Monday, May 31, 2010

A God Lead Study of the Word

Ephesians 6 (New International Version)
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,


I truly love The Word. I love spending time reading scripture. I love doing the research needed to present these little encouragements.

I have read and heard many ways to study scripture and none of them worked for me. I have a strange memory process and “memory scripture” frustrated me to no end. I found myself skipping over large blocks when I tried to follow the “bible in a year” guides that are so popular.

I felt like such a failure until I recognized that there is great truth in the scripture
Jam 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him. “


I had to ask God how to study His word. I had to trust God to show me the way to be closer to Him.

My teacher teaches that our God is a God of provision. This is true in all things., This is true in our search for a closer walk with Him. This is true when we have a sincere desire to study His word.

Be willing to let God guide you. Be willing to pray sincerely for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this and all things.

Be much more concerned about your walk with God than appearances.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Why do I want to hear God’s voice?

Why do I want to hear God’s voice?
John 1: 1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.


Hearing God's Voice - Why Do You Want to Hear Him?
Why do you want to hear God's voice? That may sound like a silly question, but motives are important in anything we do. The Bible says this about God's Word: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) http://www.allaboutprayer.org/hearing-gods-voice.htm

Why do I want to hear God’s voice? Why do I, who always had bibles in my home but could go months without opening one, feel such an urgency to be in God’s Word on a daily basis now?


(Hebrews 4:12)
Amplified: For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
(Hebrews 4:12)
Barclay: For the word of God is instinct with life; it is effective; it is sharper than a two-edged sword; it pierces right through to the very division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it scrutinizes the desires and intentions of the heart. (Westminster Press)
(Hebrews 4:12)
NLT: For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. (NLT - Tyndale House)
(Hebrews 4:12)
Phillips: For the Word that God speaks is alive and active; it cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword: it strikes through to the place where soul and spirit meet, to the innermost intimacies of a man's being: it exposes the very thoughts and motives of a man's heart. (Phillips: Touchstone)
(Hebrews 4:12)
Wuest: for actively alive is the word of God, and energetic, and sharper than any two-edged sword, going through even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a sifter and analyzer of the reflections and conceptions of the heart. (Eerdmans)
(Hebrews 4:12)
Young's Literal: for the reckoning of God is living, and working, and sharp above every two-edged sword, and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart

Word of God (logos from lego = to speak with words; English = logic, logical) means something said and describes a communication whereby the mind finds expression in words.
Although Lógos is most often translated word which Webster defines as "something that is said, a statement, an utterance", the Greek understanding of lógos is somewhat more complex.
To secular and philosophical Greek writers, logos did not mean merely the name of an object but was an expression of the thought behind that object's name.
Lógos then is a general term for speaking, but always used for speaking with rational content.
Lógos is a word uttered by the human voice which embodies an underlying concept or idea. When one has spoken the sum total of their thoughts concerning something, they have given to their hearer a total concept of that thing.
Thus the word lógos conveys the idea of “a total concept” of anything. Lógos means the word or outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known. It can also refer to the inward thought or reason itself.
Note then that lógos does not refer merely to a part of speech but to a concept or idea. In other words, in classical Greek, lógos never meant just a word in the grammatical sense as the mere name of a thing, but rather the thing referred to, the material, not the formal part.
In fact, the Greek language has 3 other words (rhema, onoma, epos) which designate a word in its grammatical sense. Lógos refers to the total expression whereas rhema (see word study) for example is used of a part of speech in a sentence. In other words rhema, emphasizes the parts rather than the whole. http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/logosterm.htm

I need the Word of God which I feel is the source of my salvation. I long for The Word of God and the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

MacArthur explains that...
The need for God’s rest is urgent. A person should diligently, with intense purpose and concern, secure it. It is not that he can work his way to salvation, but that he should diligently seek to enter God’s rest by faith—lest he, like the Israelites in the wilderness, lose the opportunity. (MacArthur, John: Hebrews. Moody Press or Logos

Remember that the Word of God is also the Word of His grace...
And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, (observe the beneficial effects) which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

I choose to seek God’s rest by faith and not continue lost in the wilderness.


May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sunday Morning Christians

Sunday Morning Christians

My best friend and I used to go to her church on Sunday morning (during that period in my life when I knew that “organized religion” was not for me), enjoy the service, especially the choir; and voila!! Our duty to God was fulfilled!!

