I believe this video will be a great blessing to you today! It's just a little over 5 minutes.
Joseph talks about how the scripture brings us peace. It is food for us (the bread of life). We find grace and strength in the Word. We know, as Christians, how important it is to be in the Word [daily]. Just as children grow, are nourished and strengthened by eating physical food; we as Christians grow, are nourished and strengthened by 'eating' the Word of Christ. We grow spiritually.
He talks about how many people read the Word to find out what to 'do.' So much of the church is about 'doing.' And there is a place for that. Scripture certainly can and should guide us in many areas of life. So, it's not wrong to look into the Word anytime.
But, there is a better way. We need to open the Word and 'meet with' Jesus. We need to be conscious of the fact that He is there with us as we open the pages and begin to take Him in.
Jesus said, "I come in the volume of the book." (see Heb. 10:7)
Expect to meet Him there. Remember what John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Continue to abide in the Vine. Take life and health and wholeness from Him. He longs to provide it to you. Amen?
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Monday, April 28, 2014
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Shame
If you have ever or are now dealing with issues of shame, you know it's a horrible thing. It's kind of like this monkey on your back and you never quite know how to get rid of it.
As a child, I grew up in a home that my parents rented; it was a farm house with some acreage in fields and some old out buildings. It was right on the river and in the country, so the location was great, but the house had no indoor plumbing. We lived there from the time I was about 6 or 7 until I was 19.
It was a constant source of shame for me...the fact that we had no bathroom, no running water in the kitchen either. I used to be afraid that the kids on the school bus would see our outhouse in the back yard and I imagined the incessant teasing that would result. I hated to even think about it.
One day, some family friends had come over and their eldest daughter had never been to the house before. She asked to use the bathroom and when she was told there was no bathroom, she blurted out, "Well, how do you take a bath?" She had this look of disgust on her face...I'll never forget it.
I remember just being mortified. All of a sudden, I felt very dirty. I was fairly young at the time, maybe 9 or 10, but I felt so bad. It was like this blanket of shame was put on top of me, and it stayed there for many years. It was a heavy blanket.
There was another incident, which in hindsight seems very trivial, but at the time, for me, it was anything but trivial. It was a hot summer day and I had asked my dad if we could go and get an ice cream cone at the A&W Drive-In. He looked at me and somewhat gruffly told me, "We can't afford it." I remember just standing there, staring at him and thinking 'How poor are we if we can't even afford an ice cream cone?' More shame.
Satan was making sure that I would grow up with a great sense of shame. There were other things that happened in my childhood, including my dad's suicide, that succeeded in piling on more shame. We lived in a small community, so the whole town knew and talked about it. Even at my father's funeral, there was a lady sitting behind me in the pews. She apparently didn't realize that I was his daughter because she proceeded to tell the person sitting next to her, "You know, he committed suicide by hanging himself." I spun my head around to her and said, "Yes, he did." It was an awful moment for me. My younger brother didn't want to face the kids at school and have to hear them talking about it, so he quit school. It just goes to show the way satan operates. He comes to steal, kill and destroy.
This is why it's so important to be born-again into God's family, where there is no shame. It's vital to renew our minds to the Word of Christ and know who we are in Him. Hebrews 12:2 says, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." What this awesome verse of scripture tells us is that Jesus took all of our shame on the cross. He bore it so that we don't have to anymore. I've been freed from shame, forever!
An interesting note: Another meaning for the word 'shame' is 'disgrace.' [Dis-grace; without grace]
It's not an easy thing to write about very personal circumstances that have taken place in one's life, but I'm doing so because I don't want to see others trapped in their sin and shame. There are some other painful things that happened to me growing up, but through Jesus I have forgiven them and don't want to inflict pain on them by exposing what happened. I want to give God glory for allowing me to forgive, so that they.. and I can walk free.
If you belong to God, there is no more shame for you or upon you. You are His; He has adopted you into His family; you are dearly loved as His child. Know the truth and the truth shall make you free! Receive His promise today.
As a child, I grew up in a home that my parents rented; it was a farm house with some acreage in fields and some old out buildings. It was right on the river and in the country, so the location was great, but the house had no indoor plumbing. We lived there from the time I was about 6 or 7 until I was 19.
It was a constant source of shame for me...the fact that we had no bathroom, no running water in the kitchen either. I used to be afraid that the kids on the school bus would see our outhouse in the back yard and I imagined the incessant teasing that would result. I hated to even think about it.
One day, some family friends had come over and their eldest daughter had never been to the house before. She asked to use the bathroom and when she was told there was no bathroom, she blurted out, "Well, how do you take a bath?" She had this look of disgust on her face...I'll never forget it.
I remember just being mortified. All of a sudden, I felt very dirty. I was fairly young at the time, maybe 9 or 10, but I felt so bad. It was like this blanket of shame was put on top of me, and it stayed there for many years. It was a heavy blanket.
There was another incident, which in hindsight seems very trivial, but at the time, for me, it was anything but trivial. It was a hot summer day and I had asked my dad if we could go and get an ice cream cone at the A&W Drive-In. He looked at me and somewhat gruffly told me, "We can't afford it." I remember just standing there, staring at him and thinking 'How poor are we if we can't even afford an ice cream cone?' More shame.
Satan was making sure that I would grow up with a great sense of shame. There were other things that happened in my childhood, including my dad's suicide, that succeeded in piling on more shame. We lived in a small community, so the whole town knew and talked about it. Even at my father's funeral, there was a lady sitting behind me in the pews. She apparently didn't realize that I was his daughter because she proceeded to tell the person sitting next to her, "You know, he committed suicide by hanging himself." I spun my head around to her and said, "Yes, he did." It was an awful moment for me. My younger brother didn't want to face the kids at school and have to hear them talking about it, so he quit school. It just goes to show the way satan operates. He comes to steal, kill and destroy.
This is why it's so important to be born-again into God's family, where there is no shame. It's vital to renew our minds to the Word of Christ and know who we are in Him. Hebrews 12:2 says, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." What this awesome verse of scripture tells us is that Jesus took all of our shame on the cross. He bore it so that we don't have to anymore. I've been freed from shame, forever!
An interesting note: Another meaning for the word 'shame' is 'disgrace.' [Dis-grace; without grace]
It's not an easy thing to write about very personal circumstances that have taken place in one's life, but I'm doing so because I don't want to see others trapped in their sin and shame. There are some other painful things that happened to me growing up, but through Jesus I have forgiven them and don't want to inflict pain on them by exposing what happened. I want to give God glory for allowing me to forgive, so that they.. and I can walk free.
There is a way out and Jesus is the Way...just give him
your life and ask Him to do something with it.
If you belong to God, there is no more shame for you or upon you. You are His; He has adopted you into His family; you are dearly loved as His child. Know the truth and the truth shall make you free! Receive His promise today.
1 Peter 2:6
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Jesus died...so that we would be crucified??
I just finished reading this article entailing Filipinos and a Dane who decided that personal crucifixion was the thing to do on Good Friday.
Don't believe me? You can read the article for yourself. I guess it happens every year, in the Phillipines, on Good Friday. Certain souls take it upon themselves to be nailed to a cross [in remembrance of what Jesus did for them?]
Hold on a minute.
Aren't they missing the whole point? Jesus said he came to bring life and bring it more abundantly. I know He was speaking, in large part, about spiritual life, but I believe he meant life as a whole, as well. He was punished and crucified, as mankind, so that we don't have to suffer! If we have received Him, we will never be accountable for our sins ever again! He paid our price for sin. We don't have to do some sort of penance and walk around feeling bad and ashamed at His death.
He laid down His life willingly, as the true and only Sacrifice that could be made. He was the only sinless Man; His blood the only pure blood that could be shed for the sin of the whole world. Don't ever have the impression that you or I have to add to what Jesus has done. For one thing, we couldn't add a thing. He completed the work and He said, "It is finished." Period.
We wish you a very happy Resurrection Sunday tomorrow. Enjoy the day with friends and family. Go to church.
Filipinos, Dane crucified in Good Friday rites | ABS-CBN News
Don't believe me? You can read the article for yourself. I guess it happens every year, in the Phillipines, on Good Friday. Certain souls take it upon themselves to be nailed to a cross [in remembrance of what Jesus did for them?]
Hold on a minute.
Aren't they missing the whole point? Jesus said he came to bring life and bring it more abundantly. I know He was speaking, in large part, about spiritual life, but I believe he meant life as a whole, as well. He was punished and crucified, as mankind, so that we don't have to suffer! If we have received Him, we will never be accountable for our sins ever again! He paid our price for sin. We don't have to do some sort of penance and walk around feeling bad and ashamed at His death.
He laid down His life willingly, as the true and only Sacrifice that could be made. He was the only sinless Man; His blood the only pure blood that could be shed for the sin of the whole world. Don't ever have the impression that you or I have to add to what Jesus has done. For one thing, we couldn't add a thing. He completed the work and He said, "It is finished." Period.
We wish you a very happy Resurrection Sunday tomorrow. Enjoy the day with friends and family. Go to church.
Filipinos, Dane crucified in Good Friday rites | ABS-CBN News
Thursday, April 17, 2014
You Can Help
I apologize for the nature of today's post. It's not my usual style or tone of writing, but I felt this was important enough to sway from the usual. As Christians, there are times we just need to take a stand for what is right and stand against those things that are wrong.
Remember Kermit Gosnell?
He's the abortionist "Dr." who killed hundreds of babies after they were born alive from one of his abortion procedures. He called it 'snipping' when he ended their tiny lives by snipping their spinal cord in order to kill them.
Hollywood and the mainstream media don't want to mention anything about Gosnell and what he did, but there is a couple who are determined to make a movie about Gosnell and tell the story. You can help fund the movie by giving... as little as $1 up to $10,000. You can pay by Paypal, as well.
Just visit the following link to give and help support this movie.
Thank you for caring about these tiny lives that never had a chance at life. God bless you.
Remember Kermit Gosnell?
He's the abortionist "Dr." who killed hundreds of babies after they were born alive from one of his abortion procedures. He called it 'snipping' when he ended their tiny lives by snipping their spinal cord in order to kill them.
Hollywood and the mainstream media don't want to mention anything about Gosnell and what he did, but there is a couple who are determined to make a movie about Gosnell and tell the story. You can help fund the movie by giving... as little as $1 up to $10,000. You can pay by Paypal, as well.
Just visit the following link to give and help support this movie.
Thank you for caring about these tiny lives that never had a chance at life. God bless you.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Who Am I To God?
Many people struggle with their identity in life. There are those who equate their worth to the 'job' that they hold or the title they carry behind their name. We should never let that be what defines us.
Our identity should only be found in Christ. He is the only One who truly knows who we are..in Him. I am speaking of Christians now. If you are in Christ, you have been made a new creation; the old has passed. Your thoughts and your deeds have changed from the 'old man' you used to be. You need to begin seeing yourself just as God sees you. You are precious to Him.
David's book, Gates:Thanksgiving Papers, would really help you understand who you are in Christ. He talks about the fact that we are the righteousness of God (even when we don't feel like it) and the fact that Jesus will never leave us; He will never abandon us..or even judge us. There is so much truth wrapped up in the pages of this book.
You'll find the link for the book on this blog...do yourself a favor and order it today!
Our identity should only be found in Christ. He is the only One who truly knows who we are..in Him. I am speaking of Christians now. If you are in Christ, you have been made a new creation; the old has passed. Your thoughts and your deeds have changed from the 'old man' you used to be. You need to begin seeing yourself just as God sees you. You are precious to Him.
David's book, Gates:Thanksgiving Papers, would really help you understand who you are in Christ. He talks about the fact that we are the righteousness of God (even when we don't feel like it) and the fact that Jesus will never leave us; He will never abandon us..or even judge us. There is so much truth wrapped up in the pages of this book.
You'll find the link for the book on this blog...do yourself a favor and order it today!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
All Judgment
Today, I'm reading John chapter 12; it's six days before the Passover, and Jesus has gone to the home of His friends, Lazarus, Martha and Mary, in the town of Bethany. It says that a great many of the Jews came, not only to see Jesus, but to behold the man that Jesus raised from the dead. Because of Lazarus, many Jews believed on Jesus. This made the chief priests very upset and they plotted to kill Lazarus, as well.
What is it about signs, miracles and wonders that make the enemy very unhappy?
There was no denying that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Miracles proved that He was doing the Father's will. Even on the Sabbath!
Then Jesus begins to talk about what will happen to Him in a short time. What must happen. He tells them that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. Jesus goes on to tell the Father, "Now my soul is troubled and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour." The Father responds in an audible voice and the people hear it; some say it thundered; others said an angel spoke to Him.
Jesus makes a profound statement next. He says, "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." The word 'peoples' in the text is in italics, which means that the translators added the word. It was not in the original writing.
So, Jesus was really saying, "I will draw all [judgment] to Myself. 'Judgment' is the subject of this passage. He took the full judgment and punishment for our sin.
He bore it so that we wouldn't have to. He bore it so that we could go free!
Verse 50 says, "And I know that His command is everlasting life." Amen
What is it about signs, miracles and wonders that make the enemy very unhappy?
There was no denying that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Miracles proved that He was doing the Father's will. Even on the Sabbath!
Then Jesus begins to talk about what will happen to Him in a short time. What must happen. He tells them that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. Jesus goes on to tell the Father, "Now my soul is troubled and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour." The Father responds in an audible voice and the people hear it; some say it thundered; others said an angel spoke to Him.
Jesus makes a profound statement next. He says, "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." The word 'peoples' in the text is in italics, which means that the translators added the word. It was not in the original writing.
So, Jesus was really saying, "I will draw all [judgment] to Myself. 'Judgment' is the subject of this passage. He took the full judgment and punishment for our sin.
He bore it so that we wouldn't have to. He bore it so that we could go free!
Verse 50 says, "And I know that His command is everlasting life." Amen
Friday, April 4, 2014
Ben Hur
Last night David and I watched a movie, Ben Hur, produced in 1959, starring Charleton Heston. He is a pretty young Charleton Heston at that. I'm sure I must have seen it as a child, but didn't remember seeing it. David said he probably saw it at age 7 or so.
It is set in the year 28 A.D. or so, in Jesus' time. The Romans were ruling over the Jews. It must have been a terrible time for them with so much oppression. Fear was instilled in them to comply to everything the Romans demanded. They had a huge army of soldiers, ready to do their master's bidding.
There is a scene in the movie that is very powerful. Charleton, who plays Judah Ben Hur, is a slave for the Roman government. He has been made a ship's galley slave, who basically was forced to live in the bottom portion of a ship and was put in chains to row the ship; they were whipped at times; he and his fellow slaves.
When these Jews had been rounded up and forced to walk many miles without water, to get to the ship's destination, the master in command had refused to give Judah any water. He had seen that Judah had some fire in him and so had it in for him.
But, Judah fell to the ground and prayed to God to help him. Suddenly, there was a container filled with water presented to him. There is a moment when he looks up and sees who has given him this water. It's a great scene, but I don't want to give it all away. I recommend you get the movie; (our library had it for free.) You should be able to get it there. Enjoy!
It is set in the year 28 A.D. or so, in Jesus' time. The Romans were ruling over the Jews. It must have been a terrible time for them with so much oppression. Fear was instilled in them to comply to everything the Romans demanded. They had a huge army of soldiers, ready to do their master's bidding.
There is a scene in the movie that is very powerful. Charleton, who plays Judah Ben Hur, is a slave for the Roman government. He has been made a ship's galley slave, who basically was forced to live in the bottom portion of a ship and was put in chains to row the ship; they were whipped at times; he and his fellow slaves.
When these Jews had been rounded up and forced to walk many miles without water, to get to the ship's destination, the master in command had refused to give Judah any water. He had seen that Judah had some fire in him and so had it in for him.
But, Judah fell to the ground and prayed to God to help him. Suddenly, there was a container filled with water presented to him. There is a moment when he looks up and sees who has given him this water. It's a great scene, but I don't want to give it all away. I recommend you get the movie; (our library had it for free.) You should be able to get it there. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Obedience of Christ
I couldn't get back to sleep last night, after being woken up, and God gave me a scripture to meditate on while I attempted to fall asleep. It was 2 Cor. 10:5, a well known verse by most.
It says, "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." As I lay there contemplating the verse, 'the obedience of Christ' kept standing out to me. 'The obedience of Christ.' Notice the passage does not say, 'obedience TO Christ.' It says the 'obedience OF Christ.'
What this said to me was, we are to point to, or look at, the obedience of Christ in every situation. With every wrong thought and every wrong action that occurs in our life, we are to look to the obedience of Christ as our perfection. When we fail, God is not looking at our failure. He is looking at the 'obedience of Christ', His Son. (Of course, I'm speaking of born again people here.)
We need to let the devil (the accuser of the brethren) know that in ourselves we are nothing, but in Christ we are everything. We have put on His perfection. The first part of that verse talks about things that come against the 'knowledge of God.' I think the meaning here is that sometimes the devil wants us to believe we don't even know God; or that we don't know enough about Him; that we have failed and God has abandoned us. This is where we affirm that we know God, and not only know Him, but are found in Him.
The enemy's game is to always try to separate us from God; he can't do it in reality, (because we've been sealed) but he can do it, essentially, if he can get you to believe (in your mind) that you are separated from Him. Do not buy his lies. He is the father of lies. And he is not your father, as a born again person, so he has no authority over you (or your thoughts).
Brothers and sisters, be encouraged today, in the Lord. He loves you with an everlasting love. How long is everlasting? Forever!
It says, "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." As I lay there contemplating the verse, 'the obedience of Christ' kept standing out to me. 'The obedience of Christ.' Notice the passage does not say, 'obedience TO Christ.' It says the 'obedience OF Christ.'
What this said to me was, we are to point to, or look at, the obedience of Christ in every situation. With every wrong thought and every wrong action that occurs in our life, we are to look to the obedience of Christ as our perfection. When we fail, God is not looking at our failure. He is looking at the 'obedience of Christ', His Son. (Of course, I'm speaking of born again people here.)
We need to let the devil (the accuser of the brethren) know that in ourselves we are nothing, but in Christ we are everything. We have put on His perfection. The first part of that verse talks about things that come against the 'knowledge of God.' I think the meaning here is that sometimes the devil wants us to believe we don't even know God; or that we don't know enough about Him; that we have failed and God has abandoned us. This is where we affirm that we know God, and not only know Him, but are found in Him.
The enemy's game is to always try to separate us from God; he can't do it in reality, (because we've been sealed) but he can do it, essentially, if he can get you to believe (in your mind) that you are separated from Him. Do not buy his lies. He is the father of lies. And he is not your father, as a born again person, so he has no authority over you (or your thoughts).
Brothers and sisters, be encouraged today, in the Lord. He loves you with an everlasting love. How long is everlasting? Forever!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Keep the web free!
This is not my normal sort of post today, but I feel compelled to say this today. As an American, I feel the need to do what I can to protect our freedoms, and really, the freedom of anyone who uses and appreciates the use of the internet.
Up until now, we have not been taxed or charged to use the internet. If control is given over, as Pres. Obama wants to do, all of that will change. It's not a matter of "will it?" but when and how much will we be taxed.
More importantly, it will be the end of freedom of speech, as we know it. If the internet is put under the control of nations with dictatorial leaders, THEY will decide who gets to hear and say what and when. People... this cannot be allowed to happen! It's time to rise up and do something about it. We can effect change if we get together and do it!
I urge you today to go to ACLJ's website and at the top of the page you'll see "UN CONTROL OF INTERNET AND FREE SPEECH." You can listen to Jay's radio program there (to learn more about it) and sign the petition (in favor of freedom) that will be presented at the Congressional hearing on Wednesday to vote to draft legislation to stop Obama from giving over even more of our freedoms by handing the internet over to the "international community" or the UN!!
Thank you!
Up until now, we have not been taxed or charged to use the internet. If control is given over, as Pres. Obama wants to do, all of that will change. It's not a matter of "will it?" but when and how much will we be taxed.
More importantly, it will be the end of freedom of speech, as we know it. If the internet is put under the control of nations with dictatorial leaders, THEY will decide who gets to hear and say what and when. People... this cannot be allowed to happen! It's time to rise up and do something about it. We can effect change if we get together and do it!
I urge you today to go to ACLJ's website and at the top of the page you'll see "UN CONTROL OF INTERNET AND FREE SPEECH." You can listen to Jay's radio program there (to learn more about it) and sign the petition (in favor of freedom) that will be presented at the Congressional hearing on Wednesday to vote to draft legislation to stop Obama from giving over even more of our freedoms by handing the internet over to the "international community" or the UN!!
Thank you!
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