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VIEWING 1 - 9 OUT OF 57 BLOGS.
PURIFIED BRIDE
DATE: 11/18/2008 13:51:30 / MOOD: Edifying
MARK 7:22 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him `unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean.' "
EPHESIANS 5:27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
PROVERBS 17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
ZECHARIAH 13:8 In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire;I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, `They are my people,' and they will say, `The LORD is our God.' "
1 PETER 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
AMOS 2:6-8 "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.
Amos 5:17-28 Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god--which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty. Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
RELATION 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
MALACHAI 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.
PSALMS 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
EZEKIAL 22:30 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
We know Jesus is coming back for His spotless Bride. Peter tells us that Judgment begins in the house of the Lord. What? How can we be unblemished and unwrinkled if we have gone through the fire? How can a loving God use His people so hard?
It is that very heat that brings all of our impurities up to the surface so that the silver worker or Goldsmith can skim the dross off and the finished product will become pure and spotless.
Often as we are being purified; we holler out, Lord, it very, very hot, Stop it. Quit making my life so difficult OR. rebuke you Satan. Leave me alone. size=3>
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-19, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Do you see that in everything? I maintain that it is good to go through various trials and persecutions, it burns out the dross, purifies our characters and helps us to be stronger more ready to withstand the tribulations we are about to go through..
Yet we are being chastened or purified; and due to our many appeals to God for surcease, the process is never finished. In Psalm 23 David says rod and staff are my comfort. A Shepherd used the rod to ward off animals that harass the flock or he will give a straying sheep a sharp whack to teach them not to do something. The staff was for gentle leading, an extension of his arm to help guide a fast moving flock of sheep to travel in the right direction. Still David says that God chastening and correction are a comfort, Apparently this man after God own heart was teachable and ready to be purified and made holy and acceptable to his master accepting the using of the rod of punishment and staff of correction as a comfort.
The day of the Lord will be hard, especially for those in the house of God. And most especially for those who are in the most sin and have not allowed God to purify them.As it says in Zechariah 13 only 1/3 of the people will ne called His people, they will be purified then will be His people.
In Matthew when Jesus is asked about the time of the end He says at that time we will be persecuted, hated, put to death and then the Love of MOST WILL GROW COLD. How do you suppose that will happen? Will it be because we are just not ready to be persecuted, hated and killed?
Maybe like the Laodiceans who God says are Lukewarm, some will just not be ready? Or as Jeremiah said 12:5- "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
How indeed? How can Christians who are untested and un-chastened, and uncorrected remain faithful and on fire and loving towards God if they find the times to be too difficult?
I know how bad it going to be, I had visions of the of the end it will be a hard, hard time. Jesus told me I be alive at that time. I think of the hymn ALLIS WELL WITH MY SOUL when those visions try to overwhelm me.
Lord, Help me to stand in the gap, to pray for mercy and correction for us as your people, Help us to seek after the comfort of knowing we are being chastened and corrected by you. Purify us Lord, prepare us to compete with horses, even in the thickets. Help us to be able to persevere in the face of persecution, help us to look to you for our salvation. And as Martin Luther wrote in the hymn AMIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD, size=3>The body they may kill: God truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever. Guide us Lord, to be your Bride without spot or wrinkle presented to our Bridegroom to be seated at your banquet table. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN
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SPIRIT AND TRUTH
DATE: 11/09/2008 21:33:12 / MOOD: Theological
1- I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2- You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.
3- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
5- Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
6-You shall not murder.
7-You shall not commit adultery.
8- You shall not steal.
9-You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10-You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. EXODUS 20:2-17
Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your forefathers to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. DEUTERONOMY 11:8-12
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful .And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. COLOSSIANS 3:5-4:6
Just so there is no doubt, no mistake; God makes it very clear what He expects of us. Sin is sin, God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and our ideas and morals seem so lofty doesn mean God is ok with it. He is not OK with Abortion, Fornication, blasphemy, Homosexuality. He not OK with our current attitude of nevermind how others are- let us fill our bellies and toss scraps to the poor, or worse, nothing at all, he not OK with greed, taking His name in vain, not even with coveting, and we all think a little jealousy is no big deal, don we? Just because we as a people have relaxed our does not mean God has. His definition of Pornography is much broader than ours, when we watch an Adult film, even one with a little nudity or a little violence it is flouting God commandments. And Surprise; those [woman's] Bodice ripper books, and the romances? They are just as bad as Hustler. Why? Because it causes dissatisfaction with our spouse and God sees it as pornography.
Even wearing revealing seductive clothing is against God perfect will for your life.
Killing babies, sodomy, also lesbianism is an abomination in God sight. He will show His house just what he thinks of these things when He chastens His people, and be not deceived, Judgment begins with us. He will shake the entire world and punish sinners but he will start in the churches. If there is any doubt please review the 10 commandments and the for Christian living as written in Colossians. Because when He comes to earth to judge us He will expect us to have cleaned up our act.
A few more thoughts. God admires humility and expects us to live with Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control as we interact with other people. Bragging is also pretty much inappropriate as only God is praiseworthy.
The thing is, God has never, nor will ever change, What He told Moses all those years ago, still applies no matter how many states remove the words from the courthouses, even if we pass laws or change our oh-so-liberal minds about what's right and what's wrong in our very evolved ethical minds.
So, what are we left with? Well, Michah 6:8 says it pretty well: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Lord, help me to be a worshipper who does worship you in Spirit and truth, to serve you in the way you have set before me and to obey your commands, Show me my heart, search me and know my wicked ways. Correct me, LORD, but only with justice--not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. And show me your will for my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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RESPONDING TO GOD’S GOODIES
DATE: 11/02/2008 19:41:29 / MOOD: Reflective
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. JOHN 14:15
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner. "Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.""You have judged correctly," Jesus said. LUKE 7:36-43
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him HEBREWS 5:7-8
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. HEBREWS 13:15
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." JOHN 4:23 ; We all know that God is good, He gives us so much, He cares for us and provides us with life and health, and our daily bread. His Grace gives us redemption from Sin, His Goodness provides for all of our needs, He loves us so much He gave His son to die for us giving us Salvation from the death that our sin brings. He keeps us safe and helps us to stay on the path he has set before us. When our world implodes on us he comforts us.
So What exactly is the proper response to all of God Goodies?
First I must say I have to realize that God did not create me to give me Goodies, He created me to praise Him. Yes, even when I really don want to, even when I feel like spitting at people; He asks me make the sacrifice to praise Him and do things for others, to give to them as it says in Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Our first response should be obedience, Jesus said you love me, you will obey what I command This involves helping others, being grateful for what God is doing in my life[good or bad, because we aren't exactly the best judges of what is good or bad] and kind [a litte friendliness goes a long way] , worship and praise, giving our tithes and being compassionate to the needs of others. And as to being in Sin: I need to be completely out, no sin in my life to be truly obedient. In Psalm 66:18 David says " If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;"
Lord, Help me to seek your face and not so much your hand, to give to You and not expect so much that You will give me all I think I want. Show me how to be your perfect servant desiring only to be yours, and give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness.In Jesus Name. Amen.,,,,A LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL Katy Brezger webriter@verizon.nethttp://www.angelfire.com/mi3/lw/index.html I sending this out to a tentative list, if you prefer not to receive this send it back with unsubscribe in the subject line, if you wish to send it to others do so, and if they want to receive devotionals send it back with subscribe in the subject line. God Blessmy own personal miracle http://productshealth.net/index.html
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WISE VIRGINS/GOOD STEWARDS
DATE: 10/29/2008 00:55:56 / MOOD: Encouraging
MT 24:45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, `My master is staying away a long time,' 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MT 25:1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.MT 25:6 "At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' MT 25:7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' MT 25:9 " `No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' MT 25:10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. MT 25:11 "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!' MT 25:12 "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' MT 25:13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
< I>"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
Keeping watch, being wise as Serpents and gentle [or innocent] as Doves does not include holding our eyes shut and not preparing ourselves for a different life than any of us has ever known. It means to be ready, to watch for the signs in the world and trim our lamps and fill our oil reservoirs with plenty to last until The Lord returns for His people.
