My Journey through Romans 1:18-32

On this leg of my journey I was given a very clear picture of who holds the truth period.  We are given a very clear understanding of ungodliness and unrighteousness and of those who hold the truth in unrighteousness in these verses.  It is also clearer to me that the reason the world is spiraling more out of control with the gay pride, x and y chromosome identity falsalations( a new word), people with low self- esteem revealing their bodies to the public to gain attention, people lying to keep their wrongdoings on the low, people preaching about godliness, yet living an ungodly life, church folk stabbing other church folk in the back, and people riding the immorality train thinking its a joy ride journey into God’s kingdom,(TYHS for that thought) etc. etc.  ((((JESUS))))

Those are some serious creeping things attacking the body of Christ, His church, His people. It’s what Paul said, people “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (vs. 22-23)   It  is all about  I-m-m-o-r-a-l-I-t-y – an I condition of the heart and mind that is fighting desperately to take over the unification of the body of Christ. That’s my new definition. 🙂 We are too consumed with “what’s in it for me” instead of what’s in it for God.

Perhaps the problem is that a lot of us fail to understand the meaning of ungodliness and unrighteousness.  The top line truth is that a lot of us continue to have no fear of God. Let’s review spiritual definitions from various events that took place in the bible:

Ungodliness – an act of us rejecting God and our duties to God.

Unrighteousness- an act of us rejecting our duty to each other

Let me ask two questions- Is Satan moral? Do we as Believers/Christians understand what holding the truth in unrighteousness means? Two things came to mind: (1) Our heart and mind is similar to that of our Israelite ancestors, stiff-necks and hardened hearts. Some of us have become impatient with God coming down from His holy mountain, like the Israelite’s grew impatient with waiting on Moses. (2) Our refusal to obey the truth that is found in God’s commandments and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives way to immorality, i.e. ungodliness.

And it is because of the following ongoing moral issues (listed by Paul) that even today we are experiencing the wrath of God and many have been given “up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves”; (vs 28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

We need to be reminded that many created in the image of God continue to have:

• changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator

• vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (having sex with animals, sex changes, women using paraphernalia that resemble a man’s private parts and using it with other women- TRUTH) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly (inappropriate-immoral), and receiving in themselves that recompense (reward) of their error which was meet.

• become filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

• behaved as backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

This is very unbearable to me, I can only imagine how God feels that we -the very image of God, we -that have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we -who lie down and wake up because of God’s love and mercy for us, that we suppress the truth by our acts of unrighteousness. I’ve come to believe while on this journey that oppression exists because of us suppressing the TRUTH.  Paul did such a heart wrenching job of reminding me in this chapter that even “church discipline” laws in many churches have been given over to the laws of man, not of God.  

PLEASE.

May the Lord help us remove the scales from our eyes, the stiffness from our necks and the hardness from our hearts. Father, we repent of our sins.  I ask you Father in heaven to strengthen us to fight against the many battles of immorality living out its dream across this planet. I pray for our government and its leaders. I pray for those who have not come to know Jesus as their savior. I pray for those that have fallen under the curse of immorality, the schemes of the devil.  Remove us from the punishment of having reprobate minds. Father, if we proclaim to know you, then those who are in you clearly have no excuse for living an ungodly and unrighteous life. I beseech you Father, please forgive us in Jesus name.  This is my heartfelt prayer for all, Lord hear it. Amen.

Fleeing From Your Destiny- Are You Going in the Opposite Direction? ( Jonah 1: 1-16)

Per my promise, you are about to embark on a journey that I took during this past Lenten season through various books in the Bible. Although Jonah was next to the last book during the journey, I shall begin sharing the things I learned here first and work my way backwards and then finish up with the end. You know me… I take the less traveled winding road to gain a better insight. So let’s start from mid-end.    😛

Most of us have heard the story as a child. God tells Jonah to deliver a message to the city of Nineveh. He flees from God by boarding a ship going to Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction of Nineveh. While aboard the ship, he sleeps below the deck and a sea storm is raging. Sort of like on Gilligan’s island when the “tiny ship was tossed”…. God sent a storm raging in the sea that tossed the ship to and fro. The other passengers on the ship became afraid and started praying to their gods. No such luck in stopping the storm until they asked Jonah to pray to his God to save them. Lots were cast and the lot fell on Jonah. Jonah was cast into the sea and the sea became calm. He ended up in the belly of a great fish, was spit out upon land after 3 days, repented and delivered the message from God to the people of Nineveh.

Key Words

• Compass- (n) – a device that is used to find direction by means of a needle that always points north: something that helps a person make choices about what is right, effective, etc.
• Destiny – (n) – : what happens in the future: the things that someone or something will experience in the future: a power that is believed to control what happens in the future
• Rend- (v.intr) – to perform an act of tearing or splitting: to become torn or split: to come apart

Lesson 1 – We allow our compass (our heart and mind) to direct us according to our will, not God’s will. We as Christians cannot travel two different roads at the same time when serving God. The Holy Spirit revealed to me something deep. Every event in the bible gives us an example of people choosing between two roads (paths)….one towards God and one away from God. There are no in between roads my beloved ones. Let your compass direct you to take the road less traveled to God and make all the difference in your life and others when it comes to serving God.

We as children of the Lord have a habit of fleeing in the opposite direction when we receive direct instructions from God. In this day and time, God speaks to us directly via the Holy Spirit. You know the Helper and Comforter that Jesus sent?  He that translates our prayers to God?   Yeah…that Holy Spirit!  We have a habit of taking the more traveled road leading away from God and are easily led to follow the directions of others. We…yes you and I, have a wobbly directional destiny compass. Think about this before going in an opposite direction leading away from your destiny. As a Christian, we are supposed to stand out from the rest. People should be able to see a distinction between those who serve God the Creator of all beings and things, and those who do not serve Him. Amen?  Weren’t the people on the ship who prayed to their gods able to make the distinction between their gods and Jonah’s God? (v. 6) (TYHS)  Why do you think God refers to you, me, we, they, as “My People”?  As a Christian, do you think God wants you to live an eternal life in hell?  Those who are faithful and that reverently fear Him have nothing to worry about when traveling the road towards His destiny for you.

Here’s proof in the pudding, if you can’t find an answer from deep within and be sure of where you will end up.

Exodus 11:3-8(NIV) 

(The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)  So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.  Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.  There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

Malachi 3:16-18(NIV)

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Lesson 2 – I have learned that it takes others (both Christians and Non-Christians) seeing God in action with others in order for them to “rend” their heart to Him. I use to think that seeing Him work in my life through answered prayer was enough for me. I guess I didn’t pay close attention to the effect it not only had on me, but on others also. Now I know. God is The Master at getting your attention to turn towards Him in order for you to receive what He desires for you, i.e. life more abundantly. (Read Jonah1:6-16) Storms, regardless of its tenure or endurance are necessary to get our attention. Take Noah for example, and he was a righteous and blameless man per Genesis 6:9. (TYHS)

My entire journey revolved around me rending my heart to God. (Joel 2:12-13)  My heart needed to be torn apart to get to the inside of all matters concerning me and how I relate to various people in the Body of Christ, family, enemies, and friends; to understand what I truly needed to do concerning self and my relationship with Him. My desire was for Him to have mercy on me; to remove me from certain situations, tasks, and job; to let me know what my destiny is according to His will and to prepare me both mentally, emotionally, and financially; to see through others more clearly by their actions (not judge) so that I may unyoke myself away from and pray for those more zealously who practice fake-I-tis while claiming to be a Christian; to be more honest in my communication with others and not leave anything out that cause me to appear as telling lies( I’ve learned that lies of omission are still lies even if it is not intentional or information shared is misunderstood); teach me how to deal with non-communicative people when communication and feedback is needed from others in order to accomplish tasks or to know where one stands concerning me; and to listen and hear more clearly when the Holy Spirit is speaking through others who have put their destiny in His hands and those that faithfully desire to serve Him.

The truth is that we don’t pay much attention to the paths we choose, even those who are followers, shepherds, leaders, or teachers of the WORD.  Nor do we realize most of the time beloved, that WE are indeed fleeing God when choosing a path not destined for us. God doesn’t just choose you to follow a path to benefit just you. His desire is for others to turn to or return to Him. He desires ALL to be saved upon His return. Sometimes it involves you being the messenger.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!      

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The Old Testament Daily News

Joshua 24:14-16(NIV)

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!

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Our Heavenly Father I pray for myself and those who are reading this. Let it be far from us to forsake YOU. When we flee from our destiny and go off in the opposite direction, forgive us and put us back on the right road. From this journey shared, I pray that we now realize we are serving other gods and not you when we choose to flee. Have mercy on us in the comforting name of Jesus. Amen

Before I close, allow me to share with you a poem by Robert Frost that came to mind. I think it’s quite comparative to this lesson.

The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Two road diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one les traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Consider This –Taking Another Look At Our Mind and Heart

As I was studying the Book of James in the bible, I became inquisitive about other verses that states “Consider….” I shall list a few of the verses for your reading pleasure.

Judging from the bible and history books, we are a nation quick to act without giving things much thought.  We are a people quick to point fingers, and criticize before giving others a careful examination. Yes, there is some good done here and there.  I have been guilty of being inconsiderate. Gasp! I know, it’s a shocker.  🙂  We have become a nation of self-appointed judges. This world is being run by King Tongue who dictates to and happens to rule over Queen Heart.

Consider this, who has the power over his or her tongue and heart; who is in control of every breath you take; how is it the norm that the mind makes decisions w/o the heart and how do we distinguish if whether decisions are made with the mind or the heart or w/o any thought at all. (TYHS)

Consider this, who is to blame and who will account for their actions before God. From some of the verses that I’ve read I’ve come to a conclusion that consideration is also a form of encouragement and love and by no means should you worry when considering this or that. I’ve learned through research and experience that considering something can even keep one from sinning.  

Consider the power of consideration. I want to encourage all, including self, to consider taking another look at our own mind and heart and to “Think on These Things” as one of our great fellow bloggers here states in his posts.

Let us take a look at the word CONSIDER. 

My simple definition —-> to fix the mind upon using the heart as your guide to do what is right.

From the American Heritage Dictionary- Consider (verb)- con·sid·ered, con·sid·er·ing, con·sid·ers  verb, transitive

1. To think carefully about.

2. To think or deem to be; regard as.

3. To form an opinion about; judge: considers waste to be criminal.

4. To take into account; bear in mind: Her success is not surprising if you consider her excellent training.

5. To show consideration for: failed to consider the feelings of others.

6. To esteem; regard.

7. To look at thoughtfully.

• James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
• Luke 12:24-26 – Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
• Luke 12:27-29 – “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it
• Hebrews 10:23-25- Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
• Hebrews 13:7-8 – Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
• Deuteronomy 32:7 – Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.

Isaiah 1:2-4

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!  For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know,    my people do not understand. Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.  Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Even if you give no consideration to anything written in this post, I pray that you consider this:

2 Peter 3:8-9

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins

Get Your Blessings!

A Place Called Life- A Place Called Death- My Thoughts

These past two months back to back, week to week, I’ve experienced once again on a personal level death among several close family members and friends. Allow me to refresh our memories with definitions.

 Life-(n)- (1)the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally. (2) a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life.
 Death-(n)-(1)the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism. (2) extinction; destruction

While practically living at the hospital and nursing home these past months, I was reminded of several things. There are lots of women, young and older bringing children into the world without the male parent present. Life is funny, they obviously where there during the seeding.  😦   There are lots of elderly or disabled people lying in hospital beds, nursing homes and even their homes, without family members being present or any family at all. While the birth of my two grand gifts (grandkids)in January and April brought joy, it also brought sadness because I know of the heartache and pain they will eventually experience right along with others who have been given a place in life.

I think I cried for most of April because I just felt the sadness, disappointment, and pain of others. I cry when people do wrong even after I’ve spoken my peace.(not piece)  I cry when I am overblown with anger of wrongdoing to others. This is why sometimes I try hard to stay away from people because I get tuned into their spirit. It’s draining and it’s weird sometimes, because I can’t prevent them from experiencing heartaches and death and can’t make them heed advice. I can only give of self and time and pray for a healing for all, and even that at times becomes draining. Thank you Jesus! Thank you Holy Spirit!

When my aunt’s days in this place of life were dwindling down and she was hospitalized, family members started telling me a whole lot of things I was not prepared to hear and expected me to put people in their place. I made sure they knew it was not my job and that I was not God, and reminded them that God knows it all and He will take care of the issues. It was very saddening to hear a lot of those things. All I can say is this…if you have parent(s) that have been a true parent to you, don’t ever neglect them or show disrespect towards them while they have been given a place in life.

It was saddening to me to find out that there are elderly and disabled people that receive care and visits only from staffed members. I was in awe, to learn that even family members did not spend quality time visiting with their relatives in the hospital and nursing homes. Where oh where have we gone wrong in this world, in this place of Life, with compassion, respect, and love for others? Let me be honest, it actually made me more angry than sad.

