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Hardhearted
Published August 12, 2008Ezekiel 34:16 (AMP)
I will seek that which was lost and bring back that which has strayed, and I will bandage the hurt and the crippled and will strengthen the weak and the
sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hardhearted and perverse]; I will feed them with judgment and punishment.
No matter who you are, God will take care of you. Whatever our needs, they will be met. In Him, we have all sufficiency.
We need to concern ourselves with making sure others get what they”deserve”. Who are we to know what that might be? But God does know. He will
determine what should be done to/for whom.
No matter the ways you are being tried or attacked, God has already planned to meet your needs. Our focus and concern needs to stay on living His Word.
It is important to understand that looking to get even is wrong. Letting someone know they have behaved off the Word is an act of love. When you are attacked by people, we need to remember they are influenced by the adversary. It is ok to be angry, it is even ok to protect yourself. But they are in need of God’s love
If you feel you are under an attack from the adversary, read Ezekiel 34. Let it bring you peace and understanding in this area. I believe that this chapter holds much understanding as to the “why’s”. It has always been easier for me to do something when I’ve understood the reasons behind it. I hope that it does the same for you.
Giving Of Ourselves To Others
Published August 12, 2008Our calling of service is explained in 2 Corinthians 9 (King James Version).
2 Corinthians 9 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
1For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Gentle As Doves
Published August 12, 2008Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
The world can be a nasty place. But just because we live in it, doesn’t mean we have to be of it. Through Christ, we have a calling to be above all that the word wants of us.
While we go out doing His will we share His love with gentleness and kindness. We are approachable, not above others. As if you feel you are better then anyone else it means we are judging and that is not our place.
However, God does want us to be careful. We need to not make choices which take us away from Him. We need to determine who and what helps us stay close to Him and what negatively influences us.
There is a difference between judging people to label them and in determining what/who we should/should not allow influence us. It is God’s place and His alone to judge as the Bible tell us.
Think of the term “passing judgment”. When people judge, it is often to place blame or determine a person’s worth according to their own beliefs. Who are we to determine a person’s worth.
As people, we are all flawed and imperfect. (think of “let he without sin cast the first stone”). In God’s eyes we all have value. When we need to make decisions about who/want we associate with, there is loving kindness involved. No condemnation, no passing judgment, only a decision.
So go out as gentle doves, remaining approachable, as one day the person/situation you once determined to be a negative influence, may turn around and be won over by your Godly lifestyle.
Queen of Foolish & Weak Things
Published August 12, 2008I have decided that I want to be the Queen of the idiots…or kindly said….of the Foolish and Weak Things.
I have an overwhelming desire to open myself up for God to use my life for His will.
Sometimes I feel so inadequate to fulfill the calling Father has placed on my life.
But it is in my weakness that He is made strong. I want to submit myself fully and in all things to His Holy Will. And if I must be a complete fool to do so, then so be it!!!
1 Corinthians 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
There are some areas in life that seem to come so easily to me to submit myself under His will. Many people are even amazed at times because they tend to be what people perceive as the “big things”. But why, when it comes to everyday things, do I tend to want to do things my way? Who do I presume to know better then He?
What is funny (in a not so funny way) is that this attitude is a peeve of mine. My oldest son is a huge help to me, our family and our ministry. Every so often he will determine that the instructions or boundaries I gave him within a particular responsibility are not as efficient as his way. Doesn’t he realize that the instruction I gave him was for his own good? Doesn’t he know that the task is a little more difficult this way but it will bless him abundantly in the long run? How many times Father must have said that to me, but I didn’t want to hear it. It doesn’t matter that it was in yet another area He is refining me in and that I’ve been through this for what seems to be a million times already.
Father, refine away!!!! I submit fully to You in every way. If I dare try my own way, please knock some sense into me!
Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts .
What Is Your Faith Worth?
Published August 12, 2008This may seem like a silly question but far too many people, Christians included, have relied on others to tell them what to believe.
It is wonderful if, as a new Christian, you have someone to guide you; a person who will open the Bible and show you where to find the answers and even help you learn how to study. But you can’t stay that way forever.
I realized I couldn’t remember why I believed certain things. These were things taught when I was fresh in the Word. It was a time when any research that lasted more then a couple hours must have been exhaustive, at least in my mind.
In addition to spiritual growth, there are many reasons why we need to make each Biblical lesson our own. Many feel that Faith, Trust and Believing are one and the same. Our faith is given because we trust God. We trust God because we believe in His Word. But what do you believe? And more importantly, why do you believe it? I know that I am accountable for my believing. So, why would I take someone’s word for it instead of making the Word my own?
Making the Word your own does not mean private interpretation. What it means is that we must study the word in order to be sure that it is rightly divided and to the point that we “get it”. ( 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.) In my experience, every single study I have done to completion has always resulted in a “I got it” moment. That’s the moment when it all makes sense to you and you know the spirit of God is saying…Yes!
The Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). This of course is completely true. We are called to witness. As such, most people will hear the Word from our lips. Isn’t it important that the Words we speak be rightly divided so that we bring others into truth?
So what I am asking you today is…What is your faith worth? Do you have first hand knowledge of what the Bible says or did you let someone show you and just took their word for it? Isn’t it possible that as humans we are wrong sometimes? Isn’t it possible that God has something new to reveal to you? Don’t you want to be able to say “Father, I searched Your Word, I strived to understand You and Your Will with all that I am”.
This is not to say that all those who share the Word have bad intentions. Not at all! But the adversary can more easily fool us by making it appear good then by making it obviously bad. How many of you would go out and commit sin full well knowing how hurtful your actions are? How many of you, unknowingly, did something that hurt someone but didn’t know it until after you got the facts? This is what I am talking about.
We need to know that we know that we know the Word for ourselves. We can not be spoon-fed and self-feeding. We can not go out into this evil world standing boldly on the Word when we don’t really know it. It is not wise to build a house without some type of foundation. It is only a matter of time before the house weakens and collapses. We need the Word and we need first hand study. We live in a world with so many false teachings and so many half-truths to steal us from our Father.
My Lord is my rock, what an awesome foundation I aim to claim!
May God bring you to His truth.
Below are some verses I felt led to share. All are in KJV.
Proverbs 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (we don’t know the depth of our faith until we are tested).
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:3
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Whole chapter is awesome!)
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Romans 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Every Bird
Published August 12, 2008“God Gives every bird it’s food, but He does not throw it into it’s nest.”
I read this in an email this morning and it just stuck with me. You know that saying, “Where God guides, He provides”? It implies action. Guiding is leading. Leading is moving. Moving is an action. In order to be lead, we must follow. Again, an action that must be taken. God can provide for us abundantly, but what good is it if we don’t take the steps to receive those gifts?
Much like in Luke 8:15, (But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.), we have a responsibility to take the steps
needed in order to receive. How can you expect to get a job if you do not look for one? How does a house get cleaned if we sit and watch tv all day? How can
you find your lost house keys if you don’t look for them? (And don’t say “By having my kids do it” lol).
It could be giving of yourself in service, it could be making a phone call, it could be applying for a job.
What ever it is, it does require you to act. God will never make that action required more then you can do. He may make the means available to act in a way
you would otherwise not be able to accomplish, but He will never make it an impossible task. You have to show your commitment to it and then the pieces will fall into place.
God Acts With A Purpose
Published August 12, 2008Isaiah 55:10-11
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may
give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in
the thing whereto I sent it.
This was in the signature line of an email I received today. I’ve always focused on verse 9, (For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.), but today, this verse just really spoke to me.
God’s actions always produce good fruit. He never leads us somewhere to have a negative result. The results are beneficial on many levels. It is much like
teaching a man to fish instead of just giving him a fish for dinner. He gives us the tools to not only succeed for the moment, but to make a lifetime of
success.
Whatever area God is blessing you in, remember that it is not just for today. It is for always. Just as in Isaiah’s example, we can have a watered flower,
but the seeds need harvesting, planting, harvesting of crops and then preparation into food. As long as we continue to nurture the seeds God has given us, they can perpetuate and grow endlessly.
Accepting Forgiveness
Published August 12, 2008Ecclesiastes 7:20
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
We are only human. No matter how hard we try, there will just be times that we will break fellowship with God. And He knows that. Aside from Christ, no one has been able to live a perfectly sinless life.
That is why Christ’s life and death were so important.
In the Garden of Eden we had lost our perfect bond with God. Christ bought us back. Christ’s life and death were payment for our sins. He made it possible for us to have a wonderful bond with our Heavenly Father. Christ in us would not be possible without Jesus. Could you imagine what life without that small, still voice might be like?
Fortunately we don’t have to.
I know from personal experience it is easier said then done, but beating yourself up over every little break of fellowship only keeps us from God longer. We need to realize what we did, be truly remorseful and **accept His forgiveness**. Then He can work on healing our lives so that we do not fall prey to the same sin.
God gives us His forgiveness freely. But we must take it or we become stagnant, unable to advance and move beyond. If God doesn’t condemn us, why should we hold onto condemnation?
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