I not saying panic, I not saying worry, I not saying get frantic. I saying
In as much as you can prepare, prepare, get ready, store items you can find and buy to tide you over.
MT 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? PHP 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So, worry and fretting is out, Trusting in Jesus is in. But also we are expected to be smart, if we know winter is close it might be good to have a coat to protect us when we go outside. Just so; it important to prepare for contingencies should the banking system fail, and times get hard like it was during the depression.
We know that it was difficult for goods to get to market during the depression, so stores had little to sell; food was hard to come by, so was money, trading for essential services is a good idea.
Getting ourselves prepared is a matter of prayer. I should ask God exactly what to get and where to put it. For instance it would be stupid to fill a large container of supplies in a place where a tornado might move it to my neighbor If I ask God, He can give me the best location to put whatever He thinks I need to stash away.
He will also give me information as to what I need to prepare for: AM 3:7 surely the sovereign lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
While we are not all prophets He does give them to His church to help us, so we should be able to get this kind of information at church.
OR
Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Lord, I have many fears and I worry a lot, But I know you have the answer, forgive me and help me to rely on you for protection and provision. Be with my family in the coming hard times and help us to just stay in the comfort your hand gives us. Help us to say as the captives in Babylon said when they were about to be tossed in the firey furnace: If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." We won fall prey to the gods of worry and fear. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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ENOUGH OIL
DATE: 10/29/2008 00:33:04 / MOOD: Prayerful
The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. PROVERBS 15:3
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them EPHESIANS 5:3-7
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, `The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.' ZEPHANIAH 1:12Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. PSALMS 139:23-24
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." JOHN 4:23
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. MATTHEW 5:6
"Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid." ZEPHANIAH 3:9-12 < B>
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep."At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' " `No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!' "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' MATTHEW 25:1-12
In that last quote in Matthew, Jesus is warning us to get our spiritual houses in order because when the time of the end comes; the implication is obvious, If we are not in the very midst of fervid service to the Lord [remember what He said to the Laodiceans, if we are lukewarm He spit us out]*, we have no part in His coming back, no part in the Marriage supper of the Lamb.
So what do we do?
We can follow the instructions given to the church at Laodicea:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. REVELATION 3:14-18 A great start is true worship; acknowledging God is who he says he is. A sacrifice of praise is also expected as acceptable service-
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. HEBREWS 13:15-Trusting In Him and praying for everything is also the way to God heart, and He will meet you halfway. Abandonment of our pride and dignity to His service is true fervency. And one more thing: Can two walk together, except they be agreed? AMOS 3:3 It good to be in God good graces [to have asked for forgiveness for all of our daily slips off the path] Atonement, can also be said At-one-ment. To be at one with God, to be agreed in my walk with Him.
Lord, Help me to regain my first Love, the zeal with which I served you before the world and it distractions came between us. Search me and show mw my wicked ways so I can once again be right, be one with You. I ask that you remind me to pray and worship at every opportunity to desire you above all things and to seek you in all my life with all my heart, in all my troubles and triumphs, to hunger and thirst for righteousness. I ask that You come to me as I stumble towards You.
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SIMCHA
DATE: 10/24/2008 15:03:55 / MOOD: Happy
NE 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Ok we had Our Happy New Year, [Jewish calendar style], then the somber day of atonement when we get right with God, now we celebrate all the wonderful things He is doing for us all the time.
Simcha means Joy, and God wants us to be happy and grateful. Sukkot which was this last week is also called the feast of tabernacles or booths. The Jews were to make tents and stay in them while celebrating the harvest, God bounty given to them for a year sustenance.
We bring our gifts to His Temple with Joy and thanksgiving for All He has done for us. We respond with Joy and happiness because he is our God and he is a good God. No matter what else is going on, we can rejoice, we can be joyful because God is our own God, the one we can always turn to for help, comfort, provision, protection, blessings, and healing. How can we not call ourselves Simcha?
How can we not offer up to him all of our hopes, dreams, fears and sorrows and know he will give us everything we need? How can we endure day after day and not go to the one who knows all of our thoughts? How can we not offer up a sacrifice of praise even when our hearts are breaking?
We see all the tiny details of our lives as human beings taken care of so long ago as echoes in the feasts, so we have to know He is in control he already knew all of the needs we have and provided them for us., that kind of knowledge gives us Joy, and the Joy gives us strength, strength to give Him the praise and worship he asks of us.
Lord, I can seem to remember from valley to valley that you are always looking out for me, Help me to live in the Joy of the knowledge of how awesome you are, help me to respond in Joy.
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TRUSTING IN JESUS
DATE: 10/24/2008 14:56:17 / MOOD: Full of life
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. PHILIPEANS 4:4-7 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." PSALMS 91:2
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. PROVERBS 3:5-6
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.MICAH 6:8
The old expression for being a Christian or getting saved was Trusting in Jesus. The old folks would say man has begun to trust in Jesus. Or has really blossomed since she started Trusting in Jesus. Trusting in the Lord is the most important aspect of our being a Christian. Believing He is who He says He is and accepting His will for our lives in every facet of our lives is vital. He can be trusted for instance; in the choosing of your mate, in the choosing of your profession, in the friends and place you live. He can be relied upon to make your life the very best and to elevate you to the happiest, most fulfilled person you could possibly be.
Our problem, [and I am the worst in this] is that we fight so hard to get our own way that when we get it we often destroyed so much along the way that we feel a sense of loss in the getting.
If I were to pray first before going after something, I might just get an answer I don necessarily like but if acted on it will be the best path for me as the verse says, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
When I am looking for provision or addition in my life and I trust in [go to] God for the answer, I can be assured that he will be ready to help, because He wants us to go to Him for everything. When the wolf is at the door again I go to God for the answer. When my heart is breaking or so full of happiness it feels like it is in danger, I again go to Him in prayer for the former; to ask for comfort and the latter for gratitude. As it says in Micah He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. I need to walk humbly with my God, that is not be my own solution master but ask Him to be my all.I found a song I just love that beautifully illustrates this
< SPAN> LORD, REIGN IN ME
Over all the earth You reign on high Every mountain stream Every sunset sky But my one request Lord my only aim Is that you reign in me again
Lord reign in me Reign in your power Over all my dreams In my darkest hour You are the Lord of all I am So won't you reign in me again
Over every thought Over every word May my life reflect The beauty of my Lord You mean more to me Than any earthly thing So won't you reign in me again Lord, help me to take my hands of the wheel and allow You to do the work in my life, Help me to trust in You so much that I never even consider my own ideas, but instead; just look to you in everything. Help me to walk in the humility of knowing I do not know it all. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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CHRISTIANITY IS NOT FOR WIMPS
DATE: 10/10/2008 11:42:15 / MOOD: Enthusiastic
John 16:33 33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
1 PETER 5:8Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Being a Christian is not for the feint of heart, Many people will tell you that as soon as you accept Jesus as your Savior all tour troubles will magically fade away, but it's not quite true. First we have an ancient enemy who hates us-Satan or the Devil, he hates you if you are a Christian or not, he will do all he can against you. but get saved and he gets worse. he will work very hard to get you to turn from God he will say to you "look, no one likes you now that you are a Christian" he'll say Oh yeah God loves us all but not you. You aren't really saved, you poor fool" I actually had him say that to me, but I got to thinking, why would he say that if it's true? Why would he bother he never said it before I got saved, so if I'm not saved why would satan say I'm not now, unless I am? So, Then I knew for a fact then that all of God's promises are true. And this is the time to go to God and seek His wisdom color=#710cfa> Philippians 4:4 says Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. But that's not the only way we are besieged when we accept Jesus. Our friends and family will tell us we are crazy, they will push us to walk away from God. The world around us will push in on us creating situations where we are forced to learn patience, obedience or humility, or any one of the fruits of the spirit, Love, Joy peace, patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and self-control. [God does allow troubles to refine us like Silver you know]. Some of us are born with one or two good traits but not all of them. God wants us to have them al. God will bring people in our lives to try our patience, people who are so unloveable we will beg for Mercy.
Oh and one more thing, we have overcome satan's scheme's, and the troubles of this world and and all those awful people; now we've settled into a ministry, and it's going pretty good, and Bang, guess what? God prunes us. Just as a tree cannot be allowed to go nutty making branches in every direction, So God, our Master Gardener will re direct our growth and start cutting But cutting hurts! We say Oh God stop, you are hurting us or even I rebuke you yes, it's a Godly thing but often we mistake it for a problem originating from the enemy. Obedience to God in any trouble will be the fastest way out of any trouble, Bowing our will to His will color=#710cfa>
Here is a song God gave me to sing when satan attacks:
Teach me your ways Oh Lord and I will walk in your truth
Give me an undivided heart and I will seek your face
And I will praise you oh Lord my God with All my heart
And I will glorify your name forever
Because you are Lord, I exalt you
Because you are Savior I praise you,
Because You are God I worship You
Because you are mine, Because you are mine,
I love you so color=#710cfa>
Blessed is he whose strength is in the Lord,
Blessed is he whose heart is set on Pilgrimage
Blessed is he whose eye is on the Lord
Teach me to Love Teach me to Praise
Lord, teach me your ways.
LORD, I ask, for all your children, that we learn to bend to your will like the reed in the Jordan river bends to the current. Help us, almighty God to know your will for our lives and lean into it with a yieldedness that you can use, in your service. Enable us to flow with your love rather than break in contrariness. And LORD work in me to will to love those who misuse me or are just downright unlovable. And LORD help me to keep from giving offense, to be lovable, not unlovable. Thank you, In Jesus Name, Amen.
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PLUNDERING EGYPT
DATE: 10/05/2008 09:40:27 / MOOD: Contemplative
PR 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
EX 12:33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.AM 8:4 Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,
AM 8:5 saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"-- skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, AM 8:6 buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
I pondered these verses and so I said, OK God if the wealth of the wicked is truly laid up for the righteous, when does it actually happen? I know your Word is true, I know you have said the truth yet the poor or should I say those of us who are not part of satan ruling elite are bought and sold, we are cheated with false measurements we are given bad food and sold a bill of goods regarding our healthcare, Doctors kill babies and sell their patients on taking drugs [they get a kick back on or are paid by the pharmaceutical companies to prescribe] that they know cause more harm than good.
There are Governmental lies we are all forced to march to regarding safety of products we get from other countries, Big companies who take their businesses overseas and hire people outside this country to avoid taxes yet demand government help when their fraudulent practices cause their businesses to begin failing, banks, who control all of the money and ultimately all the Commerce; by their own illegal banking practices cause them to fail and are helped out at the expense of the people. Still it goes on, and it often the people who are the most obedient to the law who are hurt the worst.
I intend to continue to petition Heaven that this particular aspect of the Word is enforced now when it is so needed by so many. It has come to pass that now, when so many Christians want to be ready to meet the Lord in the last days will not be able to prepare for survival in the coming hard times. It is not always that those of us who have nothing were ever in a position to have enough to actually begin preparing even earlier when there was more time. I known of this time for 52 years but my own circumstances have kept me from ever having the means to gather supplies etc or the space needed to be able to start a sustainable lifestyle. I sure I not the only one having this trouble. I'm praying that truly the wealth of the wicked is given over to the righteous.
Lord, you see what happening, I ask that your Word becomes manifest now, that Now the wealth of the wicked is given over to those of us who are your children, who walk in your ways and seek your face. Enable us to Plunder Egypt and have the means to get ready for the bad times. In Jesus' Name, Amen
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