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...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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...
Friday, August 7, 2009
the armor of God...
Ephesians 6: 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
some days all you can do is put on the armor of God, which is your protection and go from there. we never know what the outcome of our actions will be. we never know just what direction the deceiver is going to come, attempting to destroy us this day... so EVERY day... we need to wake up and read some scripture and pray, putting on the full armor of God...
we need truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the word of God and the spirit of God.. if we are arming ourselves with these things daily, we will withstand the attacks... call on the spirit to strengthen you on the days you feel weak... walk in righteousness and holiness... put away known sin... we cannot think that we can live in sin (even if it is hidden from man...) and think that God is going to be on board for that... He expects us to give our all... to read the bible... to truly try to live in peace with others...
some days we have the best of intentions when we do what we do, other days we are totally self motivated when we do what we do... but by God's grace, He covers us at all times... we may have to go and repent of wrong doing, but our God is faithful and just and sure to forgive all of our iniquities... that doesn't mean there are no consequences... many times we like to think that because we have acknowledged we are wrong and turned from it that there will be no consequence to the action... and once in a while... you might get a ride from God and there really may not be... but more often than not, we still have to face the consequence of the sin and suffer from the wrong of it... we often try to change up the word of God... saying well the times have changed... we don't live in the old days anymore... none of that changes God's rule or rules... they are the same yesterday, today and forevermore...
some days the enemy may come in the form of something someone else does to us... and we have followed the voice of God... so why are we being attacked? we may never know the real reason... we may never know our full potential in the kingdom of God if we do not remain steadfast.. we get upset when we are attacked and wonder where is God... my question is.. do you have on your armor? people will never stop attacking us... all we can do is be prepared daily... put on the full armor of God that we can resist the firey darts of the enemy...
some days all you can do is put on the armor of God, which is your protection and go from there. we never know what the outcome of our actions will be. we never know just what direction the deceiver is going to come, attempting to destroy us this day... so EVERY day... we need to wake up and read some scripture and pray, putting on the full armor of God...
we need truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the word of God and the spirit of God.. if we are arming ourselves with these things daily, we will withstand the attacks... call on the spirit to strengthen you on the days you feel weak... walk in righteousness and holiness... put away known sin... we cannot think that we can live in sin (even if it is hidden from man...) and think that God is going to be on board for that... He expects us to give our all... to read the bible... to truly try to live in peace with others...
some days we have the best of intentions when we do what we do, other days we are totally self motivated when we do what we do... but by God's grace, He covers us at all times... we may have to go and repent of wrong doing, but our God is faithful and just and sure to forgive all of our iniquities... that doesn't mean there are no consequences... many times we like to think that because we have acknowledged we are wrong and turned from it that there will be no consequence to the action... and once in a while... you might get a ride from God and there really may not be... but more often than not, we still have to face the consequence of the sin and suffer from the wrong of it... we often try to change up the word of God... saying well the times have changed... we don't live in the old days anymore... none of that changes God's rule or rules... they are the same yesterday, today and forevermore...
some days the enemy may come in the form of something someone else does to us... and we have followed the voice of God... so why are we being attacked? we may never know the real reason... we may never know our full potential in the kingdom of God if we do not remain steadfast.. we get upset when we are attacked and wonder where is God... my question is.. do you have on your armor? people will never stop attacking us... all we can do is be prepared daily... put on the full armor of God that we can resist the firey darts of the enemy...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
no hope...
I have strange dreams... all the time... I am sure the dreams are supposed to be saying something because of how very strange they are... something in my subconscious that needs to be dealt with or something crazy like that... so I have this weird dream last night and I wake up so sad and so unconnected from what I am usually connected to... so I say to Jesus that we should just let this vision go... that I will be fine without it and He can find another way to do what He wants to do... I hear nothing and I get up and I read the streaming faith devotional for the morning... and God is just so amazing... the devotional is about someone who is feeling like giving up or hopeless.. and that they feel like they have no business being on the road they are on... and she tells us all to hold on anyway because everything that we live through is a testimony for someone else... so this journey in the dark that I have been on by myself all this time... it is for someone else to have strength to hold on when there is nothing to hold onto except the word from God...
the deceiver doesn't put big visions in us... but he will do everything that he can to make sure that you stop believing... and as long as it lines up with the word of God... meaning there is no sin involved in it... and it goes along with what the scriptures say should happen... then you need to hold on to it... because if it is really that crazy... it is really probably from God...
the days that you feel like you are not big enough... you aren't, but God is... the days that you feel like you are not pure enough... you aren't, but God is... the days that you feel crazy... you are, but God is not... the days that you feel unloved and alone... God is there with you... loving you all the time... the days you feel like you can't do this even one more day... maybe you can't, but God can...
Jeremiah 33: 2 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
the deceiver doesn't put big visions in us... but he will do everything that he can to make sure that you stop believing... and as long as it lines up with the word of God... meaning there is no sin involved in it... and it goes along with what the scriptures say should happen... then you need to hold on to it... because if it is really that crazy... it is really probably from God...
the days that you feel like you are not big enough... you aren't, but God is... the days that you feel like you are not pure enough... you aren't, but God is... the days that you feel crazy... you are, but God is not... the days that you feel unloved and alone... God is there with you... loving you all the time... the days you feel like you can't do this even one more day... maybe you can't, but God can...
Jeremiah 33: 2 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
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