God My Treasure

2008-12-28T14:58:00.001-06:00

HOW SWEET

ALL AT ONCE IT WAS FOR ME
to be rid of those fruitless joys
which I had once feared to lose!..
You drove them from me,
you who are the true,
the sovereign joy.

You drove them from me and took their place,
you who are sweeter than all pleasure...

O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth,
and my Salvation.

Augustine
Confessions, IX, I.

A very Special verse :)

2008-12-28T13:35:00.001-06:00

"I have esteemed the words of HIS mouth MORE than my necessary food." Job 23:12b

How I Sometimes Meditate in the Word

2008-12-27T21:03:00.008-06:00

So HOW has God ordained that we should be made holy, purified, consecrated? By eating his WORD. :)

It comes through the careful STUDY of WORDS - God's WORDS. As we imbibe His words and their meanings, God works surrender in our hearts and a sweet EXPERIENCE WITH HIM.

Jesus said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy WORD is truth"(Jn.17:17), so those who are REALLY in the WORD have a special promise and assurance from God that they have an everlasting INHERITANCE (possession) of HIM and that they are being slowly sanctified.

Let me explain HOW I sometimes "meditate". Perhaps you will find my method helpful in your study as well.

First, I usually take a passage, and then I take one verse at a time (usually just one or two a day). I have a Thompson Chain Reference Bible, so it has little topics by each verse about what that verse is about. I enjoy looking up the verses that deal with that topic. You could probably use a Topical Bible to do this as well.

Then I look up "Key" words in that verse in the Strong's Concordance. Finding the meanings is REALLY INTERESTING sometimes! Then I take the verse and pray it to God and usually apply it to my life for that day in whatever I'm going through. Application to life is what makes Bible Study so much FUN, isn't it?

The best way to get the most out of this is to open your own Bible and read the verse or verses and look for the KEY words and "meditate" or "chew" on those words yourself BEFORE you read how God has blessed me with them.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts and how God is applying them to your life as well today!

Originally I walked through whole Psalms, and it seemed like God kept bringing circumstances in my life to line up exactly with the verse for the day. It was amazing! But then we DO have an amazing God! :) Don't we?

Narrow Way

2008-12-26T19:37:00.004-06:00

This morning I'm thinking about the "narrow way"....

And wondering just HOW narrow this is....
Thinking maybe it is more narrow than we even realize.

Slipppery Places

2008-12-26T19:30:00.006-06:00

There is this old log that fell a few years ago in an ice storm, I think. The bark is mostly peeled off now, and this is my favoriteplace to pray. I walk the log while I pray. :)

Well, several times I have slipped on this log. This morning there was a gentle, summer rain...so I took off my shoes and walked the log in the rain. :) I knew very well that I MUST be VERY careful. Well, I did slip several times, but I didn't fall or
anything....PTL! :)

The Lord brought to my mind how desperately "slippery" it is to live in this 21st century world. So many temptations....so many fiery darts from the enemy....so many places where we could easily slip and fall and get off the "narrow path". I indeed believe we are in atime of "deception" where even so called "Christians" could easily encourage us in the wrong way and cause us to "slip and fall".

As I walked this wet log this morning in the rain, I realized that we as 21st century Christians cannot just "skip along this log of life". We must be very careful where we step and how we step.

II Tim. 3:1-5

2008-12-26T19:28:00.007-06:00

I can't get this passage off my mind. :)

I went through and looked up each of the words in Strong's. Some of the interesting definitions that I think we (at least I do) as conservative Christians need to be aware of are:

Lovers of their own selves (fond of self-i.e. selfish)

Proud (appearing above others)

Unholy (don't have a definition here, but what is "unholiness? It is more than just dressing immodestly, going to the wrong places, listening to the wrong things, etc. It is a matter of the heart.)

Would love to hear YOUR definition of "holiness" and "unholiness". :)

Without natural affection (hard-hearted toward kindred)

False accusers (slanderers)

Incontinent (without self-control...thinking of fellowship dinners and sweets here)

Highminded (...inflate with self-conceit - be lifted up with pride)

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Any of us could be guilty of some of these things in this list and could be easily shunned by others. I think we always need to remember that even if a brother or sister is caught in one of these sins...even if it is a besetting one, that if their attitude is one of true sorrow and repentance and desire to overcome, that we need to be patient and help them along with prayer and encouragement.

The whole list, including the things I didn't mention, though, seem to be very characteristic of many of the worldly churches of our day....with no understanding of truth or repentance for these sins. If a whole church or denomination tends to carry these characteristics, should we be a part of a church like this?

The most interesting part of the passage, I think, is "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God". I think this is IT in a nutshell.

When I looked up the word "pleasure", it said, "a spurious brother, i.e. pretended associate:- false brethren".

Interesting, huh?

I wanted to elaborate a little more on this "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God". I think we can be so concerned about our work, our families, etc. that even THIS sometimes becomes our pleasure...and something that we put ahead of God. We must be careful.

I Jn. 1:6-7

2008-12-26T19:26:00.007-06:00

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in DARKNESS, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we WALK IN THE LIGHT, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." I Jn. 1:6-7

What does it mean to walk in darkness?

What does it mean to walk in the light?

When I looked up the word "darkness" in Strong's, it used the words "dimness" and "obscurity". This made me think of what it's like at twilight. It's not clearly dark yet, but it is certainly getting there. It's not "black" or "white"; it's gray!

We know what are clearly the "DARK" things...things that are definitely WRONG.

But here it seems to me that even those things we aren't quite sure about...the "gray areas" are really in DARKNESS. What do you think????

I thought some of the definitions of "light" were very interesting, too....."to shine or make manifest...rays...luminousness."

We are to SHINE....to be a light....to always be a POSITIVE influence for GOOD.

Let us walk in what is clearly LIGHT...and be a witness to others!

2 Thoughts

2008-12-26T19:24:00.005-06:00

From a sermon by Dr. Spense...

"The pure in heart shall SEE God. If there is no purity, there is 'FOG'."

If we want to understand God's Word and what it means and not be "blind", we need to work on purity and full surrender to God. Yes?

Another quote by Spense (basically)...

Heb. 12:14-

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

We must follow peace and holiness! But "don't let peace cause compromise..... because you have to pursue holiness, too! Holiness.....that is the protection of following peace with all men!"

Would love to hear your comments on these quotes. :)

Meditation on the WORD is VERY IMPORTANT

2008-12-26T19:23:00.005-06:00

I heard a message awhile back that talked about how our thoughts are very important....for what we think we will become. If we want to become godly people, then we need to be thinking thoughts of God.

Of course we know this, but it just really made me stop and think
once again....

Meditation on the Word is so important...

Spiritual Deception and Apostacy

2008-12-26T19:21:00.005-06:00

Our "family devotion" this morning was from II Peter 2. It's the passage that talks about false teachers and such... I think there are many false teachers in the church these days...

Spiritual Deception and Apostacy are here. Would you agree?

One of the main "false teachings" in Christianity is a Christianity that is devoid of the teachings of sanctification and holiness. It seems that most people don't focus on holiness as Heb.12:14 says we should. Do you find this to be true?

The verse that really stuck out to me from II Pet. 2 was verse 7... " And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked..."

The word "vexed" means "to labor down, i.e. wear with toil (fig. harass) :-oppress, vex."

Verse 8 says, "(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

"Vexed" in this verse means "to torture:-pain, toil, torment, toss, vex".

Interesting definition.... :)

This is how I feel sometimes when I overhear "Christian rock" music...

Or when I get a glimpse of a section of movie...

The Spirit within me does not "bear witness" with such...It grieves me terribly.The irreverence and the worldliness of such is a "torment" to my spirit. Do any of you feel this way?

Have you ever done a "music fast"? I have heard it said that if we were to do a total "music fast" for awhile...and then perhaps bring out some of the stuff we have heard before, we would feel "shocked".....

I Pet. 4:1

2008-12-26T19:12:00.007-06:00

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;" I Pet. 4:1

Having the same mind as Christ...

A willingness to suffer...

A ceasing from sin in the sense that we are truly surrendered...

We think of Christ's physical sufferings and can often share with Him in this way...

We think of the sufferings of persecution, too, and the scriptures say that a godly person SHALL suffer persecution....

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." II Tim. 3:12

Are we suffering for our faith?

I've been thinking recently also about all the mental and emotional pain that Christ suffered...the emotional pain of his best friends forsaking him, the emotional pain of separation from the Father He loved, etc....

Emotional pain is difficult..."Hurts" that come from those we love the most here on earth are the hardest to bear...Family and friends who hurt us with their words and actions...This is PAIN indeed!

But Jesus understands the pain...

And we are sharing in His sufferings when we have this kind of deep,emotional pain, too...

We are to have the SAME MIND as Christ....a willingness to suffer for truth....a willingness to go deep with God although we may be going it all alone...a willingness to suffer the "hurts" when there is lack of spiritual oneness....

It says in this verse that we are to "arm" ourselves with the same mind as Christ. The word "arm" means "to equip with weapons", and this makes me think of the spiritual warfare of Eph. 6:11-18....

"girt about with truth....the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, ...helmet of salvation...the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God....

And above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

I often think of this shield of faith....It's so easy to misplace or lose it in the midst of battle, but it's the thing that will quench the fiery darts. Praise the Lord! Let's take it up again if we've lost it!

Habakkuk 3:17

2008-12-26T19:11:00.008-06:00

I know this passage is usually taken literally, but I like to look at it spiritually. Please forgive me if my interpretation is stretching
it a little, but this is how it spoke to me today. :)

Although the fig tree shall not blossom.... (The church here in America is not blossoming spiritually...and is seems that very few seem to be much
interested in spiritual things.)

Neither shall fruit be in the vine... (Where is the "fruit" and the zeal in Christian's lives? We all seem to be so dead....)

The labor of the olive fail... ( Olive oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Where is the real power of the Holy Spirit in our lives! How
I long for real revival!)

And the field shall yield no meat... (Where are the Christians who are dining on the "meat of the Word" and sharing it with others daily?)

The flock shall be cut off from the fold... ( Growing apostacy....Professing Christians who are turning to the world.)

And there shall be no herd in the stalls.... (Very few Christians I know who are seeking true holiness and "feeding at Jesus' feet"
daily....in the stalls.)

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Yet maybe I shall find a number of ya'll reading here????? I hope so...because I need encouragement, too...to stay in the Word. :)

Let us stir ourselves to be in the Word daily and to share our "meditations" with one another! :)

A Thought?

2008-12-26T19:08:00.008-06:00

"For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, UNDEFILED, SEPARATE from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Heb. 7:26

Jesus obviously met with sinners and talked with them, yet he was undefiled and "separate" from them.

When I'm around people who curse and swear and do "dirty" things and use dirty language and dress disgustingly, I FEEL defiled. But not as much so if I am positively there to talk to them and help them towards the Savior. I wonder if that's how we KEEP ourselves from being defiled in such a situation? So is this why most movies are totally DEFILING? Because we would be "communing" with the sinners in the movie, yet there is no way to make a positive influence/witness for the Savior in such a situation.

I Tim. 4:15-16

2008-12-26T18:58:00.004-06:00

"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." I Tim. 4:15-16

I think the progression here is interesting. In being able to truly help someone spiritually, the first step is "meditation" in the Word.

"Meditate" means "to take care of - revolve in the mind..."

REVOLVE IN THE MIND....

Think through the issues. Ask the questions. Search for answers. Meditate!

Then...give thyself WHOLLY to the scriptures! WHOLLY...COMPLETELY! Let God and His Word be your LIFE! Let it CHANGE your life! :)

Why? So that thy PROFITING (i.e. progress, advancement in the kingdom of God) will appear to all. So that others will SEE that the scriptures are changing your life and making you a holy person!

And the EXAMPLE of a life lived with true and holy doctrine....the example of a life lived saturated and changed by the holy Word of God....will change the lives of others, too! Amen!

Idols......

2008-12-26T18:45:00.013-06:00

I was reading in Ezekiel today....

20:7..."Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt..."

23:39..."...they had slain their children to their idols..."

That last verse there really stuck out to me this morning...

People have idols of various sorts including movies/T.V./music, etc. and they have stumbled their children...

SLAIN their children to their IDOLS....

May God have mercy on the little ones....

Going Alone

2008-12-26T18:45:00.012-06:00

Have your life in God....not in people!......

Something I need to remember.....

But it is so hard going alone at times...

I've been discouraged in the past as there aren't many people that really want to talk about spiritual things. It use to grieve me so much...as I shared and shared my "meditations" but rarely was anyone really interested.

There is a difference between talking theology and talking "walk with God". I want to talk with people about their walk with God and how He is holding them and helping them and ministering to them. But very few people talk much about their "walk with God". Maybe it's because they don't really have much of one???

I use to grieve so... that we could hear a good sermon and then afterwards everyone would be talking about football or recipes or schooling or whatever else under the sun...but not about the sermon or about the Lord....or about what God was doing in their lives. :(

Would love to hear from you if you like to talk about the Lord and how the Word is changing your life! :)

Clinging to God

2008-12-26T18:28:00.003-06:00

"My soul FOLLOWETH HARD after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." Ps. 63:8

"That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest CLEAVE UNTO HIM: FOR HE IS THY LIFE...." Deut. 30:19

He is our only hope....yes, indeed our only LIFE...and reason for living!

The words "followeth hard" and "cleave" in these verses are the same hebrew word which means "i.e. CLING or adhere- (fig.) to catch by pursuit:....follow close...be joined (together)....

Reminds me of the book by Tozer entitled, "The Pursuit of God"....

We are UPHELD by His right hand...or we couldn't follow hard after Him at all.

But can we say today that we are CLINGING onto Him for dear life?

Is our heart GLUED to HIM? Are our thoughts caught up with thinking about Him and His Word? Are we on "fire" for Him...or are our minds dull and distracted?

Oh, for the grace to CLING HARD!!!!

The Everlasting Arms

2008-12-26T18:25:00.005-06:00

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them." Deut. 22:27

This verse has been so special to me! I see the enemy of our souls, Satan,
throwing his darts left and right....and God reaching out one by one and
catching the fiery darts one by one and breaking them and throwing them to the ground where they won't hurt me AT ALL. :)

Godliness

2008-12-14T13:31:00.005-06:00

I Tim. 6:11-12 says, "...O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, GODLINESS, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..."

The Strong's definition of GODLINESS includes the ideas of "devout, piety, well-reverent".

The definition from the Webster's 1828 dictionary says "devout" is "yielding a solemn and reverential attention to God in religious exercise, particularly in prayer."

I thought that was very interesting! Prayer is an important ingredient of godliness....

"Piety in principle is a compound of veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being accompanied with love; and piety in practice is the exercise of these affections in obedience to his will and devotion to his service."

The Puritans use to talk a lot about piety, but it seems like the subject is rarely talked about today, and I think it's very much lacking in people's lives, too. I think it's something most of us need to really work on....

I Tim. 4:7 says we are to "exercise (ourselves) in godliness. Exercise implies training and DISCIPLINE. It's difficult to discipline ourselves in spiritual exercises like consistent meditation and prayer, but we are commanded to do it.

To Make Us Holy

2008-12-14T12:00:00.005-06:00

"...to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in this sight:..." Col. 1:22

This is indeed the main reason God allows us to go through struggles, trials, questionings, etc. All of what we go through is for His one main purpose....to make us like Christ....to make us HOLY.

Wow!

If we can "step back" and look at our life from that perspective, it all of a sudden doesn't look quite so scary, does it?

Meditating on this....

Let the PEACE of God RULE Your Heart

2008-12-14T11:59:00.010-06:00

"And LET the peace of God rule in your hearts..." Col.3:15

Because Christ has saved me, I have peace with HIM....and He has given me His PEACE. But I don't always appropriate it....

I was just so impressed by this verse.....I am to LET the PEACE of God RULE in my heart...

I must make a conscious effort to let that peace reign in my heart.

I am to be diligent to be found IN PEACE....always.....to STAY in PEACE....by His grace. Wow!

It's all a matter of trust. If I'm really TRUSTING in Him to physically and spiritually protect my children/husband, then I won't get uptight and worried. I'll just remain IN PEACE, trusting God to take care of them.

This verse yesterday, too, was such an encouragment to me.

"Acquaint now thyself with HIM, and BE AT PEACE: thereby good shall come unto thee.

WOW! What a promise! If we ACQUAINT ourselves with HIM...if we REALLY KNOW HIM, we'll be at peace...and good will happen.

Ah....I need to run harder after God so that that PEACE RULES in my heart at ALL TIMES. Amen!

Zeal

2008-12-14T11:59:00.005-06:00

Speaking of Christ, Is. 59:17 says, "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with ZEAL as a cloak."

ZEAL.....

This just caught my attention... I want to have the ZEAL of Christ. Do you?

Heb. 11:6 says that "he is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY seek him."

The word "diligently" means "to search out....CRAVE...worship...seek after."

I want to have a heart like this! :)Do you?

I Pet. 3:14

2008-12-14T11:58:00.003-06:00

"..be diligent that ye may be found of him in PEACE, without spot and blameless."

Just had to stop and meditate on being IN PEACE.

I know I have peace with God because He washed me with His own blood.

I have peace WITH Him...

But the question is "Am I always IN PEACE?"

I am to be diligent that I may be found of him IN PEACE.

Only by KNOWING that I'm His and that He has all things under control...

Only by KNOWING that I'm safe in His arms...no matter what happens to me and to my family, my children... Only then can I really be found of him IN PEACE.

I want to really and truly have that perfect PEACE at all times, and I'm not quite there yet.

I guess that's why I keep getting trials thrown my way. God wants to bring me to a perfect place of peace, in spite of what happens.

The verse also says "without spot and BLAMELESS". Our goal should be that nobody anywhere would be able to point a finger and say that we are sinning. Wow!

From Eph. 5

2008-12-14T11:57:00.013-06:00

Fornication - Does this also include the "beginnings" of it in our minds and in our words, dress, and actions as well as any forms of affection that might start the process?

Uncleanness

Covetousness

Filthiness

Foolish Talking (What about this one?)

Jesting (What about this one?)

These are the things this passage says should NEVER characterize a Christian!

Verse 6 says "Let no man DECEIVE you..."

How easily we can be deceived through the arts and the media!

Verse 6 goes on to say "for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

It's serious business, sisters, and verse 7 says... "Be NOT ye therefore PARTAKERS with them."

Be with these sorts of people to share the gospel with them and to be a positive influence for God and his holiness....but not to PLAY or be ENTERTAINED with them or BY them.

Verse 11 says "And have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE them.

Sometimes this means sharing the Word lovingly. Sometimes it might mean walking away...even from the T.V......

The word "fellowship" means "To share company with....."Also the word comes from a word that means "spec. to ENTERTAIN...+accompany".

If we are watching them sin and being entertained by it, are we not having fellowship with them?

But our admonition is to reprove....and to...

"Walk as children of LIGHT!" (v. 8)

Amen!

Do You Want More Light?

2008-12-14T11:57:00.009-06:00

"...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Eph. 5:14

If we want more light, we must rise up out of our "sleepy state" and obey what we already know.

"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by REASON OF USE have their senses exercised to DISCERN both good and evil.(Heb. 5:14)

If we USE the "light" that is GIVEN...if we OBEY what we already know...then we will DISCERN good and evil. We will be given more LIGHT!

Searching Questions

2008-12-14T11:56:00.011-06:00

I Jn. 4:1,3,5 and searching questions....

"Beloved, BELIEVE NOT every spirit, but TRY the spirits whether they are of God...because many FALSE PROPHETS are gone out into the world...and this is that spirit of antichrist...They are of the world: therefore SPEAK THEY OF THE WORLD, and the WORLD HEARETH THEM."

There is a "spirit" in the music we listen to, the movies, the books and articles we see and read, the news we listen to!

How do we TRY the "spirits" there to see if they are OF GOD?

False prophets and the "spirit" of ANTI-CHRIST" is everywhere!

If music, movies, books, news ,etc. LEAVE OUT Christ, then it has the spirit of ANTI-CHRIST, does it not?

Christ is not the focus. Christ is not there! It is ANTI-Christ!

Is it really possible to be just "secular" or "neutral"?

What are the TESTS here in these verses?

1. Does it "speak" of the WORLD?

2. Does the WORLD "hear" it?

If so, is it not a FALSE PROPHET...a worldly one?

Should we not stay away from it? For it is a LYING spirit set out to DECEIVE us and drag us far from Christ...

And I might add...Is God specifically glorified through it? Here's an example: Yesterday I listened to a family singing group that sang songs with distinctive Christian words, words that touched my heart so that I found myself in tears, crying out to God and worshiping Him. Humility characterizes their performances, and the praise goes to God, not to them...

Consider every other performer, actor, writer that is NOT like this....

Can we say that anything is neutral? Is it positively FOR Christ? If not, is it not ANTI-Christ?

If it "speaks" of the WORLD, and the WORLD "hears" it, aren't these the "warning signs" to stay away from it?

Searching Questions....

Proving What is Acceptable

2008-12-14T11:56:00.007-06:00

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) PROVING what is ACCEPTABLE unto the Lord. Eph. 5:9-10

What is one of the tests to know if something is ACCEPTABLE to the Lord? The fruit of the Spirit! :)

Does it promote LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance? (Gal. 5:22-23)

Does it hurt you physically, mentally, emotionally, SPIRITUALLY?

Does it hurt someone else physically, mentally emotionally, SPIRITUALLY?

Does it "stumble" you or someone else?

Does it promote LOVE as well as the rest of the fruits of the Spirit?

If not, it's not love....

The fruit of the Spirit...is a TEST...to PROVE what is ACCEPTABLE unto the Lord.

Covetousness

2008-12-14T11:55:00.012-06:00

Was reading Eph. 5:5 this morning, and it says "...no... covetous man, who is an IDOLATER, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

I just wonder how many Americans are going to be surprised when they don't make it to heaven when they THOUGHT they were Christians? I Cor. 5 talks about the covetous man also...as one who needs to have "church discipline". How do we make that judgment? What exactly IS a covetous person?

The definition includes "desiring more"..... I think we as Americans ALL need to meditate on this one. :)

God Will Search Our Hearts

2008-12-14T11:55:00.007-06:00

www.freefoto.com

"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I WILL SEARCH Jerusalem with CANDLES, and punish the men that are SETTLED ON THEIR LEES: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil." Zeph.1:12

Shallowness, No Deep Affection, INDIFFERENCE!

God hates these things! God will search our hearts! His light will be like a candle...and will search out our innermost feelings....

Are we cold? Are we indifferent? Are we settled on our "lees"?

Searching questions!

This makes me think of Ez. 33:31... "They hear thy words, but they will not DO them: for with their MOUTH they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their COVETEOUSNESS."

I want to take Barnabas' words to heart from Acts. 11:23... "That with PURPOSE OF HEART (I) would CLEAVE unto the Lord!" And you? Amen!

Captured Hearts

2008-12-14T11:54:00.017-06:00

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"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Eph. 4:8

The ascension of Christ is very important...and without it we have no salvation! As he ascended to the Father, he led "captivity captive."

We who are saved by His grace were once "prisoners of sin". We were the "captivity" that He led captive.

He CAPTURED OUR HEARTS! Praise His name!

Has He captured YOUR heart? Really and truly?

Do people KNOW that? Can they tell by what occupies our minds and what we talk about?

This verse also says He gave GIFTS to us! Ah, yes....so many gifts! Are you thankful for the gift of FAITH that He gave you, if you are indeed saved?

And what about these gifts?

Rest...Mt. 11:28
Keys of the Kingdom...Mt.16:19
Power over evil spirits...Lk. 10:19
Living water...Jn. 4:14
Bread of Heaven...Jn. 6:5
Eternal Life...Jn. 10:28
Legacy of Peace...Jn. 14;27, rev. 2:26,28; Rev. 21:6

BTW, I got that list from my Thompson's chain reference Bible, and it was a blessing to me to look up and read the verses. Maybe you would like to also. :)

There are many other gifts of the Father as well...our material possessions, our family and friends, our talents, our spiritual gifts, etc.!

But the questions that came to my mind were... "Do I love Him for His gifts?" Or...."Do I love Him....with or without the gifts?"

"Do I love HIM.....or do I just love Him for His GIFTS?"

If and when God ever puts us in a place when we have NO GIFTS left...like he did Job...will we STILL love HIM?

Spiritual House Built with Lively Stones

2008-12-14T11:53:00.013-06:00

"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose HOUSE are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Heb. 3:6 Wow!

IF....IF....IF we hold fast unto the end, we are his HOUSE...the building and temple of the Lord! This is truly the EVIDENCE that we are part of his HOUSE....IF we hold fast.

Another verse that goes along with these is I Pet. 2:5... "Ye also, as LIVELY stones, are built up a SPIRITUAL HOUSE, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

The word "LIVELY" really catches my attention! God wants LIVELY stones! He wants us to be zealous for Him! Yes! YES! :) LIVELY STONES!

Glued to Jesus

2008-12-14T11:53:00.007-06:00

""Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with PURPOSE OF HEART they would CLEAVE unto the Lord." Acts 11:23

"Cleave" means "to glue to...i.e. (fig.) to adhere.

The word is from another word in Greek-#2853 which means "to stick (fig.).....KEEP COMPANY."

I like that! We are to KEEP COMPANY with Jesus.

We are to STICK to Him...to "glue" ourselves to Him. We are to always stay close by His side!

That's how we can save ourselves from this "warped generation".

Raised UP

2008-12-14T11:52:00.006-06:00

It was interesting that the sermon yesterday was on Eph. 1...right where I've been meditating. :)

Loved what he said about... "And hath RAISED US UP TOGETHER, and made us sit together in heavenly places...."

There are many ways God raises UP....

out of fear and doubt,

out of discouragement and loneliness.

and God raises us UP....UP....UP... out of worldliness....away from the world and it's ways of thinking...away from it's "glitter" and false happiness...UP to heavenly thoughts and ways.

The word "together" stands out as well. True Christians are raised UP TOGETHER.... We are God's building...His holy temple... "In whom (we) also are builded TOGETHER for an habitation of God through the Spirit." We NEED one another!

Sins of the Mind

2008-12-14T11:51:00.010-06:00

"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the MIND; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Eph.2:3

Am just reminded today that sin is not only what we do...but what we THINK!

Ouch!

Lack of faith and hope....lack of peace, complaining spirit....fear.....

Sins of the MIND...

Lord, deliver us!

How Do We LOVE Others?

2008-12-14T11:51:00.006-06:00

"By this we know that we love the children of GOd, WHEN we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." I Jn. 5:2-3

How do we love others?

By keeping God's commandments....

Holding onto what is right and true although everyone around us is NOT "holding onto what is right and true"....is LOVE.

KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS=LOVE!

Abba, Father

2008-12-14T11:50:00.005-06:00

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to FEAR; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Rom. 8:15

We serve not out of fear, but out of LOVE.

We cry, ABBA, FATHER....because we know He loves us!

Grace

2008-12-13T20:48:00.008-06:00

In thinking about GRACE, I came across this definition in Strong's.

Greek 5485....

"The divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."

Eph. 1:4

2008-12-13T20:47:00.004-06:00

"According as he hath CHOSEN us (in Him) before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLAME before him in love." Eph. 1:4

I love that "in Him"! We were chosen IN HIM. When God looks down, he sees Christ, and if we are there in HIS HAND, covered by HIS BLOOD, then we are holy and blameless in His sight...because He sees Christ. We were CHOSEN.....but it was only IN HIM.

We were CHOSEN, too, that we should be HOLY AND BLAMELESS....

That's the goal...

Positionally in Christ we are already "holy and blameless" if we are saved.....but the goal is that we are even now daily to become more and more sanctified, holy and blameless, like Christ, the One in whose hands we rest.

I was just so impressed this morning about the importance of truly becoming holy...with love, with peace, and with diligence.

Heb. 12:14 says,"Follow peace with all men and HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord."

This is such a solemn verse to me! We MUST be holy if we are going to see God someday!

Gal. 6:14

2008-12-13T20:39:00.005-06:00

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Gal. 6:14

It's only by GRACE that the world is "crucified unto me". It is only the cross that has made this so....that the world is "crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

But, the world to me is "dead". I care not much for it, by God's grace. The "glitter" holds very little charm for me....

I, also, am "crucified" unto the world. They look at me as something "strange and odd", out of place. It is if I am just "dead", not there.

I love this verse! It is so true!

And I am humbled to realize that GOD is the One who has made it so. Why me and not others? Why is the world "dead" to me? Praise be to God!

Crucified with Christ

2008-12-13T20:38:00.008-06:00

"I am CRUCIFIED with Christ..."

"For THY SAKE we are KILLED all the day long...."

"For we which live are alway delivered unto DEATH for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be MANIFEST in our mortal flesh."

"For if we be DEAD with him we shall also live with him."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A DEAD PERSON DOESN'T HURT ANYMORE!

So maybe I'm not fully "dead" yet...?

Sometimes I get my feelings hurt...

Cleansed by the Word

2008-12-13T20:37:00.010-06:00

From Ps. 1, John 15:1-3, Eph. 5:26-27...

About being CLEANSED by the WORD OF GOD...

The man who spoke put his hands in mud...and then later put his muddy hands in a bucket of water to make his point.

The point was also made that no matter how old we are, we still need to be daily cleansed by the Word...(He mentioned his grandfather who died at 96 who still said even then that he was learning new things and being regularly cleansed by the Word.)....

Another thought was given...that we need not only to READ the Word each day, but we need to stay there until we are CLEANSED...

Jer.2:13

2008-12-13T20:37:00.009-06:00

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jer. 2:13

This is a verse that Piper quotes a lot... The "cisterns" are the things of this world....things that we are tempted to believe hold that cool, refreshing water...but they are BROKEN...

There is no true satisfaction in anything that is worldly. Our only true satisfaction is in Christ...the true, "fountain of LIVING WATERS"!

Gal. 1:4

2008-12-13T20:36:00.005-06:00

"Who gave himself for our sins, THAT HE MIGHT DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD...." Gal. 1:4

Jesus died...Why?

To deliver us from this evil world! How insightful!

Can hardly wait! :)

Amen and Amen!

II Cor. 13: 7a, 9b

2008-12-13T20:35:00.008-06:00

"Now I pray to God that ye DO NO EVIL.....and this also we wish, even your PERFECTION." II Cor. 13:7a, 9b

Looked up the word "perfection"...

It took me back to another word which meant "to complete thoroughly, i.e. REPAIR....or ADJUST....restore."

I thought this was a very interesting definition. I certainly need to be "repaired" and "readjusted" :)

...Someday, ah, yes, I will be completely and thoroughly restored and made PERFECT! This is our goal....that God will work perfection in us!

Willing in the Day of His Power

2008-12-13T20:35:00.005-06:00

"Thy people shall be WILLING in the day of THY POWER..."Ps. 110:3

Ah, YES! When God's POWER comes in one's life, they will be WILLING to place all on the altar and surrender all to God...and love him with their whole heart!

This morning as I was praying and walking my log, tears came to my eyes once again....

As I looked beyond the town to the mountains that were beyond...and looked up through the trees to see the bright sunshine, I was just reminded once again that we NEED the SUN...and we need the SON.

May He shine brightly in our hearts today!

May His POWER come on us so that we are willing!

Piper's Message on Love/Hate

2008-12-13T20:33:00.007-06:00

From Rom. 12:9...

"Let LOVE be without dissimulation. ABHOR that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

If you can't hate, you can't love...

Piper basically says....

If you really love someone, you will HATE what is hurting/killing them...

Some of his quotes....

"Genuine love must hate....in order to be love."

"Let love be genuine....Abhoring......"

"Love...Aboring."

Definiton: "Abhor...intense, inward objection..."

"You cannot be a wishy-washy,lovey-dovey, greasy, relational, not-hating anything person, and be a loving person."

Love is not always smooth.....Sometimes it involves negatives...

"If you don't hate anything in this world, you can't possibly love, because things are killing people....destroying people... dishonoring God. If you can't hate, you can't love. Love has hate in it....."

"Love is hating what is destroying people..."

"When you decide what dishonors God... you HATE it!"

"You were made to enjoy...and to display the worth of Christ to others... Therefore anything in private that you cleave to...that corrupts your enjoyment of Him or obscures your display of him is unloving to others
...even if they know nothing about it...."

This message was very good!

I ABHOR what is destroying people's lives and.... I want to DELIGHT in GOD! Amen!

Lay HOLD on Eternal Life

2008-12-13T20:05:00.006-06:00

I Tim. 6:11-12 says, "...O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, LAY HOLD on eternal life...

To "lay hold" means to "seize"...to take the kingdom of God by force.

There are going to be many who want to make it to heaven, and they will be "crowding at the door", but they won't be able to get in....because they just aren't SERIOUS enough about it. They try to get in the "wrong way" with a "la-de-dah" attitude, and they just won't make it in. Those who are TRULY saved by grace will have the enabling grace to "run HARD after God", don't you think?

At least I want to "run HARD after God"! Who will go with me?

Hope

2008-12-13T20:04:00.005-06:00

I listened to a sermon on Sabbath by Piper, and he more or less said that loving others is so important...but that we can think we are loving someone but not really be loving them at all....BECAUSE in whatever we do, love also involves helping a person to savor the Lord Jesus Christ and HOPE in God.

He mentioned Rom. 15:13... "Now the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

HOPE is so important in our lives! Without it, we cannot go on. HOPE is what brings the joy and peace, isn't it?

I am also reminded about the verse in Heb. 6:19 that says that HOPE is the "anchor of the soul". It's the thing that stablizes us and gives us strength to go on.

HOPE is a wonderful thing! Hoping in God...knowing that he will answer our prayers....knowing that he will fulfill the promises (yes, even specific ones) that we feel He has promised us through the scriptures....is a wonderful thing!

I'm reminded of Rom. 15:4 that says "FOr whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we though patience and comfort of the the scriptures might have HOPE."

The O.T. scriptures contain promises even for us as N.T. believers....We can apply them to our lives and take the promises for ourselves. Praise the Lord! Amen!

Thinking of Rom. 4:18, too, where it is said that Abraham "who against hope believed in hope". Even if something seems so IMPOSSIBLE, still we can have hope because God is a BIG God!

My Heart's Cry

2008-12-13T20:03:00.005-06:00

God is my TREASURE, but not as much as I would like....

Listening to sermons by Dr. John Piper at www.desiringGod.org have inspired me for years to "run hard after God"....but...

My heart desires Him more...and more!

I love most of those sermons by Piper, but I only wish he preached more on holiness, the outward as well as the inward life. For therein lies the truth... not one, but both are important!

True holiness is sadly lacking in most of the churches today, and apostacy is already here...

Where are the people who are truly undistracted by this world and its glitter? Where are the people who prize a deep relationship with God far above anything and everything in their lives...who truly make God their TREASURE?

Where are the people who are crying to God for revival? If you are a woman with a heart like this, I'd like to meet you. :)

The times when I have felt the Lord's presence the most in my life were times of great trial....the death of my toddler and the "deepest night" with my illness.

God is good, and I have often prayed, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." Ps. 73: 25-26

I have longed and prayed for revival, in my own heart and in the hearts of those I love....

This morning as I was out walking my log and praying, I looked up at the most beautiful "picture"....the sun shining on the gorgeous trees with fall colors and the blue, blue, blue sky in the background. And the Lord gave me a prayer for today,

"Make us as holy and pure and spiritual, Lord, as the sky is BLUE. Amen!"

I Tim. 4:15

2008-12-09T16:13:00.005-06:00

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. I Tim.4:15

Our meditations on the Word of God should so change our lives....and that others will see that we are DIFFERENT....that we have profitted by our study/meditation.

The word "profiting" carries with it the idea of progress or advancement in the Christian faith....So in other words...our meditations should cause us to be more Christlike, i.e. full of love, joy , peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance....etc.

This is something I need to think and pray about today..

Definition of sin by Mrs. Wesley

2008-12-09T16:12:00.010-06:00

"Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things, in short, if anything increases the authority and the power of the flesh over the spirit, that to you becomes sin, however good it is in itself."

Knowing the LOVE of Christ

2008-12-09T16:11:00.019-06:00

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Eph. 3:19

The key to being Spirit-filled? KNOWING the LOVE of Christ :)

Everlasting Arms

2008-12-09T16:11:00.014-06:00

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Deut. 33:27

I just love the picture of God holding me in His arms...FOREVER and always.....and as the enemy (the devil and all his demons) rises and advances against me.....

The Lord continues to hold me with one of His arms, and He holds out the other one and SPEAKS....."DESTROY THEM!"....and the enemy and his hosts fall to the ground and are not able to touch me at ALL! :)

Amen!

Glorifying God in Your Spirit

2008-12-09T16:11:00.008-06:00

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Cor. 6:20

We often apply this verse in thinking about not doing things that will hurt our bodies, i.e. smoking, drinking, taking drugs, etc.

Do we often think about how our spirits are affected and hurt? How can we glorify God with our SPIRITS? What will hurt our spirits?

Narrow Way

2008-12-09T15:38:00.004-06:00

How many of you have read Pilgrim's Progress?

The mention was made this morning about the main character in Pilgrim's Progress who had a great burden on his back...the burden of sin. He was heavily weighted down by it...and ran from the City of Destruction when he knew of the way to get rid of the burden, although his family was crying "Come back! Come back!"

Have we ever had a heavy weight of sin upon us? I'm afraid many so called "Christians" in America are like Pliable who just decided to follow Christian... but who haven't ever felt a heavy burden of sin on their backs. The comment was made that in order to be saved, you have to know yourself as "LOST" first.

Today's "easy believism" in so many ways is not the "narrow path" but rather a broad way...He gave the illustration of a big barn with a big wide door that is opened whenever the hay truck backs in. But there is also a smaller door within the big door that you can walk through without opening up the big door.....

Narrow is the Way to life....

Someone also sent me a message today that I listened to that emphasized that so much of the "so called Christianity" of today is a humanistic, "ME" religion....promising life and peace to everyone without real repentance. Shouldn't we serve God not for us but for HIM???

What Kind of Mind Do You Have?

2008-12-09T15:37:00.006-06:00

Rom. 1

Was really impressed how the reprobate man is where he is because he has a "reprobate mind"...and the reason he has this is because he did not "retain God in his knowledge"....

It all starts in the mind, doesn't it?

Meditating also on being "spiritually MINDED" versus "carnally MINDED"....

Yes, it all starts in the MIND...

II Cor. 11:3 gives a warning that we should be careful not to let our minds get "corrupted"....

Hmmmmmm......

Thinking....

Pull Up the Weeds

2008-12-09T15:35:00.005-06:00

When I went out to my log this morning after a season of time , it almost looked like a different place. The path up the hill was almost hidden, and the mimosas we're sprung up everywhere - even overhanging my log in places.

The devil sows the weeds to choke out spiritual like, and the mimosas taking over my "strait and narrow way log of life" was illustrative to me of this truth.

Pull up the weeds! Pull out the sins! Cut back the limbs (that's what I did) :) )....that I might see and move freely once again and walk on my log, the "narrow way" ! Amen!

Don't Wanna Turn Cold....

2008-12-09T15:33:00.006-06:00

Do you ever feel like your heart is "all over the place"?

Do you ever feel that it is so hard to stay focused and to love God with ALL your HEART?

"Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax COLD." Mt. 24:12

This is happening NOW, and I don't want to be a part of it! Sometimes I feel like the "spirit of the age" is affecting my heart and mind more than I realize, and I don't even have a T.V. Yet I see and hear and FEEL the evil/deception and Christianity's lukewarmness all around me. Do you feel this way?

Do you often wish that you could "flee as a bird to the mountain" away from all the modern "stuff" that creates distraction and corrupting "noise"?

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves..proud....unholy....despisers of those that are good....lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. II Tim. 3: 1-5

I don't want to live a "form of godliness" that is not REAL.....

I don't want to be cold....

And what does it mean "from such turn away"?

Exhorting One Another

2008-12-09T15:25:00.010-06:00

My mind is just racing this morning....as it often is...

So much I want to share that the Lord has laid on my heart... :)

I assume that all of you are very concerned also about what's going on in our country...and the difficult times that are probably coming.

More than ever we need to heed this verse in Heb.10:24-25...

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and SO MUCH THE MORE, as ye see the day approaching."

I believe Christ is coming back soon, and as things seem to get more difficult, this8all the more reason why we need to SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE WORD...often....SO MUCH THE MORE, yes?
**-
Here's the definition for "exhorting" from Strong's concordance....

"call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): beseech, call for (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (ation), intreat, pray.

Btw, I keep forgetting the definitions of "imploration" and "hortation". :)

Imploration....earnest supplication

Hortation....giving advice to encourage

Some of us here do "homechurch" simply because our local churches are full of worldliness and deception...

SO....we must still do this verse, yes? Online, yes? :)

We need to encourage one another not to lose hope....to encourage one another to stay in the Word and prayer, to encourage one another not to lose hope.....

Spurgeon Quote

2008-12-09T15:23:00.005-06:00

"It is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of the Bible flows from you."

Job 11:18

2008-12-09T14:54:00.003-06:00

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

This verse has been a blessing to me in the past....

I shall DIG in the WORD...and there find my hope and safety. Amen!

Jer. 15:16

2008-12-09T14:51:00.007-06:00

"The words were found, and I did eat them; and they word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." Jer. 15:16

Don't Let the Word Get CHOKED out...APPLY It

2008-12-09T14:25:00.007-06:00

Mk. 4 :19 talks about cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things...that CHOKE the Word in our lives. Then the Word becomes "unfruitful" in our lives.

In other words, we read and hear the Word....yet we may not really stop and consider and meditate...and then we let things (even sometimes GOOD things) DISTRACT us....and it CHOKES the Word...and we are not changed thereby.

I don't want that to happen..... I want to be changed daily....

We must always be on guard so that the Word we "hear" each day is really HEARD by the spirit and....is not choked....but rather that we APPLY it. What things tend to CHOKE the Word in your life?

The thing that at times happens here is that I don't linger long enough...or meditate enough to "Get a Word from God for the day"...or sometimes these "other things" choke....things like getting caught up with helping the kids...or something.

O.K. So how did I APPLY this verse in my life today? By God's grace I took time to "meditate" on this verse and write these things out to YOU....because in sharing with others it becomes more "cemented" in my own heart and mind.

How have you applied a verse in your life today?

Message by Keith Daniels

2008-12-09T14:21:00.005-06:00

Keith mentioned the quote of someone who said...

"Ye are the world's seasoning...to make it tolerable to live in!"

I think this is why the world is becoming more intolerable to live in. The Christians are no longer being salt and light.

Keith said if people can't hear the Word, they may still hear our "lives"....

He gave a testimony of how once his workplace grieved him day after day...

Once a man from his work got in the car to ride somewhere with him...and as they got out on the freeway the man started crying and saying, "Let me out of the car." He made Keith stop and let him out...and the reason was that he said Keith's LIFE condemned him....He was actually weeping and groaning by this time, but he couldn't stand to be with a man whose life condemned him.

This really made me stop and think. Am I walking close enough to God that someone might respond like that?

II Thess.2:11-12

2008-12-09T14:14:00.007-06:00

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I was just impressed with the truth that the Wicked one will DECEIVE so many....

And it's a great concern to me.....

Even "professing Christians" will be deceived (v.3)....because they had pleasure in unrighteousness.....

This is very grievous....

We must have holiness in our lives in order to see the Lord, so I want to truly understand what that means. Don't you? Heb. 12:14

This is so serious....as I believe we are already in or very much near the "Great Deception".

Eph. 6:24

2008-12-09T14:09:00.007-06:00

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Something to seriously consider..

Obviously there are some that don't love Him in sincerity.....................

Phil. 2:15

2008-12-08T18:55:00.005-06:00

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world: Holding forth the word of life." Phil. 2:15

Whoa!

Blameless...Without rebuke????

Do we understand what this means?

This means that nobody should be able to look at our lives and see any of our faults! YIKES!

The Lord really spoke to my heart today on this....

Who are the people who mention my faults? My DH...my children...my mom and dad.

I need to "hear" what they have to say....I need to "listen"...and I need to WORK on these specifics things, by God's grace....

So that I can grow to be "WITHOUT REBUKE...BLAMELESS"!!

O.K.

So what are the 3 things you/I need to work on?

Phil. 2:16

2008-12-08T18:52:00.014-06:00

"Holding forth the Word of Life: that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." Phil. 2:16

"Holding" means "to hold upon...by imp. to retain....with impl. of #3563 the intellect, i.e. mind, pay attention to....

If I'm HOLDING forth the Word.... it means I'm "meditating" on it... using my mind...holding it in my mind....meditating on it. :)

And if I'm holding FORTH the Word....it means I'm SHARING it, yes?

I hope that at the end of my life I'll be able to say that I have not laboured in vain....

How about you?

Idols

2008-12-07T20:11:00.009-06:00

What is your idol?

Big question, huh?

I read this morning from Ezekiel 14:3-5...

"Son of man, these men have set up their idols IN THEIR HEART, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face....

I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all ESTRANGED FROM ME through their IDOLS."

IDOLS....

Anything can have our "heart" and be an idol to us...yes, even good
things!

There were idols in my heart in my early marriage...idols of"beautiful, frilly curtains, perfectly matched things, pictures of my beautiful babies on the wall, beauty in the home"

The Lord had to take these idols down....

I believe my DH and children have been idols in my life as well...Yes, the "perfect family idol"....The Lord had to destroy that one, too...

If we are truly God's children he won't allow the idols to stay in our
hearts...

I also think of Mt. 15:8...

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me
with their lips; but their HEART IS FAR FROM ME."

There are so many things that have people's hearts.....a business, music, "to be the perfect Prov. 31 woman", perfect children, an immaculate house,and on we could go...

The question is "Where is my HEART?" What do I think about most? What takes up most of my time? Is God totally leading in it and in the middle of it or not? Is He FIRST? Are my thoughts continually drawn to Him?

I also read Ps. 10:4 this morning...

"The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after
God: GOD IS NOT IN ALL HIS THOUGHTS."

Very interesting, huh? A wicked person doesn't have God in all his
thoughts.

Do we have God in all our thoughts?

Searching questions!

Well, I was talking to a friend this awhile back about marriage for our children, and she said, "The most important thing is that the prospect is a man that loves God with all his heart!"

Well, how can you tell if a person really loves God with all his heart? By what he talks about! Are His thoughts and words centered on God and on His Word?

Good gauge to go by, I guess...and unfortunately I don't know very many young men anywhere like that, do you?

Meditating.....

Comments?

Holiness

2008-12-07T20:10:00.005-06:00

Heb. 12:10..."Follow.....holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

Jonothan Edwards said... "Holiness is universal agreement with the will of God in behavior and attitudes"

..... Interesting... It's the "outward" and the "inward"....The behavior and the attitudes both!

The attitudes are VERY important, but so many people today seem to think it's only " what's in the heart that counts!"

BUT what you DO is important, too!

He also talked about pursuing holiness with zeal and diligence....

It isn't so easy in this "lazy, entertainment crazed 21st century" to pursue holiness with zeal and diligence....perhaps mainly because it is such a LONELY path to take.

Prov. 25:2

2008-12-07T19:54:00.004-06:00

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Prov. 25:2

How do we know what is right and wrong? How do we know what is truth?

We are "kings and priests" of God.... and God will speak to us through His Word....

But many things are concealed in the Bible......

The Bible does have the answers! But God wants us to SEARCH!

Does God speak to you DAILY from His Word?

2008-12-07T19:46:00.004-06:00

Does God speak to you DAILY from His Word...even in a small way?

Is there at least one verse that you can "hang on to" and apply to your life each day?

Here is my challenge for you....for me... Let us not leave our daily Bible reading until we have a verse...a thought....to share with someone else that day! :)

Rev. 3:2-3

2008-12-07T18:35:00.007-06:00

Rev. 3:2-3 "Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die...Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent."

"Be watchful" means to keep spiritually AWAKE!

The "spirit of the age" is one of noise and confusion that blocks out the "still small voice" of God. It seems almost everyone is being lulled into a state of spiritual slumber just like an old man who falls asleep as he watches the T.V. screen at midnight. He cannot keep his eyes open...

There is an "urgent message" for the true Christians in our day - STAY AWAKE! Fight against the spiritual slumber where all around you people are "conking out" - just like heads that are beginning to nod and eyes that are shutting as the preacher drones on and on...on a hot, lazy afternoon after a big meal.

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! STRENGTHEN the things which remain! STRENGTHEN the little spark of life within you! The word "strengthen" means "To set fast, turn resolutely in a certain direction, CONFIRM, stablish, stedfastly."

It's a battle! It's a spiritual fight! WAKE UP, oh ye sisters...ye that are true saints of God! "Hold fast, and repent!" "Fast" means "possess", seize, retain, keep in memory". These are words of action, and we must get serious - or we'll fall asleep and become a part of the "great falling away". ( II Thess. 2:3)

How can we keep from falling asleep?

1.Prayer
2.Deep study of the Word and applying it to our lives
3.Comforting and exhorting one another
4.Witnessing

A Real Christian-Quote by Tozer

2008-12-02T21:59:00.003-06:00

"A real Christian is an odd number anyway.

He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen,

talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see,

expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another,

empties himself in order to be full,

admits he is wrong so he can be declared right,

goes down in order to get up,

is strongest when he is weakest,

richest when he is poorest,

and happiest when he feels worst!

He dies so he can live,

gives away so he can keep,

sees the invisible,

hears the inaudible.

and knows that which passes knowledge.

The man who has met God is not looking for something-he has found it.

He is not searching for light-upon him the Light has already shined!..."

Man's Chief End

2008-12-02T21:54:00.006-06:00

"Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever!"

I Tim. 4:15

2008-12-02T21:51:00.004-06:00

"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

I think the progression here is interesting. In being able to truly help someone spiritually, the first step is "meditation" in the Word.

"Meditate" means "to take care of - revolve in the mind..."

REVOLVE IN THE MIND....

Think through the issues. Ask the questions. Search for answers. Meditate!

Then...give thyself WHOLLY to the scriptures! WHOLLY...COMPLETELY! Let God and His Word be your LIFE! Apply it and let it CHANGE your life! :)

Why? So that thy PROFITING (i.e. progress, advancement in the kingdom of God) will appear to all. So that others will SEE that the scriptures are changing your life and making you a holy person!

And the EXAMPLE of a life lived with true and holy doctrine....the example of a life lived saturated and changed by the holy Word of God....will change the lives of others, too! Amen!

Lay HOLD on Eternal Life

2008-12-02T21:48:00.003-06:00

I Tim. 6:12 says..."lay HOLD on eternal life".

To lay hold means "to seize". This reminds me of Mt. 11:12, ".....the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

The word "violence" here means "to crowd oneself into". There are going to be many people that crowd heaven's door, but there is going to be no entrance for them...because they were trying to get in the "wrong way"...by works or whatever... rather than through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But then, only those whose hearts are really changed and made holy will be those with "true faith". There IS a spurious faith, a "false one" that is not real. The REAL one produces holiness in the life and a "whole-heartedness" for God. "Follow peace and HOLINESS without which no man shall see the Lord."

Mt. 11:12 seems to indicate that those who really make it to heaven will be those who are violent (i.e. a "forcer"). Doesn't this imply that we cannot at all live a "half-hearted" Christianity? We must be SERIOUS, totally serious! Lukewarmness Christ will spew out of his mouth! Where is MY heart? How serious am I about living whole-heartedly for Christ?

Am I DISTRACTED? My prayer is that God will give me grace to lay aside all weights that keep me from running HARD after God! And you?

Commitment of a Young African Pastor

2008-12-02T21:45:00.006-06:00

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made.

I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.

I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labour by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.

I cannot be bought, deluded, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me…my banner will be clear!

{This is a commitment found in the office of a young African Pastor in Zimbabwe}

Psalm 1

2008-12-02T20:59:00.001-06:00

My bible was open to Psalm 1 this morning....

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

I was impressed once again of the sharp contrast here....

Which will we choose?

The counsel of the ungodly....worldly newspapers, magazines, music, radio, movies, etc. VERSUS the Word of God.....

In moments of leisure, which will we choose?

What is our DELIGHT? Day and night?

Puppy on the Log

2008-12-02T20:45:00.001-06:00

I was walking my log and meditating again this morning, and our puppy...who is getting bigger...is beginning to be a real nuisance! He's watched me walk this log so much... and he is finally big enough to get on it and walk it too! :)

Today he was really being a nuisance and was in my way! I kept knocking him off, and then he would jump back up and nip at my heels....nip at my heels...nip at my heels!

The log to me is a picture of the "straight and narrow way" that I must keep walking "no matter what"... and the dog is a picture of the flesh and the devil in my way...and the sins and "weights" of Heb. 12:1. I MUST lay them aside...and resist! I must "keep on keepin' on" walking this straight and narrow path...by God's grace. Amen!

Fog

2008-12-02T20:28:00.001-06:00

This morning I climbed the hill to my mom's. As I looked down on the town, I could see not much of anything but fog. I couldn't see the mountains in the distance or anything....And I immediately applied it to my life. This is where I'm at.

FOG...

What will tomorrow bring? What is the future?

I can do nothing but trust in God...

I must lay all on the altar....knowing that God knows BEST. :)

Although I couldn't see the town or the mountains in the distance, they were
still there......

And God is there for me, too....even though I don't know His will yet....

Chick Story

2008-12-02T17:25:00.000-06:00

Chick Story
The baby chicks hatched, LORD...finally! You brought them out of their little shells, and they nestled under their mother's wings. I immediately thought of this verse:

"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust." (Ps. 91:4a)

The mother hen takes them all over the yard, and they "scratch, scratch" as they go...trying to learn...doing just as she does. (I want to follow You like that...doing what You do!) Yes, You lead her to the bugs, and she teaches the little ones how to find them. I thoroughly enjoy watching them from my bedroom window, and sometimes I even notice a chick or two crawl up onto her back and accidentally slide off.:)

One morning it was windy and chilly, and I noticed "Mischievous", the mother hen, ...scratch...scratching." For 5 or 10 minutes she kept scratching as the little chicks stood quietly nearby. Then she nestled down in the little dirty spot she had cleared away, and all the little ones ran and hid under her feathers!

"How excellent is THY lovingkindness, O God: therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of THY WINGS." (Ps. 36:7)

My little ones really enjoy playing with "Mischievous" and her chicks, but when they pick them up and take them away from the "mama", she goes "crazy", with a "cluck-cluck here, and a cluck-cluck there...here cluck, there cluck, everywhere a cluck-cluck", and the babies "peep-peep" like mad! I FEEL the "mama's" frustration. I feel it very strongly! LORD, please take care of all my little "chicks" and keep them safe from the devil's darts!

One of the children's diary pages tell the "new chick story" well:

"We have names for the (chicks)..."Cutiepie" and "Sweetiepie" are the yellow ones. The dark ones are "Boss" and "Boss the Second". The other one that
is in between, we call "Mama's Boy". He cries the most and always stays with his mom...

Our chickies are so cute now. They are loosing their down and are getting feathers. Today "Cutiepie" got a big bug. She swallowed it whole. It was cute. (My brother) said that the other day Boss got a big cricket and did the same thing. They are growing like crazy."

LORD, this mother hen and her chicks are like magnets to one another! A couple times the children took Mischievous" a distance away, and they held all the baby chicks. Then they let all the chicks go for a "chicken race, and I enjoyed watching them! Mother hen ran towards her chicks, and the babies all ran straight to her as fast as they could go! "Boss" won!

LORD,

"Hide me under the shadow of THY WINGS. (Ps. 17:8b)

I want to be just like "Boss"..scrambling like mad to get to YOU...just like a MAGNET! Bind my heart to THEE!

"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of they wings will I REJOICE." (Ps. 63:7)

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; For my soul trusteth in Thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." (Ps. 57:1)

Psalm 1:3

2008-12-02T17:03:00.000-06:00

Psalm 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Ah, Lord, as I look out here upon this land that we live on, there are no big trees anywhere except on the edges of the property and down by the creek - down by the "rivers of water".. And I'm amazed by the trees that are right on the edge whose roots are visible. The roots are so long and spread out and strong and deep! Lord, I want my "roots" in Thee to be deep, deep, deep! I want to be like the tree that is planted by the rivers of water! In the place we lived awhile back, many times I looked out while I was praying toward the creek we had then and marveled at the really, tall, straight trees that You had planted there. I often thought of this verse. Lord, make me like a tree planted by the rivers of water - firmly rooted in You!...

...Rivers of living water = Holy Spirit! (Jn. 7:38-39a) So I am the "tree" that YOU have planted, and as I "drink" of You at Your beautiful rivers, I shall be satisfied and filled with Your Holy Spirit. Then I will bring forth fruits of the Spirit in my life -"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." (Gal 5:22-23) .

Deut. 8:2-3

2008-12-02T16:54:00.000-06:00

Deut. 8: 2-3

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."

Yes, Lord, You have led me in the wilderness these many years, and especially there for awhile it was so hard! It was to 'humble me", and you are still in the process of doing this; bringing me to a place where I am totally surrendered and dependant on You. Yes, all of this is to"prove me - to know what is in mine heart and whether or not I will keep thy commandments and be quiet and still before You.

Yes, Lord, following You involves hardship at times... Many of the trials are a direct result of the narrow path that we have chosen to follow - the path that You have put us on - the path that we took because of Your grace - the path that brings peace in spite of persecution.

Although the way is hard, it is worth more than all the gold and silver in the world! Yes, You have allowed problems with no apparent solutions, financial difficulties, ill health...The devil has tempted me sorely this morning...but praise be to You, O Lord! For You have given me this verse to encourage me!

Surely You have "humbled me" and "suffered me to hunger" after You. And...You have "fed me with manna". You have given me better health from time to time when the going was so rough that I didn't know whether or not I was going to "make it". Yes, Lord, indeed You have made me know that man doth not live by bread only, "but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord". If I have You and Your Word, I have EVERYTHING. I do not NEED health, but I do need You! You are precious, and Your Word is my DELIGHT! Hold me in Your arms forever. You are all I really need! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Love, Come Quickly

2008-12-02T16:43:00.001-06:00

LOVE, COME QUICKLY

Love, come quickly, Love, my Love.

I saw the fire in your eyes.
I know I've done what You despise.
I spurned the love of Your grace,
Spit my hatred in Your face.
I sought the world for happiness,
Because I loved You not.

Love, come quickly, Love, my Love.

You reached down with Your arms of love,
And drew me to Your throne above.
You filled me with hope anew,
And washed me with a love for Youl
I seek You now for happiness,
Because You loved me first.

Love, come quickly, Love, my Love.

I see You now as through a glass,
But someday I'll see You face to face.
My heart will bask in Your peace,
Leap with joy from sin's release.
My heart will swell with thankfulness.
To this world I'll be loathe to return.

Love, come quickly, Love, my Love.

The freedom of my body from earthly pain,
Will be nothing compared to the great gain,
Of having pride flee my breast.
Of having You wash me in humbleness,
For there's nothing good in me;
To Your blood I trustingly cling!

Love, come quickly, Love, my Love.

The glory of the pearly gates is dim,

Compared to the love I feel for Him.
The best thing about the heavenly place,
Is the One Who touched me with His grace.
If I am not His lover now,
I will not His lover be then!

Love, come quickly, Love, my Love.
Love, come quickly, Love.

- S.J.C.

Zeph. 3:17

2008-12-02T16:24:00.000-06:00

17 The Lord Thy GOD In the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with SINGING.

Yes, my song today is:

O LORD my God in the midst of me,

You are mighty, and YOU will save!

You will rejoice over me with joy!

You will rest in Your love!

You will joy over me with singing!

Your special promise to me today is that You are REJOICING over me! Yes, You are an emotional God, and as I sing and dance alone before You and the birdies here under the trees with my hands uplifted to You, I can just "hear" You singing, too, and Your song to me is:

I am the Lord Your God in the midst of thee.

I am mighty, and I will save!

I will rejoice over Thee with joy!

I will rest in my love!

I will joy over thee with singing!

Yes, You will rejoice and sing, but You will also "rest" in Your love. The original denotes "silence". You will rejoice with me in singing, and You will also rejoice with me in silence. As I stop my singing and dancing, may I rest in Your "silence", too, and meditate on Your finished work on the cross for me. This is why You can "rest", and may I also REST IN YOUR LOVE - knowing that I am FOREVER YOURS! You sing with me...You cry with me...and now You sit in quietness with me! Thank-You, Lord, for Your Almighty LOVE! And in the stillness of this moment, I can hear You singing to me once again with JOY -

My little lamb, my precious, my Love,

I died just for You...I love you so!

Today I JOY with thee in SINGING

That my love forever you shall KNOW!

Thank-You, Lord, for Your beautiful PROMISES! Amen!

Psalm 1:1-2

2008-12-02T13:53:00.001-06:00

Psalm 1: 1-2
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Lord, everyone wants to be happy!....Thank-You for giving me the secret right here in this verse. You tell me that the prescription for happiness is to meditate and delight in Your law day and night! Lord, may I really get a "hold" of this! Yes, I WILL be blessed if I delight in Your law! And not only must I find pleasure in DOING Your Word, but I must ENJOY MEDITATING on it!

Lord, 1) this verse doesn' t say that I will be happy if I read five chapters in the Old Testament every morning and five chapters in the New Testament every night. 2) It doesn't say that I will be happy if I study a topic or a theological question by looking up all the verses as I do "cross referencing" on it. 3) It doesn't say that I will be happy if I study one or several verses and do "word studies" from the concordance and meditate on the meanings of all the important words.

Whoa!...

Lord, I've realized that I could do all these things, but it wouldn't bring happiness unless I am DELIGHTING in it all! The word "delight" from Strong's Concordance carries the ideas of pleasure... desire... pleasant... a valuable thing... O Lord,... You are showing me that this verse is TRUE! As I meditate here I find that I LOVE doing it! I have found real happiness in MEDITATION this morning. Thank-You, Lord. Amen!