We gave God a total of 2 hours and were impatient with anyone who was “too longwinded” and exceeded our time allotment.

We then went on with our lives. We played cards for hours, sometimes all night. We enjoyed the clubs and dances where the routine was usually 10 or 11pm till 2 am. We held or attended dinner parties which ran a leisurely 3-4 hours. And we still had more time for activities.

We were truly Sunday Morning Christians.

Now, my friend and I were not bad people. We worked hard, were honest and were charitable and caring. We both identified ourselves as Christian, Protestant to be specific and would have been very annoyed with anyone who suggested that we might spend eternity in hell..

Folk who spent more time in church or talked about church and God were quietly avoided as “overly religious” or “fanatics”. We carefully never said a bad word about them, just stayed out of their way.
Then a series of events began to change my life.

I look back at those days and smile as I thank God for His patience, grace and mercy. I thank God that somebody prayed for me all of the years that I was wandering in the darkness of my own foolish intellectualizing and judging.

I thank God .

2 Peter 1
2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.


My friend stopped talking to me years ago. There was a gradual process of expanding time between calls and calls unreturned. Then one day it dawned on me.

I had become one of those people who were quietly avoided.

Now, I won’t tell you that I don’t miss my friend. We were seldom seen apart outside of work and she was an important part of my life.

But I am so grateful that I was called by God’s own glory and goodness and am the recipient of His great and precious promises.

10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,
11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

How different my life is now that I am no longer a Sunday Morning Christian. How wonderful to be within the glow of a peace beyond all understanding. How comforting to know that my salvation is secured.

How wonderful to greet you as an ex-Sunday Morning Christian.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

"613 commandments" or 2?

"613 commandments"

The 613 Mitzvot (Hebrew: תרי"ג מצוות‎: Taryag Mitzvot, "613 commandments") are statements and principles of law and ethics contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses.
These principles of Biblical law are sometimes called commandments (mitzvot) or collectively as the "Law of Moses" (Torat Moshe, תורת משה), "Mosaic Law", or simply "the Law" (though these terms are ambiguous and also applied to the Torah itself).

Although there have been many attempts to codify and enumerate the commandments contained in the Torah, the traditional view is based on Maimonides' enumeration.

The 613 commandments are either "positive commandments" to perform an act (mitzvot aseh) or "negative commandments" to abstain from certain acts (mitzvot lo taaseh).

There are 365 negative commandments, corresponding to the number of days in a solar year, and 248 positive commandments, ascribed to the number of bones and significant organs in the human body.[1 http://www.answers.com/topic/613-mitzvot-1
(Maimonides was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher, one of the greatest Torah scholars of the Middle Ages.)

or

Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version)
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
38This is the first and greatest commandment.
39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

We humans have such a need to complicate things. We seem to have no tolerance for things that are simple and straight forward.

I know that I would find it impossible to live under The Law of Moses. I am grateful that Jesus came to fulfill The Law and deliver us to a state of Grace. I am content to work on a daily basis to follow the two great commandments.

Romans 10 (New International Version)
1Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (emphasis added)
5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."
6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)
7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth (and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (emphasis added)
10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

It is in our interest to study the word of God to gain understanding. I believe that it is in our interest to strive to fulfill the two commandments which fulfill all the law and the prophets.

It is a goal worth pursuing to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

It is a goal worth pursuing to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1 (New International Version)


May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Doxology

A doxology (from the Greek doxa, glory + logos, word or speaking) is a short hymn of praises to God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns. The tradition derives from a similar practice in the Jewish synagogue, where some version of the Kaddish serves to terminate each section of the service.


Very often we engage in rituals that have the possibility to become lost in repetition. Some are too important to our salvation to lose their meaning in our lives.

Every Sunday the following song signifies an end to our services. Every time I hear the song it warms my heart. I truly hope that “They will know we are Christians by our love.” I hope that I as an individual and we as a church family will always be examples of true Christian love.

-1-
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.

Chorus
And they'll know we are Christians by our love,
By our Love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.

-2-
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
And we'll guard each man's dignity
And save each man's pride.

Chorus

-3-
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
And we'll guard each man's dignity
And save each man's pride.

Chorus

-3-
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand.
And together we'll spread the News
that God is in our land.


Jude 24-25: “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

“To him who is able to keep you from falling ( who else but Jesus is able to keep us from falling?)
and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy (we look forward to the day when we will be in the glorious presence of our God and know that this will be a day of great joy)
to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority (We truly know that he is our only God. We truly have no gods before Him. We know He is embued with all glory, majesty, power and authority)
through Jesus Christ our Lord, (We understand and affirm that “No one comes to the father except through Jesus Christ [John 14:6 - New International Version ...
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me])
before all ages, now and forevermore! (New International Version In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Amen.” (So be it; truly") is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament.)

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.

I once worked with a brilliant group of health care providers in a very specialized area. We were literally locked in together in ten hour stretches with each other and with up to nine very sick psychiatric patients.

We also socialized together much of the time and drew our outside of the unit friends into our circle.

We spoke our own language and that included a sincere ease with cursing.

I didn’t realize how much my work life infused itself into my every day being until my daughter told me one day that she would prefer that I quit my job if I had to say bad words in every other sentence.

She noticed a change in me that I had failed to recognize. Cursing was so common for us that it went virtually unnoticed.

We were the special team. We set the standard for professional accomplishments and yet even a child could recognize that we were poor examples of moral conduct.

I think it took me three years to become totally immersed in the culture of my unit and to be able to curse with the best of them. I think that 20 years later I am still working on losing some of the habits gained.

I now find myself engaged in activities with people who are traveling on the same road that I am. Most of my friends spend more time in pursuit of works of the spirit than those of the world. We attend church together, we socialize together we have so much in common that there is an ease in our company.

I teach my grandchildren that there is a lot of truth in many of the old adages such as “birds of a feather” and “lying with dogs guarantees fleas”.

I am able to teach them these truths without preaching because we acknowledge the every day changes we see that just happen, both good and bad, when we spend time with a new set of friends, .

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? And what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV)


If we turn on the light, there indeed will not be darkness, but how easy it is to just sit in the dusk and fail to recognize the impending night.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Friday, May 21, 2010

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:18-21)



Galatians 5:16 (New International Version)
Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Singing songs of praise are so common in our church. I often hear other members quietly, joyfully praising God . I find myself full of songs of praise when I wake in the morning, as I go about my day, when the day is over and it’s time to settle down.

There is great comfort in songs of praise. There is great comfort in a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

I heard our Pastor say to a new member “read your bible every day. If you can’t read the bible, sing songs of praise.” and I smiled in appreciation because I can witness the fulfillment of singing praise.

I feel that the Holy Spirit is the source of that “peace that passes all understanding and that the Holy Spirit is truly the Comforter. Singing praise is one of the easiest roads to a walk with the Holy Spirit. .

I found an inspired article entitled The Spirit-Filled Christian By P. G. Mathew, M.A., M. Div., Th.M., which gave a really nice description of the Holy Spirit.
He states “The Holy Spirit is not a substance, a force, or an influence. He is the infinite God, the third Person of the Trinity. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates us and makes us a new creation. It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, making us holy and blameless.
The Bible says that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13), that the Holy Spirit indwells every Christian (Romans 8:11), and that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

52And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit..

In times of trouble and distress, no matter what is happening in our lives, there is great joy in the Holy Spirit.

I wish you a spirit filled life. I wish you a life filled with joy.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Timothy, a disciple of Paul

Timothy, a disciple of Paul, provides some wonderful examples of Christian life. He was apparently a good student, a faithful student and a student who applied his teachings in real life. What an example for us.

Timothy's father was a heathen Greek. (Acts 16:1,3). His mother was a Jewess, called Eunice, and his grandmother was Lois. Paul mentions them by name in 2 Timothy 1:5.

Paul speaks of the unfeigned faith which was in Timothy, and which dwelt at the first in Eunice and Lois. It is evident that Eunice was converted to Christ on Paul's 1st missionary journey to Derbe and Lystra, because, when he next visited these cities, she is spoken of as "a Jewess who believed" (Acts 16:1). International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

We enjoy the epistles to Timothy because they provide such complete, yet easy to understand instructions for behavior of the body of Christ.

Studying the biography and letters to Timothy can be beneficial to all of us. Paul’s letters describe the qualifications for church leadership which is helpful to those seeking leadership positions, those charged with appointing or selecting leaders and for the rest of the church body to understand the enormous responsibilities of those in these positions and the support they need from us.(1 Timothy 3:1-13),

The epistles to Timothy also provide encouragement to us to teach our children and grandchildren in The Way.
2 Timothy 1
5I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia writes a very nice, concise biography of Timothy, a disciple and beloved student of the Apostle Paul. http://www.searchgodsword.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T8794.

The writings of Paul to Timothy shows the mutually beneficial relationship possible between a teacher and student when each is able to encourage, support and love the other. How wonderful it must be to be a part of such a relationship.

Since each of us, as we follow the edits of The Great Commission, has the potential to find ourselves in both roles at the same time it is good to have such a practical example of leadership and followship.


I encourage you to re-read the Epistles to Timothy for enlightenment and encouragement. I thank God for wonderful teachers and mentors. I pray God for guidance in every opportunity provided to me to spread the gospel.

May God Forever Be a Blessing In Your Life!!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Your Biblical Personality Style:

Your Biblical Personality Style:

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (New International Version)
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.


“We are each uniquely created as body, soul and spirit. Our body (five senses) provides an awareness of the world around us, our spirit offers an awareness of Heavenly things above, and our soul gives us an awareness of who we are! It is in our very soul that lies the traits that make up our intellect, emotions, and temperament. Understanding personality helps to unlock the potential of our future by allowing us to understand how our own passion and purpose come together for the glory of God and the good of those around us. “

All of us who have been in the business of providing therapy or counseling services to others have had to endure being tested and analyzed at some points in our careers.

Today, I ran across a mini version of one of the more common tests called the DISC.

It has been many a year since I have examined my own personality style and thought it would be fun to see if these tests were as close to real as they were during my working days.

The fascinating thing about the test today was it’s purported intent to show us insight into our biblical personality style. In just a few minutes they claimed to be able to show which bible personalities you most resembled in your walk in the Word.

So, I took the test.

It was amazing how closely the profile fit me as I see myself now. It was also amazing to see the ways I have changed with maturity in life and maturing in my walk.

The test is free if you are willing to “sign up” and give some demographic information; and, of course, they encourage you to buy the more comprehensive profile ( which was only about $10 and I think I remember that the comprehensive test was over $300 15 years ago).

But you can simply take the free test.

www.biblicalprofile.com is the site if you are interested.

Please send me an e-mail at sleeholmes22@yahoo.com if you decide to take the test and let me know what you think.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Monday, May 17, 2010

LOVE

John 15:12 - My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.

Kindness is the act or the state of being kind and marked by charitable behaviour, marked by mild disposition, pleasantness, tenderness and concern for others.

Envy (also called invidiousness) is best defined as an emotion that "occurs when a person lacks another's (perceived) superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it."

boast
To glorify oneself in speech; talk in a self-admiring way.

Pride is, depending on the interactional and cultural context, either a high sense of one's personal status (i.e., leading to judgements of personality and character) or the specific mostly positive emotion that is a product of praise or independent self-reflection.

Rudeness (also called impudence or effrontery) is the disrespect and failure to behave within the context of a society or a group of people's social laws or etiquette

self-seek•ing adj.
1. Pursuing only one's own ends or interests.
2. Exhibiting concern only with promoting one's own ends or interests: self-seeking maneuvers.

My friend and I speak of ourselves as "works in progress". Becoming all that God wants us to be, even accomplishing the goals in these two scriptures, is indeed a work worth pursuing.

I ask the Holy Spirit to interceed for me as I work to fulfill this mandate. I pray for strength, understanding and LOVE, both given and received.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

"I Was Glad to Go to God's House"

God is already here
Can’t you feel his presence? He’s already here
All you have to do is open up your heart
‘cause God is already here.

I belong to a small church, but when I am in fellowship there I truly understand the feeling that the psalmist had when he declared: I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psalm 122:1 King James Bible


22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,Hebrews 12:22 (New International Version)


We come together, not in the confines of our space, not in worship simply with each other but as members of a multitude who are in many places at the same time offering up praises and thanksgiving to our most precious Lord.


We come to a place where we can hear the Word of God “rightly divided” so that our lives can be enriched.

We come to a place where we can partake of the fruits of the spirit in communion with our brothers and sisters.

