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.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
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.
New Years Day 2009
Thursday, New Year’s Day 2009
(All scripture is from NIV Bible unless otherwise stated)
Revelation 3:7-13
7 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 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. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Today we are watching part of Mummer’s Parade and I have a pork roast in the oven. We will make mashed potatoes and have sauerkraut that is a traditional meal in this area of Pennsylvania.
When checking email this morning I found that a friend had written to me. He wrote, "I am sure that as one door closes, GOD opens a great door and is effectually opened unto us. A door is in front of you and I believe in my heart that it is open unto you. Seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be open. Trust that our LORD has not brought you this far, to abandon you." After reading the email it touched me so much that I cried. I felt that God had sent this message to encourage Matt and I.
Matt lost his part time job a few months ago. He had worked at home to supplement that income. He has been applying for full time work every day since then. There is no unemployment for Matt. Then on top of that, I was recently laid off from my full time job. I was told I was laid off for financial reasons and they could no longer pay for me or my health insurance. Also, there would be no unemployment insurance for me because the employer did not remove unemployment from my checks. This was all devastating news for myself and Matt.
Later that day, I remembered that I had prayed to the Lord to take me out of that job. I had become unhappy and disenchanted with the authority laden structure. Being a child of God, I sought to serve others and felt held back from doing so. God heard my prayer and used whoever He had to use to get me out of that situation. He answered my prayer!!
So now I have forgiven those that decided my employment should end. This situation all became picture-perfectly clear to me. I am happy and cannot wait to see where God is taking Matt and I next.
(All scripture is from NIV Bible unless otherwise stated)
Revelation 3:7-13
7 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 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. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Today we are watching part of Mummer’s Parade and I have a pork roast in the oven. We will make mashed potatoes and have sauerkraut that is a traditional meal in this area of Pennsylvania.
When checking email this morning I found that a friend had written to me. He wrote, "I am sure that as one door closes, GOD opens a great door and is effectually opened unto us. A door is in front of you and I believe in my heart that it is open unto you. Seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be open. Trust that our LORD has not brought you this far, to abandon you." After reading the email it touched me so much that I cried. I felt that God had sent this message to encourage Matt and I.
Matt lost his part time job a few months ago. He had worked at home to supplement that income. He has been applying for full time work every day since then. There is no unemployment for Matt. Then on top of that, I was recently laid off from my full time job. I was told I was laid off for financial reasons and they could no longer pay for me or my health insurance. Also, there would be no unemployment insurance for me because the employer did not remove unemployment from my checks. This was all devastating news for myself and Matt.
Later that day, I remembered that I had prayed to the Lord to take me out of that job. I had become unhappy and disenchanted with the authority laden structure. Being a child of God, I sought to serve others and felt held back from doing so. God heard my prayer and used whoever He had to use to get me out of that situation. He answered my prayer!!
So now I have forgiven those that decided my employment should end. This situation all became picture-perfectly clear to me. I am happy and cannot wait to see where God is taking Matt and I next.
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