My Journey through Romans 3

The Law of Faith

When studying this, I made so many notes because in spirit this chapter covers faith in a way that we do not often think about faith. Have we ever given thought that a law of faith existed? Well, it does. However, I’ll share just a tidbit of what the Holy Spirit led me to share with you.

The Law of Faith- What is it?  Hmm, the odd thing about faith is that EVERYONE believes in something or someone that they can see or feel. That type of faith always lets us down and it can be labeled as the seen law of man. And then there are those who do not believe or have faith in God for one main reason. He is an unseen Spirit. Those unbelievers boast about it loudly while thinking they are going to be living on another planet. Paul also mentioned some of these people in Romans 2.  Who gave those boasters the ability to believe period?

Paul asks in Romans 3:27-31 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision of faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Do you see the big role that faith plays in our lives? Through faith the law is established.  So what is the law of faith? Beloved, it is the BELIEF in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By faith, the Lord sent His only begotten Son through faith born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit of God. He walked in faith until He was crucified and buried; with faith he was resurrected and because of faith He overcame the world and returned to His original position, at the right hand of His father God from whence our faith comes allowing us to believe that He is coming back for his beloved and faithful Believers. Do you believe?

There is no human living that saw these events take place on this earth save for Enoch and Elijah. We surely can’t ask their thoughts on the law of faith because of their location. Google don’t even have the ability to find them. So, we believe those events took place by the hearing and reading of God’s word. We are to be like Sara  and like a song that says “let our faith be more than anthem.” Hebrews 11:11 says Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Obedience to the laws of God does it every time.

NOTE 2 SELF-Deuteronomy 7:9 – Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

 

So for us, the living and those who have lived/died after Jesus’ time on this earth, our faith can be based on what God said and did.  Jesus said in Luke 10:19-20 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”  The law of faith gives us that power. Now isn’t that something worth rejoicing over? Know this beloved… “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” cannot hold us back any more when we pray, believe and utilize our gift of faith. For without faith it is impossible to please God….(Hebrews 11:6) Perhaps if there were a faith app, more would become attentive to the law of faith. 

Let me leave you with something to think about that Paul stated at the beginning of this chapter:

What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?  Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:3-4 NIV)

My Eye Opener- The law of faith has a lot to do with God’s faithfulness.

 

 

 

Fasting 4 Real-HERE AM I! – Isaiah 58

My worship song for this morning was:

 

 

Isaiah 58 KJV

Isaiah 58 NIV

Good evening beloved! After my morning prayer the Lord did say to me “Shelia, Here AM  I”… I immediately thought about Samuel. After hearing that I began studying Isaiah 58, Day 5 of my church’s Fall Prayer Consecration. I want to share something the Holy Spirit showed me about Fasting 4 Real and the words “Here Am I.”

I was reminded of this inspirational saying:

First and most importantly shown to me were the words “Here Am I” or “Here I Am” (vs. 9) said by none other that God Himself. Those words worked my spirit into tears, shouts, and a whole lot of praise earlier this morn. Don’t you just love it when the Holy Spirit of God cleanses and refreshes the soul when He speaks directly to you? I must share with you my beloved comrades and readers in prayer,  a real sad personal moment.  The Holy Spirit is prompting me to share this.  I have been battling the devil working in my sister for over a month over heir property /inherited shared property from our Grandparents (many more years over other things) that she thinks she is “controlling” and “taking to my grave” she said – claiming it to be “mine only.” She  yelled at me last week “I am Christ” and “you are not a part of this family…what is it you don’t get after all this time?” In the presence of our mother, who just lowered her head.  Is that the sign of Christ working in others? NO.  Lord have mercy!

 

Have you ever been face to face with the devil? I have more times than I care to have been. I rebuked that quickly in her face and the devil is riding high now within her that she does not communicate and is always leaving my mom’s house to avoid seeing me now. I will not back down in Jesus name and that passage reminded me this morning that God is with me through this battle. PRAY for her to be released from the many devils controlling her since our earthly father’s death….a long time, please. It is not just me in the family who sees she is “out there without God claiming to be Christ“…And PRAY for me, the Lord’s will be done.  To-Day, I’ve finally decided to stop feeling sorry for her, that was the damnation cloud hanging over me.

Too many people walk around believing and are taught that Satan is not real. A lot of  people believe that he “wears PRADA”.   I beg to differ. The devil wears and conceals himself within any scented spirit well open to him.

 

Now on to the REAL I discovered this morning:(TYHS!) This chapter showed me how God views humanity with their false sense of fasting… Pure Hypocrisy! In Isaiah 58 he showed me the real.. we cannot continue to fast as we do today and think that he hears us. Every  one of us need to pray together for God’s guidance in All matters. ( now I get why the Holy Spirit led me to share my issue. An army is needed to break this stronghold of  many devils “Legion”- TYHS again) PRAY.   

Isaiah 58:3-5

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.

 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

Guidance to Fasting 4 Real per the Lord, Our God

• loose the chains of injustice
• untie the cords of the yoke
• set the oppressed free
• break every yoke
• share your food with the hungry
• provide the poor wanderer with shelter
• when you see the naked, to clothe them
• not to turn away from your own flesh and blood ( I hear you Lord)

After you DO these things beloved…Hear what the Lord hath said :”Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”

In Fasting 4 Real, again we are reminded that we must:

• do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk
• spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed

Note of Light -“Then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.”

And Fasting 4 real doesn’t end there:

• keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day
• call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable
• honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words

Are you ready for this? Guess what else will take place after Fasting 4 Real?

Note of God’s Promise- “Then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

“HERE AM I”

 I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

 

 

The Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord

Fortitude-n- strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage: strength

Synonyms- backbone, constancy, fiber, grit, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk

Antonym-spinelessness                                                                      

Let’s pray- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit let me keep my focus on the scriptures that you’ve given me. Bring forth the message you want me to convey about fortitude in Jesus name. Amen

In this blog, I’ll be sharing examples of a few people in the bible that received the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord.

Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

• Jesus- The fullness of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord in action

Luke 12:11-12- And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

• Trusting in the Spirit of the Lord for strength and courage.

In these two verses, two things were made clear to me…the Spirit of the Lord was in control and the Spirit of the Lord gives courage that strengthens.

 

A Discovery I made – Fortitude has a lot to do with where TRUST is placed. We have three options: TRUST In God; trust in self; or trust in man.

 

We must trust in God in such a way that this gift is available to use when we are facing adversities and adversaries. The Lord wants us to see that this gift is necessary to do His will and for His children to be victorious. (TYHS) Why is it necessary you may ask? Below are questions to help you answer this question.

• Who is God?
• Who is man?
• Is anyone or anything i.e. the government, armies, humans, spiritual forces of evil, mountains, etc. stronger than God?
• Which is easier, to trust the seen (man)or to trust the unseen(God)?
• Who can help us fight against sin?
• Why do we easily fall into sin?
• Is it easy for us to tell a boss, a pastor, or government official face to face that they are making wrong decisions; that they are sinning?
• What limits us from confronting transgressions?
• Ultimately, our life is in the hands of _____?

Pull out your bibles, its study time. You will find wonderful instances and points about the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit on the Lord resting upon those going through something and becoming victorious. Please read the following:

• 2 Chronicles 16-17 – Asa trusted in man; Jehoshaphat “sought” God.
• 2 Chronicles 26- Uzziah’s pride and downfall. Azariah and 80 other “courageous priests” were strong enough to confront King Uzziah. Keynote-Azariah had a support system in place.
• Joshua – Fighting against the wicked and taking possession. Who did Joshua serve?
• Samuel 17- David, a ‘youngun’, kills a giant. Where did little David get his confidence to go against big Goliath?
• Acts 27- Courage to face your storms and encourage others.

I think that’s enough reading for you to do. I pray that it gives you deep thoughts about the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord and how to receive it.

Lastly, the basic point I want to brand about the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord is this-> God wants us to look to Him for what we cannot do ourselves. From the above scriptures, do you understand the importance of obtaining and using this gift? Do you understand how this gift is received? Have you ever witnessed a child of God’s on their death-bed say “Lord, I don’t want to die?” TYHS for that question!

Let us pray. Father, I repent of all my sins. Forgive me Lord. I trust you Lord. Help me, your child, as you have helped many. Rest the gift of fortitude on me so that I can stand against all evil that try to weaken me. As your child, I do not want to be spineless in your ways. Spinelessness does not glorify you. In your son, Jesus name I pray. Thank you Holy Spirit – Amen. Amen. Amen.

I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

The GOD of “I Will” and “He That” (Destruction and Restoration) Amos 9

I am finishing up the Amos 9 part of my Lent journey. Yeah!!! Beloved, we all know who the “I AM” is in the Holy Bible, the “I AM” of the Beginning and of the End. While journeying through Amos 9 with the Spirit of God, lightning bugs, mosquitos and Lord knows what else was flying around outside at 2 in the morning on my back porch, I was reminded that He is not only “I AM.” He is also the God of “I Will” and “He that”. There are several themes in the bible that tell us about His ability to destroy and/or restore. In the book of Amos, we see what the Lord’s plan is for those inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom of Israel that mistreated the poor and those that lived a life (God-given life, might I add) of selfishness.

Questions…Are you or have you been an eyewitness to the mistreatment of the poor and to the selfish lifestyle of others? Are you or have you been a criminal when it comes to the mistreatment of the poor and have lived or living a selfish lifestyle? Dig deep within your heart for THE truthful answer. If you don’t, may I remind you that “He that” already know the answer will be the “I will” to destroy and/or restore you. (TYHS) It has been said many times before and shown throughout the Holy Bible that God, Our Father and Creator promises are all about His Glory and our salvation. Say what? (TYHS) As for me, it wholly manifested itself while on my journey with Amos, the “burdenbearer” prophet.

According to Amos 1:1, Amos prophesied/forecasted to Israel what the Lord showed him 2 years before the earthquake. I must ask another question here. If you were given 2 years to get your life in order for the Lord, our God, would you do it? Majority of the time we are given warnings and most ignore those warnings until the fly hits the fan. I repeat from the Amos 1-4 blog (https://talkativeangel.wordpress.com/2014/06/14/nakedness-be-aware-of-your-sins-amos-1-4/) “If you are not aware of your sin(s), how can you correct them? I found that an answer lies within the Book of Amos. (TYHS!!!) I Love You.”

Ok, so here we are with Amos and his 5^th vision of the Lord standing by the altar and speaking. He confirmed through Amos and confirms through His many signs today, that no matter where you try to run and hide, you cannot hide from or escape from His final decision to destroy and/or restore. If you are anywhere in the vicinity of His atmosphere, you will not escape it, especially those wasting time and money building spaceships to travel to and live in space. It’s not prudent. Now, that’s syrup for your pancakes. Get your milk, to help you swallow that down while reading a brief Godtific aka scientific study about God’s atmosphere.

Troposphere- the 1st and lowest level and is half of the Earth’s atmosphere( this is where God put us to live)

Stratosphere – the 2nd level ( this is where flight takes place along with the flying inhabitants of the skies)

Mesosphere- the 3rd level (this is where space meteors and rocks burn…oooh Hot!!! Cold!!!) It is also the layer that scientists know the least about.

Thermosphere- the 4th level (this is outer space, where you are NOT meant to live due to low air density and the high activity of the Sun) God allows the space industry to orbit this atmosphere.

Exosphere- the 5th level (this is the thinnest layer where things (atoms and molecules) escape into space. It is high above the 1st level. Only God will and can allow you to live here.

 

Wow! Now I hope and pray that you can discern who is in charge of the atmosphere. He is the “I AM” God of “I will” and “He that.” Hallelujah Jesus!

Back to my time with the Spirit in Amos 9… Let us all be reminded as Israel was of the Lord’s power in the following themed verses which began in Amos 1:

1. “…I will slay the last of them with the sword…”
2. “…thence will I bring them down”
3. “…I will search and take them…thence will I command the serpent”
4. “…thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.”
5. “…he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn…”
6. “…is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea…”
7. Praise Remembrance Break– Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the Lord. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
8. “…I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob…”
9. “…I will command, and I will sift…”
10. “…will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build…”
11. “…the Lord that doeth this…”
12. “…I will bring again the captivity…”
13. “And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.”

My 2 cents…When the Spirit of God sends a messenger or message your way…”shut the trap and hear me please” as my grandson Elijah would say, you can not continue to run and hide from the Lord’s destruction and restoration plans.

This quote concludes my journey with The GOD of “I Will” and “He That” in the Book of Amos.  I can’t wait to see what next years Lent journey has in store for me.  

“God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”- D. L. Moody

 

Photo- Courtesy of Nat Geo

Your Worth – My Thoughts

Note- Original post disappeared, reposting.

I was talking with my daughter today about the costs of having babies and how it increases as the child grows even after the age of 21 and between the ages of 21-30 for most folks.  She mentioned that her last pregnancy hospital stay for 3 days was 360k. GASP! So I said to her you didn’t cost that much 29 years ago, actually you were cheap. I told her she was worth 9.2k, my 31 year old was worth 6.7k, and the youngest one, who is 22, was worth 35k per the hospital bill.

 Yes I kept copies of the hospital bill. Didn’t I mention that we hold on to things in one of my last posts?  So I told her, only the youngest of my three was worth the most and it appears they were worth mere pennies per the youngest child. She said “Oh hush Mommie, I am worth more than them both, I’m your only daughter”, and we laughed.  I expected her to say that…”I’m the only girl” was always her reasoning for things.   

So, anywho…..It got me to thinking about some things…. just how much are we worth to ourselves and others? Do some of us realize how much we are worth to God?  I know how much we all are worth to God.  Our worth is immeasurable to Him, for He sent His ONE and ONLY begotten Son to us and to die for our sins, just to save us. After an earthly death for us, His Son returns to Him, and then what does God do? He sends us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter.  Is it worth your life to die for an ungodly person? Is it worth anything to you to give your child’s life for another? Aren’t we a hallowed bunch of humans?  God’s Grace is amazing!

Then I said to self…. “Self, lets write a quick blog about what we are worth to God, and the Holy spirit will jump in when He wants to.”  Self said “ok”.  😛

You read it here folks!  Extra! Extra! Read all about how much you are worth to God!

God gave Joshua a wonderful pep talk to let him know how much he and future generations are worth to Him.

Joshua 1:5-6 –No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

I will make this post message kinda between short and lengthy, depending on where the Holy Spirit leads me, I promise. Did you catch it? Let me point it out once more.

• “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU” 

God told Joshua, just as He is telling us to day through reading, and the hearing of His word. Whoever has ears, let them hear, huh?  If one cannot hear, hopefully they can see or have sign language.  If one cannot see or hear, then what?  I’m thinking. (Jeopardy music playing)  Come on Holy Spirit!  Yes! Yes! Yes! One can FEEL and understand His Word with their heart.

The Lord gave Moses a pep talk too when he thought he would be afraid and alone.  Let us read what He said to Moses.

Exodus 4:11-12–The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Oh! Thank you Holy Spirit for leading me to the following scripture:  

Matthew 13:15-17–  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Remember, this is from God’s mouth….“I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.” In French, Spanish, German, Greek, and all other languages and in layman’s term…it still means no matter what others think  of or say about you, you are worth more than you know to Him and you are NEVER alone.  God is ALWAYS available to you and for you.  That’s how much you are worth to Him.
2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

• “YOU WILL INHERIT THE LAND I SWORE TO YOUR ANCESTORS TO GIVE THEM”

Not only was this mentioned in the Old Testament, but also in the New Testament. Only God can give life and call those things into our life when it is not even evident to us.  Who else is going to give you anything of earthly or heavenly value and ask for no taxes? Who else will keep a promise forever and ever through all generations? What’s exciting to know, here comes the Holy Spirit again guiding us to scriptures. God mentions this first in the Book of Genesis, the books in between AND He mentions it last in the Book of Revelation. Here we go riding and reading with the Holy Spirit!

• Genesis 1:27-31
• Genesis  9: 1-17
• Genesis 12: 1- 3
• Genesis 3: 7-8
• Isaiah 45: 2-8
• Isaiah 49:8
• Isaiah 51:8
• Romans 4:13-17
• Romans 6: 9-10
• 2 Corinthians 1:20
• Galatians 3:29
• Revelation: 21:1-8
• Revelation 22:1-5
• Revelation 22:19

Let me tie it up here with a pretty yellow ribbon around the Tree of Life to prove what you are worth to God.

John 3:15-18

…that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

And that my beautiful beloved sisters and brothers in Christ is what you are worth to God. EVERYTHING. And might I add that what God has for you is tax free.  Jesus paid for it all.

In the memorable words of George H.W. Bush, 1988 – “Read My Lips- No New Taxes.” I’m done. Amen.

 I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins

Faith Seen? – My Thoughts

Luke 5: 20- And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

I’m studying a 31 days of a healing and recovery plan. The lesson  for the day was Luke 5, day 20.  Yippee! Almost done!  First, after reading the verse above this morning I thought to self (ya know how that goes) and immediately I began this blog…Isn’t the eye sight and heart of Jesus amazing? Knowing that what He sees and what He feels from others is so powerfully amazing and that most put their faith and lives into His hands without giving it a second thought?

Then I jumped here: Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  With that being said, do you too find it amazing that Jesus sees faith? that He sees the things you hope for? You can’t see it. You can believe, feel and see its aftermath.  Thank you Holy Spirit!  (((Jesus))))

We all know the story beginning in Luke 5 beginning with verse 17. It’s about the man with palsy who was taken by friends on his bed to be healed by Jesus.  Can you imagine someone in this day and age carrying/walking a friend in his bed for miles to seek healing? You know most sick people are ornery and can get on ones nerves with their ramblings about what they want to do.  Any who…. per the story, the friends “sought means to bring him in.”  Those were some determined men. However they could not find a way to get close to Jesus because of the crowds. (perhaps like a crowd one would find at a KISS or Liberace concert or maybe a crowd of people waiting in line to get clean water after a disastrous storm) These friends put their brain power together and came up with an idea. There was a housetop nearby, of which they chose to take the sick man upon this housetop and lower him down via some type of pulley system bed and all by lowering him down through the tiling and set him “into the midst before Jesus.” And with Jesus seeing this, he uttered the words “Man your sins are forgiven you.”  It is my belief that the man with palsy was healed because of the faith Jesus saw in the friends first.  I cannot help but believe also that the friends were blessed due to their hearts condition.

Secondly, I want to expound briefly on friends who actually do things out of the greatness of their heart and because of their faith. It’s a rare phenomenon, a rare act, a magic act magicians cannot do and so on. Got it?  Here it goes, you may not agree. Ahem,  I’ve come to believe from experience that a true friend is one who is also a nosey friend that has the gift of seeing and feeling your pain; that puts your pain before the Lord in prayer and let you go on your way in your faith.  I don’t always need to have a hand holder right by me, nor do I like to be bothered with people all the time when I am sick. My thought is this…..that Jesus kept it moving, so simple. Aha! Thinking cap moment…..4 habits of Jesus that were obvious to me… He came, He saw, He healed and He kept moving…..Keep it moving folks! Where your work is done in His name, move on to help other’s from your heart and with your faith in Him. He sees you and what you’ve done in His name. Give them a lift to Jesus.  Now wasn’t that brief? 🙂

Now the rest of the story in Luke 5:21-26:

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had lain on and went home praising God.  Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Another lesson I learned this morning….Let Jesus See Your Faith & See Some Remarkable Things!  Let’s get to it beloved ones!  Oh gracious that will be my new motto.  Let me get to the marketing and copyright board now. 

Here’s another “Remarkable” thing for you to see from me! I’m such a “granny”.  Go here——> http://youtu.be/uWuTrn7Kieg

I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins ( A Whole Crowd of Em)  😛

If You Knew-My Thoughts On Learning From Others In The Bible

Good Great Saturday Morning/Afternoon to you beloved.  I’ve been in deep study and thought again with the OT(Old Testament), which was one of my resolutions for this New Year, to complete a book for my grandkids about what grandma thinks and believes about God, as my papaw did for I without him knowing it. I inherited a lot of his books and writings after his death.  I hope to share with you a series about people of the OT and lessons I learned from their behavioral actions. I hope you enjoy it, and as I always say, you may not agree,and that is fine. I just ask that you keep in mind that these are my thoughts revealed to me by none other than the Holy Spirit, Himself, for my understanding of the Lord. Thank you Jesus!

If You Knew

If you knew the exact time you were going to die, what would you change in your life during that additional period(s) guaranteed to you? This is something I was thinking about concerning wasted time that we have all experienced and thoughts of how to somewhat correct past behaviors, thoughts, and actions thereof. I have learned these past three weeks and know from my experience that “silence is golden” when you put yourself in the Lord’s presence and see yourself through His eyes. Just sit quietly to self and He will reveal. There are some things you may not like or can’t believe about self.  Unveiling is a powerful thing!

So anywho! I was reading in the OT again searching for something really deep about being given a 2^nd chance to live life differently up to a certain day of guaranteed death told to you.  Here is where the remembrance of King Hezekiah kicked in.  After reading about him again, I also pondered, why was it that Adam was not given another chance to live perfectly again? That’s another blog and thought I suppose.

First I’ll share what I took from my Comprehensive Analysis of the Bible by Montgomery F. Essig, 1922 Edition about Hezekiah. Lord, I wish this edition was online so I could have just copied and pasted. Here we go!

Hezekiah – a form of a Hebrew word meaning “strength of Jehovah.”  Hezekiah was the twelfth king of Judah and one of the best of Judah’s kingly line, although he was the son of the idolater Ahaz.  He was born about 726 B.C., ascended the throne when about twenty-five years old, and reigned twenty-nine years.  One of the first acts of his reign was to do away with the idol-worship that had grown under his father and restore the true faith. He then turned his attention to win back the cities captured by the Philistines.  His success in these military operations led him to refuse tribute to Assyria, which nation had already destroyed the kingdom of Israel and led away the ten tribes captive.  This act brought to his doors an Assyrian army, and Hezekiah was forced to make terms by despoiling the Temple of gold to give to the Assyrians, who promptly broke faith, and were just as promptly punished by God, who in a night destroyed 180,000 of them by plague.  Hezekiah fell ill, and, after earnest prayer, was told by the prophet Isaiah that God would spare his life for fifteen years.  The remainder of his reign appears to have been peaceful and prosperous. References 2 Kings 16;18;19;20.

I shall add a bit more here about Hezekiah.  His mother, Abijah, was the daughter of King Zechariah. You do know that King David was Hezekiah’s grandfather, right?  And that because of Ahaz’s reign of not doing right in the eyes of the Lord, Israel was once again exiled because of Sin to Assyria?  In 2 Kings 17:18-19 the bible tells us that –So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel has introduced. 

His wife’s name was Hephzibah of which Manasseh was seeded.  It occurred to me that during the reign of kings throughout the families, that one generation would do good; then the next generation would do bad in the eyes of the Lord, and so on and so on. In other words, it seemed generations took turns between doing good and bad in the eyes of the Lord. I see that happening in my family and many others of which I am aware of their family history. There appears to be some type of skip a generational curse existing thingy. (Read the books of Judges – 2 Chronicles for specifics)

In 2 Kings 18:5-8, it tells us that- Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.  And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.  From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

Did you know that it was Hezekiah who broke “into pieces” the bronze snake Moses made that was used to cure the Israelites from snake bites back in Moses’ day? Here’s the story about Moses’ snake.

Numbers 21:4-9 (NIV) The Bronze Snake

 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”  Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.  The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

So now back to Hezekiah….please open your bible or do a net search and read 2 Kings 20. It is a powerful chapter and a lesson in there to be learned for all. I am to close this out some time soon.

If the Lord sent a messenger, or told you Himself, “Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”…. I ask again….If you knew….what would you change in your life? At that given moment Hezekiah only had a moment’s notice.  To most, if given that message, there would be nothing they could think of to do, but to lie there and die, call an ambulance, or try to write out a quick will via a phone call to a lawyer.  😛   But ah ha! here lies the strongest link in a weakest moment encountered….Watch out! Here it comes! When Hezekiah was told this, he did WHAT?  He prayed to the Lord, and this my loves, is how the 15 years was added to his life. Ask Him in faith and ye shall receive according to His will, huh? I think he was about 54 or close to it when he died.

Hezekiah really did prove to those of us, me included, in reading this; that the verses above (2 Kings 18:5-8) were kept until his death. Not only that, whatever the Lord said to Hezekiah, he accepted, whether good or bad. It made me think again about the simplicity of trusting in the Lord. We don’t have a quarter of the incidents happen in our lives that Hez had and most can’t find it in ourselves to put and keep that trust in to him until our death. We surely don’t want bad news from the Lord and we would not be as accepting of it as Hezekiah was. It is hard for us to come to grips with accepting our fate. Right? What I find even more amazing is that the bible tells us there was never another king like Hezekiah, neither before him nor after him. Thank you Holy Spirit! Brain power kick……There was never one like Jesus before Him or after Him either, nor to come.

What lesson(s) did you learn from reading about Hezekiah?

More on Hezekiah can be found in the Books of 2 Chronicles 29-32 and Isaiah 36-39. Another thing I found powerful in reading about Hezekiah is that he “thought” that……. “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”  Is that a thought of yours? If you were seconds away from your death, would you be able to utter those words?

2 Kings 20:7-11 (NIV)

Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.  Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord on the third day from now?”  Isaiah answered, “This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?”  “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.”  Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

My prayer and wish for you and self….Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.

I LOVE YOU

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

Related articles

• The God Of Hezekiah (savedbygraceblogdotcom.wordpress.com)
• Isaiah 39. Babylonian captivity of Judah foretold. Messengers from Babylonia (KJV) (bummyla.wordpress.com)

BECAUSE OF and BY FAITH- Our Reminders

My morning reading partner, the Holy Spirit, shared with me a reminder from the Book of Hebrews this morning Dec 8, 2012. Yep, you’ve guessed it! Hebrews 11, one of the biggest faith chapters in the bible. Don’t need a dictionary here, the writer makes sure we are aware of what FAITH is.

Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

A verse that really had the boomerang effect this morning. Let me share verse 13 with you: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

Do you realize that this verse is telling us who are Christians that because of faith, God‘s promise to us will never be void, even unto the grave? What a great reminder and eye opener! Lord have mercy Jesus!

Let’s take a look and read along in your bible the verses relating to each found throughout the bible, as to what happened because of and by faith. Ok, lovebirds, pull out the bible or read along online.

• The universe was formed
• Abel had a better offering for God, and by faith Abel still speaks even though he is dead.
• Enoch escaped the death experience. Because of his faith, he pleased God
• Noah by faith heeded God’s warning and lived with all kinds of animals on an ark.  😛
• Abraham by faith obeyed God without hesitation
• Sarah by faith, was able to bear children past the given childbearing age. (A reminder that  with faith , ANY and EVERYTHING is possible with God.)
• Abraham, because of faith offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. Is this something you could ever bring yourself to do, offer up your child as a scarifice to God? Do you have that much faith?
• Isaac lived because of faith, and by faith he blessed his son’s Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

Note to self-  Noticed faith appears to be generational and a big concern for the future of their children.

• Jacob, by faith on his deathbed blessed each of his grandchildren born of Joseph, and  worshipped the Lord.
• Joseph “when his end was near” because of his faith spoke aforetime about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. (Hmmm, do you have this type of faith?)
• Moses‘ parents by faith hid him and was not afraid of the king’s ruling during that time.
• Moses by faith refused to be recognized as the son of a pharoah, chose to be treated as a  slave, left Egypt, kept the Passover, regarded disgrace in the name of and for God, and was able to give the commandments of God to God’s people.
• The walls of Jericho fell (Can you imagine tons of stones broken only because of faith and never touched?)
• Rahab the prostitute, because of faith, she helped people of God and I just know her name is written in the Book of Life.
• Because of faith, there were those who “conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of a sword, weakness became strength,received back their dead ” and even survived being in the belly of a big fish, and it goes on and on folks.- Reference all books of the bible.

And I want to add, that by faith, Joseph stayed with Mary, knowing he wasn’t the “biological father” of our greatest Believer and Trustee of Faith, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Closing Verses

Hebrews 11:39-40 – These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:6 –  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

And now my beautiful people  in Jesus, may you all have a blessed and faith filled Saturday.  Off to shoe hunting I go.  By faith I shall find the perfect shoe within 30 minutes time that I can walk around in and praise the Lord while I’m living in the Holy City.  Faith prepares you.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of two caveats (possibly caviar for you seafood lovers…wink wink) concerning faith;

“BE SURE” and “BE CERTAIN”.

Thank you for spending time with me and the Lord this morning on the great reminder of what happens Because of and By Faith.

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins