Spiritual Poverty – Matthew 5:3

Spiritual Poverty – Matthew 5:3.

Knowing and Accepting Your Lot – Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

 

Tombstone Image- Courtesy of Wikimedia.Org

Lot-(n)- an object used as a counter in determining a question by chance : the use of lots as a means of deciding something: the resulting choice : something that comes to one upon whom a lot has fallen : (share): one’s way of life or worldly fate : (fortune)

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We as God’s children often times forget the many gifts He gives to us. I personally had never thought much of a LOT being a gift of God. Solomon confirmed it by his observations. The Holy Spirit stamped it in my heart just now on this great blessed New Years Eve. Wow! I am becoming wiser. 😛

It is a fact that “Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,and as everyone comes, so they depart.They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.” (vs 15)

On a serious note, I wish that those who are hoarders of their riches (LOT) given to them by God, would stop thinking that they are going to take their riches with them when they die. I also wish that they would realize, whatever they have is a gift from God. God is a giving God that supply all of our needs. (Philippians 4:19-And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.)

Since we are made in His image, aren’t we suppose to be giving beings that do the same? After all, it is through some of us that the Spirit of God works in our heart to give to the less fortunate so that their needs are met. We are NOT taking anything with us in death. God even takes our soul from our bodies that He breathed into us. It belongs to Him when we die. All things belong to Him. This too is something we need to know and accept. It’s a – (dash ) period.

When death occurs it seems to be customary to put the date of birth – (dash) date of death on the marker for the deceased and/or to list it in an obituary. I’ve never heard an explanation for the -(dash) but what would you think if I said that -(dash) represented ‘one’s way of life or worldly fate’…the things that took place in between life and death? Yeah, their LOT. Hmmm, thinking too much again, I am. (TYHS)

“To eat, drink, and to find satisfaction” in our labor under the sun during our life is a LOT that God has given to all. We all share in that LOT… the -(dash) That is now one of my New Years resolutions after reading the scriptures…Knowing and Accepting My Lot for it is a gift from God. That will be my – (dash). I will choose to “seldom reflect on my life” because I will trust in what God gives me and be totally “occupied with gladness of heart.” Amen (TYHS)

And I close with verses 18-20:

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

I pray that all get to work in Knowing and Accepting Your Lot.

JOYFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

I LOVE YOU

To Vow or Not To Vow? Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

The Answer- Deuteronomy 23:21-22-When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

Promise– vow; to assure somebody that something will certainly happen or be done Vow-a solemn promise or assertion; specifically :   one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition

At some phase in our lives, every one of us have made and broken many promises. Promises that were broken, due to carelessness, forgetfulness, anger issues, and/or circumstances beyond our control are still promises…right? I also believe that most promises are broken because of a person’s heart condition and mistrust aka missed trust that evolved between parties. This post will not focus on vow/promises made to one another. Its focus will be on vows/promises made to God. Studying this I began to ponder…What is the value of a vow? What initiates a vow? Can mistrust exist between us and God?

Solomon tells us to fear God and keep our vows made to God. He has given us clear instructions on the matter of handling vows made to God. His writings are from his life experiences. And so, I must agree with Solomon, per my life experiences and in seeing the life experiences of others that we must (and I paraphrase):

• Tread lightly and prepare yourself to hear when you go to the house of God.
• Be seen and not heard until your heart is in alignment with God’s will.
• Pay as you vow. God does not have a pay as you go cell phone plan, nor a pay as you earn plan like Obama’s pay as you earn (PAYE) plan for student loans.
• Do not make vows to God when you KNOW you are not able to do so.
• “Don’t let your mouth overload your capabilities” per Dolly Parton and don’t make any excuses because “There is a lie in between a promise and many excuses.” ( Toba Beta)
• Fear God so that you are more likely to keep your word uttered from a rented heart. Did Pharaoh fear God?

 No pinky swearing is allowed between us and God.

I have received the answers to my questions above. I pray that you get an understanding of the verses presented.

1. What is the value of a vow? It depends on how much we fear God. (TYHS) Read Matthew 10:28-29.
2. What initiates a vow? It begins with God’s will and your acceptance to do His will. (TYHS) Read Exodus 23:20-33 and Exodus 24:1-8.
3. Can mistrust exist between us and God? Yes, when we do not believe in Him or His word. We cannot serve nor believe in two masters if our trust is in God. (TYHS) Read Matthew 6:24.