How do I know this you may ask? I’m nosey when I see a need not being met or an absence of love being felt. Most of the times, I just feel the presence. Whenever I would walk down the halls of the hospital or nursing home, I’d see patients just lying there in their beds looking lifeless or their mind seems to be elsewhere and they were lying there or eating alone. I started praying as I walked the halls and peeping in rooms for the Holy Spirit to be with and help these people. I don’t know what wrong they may have done to others during their life and I don’t and didn’t care. What mattered each time I saw this, was that the individuals needed prayer and to be shown someone cared and to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives me great insight into the pain and need of others and boy did it hurt. The biggest thing I felt inside is that though these people are breathing, they are actually dead in a sense in the place of  life and most  are awaiting death without any hope or faith. It’s so sad. Some were under the delusion that somebody in their family was “coming to get me” and “coming to see me”.  😦  😦
These things reminded me of something I read in the Book of Isaiah 43: 7-13 and Ephesians 2: 7-13 about why we are given or have life. This is just my thought, you may think otherwise.

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Isaiah
 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Ephesians
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

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And now, with that being my scriptural documentation and belief, let me almost finish this up. We, even us who call ourselves Christians, have bouts of forgetfulness of what God requires of us. We either don’t have time or make time, we don’t know or don’t want to know about the lack of love and care given to others, we don’t want to take on the burdens of others when it is clear they have family available, we have lost the true meaning of compassion and what it means to truly and wholeheartedly give to others via the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus and might I add, in the eyes of God in this place we call Life.

Since the Holy Spirit lives within us as Christians as our Helper and Comforter, whom the Father sent to us in Jesus’ place for a set time in this place called life,  should we not share and give of that help and comfort to others?

The church of today which is the Body of Christ that includes you and I as a Christian, place way too much focus on financial stewardship via financial giving so much so, that members are forgetting that giving of time and self to others is hiding and buried under the last row of pews in the church crying to be heard and done. We forget that giving of self, time, and helping others is also a form of stewardship. Wake Up! What did the verse above in Ephesians say?
WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.

I ask self and I ask you…Are we as Christians really walking in the way that God ordained that we should walk in this place called life? Jesus was given life by God to live on this earth for a set time. Per our bible studies, what is the one thing that stands out about Jesus’ life to you and God? We are also given a set time on this earth, what is the one thing that stands out to others, self and God about our being? If we call ourselves Christians, Followers of Christ Jesus, and/or Children of God…Folks we KNOW, without a doubt what should be or could be done to walk in His ways. We have been given a place in life to do such. We have been created for His glory. God said so. When we are in the place of death, we can do NOTHING in His ways.

Let us be reminded, we are God’s witnesses per Isaiah’s verse above. He and only He is our Deliverer. Satan has NO power over your place in life or in death. He is not the deliverer of your soul of the place in death, nor is he the one who has given you a place in life. See how weak he is? God is ALWAYS in control and in charge in the place of life and death.
Recognize and Remember..…GOD IS….He told Moses in the Book of Exodus 3:14, so Moses told us via the scriptures,

“I AM WHO I AM, tell them I AM sent you”. He also told Moses that “I AM” is his name to be “called from generation to generation.”
 So the next time somebody try to shut you down, do wrong against others or self, or speak ill will, you tell them – The God who is I AM is listening and watching everything you say and do.
He told John in the Book of Revelation to relay the message to us in the first chapter, after the introduction “I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, SAYS THE LORD GOD, WHO IS, AND WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.” And if that wasn’t enough as a reminder, He reminds us again in Revelation 22, the final chapter of the bible.

Lookie Here Folks!

 “I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE BEGINNING AND THE END.”

Doesn’t that prove He and only He is over the place of life and the place of death?
And then there is the place called Death. What can we do in the place called Death? We can’t reach out to others. We can’t cry for others. We can’t give to or love others. We can’t show good works in the place called Death. We can’t even gossip anymore in this place.  We can’t even go shopping.  🙂  Everything we need to do as children of God should be done in the place called Life. Jesus took care of and paid for our biggest burden through His place in death.  The least we can do is partake of this same act (easing a burden) for those who are in this place called life in His name before we are given over to the place called death.

I don’t recall who said “find a hurt and heal it”, but I beg of you all to find one and began the healing process for yourself and for others. Don’t fret over end times and signs, be watchful, believe in the Lord and have faith in His will as the Lord says, but do not fret. It is my opinion, that if you fret, you lose sight of His will and eventually lose faith in Him. We know the outcome. Those who are in Christ will overcome. Stay in Christ while in this place called Life. Do what needs to be done in the name of Jesus while we are in this place called Life before being given over to the place called Death.
His will shall be and will be done regardless. Be absolutely sure that you have done well for and with others in the name of Jesus in the place called Life before reaching the place called Death. Thank You Holy Spirit!

 

 

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

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

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

If You Knew

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 Kings 20:7-11 (NIV)

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

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

I LOVE YOU

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

Related articles

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

Countenance-Your Appearance In God’s Eyes-My Thoughts

As I opened by bible today for a brief break earlier while at work, the pages fell open to Genesis 4. I began reading and boing! I was reading something I really had paid little attention to in the past.
Chapter 4 discusses the seeding of Cain and Abel, and momentous events in their lives. Later on in the chapter it mentions the seeding of Seth. We know the story, Abel became a keeper of flocks and Cain worked the soil. They both brought offerings to the Lord. Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil and Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The story goes on to state that the Lord looked with favor upon Abel and his offering, but had no favor upon Cain and his offering. Why? I asked self as I have done many times before when reading this chapter. I arrived at a conclusion  a while back, that my answer and God’s favor hid in the wording that I have bolded above.
Ages ago, I use to catch an attitude about God’s actions when reading this because I was thinking, how could God not show favor to Cain ?..…he gave an offering from things he grew in the soil, but most importantly he gave to God. We all know gardening is not a simple task and most of us put our heart into it. However……..Thank you Holy Spirit for providing the understanding through the years.

Cain just brought some and appeared to have given little thought about whether it was the FIRST fruit or last to give to God. Abel gave some of his FIRST born flock.  Non acceptance from God of Cain’s offering led Cain to become angry and his face became downcast. I thought his behavior normal, because as humans that is our behavioral  pattern when rejected, misled, disappointed and shown no favor when we think ,(not taking into account what the receiver may think )we’ve done well by our actions.
Before I go any further, let’s scan over the words below.

• Angry- cross, annoyed, irritated, irate, mad, livid
• Downcast- sad, depressed, disappointed, discouraged, disheartened
• Countenance-n- appearance, especially the look or expression of the face 
• Sin-n- transgression of divine law; any reprehensible or regrettable action, behavior, lapse, etc.; great fault or offense

The new lighting I found after removing the lamp shade is in the verses below:

Genesis 4:6-7
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
There’s my “boing”!  Did you see it? I have always loved how God asks a question and then gives an answer. How did I ever miss that God said “sin is crouching at your door”? Pull out your bibles and read the rest of the story in Genesis 4. We will discover within this chapter that Cain eventually, did not rule over that “crouching” sin, he was cursed by God and became a “restless wanderer”.
The other thing I want to make note of is how our countenance gives away what is truly on the mind and heart. I’m a great expressions watcher. It’s almost like a natural second job to me, but doesn’t pay the bills, (but God) allows me to own that gracious gift. Some of us probably wish that we could walk around with a face eraser to erase most of the expressions that show. Not happening! even with a mask on.  The eyes can still be read along with body positioning.
How many times folks have we done something half-heartedly? How many times have we been shamed because we saw others giving someone else a gift, and we didn’t give…. then run out to buy a gift because you saw someone else give?

Besides, we are told in Ephesians 5:11- Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
So back to Cain’s countenance we go. The lessons I learned from verses 6-7 are:
1. Doing right in the eyes of God is acceptable and that we should give to God from the heart.
2. Doing wrong in the eyes of God is not acceptable and has consequences. (Have you ever watched the Truth or Consequences game show? For those who are younger than I, here’s a tidbit about the show- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_or_Consequences )
3. Sin is right at your door waiting for the right opening moment to jump in. The longer sin crouches, the more cramps it gets and can’t jump as quickly. This will allow you more time to practice taking control of the “crouching” sin.  🙂
4. Sin’s desire and Satan’s ultimate goal is to rule over the children of God.
5. We as children of God, heirs of His promise, “MUST rule over” sin in order to be in line with His will.
6. Sin is a thing. Don’t let THINGS rule over you that are not good for the Body of Christ.

Visualize This As Being Sin’s Position

Here’s one of my favorite reminders to self when sin tries to rule over me and change my countenance from being joyful in the Lord. I like sharing these verses with people whose countenance becomes downtrodden for whatever reason sometimes unbeknownst to me. It’s a great pick me upper and it pays to remember who you are in Christ.

Ephesians 5:8-10 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. 

Sticky Note—When you appear before the Lord while living on this earth, make sure you have your countenance in check. Remember that He is watching us at all times. Henceforth, whatever you do, make sure that it is from the heart, that it is right, and that it is pleasing to God, to recieve His favor.

 

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins