Luke 12:15-21
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (KJV)
Since my husband and I have been suffering a dramatic loss in our income I decided to research The Great Depression. As a young child I heard my parent’s tell stories about the Depression in 1929. It was our history and that is how I treated it -- as history. Never had I imagined that now we would be so close to where they were back then. Unemployment is now up to ten percent. During the Depression it was 13 percent. In those days there was no unemployment insurance so they could only guess at the numbers who were actually out of work. Today not everyone (including myself) receives unemployment compensation so that the ten percent is not quite accurate either.
The use of credit has allowed many of us to lay back and not be concerned that we owe someone else for our wants. A quote from a gentleman who lived through The Great Depression was “Never buy anything you can use – only what you can’t live without.” I can see now that I need to conform to this pattern that has been lost to me. Abuse of credit has permitted us to gather up possessions and then have them become part of our character. Can we only get by on what we cannot live without? Can we go back to the traditional values of yesterday?
As I watch my options unfold like wings of a bird I am beginning to take flight as I regard every dollar spent as a dollar lost forever. That is not a bad thing!! Being frugal can escalate into actually being able to help other people in need too. I have been careless over the years with my finances and do not mind admitting it. If I acknowledge my mistakes I can move on and correct them.
I have always heard people say that God’s laws were how our country was begun. Now with all the hate and discontent toward AIG and the other banks with their big pocketbooks and bonuses, I wonder how we fit into this mess. It hurts to know that I am going to a food bank for assistance while others get rewarded for their greed. Don’t we all have consequences for our wrong doing? The materialism that I have fallen into others have as well. Oh why didn’t we pay attention to the warning of God’s Word? Luke 12:15 Then he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions’” (NIV).
Heavenly Father, please forgive my disobedience to You. I have not followed your warning and have allowed greed into my life. You have promised to provide for me yet I wanted more. Holy Spirit I request that you hold my hand as I make the necessary changes in my life and be obedient to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A Decision
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Psalm 73:24
Thou shalt guide me with they counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
These past few days I have had to make a decision. This was not an extremely difficult decision, but one that I truly wanted to be the right decision. What I mean is that I wanted it to be a Holy Spirit decision, not one of my own. I had the opportunity to take a few days with this decision. I was up one night with it. I prayed and prayed, “please God let this be your will, your choice. I do not want to make any decisions without your guidance.”
I have read in the Bible (Isaiah 9) that one of the many names for Jesus is “Counselor”. It is my experience to have made some pretty bad decisions in my life. Now as I try not to be “conformed of this world” (Romans 12), I wish to go to God, the Holy Spirit within me, to receive supernatural guidance from above. Whoa, wait a minute here!! “Supernatural”? My non-Christian family and friends must think that I have lost it for sure. “Supernatural” always used to mean “out of this Earth” or “another planet“. Now as a Christian my belief is that “supernatural” means “Holy Spirit”. He is in me and is there to guide me. I must admit, many times I forget to go to Him for help. What a gift to have and I am crazy not use it! It’s one of those gifts that were given to me when I became a Christian and is not seen. I cannot see Him, but I know He is there.
In the Old Testament the Bible stated that this counselor would be coming. In the New Testament the Bible showed that He is here within us. The death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection precluded His gift of the Holy Spirit to reside in us.
So, getting back to my decision making: I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me in this decision. I did not hear anything, but I knew that I should wait. There was no rush to have an answer. I could not sleep well, I was thinking about the worse scenario of the decision. The next morning after praying and thinking about it, I spoke with my husband about it. His answer to me regarding the decision was different than it was the night before. Well, that made me wonder, is the decision beginning to fall into place? Then shortly after that, I heard in my thoughts that I should enlist the person who the decision is about to get the answer.
Well, doesn’t that sound simple to you? It sounded too easy to me. Shouldn’t there be more of an answer from the Holy Spirit? You know what I mean… like words? After I put into place what I was prompted to do, the decision was a clear as a bell. What a relief!! It may have taken two days to get the answer to my decision, but all the parts of the puzzle fit into place. I didn’t get the, do-do, do-do, do-do, do-do, “Twilight Zone” sort of answer since it was “supernatural”, but I had the answer to my decision because it was from God.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Psalm 73:24
Thou shalt guide me with they counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
These past few days I have had to make a decision. This was not an extremely difficult decision, but one that I truly wanted to be the right decision. What I mean is that I wanted it to be a Holy Spirit decision, not one of my own. I had the opportunity to take a few days with this decision. I was up one night with it. I prayed and prayed, “please God let this be your will, your choice. I do not want to make any decisions without your guidance.”
I have read in the Bible (Isaiah 9) that one of the many names for Jesus is “Counselor”. It is my experience to have made some pretty bad decisions in my life. Now as I try not to be “conformed of this world” (Romans 12), I wish to go to God, the Holy Spirit within me, to receive supernatural guidance from above. Whoa, wait a minute here!! “Supernatural”? My non-Christian family and friends must think that I have lost it for sure. “Supernatural” always used to mean “out of this Earth” or “another planet“. Now as a Christian my belief is that “supernatural” means “Holy Spirit”. He is in me and is there to guide me. I must admit, many times I forget to go to Him for help. What a gift to have and I am crazy not use it! It’s one of those gifts that were given to me when I became a Christian and is not seen. I cannot see Him, but I know He is there.
In the Old Testament the Bible stated that this counselor would be coming. In the New Testament the Bible showed that He is here within us. The death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection precluded His gift of the Holy Spirit to reside in us.
So, getting back to my decision making: I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me in this decision. I did not hear anything, but I knew that I should wait. There was no rush to have an answer. I could not sleep well, I was thinking about the worse scenario of the decision. The next morning after praying and thinking about it, I spoke with my husband about it. His answer to me regarding the decision was different than it was the night before. Well, that made me wonder, is the decision beginning to fall into place? Then shortly after that, I heard in my thoughts that I should enlist the person who the decision is about to get the answer.
Well, doesn’t that sound simple to you? It sounded too easy to me. Shouldn’t there be more of an answer from the Holy Spirit? You know what I mean… like words? After I put into place what I was prompted to do, the decision was a clear as a bell. What a relief!! It may have taken two days to get the answer to my decision, but all the parts of the puzzle fit into place. I didn’t get the, do-do, do-do, do-do, do-do, “Twilight Zone” sort of answer since it was “supernatural”, but I had the answer to my decision because it was from God.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Blanket of White
Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (NIV)
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (KJV)
Ryrie Study Bible - I will not blot out his name. Not a threat by an assurance that saved peoples’ names will always be in the book of life.
Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: white-not a dull white, but glittering, dazzling white [Grotius]. The body transfigured into the likeness of Christ's body, and emitting beams of light reflected from Him, is probably the "white raiment" promised here.
Today is filled with the snow-covered land of the eastern side of the United States. As I look outside it reminds me of a blanket of white. The snow covers up the dirty, soiled roads. When the snow melts it will wash most of the roads clean. This all brought my thinking to being so blessed to be able to look forward to eternity with my loving Father in Heaven.
The New Testament brings Jesus to us all. Some of us choose to read about Him or listen to words about Him. A day came to me ten years ago when I was at the end of my rope. I was not being the person that God or I wanted me to be. Up until then every where I turned it seemed that God was calling to me, but I was not ready to answer Him. The day that I answered Him I was driving down the road in an 18-wheeler. I had listened to a few cassette tapes that were recorded by a Southern Baptist preacher. I had picked up the cassettes free at a truck stop after stopping for a meal. Driving hour after hour in a big truck became boring after a while and I wanted to hear something that would pique my interest. That preacher brought me to my knees and I cried out to the Lord. I admitted to God that I was a sinner and believed that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I wanted to live in eternity with my Heavenly Father.
Well, now when I look back on that wonderful day I still know that my name is in the Lambs Book of Life and when this old body cannot go on any longer I will be with my God forever. While thinking of the blanket of snow, I looked up the definition of snow and the word “crystalline” stood out for me. Then looking in the Bible I can see that I will be wearing white (a dazzling white), similar to the crystalline snow. There will be no end for me because I am His child and I am His treasured possession. Wearing the white garment washed my sins away, like the snow.
Is being a Christian an easy way to live? Not really because I sin often and I must reach for the grace and mercy given to me by Him and learn from my mistakes. We are all human and not perfect so we will always sin. God’s promise to me is loving me no matter what I do and forgiving me no matter what I do. Best of all He is providing me an endless life with Him. Nobody can make good on these promises but God.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (KJV)
Ryrie Study Bible - I will not blot out his name. Not a threat by an assurance that saved peoples’ names will always be in the book of life.
Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: white-not a dull white, but glittering, dazzling white [Grotius]. The body transfigured into the likeness of Christ's body, and emitting beams of light reflected from Him, is probably the "white raiment" promised here.
Today is filled with the snow-covered land of the eastern side of the United States. As I look outside it reminds me of a blanket of white. The snow covers up the dirty, soiled roads. When the snow melts it will wash most of the roads clean. This all brought my thinking to being so blessed to be able to look forward to eternity with my loving Father in Heaven.
The New Testament brings Jesus to us all. Some of us choose to read about Him or listen to words about Him. A day came to me ten years ago when I was at the end of my rope. I was not being the person that God or I wanted me to be. Up until then every where I turned it seemed that God was calling to me, but I was not ready to answer Him. The day that I answered Him I was driving down the road in an 18-wheeler. I had listened to a few cassette tapes that were recorded by a Southern Baptist preacher. I had picked up the cassettes free at a truck stop after stopping for a meal. Driving hour after hour in a big truck became boring after a while and I wanted to hear something that would pique my interest. That preacher brought me to my knees and I cried out to the Lord. I admitted to God that I was a sinner and believed that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I wanted to live in eternity with my Heavenly Father.
Well, now when I look back on that wonderful day I still know that my name is in the Lambs Book of Life and when this old body cannot go on any longer I will be with my God forever. While thinking of the blanket of snow, I looked up the definition of snow and the word “crystalline” stood out for me. Then looking in the Bible I can see that I will be wearing white (a dazzling white), similar to the crystalline snow. There will be no end for me because I am His child and I am His treasured possession. Wearing the white garment washed my sins away, like the snow.
Is being a Christian an easy way to live? Not really because I sin often and I must reach for the grace and mercy given to me by Him and learn from my mistakes. We are all human and not perfect so we will always sin. God’s promise to me is loving me no matter what I do and forgiving me no matter what I do. Best of all He is providing me an endless life with Him. Nobody can make good on these promises but God.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Light Under the Closed Door
Luke 13: 22-25 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “
Revelation 3:8 comes to me, “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Oh God, what do I have to do to get that door to open? Will I be too late like in Luke 13 and not be able to have the door opened?
When I was a child I remember looking during the darkness of night at a closed door in my house. I could tell that someone was awake inside that room because under the door there was a light shining. It was just a tiny beacon that interrupted the night time but it still led me to think about how I was alone in the dark and on the other side of the door there was activity.
The light under the closed door is shining and giving me hope to continue praising God and getting into His Word. I cannot beg and plead to God over and over and over again without providing the fruit needed to open the door. I need to show Him that I love Him. Helping others and learning how to do for others is one way in which I can show the Lord that I love Him. Jesus was always a humble servant. Serving others is all about love. Praising God for all the good things in my life is another.
Now I am seeing the light under the closed door and I know there is life there. New opportunities are arising in my bleak life. Can I get my foot in the door if it is opened just a tiny bit? That will be my next step in this trying time of my life. I will move on forward in keeping my faith in Jesus. He is about to open the door and needs to pry it open since it has been closed for some time. Of course, God doesn’t require my help to do this but I need His help to show me how.
My excitement is building up to see what is on the other side of the door.
Revelation 3:8 comes to me, “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Oh God, what do I have to do to get that door to open? Will I be too late like in Luke 13 and not be able to have the door opened?
When I was a child I remember looking during the darkness of night at a closed door in my house. I could tell that someone was awake inside that room because under the door there was a light shining. It was just a tiny beacon that interrupted the night time but it still led me to think about how I was alone in the dark and on the other side of the door there was activity.
The light under the closed door is shining and giving me hope to continue praising God and getting into His Word. I cannot beg and plead to God over and over and over again without providing the fruit needed to open the door. I need to show Him that I love Him. Helping others and learning how to do for others is one way in which I can show the Lord that I love Him. Jesus was always a humble servant. Serving others is all about love. Praising God for all the good things in my life is another.
Now I am seeing the light under the closed door and I know there is life there. New opportunities are arising in my bleak life. Can I get my foot in the door if it is opened just a tiny bit? That will be my next step in this trying time of my life. I will move on forward in keeping my faith in Jesus. He is about to open the door and needs to pry it open since it has been closed for some time. Of course, God doesn’t require my help to do this but I need His help to show me how.
My excitement is building up to see what is on the other side of the door.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Hope
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (NIV)
Ryrie Study Bible Notes: Suffering produces good results in the believer’s life, patience, endurance, maketh not ashamed. Does not disappoint or deceive.
Suffering? Do I want to suffer? Nah, no way!! Suffering is not my deal. Now, because I do not want to suffer doesn’t mean that I will not. There are so many forms of suffering.
Okay, here comes the Webster’s definition: To feel pain or distress. To sustain loss, injury or detriment.
Let me see… do I feel pain, distress? No, I do not really feel pain or distress. Oh, yes, I did sustain a loss. I lost my job or was laid off for “financial reasons”. As a matter of fact, my husband, Matt, lost his full time job too. He is working part time. All right, now I have established the fact that I am suffering. Ugh! I still do not like the word “suffer”. It really freaks me out.
Each day Matt and I get on the Internet and apply for jobs. Unfortunately we do not get unemployment insurance. So that’s where another loss comes into play. We have lost the income we used to have that pays our bills. We have learned perseverance that we need to find work. Therefore over and over again we repeat the same steps of sending out resumes, selling our expertise and accomplishments.
I will not give up because I am the daughter of the Most High God and I know He will take care of me… He promised. What builds my character is that I must reach inside for the Holy Spirit to continually guide me and I must repeatedly reach up for His hand to hold especially in my situation now. I cannot stand the thought of suffering. I do suffer when I cannot pay my bills. I must be humble to accept financial blessings from others. I would much rather be blessing others.
I do not know where God is taking Matt and I. What I do know is that I feel badly for people who cannot get through one day without being frightened about their future. I must rely totally on God to get me through these days. I have hope because He has promised to get me through this and it will be in His time. Of course, we always hear that His time is different than our time.
So Lord, I am waiting on You and Your time when it is right. I know that I am Yours and I am so grateful for that. I am thankful that you sent your Son to die for my sins so that I could be forgiven and choose to follow you, Lord Jesus, into eternity.
Ryrie Study Bible Notes: Suffering produces good results in the believer’s life, patience, endurance, maketh not ashamed. Does not disappoint or deceive.
Suffering? Do I want to suffer? Nah, no way!! Suffering is not my deal. Now, because I do not want to suffer doesn’t mean that I will not. There are so many forms of suffering.
Okay, here comes the Webster’s definition: To feel pain or distress. To sustain loss, injury or detriment.
Let me see… do I feel pain, distress? No, I do not really feel pain or distress. Oh, yes, I did sustain a loss. I lost my job or was laid off for “financial reasons”. As a matter of fact, my husband, Matt, lost his full time job too. He is working part time. All right, now I have established the fact that I am suffering. Ugh! I still do not like the word “suffer”. It really freaks me out.
Each day Matt and I get on the Internet and apply for jobs. Unfortunately we do not get unemployment insurance. So that’s where another loss comes into play. We have lost the income we used to have that pays our bills. We have learned perseverance that we need to find work. Therefore over and over again we repeat the same steps of sending out resumes, selling our expertise and accomplishments.
I will not give up because I am the daughter of the Most High God and I know He will take care of me… He promised. What builds my character is that I must reach inside for the Holy Spirit to continually guide me and I must repeatedly reach up for His hand to hold especially in my situation now. I cannot stand the thought of suffering. I do suffer when I cannot pay my bills. I must be humble to accept financial blessings from others. I would much rather be blessing others.
I do not know where God is taking Matt and I. What I do know is that I feel badly for people who cannot get through one day without being frightened about their future. I must rely totally on God to get me through these days. I have hope because He has promised to get me through this and it will be in His time. Of course, we always hear that His time is different than our time.
So Lord, I am waiting on You and Your time when it is right. I know that I am Yours and I am so grateful for that. I am thankful that you sent your Son to die for my sins so that I could be forgiven and choose to follow you, Lord Jesus, into eternity.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009 Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
These scriptures are ways that I wish to live my life. I want to always put God first, be kind and humble and forgive immediately what others have done against me. If I remember to love there will not be the problems in my life as there have been in my past. “Peace” is something that will be there if all the other things I have mentioned have fallen into place. Without those things in my life there will be no peace. I feel peace now that my husband and I have moved on in our lives. I feel peace about those that forced the issue to have me leave my job. These were people who “enabled limitations” to how I should do God’s work. There was no encouragement to use our gifts to further God’s work.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Ryrie Study Bible - All Scripture is given by inspiration. I.E., the Bible came from God through the men who wrote it. God superintended these human authors so that, using their individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error God’s Word to man. Christ attested to the fact that inspiration extends to those very words… Scripture is useful for doctrine (teaching), reproof (rebuking those in sin), correction of those in error, and instruction (training) in righteousness.
This scripture is so important to me and others who need reassurance about God’s will for life. All scripture is God-breathed and is our guide. Reading the Word is following a plan for our lives with confidence as we set goals. As I read the Bible I need to take it in and continually have it point me in the direction that God wants me to go in.
1 John 2:27 KJV But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Ryrie Study Bible - Ye need not that any man teach you. The Spirit whom they had received would teach them how to distinguish truth from error. The Spirit may use a human teacher to accomplish this.
I will need to remember to use the Holy Spirit within me to quicken me to see when someone is not being truthful with me and that I should be aware of them. This has happened to me personally when I have trusted a family member to be honest with me and found out that they had not. The Holy Spirit in me made me alert to some things going on that I had to be aware of. I thanked God for opening my eyes to this dishonesty so that I could pray about it and not be fooled.
Jeremiah 23 - Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture! declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people. Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done, declared the Lord. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing, declares the Lord.
This Bible scripture showed to me how much we are loved by God. He will stand up for us and gather us up if we have been driven away and place us where we can be nurtured, healed and loved by Him through others. Isn't it wonderful to be able to sit back and be gathered up in Jesus' arms and be soothed and calmed?
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
These scriptures are ways that I wish to live my life. I want to always put God first, be kind and humble and forgive immediately what others have done against me. If I remember to love there will not be the problems in my life as there have been in my past. “Peace” is something that will be there if all the other things I have mentioned have fallen into place. Without those things in my life there will be no peace. I feel peace now that my husband and I have moved on in our lives. I feel peace about those that forced the issue to have me leave my job. These were people who “enabled limitations” to how I should do God’s work. There was no encouragement to use our gifts to further God’s work.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Ryrie Study Bible - All Scripture is given by inspiration. I.E., the Bible came from God through the men who wrote it. God superintended these human authors so that, using their individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error God’s Word to man. Christ attested to the fact that inspiration extends to those very words… Scripture is useful for doctrine (teaching), reproof (rebuking those in sin), correction of those in error, and instruction (training) in righteousness.
This scripture is so important to me and others who need reassurance about God’s will for life. All scripture is God-breathed and is our guide. Reading the Word is following a plan for our lives with confidence as we set goals. As I read the Bible I need to take it in and continually have it point me in the direction that God wants me to go in.
1 John 2:27 KJV But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Ryrie Study Bible - Ye need not that any man teach you. The Spirit whom they had received would teach them how to distinguish truth from error. The Spirit may use a human teacher to accomplish this.
I will need to remember to use the Holy Spirit within me to quicken me to see when someone is not being truthful with me and that I should be aware of them. This has happened to me personally when I have trusted a family member to be honest with me and found out that they had not. The Holy Spirit in me made me alert to some things going on that I had to be aware of. I thanked God for opening my eyes to this dishonesty so that I could pray about it and not be fooled.
Jeremiah 23 - Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture! declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people. Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done, declared the Lord. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing, declares the Lord.
This Bible scripture showed to me how much we are loved by God. He will stand up for us and gather us up if we have been driven away and place us where we can be nurtured, healed and loved by Him through others. Isn't it wonderful to be able to sit back and be gathered up in Jesus' arms and be soothed and calmed?
Friday, January 2, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009 Revelation 3:8
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
I am still thinking of the door that God has opened for Matt and I. That is so awesome to think that He would do that for us. God has to know from our prayers and our hearts that we look to serve others. We do have little strength and do rely upon Him where any decisions need to be made. God has worked wonders in my ever changing personality to reflect Him so that others will want Him too. I make a lot of mistakes and realize that, but I do turn to the Lord to change my heart and learn from my mistakes.
Today Matt and I went to a funeral service. The man was a church member and was Matt’s teacher in high school. The pastors were there. One pastor in particular cried as he spoke fondly about the man who passed on. He had visited with him often and saw the pain the man went through. The pastor knew that God walked through the pain with the man. He said it was okay to mourn and weep because they missed the man so much. He said to celebrate because the man is now walking in streets of gold and is happy and would never want to come back. Of course I thought about Daddy and how he is dancing and clicking his heels for joy that he is in heaven with God.
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
It is so sad especially when attending a funeral service to see those who may not be truly born again. They appear to be by some of their actions but they are not living the life of a blood washed creation of Jesus. Sometimes they even fool themselves. God must be first in our lives as we seek Him to continually change us to what He wants us to be.
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
I am still thinking of the door that God has opened for Matt and I. That is so awesome to think that He would do that for us. God has to know from our prayers and our hearts that we look to serve others. We do have little strength and do rely upon Him where any decisions need to be made. God has worked wonders in my ever changing personality to reflect Him so that others will want Him too. I make a lot of mistakes and realize that, but I do turn to the Lord to change my heart and learn from my mistakes.
Today Matt and I went to a funeral service. The man was a church member and was Matt’s teacher in high school. The pastors were there. One pastor in particular cried as he spoke fondly about the man who passed on. He had visited with him often and saw the pain the man went through. The pastor knew that God walked through the pain with the man. He said it was okay to mourn and weep because they missed the man so much. He said to celebrate because the man is now walking in streets of gold and is happy and would never want to come back. Of course I thought about Daddy and how he is dancing and clicking his heels for joy that he is in heaven with God.
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
It is so sad especially when attending a funeral service to see those who may not be truly born again. They appear to be by some of their actions but they are not living the life of a blood washed creation of Jesus. Sometimes they even fool themselves. God must be first in our lives as we seek Him to continually change us to what He wants us to be.
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