2 Corinthians 3:17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
The Holy Spirit is the Lord, thus there is liberty.
The Holy Spirit is evident in:
1) Daily inward renewal. 2 Corinthians 4:16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
2) Spiritual warfare. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to know down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
3) Sense of fellowship with Jesus, God, to know the love of God. 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
4) Only in Christ can I see the glory of God and only in Him can I be transformed.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
To have the Holy Spirit, take the step of faith.
1) Admit you are a sinner.
2) You need God's forgiveness.
3) You need to believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
4) Believe Jesus died for our sins and Jesus conquered death (resurrection).
5) Trust Jesus Christ.
6) Receive His forgiveness and you will be accepted by Him.
7) You will be reborn (spiritually).
8) The Holy Spirit now lives in you. He gives you power over sin and a guarantee of eternal life.
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.
BELIEVE IN JESUS.
2 Corinthians 5:5-8 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, thought someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Ephesians 1:13-14 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.
John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
From me.
The Holy Spirit is so involved, so entwined in our lives. From salvation, the daily living, to being our guarantee of eternal life....He is active, He is with us. I think back to when Jesus told the disciples "But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you." (John 16:7) Jesus could not, being limited by human form, be in all places, at all times, with all people. But the Holy Spirit can. And He is. He is the Advocate, the one who comes along side us to help. What a beautiful ministry He has in our lives.
Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. I am so grateful that He is with me. I am so grateful that He turned my heart to trust You. Thank You. Please keep me and all of us aware of His presence, His availability and activity in our lives. What a wonderful companion we have.
Focus on the Holy Spirit today.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Holy Spirit, from Mom
Mom did a little studying on the Holy Spirit. Funny, His name and His work in us is popping up a lot lately....God visits! Love it. There is a lot of ground to cover here so I will split it into two or three entries.
*The Holy Spirit is the third party of the Trinity.
1) Who draws us to Christ
2) Who convicts us of sin.
3) Who enables us to accept Jesus as as our personal Savior
4) Who assures us of salvation.
5) Who enables us to live the victorious life
6) Who helps us understand the Bible
7) Who helps us pray according to God's will
8) Who helps us to share Christ with others.
The Holy Spirit empowers and equips us with whatever we need to accomplish God's plans for us as well as to handle our present situation.
*Taken from the "Spirit Filled Life Bible" Word Wealth- Romans 7:6
Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. No we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
Romans 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And thee Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.
The Spirit helps. We do not know what we should pray for. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings. He searches our hearts.
The Holy Spirit takes our prayers, those sighs, groans, loud cries, tears and other expressions of our heart and adds His own wisdom and knowledge to make effectual intercession on our behalf before God. In prayer, the Holy Spirit brings our petitions to Jesus who then lays them before our heavenly
The Holy Spirit communicates the Father's message to us.
1 Corinthians 2:13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.
Lord, I don't know how to pray.
2 Corinthians 3:6 He has enabled us to be ministers of His new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death, but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
The Holy Spirit is the power. The Holy Spirit makes it real--the present and future provision of our salvation in Christ. The Holy Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
The Holy Spirit changes our way of living by opening our eyes to a living reality.
From me.
Prayer. Intercession. One of the many blessings the Holy Spirit brings to our life. So many times there are no words, only tears, only sighs and silent heartache. He hears, He knows, He intercedes. What a beautiful blessing. We don't need fancy words or even complete sentences to be heard. The sweet Holy Spirit unveils our hearts and eyes that we may know and understand the things of God. He works in us to do the Father's work that we may reflect the glory of the God. I'm thinking the Holy Spirit is a very busy being!! Talk about multi-tasking, He's the master!!
Thank You Lord for the blessing of the Holy Spirit. I cannot imagine life with our Him in me, by my side, with me always.
Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit today!
*The Holy Spirit is the third party of the Trinity.
1) Who draws us to Christ
2) Who convicts us of sin.
3) Who enables us to accept Jesus as as our personal Savior
4) Who assures us of salvation.
5) Who enables us to live the victorious life
6) Who helps us understand the Bible
7) Who helps us pray according to God's will
8) Who helps us to share Christ with others.
The Holy Spirit empowers and equips us with whatever we need to accomplish God's plans for us as well as to handle our present situation.
*Taken from the "Spirit Filled Life Bible" Word Wealth- Romans 7:6
Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. No we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
Romans 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And thee Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.
The Spirit helps. We do not know what we should pray for. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings. He searches our hearts.
The Holy Spirit takes our prayers, those sighs, groans, loud cries, tears and other expressions of our heart and adds His own wisdom and knowledge to make effectual intercession on our behalf before God. In prayer, the Holy Spirit brings our petitions to Jesus who then lays them before our heavenly
The Holy Spirit communicates the Father's message to us.
1 Corinthians 2:13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.
Lord, I don't know how to pray.
2 Corinthians 3:6 He has enabled us to be ministers of His new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death, but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
The Holy Spirit is the power. The Holy Spirit makes it real--the present and future provision of our salvation in Christ. The Holy Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
The Holy Spirit changes our way of living by opening our eyes to a living reality.
From me.
Prayer. Intercession. One of the many blessings the Holy Spirit brings to our life. So many times there are no words, only tears, only sighs and silent heartache. He hears, He knows, He intercedes. What a beautiful blessing. We don't need fancy words or even complete sentences to be heard. The sweet Holy Spirit unveils our hearts and eyes that we may know and understand the things of God. He works in us to do the Father's work that we may reflect the glory of the God. I'm thinking the Holy Spirit is a very busy being!! Talk about multi-tasking, He's the master!!
Thank You Lord for the blessing of the Holy Spirit. I cannot imagine life with our Him in me, by my side, with me always.
Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit today!
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Keep Walking
A couple of nights ago I just wanted to quit. I was tired. I was hurting. I felt like everything I did was not bearing fruit or working. We all have those days. Sometimes they last a day, sometimes a week, sometimes it feels like those feelings stay around vaguely in the back of our minds and corners of our hearts for long stretches at a time.
I knew God loved me. He had just told me so. I didn't doubt Him, His love or His care for me. I just felt fruitless, failing and fumbling. And so I sat on the couch when I got home for work and just wanted to quit. What was the point of being a volunteer if I wasn't helping in the areas God placed me? Was I making a difference? Should I step back from what I was doing? Am I really any good at it?
I lifted my eyes and across the room on the side table was a folded up piece of paper. It looked like something that should be in the trash to me. My first instinct was to get annoyed. I thought to myself, "great, just leave the garbage around for me to pick up." And then I saw the words on this folded up piece of paper. In big, bold capital letters were three words: DON'T GIVE UP.
I don't think God could have been any clearer. I have to laugh because one of my requests to the Lord is that I wish His answers came in big neon signs. And I think this is about as close as I was going to get. He's so funny.
And so today, I give His message to you, dear readers, "DON'T GIVE UP." Stay on the course the Lord has set. Fruit is in His timing. And in His way. Sometimes we don't see the results we want but that doesn't mean God is not in our tasks and not working things out for His purposes.
Oh, and that piece of paper, where did it come from you may ask? A local church group had gone door to door today and left literature. No one was home when they came so they just left it in the door, and my husband had folded it up and left it on the living room table. Talk about not knowing that something you do or did was bearing fruit! These faithful people may never know what a blessing their obedience to God was, but He knows. And that is why God says, "DON'T GIVE UP!"
Lord, thank You. Thank You for the "neon sign" answer that I really needed. Thank You for the encouragement. I pray that this helps someone else as well. Help me and all of us to follow Your plan, even and especially when we walk in the dark, don't see results, feel like we are not good enough or making a difference. Help us to walk in humility, kindness, love and obedience and leave the rest to You.
One foot in front of the other today!
I knew God loved me. He had just told me so. I didn't doubt Him, His love or His care for me. I just felt fruitless, failing and fumbling. And so I sat on the couch when I got home for work and just wanted to quit. What was the point of being a volunteer if I wasn't helping in the areas God placed me? Was I making a difference? Should I step back from what I was doing? Am I really any good at it?
I lifted my eyes and across the room on the side table was a folded up piece of paper. It looked like something that should be in the trash to me. My first instinct was to get annoyed. I thought to myself, "great, just leave the garbage around for me to pick up." And then I saw the words on this folded up piece of paper. In big, bold capital letters were three words: DON'T GIVE UP.
I don't think God could have been any clearer. I have to laugh because one of my requests to the Lord is that I wish His answers came in big neon signs. And I think this is about as close as I was going to get. He's so funny.