It is my hope that each of you have found a place that provides the spiritual food that you need for your soul to survive. If uou haven’t, please don’t settle, continue to seek the place that God has for you. Find a place of worship that provides joy for your spirit.

Hebrews 13
1Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Be able to say I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.


May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Joy of Prayer

The Joy of Prayer

We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18).

Ephesians 6 (New International Version)
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

My spiritual mentor sets a wonderful example of intercessory prayer. Many a time I have seen someone ask her to pray for them and watched her stop, take their hands and pray on the spot. She later lifted them up in prayer at her “regular” prayer time.

I have always been grateful that I was firmly on her prayer list and I thank God for her on a daily basis.

I now, also, thank God for a better understanding of the JOY of prayer. Mother Brown prays so often because of the joy that prayer brings to her. I know this now because I now know the joy of prayer myself.

Prayer is a form of worship and there is joy in worship. When we sincerely lift up prayers to Our Lord we are in glorious communication one on one with God. How awesome is that!!!

This happens when our prayers stop being a laundry list of things for God to do for us and becomes an expression of our desire to be in His will.

It happens when prayer is a “Thank You Lord” time, a “Praise You Lord” time, a “Show me Your will” time.

Praying for the good of others opens so many doors to fervent prayer. Praying for the good of others gets us out of the narrowness of our own stuff and makes room for the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf.

And the glorious thing is that we don’t even have to have the words to express the desires of our hearts because God has left the blessing of the comforter with us . Romans 8:26-27 (New American Standard Bible)

26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I pray that you truly experience the joy of fervent prayer. I ask you to keep me in your prayers.

1 Tim 2:1 (Wey) I exhort then, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men.

I ask that God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Love

Almost every conversation in my family ends with “Love You”

Love You, Grammie.
Love You Baby.
Love You Mom.
Love You Sweetie.

And we do love one another.

Storge (pronounced /ˈstɔrdʒiː/; στοργή, storgē), also called familial love, is the Greek word for natural affection—such as the love of a parent toward a child, "cherishing one's kindred, especially parents or children". In social psychology, storge is the form of love between friends.
Storge may be used as a general term to describe the love between exceptional friends, and the desire for them to care compassionately for one another http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storge

I truly love my church family. I thank God on a daily basis for planting me in a church where the Great Commission is taken seriously, a church where there is loving work to be done. This is “exceptional love”. This is storge.


Philia (φιλία) as an ancient Greek word for love refers to brotherly love, including friendship and affection.
http://www.twopaths.com/faq_love.htm

We all know a little about eros, but since this is not a love described in scripture, it’s not described here.

The Greek word that refers to the love of God, one of the kinds of love we are to have for people, is agape. Agape is the very nature of God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-12, 16b).

The big key to understanding agape is to realize that it can be known from the action it prompts. In fact, we sometimes speak of the “action model” of agape love.

People today are accustomed to thinking of love as a feeling, but that is not necessarily the case with agape love. Agape is love because of what it does, not because of how it feels.
God so “loved” (agape) that He gave His Son. It did not feel good to God to do that, but it was the loving thing to do. Christ so loved (agape) that he gave his life. He did not want to die, but he loved, so he did what God required.
http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?file=article&name=News&sid=743.

After I read this passage I was encouraged to look again at John 21:15-17

Jesus: “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapas) me more than these?”
Peter: “Yes, Lord, You know (oidas) that I love (philo) You.”
Jesus: “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapas) me?”
Peter: “Yes, Lord, You know (oidas) that I love (philo) You.”
Jesus: “Simon, son of John, do you love (phileis) me?”
Peter: “Lord, You know (oidas) everything; You know (ginoskeis) that I love (philo) You.”

As a Works based church, a church that believes we are to be in the business of DOING the Word of God, not just talking about it, the focus had always been on the action in this scripture of “feed my sheep” (not included here).

This is still a very important part of that scripture, but, my focus this morning is on the depth of love that Christ was declaring to Peter and the caution in Peter's response.

I pray, now, for a better understandng of God’s Word. I pray that my love of God will be manifest in what I am willing to do. I pray now that I can truly experience agape love.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Thank God for Heaven

“How could you believe in this heaven and hell stuff? You’re an intelligent woman. That just doesn’t make any sense.”

I’d be willing to bet that everyone of you, if you’ve been with Christ for any length of time at all have heard something like this in your walk.

At first I just smiled, wished them well and thanked God for MY salvation. At best I used the “insurance policy” argument that some of us use…”I would rather have salvation and not need it than need salvation and not have it”.

As I grow up in The Word,I accept my responsibility to do more than this.

God has planted me in a missionary church, a church that is all about doing the will of God, a church that believes that the Great Commission should be a driving force in our lives.

Matthew 28:16-20 (New International Version)
The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."


I pray on a daily basis that God will give me an opportunity to help someone else on The Way. I pray on a daily basis that the words of my mouth, in every aspect of my life, will be acceptable in the sight of God.

I know from examples in my secular life that people are more influenced by what they see you do than what they hear you say; therefore, I pray daily that I be a worker that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God. To this end I am obligated to diligently study The Word.

Now, about that heaven that I thought I was writing about when I sat down this morning;..

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:1-3

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 21

Some things are so simple that they get missed by folks who are looking for DEEP answers.

John 4:24 (New International Version)
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."


1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank God for His promise.

2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (NIV)

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Answered Prayers

A friend of mine had a small financial problem to deal with yesterday. She gathered all her documentation and prepared her arguments because she could not afford to pay what was being charged to her.

Before she left we prayed.

She called me later in the morning to say that the matter was completely resolved in her favor without any need for her careful documentation.

Now, skeptics would say that it was all a clerical error in the first place that was resolved simply by her showing up to question the matter.

We think it was simply prayer answered.

I understand those who smile indulgently at we folks who go around praying about every little thing. I understand the folks who say that, if there were a God, He certainly wouldn’t have time to be concerned with all of the little petty concerns of every person on earth.

I understand because I was once one of them. I couldn’t believe that any God worth His salt had time for the petty, everyday concerns of man.

Then, I found the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:27 (New International Version)
27And
he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

I understand now that it was my struggle to put God in a box within my ability to understand that was limiting me in my ability to receive gifts, grace and mercy and that my narrow view in no way limited God.

Elisabeth Elliot: "Said the robin to the sparrow, 'I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.? Said the sparrow to the robin, 'Friend, I think that it must be that they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me.'"


Within the warm and gentle comfort of the Holy Spirit I serve a God who is omniscient, all knowing, omnipotent, with unlimited power. Omnipresent. present in all places at all times.


I serve a God who does have time for my “petty” concerns because He is not limited by OUR very limited concept of time.

I serve a God who knows my needs. I serve a God who is truly worthy to be praised.

(John 14:15-17)
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth.

It is my prayer that you have the blessing of the Holy Spirit. It is my prayer that you have the comfort of KNOWING that it is perfectly O.K. to go to Our God in prayer for all of your needs.

It is my prayer that God will truly be a blessing in your life

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Training Our Children

Proverbs 22:6 (New International Version)
6 Train [a] a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.


My great aunt was the spiritual leader in our family. She set the tone for our spiritual life and, at least when we were children, we did not stray on inch.

Aunt Bessie had a bit of a temper. But was generally the most fair person I ever met. Her rules were few and simple. God first. Family second and everything else was negotiable, to a point.

We went to church a lot. When we were pre-teens we went to the family church which was Pentecostal. When we got older, our version of rebellion was to join or attend a different church. But we went to church

If you were too sick to go to church on Sunday. You were too sick to do anything except school and work for the rest of the week. No exceptions, and we didn’t bother to ask.
I don’t remember ever being sick on a Sunday, just in case.

Like many who were raised in the church, I had my rebellious years. These were years I wasted intellectualizing about the Word and the need for “organized religion”. These were years when I thought it was my job to judge the preachers out there and make my decisions about my spiritual life based on their perceived short comings.

God has been very patient with me and I am thankful. My life has surely not been the proverbial bed of roses, but I thank God that it has not been what my behavior and flippant mouth earned.

Now, about that early training. When you have been trained in The Way there is a restlessness and discontent without name until you find your way back. You discover a conscience that won’t allow you to stray but so far without a gentle (sometimes not so gentle) tug.

When we are grown up we have an obligation to plant seeds of faith in the young people in our lives.

"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the Hand of God.' That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'" Minnie Louise Haskins

How will our children know about the Hand of God if we do not teach them?
How will they walk in the assurance of His love?

May God Forever Be A Blessing In Your Life!!!