My Journey through Romans 13:8-14

What Love Is Not.

I find it fascinating that this four letter word packs so much power, yet it is so hard for many to understand its power. It is also fascinating to me that when a woman gives birth, how love is immediately manifested once that baby passes through the birth canal. The same is true for those mothers who have a C-section. Along with that love comes relief and excitement. The pain is immediately forgotten because love overshadows it. A woman has gotten through what seems like a stormy season; she is blessed and the child (someone else) is blessed that the mother had enough love to whether periods of gestation. At least that was my experience with my three gifts from the Lord. Not to mention that the five times my  “only daughter” was pregnant, I experienced having all her symptoms as though I was going through the birth with her. That was so weird to me. After each delivery, I was dead tired. She tells people that I gave birth to my grandchildren. 😛  Perhaps, I should have stayed out of the birthing room.

Eve was also excited when she bare Cain, she told Adam, “I have gotten a man from the Lord.” After the birth of my first child, I said ‘Lord have mercy, look ____ (ex’s name), we have a baby boy’, and that baby boy is still close to me til this day at the age of 35. I am blessed. He thinks he is my father now. I was really excited and felt an immediate need to protect him as with all my children I bore.

I hate to admit this, but I feel I must. Some people who knew me years ago, knew how I felt about children at that time. Before I had my first child, I did not have a liking for children because they seemed like little pests to me. I had no inkling of what love was for children. Praise the Lord, I now know. God showed us firsthand what love is in Genesis 1:27 –So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. I believe if He had not love, we would not exist. As a matter of fact, everything that He has done and continues to do is out of love for us all. A main point about the word love is this: “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

In verse eight (8) the love Paul speaks of is not of that much difference than the love we have for our own family members. He had learned from experience and from Jesus that we are to “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” We know that love fulfills the law; so where do we understand it more? It is here in  1 Corinthians 13.  

We know from experience that it is hard for us to love others as God intends for us to love. For whatever reason, a lot of us just don’t have love for others.  Some of us even hate our family members. We as Believer’s/Christians need to keep searching our hearts like we search for stuff on the internet. Search until we find the love that overshadows our dislike for others and for family members.

Yes, people are full of disappointments and hurt which appears to be a given for us. Make no mistake it is not love itself that does those things to us. Let me prove my point. Can you imagine how God felt when His son died on the cross for our sins? People. Can you imagine how God felt when Adam and Eve whom He created sinned against Him? People. Can you imagine how He felt when Satan turned against Him? Yes, People. Can you imagine how He felt when He had Moses lead His children out of Egypt and they turned on Him? People. I think our problem with love is that most of us don’t place an emphasis on what love is not. And now, since we have the basics of what love for others really is, let us move forward to knowing what love is not for others. They are found in verses 9-10 of this chapter.

Love is Not:

• Committing Adultery/Betrayal against one in a marriage

• Killing another for any reason

• Stealing from others

• Lying on and for others

• Desiring what others have

• Harboring hate for others in your heart

• Treating others with hostility/ill-will

• Ignoring and neglecting to fulfill the law of God

Is it safe to say that at some point in all of our lives that we have shown and still show what love is not? Yes. I repeat, we most assuredly have a problem with knowing what love is not. Jesus is returning, though we know not the day. Hence, time is upon us to work at showing what love is not for all. This is why I believe Paul goes on to alert us in verses 11-14-“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Besides, hating others is a sin that leads to other sins. Believe it. Stop looking at the world through rose colored glasses. In 1 John 3:9-11 we are reminded that “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

May we all understand this message of what love is not by waking up from our “works of darkness” and putting on our “armour of light.”  Lord, help us in Jesus name. Amen.

Thank you for stopping in. Be blessed. Enjoy the quotes.

My Journey through Romans 12:9-21

 

An Exercise on How to Overcome Evil with Good- Walk Daily with the Spirit of God           

Get on your Nike’s on because we are going to “Just Do It.” as the slogan says. I personally prefer Under Amour sneakers. We are going to practice our walk daily with the Lord as one in the body of Christ. Let us begin.

Exercising Our Personal Behavior (vs 9,19) Read Luke 10:30-37; 2 Thessalonians 3:11-18

• Let love be without dissimulation (pretense). We should be what they call “Keeping it One Hundred” real with one another in the sincerest of ways. Let us not be two-faced but genuinely one-faced. If a person refuse to acknowledge your sincerity, do as Paul said do not regard them as an enemy. Be not in your heart an avenger. That’s love. Keep walking in the Spirit of God and stay focused on the love you have inside for God. I find myself walking away from people because I am so against fakeness. It’s a childhood thing. 🙂
• Abhor that which is evil. From our experiences we know that hate is a heavy-duty dislike for things and people and it separates the best of us, more importantly it separates us from God when dealing with those in the body of Christ. Note it says hate “that” which is evil, not the person that is evil. That person can always “turn again” to the Lord whether or not you’re a part of their life. Forgive yourself and forgive them if you harbor any spirits of hatred towards them. I’m still waiting to hear present day keeping it one hundred sermons on this matter. 😛
• Cleave to that which is good. The best vivid picture I can give here is one of baby animals clinging to their parents as they move about, even in rough terrain. Those little creatures hang on for dear life. If they fall off through rough terrain or attacks on parent, notice that the parent will either pick them back up or the baby KNOWS by the parent’s bodily stance to cling to them again. (TYHS) We should have enough love for others to treat them in this way when they are going through some stuff and the person should be comfortable enough to want to cling to us in such a time. They are only going to cling according to our sincere stance. It amazes me that some animals are more caring of their self and their own than most humans.

Exercising Our Behavior towards Family Members & Church Members – brotherly/ affectionate (verses 10-13) John 13:34-35; Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 12:26

• Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love… We should show members of our family and our church family that they are of great importance to us. I must reiterate as I have done in several posts…Don’t tell people that “everybody is going through something” especially when they confide in you about their issues. That is so not Christ-like and it shows no affection whatsoever towards the person(s); to them it is as though you are casting whatever they are going through to the wind without any cares.  Please understand this. 
• Be not slothful in business; be fervent (passionate) in spirit serving the Lord. Serving others is a business.  A spirit of slothfulness is a difficult spirit to work with. It comes down to you either don’t know how to or you don’t want to work with others because of past dealings. If you find serving in your church is not for you, then be sure to serve others on your own as God leads you to do so. I’ve found there are many out there who do not want to be affiliated with a church because they have been asked to attend the church in return for their service. This should not be so. As a Christian, just do your part. Either way, we are told to;
• Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and continue instantly in prayer for others. Yes, one can hope, be patient, and pray on their own. However, when we sense something is not right with someone, we need to call them up or visit with them to let them know they are not alone. Pray with them. It may give them hope to rejoice in. Don’t say what to them? “_____________________”When one feels left out or alone, regardless of who or what caused it, what hope do they have to rejoice in?  What hope do they have to pray?  Some people are just not at a spiritual level to see the unseen. This is real stuff that affect families in the body of Christ a lot more than we are willing to admit. What are you going to do about it as a member? Warning!!!! Avoid gossip, church cliques, false prophets and false doctrine.
• Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. If we see a need, fill it, especially for the homeless, the poor, the widows, the sick, the jobless, your family and church members. This type of hospitality has fallen to the wayside with that bad seed mentality planting by thinking “I gotta worry about me and mine.”

Exercising Our Behavior towards Others- (verses 14-21) John 10:16 says And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

• And this is why we should bless and curse not those that persecute us in Jesus name. There are still others out there who need to be brought to Jesus.
• We should rejoice with them because there is a way God will reach them through us.
• Be of the same mind toward them, because we don’t know what others have been through and why they may not believe in God. Hence, we are not to be wise in our own conceitedness. Yeah, we think we know everything about why a person is this way or that, when the truth of the matter is we know nothing of the sort. We can’t fit in their shoes to know their walk; which is why we as Believers need never to look down on others and gossip about the things they are going through. Hell is never full.
• Return to no man evil for evil. Separate yourself from people that do you harm or just flat out bring you down all the time. Let nothing separate you from God. Live peaceably with all, and let the Lord take care of the rest. The Lord knows better than us on how to stop an enemy in their tracks.