And so today, I give His message to you, dear readers, "DON'T GIVE UP." Stay on the course the Lord has set. Fruit is in His timing. And in His way. Sometimes we don't see the results we want but that doesn't mean God is not in our tasks and not working things out for His purposes.
Oh, and that piece of paper, where did it come from you may ask? A local church group had gone door to door today and left literature. No one was home when they came so they just left it in the door, and my husband had folded it up and left it on the living room table. Talk about not knowing that something you do or did was bearing fruit! These faithful people may never know what a blessing their obedience to God was, but He knows. And that is why God says, "DON'T GIVE UP!"
Lord, thank You. Thank You for the "neon sign" answer that I really needed. Thank You for the encouragement. I pray that this helps someone else as well. Help me and all of us to follow Your plan, even and especially when we walk in the dark, don't see results, feel like we are not good enough or making a difference. Help us to walk in humility, kindness, love and obedience and leave the rest to You.
One foot in front of the other today!
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
I Love You
God's love never stops because His heart is love. That's been something that has been dancing around in my mind the last few weeks. I've been just trying to focus on the kindness and goodness of God's heart and the fact that it is because of love that He blesses and saves us. We cannot earn it. We cannot undo it. We cannot lose it. He doesn't change. He doesn't give up. He doesn't un-love.
So I was reading one of my devotionals a few days ago and the title was "God's Great Love for Us." It spoke about how God loves us even when we feel and are unlovable. When we sin, when we fail, His love remains strong. The reading referenced Romans 5:8 (But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.) reminding us that God's love isn't a reward for something we do or did.
So, I've mentioned before that I have an app on my phone that gives a daily Bible verse. And I'm sure you've guessed where this is going....lol. Yup, God confirmed the reading with an often quoted, much loved verse...He's so amazing. Jeremiah 31:3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Everlasting. Unfailing. Those words practically jump off the page. How beautiful is that. My Mom used to come home from some of her shopping trips with a little gift for me. Sometimes it was a blouse, sometimes a brownie, maybe something for the house...nothing major, just a small something to let me know she loved me and was thinking of me. And that is what this visit from God reminds me of. Just a reminder that He loves me and is thinking of me. And I hope in posting this God visit here it will be the same for you dear readers. He loves you. Always. And He is thinking of you and wants you to know it!
God all I can say is thank You. You are awesome. And I love You.
Receive God's love today. Remind yourself it never fails. And then, if need be, remind yourself again, and again, and again....
So I was reading one of my devotionals a few days ago and the title was "God's Great Love for Us." It spoke about how God loves us even when we feel and are unlovable. When we sin, when we fail, His love remains strong. The reading referenced Romans 5:8 (But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.) reminding us that God's love isn't a reward for something we do or did.
So, I've mentioned before that I have an app on my phone that gives a daily Bible verse. And I'm sure you've guessed where this is going....lol. Yup, God confirmed the reading with an often quoted, much loved verse...He's so amazing. Jeremiah 31:3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Everlasting. Unfailing. Those words practically jump off the page. How beautiful is that. My Mom used to come home from some of her shopping trips with a little gift for me. Sometimes it was a blouse, sometimes a brownie, maybe something for the house...nothing major, just a small something to let me know she loved me and was thinking of me. And that is what this visit from God reminds me of. Just a reminder that He loves me and is thinking of me. And I hope in posting this God visit here it will be the same for you dear readers. He loves you. Always. And He is thinking of you and wants you to know it!
God all I can say is thank You. You are awesome. And I love You.
Receive God's love today. Remind yourself it never fails. And then, if need be, remind yourself again, and again, and again....
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Full Satisfaction
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.
We are doing a series on the Parables in Sunday's Bible study. The Lord has so much to teach us and tell us. He deposits these little gems along on our path for us to discover and take into our hearts. Each one a loving visit, a learning moment. I love it!
The Parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21 warns of making anything of this world our security and of the emptiness in seeking satisfaction in earthly treasures. Jesus ends His teaching in the admonishment: "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."
In speaking with the Samaritan woman who had come to draw water from Jacob's well, Jesus told her He offered the living, lasting water. John 4:13-14 Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.
Yesterday's devotional reading from "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young "I want you to draw water from the springs of salvation with Joy. These wells are unfathomably deep and they are filled to the brim with My blessings."
The world always leaves us wanting more. Bigger, better, more, more, more. I think about myself and food (and this is a lesson the Lord has been trying to get me to live out for a long time), it's never enough. I can have one brownie, but I want 5, I can have a small dish of ice cream, but I want a large one...and so it goes on and on. The food only satisfying for a few minutes and the "more" kicks in. While God gives us things to enjoy, pleasures and treasures on earth that please and bless us,( He loves us and loves giving to us), making them our satisfaction and fulfillment will only bring temporary happiness as best, disappointment and disillusionment at worst. Only He can occupy the place in our heart of deepest joy. I am struggling to learn this as I look for this life to be easy and problem free. Hahaha!! Not happening.
Everything about this earth is the same way. Temporary. Momentary. But our relationship with Jesus?? Eternally and temporally, satisfying. But our hearts need to be open and seeking Him, day by day, minute by minute. There is a very old book written by Brother Lawrence called "The Practice of the Presence of God." I am starting it now. And that is the gist of this life, practice. Nothing happens overnight, but we work at it. In our relationship with our God, like any other relationship, we take time, spend time and learn about the other person. Deepest satisfaction comes from a rich relationship with our Creator and Savior. It's the way we were designed.
Lord, be my fulfillment. Fill me, all of us with Your love, Your presence, Your very being that we may know the joy of being with You. It is all just a foretaste of forever with You in Heaven. Nothing on this earth can compare to the glory and joy of You. Help us to grow in our relationship with You. Be our all in all. Thank You for the many blessings and gifts You give, the provision You bestow, the small treasures You allow us to enjoy. They are wonderful. But most importantly, thank You for Jesus our Savior, thank You for loving us and making us Your children.
Work on your relationship with God.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
Luke 12:13-21 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
We are doing a series on the Parables in Sunday's Bible study. The Lord has so much to teach us and tell us. He deposits these little gems along on our path for us to discover and take into our hearts. Each one a loving visit, a learning moment. I love it!
The Parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21 warns of making anything of this world our security and of the emptiness in seeking satisfaction in earthly treasures. Jesus ends His teaching in the admonishment: "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."
In speaking with the Samaritan woman who had come to draw water from Jacob's well, Jesus told her He offered the living, lasting water. John 4:13-14 Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.
Yesterday's devotional reading from "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young "I want you to draw water from the springs of salvation with Joy. These wells are unfathomably deep and they are filled to the brim with My blessings."
The world always leaves us wanting more. Bigger, better, more, more, more. I think about myself and food (and this is a lesson the Lord has been trying to get me to live out for a long time), it's never enough. I can have one brownie, but I want 5, I can have a small dish of ice cream, but I want a large one...and so it goes on and on. The food only satisfying for a few minutes and the "more" kicks in. While God gives us things to enjoy, pleasures and treasures on earth that please and bless us,( He loves us and loves giving to us), making them our satisfaction and fulfillment will only bring temporary happiness as best, disappointment and disillusionment at worst. Only He can occupy the place in our heart of deepest joy. I am struggling to learn this as I look for this life to be easy and problem free. Hahaha!! Not happening.
Everything about this earth is the same way. Temporary. Momentary. But our relationship with Jesus?? Eternally and temporally, satisfying. But our hearts need to be open and seeking Him, day by day, minute by minute. There is a very old book written by Brother Lawrence called "The Practice of the Presence of God." I am starting it now. And that is the gist of this life, practice. Nothing happens overnight, but we work at it. In our relationship with our God, like any other relationship, we take time, spend time and learn about the other person. Deepest satisfaction comes from a rich relationship with our Creator and Savior. It's the way we were designed.
Lord, be my fulfillment. Fill me, all of us with Your love, Your presence, Your very being that we may know the joy of being with You. It is all just a foretaste of forever with You in Heaven. Nothing on this earth can compare to the glory and joy of You. Help us to grow in our relationship with You. Be our all in all. Thank You for the many blessings and gifts You give, the provision You bestow, the small treasures You allow us to enjoy. They are wonderful. But most importantly, thank You for Jesus our Savior, thank You for loving us and making us Your children.
Work on your relationship with God.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
Luke 12:13-21 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Psalm 32:2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
The Lord is doing it again. Threading seemingly unrelated incidences together to present a big picture of kingdom life. We studied the parable of the unforgiving servant on Sunday in Bible study. My pastor figured it out that the servant owed the king about 105 million dollars. I don't know about anyone else, but there would never be a way for me to repay that kind of debt. It's the same way with my sin, no way I could ever repay God for all the things I do wrong. That fact that He forgives is amazing and wonderful and awesome. My Pastor also figured out the the fellow servant only owed the first one about 15,000 dollars.
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
Then during worship we sang one of my favorite songs. Our sins, great and small, many or few have been washed away. We have been given entrance into the very presence of our holy, heavenly Father, acceptance into His family as sons and daughters and life eternal in His Heaven. All because we are forgiven our sin debt! This song personifies the feelings of the one who was forgiven a great debt that they could never repay. How joyful should we be? I love the way God strings things together!
A response from us is expected, we are called to do the same. We are called to forgive as we have been forgiven. And honestly, why shouldn't we? I figure, who am I, one who has been forgiven so much, that I should hold a grudge against anyone. Even right now, someone did something that hurt my feelings and I am bringing it to God and letting it go. It's not always easy, but it is a command from the Lord.
But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
What a wonderful day, when my sin was cast away from me, as far as the east is from the west. Can we be anything but grateful? Can we be anything but forgiving in return? Some things may seem easier to forgive than others. And a lot of times our emotions get in the way. But we are to walk by faith and do what the Lord tells us. Obedience, even when it's hard (or maybe especially when it's hard) will only bring blessing and peace to our lives.
Lord, thank You for washing away the dark stain of sin from my account, cleansing my heart, my life. Help me to see others with the same mercy You have shown me. I truly am blessed by Your kindness and grace.
If you need to forgive someone, take it to the Lord. Don't wait for feelings, be obedient. It may not feel great at first, but it's what we are called to do.
The Lord is doing it again. Threading seemingly unrelated incidences together to present a big picture of kingdom life. We studied the parable of the unforgiving servant on Sunday in Bible study. My pastor figured it out that the servant owed the king about 105 million dollars. I don't know about anyone else, but there would never be a way for me to repay that kind of debt. It's the same way with my sin, no way I could ever repay God for all the things I do wrong. That fact that He forgives is amazing and wonderful and awesome. My Pastor also figured out the the fellow servant only owed the first one about 15,000 dollars.
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
Then during worship we sang one of my favorite songs. Our sins, great and small, many or few have been washed away. We have been given entrance into the very presence of our holy, heavenly Father, acceptance into His family as sons and daughters and life eternal in His Heaven. All because we are forgiven our sin debt! This song personifies the feelings of the one who was forgiven a great debt that they could never repay. How joyful should we be? I love the way God strings things together!
A response from us is expected, we are called to do the same. We are called to forgive as we have been forgiven. And honestly, why shouldn't we? I figure, who am I, one who has been forgiven so much, that I should hold a grudge against anyone. Even right now, someone did something that hurt my feelings and I am bringing it to God and letting it go. It's not always easy, but it is a command from the Lord.
But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
What a wonderful day, when my sin was cast away from me, as far as the east is from the west. Can we be anything but grateful? Can we be anything but forgiving in return? Some things may seem easier to forgive than others. And a lot of times our emotions get in the way. But we are to walk by faith and do what the Lord tells us. Obedience, even when it's hard (or maybe especially when it's hard) will only bring blessing and peace to our lives.
Lord, thank You for washing away the dark stain of sin from my account, cleansing my heart, my life. Help me to see others with the same mercy You have shown me. I truly am blessed by Your kindness and grace.
If you need to forgive someone, take it to the Lord. Don't wait for feelings, be obedient. It may not feel great at first, but it's what we are called to do.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Hedge, From Mom
Psalm 91 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name. When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.
Psalm 92 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim Your unfailing love in the morning, and Your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre. You thrill me, Lord, with all You have done for me! I sing for joy because of what You have done. O Lord, what great works You do! And how deep are Your thoughts. Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this: Thought the wicked sprout like weeks and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.
But You O Lord, will be exalted forever. Your enemies, Lord, will surely perish' and all evildoers will be scattered. But You have made me as strong as a wild ox. You have anointed me with the finest oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents. But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house. The flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, "the Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him!"
Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand you ground, putting on the belt of truth ad the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Lord, protect me, my loved ones, my church, my country. Lord I pray a hedge of protection, Your Word, around us.
From me:
Mom saw God's Word as our hedge of protection. In the above passage of Ephesians we are told to "take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Use it in prayer. It is a powerful offensive weapon for us believers. For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12
His Word is mighty. It is Who He is. When we stay in the Word, we stay in our Father. I also see other weapons here in God's Words. Faith, praise, thanksgiving, music, worship, speaking of the Lord's wonderful attributes, remembering His faithfulness, and His unfailing love, reminding ourselves, building up our faith in Him. All things we can do to defeat darkness, make Him our refuge, and overcome any evil that tries to trample us down. These are great Scriptures to take into our hearts. They will carry us through the toughest of circumstances. He is our refuge and His Word illuminates His heart to us. It truly is our hedge of protection.
Lord, thank You. You are my shelter, my refuge, my strong tower. When life hurts, when things are hard, I want to stay in that place. Protect us from the evil around us. Keep us in Your hands and Your heart and keep us in Your Word. I know Your are faithful to Your children and Your love never fails, even when all around is dark. You carry us through, You are our rock. I bless Your Name!!
Today, spend time thinking on these Scriptures...write them out, or parts of them, that touch your heart and carry those verses with you, looking at them throughout Your day. Make them part of you.
Psalm 92 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim Your unfailing love in the morning, and Your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre. You thrill me, Lord, with all You have done for me! I sing for joy because of what You have done. O Lord, what great works You do! And how deep are Your thoughts. Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this: Thought the wicked sprout like weeks and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.
But You O Lord, will be exalted forever. Your enemies, Lord, will surely perish' and all evildoers will be scattered. But You have made me as strong as a wild ox. You have anointed me with the finest oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents. But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house. The flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, "the Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him!"
Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand you ground, putting on the belt of truth ad the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Lord, protect me, my loved ones, my church, my country. Lord I pray a hedge of protection, Your Word, around us.
From me:
Mom saw God's Word as our hedge of protection. In the above passage of Ephesians we are told to "take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Use it in prayer. It is a powerful offensive weapon for us believers. For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12
His Word is mighty. It is Who He is. When we stay in the Word, we stay in our Father. I also see other weapons here in God's Words. Faith, praise, thanksgiving, music, worship, speaking of the Lord's wonderful attributes, remembering His faithfulness, and His unfailing love, reminding ourselves, building up our faith in Him. All things we can do to defeat darkness, make Him our refuge, and overcome any evil that tries to trample us down. These are great Scriptures to take into our hearts. They will carry us through the toughest of circumstances. He is our refuge and His Word illuminates His heart to us. It truly is our hedge of protection.
Lord, thank You. You are my shelter, my refuge, my strong tower. When life hurts, when things are hard, I want to stay in that place. Protect us from the evil around us. Keep us in Your hands and Your heart and keep us in Your Word. I know Your are faithful to Your children and Your love never fails, even when all around is dark. You carry us through, You are our rock. I bless Your Name!!
Today, spend time thinking on these Scriptures...write them out, or parts of them, that touch your heart and carry those verses with you, looking at them throughout Your day. Make them part of you.
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Come, Sit, Stay
We sang this song during worship on Sunday. In the words of this song I hear the drawing of the Lord, His love washing over a weary and worn out soul. It puts in my mind a beautiful picture of just sitting down with Jesus by the side of a well and staying there in His presence, getting the rest and restoration one needs so desperately. It's quiet here, the air is fresh, the world feels clean in His presence, the sunshine sparkles and warms. The troubles of the world, the weight of my heart just fades away as I let His refreshing love flow over me. My spirit calms, the quiet strength of the Lord brings peace.
As you listen to this song, allow this picture to fill your mind. Allow His love to flow into your tired, hurting areas. Rest in His presence. Wallow in His care for you. He desires to bring peace, healing, and revival to your soul.
Matthew 11:28 The Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
John 4:13-14 Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."
Worldly pursuits and pleasures can only bring temporary relief, un-lasting satisfaction, but the water Jesus gives is eternal, it never fades. He is true fulfillment, the only remedy for the brokenness we experience living in a broken world.
Lord, I want to sit at your feet, rest in Your presence. There is nothing more I need or desire. Wash away my tiredness. Renew my mind, heart, soul and spirit. I want, I need to remain in Your presence. There is no where else I'd rather be. It's so easy to get lost in the world, caught up in all it's activity and distraction. Bring me, all of us back to You. Let us take this refreshing water wherever we go and share it with those around us. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen
Take a few minutes to listen to this song. Think about sitting with the Lord and let His love wash over you. Even if you can't "feel" it, believe. There is never a time when His love doesn't surround us.
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