 

I just had a thought that some may be offended by the lyrics from the songs that come to mind while I am writing. If so, please accept my apology. Trust! The Lord works with me in mysterious ways and often it is through the words of songs I have heard of old. He leads me to see in a different sense with the focus being on Him. I am thankful to have been blessed with the gift of hearing, not listening, with a deeper sense of words spoken that most never pay attention to.

Songs are poetry turned into words with a beat. That belief could have come from my dad’s poetry writings… making us girls sing what he wrote and turned into music at a moment’s notice. I always had to voice my opinion about a song, because to me, the words didn’t make sense.

It was not a good thing to be yelled at and made to sing his musical notes when we didn’t even know how to read music. We did not know what that big cursive S, d’s and p’s were on five lines.  I guess that is why we were then forced into taking piano lessons.

It is so true, that most things we are taught to do as a child will drop off to the wayside for a time. As we grow older and older, the time comes back to haunt us. On that note, I’ll leave you with this poetry titled Promises, Promises from an old 90’s group-Naked Eyes:

Never had a doubt in the beginning

Never a doubt

Trusted you true in the beginning

I loved you right through

On and on we laughed like kids

At all the silly things we did

You made me promises, promises

Knowing I’d believe promises, promises

You knew you’d never keep

Second time around, I’m still believing

The words that you said

You said you’d always be here

And love forever still repeats in my head

You can’t finish what you start

If this is love it breaks my heart

We do break God’s heart when we do not fulfill a vow made to him. And let us not forget what Jesus said, “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”- Matthew 5:33-37

 

 

Oppression – An Outcome of Uncontrolled Lust – Ecclesiastes 4

I must admit that until I studied deeply about the word oppression, I used to think it meant the same as depression. For most, oppression leads to having depression. All that studying and reading some of my old books caused this blog to be over a week late. Forgive me. Ha! Ha! Let’s get to it!

Oppression– n- unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power; being pushed or pressed down by society

Origin of Oppress: 1300-50; Middle English oppressen < Middle French oppresser < Medieval Latin oppressāre, derivative of Latin oppressus past participle of opprimere to squeeze, suffocate, equivalent to op- op- + -primere (combining form of premere) to press

Lust-n- pleasure, delight: personal inclination; intense desire or need; a passionate or overmastering desire or craving

Spirit Food for Thought– For instance, I learned that oppression is a civil liberties issue. What are civil liberties? They are the rights guaranteed to citizens or residents of a country or territory as a matter of fundamental law. Rights that a government is contractually obligated to protect. Most of us are aware that there is a slight difference between civil liberties and human rights.

Human rights are universal rights to which all humans are entitled, regardless of where they live.  Rights that are implied by one’s status as a person, whether the government has agreed to protect them or not. 

Let’s go deeper… if a human being lives under a bridge, in a homeless shelter, in prison, on deaths’ bed, unemployed, suffers from mental issues, or have disabilities-all human beings are entitled to human rights. People that live in their comfy homes, castles & mansions, employed, owners of a business, and those that practice various religions and sexual preferences, also have human rights. It is clear that ALL children, men, and women have human rights. However civil liberties seem to be an iffy situation. even when most consider it to be “natural liberty itself.” That’s deep.    

When Solomon wrote about oppression in this chapter I noticed that he does not label oppression as being “meaningless.”  He does not state that he is oppressed, but does state that he “saw .” Hmm?

“I saw the tears of the oppressed—     and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—     and they have no comforter.”

Through the eyes of many, there has never been a truer statement made about the human life… ONE exception. We have a Comforter which is the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26 & John 15:26) Praise and thank Jesus for sending Him our way.

Solomon did not know there was a comforter according to John 7:39 – (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

I have three questions for you to ponder:

1. What rights did God give to the human race?
2. Are you an oppressor?
3. Are you the oppressed?

I want to share with you a good read titled Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. I think that it is most used by teachers and students. It can be found at your local library, bookstore, or online. I read it in 1980’s as a sociology requirement and  pulled it out to read again with this study. In the book, Paulo said “the teacher confuses the authority of knowledge with his or her own professional authority, which she and he sets in opposition to the freedom of the students; the teacher is the Subject of the learning process, while the pupils are mere objects.”  

Isn’t this the way that most who are in authority think? Many governments run in this way which leaves many in an oppressed state. The government rulers are the subjects and we are the objects. This is one reason as voters that we should all study and shew thyself approved before casting our votes… but mainly “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth through learning.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

The state of the matter is that oppression is an issue with a big I and an issue for those less knowledgeable about humanity’s history. What was Solomon’s I ? Read Deut. 17:16-20. Because he broke these commands that God had given for kings, he became an oppressor. His skedaddle over to uncontrollable lusts set in motion the oppression of Israel while under his rule. Solomon’s oppressive actions caused the Kingdom of Israel to divide from Judah after his death.  His rules were still in place during his son Rehoboam’s rule, and God’s people wanted change. God warned Solomon not to oppress His people when Solomon prayed to Him, did He not? (I Kings 9:4-9) It’s there in the Word.

Read 1 Kings 11-12; 1 Chronicles 1-10(Tribal Genealogy to understanding the division between Israel and Judah…you’ll know who went where); 1 Chronicles 22; 1 Chronicles 28:4-10

Oh my Lord! –1 Kings 11: 9-13– The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

AND

1 Kings 12:1-4-Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from[a] Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Reho did not lighten the yoke and division came as God said it would.

The same stuff happens today when a new person is elected or re-elected to run their country. People try to get something to change during the changing of the guards, ask for it- denied, or fight for it- still denied and whoop there it is…same ol same ol “heavy yoke”…oppression and division continue to run its course within the human race. Who dat say “there is nothing new under the sun?” We have all experienced uncontrolled lust in some form.  We have been both the oppressed and the oppressor. That is why it is necessary for us as children of God; we are to be on our best heart behavior with all. Someone said “check yourself before you wreck yourself.” I’ve had to do it quite often.

Now we come to my last thought about lust. It is my humble opinion that uncontrolled lust period is the main reason that oppression exist. Wouldn’t you like to go inside my mind to see what those loose-spirited screws look like?  😛 I’ll keep it simple – Most of us have a very intense desire or need to rule over and/or micro-manage others while at the same time oppressing them. It is definitely an I issue. (TYHS)

For more comfort against the beast of oppression read Matthew 6. (TYHS) Be very attentive to verses 33-34 and yell B-I-N-G-O! The Lord, our God does not like for His people to be oppressed. Remember what happened to Pharaoh when he oppressed God’s people?

 

 

Time (A Clock Of The Heart) Ecclesiastes 3

Let’s sing!

Don’t put your head on my shoulder

Sink me in a river of tears

This could be the best place yet

But you must overcome your fears

In time it could have been so much more

The time is precious I know

In time it could have been so much more

The time has nothin’ to show we got

Time won’t give me time

Don’t make me feel any colder

Time is like a clock in my heart

When we think about time, most of us think about a mechanical or solar powered clock or watch to see what time it is, and we use a calendar to see dates in time. Not today! Today, we are going to go out there- expand our thinking with the Spirit of God.

When studying this chapter, the old eighties tune by Culture Club was singing in my head. A lot of us don’t pay too much attention to the words of a song, some just love the music. I love both. I always find something else in the words that are relative to my time with God. This was a favorite song of mine during that TIME, yet the words ring so true to me at this TIME.

The words “Clock of the Heart” was laid on my heart during this time with the Holy Spirit. We or at least I have never thought about time being a clock of the heart. I must now agree that it is indeed that.

On a medical note…when our heart stops, we have learned through scientific evidence that major internal organs IN our bodies began to shut down like a domino effect and then there is death. In some cases, the heart can be revived and there is some damage done to the other organs. In some cases, when the heart can’t be revived, nor replaced, time as we know it stops…death. This blog is not about death, so I won’t place any focus there. However, in death, there is only ONE that can resurrect in His time. (TYHS)

Beginning in this chapter Solomon goes over a listing of “a time to” everything that happens in this world. We have all experienced, seen, or have heard of these things beginning with verses 1 thru 8. We also know that time “is precious.”

The title borrowed from the Culture Club song came more into view when I was reading verses 10 thru 14. The key verse 10(NIV): “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

(TYHS) Let’s rewind… He has also set eternity in the human heart;

Rewind Again… He has also set eternity in the human heart;

I found the perfect synonyms for eternity: time without end; forever.

Are most of us even aware that God has set time without end in our heart? (Whoa! PTL! TYHS! ) This was a powerful message to me to share with you. Excuse me while I dance and shout! Ok, done.

Solomon goes on to say in verse 14: “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will revere him.” (Ok, let us all dance and shout !)

Courtesy-upperstatestreet.com

In between verses 10 thru 14, he reminds us of two things we should already know or have experienced: (1) there is nothing better for us than to be happy and do good (well) while we live; (2) that we all may eat, drink and find satisfaction in our toil- for it is the gift of God. Wow!

So you see, as Boy George said: (Let’s sing again!) 

In time it could have been so much more

The time is precious I know

In time it could have been so much more

The time has nothin’ to show we got

Time won’t give me time

Even though Solomon “thought” in his “heart”, we know in our hearts that God will, “In time” AND IN His time ONLY “bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a TIME for every activity, a TIME to judge every deed.”(Ecc.3:17) During our judgment time, most of us might start singing “In time it could have been so much more”, my time “has nothin’ to show” I “got” because “time won’t give me time”

If we take a look back at things and people who have pass through in our lives, some will discover that there was a “lost” connection “from the start.” I believe this to be, because God did not want the clock of our heart to be wasted on anything or anyone that was not going to be beneficial to us for whatever reason he deemed fit at that time.

Not to mention, God knew that those things and people were not beneficial to His Kingdom. So, count your blessings for those things and people who were not a connection that have come and gone at a moments notice in your life.

So beloved, now that you have been notified via Culture Club’s song, Time (A Clock of the Heart)– might I add…A Clock of the Heart that God has set time without end in, I must put forth Solomon’s question to you “…For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?”

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:” from birth to death.

Insight – We are ALL on God’s time. It is NOT “Our time.”

Blessed Hope and Peace

Ecclesiastes 1- The Realization of Vanity In Our Lives

Three things are clear concerning life experiences in the human race. (1) Humans learn from experience. (2) Humans learn from the experience of others. (3) Humans have a hard time breaking form or habit. There are four things that stood out to me as I studied Ecclesiastes on this go round with the Holy Spirit. Let us remember, He is our helper. Amen. The four things done under the sun are:

1. We toil
2. We die
3. Generations come and go
4. The earth remains

I’ve become more conscious of these four facts and how it relates to our life experiences.  It occurred to me that these are spiritual events that take place in life. Most of us accept these events as just being physical events. Even through global warming, wars, damaging storms, life and death, and disobedient man…the earth remains through it all. It had never crossed my mind that the earth remains when I read or hear so much about the earth being “slowly destroyed.”

Realization Point– What the Lord, Our God formed first is what remains…”the earth”. (Genesis 1) The four things listed above takes place while the sun, wind, and water continue to do its circuitous tasks assigned by God. Why is it so hard for us to do our tasks assigned?

Vanity Point– excessive pride in one’s appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain; conceit: lack of real value; hollowness; worthlessness: something worthless, trivial, or pointless.

Taking these points into deep spiritual consideration, we should understand what King Solomon was sharing from his life experiences throughout the verses in Ecclesiastes 1.  Take a real look at your life, both physically and spiritually while reading these verses:

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

Did you notice the pattern? The sun, wind, and water works according to God’s will.  It’s a never-ending cycle until God commands it to end. I also noticed according to the KJV, the sun and wind is referred to as being male …“his” and “he”. Never noticed that before?

If one is a believer in Christ Jesus, each day should begin and end with His circuitous presence. Yes we have to work. No, every day will not be hunky dory. No, we do not need to think daily about death. No, we cannot control the weather. Moses, Job, & Elijah can confirm that.

I had to ask myself…Is there anything that I can do over the sun that is done under the sun? No. Why not? I ask myself. Beloved, we have been given dominion only over the earth. (Genesis 1:26) Needless to say it is dominion that has run amuck. Running amuck is vanity and it is something most of the human race excels in doing. As the group Queen use to sing… “another one bites the dust.”

Another important thing to realize is found in verse 15:  That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

Wow! We can only say, we’re sorry for messing up or putting a bend in things with others and with God. We cannot go back and make anything the way it was. Women cannot go back and enter a child into their womb once it is born deformed or sickly in some way hoping to make the child come out as a healthy child; divorced people cannot go back and change events that took place that caused the divorce; people, in general, cannot go back and relive a moment to change something done or said in the wrong way that affected others. Even in accounting, an accountant has only the power to erase, re-insert some number to make things look good on paper. If you go behind the scenes of accounting, it is then you will find many “crooked” things that could not be made straight by a person trying to go back, back and back to straighten it out. Got it?

Wanting means there is a lack or absence of something and/ or a not measuring up to standards. Let us ask self….Self what is “wanting” in my life? Make your list and talk to self in the mirror a lot. It works. When the day comes that self is face to face with God, will self be tried and found wanting?

To realize what vanity in our lives is, one must reevaluate ones priorities. Those who are believers must align their priorities with God’s will. I know and I don’t know what has come over me this last year and a half, but things and some people I use to consider important are not important at all. I have finally realized that you can’t help with, do for, nor please everyone.

The Lord has allowed me to share His messages in many ways with others these last three years. If not received by others, I’ve learned to keep smiling and shake the dust from my feet as instructed in Matthew 10:14. My mind and heart set has become an “I don’t care” attitude in a good way with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I’ve reached the spiritual phase in realizing the vanity of it all and the time wasted. Solomon’s thinking is right on the mark. We learn from experience. I recall what my pastor had said once “…fish or cut bait.” I’ve learned the art of cutting bait and suggest that others cut bait as well when the fishing is past your season.

Yes, there is some value among all these things that take place in our lives. However, some of us fail to realize that the value increases when God is ever-present in our lives.

Solomon has put forth some serious issues about life in this first chapter. Just as God has a circuitous pattern for the sun, wind, and waters to work on one accord… He also has a circuitous pattern for us to all be on one accord. We backslide and fail to see and do according to His purpose. Even Solomon backslid and failed God…But God’s Grace!

Personal Moment– I’ve always wanted to live in a log cabin on a mountain, writing books, living as God wants me to live helping others in need, getting around on a horse named Pegasus, and live off the land God gives me. I’m sure the Lord will put me there soon enough, because this is something He has not removed from my heart. He knows best. I’ve always had hermit like tendencies.

When I would read Revelation, I would be envious of John being exiled on the Isle of Patmos.  It is said, that God’s people are a peculiar people. (1 Peter 2:9) I share this because I have realized the importance of spending time alone with the Spirit of God to be more attentive of the four things listed above. As King Solomon stated, all is vanity and even wisdom has its limits.

I also want to encourage those here to spend time with the elderly and homebound. They are a forgotten group. If your area has Christmas trees set up in various venues to buy presents for the elderly, please take a name or two from the tree and make the purchases for them.  They do not ask for much at all. Purchasing toiletries, adult diapers, sweaters, and socks will not break your pockets.  Get your church to sponsor a few people. Isn’t that what the church is for, helping others with their needs? I repeat… the value increases when God is ever present in our lives, especially when we are helping others with basic needs.

Please realize that no matter what is going on in life, the “earth remains” and God is in control. May you become inspired to avoid wasting time on worthless things and realize the vanity of it all.

I LOVE YOU

***Lessons From Ecclesiastes Series *** *** Life In General ***

Good Day, Lord willing, I have plans to share lessons learned from the book of Ecclesiastes. Please accept my apologies for brief disappearance.  I have spent a lot of time in the Word and time with God revealing things to me from this great book. I love the Lord! Thank you Holy Spirit. Bear with me, as we travel through the book of Ecclesiastes weekly for the coming twelve (12) weeks. Thanks for your support and visits here. I leave you with this thought. Enjoy!

Proverbs 31: 30-31

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;     but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done,     and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

At One’s Wits’ End? “Seek the Lord and Live.” Amos 5-6

A Dictionary Moment
At one’s wits’ end- to be very worried or upset because you have tried every possible way to solve a problem but cannot do it; at the end of one’s ideas or mental resources; perplexed; utterly confused

Most are familiar with the idiom. Dare I say that most of us have been at our wits’ end? With God as your RESOURCE, you will never be at wits’ end. Let’s take a journey.

Continuing on this Lent journey through the book of Amos I was a bit confused of the message received. I prayed before the study and was ready to hear what words the Lord had for ME. This is MY journey, my heart rending time. But the Spirit of God put someone else on my heart and mind. I asked not why. I was reminded once again that I am not God; I cannot do everything for everyone and that the choices and mistakes that others make are not my boundaries. I hear you Lord. I finally HEAR you I shouted out. I’m not sure if this can be labeled as a lesson learned for me, therefore I’ll just pass on the message received.
The reason most of humanity end up at one’s wits’ end is due in part to a lack of individual preparation and complacency. Yep! C-o-m-p-l-a-c-e-n-c-y!
As you may recall, in Amos 4:12, God warns the house of Israel to “prepare to meet thy God.”
I’ve noticed that when one is at one’s wits’ end, it happens when one is NOT hearing the advice of others that are very close to them. One is stuck in the moment(s) of their doings and fails to recognize crouching sin. Remember what God said to Cain (Genesis 4:6-7) “…sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  How many times has God said “Hear” in the Holy Bible? How many times has God said to you “Hear”?  Catch these my sweethearts!!!!!  Did you hear (syn. – perceive, receive, get) or did you listen (syn.-eavesdrop, snoop, attend)? ((((((TYHS))))))
So then I ask God, while reading Amos 5 and 6, what do you do when you know someone very dear to you is at their wits’ end? What do you do when you are so spiritually bonded to them, feeling and knowing their every ache without them saying a word? What do you do Lord, please tell me, when they are so broken, words and deeds of others go unnoticed by them? What do you do when that person feels like they have been a burden on those who help them? ((((((JESUS)))))) I looked up from writing my questions down and in the right hand corner of my closet, Tigger was staring at me.  I burst out with laughter.  

In the Winnie the Pooh stories, you know Tigger just bounces everywhere on his tail. Occasionally, you would see him walking through the 100 acre woods. Bouncing on his tail was his signature move. Bounce~~~ bounce~~~bounce!  In bounces the message from the Holy Spirit.

(Read Amos 6)

Yep! C-o-m-p-l-a-c-e-n-c-y! Tigger … a great messaging tool! (TYHS)
Dear readers, whatever situation you have fallen into or when you are at one’s wits’ end, hear this!

You

• Must Prepare yourself to meet thy God
• Must Seek Him and Live
• Must Rend your heart and Repent
• Must Reform self
• Must Put ALL Faith in God for His will to be done in your life

One cannot “HEAR this word” when the Lord is speaking, when one is always bouncing around like Tigger, or never standing still long enough on one’s own two feet to prepare one’s self to live as God intended. I tell ya! Lifesight (my new word) is nothing like hindsight.

 Here’s one of my favorite Tigger quotes.

“Excuse me a moment, but there’s something climbing up your table,” and with one loud Worraworraworraworraworra he jumped at the end of the tablecloth, pulled it to the ground, wrapped himself up in it three times, rolled to the other end of the room, and, after a terrible struggle, got his head into the daylight again, and said cheerfully: “Have I won?”

(With God, you can win, just say YES to Him)

Let this song minister to you- (parts 1 & 2) I love singing this song, very powerful.

Rain-One of God’s Many Treasures – My Thoughts

Deuteronomy 32:1-3 – Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

Last night, there were heavy rain and thunderstorms with high winds in my area. I am a thunderstorm lover, rain, wind, tornadoes, hurricanes, you name it, I love it because it reminds me of how powerful God is.  Although storms can be damaging, they are so beautiful.  Did you know that storms produce both faith and fear within us? As for me, storms give me more faith to move forward, without looking back. They said even the wind and the sea (water) obey Him…Huh?  Matthew 8:23-27-And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.  And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

I often associate certain rains with a joyful cleansing from heaven for a beloved saint or child of God’s who was just buried. The thought of a friend’s mother, came to mind when I heard a loud thunder.   Ring! Ring! It’s 9:45 p.m.  My grandson Elijah called, and said “Grandma, our lights went out, are yours out?”  I told him “no, get your flashlights I gave you and pray.”  He said, “Ok, but I called you first and I wanted to tell you we love you.”  Emanuel was in the background saying “ask her to come over here”, while their mom was yelling in the background “get off the phone, go to bed, it is lightning.”  I told them to get to sleep because the Lord wants them to rest so that they could go to school tomorrow. We both said “I love you” before hanging up.  I am glad the Lord has instilled in them through my actions, that they can rely on their grandmother for protection and comfort, if from no one else on earth. TYHS!  🙂  

2/21/14- It is Friday morning, I woke up (PTL) and the sun was shining brightly and the weather was nice after such a horrific storm all night til the wee morning hours.  I began to sing…There’s got to be rain in your life by Dorothy Norwood.  Thank you Holy Spirit for ministering to me via that song! I’ve got to learn how to play that song on guitar. Help!

http://youtu.be/tNOPNSjvYc0

http://youtu.be/QA2SUMuv1mo  (live video)

My heart was thinking about rain and I was led to write a post about this majestic element of God.  I could be wrong too, but rain is spoken about more in the OT than the NT, but that’s because I live and breathe the OT and I love Jesus.  This verse came to mind Matthew 5: 45-That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Most of us look at rain as an inconvenience. Rain can cause a change in plans and attitudes.  It can cause fear and joy. It is necessary for things to grow. It is the number one chemistry element H20 used to put out fires and is used for the building up of many structures. Rain can replenish oceans, ponds, and seas. Rain can cause destruction by rising into a heavy flood washing away graves, homes, trees, buildings, remove paved roads, and can cause death.  I look at RAIN as a way for us to reevaluate things in our lives. Read Genesis 6-9. I think of this as being one of the most important events in the bible that make us aware of how powerful God really is. He said I AM, Amen.

Matthew 7:25-27- And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it 

Oh yeah!  Rain saves lives too. Look here… Isaiah 55:10 – For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Rain opens the eyes and hearts of many and can cause one to respect the Lord and His will. See here… Samuel 12:17-18- Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

Now let’s take a look at a few more bible verses about rain, apply them to your life, and let the verses minister to you:

Genesis 7:4 – For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

Isaiah 45:8 -Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

Jeremiah 5:24 – Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Amos 4:7 – And also I have withholden the rain from you, when [there were] yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 

Hebrews 6:4-8 -For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Rain as Renewal)

Psalm 68:8-9 -the earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

Jeremiah 10:13– When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Deuteronomy 28:12 -The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Acts 14:17-Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

1 Kings 8:35-36-When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

Genesis 9:14-16 – And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Rain is even part of His promise. RAINBOW…get it?)

It’s just water, you say.  Think again. As we go about in our busy day-to-day lives, do we ever stop to think about how powerful and essential RAIN is?  It is the first element used by God to make man take notice of His power.  Correct me if I am wrong in that thought. Rain comes and goes according to the Word of God. Scripture tells us that RAIN is one of the Lord’s many treasures.  It is a gift from God. To end this, I ask that each and every one of us deeply think about the significance RAIN (i.e. tears, water, snow, floods, storms, death, joy, feeling lost, etc.) plays in our lives, whether it is the lack of or an abundance of it in our daily lives. What does your Doppler Storm Radar look like?  Look nigh to Him who controls ALL Rain.

For it is so in the bible that even Jesus Wept!

 

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

Quotes I Love About Respect

Guten Abend Beloved! I shall share a few quick thoughts of mine before presenting the quotes. I decided to research some quotes about RESPECT for one of my workshop presentations. I have learned over many years that RESPECT is a mixture of genuine love and truth and that my life is no more important or less than another persons life. I’ve seen so less of it these last 30 something years and the lack of RESPECT towards God, self, others, and things have become worse. Disrespect is no longer kept on the DL (Down Low) by many Christians.  It can been seen as clear as spilt dark oil upon dark waters and the moon doesn’t even have to be shining upon the waters.  Now that’s very reflective!

A lack of RESPECT appears to be one of the reasons, if not the main reason, that people in the workplace, in church, in families, and in relationships fail to get along, fail to experience joy, fail to prosper and grow, fail to communicate effectively, fail to be on one accordance in loving and doing for one another, and basically fail in life goals planned for one by God Almighty. People avoid even greeting certain people while in church. Over the years, I have witnessed people in a church sanctuary turn 1 aisle into a 4-way emergency pew exit. They will look directly at a person and skedaddle off in another direction to avoid speaking to that person, or start talking to a person closest to them that they normally sit by. And… they even have the audacity to think that it goes unnoticed by others and the avoided person.  It’s a sure sign of disrespect towards others as a Christian while at church. I don’t like reading or seeing such signs of disrespect especially in the church realm.

Let’s go deeper…. A person that does this in church is also showing a lack of reverence for God in a place of worship. Now that’s sad. What’s even more sad, is that people (Christian or Not) inside the church still don’t comprehend that God is watching their actions INSIDE His house of worship. My advice to those who do such an evil deed in church need to realign their heart with God and communicate with the person they are avoiding about any issue(s) that makes them avoid speaking to them. Disrespect among Christians causes ground for Division.  (yeah something similar to that which causes ground for a divorce)  Listen closely….There is only 1 aisle to the Kingdom of  God and it is through Jesus Christ. I know…The Truth Stings and Saves!

What’s that idiom?  A house divided against ITSELF cannot stand… easily translated into Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.  Beloved, have we not yet learned as humans, that even the apple respects the worm and the cow jumped over the moon while the dish ran away with the spoon?  Think about it!

A Respectful Apple

That’s all that I have to say on the matter, and to back up my thoughts, I ask that you meditate on this bible verse of which you’ll have to figure out with deep thought and conviction on your own why it is referenced. TYHS! 

Genesis 1:28 – Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Learn and Live the Need – RESPECT and know your ROLE  as a COG – Shelia  

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“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.” – Frederick Douglass

“If you spend your life sparing people’s feelings and feeding their vanity, you get so you can’t distinguish what should be respected in them.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” – Jackie Robinson

“What is the quality of your intent? Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering. What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through. We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts. The emotion is the energy that motivates. We cannot ignore what we really want to create. We should be honest and do it the way we feel it. What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent. My intent will be evident in the results.” – Thurgood Marshall

“I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wishes. The greater part of all mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims. They have undertaken to build a tower, and spend no more labor on the foundation than would be necessary to erect a hut.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

“In my day, we didn’t have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned.” – Jane Haddam

“No one respects a talent that is concealed.” – Desiderius Erasmus

“The tragedy is that so many people look for self-confidence and self-respect everywhere except within themselves, and so they fail in their search.” – Nathaniel Branden

“Respect is love in plain clothes.” – Frankie Byrne

“A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture.” – Abraham J. Heschel

“People think we had a love-hate relationship. Well, I did not love him, nor did I hate him. We had mutual respect for each other, even as we both planned each other’s murder.” – Werner Herzog  

“It’s very dramatic when two people come together to work something out. It’s easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and finally respect each other.” – Fred Rogers

“Don’t rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can’t love and respect yourself – no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are – completely; the good and the bad – and make changes as YOU see fit – not because you think someone else wants you to be different.”- Stacey Charter

“The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.” – Benjamin Franklin

“For the multiculturalist, white Anglo-Saxon Protestants are prohibited, Italians and Irish get a little respect, blacks are good, native Americans are even better. The further away we go, the more they deserve respect. This is a kind of inverted, patronising respect that puts everyone at a distance.” – Slavoj Žižek

“A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do you know that his future will not be equal to our present?” – Confucius

“Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized.” – Albert Einstein

“An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.- Martin Luther King, Jr.

“This world of ours… must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of — for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” – Socrates

“RESPECT THE ROLL” – Cottonelle Tissue Advertisement

Proverbs

He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.- Persian Proverb

When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us. – Native American Proverb

Should even one’s enemy arrive at the doorstep, he should be attended upon with respect. A tree does not withdraw its cooling shade even from the one who has come to cut it. – Mahabharata 12.146.5

The way to overcome the angry man is with gentleness, the evil man with goodness, the miser with generosity and the liar with truth.– Indian Proverb

Respect out of fear is never genuine; reverence out of respect is never false. – Chinese Proverb

African Proverbs  

It is unwise for one to think that a hen will ever be accorded respect in the land of the hawks.

Negotiate with your enemy whilst you are a strong and formidable force, and he will always fear and respect you, but negotiate at the brink of defeat, and he will trample you down.

The Holy Bible

Leviticus 19:32– ‘You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.

Philippians 2:3  – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Samuel 2:30– Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

Titus 2:7 – in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,

Philippians 2:3 – Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13– And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Matthew 7: 10-12 – Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

I LOVE YOU (Ich liebe dich)

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS