10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
how often do we really realize that our battles are truly spiritual and not carnal... don't we usually think.. someone is just trying to make us look bad or cause us problems.. what if we realized that it has nothing to do with that person at all but instead it is the spirit within them... I think that would help us to show love in spite of circumstances.. but I also think we would let the flesh get at us and think.. no.. they just need to do better... yet do we always do better??
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
do we really use our armor? do we put it on daily.. or do we try to struggle this out in our own power? sadly.. I tend to struggle it out on my own...
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
we often pray.. but how often is it in the spirit... I am guilty here too...
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
ask for God to give me the right words... how often do we really ask God for the right words?? one of my weakest areas is my mouth... if I were to pray consistantly for God to guide my words in ALL situations.. wouldn't that possibly become one strengths... in fact.. if we prayed diligently about all of our weaknesses.. possibly they could become strengths.... I recently stated that my mouth.. which is my gift for speaking God's revealed words... is somehow the SAME tool that the enemy uses for me to be wrong... by the words that I say... sometimes unthinkingly.. just speaking... thankfully... I am not as bad as I used to be either... it is a process....
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Ephesians 6: 1-4
1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
I don't know about you... but I was a rebellious child... I was given everything that I wanted and I was a brat... I never had to work for or struggle for anything.... I suggest this is NOT the way to raise a child... my kids did not have everything everyone else had... because it would ruin them... while my son has been in trouble much of his life with the law... he is not disrespectful or rude or un-kind when in my presence... people always thought that was so strange... how he would be one person in my presence and another when I was not around... to me.. I feel he respected me... he honors me... and the bible says that things will go well for him.. and he will have a long life on the earth... I pray that is truth because it may take him a long time to get it right.... I know it did for me...
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
idk what to say about this one... my earthly father was not much use to me... I didn't have another man to step in and be my father... I was raised without one in my own opinion.... he didn't talk to me about anything other than animals... he didn't teach me about anything other than animals... he was older when I was born and I was sure that he never loved me... pretty much I am sure that he never loved himself.. so how could he love me.. especially because I was a smart mouth and rebellious....
but I have been Fathered by my heavenly Father... and that is a great experience... to have someone to trust will always protect you.. always send you in the right direction... always be patient and kind... I am so thankful for the Heavenly Father... so thankful....
I don't know about you... but I was a rebellious child... I was given everything that I wanted and I was a brat... I never had to work for or struggle for anything.... I suggest this is NOT the way to raise a child... my kids did not have everything everyone else had... because it would ruin them... while my son has been in trouble much of his life with the law... he is not disrespectful or rude or un-kind when in my presence... people always thought that was so strange... how he would be one person in my presence and another when I was not around... to me.. I feel he respected me... he honors me... and the bible says that things will go well for him.. and he will have a long life on the earth... I pray that is truth because it may take him a long time to get it right.... I know it did for me...
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
idk what to say about this one... my earthly father was not much use to me... I didn't have another man to step in and be my father... I was raised without one in my own opinion.... he didn't talk to me about anything other than animals... he didn't teach me about anything other than animals... he was older when I was born and I was sure that he never loved me... pretty much I am sure that he never loved himself.. so how could he love me.. especially because I was a smart mouth and rebellious....
but I have been Fathered by my heavenly Father... and that is a great experience... to have someone to trust will always protect you.. always send you in the right direction... always be patient and kind... I am so thankful for the Heavenly Father... so thankful....
Saturday, July 23, 2011
James 1: 5-8
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
this really hit me odd yesterday... almost as if it is saying either we trust God or we trust people... now my natural thought is that I would trust God above people but I thought almost that I needed to trust people too somewhat... but this scripture is telling me that is false... either we trust God.. or we trust the world...
in one sense this is a great relief to me because I don't really trust people all that much.. I tend to just wait for them to do something against me... I know other people who are like that too... we learned from life experiences that even family members are not always loyal or faithful... so we have a hard time trusting people... but I always thought I was supposed to be learning to trust people despite their actions...
maybe I have been wrong about that.. maybe.. the only one I ever have to be willing to trust is God... and just maybe by trusting Him alone... I will be covered by Him...
this really hit me odd yesterday... almost as if it is saying either we trust God or we trust people... now my natural thought is that I would trust God above people but I thought almost that I needed to trust people too somewhat... but this scripture is telling me that is false... either we trust God.. or we trust the world...
in one sense this is a great relief to me because I don't really trust people all that much.. I tend to just wait for them to do something against me... I know other people who are like that too... we learned from life experiences that even family members are not always loyal or faithful... so we have a hard time trusting people... but I always thought I was supposed to be learning to trust people despite their actions...
maybe I have been wrong about that.. maybe.. the only one I ever have to be willing to trust is God... and just maybe by trusting Him alone... I will be covered by Him...
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Ephesians 5: 21-33
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
so as we submit to a man.... it is out of reverence for Christ.. if we could keep that at the front of our thoughts.. I think it would be easier...
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
put your own self in this... as I submit to my husband.. who is my head... as Christ is the head of the church... he saves or protects me... he is saving our household just like Christ saves the church... I am not talking so much about spiritual salvation as physical... I realized that I need a head.. I need someone to answer to... someone who will tell me when I am wrong.. this whole thing of not answering to anyone tends to make us rebellious to God... yea... I am sure no one else is feeling like that... we think.. it is easy to follow God... to submit to God... but do you really? do you obey what He tells you to do? and if we aren't really obeying God... how much harder to obey a man...
but if we change the way we view it... he isn't trying to control me.. he is trying to protect me... he isn't trying to run me personally.. he is trying to save our household.. save our family... save our marriage... amazing the difference things make if we change the way we look at it....
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.
love your wife as Christ loved the church... He died for her... to make her holy and clean... imagine that your husband makes you righteous.. holy and clean before God... (whew...) washed by the cleansing of God's word... he should be washing her in the word of God... teaching and leading her spiritually... so that he can present his family to God without spot or wrinkle... and she will be holy without fault... a man that loves his wife actually shows love for himself... she is a member of his body... they are one body... one being before God...
often women will say... if he were the man I need him to be.. then I would be the woman he wants me to be... but that isn't relevant... whether he is right or not... God has called women to submit... and we should be doing our part whether he is or not... as far as the men are concerned... if they are not leading.. then they are out of order too...
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
the two are united into one... look at the three legged race... how hard it is for two people to operate as one... someone has to be the one giving instructions.. and the other one has to be in agreement... that is the only way to win the race...
I have heard that marriage will cause you to become so selfless that you daily become more like Christ... if you allow it... that it is used as a tool by God to crush our flesh thoughts so that we are like minded.... everything to no longer be about how you feel but instead to be about what is best for the household... I guess in truth.. it is the same as in the kingdom of God.. it should no longer be about how you feel but instead about what is the vision for the church....
so as we submit to a man.... it is out of reverence for Christ.. if we could keep that at the front of our thoughts.. I think it would be easier...
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
put your own self in this... as I submit to my husband.. who is my head... as Christ is the head of the church... he saves or protects me... he is saving our household just like Christ saves the church... I am not talking so much about spiritual salvation as physical... I realized that I need a head.. I need someone to answer to... someone who will tell me when I am wrong.. this whole thing of not answering to anyone tends to make us rebellious to God... yea... I am sure no one else is feeling like that... we think.. it is easy to follow God... to submit to God... but do you really? do you obey what He tells you to do? and if we aren't really obeying God... how much harder to obey a man...
but if we change the way we view it... he isn't trying to control me.. he is trying to protect me... he isn't trying to run me personally.. he is trying to save our household.. save our family... save our marriage... amazing the difference things make if we change the way we look at it....
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.
love your wife as Christ loved the church... He died for her... to make her holy and clean... imagine that your husband makes you righteous.. holy and clean before God... (whew...) washed by the cleansing of God's word... he should be washing her in the word of God... teaching and leading her spiritually... so that he can present his family to God without spot or wrinkle... and she will be holy without fault... a man that loves his wife actually shows love for himself... she is a member of his body... they are one body... one being before God...
often women will say... if he were the man I need him to be.. then I would be the woman he wants me to be... but that isn't relevant... whether he is right or not... God has called women to submit... and we should be doing our part whether he is or not... as far as the men are concerned... if they are not leading.. then they are out of order too...
