What Is Your Nail?

 

 

Today is my 3 year anniversary here. Yahoo! All praise belong to my Heavenly Father.  I came across the following last evening and I wanted to share it with you wonderful people that visit this blog. If you know who penned/nailed this, let me know. 😛

There was once an insurance salesman who would go door to door selling insurance. Well one day he happened upon an old farmer. As he approached the farmer to make his sales pitch he noticed an old hound dog laying on the porch to the right of the farmer. As the salesman began to speak the hound dog bellied out as if something were wrong. The salesman at first ignored the dog, but every time he tried to say something to the old farmer the dog moaned out louder and louder. Finally the salesman asks the old farmer.

“Sir what is wrong with your dog”

The old farmer replied

“He is laying on a nail”

To which the the salesman responded

“Why doesn’t he just move to get off the nail”

and the farmer said

“I guess the nail does not hurt bad enough for him to move yet”

The Point: We all have our own nail that we may complain about on a daily basis. Your nail could be financial issues, employment problems, spiritual confusion, family drama, relationship woes, etc. Whatever your nail is KNOW that you will not move until the hurt is bad enough to make you move. Thing is you don’t have to wait til the pain gets unbearable.

I read up on nails here.—–> Nails

Bible Verses about the significance of nails:

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.-Ecclesiastes 12:11

 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.-John 20:25

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; – Colossians 2:14

 

Thank God today for not allowing you to be nailed to that cross. In Jesus name, let us get rid of our nails (issues/relationships) that are hurting us, making the pain “unbearable.” Amen. God gave us time for a reason. Stop wasting God’s time. Get off of the nail bed. Get Up!

 

 

Shake off those nails…Listen

 

 

 

 

Wisdom: She Sees and Hears – Ecclesiastes 7

Flying With Thoughts

You will find in most bibles the title The Value of Practical Wisdom under Ecclesiastes 7. Practical? I had a talk with the Holy Spirit about that word. In Proverbs 8:14 (KJV) having “sound wisdom” is mentioned. After all, wisdom is wisdom right? Owls never look happy and they look like winged cats?

My heart led me to ponder if there were more types of wisdom. Just as Solomon applied his heart to know, to search and seek out wisdom, I’ve learned this is the best way to research things. Use the Heart application. Lo, I found more types on the net. According to giveshare.org,  “There are four types of wisdom: First, there was the perfect wisdom that was with God “in the beginning” as He created the worlds. The second type of wisdom is the wisdom of the world. It is according to the laws and principles of man. Third is the “wisdom of Solomon” given for man. Fourth is the wisdom of God for man.” Ok, pondering done. Now I’m not too concerned about the types of wisdom. I’d rather explore what she looks like and what she gives to us. I’m so visual!

The deeper I get into His word, the more I find just how numerical God is. Most of us have four wisdom teeth when or if they come in. Hmm? Why an owl is a “wise old owl” instead of just wise owl?

Owls are gifted with huge eyes that are said to be one of the best in terms of night vision. Their eyes are said to be laser-sharp making them very effective against their prey during night time. Owls also have large ears with tufts that are very sensitive when it comes to hearing. Their hearing ability is considered crucial to their survival against possible predators like snakes. With laser-like vision and impeccable hearing abilities, owls are often considered very wise as they can easily catch prey and protect themselves from danger at night. With these abilities, owls are then likened to the wise elders of the previous generations. (Courtesy of http://www.knowswhy.com/why-are-owls-considered-wise/)

(TYHS) Do you see it? Like the owl, there are two things that are crucial to our “survival against possible predators like snakes” here as given to us throughout the Holy Bible. The ability to spiritually See and Hear! Two things we need to use as a defense “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”(Ephesians 6:12) I pray that you too understand the importance of spiritually being able to see and hear, “For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense. But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” (vs 12) Whoa, the Holy Spirit walked us right into that verse!

With that being said, let us take a look at some characteristics of one who (Hoo! Hoo!) has Practical Wisdom per Solomon:

Is patient in spirit	Does not wish to relive the past
Is not overly righteous	Is not overly wise
Is not overly wicked	Does not take to heart everything that people say
Is not foolish	Fears God
Has more strength than ten rulers of a city	Knows that God made man upright
Has a wise heart	Knows that men are scheme seekers
Is slow to anger	Knows the wickedness of folly
Knows when a woman’s heart is a snare and a net	Considers the work of God
Avoids things that can destroy self	Knows that a just man does not exist on this earth that does good and does not sin
Admits that in their lifetime, they have cursed others in their heart	Knows the capabilities of their adversaries

And might I remind self and others that these characteristics are dependent upon us being able to spiritually see and hear. Practical wisdom is something that needs to be applied daily in our lives.

Enjoy this quote:

Three passions have governed my life:

The longings for love, the search for knowledge,

And unbearable pity for the suffering of [humankind].

Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.

In the union of love I have seen -In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision

Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.

With equal passion I have sought knowledge.

I have wished to understand the hearts of [people].

 I have wished to know why the stars shine.

Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens,

But always pity brought me back to earth;

Cries of pain reverberated in my heart

Of children in famine, of victims tortured

And of old people left helpless.

I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot,

 And I too suffer.

This has been my life; I found it worth living.

– Bertrand Russell

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

***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.

 

Achilles’ Hill * A Thought of Encouragement for You

This great morning I was reading Isaiah. The word hills was mentioned a lot. The Spirit laid on my heart “weakness”, which  led to this blog. From quick research gathered, “hills” are mentioned more time in Isaiah than any other book in the bible with an exception to the book of Psalms. That David sure KNEW about “hills”. Remember, he had to hide from Saul in a cave built within the hills. (1 Samuel) I think Bathsheba aka Bat Sheva (Hebrew) was his most familiar Achilles’ heel.

Achilles’ Heel– n: a fault or weakness that causes or could cause someone or something to fail.(Courtesy of Merriam Webster) Achilles’ Hill– n: a hill that blocks the Believer’s view of God’s will that causes or could cause the Believer to remain dead in faith, become weak, and to fail.(Courtesy of Shelia)

The Myth (Courtesy of WikiAnswers)

An Achilles heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, which can actually or potentially lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, idiomatic references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common.

In Greek mythology, when Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die young. To prevent his death, his mother Thetis took Achilles to the River Styx, which was supposed to offer powers of invulnerability, and dipped his body into the water. But as Thetis held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who survived many great battles. But one day, a poisonous arrow shot at him was lodged in his heel, killing him shortly after.

 The Human Body

Achilles’ Heel- The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 2 muscles in the lower leg: gastrocnemius, and soleus. In humans, the tendon passes posterior to the ankle. It is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body.  Bilateral Achilles tendon vibration in the absence of vision has a major impact on postural orientation. Vibration applied to the Achilles tendon is well known to induce in freely standing subjects a backward body displacement and in restrained subjects an illusory forward body tilt. The vibrations stimulate muscle spindles in the calf muscles. The muscle spindles alert the brain that the body is moving forward, so the central nervous system compensates by moving the body backwards.

*****************************************************************************************************

I have always loved reading Greek Mythology. In many ways akin to the myth of Achilles, as Believers, we are a people who have fought many battles and won by the Grace of God. We have all had our weak moments in spite of our strength. One difference, when we become Believer’s baptized in the name of Jesus, we are spiritually dipped in the Blood of Jesus, head to heel and not in the River Styx. (TYHS) 

What amazes me is that our Achilles’ Heel is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body and it communicates with the brain(paraphrase). It is also a very vulnerable part of the human body. When injured , it can make one experience a great deal of weakness for  some time. Per research, the Achilles’ Heel if injured can take up to 12-16 months to heal.  It takes some of us longer than that to set foot at the bottom of our Achilles’ Hill. Some of us get too comfortable being inside of a cavity(cave) in the hill, beside and beneath the hill. We need to put into effect the Hokey Pokey dance and dance our way up and over our hill. You know …put your right foot in…. http://youtu.be/QfPg_GzC-HA

When I first purchased the lot to have my house built, it was flat as a pancake. To my surprise, when the builders begin building and when my house was completed, my house was sitting on a small hill with one STEEP side on the east side. My first thought was how am I going to mow the hill and where am I going to put a privacy fence. I immediately headed to Lowe’s and purchased thirty evergreen trees to plant on the sides and back. I dug the holes and planted them by myself thinking that would save me from mowing that side of the yard. It did give me a natural privacy fence. Well, this old farm gal was wrong for once…and forestry is supposed to be in my blood.  Obviously, I didn’t listen attentively to my Pawpaw and dad when they would talk to me about planting trees.

After many episodes of pulled leg muscles and twisting of right ankle, one fall rolling down the hill, and one foot just froze while the lawn mower rolled down the hill, I can say that I have had a fun learning experience with a small hill. Clumsy hard-headed me.  😦 Pray. Some of us have larger hills in life that need weed eating, climbing to cut back the grass, or just plain removed. 

Here’s something for you to ponder beloved…If we were like Jack and Jill, (http://youtu.be/lsbFIYSK26E) and the hill was the ONLY place for us to get water, how hard would we try to climb that hill to get to that water?  BTW, vinegar and brown paper does help with a headache.  

Let us not suffer from Bilateral Achilles tendon vibration. Those who suffer from an Achilles’ Hill syndrome in life, must remember what “The Lord, The Lord God” has spoken about hills:

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,

saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the

hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

I encourage you and myself to meditate on Psalm 121 as

a reminder of where help comes from for any Achilles’ Hill we are finding difficulty in climbing.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.  The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.  The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

I LOVE YOU

You Are Important- Inspirational Thoughts

Horton Hears a Who- Dr. Seuss

The book tells the story of Horton the Elephant, who while splashing in a pool, hears a small speck of dust talking to him. Horton surmises that a small person lives on the speck and places it on a clover, vowing to protect it. He later discovers that the speck is actually a tiny planet, home to a community called Whoville, where microscopic creatures called Whos live. The Mayor of Whoville asks Horton to protect them from harm, which Horton happily agrees to, proclaiming throughout the book that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

In his mission to protect the speck, Horton is ridiculed and harassed by the other animals in the jungle for believing in something that they are unable to see or hear. He is first criticized by a sour kangaroo and her little kangaroo in her pouch. The splash they make as they jump into the pool almost catches the speck, so Horton decides to find somewhere safer for it. However, news of his odd new behavior spreads quickly, and he is soon harassed by a group of monkeys. They steal the clover from him and give it to Vlad Vladikoff, a vulture (formerly a black eagle). Vlad flies the clover a long distance, Horton in pursuit, until the eagle drops it into a field of clovers. (Courtesy of Wiki)

The Message

YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD. No matter how small you are to self or to others. No matter what others think of you or say about you, YOU are still the person that God created. YOU are still the person that God has a will for you to do. He hears and sees everything that you do. He is our Heavenly “Horton Hears A Who” that vows to protect those who are in Christ Jesus…You.

(Courtesy of God’s Word)

• Genesis 1:27
• Isaiah 48:(Focus Verses- 17); 49:5-26
• Matthew 10:28-31
• 2 Timothy 2:19
• 1 John 4:10
• Acts 14:17
• Romans 6:23
• Psalms 8:4-8
• Revelation 20:12-13  (Some of us don’t know a fourth of our relatives names)  😛

http://youtu.be/K0xQsleqNyQ –  Horton Hears A Who

You too can find many revelations about self, others, and life in quite a few old children’s books. Take a day or two out of your busy life and just be a child, or just take 25 minutes to watch the movie above. There are a lot of Horton’s around that the Lord has placed in your life, some you know and some you don’t know. Praise the Lord! It pays to have big ears! 😛

Enjoy The Day Beloved! 

I Love You

Anger Issues… Who Me? Who You? – Jonah 4

Jonah 4

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Psy 101- (courtesy of Wikipedia.org) Three types of anger are recognized by psychologists: The first form of anger, named “hasty and sudden anger” by Joseph Butler, an 18th-century English bishop, is connected to the impulse for self-preservation. It is shared between humans and non-human animals and occurs when tormented or trapped. The second type of anger is named “settled and deliberate” anger and is a reaction to perceived deliberate harm or unfair treatment by others. These two forms of anger are episodic. The third type of anger is called dispositional and is related more to character traits than to instincts or cognitions. Irritability, sullenness and churlishness are examples of the last form of anger. Please read more at your convenience- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger

 

We learn in this last chapter why Jonah chose to flee from God. (vs.2) Oh my word! (TYHS) Doesn’t this remind you of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)? Key words- “I knew… ”

** Main lesson learned- When it comes to God, it’s best that you KNOW, not “Knew” **

We also learn that Jonah became angry with God. After all that he went through…Who Jonah? He had the nerve to become angry with God? He is the one who took a chance to flee from his destiny, pleas with God; gets saved by God; is released from the belly of the great fish, i.e. blessed by God to serve Him as originally asked; chose to serve Him, and then have the nerve to become angry with God after serving Him? Whoa! Pull that reel back in before you fish for an answer! 😛  Step back and spell Mississippi the old fashioned way before you answer. For those who are not aware of the old spelling technique taught to some toddlers reared in the South. Here goes…

M- I- crooked letter(s), crooked letter(s)- I, crooked letter(s), crooked letter(s)- I, hump back(p), hump back (p)- I.. Mississippi. Put ourselves in Jonah’s wet clothes for a sec. We’ve all been there.

Now get in front of a mirror and ask self…Anger issues-Who Me? (pointing to self) Who You? (pointing to the mirror)

Lesson- God understands when we become displeased or angry with Him and with others. Don’t go sit your bottom in a corner, away from others, or under a tree sulking in anger because you thought you knew the mind of God. I used to think being angry period was such a terrible sin. Is there such as thing as righteous anger? (Spell Mississippi break)   I was reminded that several others became angry with God throughout the bible. Most are familiar with Moses’ anger. I was also reminded…Anger is one of God’s attributes. Many verses tell us that He is either “slow to anger” or “became angry.” We were made in His image…eh?

We have a tendency to overlook this verse that tells us who God actually becomes displeased and angry with. (Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. )This proves to me that anger is indeed one of God’s attributes, and that there is only ONE category of people that angers Him “every day.” You choose the correct answer… Wicked or Righteous? What’s intriguing is that we have either been in this category and/or some are still in it and deny it to self.

I have learned on this journey through Jonah that I did not know ME as well as ME thought I KNEW. Whenever you read The Book of Jonah, substitute your name for his. (TYHS) It is one of the books of the bible that place focus on the sole attitude and actions of a messenger God chose and called. It’s an “about me” book.  As Popeye would sing …“I yam, what I yam cause I…” Do you really know who you are? I also learned why my Papaw spent a lot of time with me showing me that God worked through him, teaching me that God Is, and training me to write his Sunday school lessons beginning at the age of 4.  PTL!!! As they say hindsight is 20/20.

I am glad that a challenge was put forth to our congregation for each individual to focus on their walk with God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit for 40 days. I also pray that others discovered who they are and how their actions as an individual affect the Body of Christ. I pray that those who are reading this make the same discovery when you choose to seek God and walk with Him. Leave NOTHING to chance, Choose GOD. If  more than 120, 000 can repent and be saved within a 40 day period, what do you think the odds are of 1 person repenting and being saved who can’t discern their right hand from their left? Look to self and choose God.

Lesson Goals

• To KNOW God. Rend your hearts, it’s the only way.

• To KNOW what The Lord’s Will for us is as an individual and to Do it. Only then, as a congregate on the ONE, will the Body of Christ be glorified. Do your part.

• Be not angry at God and learn to accept His decision when He decides to spare the wicked. Keep your judgments of others to yourself, let go, let God. For it is He only who can prepare a gourd, a worm and a wind in a blink of an eye to teach YOU that His Will supersedes your anger issues and that He is ALWAYS in control. (Jonah 4:9-10)

Besides, who best of all would know to ask you, “Doest thou well to be angry?”

We have a lot of work to do with self ahead of us. I hope you have gained some insight through my journey with Jonah, just how great the Lord works period. Amen. Jonah knew not the hour of the Lord’s appearance (Jonah 4:5- So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city) We will not know the hour when Jesus returns (Matthew 24:42)  We know as Jonah did, He is coming.

Are you swallowed up in the big fish of Anger? Call out to God. Please pray with me Psalm 7, which I prayed as I closed out my Lent 2014 journey through The Book of Jonah.

 

Popeye: Hey, I wants me girl!Sindbad the Sailor: Oh, yeah? Popeye: Yeah! Sindbad the Sailor: Who are you? Popeye: [sing-song] I’m Popeye the Sailor Man! Who are you? Sindbad the Sailor: Who am I? Popeye: You heard what I said. Sindbad the Sailor: WHO AM I? Popeye: That’s what I said. Sindbad the Sailor: Who’s the most remarkable extra-ordinary fellow? Everyone: YOU! Sindbad the Sailor! Sindbad the Sailor: Who’s the most phenomenal extra-special kind of fellow? Everyone: YOU! Sindbad the Sailor! Sindbad the Sailor: I’m afraid of nobody under the sun/ All I say is “Boo!” and my enemies run! Who’s the most remarkable extraordinary fellow? (Who Me? Who You?…LOL)  Popeye: Popeye the Sailor! You got a long way to go, young fellow… (I love this response…ha ha ha. We can all relate) Sindbad the Sailor: [enraged, grabs Popeye] Well, let’s see how brave you are! [throws him into the talons of the roc] ”

Fleeing To Your Destiny – Jonah 3:1-8 To Chance or To Choose?

Jonah 3:1-8

And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.  So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.  For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:  But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

Vocabulary Enrichment

Chance- n- something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intentions or observable cause; the assumed purposeless determiner of unaccountable happenings

Choose- vb- to select freely and after consideration; to have a preference for

In this chapter, Jonah made a fleeing to his destiny choice instead of taking to chance a fleeing from his destiny. Enjoy!

Lesson- Much to his chagrin inside the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights Jonah learned it is a better choice to flee to God instead of fleeing from God. It is better to make choices, wise ones at best using the Holy Spirit as your guide when the Lord makes a request of you. We have all taken chances on something or someone. We have thrown our own selves overboard into a belly of a great fish far longer than 3 days and 3 nights. We have all ran and some still run in the opposite direction of God. During this journey, I was shown that I’ve made a few bad choices in my lifetime because of leaving things to chance, or doing what I thought was best even as a Christian. Praise the Lord for GRACE and God’s Protective Shield (GPS).

Remember Jonah’s escape happened due to Divine Intervention in Chapter 2? The Holy Spirit also showed me that the perfect example of a person making a wise choice is that of Abraham. Most of you that are reading here are familiar with the events of Abraham (Genesis 11-25). He could have taken a chance to run away and hide his son from God, something that most of us would do if God asked us to sacrifice one of our children. To chance anything is out of alignment for us to achieve God’s Will. What did Jonah achieve once he made the choice to serve God? He achieved his freedom from the seaweed wrap (you folks be careful of those seaweed wraps in Spa’s) and he delivered the message to Nineveh per God’s original request.

The Boom!!!… Insight given to me from the Holy Spirit! Let’s pen them as Abraham’s Choices. There are three (3) choices we must make in order to discern that we can’t hide anywhere nor hide anything from God. (TYHS) If you make these three choices, i.e., go out on the limb (mho) then as they say…“you know that you know that you know that if it had not been for the Lord on my side” is a good adage to evoke after failed attempts to flee God.

1. You have to know God.
2. You have to have faith in God.
3. You have to be obedient to God.

Think about this… Aside from Jonah, how many people in the bible thought that hiding or fleeing from God was possible? In my heart rending lesson learned, Abraham made good choices. He knew God, had faith in God, and was obedient to God. It is NOT impossible for us to be as Abraham was.

I have also learned through research that Jonah was the only prophet chosen not to deliver a message to Israel and Judah. The other books are full of prophecies as compared to Jonah’s one prophecy to deliver. Now isn’t that interesting? Nineveh was full of wickedness, comparative to the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Folks, I’m here to tell you…Leave to chance to God and choose to serve Him using His GPS, aka The Holy Spirit. Romans 11:33(KJV) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  This verse is why I believe you should leave to chance with God. Was not Jonah’s encountering a purposeless unaccountable happening? If you are going to flee from something, you might as well make the choice to flee to your destiny. Let your Ebenezer stones of your past remembrances be your stepping stone onto dry land to make the right choices. Nobody likes to be wet all the time, unless you are a fish. 😛  Amen.

Enlightening Quotes / Relative Bible Verses

William Jennings Bryan (2) 

“If the Bible had said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it.”

2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

“The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you. Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”

Isaiah 55:11 – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

Hebrews 11:7 – By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Frank Scully

“Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t it where the fruit is?”

Luke 19:1-10 – And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Zacchaeus made a choice to go out on the limb, mho)

Unknown

“Liberty is the right to choose. Freedom is the result of the right choice.”

Galatians 5:1 -Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

You too can learn a lot from the book of Jonah. I was and still am in awe of the lessons I’ve learned during Lent 2014. It really does take rending your heart to God to learn what His destiny is for you to give you an “expected end.” It is definitely not to harm you. Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Next Journey Shareware- Jonah 3:9-10