Because we are not perfect, we will get a leg, mind, or heart cramp during our walks. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good(vs21). Get back up, overcome and “Just Do It.” Read Proverbs 16:1-9 and let the Lord God our Master direct your steps. If people don’t want to communicate and/or be cooperative, walk away. I pray that we all choose to walk daily with the Lord, because we are all on the Devils’ hit list.

Thank you for visiting.

 

My Journey through Romans 9

All You Need to Know About God’s Mercy- A Choosing of One Over the Other

Read slowly the following verses:

¹³ As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Ref. Malachi 1:2-3)

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

¹⁵ For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

¹⁶ So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

¹⁷ For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

¹⁸ Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

So what say you of God’s mercy? We often cry out loud, “Lord have mercy…” when tragedy happens or when someone does something outside of their character. We ask quietly in prayer, “Lord have mercy…” when things are not going the way we want them to go in our lives and/or in the lives of others.

Some of us as Believers wrestle with believing verse 13 as being something God could do. Even though Esau aka Edom was hated, we find in studying God’s word that Esau (Edom) was still blessed. Know the spiritual meaning of the events between Esau and Jacob to understand God’s statement so I don’t have to go into it here. (Read Genesis 25- 27) We know that everything starts “In the beginning, God”.  We know that Esau and Jacob (Israel) were twins. We know from God’s mindset, there can be only ONE ruler that He chooses to oversee and follow through on His will. That I firmly believe and Jesus is the CHIEF model for my belief.  There have also been many a times, God has stepped in to put a chosen person back in line with his will; Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jonah and even you and I, are just a few that he chose to have mercy on. From the beginning to the end of the bible, we are shown that there is always a choosing of one over the other.

Years ago, I purchased a book titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. It was a book written about lessons learned in the authors’ life. As for me, all I really need to know about life and how God operates I learned in the book of Genesis. The events found there clearly show why He had to come down to earth as Jesus in the NT face to face to show us what we need to know. Is that not the mercy of God leading us back to Him as in the beginning?

In some cases, we show mercy upon those we do not know but hear about via news reports and those that don’t seem fitting to receive our mercy, but God. When we see others that we truly love losing their way in life or hurting do we not choose to show mercy by helping the one that is lost and in pain? There are also those who some choose to harden their hearts against (last U.S.A election is a prime example) as God chose to harden Pharaoh’s heart against God’s own people.(TYHS) A quote came to my mind made by General Thomas Jonathan Jackson aka “Stonewall Jackson” of the Civil War, that reminded me of our election outcome. He said “Duty is ours; consequences are God’s.” Many exercised their duty to vote, enough said.  Isn’t that eerie, Stone Wall and here we are about to inaugurate a President that wants to “build a wall.” Get ready to Watch God Work is all I can say. The Holy Spirit led me to say more about our election than I wanted to. Thank you Holy Spirit, there must be a message in here for someone out there. 

Wisdom Moment– There’s a message here for you. Grab it!  God is about to do some great things in teaching the world who He is once again. It’s his H.M.O. (holy modus operandi) He made the choice. The bottom line is that God chooses to works through whom He wills. Being a preacher’s kid, a doctor, or a church goer doesn’t necessarily put one in the line of God’s will to lead. Remember that God chose Paul, a murderer of His chosen people.(TYHS) Question to you beloved reader: What did you learn about God’s H.M.O when he chose to show Paul mercy? And what did Paul teach us about ourselves in 1Timothy1:15? “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

Now beloved, go back and read the verses at the beginning of this blog; add verses nineteen(19) through twenty-nine (29) to get a blessing. It is a truth for me in reading this chapter that ‘All You Need to Know About God’s Mercy- A Choosing of One Over the Other’ is a message that we all need to be attentive to. It’s not about hate, but about righteousness and God’s choice to fulfill His will and promises.Glory Hallelujah!

I leave you with some quotes from the author of All Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Robert Fulghum:

“I know what I really want for Christmas. I want my childhood back.
Nobody is going to give me that. I might give at least the memory of it to myself if I try. I know it doesn’t make sense, but since when is Christmas about sense, anyway? It is about a child, of long ago and far away, and it is about the child of now. In you and me. Waiting behind the door of or hearts for something wonderful to happen. A child who is impractical, unrealistic, simpleminded and terribly vulnerable to joy.”

My Journey through Romans 8

No Condemnation – A Pardoning of the Lord?

Let me begin by sharing a few scriptures that speak about condemnation. I’ll start with the three most important verses (KJV) first to give us the Root that oversees the act of condemnation.

John 3:17- For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:18- He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 12:47-48- And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

• 1 John 3:20- For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
• James 5:12- But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
• Psalm 103:12-As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
• Isaiah 55:7-Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

In Romans 8:1, we will find three (3) requirements necessary for Believers to receive “no condemnation”: (1) one must be in Christ Jesus, (2) one must not walk after the flesh, (3) one must walk after the Spirit; of which a daily practice of these requirements will be advantageous to us for our walk with God.

With that being duly noted, we can better understand this fact. Not all Believers walk after the Spirit. We all experience unexpected wrestling matches because of the law and sin against the spirit and the flesh.  But, then there is God’s grace and mercy. Per Peter, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)  And, John tells us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)  We should look at these two verses as encouragement for the Believer when Satan tries to set us upon the pedestal of condemnation as he tried with Job. Thank you Holy Spirit!

Thank you Jesus! And why should we thank Jesus?  Because what was a mystery to the people in the OT is no longer a mystery to those of us today.

Knowledge Moment – Thomas asked Jesus what was the way and “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:5-6) Paul confirms this in his letter to Timothy concerning the “knowledge of the truth”: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Please read the full chapter to understand the depth of the glory to come. I close here with the knowledge Paul shared with us: “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  (Hence, a good reason for us to follow the three(3) requirements listed above- that’s just my view.I’m working it! 😛 )

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:34-39)

The Final Proof of No Condemnation and that there will be A Pardoning of the Lord – (Revelation 22:3-4)-And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. Now that’s very encouraging, ya think? And you say, “I agree with you Shelia in Jesus name. Yeah!”

My Journey through Romans 7

 

The Law of The Mind     Romans 7

I became excited about this travel through Romans 7 after reading and rereading all of its verses. It is a very revealing and edifying chapter about the mind. I found in verse 21 something so true for many a Believers, some will admit it and some will not: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”  Let’s say it out loud together three times. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  And that my friend is the law of the mind.

From the pulpit to the pews, from the pillar to the post, the law of the mind is what all humans deal with. It doesn’t matter what the sin because SIN is SIN. There is no apples to oranges comparison in the Lord’s eyes, and we can look at the biography of the writer of this book to know that. (TYHS)

Now ask self, how often do I wrestle with that law? Is it safe to say that the Believer wrestles daily or once a year with that law? Even if one is unable to answer these questions, one surely knows that sin will be ever present and crouching at our door until the Lord’s second return. And it is the mind that jumps starts how we handle sin every time its head is reared. If sin were to be put on the calendar like Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, we’d be expecting it a certain time every year, right? Then in our minds, we’d know how to prepare for it as we do other holidays or special days like birthdays and anniversaries. However that’s just not the case, sin occurs daily on the calendar in the lives of many Believers and others for the bible tells us so.

Side Thought- I wonder why is it that sin never gets tired of crouching?

Now, let us understand what the mind is. Many know the meaning of a lot of things and words, but rarely think about meanings on a spiritual level until the Holy Spirit brings it to our attention as He did with me in this study.

Mind (n)- 1.(in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the human mind. 2. Psychology. the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities.

We may even go so far as to describe the mind as being the eyes of our heart. It is through the mind that God communicates with us. In Isaiah 1:18 God says “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  We also know from experience that the mind communicates with the heart. But, not always does the mind and heart agree. There is often a manifestation of conflict between the two, which is why we often lose the battle with the flesh. In reading verses 14-25, we discover the truth of the matter concerning the law of the mind. Yet, in Christ the flesh is defeated. I think I heard this once in a sermon of Adrian Rogers, “Already the power of sin has been broken, but freedom from its presence is not yet come. Wait and stand faithfully in the Lord for the war with sin will be won.” The already and the yet…praise the Lord, the day will come where we shall no longer war with the law of the mind. Yes, Lord!

We as Believers need to be conscientious in remembering with our mind that sin is ALWAYS crouching at our door and the desire to please God is the image of who we really are in Christ Jesus.  Amen. Stating that reminded me of the time my child was battling leukemia. On his good days( a rarity), when scheduled for after chemo check-ups, he would be nice to the certain nurses. There was one nurse in particular that he gave the nick name “least expected”. I asked him one time why did he call her that. He told me that she was never expecting him to be in a good mood after chemo, so he decided he would play tricks on her. Unbeknownst to him, I’m sure she just played along because he had leukemia. I think I said that to say this, the mind does play tricks on us when we least expect it to. This too is sort of a way to understand how the law of the mind works. I pray that made sense to you.

However, the conclusion of the matter is this, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) This is probably why God asks of us to “reason together”, for He is a merciful and mindful God. Yet!

Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.

My Journey through Romans 5

Justified by the blood of Jesus; not just by faith?

In Romans 5:1-2, Paul gives us three things to look forward to when justification comes by faith: (1) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, (3) and we will rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Skip to Lou! In Romans 5:6-11, Paul gives us a message from the cross. Not only is our justification through faith in Jesus, but we are also “justified by his blood” and that we “shall be saved from wrath through him.”  Shout out loud, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  Not the blood of Abraham, Buddha, Mohammad, Wicca witch, Vishnu, or Mary, the mother of Jesus. Only one way!  Now, after reading that I thought it so amazing that we give blood to save lives, but others are not justified through the giving of our blood. That’s how we know Jesus is Lord. Is it possible that we can save others from wrath through the giving of our blood?  No, not at all, because the truth be told we are a weak people. And, I have been told “some men weaken at the site of blood”, per a few nurses. Admit it. Paul speaks of our weakness in verse six (6) “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

I found four truths mentioned in this chapter that verified that only Jesus was capable of following through on. We as sinners could never pay anyone enough money to: (1) die for the ungodly (2) commend our love toward all sinners (Ex. A lot of people hate the sinner and the sin committed by homosexuals, murderers, liars, racists, adulterers, false prophets, etc.) (3)  Reconcile others unto God by our death (4) be the one and only atonement for the sins of others. Jesus did. But God. Now peradventure there are some that will commend their love toward all sinners, because that IS something we are capable of doing when the heart is right with God. Right?

Speaking of blood..let’s go back to “In the beginning” for a moment. Do you know of the first time blood was shed in the bible? Nope, it wasn’t when Cain slew Abel. It was when God provided “garments of skin” for Adam and Eve to cover their known nakedness. Gen.  3:21 and Lev.7:8 lead us to believe that an animal sacrifice took place as the atonement for their sin of disobedience, therefore I believe that the blood of an innocent animal was shed.(TYHS!)  “And then there’s” us (not Maude)  you and I, who God in the form of an innocent man, Jesus Christ died for the ungodly by the giving of His blood. The first powerful lesson I learned in this chapter is how strong of a role disobedience to God played in the shedding of innocent blood. Now, let this soak in. God said “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.“(Lev.17:10)Ouch! (TYHS!)

 

The other powerful lesson I learned is to always share with others just how potent God’s love for us is; which was through the blood sacrifice of His “only begotten Son”.  Think deeply about it folks, God has always provided a substitute for sin or a way out for His people. He has always done things for us that we are not capable of doing for ourselves.  We are not capable of punishing ourselves for wrong doings. We can’t outsmart God. We are not capable of escaping God’s justice; therefore a penalty had to be paid according to His laws. Nothing but the powerful blood of Jesus could settle that debt for all mankind. Amen.

All throughout the Old Testament, pick a story, any story, you will find how often the disobedient people of God were covered by His grace that abounded much more than their sins. (vs. 20) And so I can agree with Paul when he stated that “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”(vs. 8-9)  Shout ((((Thank you Jesus))))

 

Do you remember this hymn?  http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Nothing_but_the_Blood/

What can wash away my sin?

 Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

 What can make me whole again?

 Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Challenge- Make a list of sinners you would die for by the giving of your blood. Now that’s going to be a challenge for sure. 🙂

 

 

And While He Lingered… The Lord Had Mercy – Genesis 19:16

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.(Genesis 19:16-22 KJV)

Most are familiar with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, right? I wanted to share with you something the Holy Spirit shared with me concerning this story . It’s about lingering, the Lord’s mercy, and yes, the sin of not helping others (doing nothing) and leaving the people of God to be consumed in a place of chaos. (Ouch 1!)

We as the people of God in this very day and age, still linger when He tells us to go. We as his people also have a bad habit of looking and running the other way when we need to hold the hand of (help) others; we knowingly and cowardly let them become consumed. Why? Is it because we don’t have or never had anyone to grab us by the hand like the angels helped Lot, to lead us out of the place we are in to avoid being consumed? Have we forgotten how to show mercy to and make sacrifices for others? (Ouch 2!)

We are taught and told by many that God doesn’t speak directly to us anymore as He did the prophets of old. That could be true for some, however, He does speak to us through his Holy Spirit, others and His angels, those who He have given charge over thee per King David’s experience. “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”- (Psalm 91:10-11) and,  “For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”(Luke 4:10-11) *Be*

Toe Stepping Moment

The four ethical questions I have when chaos hits are: (1) While most linger when God tells us to go; shouldn’t we have family, friends, or someone in the body of Christ helping us to go forward? (2) If so, then why has the church become a place concerned with the building up of a larger or new building while neglecting to build up its very members? A lot of churches have forgotten about planting seeds, they are more concerned with planting cement. (3) Why do family and so-called friends take off in the opposite direction, choose sides, or ignore the ones in need when chaos presents itself?  The elephant is always present and its presence is always ignored seemingly to be the norm for most. (4) Have you ever seen a herd of sheep around an elephant? (Ouch 3!) Ok, I’m stepping off of toes now, mine included. 🙂

It was made manifest to me that through the interceding’s of Abraham (Gen. 18:23-33) and by the hands of the Lord’s angels that Lot would have never gotten out of the chaos (place) on his own for he was comfortable living there amid the chaos. Let me bring it to you on another level. Sometimes we worship where we live no matter what is going on around or in that place. Sometimes we worship a church place for the wrong reasons, and/ or a  place of employment and we linger when the Lord is telling us to go elsewhere less we “be consumed.”

We should learn that the Lord always have something better planned for us(Joshua 1:9, Jer. 29:11) even through those people, places, or things we have a hard time of moving away from or losing. In verse 22, we find the angel of the Lord telling Lot, that he cannot do anything until he “be come thither”(KJV) or “flee there quickly” (NIV) *Come*

Uh oh! I just had a ‘the boot doesn’t fit’ laughing moment from the movie Toy Story 2 to insert here. Let me share it with you.

Jessie: You callin’ me a liar?

Woody: Well, if the boot fits.

Jessie: Say that again.

Woody: [slowly enunciating] If the boot-tah fits!

In this case, the “boot-tah” doesn’t fit, (and I love boots) therefore I am not a liar when I made mention of the above occurrences. 

 

Sacrificial Thinking Moment– Lot tried to give his own daughters over to the violent men for sex, instead of giving the angels over to them for sex. He did not linger in that thought. Why not? What a sacrifice for a father to make to keep God’s own angels (people) safe! Get it?

 

 

When there is someone in need of your help and you know that they need help(spiritually or physically), though they linger and have not asked, put forth your hand to help them move out of the chaos. *Thither* This is the time when God speaks through his angels(you quite possibly) to relay a message  to others. Trust me, it is true. I don’t know about you, but I always know when someone is going through something and I do not hesitate to help people in some way. I have put my own self at risk of losing things to help others out. I know that the Lord will see me through my loss. I am also guilty of not asking others for help-Lord help me in that area. This is what the people of God do for one another. There is no time for gossip about what one is going through.

We who are of the Lord better Wake Up, No More Lingering; we are to stretch out a helping hand to one another and stop thinking of self and self’s earthly possessions, positions, and what others think. For the word said “And while he lingered the men laid hold upon his hand…”  It was the light for me in His word beloved that this was a show of mercy from the Lord on Abraham, not just on Lot and his family. Are you not of Abraham’s seed? It also shows us that when one who art in the body of Christ is hurting, that in spiritual reality, all are hurting. The Lord does not want His people to live in hurt, nor to linger. 

Do you know someone who is lingering? If so, go back to the ways of old…the Lord’s Way in helping others who linger. Where is your show of mercy (your helping hand)?  For the Lord’s angels said:… “for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither.” In other words to stop lingering when He tells you to “Go” and to stop lingering when it comes to helping others.

I’m going to end with more words from Toy Story 2. (TYHS) Find the hidden message that is relative to this post(three words are located thither*)

Alien toys: You have saved our lives. We are eternally grateful.

Mrs. Potato Head: You saved their lives? My hero! They’re so adorable. Let’s adopt them!

Alien toys: [Gathering around Mr. Potato Head] Daddy!

 I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

 

 

He Is Not Afraid To Approach You and Taketh You Up

Matthew 4:1-11

Biblical Insight-There are three Key Responses To Use when you are approached and tempted by the devil and those that do his bidding for him:

1. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
2. “ It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
3. “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Results of the Responses

“Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”

The devil, aka the tempter, when he thought Jesus was at his most vulnerable moment, tempted Jesus three times and twice he “taketh”/lifted/carried  Jesus up. Get this! He actually touched Jesus by lifting him up and setting him down or upon. That’s a “Whoa???” moment for me. Let’s have a look at these three times from a worldly perspective(TYHS):

1. He tempted Jesus by using the you are in a position to make commands, so do it. You don’t need anyone’s authority. If he/she can do it, so can you.  Most are familiar with this type of temptation. If they can do it you can do it too… you know the go over your bosses head, not consulting with others, just do it because you are a child of God’s propositional temptation? How many of us have been taken to a higher level by others and put in that type of situation, going over God’s head  to become a commander of things and people? You don’t listen to others, LISTEN to God. He still speaks to you TODAY. When the time comes for you to face God, you will be facing Him alone; not with the people who have tempted you on their own authority.(Acts 4:18-20, Acts 5:9, Ephesians 5:21, 1Peter 5:3, Hosea 8:1-6, 1 Corinthians 11:3, and John 5:19)
2. He tempted Jesus by using the prove it, if you are who you say you are methodical deception temptation(my new thought words). We do not have to prove anything to anyone on this earth. All we have to do is “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) That’s It! One verse.
3. He tempted Jesus by using the you can have whatever you like as long as you bow down to me temptation. I think there is a song out there called “Whatever You Like.” 🙂 Most are also familiar with this type of temptation whereas a person(the fooled) becomes a bootlicker, brownnoser, kowtower, the a-k word, lackey, and/or a backscratcher. “It’s a short step from lip service to brown-nosing” is a common saying. People that have taken this step have fallen off of the high mountain they were taken to by others. People have a habit of feeling indebted to others who give them whatever they like. Notice that the word NEED is missing when presented with such a low temptation promising high expectations from others.(TYHS) Jesus gave us a clear example that this is not how the people of God should be. If we choose to serve God, then God provides for our every need. Enough said. (Genesis 9:3, Genesis 22:13-14, Psalm 34:10,Matthew 6:31-32 and Philippians 4:19)

Mountain Top Insight– People who want to control you have issues controlling themselves and they are a people who are not led by the Spirit of God. Let’s label them as ‘Sweet Talkers’ and Fake Morale Boosters. I’m sorry I can’t work with or fathom the thought of the people of God being positionally fake.(Sigh!)  Most likely these type of people have already experienced temptation in some form and know its outcome. The devil (our greatest example and foe) was tempted to control God’s kingdom; look where it got him and his followers…booted out(Rev.12:9). For edification please read 1 John 2:19-27.

We should remember that we have always been a vulnerable people that need the Lord since being put out of the Garden of Eden. More so now than ever. It is a fact that God will send His angels to minister to us( those who trust and believe in Him) at our lowest moments. The Holy Spirit will guide us. (Matthew 4:11, John 16:13) ^“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Therefore, let us be strong in the Lord as Jesus was, because if the devil approached Jesus…took him up and “setteth him”, know this one thing beloved: 

He Is Not Afraid to Approach You And Taketh You Up.

Henceforth beloved, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Because In Reality

“We don’t see the things the way they are. We see things the way WE are.”– Talmund

 

I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

 

Sometimes We Miss This Message

In the Beginning    (Please read Genesis 1)

The Message

In six(6) days God created EVERYTHING that we needed to live before He rested on day  seven(7).

Let me reiterate.(TYHS)

He prepared EVERYTHING for man BEFORE He brought forth man.

HE LOVES US.

Psalm 146 (Please read in full)

 

 

 

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