is teaching the ways of God... the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph... not the god of man or god of money... looking to please the people... if the people are upset about the preaching of the pastor... he is doing right... he is a true man of God...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
hosea 3
1 Then God ordered me, "Start all over: Love your wife again, your wife who's in bed with her latest boyfriend, your cheating wife.Love her the way I, God, love the Israelite people, even as they flirt and party with every god that takes their fancy."
beginning amazing already.... go get your wife... from another man's bed... and love her.... that takes an amazing man... but... isn't that just what God did... He came up in the bar and took me home... and loved me... where did He take you from....
2-3 I did it. I paid good money to get her back. It cost me the price of a slave. Then I told her, "From now on you're living with me. No more whoring, no more sleeping around. You're living with me and I'm living with you."
I didn't really like the message bible on these two verses because in truth... what had happened was.... Gomer had become a slave... to another man... (hmmmm how many times have we been a slave to something...) and according to levitical law, Hosea only had to pay 1/2 the normal price for her... which says in the eyes of man...she wasn't worth much... yet he pays the price and he takes her home... but he tells here that she has to live in the house with him but not sleep with him or with any other man... she had to be isolated so that she could be purified... or cleansed from all the filth she had put herself in... how many times has God isolated us... purified us.. and we go right back to the filth... so sad... but this was only to be for a time... because once she was purified he would love her physically and emotionally... one thing we really don't think about it what it took for Hosea to go get her... can you imagine just how truly humiliated he would be to go to another man's house and PAY for his own wife... this is not just a woman he loved... you know how psycho we can all be and say that is my man and you can't have him... no... this is his wife... he was faithful to her... he was good to her... he provided for her in spite of what she did... she was a slut the whole time they were married... can we imagine what it took for him to go get her... and that is what God does for us... every time we stray...
4-5 The people of Israel are going to live a long time stripped of security and protection, without religion and comfort, godless and prayerless. But in time they'll come back, these Israelites, come back looking for their God and their David-King. They'll come back chastened to reverence before God and his good gifts, ready for the End of the story of his love.
we allow ourselves to go many days without our King... without God's love... but if you were called by God... if you are chosen... you have no choice but to run back to Him and get it right... one more time... hopefully this will be the last time... and we will become faithful to Him who is faithful to us.... someone had recently told me that God has me in a love story orchestrated by Him... that this love story I am in would be an example to all people of the love that God has waiting for us.. that is the truth for every one of us... God is loving us and trying to win our complete love... our complete trust... will we give God our whole heart...
beginning amazing already.... go get your wife... from another man's bed... and love her.... that takes an amazing man... but... isn't that just what God did... He came up in the bar and took me home... and loved me... where did He take you from....
2-3 I did it. I paid good money to get her back. It cost me the price of a slave. Then I told her, "From now on you're living with me. No more whoring, no more sleeping around. You're living with me and I'm living with you."
I didn't really like the message bible on these two verses because in truth... what had happened was.... Gomer had become a slave... to another man... (hmmmm how many times have we been a slave to something...) and according to levitical law, Hosea only had to pay 1/2 the normal price for her... which says in the eyes of man...she wasn't worth much... yet he pays the price and he takes her home... but he tells here that she has to live in the house with him but not sleep with him or with any other man... she had to be isolated so that she could be purified... or cleansed from all the filth she had put herself in... how many times has God isolated us... purified us.. and we go right back to the filth... so sad... but this was only to be for a time... because once she was purified he would love her physically and emotionally... one thing we really don't think about it what it took for Hosea to go get her... can you imagine just how truly humiliated he would be to go to another man's house and PAY for his own wife... this is not just a woman he loved... you know how psycho we can all be and say that is my man and you can't have him... no... this is his wife... he was faithful to her... he was good to her... he provided for her in spite of what she did... she was a slut the whole time they were married... can we imagine what it took for him to go get her... and that is what God does for us... every time we stray...
4-5 The people of Israel are going to live a long time stripped of security and protection, without religion and comfort, godless and prayerless. But in time they'll come back, these Israelites, come back looking for their God and their David-King. They'll come back chastened to reverence before God and his good gifts, ready for the End of the story of his love.
we allow ourselves to go many days without our King... without God's love... but if you were called by God... if you are chosen... you have no choice but to run back to Him and get it right... one more time... hopefully this will be the last time... and we will become faithful to Him who is faithful to us.... someone had recently told me that God has me in a love story orchestrated by Him... that this love story I am in would be an example to all people of the love that God has waiting for us.. that is the truth for every one of us... God is loving us and trying to win our complete love... our complete trust... will we give God our whole heart...
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
hosea 2...
I am doing a bible study on line with some close friends and I chose Hosea because we are so often unfaithful to God... we expect God to constantly have our back and provide and love us special... yet what are we really doing to make the kingdom of God... much less the world... a better place? the house of God is full of people who constantly talk about one another.. tearing one another down... how often do you get a phone call when someone says something positive instead of negative... we are the children of the most high God... do we really see the seriousness of that? God did not have to choose you... He did not have to call you out of the filth you were in... and when He did, He completely forgave everything you did... we can't forgive someone for talking crazy... even if it is the truth... we allow our feelings to be worn on our sleeves... we will talk about one another... we will just refuse to speak to one another... yet we expect God to forgive us and forget all the ugliness we still engage in...
it is time for a change... I am standing up... I am done talking negative... I am done talking about people... I am done hearing anyone talking about anyone else... so if I suddenly tell you I gotta go... I guess you'll know what it's about... I want the house of God to be just that... a house where God is willing to reside... to live... to grace us with His presence... and the change needs to begin in me...
1 "Rename your brothers 'God's Somebody.' Rename your sisters 'All Mercy.' Wild Weekends and Unholy Holidays 2-13 "Haul your mother into court. Accuse her! She's no longer my wife. I'm no longer her husband.Tell her to quit dressing like a whore, displaying her breasts for sale.If she refuses, I'll rip off her clothes and expose her, naked as a newborn.I'll turn her skin into dried-out leather, her body into a badlands landscape, a rack of bones in the desert.I'll have nothing to do with her children, born one and all in a whorehouse.Face it: Your mother's been a whore, bringing bastard children into the world.She said, 'I'm off to see my lovers! They'll wine and dine me,Dress and caress me, perfume and adorn me!'But I'll fix her: I'll dump her in a field of thistles, then lose her in a dead-end alley.She'll go on the hunt for her lovers but not bring down a single one.She'll look high and low but won't find a one. Then she'll say,'I'm going back to my husband, the one I started out with. That was a better life by far than this one.'She didn't know that it was I all along who wined and dined and adorned her,That I was the one who dressed her up in the big-city fashions and jewelry that she wasted on wild Baal-orgies.I'm about to bring her up short: No more wining and dining! Silk lingerie and gowns are a thing of the past.I'll expose her genitals to the public. All her fly-by-night lovers will be helpless to help her.Party time is over. I'm calling a halt to the whole business, her wild weekends and unholy holidays.I'll wreck her sumptuous gardens and ornamental fountains, of which she bragged, 'Whoring paid for all this!'They will soon be dumping grounds for garbage, feeding grounds for stray dogs and cats.I'll make her pay for her indulgence in promiscuous religion— all that sensuous Baal worshipAnd all the promiscuous sex that went with it, stalking her lovers, dressed to kill,And not a thought for me." God's Message!
To Start All Over Again 14-15 "And now, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to start all over again.I'm taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I'll court her.I'll give her bouquets of roses. I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.She'll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt. 16-20 "At that time"—this is God's Message still— "you'll address me, 'Dear husband!'Never again will you address me, 'My slave-master!'I'll wash your mouth out with soap, get rid of all the dirty false-god names, not so much as a whisper of those names again.At the same time I'll make a peace treaty between you and wild animals and birds and reptiles,And get rid of all weapons of war. Think of it! Safe from beasts and bullies!And then I'll marry you for good—forever! I'll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.Yes, I'll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You'll know me, God, for who I really am. 21-23 "On the very same day, I'll answer"—this is God's Message— "I'll answer the sky, sky will answer earth,Earth will answer grain and wine and olive oil, and they'll all answer Jezreel.I'll plant her in the good earth. I'll have mercy on No-Mercy.I'll say to Nobody, 'You're my dear Somebody,' and he'll say 'You're my God!'"
it is time for a change... I am standing up... I am done talking negative... I am done talking about people... I am done hearing anyone talking about anyone else... so if I suddenly tell you I gotta go... I guess you'll know what it's about... I want the house of God to be just that... a house where God is willing to reside... to live... to grace us with His presence... and the change needs to begin in me...
1 "Rename your brothers 'God's Somebody.' Rename your sisters 'All Mercy.' Wild Weekends and Unholy Holidays 2-13 "Haul your mother into court. Accuse her! She's no longer my wife. I'm no longer her husband.Tell her to quit dressing like a whore, displaying her breasts for sale.If she refuses, I'll rip off her clothes and expose her, naked as a newborn.I'll turn her skin into dried-out leather, her body into a badlands landscape, a rack of bones in the desert.I'll have nothing to do with her children, born one and all in a whorehouse.Face it: Your mother's been a whore, bringing bastard children into the world.She said, 'I'm off to see my lovers! They'll wine and dine me,Dress and caress me, perfume and adorn me!'But I'll fix her: I'll dump her in a field of thistles, then lose her in a dead-end alley.She'll go on the hunt for her lovers but not bring down a single one.She'll look high and low but won't find a one. Then she'll say,'I'm going back to my husband, the one I started out with. That was a better life by far than this one.'She didn't know that it was I all along who wined and dined and adorned her,That I was the one who dressed her up in the big-city fashions and jewelry that she wasted on wild Baal-orgies.I'm about to bring her up short: No more wining and dining! Silk lingerie and gowns are a thing of the past.I'll expose her genitals to the public. All her fly-by-night lovers will be helpless to help her.Party time is over. I'm calling a halt to the whole business, her wild weekends and unholy holidays.I'll wreck her sumptuous gardens and ornamental fountains, of which she bragged, 'Whoring paid for all this!'They will soon be dumping grounds for garbage, feeding grounds for stray dogs and cats.I'll make her pay for her indulgence in promiscuous religion— all that sensuous Baal worshipAnd all the promiscuous sex that went with it, stalking her lovers, dressed to kill,And not a thought for me." God's Message!
To Start All Over Again 14-15 "And now, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to start all over again.I'm taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I'll court her.I'll give her bouquets of roses. I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.She'll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt. 16-20 "At that time"—this is God's Message still— "you'll address me, 'Dear husband!'Never again will you address me, 'My slave-master!'I'll wash your mouth out with soap, get rid of all the dirty false-god names, not so much as a whisper of those names again.At the same time I'll make a peace treaty between you and wild animals and birds and reptiles,And get rid of all weapons of war. Think of it! Safe from beasts and bullies!And then I'll marry you for good—forever! I'll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.Yes, I'll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You'll know me, God, for who I really am. 21-23 "On the very same day, I'll answer"—this is God's Message— "I'll answer the sky, sky will answer earth,Earth will answer grain and wine and olive oil, and they'll all answer Jezreel.I'll plant her in the good earth. I'll have mercy on No-Mercy.I'll say to Nobody, 'You're my dear Somebody,' and he'll say 'You're my God!'"
Thursday, September 3, 2009
what God wants from us...
we want our prayers heard and answered... we want God to be doing everything that we want Him to do... but what does God want from us... aside from the 10 commandments... what does God want from us...
if we read this scripture... it seems to me... that God basically wants us to show love at all times... He wants us to care for those in need... He wants us to stop judging, stop gossip, stop complaining, stop all negativity...
we do not have enough love in our human heart to do the will of God in this area... we need to be full of the love of God, not the love of man... I have begun to daily ask God to fill me with the Spirit of Love... I have accepted that the love I feel in my own power is not enough to sacrifice my own comfort... it is not enough to be truly kind in my heart toward those who hate me or persecute me... I would still be witholding some sort of hostility... only with God's Spirit are we able to do His will...
Father empty me of all unrighteousness... fill me full of the Spirit of love continuously as a running well flowing to me and through me... I give you all glory... all honor... all adoration... in Jesus precious name I ask these things... amen.
Isaiah 58:8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
if we read this scripture... it seems to me... that God basically wants us to show love at all times... He wants us to care for those in need... He wants us to stop judging, stop gossip, stop complaining, stop all negativity...
we do not have enough love in our human heart to do the will of God in this area... we need to be full of the love of God, not the love of man... I have begun to daily ask God to fill me with the Spirit of Love... I have accepted that the love I feel in my own power is not enough to sacrifice my own comfort... it is not enough to be truly kind in my heart toward those who hate me or persecute me... I would still be witholding some sort of hostility... only with God's Spirit are we able to do His will...
Father empty me of all unrighteousness... fill me full of the Spirit of love continuously as a running well flowing to me and through me... I give you all glory... all honor... all adoration... in Jesus precious name I ask these things... amen.
Isaiah 58:8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
the past...
we all have a past... I don't care how righteous you are now... because man is born into sin... you still have a past... your past may not be as shady as someone else's... but it is not clean either...
do you realize that God does not see degrees of sin... the bible tells us that if you have committed one sin then you have committed them all... He sees murder the same as He sees a lie... He sees adultery... the same as slander... there are no better sin or lesser sin... we ALL have fallen short of the glory of God...
the bible tells us that David had a heart after the heart of God... he had a heart LIKE God... yet David committed murder and adultery... and he had a heart like God... bigger than that... when he confessed his sin and turned from it... God was gracious and forgave him...
what is it that makes us judge someone else? what is it that makes us decide someone should be this or should not be that... what is it that makes us keep dragging up someone's past when we don't see it as their present? just like you want your past to remain in the past... so does everyone else...
Job was a righteous man... and when He questioned the authority and plans of God... God said to him... WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??? did you form the earth... did you make man? can you stop the day from going forth?
if God has allowed you to be placed in authority... allow God to order your steps... if you are not in authority and cannot make decisions... there is a reason God didn't put you up there... know your place and stop trying to do someone else's job... because I promise you that 'VENGANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD...' and the wrath of God is no joke...
do you realize that God does not see degrees of sin... the bible tells us that if you have committed one sin then you have committed them all... He sees murder the same as He sees a lie... He sees adultery... the same as slander... there are no better sin or lesser sin... we ALL have fallen short of the glory of God...
the bible tells us that David had a heart after the heart of God... he had a heart LIKE God... yet David committed murder and adultery... and he had a heart like God... bigger than that... when he confessed his sin and turned from it... God was gracious and forgave him...
what is it that makes us judge someone else? what is it that makes us decide someone should be this or should not be that... what is it that makes us keep dragging up someone's past when we don't see it as their present? just like you want your past to remain in the past... so does everyone else...
Job was a righteous man... and when He questioned the authority and plans of God... God said to him... WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??? did you form the earth... did you make man? can you stop the day from going forth?
if God has allowed you to be placed in authority... allow God to order your steps... if you are not in authority and cannot make decisions... there is a reason God didn't put you up there... know your place and stop trying to do someone else's job... because I promise you that 'VENGANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD...' and the wrath of God is no joke...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
covenant...
well, my intention was to write what the covenant with God would consist of... but as I start looking it up... there are different ones for different people... that was a problem for me... because if our promises from God are backed by the bible, how are we supposed to know which one is for us?
with Abraham... God promises to multiply him as the sands of the sea or the stars of the sky...
with Noah... God promises to never again flood the earth and destroy everything...
with Jacob... God promises to give him the ground he was sleeping on, to make his descendents as the dust of the ground stretching from east to west and north to south, He promises to stay with them, to bless them and to protect them...
with the children of Israel... God promises to bless the people their livestock their going in and going out their land, He promises to defeat their enemies, to keep them a holy people seperated unto God, to lavish good things on them.
with David... God promises to keep his heir on the throne... to be a father to his descendents, to discipline them, to never remove His love from them, to keep His eye upon them..
the covenant with the children of Israel was dependent upon them keeping the laws and commandments that God gave them about how to live holy and upright...
I believe that God speaks promises into each of our hearts... I believe that He gives all of us the opportunity to have close and personal relationship with Him... I believe what He's told me for my own life... I pray that you will find out what God's will is for your life and hold strong to the promises He places in your spirit...
with Abraham... God promises to multiply him as the sands of the sea or the stars of the sky...
with Noah... God promises to never again flood the earth and destroy everything...
with Jacob... God promises to give him the ground he was sleeping on, to make his descendents as the dust of the ground stretching from east to west and north to south, He promises to stay with them, to bless them and to protect them...
with the children of Israel... God promises to bless the people their livestock their going in and going out their land, He promises to defeat their enemies, to keep them a holy people seperated unto God, to lavish good things on them.
with David... God promises to keep his heir on the throne... to be a father to his descendents, to discipline them, to never remove His love from them, to keep His eye upon them..
the covenant with the children of Israel was dependent upon them keeping the laws and commandments that God gave them about how to live holy and upright...
I believe that God speaks promises into each of our hearts... I believe that He gives all of us the opportunity to have close and personal relationship with Him... I believe what He's told me for my own life... I pray that you will find out what God's will is for your life and hold strong to the promises He places in your spirit...
Monday, August 24, 2009
a circumcised heart...
originally, when God talked about circumcision, we know that it was the circumcision of the male body, supposed to be performed 8 days after birth.. and the man had to be circumcised to be in covenant with God...
women don't want to hear this, but God has not (to the best of my biblical knowledge) ever made a covenant with a woman.. He makes covenant with men and women are covered by a man.. now I do realize that is nothing that we want to hear... I also realize that we are quick to then decide that the times are different now... but again... the word of God does not change to suit our personal needs or times... and I still believe that covenant is given through a man, whether it is your husband, your father, or through Christ... if you are covered in relationship with a man, then your covenant between you and God goes through the man... otherwise, I believe Christ himself will cover us...
okay, back to the point, you cannot be in covenant with God without being circumcised. now we no longer believe this is about the physical circumcision, although I still believe that God expects that too... but there is circumcision of the heart...
we don't hear too much about this... but here it is...
Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
stiff necked means: arrogant, proud, aloof or stubborn, rebellious..
Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
in the one place it tells us that we have to circumcise our hearts and the other tells us that God will circumcise them for us... I think that shows that we have to put forth the effort, and God will work with us and for us... I believe having a circumcised heart is to have a heart that puts God first in our lives, regardless of the pain or discomfort that doing His will may put us in.. I also believe that someone with a circumcised heart is cutting away the flesh of your heart... cutting away the parts of yourself that you don't want to give up... the sin you enjoy... the desires you don't want to give up... being uncircumcised is uncleanness or being defiled in the eyes of God..
in contrast, a circumcised heart is humble, broken, repentant... God says that if our uncircumcised hearts are humbled and we accept our guilt then He will remember His covenant with us (lev 26:40-42) a circumcised heart is quick to forgive and release people of offenses against us.. a hardened heart cannot easily forgive and cherishes grudges... we cannot enter into covenant or be covered in the covenant of God without cutting away the sinful desires of our hearts...
women don't want to hear this, but God has not (to the best of my biblical knowledge) ever made a covenant with a woman.. He makes covenant with men and women are covered by a man.. now I do realize that is nothing that we want to hear... I also realize that we are quick to then decide that the times are different now... but again... the word of God does not change to suit our personal needs or times... and I still believe that covenant is given through a man, whether it is your husband, your father, or through Christ... if you are covered in relationship with a man, then your covenant between you and God goes through the man... otherwise, I believe Christ himself will cover us...
okay, back to the point, you cannot be in covenant with God without being circumcised. now we no longer believe this is about the physical circumcision, although I still believe that God expects that too... but there is circumcision of the heart...
we don't hear too much about this... but here it is...
Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
stiff necked means: arrogant, proud, aloof or stubborn, rebellious..
Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
in the one place it tells us that we have to circumcise our hearts and the other tells us that God will circumcise them for us... I think that shows that we have to put forth the effort, and God will work with us and for us... I believe having a circumcised heart is to have a heart that puts God first in our lives, regardless of the pain or discomfort that doing His will may put us in.. I also believe that someone with a circumcised heart is cutting away the flesh of your heart... cutting away the parts of yourself that you don't want to give up... the sin you enjoy... the desires you don't want to give up... being uncircumcised is uncleanness or being defiled in the eyes of God..
in contrast, a circumcised heart is humble, broken, repentant... God says that if our uncircumcised hearts are humbled and we accept our guilt then He will remember His covenant with us (lev 26:40-42) a circumcised heart is quick to forgive and release people of offenses against us.. a hardened heart cannot easily forgive and cherishes grudges... we cannot enter into covenant or be covered in the covenant of God without cutting away the sinful desires of our hearts...
Friday, August 21, 2009
the cycle of the human mind... fixed on God...
step one: being overwhelmed....
we get a problem, something that we cannot fix... and we become quickly overwhelmed... we don't want to pray... we don't want to praise... we want to lay down and die... feeling sorry for ourselves... we could die because we cannot see the light that is supposed to be at the end of the tunnel...
Job 17: 10-16 "Maybe you'd all like to start over, to try it again, the bunch of you.So far I haven't come across one scrap of wisdom in anything you've said.My life's about over. All my plans are smashed, all my hopes are snuffed out—My hope that night would turn into day, my hope that dawn was about to break.If all I have to look forward to is a home in the graveyard, if my only hope for comfort is a well-built coffin,If a family reunion means going six feet under, and the only family that shows up is worms,Do you call that hope? Who on earth could find any hope in that?No. If hope and I are to be buried together, I suppose you'll all come to the double funeral!"
step 2: God speaks...
God gets tired of us feeling sorry for ourselves and steps in asking us... who do you think you are? who lied and told you that you were the center of the universe??? I AM... IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE... God speaks from the eye of the storm... He doesn't wait until the storm has passed and you are feeling a little better... no, He gets on you while the storm is raging... He wants to know exactly who do you think you are and what is it that you think you can do in your own power?? And He will leave you to your own power if you think you have some...
Job 40: 6-7 God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said: "I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers. 8-14 "Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do.Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.Target the arrogant and bring them to their knees. Stop the wicked in their tracks—make mincemeat of them!Dig a mass grave and dump them in it— faceless corpses in an unmarked grave.I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you— you can surely save yourself with no help from me!
step 3: reality check...
reality sets in and we realize that I can do nothing without God... I cannot change anything... I cannot control anything... I have screwed things up by putting my hands in it... we ask forgiveness from the only one who can truly give forgiveness... the only one who really loves us in spite of who we are... family can love us somewhat... but even they have the tendency to judge us and look down on us at times... only God's love is complete and satisfying... only God's love is truly unconditional...
Job 42: 1-6 Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head.You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."
step 4: God's forgiveness and restoration...
forgiveness is not only for God to give to us... we must also forgive those who have wronged us... whether intentional or not... how can we receive what we will not give? how can we receive what we will not accept? some people can accept God's forgiveness, but will not give forgiveness to someone else... the bible says that God forgives us as we forgive one another... some of us cannot accept God's forgiveness of us and we cannot forgive ourselves... we need to learn that the past is the past, but all things work together for the good of those who love God... we are to take the lesson, learn from it and move forward into the future that God has planned for us... sometimes the pain that we receive comes from the hand of God... does that change anything? no... we are to keep on doing right and know that when He is ready, He will give us full restoration and double for your trouble... you may never receive double in the financial realm... but double or even single restoration in the spiritual realm is worth more than finances ever could be... relationship with God and peace and joy is worth more than all the money in the world... God is all we really need... if God were to remove all the people in your life... if He were to take all the money in your account... do you trust that He will still carry you? if you do not... then what do you really have? you have nothing.. all there really is to carry you through from day to day is faith in God's love... people will come and go... money will come and go... health will come and go... but if you don't have God... where will you go? will God say well done my good and faithful servant or will He say he has never known you... restore your relationship with God and allow Him to guide your life today... and always...
Job 42: 10-11 After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—and then doubled it! All his brothers and sisters and friends came to his house and celebrated. They told him how sorry they were, and consoled him for all the trouble God had brought him. Each of them brought generous housewarming gifts. 12-15 God blessed Job's later life even more than his earlier life. He ended up with fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand teams of oxen, and one thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first daughter Dove, the second, Cinnamon, and the third, Darkeyes. There was not a woman in that country as beautiful as Job's daughters. Their father treated them as equals with their brothers, providing the same inheritance. 16-17 Job lived on another 140 years, living to see his children and grandchildren—four generations of them! Then he died—an old man, a full life.
we get a problem, something that we cannot fix... and we become quickly overwhelmed... we don't want to pray... we don't want to praise... we want to lay down and die... feeling sorry for ourselves... we could die because we cannot see the light that is supposed to be at the end of the tunnel...
Job 17: 10-16 "Maybe you'd all like to start over, to try it again, the bunch of you.So far I haven't come across one scrap of wisdom in anything you've said.My life's about over. All my plans are smashed, all my hopes are snuffed out—My hope that night would turn into day, my hope that dawn was about to break.If all I have to look forward to is a home in the graveyard, if my only hope for comfort is a well-built coffin,If a family reunion means going six feet under, and the only family that shows up is worms,Do you call that hope? Who on earth could find any hope in that?No. If hope and I are to be buried together, I suppose you'll all come to the double funeral!"
step 2: God speaks...
God gets tired of us feeling sorry for ourselves and steps in asking us... who do you think you are? who lied and told you that you were the center of the universe??? I AM... IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE... God speaks from the eye of the storm... He doesn't wait until the storm has passed and you are feeling a little better... no, He gets on you while the storm is raging... He wants to know exactly who do you think you are and what is it that you think you can do in your own power?? And He will leave you to your own power if you think you have some...
Job 40: 6-7 God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said: "I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers. 8-14 "Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do.Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.Target the arrogant and bring them to their knees. Stop the wicked in their tracks—make mincemeat of them!Dig a mass grave and dump them in it— faceless corpses in an unmarked grave.I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you— you can surely save yourself with no help from me!
step 3: reality check...
reality sets in and we realize that I can do nothing without God... I cannot change anything... I cannot control anything... I have screwed things up by putting my hands in it... we ask forgiveness from the only one who can truly give forgiveness... the only one who really loves us in spite of who we are... family can love us somewhat... but even they have the tendency to judge us and look down on us at times... only God's love is complete and satisfying... only God's love is truly unconditional...
Job 42: 1-6 Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head.You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."
step 4: God's forgiveness and restoration...
forgiveness is not only for God to give to us... we must also forgive those who have wronged us... whether intentional or not... how can we receive what we will not give? how can we receive what we will not accept? some people can accept God's forgiveness, but will not give forgiveness to someone else... the bible says that God forgives us as we forgive one another... some of us cannot accept God's forgiveness of us and we cannot forgive ourselves... we need to learn that the past is the past, but all things work together for the good of those who love God... we are to take the lesson, learn from it and move forward into the future that God has planned for us... sometimes the pain that we receive comes from the hand of God... does that change anything? no... we are to keep on doing right and know that when He is ready, He will give us full restoration and double for your trouble... you may never receive double in the financial realm... but double or even single restoration in the spiritual realm is worth more than finances ever could be... relationship with God and peace and joy is worth more than all the money in the world... God is all we really need... if God were to remove all the people in your life... if He were to take all the money in your account... do you trust that He will still carry you? if you do not... then what do you really have? you have nothing.. all there really is to carry you through from day to day is faith in God's love... people will come and go... money will come and go... health will come and go... but if you don't have God... where will you go? will God say well done my good and faithful servant or will He say he has never known you... restore your relationship with God and allow Him to guide your life today... and always...
Job 42: 10-11 After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—and then doubled it! All his brothers and sisters and friends came to his house and celebrated. They told him how sorry they were, and consoled him for all the trouble God had brought him. Each of them brought generous housewarming gifts. 12-15 God blessed Job's later life even more than his earlier life. He ended up with fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand teams of oxen, and one thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first daughter Dove, the second, Cinnamon, and the third, Darkeyes. There was not a woman in that country as beautiful as Job's daughters. Their father treated them as equals with their brothers, providing the same inheritance. 16-17 Job lived on another 140 years, living to see his children and grandchildren—four generations of them! Then he died—an old man, a full life.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
controversial divorce...
Ezra 10: 9 Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt. 11 Now make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives."
12 The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: "You are right! We must do as you say. 13 But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. 14 Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us." 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.
16 So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, 17 and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.
I do not condone divorce... just because you took it upon yourself to marry who you chose and it was not in the will of God and now you don't like them anymore is no reason for divorce... you are to remain in the marriage and possibly the reflection of Christ in you can change the spouse...
besides that though... this scripture was troubling/enlightening for me... some of the Israelites that were instructed to leave their foreign wives were priests... if this is of true interest to you, I suggest you read all of the scripture of Ezra from 8-11... sometimes we marry someone who is not in the will of God for us and they are a hindrance to our purpose in the kingdom of God... I don't believe that God approves of divorce, but I do believe that God's primary concern is the kingdom of God... if your spouse is holding you back from the will of God from your life, is it right to remain in the marriage? that is a personal question to be answered to you by God... is it right for you to commit adultery? NEVER... but what if there is someone God has planned for your ministry but you have chosen someone on your own and now you cannot walk forward in God's will for you...
as you know, if you have been reading for awhile, I was married to a man that God did not choose for me... he was saved... in actuality, he is now an ordained minister... but he was not for me and I would never have been able to go forward in the will of God for my life if I stayed with him... he was a hindrance to my purpose in the kingdom of God... just because someone is saved, it does not make you equally yoked... often we look for what we desire in a spouse instead of waiting for what God has planned for us... and God definitely takes his time in doing his will in your life... it is certainly not that you decide to do as He asks and right away everything falls into place... God is all about preparing you for the role that He created you for...
we walk into life wrong.. we walk into life looking for what we want, what we desire, what makes us happy... that is not the way of God... God already has your life planned for you... allow Him to direct your paths... from childhood, teach your children that God has a plan for them and their purpose is in Him and they need to be asking Him what it is that He would have them do, not what they want... God will give you the desire for what He has called you to do...
my daughter is 18... when she was 16 she had a dream and she woke up knowing what God's plan is for her future... since she was 16... she has been walking toward that goal... now don't get me wrong, sometimes the flesh wins out and she does not always conduct herself as God would have her to do... but she is walking forward in the big vision for her life... we should all pray this into the lives of our children.. that God will lead them and direct them.. the He will open their eyes to see the path that He has planned for them... that He will protect them and put a hedge around them so they cannot be deterred from His will for their lives...
12 The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: "You are right! We must do as you say. 13 But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. 14 Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us." 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.
16 So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, 17 and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.
I do not condone divorce... just because you took it upon yourself to marry who you chose and it was not in the will of God and now you don't like them anymore is no reason for divorce... you are to remain in the marriage and possibly the reflection of Christ in you can change the spouse...
besides that though... this scripture was troubling/enlightening for me... some of the Israelites that were instructed to leave their foreign wives were priests... if this is of true interest to you, I suggest you read all of the scripture of Ezra from 8-11... sometimes we marry someone who is not in the will of God for us and they are a hindrance to our purpose in the kingdom of God... I don't believe that God approves of divorce, but I do believe that God's primary concern is the kingdom of God... if your spouse is holding you back from the will of God from your life, is it right to remain in the marriage? that is a personal question to be answered to you by God... is it right for you to commit adultery? NEVER... but what if there is someone God has planned for your ministry but you have chosen someone on your own and now you cannot walk forward in God's will for you...
as you know, if you have been reading for awhile, I was married to a man that God did not choose for me... he was saved... in actuality, he is now an ordained minister... but he was not for me and I would never have been able to go forward in the will of God for my life if I stayed with him... he was a hindrance to my purpose in the kingdom of God... just because someone is saved, it does not make you equally yoked... often we look for what we desire in a spouse instead of waiting for what God has planned for us... and God definitely takes his time in doing his will in your life... it is certainly not that you decide to do as He asks and right away everything falls into place... God is all about preparing you for the role that He created you for...
we walk into life wrong.. we walk into life looking for what we want, what we desire, what makes us happy... that is not the way of God... God already has your life planned for you... allow Him to direct your paths... from childhood, teach your children that God has a plan for them and their purpose is in Him and they need to be asking Him what it is that He would have them do, not what they want... God will give you the desire for what He has called you to do...
my daughter is 18... when she was 16 she had a dream and she woke up knowing what God's plan is for her future... since she was 16... she has been walking toward that goal... now don't get me wrong, sometimes the flesh wins out and she does not always conduct herself as God would have her to do... but she is walking forward in the big vision for her life... we should all pray this into the lives of our children.. that God will lead them and direct them.. the He will open their eyes to see the path that He has planned for them... that He will protect them and put a hedge around them so they cannot be deterred from His will for their lives...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Hat...
1 Corinthians 11: 3Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
my daughter is going to school now... she went to an all girl's school... and she went to church on Sunday and they preached about the oppression of women... she didn't like it... it didn't sit right with her... while my daughter is very independent, she has been taught that a man is the head...
most women don't acknowledge how rebellious they really are.. as time has marched on and women have become increasingly independent and liberal, we have put aside the purpose of the hat... the hat is an outward sign of inward submission to the authority God has placed over you... single women were not required to cover their head... married women were... today in church people think it is ridiculous if you choose to wear a hat... it gets in the way... I can't see around you... maybe it is about the expense of it... you know how jealous women are... whatever it is... the base cause of the problem has nothing to do with a hat... it is about submission... today's women do not want to submit to their husbands in anything... or they will submit in some things and not in others... they don't want to submit to authority of any kind... God set up the order of things and to be in obedience to the word of God, which is to be in obedience to God, if God has given you an authority in your life, you are to be in submission to it.... we tend to pick and choose what parts of the bible are relevant to our lives today... I can't imagine that God agrees with that...
when I get married... I will wear a hat... even though I look stupid in one... I desire to be in obedience to the will of God... I desire to have order and peace in my house... of course maybe my husband will be gracious and let me wear a virtual hat.... (imaginary hat...) but even if you cannot see my hat, I can assure you that it will be there and I will be in complete submission to the man God has placed over me... even on the days I don't like him so much... love is an action, not an emotion... I will continue to love him when I don't like him... as we all should be doing...
11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
my daughter is going to school now... she went to an all girl's school... and she went to church on Sunday and they preached about the oppression of women... she didn't like it... it didn't sit right with her... while my daughter is very independent, she has been taught that a man is the head...
most women don't acknowledge how rebellious they really are.. as time has marched on and women have become increasingly independent and liberal, we have put aside the purpose of the hat... the hat is an outward sign of inward submission to the authority God has placed over you... single women were not required to cover their head... married women were... today in church people think it is ridiculous if you choose to wear a hat... it gets in the way... I can't see around you... maybe it is about the expense of it... you know how jealous women are... whatever it is... the base cause of the problem has nothing to do with a hat... it is about submission... today's women do not want to submit to their husbands in anything... or they will submit in some things and not in others... they don't want to submit to authority of any kind... God set up the order of things and to be in obedience to the word of God, which is to be in obedience to God, if God has given you an authority in your life, you are to be in submission to it.... we tend to pick and choose what parts of the bible are relevant to our lives today... I can't imagine that God agrees with that...
when I get married... I will wear a hat... even though I look stupid in one... I desire to be in obedience to the will of God... I desire to have order and peace in my house... of course maybe my husband will be gracious and let me wear a virtual hat.... (imaginary hat...) but even if you cannot see my hat, I can assure you that it will be there and I will be in complete submission to the man God has placed over me... even on the days I don't like him so much... love is an action, not an emotion... I will continue to love him when I don't like him... as we all should be doing...
judging others...
Psalms 138: 7-8 When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me. Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal—don't quit on me now.
some days the will of God just takes too long... some days the will of God is just too big, too scary, too loud, too dark...
we hear from the pulpit and read in the bible that God is sovereign... what does that really mean? it really means that God does whatever He wants to and we can't do anything about it... we may never understand it.. we may never like it... some times we get caught up in law... like the pharisees did.. we think that things should be a certain way... and we think that we are right and everyone else is wrong... that isn't necessarily the truth...
biblically there are only 10 laws... the big 10... everything else is pretty much just interpretation... we can decide that if you are saved then you shouldn't drink... that is not in the big 10... you will read in the proverbs that it is not WISE to be a drunkard... we decide that sex before marriage is sin.. that is not in the big 10... in the bible it is said why you shouldn't have sex before marriage, but it is not sin... that is moral law, not biblical law... do I condone sex before marriage? no... but I am learning that God might say something to me and someone else may not be mature enough in their walk with God to necessarily live that same way...
so we decide what someone should be if they say they are saved and who do we think that we are to judge someone else? I realize that if you are saved and walking in Christ, then you should begin to show the fruit of the spirit... but maybe they just are not at fruity as you are...
in the book of Job... his friends had decided that he was sinning someway somehow because of the things he was going through and in the end... God came down and was mad with them for judging his walk... many of the things we think of others may not be the truth... things are not always as they seem... Job ended up being the one to pray for them and God heard his prayer and forgave them...
Father, give me your eyes... the eyes of love... help me to see others as you see them... just a work still in progress... help me to realize that I am also still a work in progress and others may be looking at me with the same measuring stick I am using on someone else... change me O Lord... continue to work out my salvation... continue the work in me that you have started... I ask this in the precious name of Jesus... amen...
some days the will of God just takes too long... some days the will of God is just too big, too scary, too loud, too dark...
we hear from the pulpit and read in the bible that God is sovereign... what does that really mean? it really means that God does whatever He wants to and we can't do anything about it... we may never understand it.. we may never like it... some times we get caught up in law... like the pharisees did.. we think that things should be a certain way... and we think that we are right and everyone else is wrong... that isn't necessarily the truth...
biblically there are only 10 laws... the big 10... everything else is pretty much just interpretation... we can decide that if you are saved then you shouldn't drink... that is not in the big 10... you will read in the proverbs that it is not WISE to be a drunkard... we decide that sex before marriage is sin.. that is not in the big 10... in the bible it is said why you shouldn't have sex before marriage, but it is not sin... that is moral law, not biblical law... do I condone sex before marriage? no... but I am learning that God might say something to me and someone else may not be mature enough in their walk with God to necessarily live that same way...
so we decide what someone should be if they say they are saved and who do we think that we are to judge someone else? I realize that if you are saved and walking in Christ, then you should begin to show the fruit of the spirit... but maybe they just are not at fruity as you are...
in the book of Job... his friends had decided that he was sinning someway somehow because of the things he was going through and in the end... God came down and was mad with them for judging his walk... many of the things we think of others may not be the truth... things are not always as they seem... Job ended up being the one to pray for them and God heard his prayer and forgave them...
Father, give me your eyes... the eyes of love... help me to see others as you see them... just a work still in progress... help me to realize that I am also still a work in progress and others may be looking at me with the same measuring stick I am using on someone else... change me O Lord... continue to work out my salvation... continue the work in me that you have started... I ask this in the precious name of Jesus... amen...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
the fourth watch...
Matthew 14: 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
the fourth watch is the darkest part of the night.. it is the part right before dawn... so in the spirit realm... whatever you are going through, when you are in the fourth watch, it is the most hopeless/helpless... this is where we get true understanding that there is nothing we can do to change our situation, that we have to rely on God to show up and fix it... this is also where we are when we have prayed and prayed and it seems as though nothing is changing... we are weak, spiritually... mentally... totally just on the point of despair... and right before the dawn (the morning.. the change... the answer...) God will show up and answer us... then we are into daylight again... the answer is to keep our focus looking at Jesus... not to look at the circumstance... continue to keep your eyes on Jesus...
Jesus sent them out onto the water... He had planned the whole thing... He waited until they felt they could struggle no more... until they were sure they would drown... they did not know who He was when He came to them... they did not recognize Him... Peter was able to walk on the water until he looked around at the circumstances then he became overwhelmed and began to sink..
Father, help me recognize you and walk out on the water to you in faith... please do not pass me by... guide my steps Father and if I do not follow, then move my feet... I ask this in the name of Jesus... the coming King... amen...
the fourth watch is the darkest part of the night.. it is the part right before dawn... so in the spirit realm... whatever you are going through, when you are in the fourth watch, it is the most hopeless/helpless... this is where we get true understanding that there is nothing we can do to change our situation, that we have to rely on God to show up and fix it... this is also where we are when we have prayed and prayed and it seems as though nothing is changing... we are weak, spiritually... mentally... totally just on the point of despair... and right before the dawn (the morning.. the change... the answer...) God will show up and answer us... then we are into daylight again... the answer is to keep our focus looking at Jesus... not to look at the circumstance... continue to keep your eyes on Jesus...
Jesus sent them out onto the water... He had planned the whole thing... He waited until they felt they could struggle no more... until they were sure they would drown... they did not know who He was when He came to them... they did not recognize Him... Peter was able to walk on the water until he looked around at the circumstances then he became overwhelmed and began to sink..
Father, help me recognize you and walk out on the water to you in faith... please do not pass me by... guide my steps Father and if I do not follow, then move my feet... I ask this in the name of Jesus... the coming King... amen...
letting go of the past...
my child leaves me in 3 days... I think when most people's kids go away the parent feels some type of relief or pride, as though they have completed the task assigned... I don't see it that way.. I see that my life as I have known it is over... I am starting book 2... and that is terrifying to me...
most people do everything they can to hold on to the past... facebook, myspace, phone calls... I used to hold on to the past also... but God has taught me that when something is done, you have no need to turn back around... sometimes God will take us out of something and we break our neck to get it back... there was a reason it left or was taken in the first place... leave it go...
I moved to augusta in 2003... with 2 weeks worth of clothes, 2 kids, 5 cats and 1 ferret... everything I brought with me is no longer in my house (as of Saturday, including the kids..) I had no reason to move here... we took 3 days to get here and then just stopped and never left... when I got here I got peace like I have never had before... and when I leave, even to visit somewhere for a few days... I get unrest in my spirit... I belong here like I have never belonged anywhere... God put me here for such a time as this... and I guess book 2 is about to begin... I am afraid... but I am walking forward... I was afraid when I came to live here too... and it turned out to be the best move of my life.. finally allowing God to take over... allowing Him to remove all the things from the past...
what are you holding on to that needs to be let go of... let go and let God take over...
most people do everything they can to hold on to the past... facebook, myspace, phone calls... I used to hold on to the past also... but God has taught me that when something is done, you have no need to turn back around... sometimes God will take us out of something and we break our neck to get it back... there was a reason it left or was taken in the first place... leave it go...
I moved to augusta in 2003... with 2 weeks worth of clothes, 2 kids, 5 cats and 1 ferret... everything I brought with me is no longer in my house (as of Saturday, including the kids..) I had no reason to move here... we took 3 days to get here and then just stopped and never left... when I got here I got peace like I have never had before... and when I leave, even to visit somewhere for a few days... I get unrest in my spirit... I belong here like I have never belonged anywhere... God put me here for such a time as this... and I guess book 2 is about to begin... I am afraid... but I am walking forward... I was afraid when I came to live here too... and it turned out to be the best move of my life.. finally allowing God to take over... allowing Him to remove all the things from the past...
what are you holding on to that needs to be let go of... let go and let God take over...
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