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
the two are united into one... look at the three legged race... how hard it is for two people to operate as one... someone has to be the one giving instructions.. and the other one has to be in agreement... that is the only way to win the race...
I have heard that marriage will cause you to become so selfless that you daily become more like Christ... if you allow it... that it is used as a tool by God to crush our flesh thoughts so that we are like minded.... everything to no longer be about how you feel but instead to be about what is best for the household... I guess in truth.. it is the same as in the kingdom of God.. it should no longer be about how you feel but instead about what is the vision for the church....
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Ephesians 5: 15-20
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think if our kingdom calling is at the front of our mind.. we would not do some of the things we do.. I think we need to constantly be thinking of how our actions might affect our ministry or our witness... ridiculous words that come from our mouths should be silenced... ridiculous actions should be stopped... we should be singing praises to God at all times... I try to ask God nothing for myself... I try to just ask God to use me to His glory... and I pray for others that I see in my mind's eye.. all while singing in my heart about God's goodness to me...
imagine... if we ruin our witness through words or through careless actions... that may cause someone that we were supposed to affect to never be saved.. or maybe to never change their lives... be ye ever mindful....
previously.. the scripture I quoted in my spirit throughout the day was "walk worthy of the calling upon your life" but this weekend.. God pointed out something potentially wrong in my spirit if I am not careful and changed my scripture... now I quote throughout the day "pride goes before destruction... humility will bring honor..."
I desire honor.. not destruction...
I think if our kingdom calling is at the front of our mind.. we would not do some of the things we do.. I think we need to constantly be thinking of how our actions might affect our ministry or our witness... ridiculous words that come from our mouths should be silenced... ridiculous actions should be stopped... we should be singing praises to God at all times... I try to ask God nothing for myself... I try to just ask God to use me to His glory... and I pray for others that I see in my mind's eye.. all while singing in my heart about God's goodness to me...
imagine... if we ruin our witness through words or through careless actions... that may cause someone that we were supposed to affect to never be saved.. or maybe to never change their lives... be ye ever mindful....
previously.. the scripture I quoted in my spirit throughout the day was "walk worthy of the calling upon your life" but this weekend.. God pointed out something potentially wrong in my spirit if I am not careful and changed my scripture... now I quote throughout the day "pride goes before destruction... humility will bring honor..."
I desire honor.. not destruction...
Monday, July 18, 2011
Ephesians 5: 1-14
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
imitate God in everything you do.. that is easy to say.. yet sometimes with me.. thoughts that surely are NOT of God just fly out of my mouth... I am serious as of being more conscious of things I say even when I don't mean anything... because those words aren't taken as I mean them.. instead they are taken as I sound... live a life filled with love.. this is a pleasing aroma to God... I SO want to be a pleasing aroma to God.. really I do...
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
I imagine if I would be called greedy... due to my shopping illness.. I have pretty much overcome the food illness.. (praise the Lord!!) but I still have that shopping issue.... I guess it is beyond time to get that under control too....
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
how often do we try to make excuses for our sins... I think we do this far more often than we realize.. in my own life God exposed this recently to me... that I would have fallen into sin in a particular area.. and I see someone else do it.. and I don't judge them... because I KNOW that it really could have been me... and I am thankful that He covers me and doesn't allow me to do everything I want to do...
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
everything done in the dark comes to the light... isn't that the truth... everything is exposed at one point or another... carefully determine what pleases the Lord... we should think that would be easy... yet our flesh gets in the way.... intentions will be exposed... on one side I could be glad about that... on another side I could be afraid about it... many times our actions may be pure and our intentions not so righteous.... other times our intentions are pure but it comes out looking wrong...
imitate God in everything you do.. that is easy to say.. yet sometimes with me.. thoughts that surely are NOT of God just fly out of my mouth... I am serious as of being more conscious of things I say even when I don't mean anything... because those words aren't taken as I mean them.. instead they are taken as I sound... live a life filled with love.. this is a pleasing aroma to God... I SO want to be a pleasing aroma to God.. really I do...
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
I imagine if I would be called greedy... due to my shopping illness.. I have pretty much overcome the food illness.. (praise the Lord!!) but I still have that shopping issue.... I guess it is beyond time to get that under control too....
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
how often do we try to make excuses for our sins... I think we do this far more often than we realize.. in my own life God exposed this recently to me... that I would have fallen into sin in a particular area.. and I see someone else do it.. and I don't judge them... because I KNOW that it really could have been me... and I am thankful that He covers me and doesn't allow me to do everything I want to do...
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
everything done in the dark comes to the light... isn't that the truth... everything is exposed at one point or another... carefully determine what pleases the Lord... we should think that would be easy... yet our flesh gets in the way.... intentions will be exposed... on one side I could be glad about that... on another side I could be afraid about it... many times our actions may be pure and our intentions not so righteous.... other times our intentions are pure but it comes out looking wrong...
Sunday, July 17, 2011
blessing vs curse
matthew 15: 11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
I was looking for the scripture that states out of the same mouth come blessing and curse...
the issue... I say things.. and at the time.. they seem silly or not a big deal... then later.. it occurs to me that someone else might take it completely different...
I have tried VERY hard to not allow myself to get caught up in lies and gossip... yet occasionally... somehow I still get drawn into wrong conversations...
my mouth is the very thing that God has gifted me in... I have the gift of prophecy.. so I use this same mouth to give people insight that God gives me into their lives... the same mouth that I say the things that may have hurt someone's feelings... or made someone imagine I was talking negatively about them... and maybe.. with this same mouth that speaks God's insight... I also speak hurt... and it is not my intention... yet it is the truth...
this weekend I was involved in an AWESOME women's summit... and I come home.. and I make a stupid silly comment that could have been taken wrong.. by someone very special to me... and her feelings could have been hurt... like I said more than I should have... and it really wasn't even like it sounded in the comment... but you can't take words back.. once they're out there.. they are just dead weight...
so what is the reason for this? I guess the enemy attacks me in the way that God uses me.. trying to make my words not valid.. to make people unwilling to hear me... because of the other comments...
what is the solution? I obviously have to be far more serious about what it is that comes out of my mouth... can I be forgiven by man by the mean or rude things I have been known to say? I am guessing that God will find a way because it is in me speaking out His thoughts to people that I am to be used...
I was looking for the scripture that states out of the same mouth come blessing and curse...
the issue... I say things.. and at the time.. they seem silly or not a big deal... then later.. it occurs to me that someone else might take it completely different...
I have tried VERY hard to not allow myself to get caught up in lies and gossip... yet occasionally... somehow I still get drawn into wrong conversations...
my mouth is the very thing that God has gifted me in... I have the gift of prophecy.. so I use this same mouth to give people insight that God gives me into their lives... the same mouth that I say the things that may have hurt someone's feelings... or made someone imagine I was talking negatively about them... and maybe.. with this same mouth that speaks God's insight... I also speak hurt... and it is not my intention... yet it is the truth...
this weekend I was involved in an AWESOME women's summit... and I come home.. and I make a stupid silly comment that could have been taken wrong.. by someone very special to me... and her feelings could have been hurt... like I said more than I should have... and it really wasn't even like it sounded in the comment... but you can't take words back.. once they're out there.. they are just dead weight...
so what is the reason for this? I guess the enemy attacks me in the way that God uses me.. trying to make my words not valid.. to make people unwilling to hear me... because of the other comments...
what is the solution? I obviously have to be far more serious about what it is that comes out of my mouth... can I be forgiven by man by the mean or rude things I have been known to say? I am guessing that God will find a way because it is in me speaking out His thoughts to people that I am to be used...
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Ephesians 4: 17-32
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
I find that throwing off our old nature is harder than you would think... you may overcome in one area but then a new issue arises... or did you have all the issues all along and God is just dealing with the biggest ones first? either way.. it takes a lifetime to put aside a sinful nature... whether it is outward sin or inward one... we are all seemingly always protecting self and that causes us to do and say some ugly things...
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
do not bring sorrow to the spirit by the way we live... that sounds alot like my theme verse.. walk worthy of the calling upon your life... the spirit has identified us as his own... I never thought of that before... he is guaranteeing our salvation by his presence... that brings back the question of the once saved always saved.. if the spirit is not present in someones life.. even if they have prayed for salvation, how would they be saved? (just thinking out loud...)
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
it is hard to get rid of bitterness and anger towards people who do you wrong... it is hard to not give them harsh words.. it is only by the power of the spirit that we can overcome this... to become tenderhearted and forgiving....
I find that throwing off our old nature is harder than you would think... you may overcome in one area but then a new issue arises... or did you have all the issues all along and God is just dealing with the biggest ones first? either way.. it takes a lifetime to put aside a sinful nature... whether it is outward sin or inward one... we are all seemingly always protecting self and that causes us to do and say some ugly things...
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
do not bring sorrow to the spirit by the way we live... that sounds alot like my theme verse.. walk worthy of the calling upon your life... the spirit has identified us as his own... I never thought of that before... he is guaranteeing our salvation by his presence... that brings back the question of the once saved always saved.. if the spirit is not present in someones life.. even if they have prayed for salvation, how would they be saved? (just thinking out loud...)
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
it is hard to get rid of bitterness and anger towards people who do you wrong... it is hard to not give them harsh words.. it is only by the power of the spirit that we can overcome this... to become tenderhearted and forgiving....
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Ephesians 4: 1-15
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
verse 1 is one of my life verses... I felt like God spoke it directly to me... telling me that my walk has to match my talk.. I think that is one of the foundations of the change that came in my life... a life worthy of the calling... it is hard to have people look at you all the time and be able to say that you live like a christian... I don't imagine I am there.. just walking toward it.. striving daily... keep ourselves united.. that is a big order... where is unity found? we tend to think there is only unity if there is agreement but that is not the way God planned it... He knew we wouldn't always agree... which is why He created some to lead and some to follow.. not too many are willing to follow... we all tend to want to lead.. so that no one else tells us what to do.. sometimes following is just having the same heart... you will follow someone who's heart you believe is right... it is easier anyways... submission is a struggle no matter what your mind tells you...
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
how wonderful that God chose to give each of us gifts.. yet there are so many of us walking around feeling useless and without gifting... but the bible says we have been given gifts... and sometimes the most important gifts are to be helps to someone who has an "out loud" gifting... the silent gift is no less important than the loud one...
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
we fight against the church... we expect people of the church to be perfect... because they act like they are.. we expect pastors to be faultless.. because we expect them to be the shining example of Christ... what about us as an individual... can you find yourself faultless? not likely... if you do, you are full of pride and that is a sin in itself.... so if we are not wtihout sin.. how do we cast stones at someone else? we expect people to be more than we are willing to be... we fight leadership.. people feel if they have been there 100 years or they donate alot of money that they should have a say so... yet the bible says even as you have done unto the least of these you have done so unto me (meaning Christ) so how would you feel you are greater than what Christ says He is? he states one day we will be full and mature and have unity.. what a day that will be...
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
I don't get tossed and blown very often... this doesn't mean I never get deceived.. eve was deceived.. the bible says that one of the weaknesses of a woman is that she is deceived... things can be so clear one minute and confused the next.... I pray to be more and more like Christ... I pray to be a piece of this body that fits together perfectly... I pray the body to be healthy and growing in love...
verse 1 is one of my life verses... I felt like God spoke it directly to me... telling me that my walk has to match my talk.. I think that is one of the foundations of the change that came in my life... a life worthy of the calling... it is hard to have people look at you all the time and be able to say that you live like a christian... I don't imagine I am there.. just walking toward it.. striving daily... keep ourselves united.. that is a big order... where is unity found? we tend to think there is only unity if there is agreement but that is not the way God planned it... He knew we wouldn't always agree... which is why He created some to lead and some to follow.. not too many are willing to follow... we all tend to want to lead.. so that no one else tells us what to do.. sometimes following is just having the same heart... you will follow someone who's heart you believe is right... it is easier anyways... submission is a struggle no matter what your mind tells you...
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
how wonderful that God chose to give each of us gifts.. yet there are so many of us walking around feeling useless and without gifting... but the bible says we have been given gifts... and sometimes the most important gifts are to be helps to someone who has an "out loud" gifting... the silent gift is no less important than the loud one...
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
we fight against the church... we expect people of the church to be perfect... because they act like they are.. we expect pastors to be faultless.. because we expect them to be the shining example of Christ... what about us as an individual... can you find yourself faultless? not likely... if you do, you are full of pride and that is a sin in itself.... so if we are not wtihout sin.. how do we cast stones at someone else? we expect people to be more than we are willing to be... we fight leadership.. people feel if they have been there 100 years or they donate alot of money that they should have a say so... yet the bible says even as you have done unto the least of these you have done so unto me (meaning Christ) so how would you feel you are greater than what Christ says He is? he states one day we will be full and mature and have unity.. what a day that will be...
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
I don't get tossed and blown very often... this doesn't mean I never get deceived.. eve was deceived.. the bible says that one of the weaknesses of a woman is that she is deceived... things can be so clear one minute and confused the next.... I pray to be more and more like Christ... I pray to be a piece of this body that fits together perfectly... I pray the body to be healthy and growing in love...
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
that is an amazing paragraph right there.. I cannot say anything more than God is awesome.... I pray that we all experience these things too...
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
all glory to God... how often do we give all glory to God... I pray that daily God will lead us in being glorifying to Him and not ourselves...
that is an amazing paragraph right there.. I cannot say anything more than God is awesome.... I pray that we all experience these things too...
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
all glory to God... how often do we give all glory to God... I pray that daily God will lead us in being glorifying to Him and not ourselves...
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Ephesians 3: 1-13
1 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
what mysterious plan has God revealed to you? did you feel that someone else has to co-sign before it can happen? I find that to be one of my own issues... I don't want to do this alone for one thing... I can't do it alone for another... but pretty much I don't want to look crazy... amazingly... I looked crazy all the time when I was in the world and I was fine with it... but for some reason I don't want to look crazy in the church and I appear crazier than ever before...
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
Paul saw his purpose as a great honor... do you see your purpose as a great honor? or are you constantly trying to run from it.. hoping God will change His mind... I suggest you look at Jonah... God does not change His mind...
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
one of the most amazing things about God is that he even tells us WHY this is our purpose... He gives us the divine reasoning behind the calling...
God is an awesome God.. how is it that we don't want to throw down our flesh and run after WHATEVER He is calling us to....
what mysterious plan has God revealed to you? did you feel that someone else has to co-sign before it can happen? I find that to be one of my own issues... I don't want to do this alone for one thing... I can't do it alone for another... but pretty much I don't want to look crazy... amazingly... I looked crazy all the time when I was in the world and I was fine with it... but for some reason I don't want to look crazy in the church and I appear crazier than ever before...
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
Paul saw his purpose as a great honor... do you see your purpose as a great honor? or are you constantly trying to run from it.. hoping God will change His mind... I suggest you look at Jonah... God does not change His mind...
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
one of the most amazing things about God is that he even tells us WHY this is our purpose... He gives us the divine reasoning behind the calling...
God is an awesome God.. how is it that we don't want to throw down our flesh and run after WHATEVER He is calling us to....
Friday, July 8, 2011
Ephesians 2 19-22
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
how often have you been around people you knew forever and still felt like no one really knew you... God is telling us that we aren't strangers to Him.. that He really knows us... what is it that makes us constantly want acceptance from people when truthfully God is the only one that will completely accept us... completely... as we are... screwups and all... attitudes... petty irritations... He accepts us completely....
we are God's house... hmmmm again the becoming a temple for the Lord... I was seeing that yesterday too... God LIVES within us... so how is it that we are not more careful what we do with our bodies? we only get one life to live for the Lord and this body is the house He dwells in.. we should be making sure we take care of it physically, spiritually and mentally... should we be allowing just anyone to be close to us? should we be allowing just anyone to touch us? my belief is no... God created us specifically for one person... no one else should be able to touch you....
how often have you been around people you knew forever and still felt like no one really knew you... God is telling us that we aren't strangers to Him.. that He really knows us... what is it that makes us constantly want acceptance from people when truthfully God is the only one that will completely accept us... completely... as we are... screwups and all... attitudes... petty irritations... He accepts us completely....
we are God's house... hmmmm again the becoming a temple for the Lord... I was seeing that yesterday too... God LIVES within us... so how is it that we are not more careful what we do with our bodies? we only get one life to live for the Lord and this body is the house He dwells in.. we should be making sure we take care of it physically, spiritually and mentally... should we be allowing just anyone to be close to us? should we be allowing just anyone to touch us? my belief is no... God created us specifically for one person... no one else should be able to touch you....
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Ephesians 2: 11-18
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
do you remember feeling like you had no hope? I do... I remember that I didn't care if I lived or died because I had no hope.. nothing to look forward to... it seemed like it was just day after day with no expected change... I am so thankful for the hope and the joy that has came into my heart and mind with Christ... I am so sorry that it had to be shed blood to give these things to us...
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
he says our hostility toward one another was put to death... I don't see that to be true yet... I believe it is supposed to be that way but we are all fighting against one another for one reason or another... it seems as if we are not all the same then we don't fit in... God never wanted us to all be the same... we are each a unique model... all showing the love of God through our own personality.... supposed to be...
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
none of us could come to the Father if it had not been for the death of Christ.. how often do we really realize the magnitude of that truth....
do you remember feeling like you had no hope? I do... I remember that I didn't care if I lived or died because I had no hope.. nothing to look forward to... it seemed like it was just day after day with no expected change... I am so thankful for the hope and the joy that has came into my heart and mind with Christ... I am so sorry that it had to be shed blood to give these things to us...
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
he says our hostility toward one another was put to death... I don't see that to be true yet... I believe it is supposed to be that way but we are all fighting against one another for one reason or another... it seems as if we are not all the same then we don't fit in... God never wanted us to all be the same... we are each a unique model... all showing the love of God through our own personality.... supposed to be...
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
none of us could come to the Father if it had not been for the death of Christ.. how often do we really realize the magnitude of that truth....
Friday, July 1, 2011
Galatians 1: 15-24
11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
isn't it amazing.. how the enemy will put a seed in our mind that what we thought we heard never was God to begin with... that we thought it up on our own.. that great things just don't happen to normal people like us.... but rest assured.. you HAVE had divine revelation from Jesus Christ Himself... He really does reveal Himself and His will to you... Praise God for that!!
13 You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
there is his purpose... how often have we heard our purpose and decided we can't do it... we aren't enough.. or even maybe that we just don't want to do it... it's too much to ask... yet Christ gave His life for us.. what could we give that would be too much??
When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
actually... in Acts it tells that Paul went to or was taken to the apostles.. who sent him back to his home town so that he could have his time of preparation alone with the Lord... we all need our time of preparation... although some times it seems WAY too long... I'm very sure the time of preparation is necessary.. God changes us... mellows us out in the time of preparation...
18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.
21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24 And they praised God because of me.
imagine what people will feel after our transformation... the ones who knew who we used to be... selfish and calculating... mean and deceitful... and then the see the new me... who is compassionate... faithful... shows love... and encouraging... they will surely praise God at the amazing transformation He has created in each one of us...
isn't it amazing.. how the enemy will put a seed in our mind that what we thought we heard never was God to begin with... that we thought it up on our own.. that great things just don't happen to normal people like us.... but rest assured.. you HAVE had divine revelation from Jesus Christ Himself... He really does reveal Himself and His will to you... Praise God for that!!
13 You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
there is his purpose... how often have we heard our purpose and decided we can't do it... we aren't enough.. or even maybe that we just don't want to do it... it's too much to ask... yet Christ gave His life for us.. what could we give that would be too much??
When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
actually... in Acts it tells that Paul went to or was taken to the apostles.. who sent him back to his home town so that he could have his time of preparation alone with the Lord... we all need our time of preparation... although some times it seems WAY too long... I'm very sure the time of preparation is necessary.. God changes us... mellows us out in the time of preparation...
18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.
21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24 And they praised God because of me.
imagine what people will feel after our transformation... the ones who knew who we used to be... selfish and calculating... mean and deceitful... and then the see the new me... who is compassionate... faithful... shows love... and encouraging... they will surely praise God at the amazing transformation He has created in each one of us...
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