Wednesday, August 8, 2012
FRESH START TODAY - Know the wisdom of God (Blog 48)
FRESH START TODAY – Wisdom that comes from God – August 8, 2012
by Lenni Nordloh
Proverbs 2:6-11, For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair — every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. NIV
Proverbs is the book that was written by king Solomon who desired and asked for wisdom above anything else in prayer to God. He wanted the wisdom to be to rule God’s people justly and rightly. God gave him what he asked for and more. Was Solomon so different than the rest of humanity? Do we have the availability to ask God for the same thing? Wisdom? What a wonderful and beautiful gift. We could ask God for the wisdom to understand His grace that has been given to believers through Jesus Christ our Lord. He would open the doors to understanding, because this would please the Lord. People are so caught up with their daily lives that they do not stop to ask for wisdom for the day. A fresh start of wisdom for every day would be a blessing! We have decisions to make and actions to take, so why not include the Lord in our daily activity? What a blessing to acknowledge and surrender to the Holy Spirit to assist us in our every move during the day. To know that we have invited the Lord to be with us could make us direct our thoughts and actions in a different light. Could it not?
We sometimes desire to help change others, but do you suppose the Lord may want us to be silent and allow the Holy Spirit to change others that need changing? A spiritual sister once said that we if we all prayed blessings of wisdom on our enemies as well as those that we love we would witness the activity of the Holy Spirit. When we do this it seems the burden drops off our shoulders and drop on to Jesus, giving Him the rains to choose the blessings. Do you suppose that He has more experience in changing a heart than we might know? God is a big boy and He can handle humanity much better than we do. He may choose to work through us, but we must have a humble heart of love for the Holy Spirit to be able to touch another heart. It may be like watching a clear river flow down a mountain ravine that does not have branches or large rocks to stop the flow. We can become stiff necked (the large branches) and judgmental (the large rocks). We bow or bend like a large branch in the water. This hinders the direct flow and the river has to go around us in order to get where it needs to travel. The branch may actually cause muddy waters if it stays stiff necked. The flow of the Holy Spirit is amazing to watch when God is working in the heart of a person. It takes time to build the character of Jesus Christ in the heart of any person due to our humanity and sinful nature.
There may be times when we have to let go and let God do what He wants to do through our lives. God hates the proud, but lifts up those that are humble. (I Peter 5:6) He is blessed when we have total faith in His wisdom. He knows what is best. The scriptures tell us today that when we ask for wisdom we will know what is just, fair and right and it will be pleasant to our souls. God’s discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit will protect us and guard our hearts.
Sometimes our prayers need to be “Lord help change me!”
Thursday, July 26, 2012
FRESH START TODAY - Know the Heart of God (Blog 47)
FRESH START TODAY…..Know the Heart of God, Thursday, Jul 26, 2012
Jeremiah 9:23-24, This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord. NIV
Can you hear the heart of God today? We make such boastful claims about who we are, what we have done and what we want to accomplish in this life. God is wiser and his ways are bigger than what we can guess what He wants do through us.
I just spent time in prayer with the Lord and I feel His encouragement not to worry about what other people think that are directly opposed to God’s will. He has directed me to love these people. We need to rise above the circumstances. People disappoint us in this life time and time again. You may want people to understand you, but that really does not matter. The Lord wants us to know Him. During my prayer time God brought to my mind that Jesus seemed to have constant conflict with people who were threatened by His ministry. He taught people to grow in the wisdom of God by the spirit of the law and not just living under the strict rules of the Law. God gave those Laws through Moses to teach mankind that it is impossible to live by those Laws. He wanted the people to understand and know Him. With God’s leadership we can learn to follow the Laws that were meant to protect us, as believers. People became stiff-necked and fell into judgment. God is kind; He is fair and delights in giving His children the desires of their heart. We need to only desire to know His heart.
He will bless us with knowledge that is very personal. He will reveal information that is beyond our imagination. Our hearts have to be surrendered to Him for the revelation to be understood. He has revealed to me the truth of my heritage that humbles me, but it has lead me right back to my relationship with God. Jesus is truly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Word of God through people of faith that have surrendered their personal comfort and wills to God have accomplished God’s eternal plan. People did not always get where they were suppose to go by being selfish. God will and does change hearts.
The Bible tells us about a young man named Joseph who boasted about his coat of many colors and his dream about his brothers bowing down to him. His boasting got him sold into slavery in Egypt and eventually we witness, by the reading of God’s Word, Joseph was put in jail for being accused of something he did not do. Joseph became acquainted with the God that gave him the dream. In the fullness of time, the dream came true. Do you suppose that just maybe Joseph’s only personal companion was God during the times he was alone? He began to understand the heart of God. What was intended as harm, God meant for the good of Joseph’s future, and to accomplish God’s plan. God worked through Joseph to save His people from the future famine.
What will you do to allow God to work through your life? What is the secret to know the heart of God? Hear the Word of God! When you get to know His heart then you will have the wisdom from God to know how to follow this next scripture.
Matt 7:7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. NIV
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 46)
FRESH START TODAY – Learn to be Rich in Faith – Wednesday, February 29, 2012
James 2:1-5, My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? NIV
It never ceases to amaze me how God’s Word speaks to me on a daily basis. James was the half brother of our Lord Jesus Christ and speaks out against showing favoritism. I do not know about you, but I have been teased and shunned by people. It was not because I had shabby clothes on, but because I was handicapped as a child. I could not hear very clearly and was just different. I will not go into details about my handicap, but it created in me a low self-esteem, so I had to work hard to be normal. What is normal, anyway? I was 10 years old when I had major surgery to correct my handicap and spent the summer in the hospital. I learned to accept people who were differently capable. These gracious people have blessed me through the years. Those that could not see taught me to see, those that could not hear taught me to listen, those that could not walk taught to be thankful for life every day and those that could not read taught me to see the messages that are spoken in the world around me. These wonderful differently capable people seemed to have a faith in God that was deeper than I had.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-12 that he had learned to be content in every circumstance that he was in, whether being rich or being in need. I know that I have failed to have this kind of positive attitude, but through the trials of life, I am learning the truth that circumstances should not control my attitude. God is leading us, through certain circumstances, that we face, to surrender to His power, wisdom and Grace for each day. We should not show favoritism, but be willing to reach out in faith to people that SEEM to be less desirable. You may be surprised how God’s Holy Spirit will bless you.
Dear friends and family, here is another story to say what I want to say. I was 32 years old when my mother because critically ill. I flew from Alaska to Arizona to see her before she passed away. After being at the hospital for three days I became distressed and prayed asking God to give me someone to reach out to, with His love, who felt the same way I did. It only took God ten minutes to answer that prayer. I walked up to a black woman in the ICU waiting room who was obviously in distress. I put my arms around her praying for her and her loved one that had just been brought to the hospital. I did not care who she was, but I soon found out. This precious lady and her family became my strength in the Lord through their witness and love for the Lord over the next two weeks. Ruth Owens was the wife of “Jesse Owens” who won several races in the 1936 Olympics. I learned what it was like to be rich in faith. Remember not to show favoritism, because in being like Jesus, you will be blessed.
My prayer has been, “Lord, bless me, so that I may glorify you”. May the Lord bless you, so that you can glorify the Lord through your lives. He needs us all, who believe, to surrender to reaching out to others and not to show favoritism. We must remember that in the book of James, he told us that God has chosen the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith. May you and I be encouraged with these scriptures.
James 2:1-5, My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? NIV
It never ceases to amaze me how God’s Word speaks to me on a daily basis. James was the half brother of our Lord Jesus Christ and speaks out against showing favoritism. I do not know about you, but I have been teased and shunned by people. It was not because I had shabby clothes on, but because I was handicapped as a child. I could not hear very clearly and was just different. I will not go into details about my handicap, but it created in me a low self-esteem, so I had to work hard to be normal. What is normal, anyway? I was 10 years old when I had major surgery to correct my handicap and spent the summer in the hospital. I learned to accept people who were differently capable. These gracious people have blessed me through the years. Those that could not see taught me to see, those that could not hear taught me to listen, those that could not walk taught to be thankful for life every day and those that could not read taught me to see the messages that are spoken in the world around me. These wonderful differently capable people seemed to have a faith in God that was deeper than I had.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-12 that he had learned to be content in every circumstance that he was in, whether being rich or being in need. I know that I have failed to have this kind of positive attitude, but through the trials of life, I am learning the truth that circumstances should not control my attitude. God is leading us, through certain circumstances, that we face, to surrender to His power, wisdom and Grace for each day. We should not show favoritism, but be willing to reach out in faith to people that SEEM to be less desirable. You may be surprised how God’s Holy Spirit will bless you.
Dear friends and family, here is another story to say what I want to say. I was 32 years old when my mother because critically ill. I flew from Alaska to Arizona to see her before she passed away. After being at the hospital for three days I became distressed and prayed asking God to give me someone to reach out to, with His love, who felt the same way I did. It only took God ten minutes to answer that prayer. I walked up to a black woman in the ICU waiting room who was obviously in distress. I put my arms around her praying for her and her loved one that had just been brought to the hospital. I did not care who she was, but I soon found out. This precious lady and her family became my strength in the Lord through their witness and love for the Lord over the next two weeks. Ruth Owens was the wife of “Jesse Owens” who won several races in the 1936 Olympics. I learned what it was like to be rich in faith. Remember not to show favoritism, because in being like Jesus, you will be blessed.
My prayer has been, “Lord, bless me, so that I may glorify you”. May the Lord bless you, so that you can glorify the Lord through your lives. He needs us all, who believe, to surrender to reaching out to others and not to show favoritism. We must remember that in the book of James, he told us that God has chosen the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith. May you and I be encouraged with these scriptures.
Monday, February 27, 2012
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 45)
FRESH START TODAY – Trust the Heart of the Father.. Monday, February 27, 2012
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. NKJV
Here is the human in me speaking. Have I really trusted the Lord with everything that I want, what I may face or the future? My friends, I am not a super spiritual believer in Christ, but I am just as human as the rest of humanity. I struggle daily to be what the Lord wants me to be or to say. I have grown to understand that the Holy Spirit that lives in me is the power that gives me God’s wisdom to be able to write these devotionals. My desire is to encourage your walk with the Lord and to assist you to seek Him for wisdom. Jesus Christ is our way to having a relationship with the Father. We need to learn to trust the heart of the loving Father.
I heard a great illustration on fear recently. When we were children we may have had a parent that wanted to teach us how to swim. We may have stood on the edge of a swimming pool seeing this parent standing in the water encouraging us to jump. Oh, the things that may go through our heads! “What if they do not catch me, or what if I slip, or what if the water is cold, or what if my head goes under the water, or what if I cannot touch the bottom.” Do you get the picture? We seem to have trouble trusting a loving parent, so what is the difference in our trusting a loving Holy Father. We have trouble taking the leap! The Father is the one that will catch us. Do you have a decision to make, or have a worry, or have financial problems, or have an illness, or have a problem forgiving someone? The Holy Father says trust Him with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Jump! Trust His heart!
The activity of God was seen early in our family’s walk with Him when my husband and I were living in California. Our children’s birthdays are two weeks apart and close to the Thanksgiving Holiday. I had just started a temporary job and my first paycheck would be received just in time to pay for the big birthday party for my children that I had planned. I had ordered the birthday cake and we would be going shopping for our home cooked Thanksgiving dinner. I was excited, but something happened that I never expected. The entire office received their paychecks, but not me. My information had not been turned in, in time to get my check, but I was told that I would receive a double paycheck within two weeks. I went back to my desk deflated asking myself, “What am I going to do now?” It was the day before Thanksgiving and the children’s birthday party was on Saturday. I did not say anything to anyone, but went back to work. I called my husband and told him. He asked, “Where is God when we needed Him?” I did not know what to say. I had taken a sandwich to work and went into the employee lunchroom during my break, but no one was in there. I sat alone for lunch.
At the end of the day I went to get my coat to leave. When I came back to my desk to get my purse I found an envelope with my name on it. Inside was $80.00 cash and the scripture from Romans 8:28. I looked around to see if I could thank someone and everybody had left for the day. I walked out to my car and it was stuffed full of groceries that included a 25 lb turkey. I could not drive yet, because I started crying uncontrollably. I thanked God for being our provider. His arms were opened wide asking me to jump! This seemed like a time when someone came up behind me and pushed me into the water and my Father caught me. Needless to say, my husband and I grew in our faith that day. In our all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our path. My prayer is that the Lord blesses you today.
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. NKJV
Here is the human in me speaking. Have I really trusted the Lord with everything that I want, what I may face or the future? My friends, I am not a super spiritual believer in Christ, but I am just as human as the rest of humanity. I struggle daily to be what the Lord wants me to be or to say. I have grown to understand that the Holy Spirit that lives in me is the power that gives me God’s wisdom to be able to write these devotionals. My desire is to encourage your walk with the Lord and to assist you to seek Him for wisdom. Jesus Christ is our way to having a relationship with the Father. We need to learn to trust the heart of the loving Father.
I heard a great illustration on fear recently. When we were children we may have had a parent that wanted to teach us how to swim. We may have stood on the edge of a swimming pool seeing this parent standing in the water encouraging us to jump. Oh, the things that may go through our heads! “What if they do not catch me, or what if I slip, or what if the water is cold, or what if my head goes under the water, or what if I cannot touch the bottom.” Do you get the picture? We seem to have trouble trusting a loving parent, so what is the difference in our trusting a loving Holy Father. We have trouble taking the leap! The Father is the one that will catch us. Do you have a decision to make, or have a worry, or have financial problems, or have an illness, or have a problem forgiving someone? The Holy Father says trust Him with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Jump! Trust His heart!
The activity of God was seen early in our family’s walk with Him when my husband and I were living in California. Our children’s birthdays are two weeks apart and close to the Thanksgiving Holiday. I had just started a temporary job and my first paycheck would be received just in time to pay for the big birthday party for my children that I had planned. I had ordered the birthday cake and we would be going shopping for our home cooked Thanksgiving dinner. I was excited, but something happened that I never expected. The entire office received their paychecks, but not me. My information had not been turned in, in time to get my check, but I was told that I would receive a double paycheck within two weeks. I went back to my desk deflated asking myself, “What am I going to do now?” It was the day before Thanksgiving and the children’s birthday party was on Saturday. I did not say anything to anyone, but went back to work. I called my husband and told him. He asked, “Where is God when we needed Him?” I did not know what to say. I had taken a sandwich to work and went into the employee lunchroom during my break, but no one was in there. I sat alone for lunch.
At the end of the day I went to get my coat to leave. When I came back to my desk to get my purse I found an envelope with my name on it. Inside was $80.00 cash and the scripture from Romans 8:28. I looked around to see if I could thank someone and everybody had left for the day. I walked out to my car and it was stuffed full of groceries that included a 25 lb turkey. I could not drive yet, because I started crying uncontrollably. I thanked God for being our provider. His arms were opened wide asking me to jump! This seemed like a time when someone came up behind me and pushed me into the water and my Father caught me. Needless to say, my husband and I grew in our faith that day. In our all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our path. My prayer is that the Lord blesses you today.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 44)
FRESH START TODAY –Rejoice! – Thursday, February 23, 2012
Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV
I decided to walk through memory lane this morning and realized that the Lord, through the years, has richly blessed me. Finding out a high school friend had passed away in 2011 prompted this memory walk. I met my gracious husband one year after high school, but we first became acquainted with each other in my junior year and his senior year. We got married six months after our official meeting. Both of our mothers arranged the meeting. My husband was in the Air Force when we first got married and we literally traveled the world. We had our two children in the first five years of our marriage. We have seen the Alps of Switzerland, Austria and walked through the streets of Copenhagen, Denmark. We lived in Southern Italy for 2 ½ years and visited Rome and Naples. When returning from Italy in 1973, we both experienced the gift of salvation that is found in Jesus Christ. Our marriage took a new direction and new experiences surfaced as we began to walk with the Lord. God the Father had been with our marriage and individual lives every day before the Holy Spirit revealed the truth of Jesus Christ to us. We just did not know or understand this reality. Our past sins were forgiven and God was now planning our future.
We have lived in California, Minnesota, Alaska, Wyoming, Arizona, Washington and Oklahoma. The joy of witnessing God at work through our lives has given us rich experiences. We literally hung on to the shirttail of the activity of God’s Holy Spirit! We are not done yet, because God has healed me from breast cancer. Rejoicing continually in the prayers of our family and friends in the Lord. The Lord has guarded our hearts and we have been living under His powerful GRACE! One of the blessings was my husband graduating from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 1986.
Sharing these thoughts with you only has meant to encourage you to begin to look at all the positive experiences you have gone through and to begin to rejoice in God’s riches. Your first thought should be of your salvation, which is the greatest gift you will ever receive. He promises an abundant life, but not without tribulation. He does make us better through these tribulations and/or difficulties if we trust His heart. If you focus on all the negative experiences that YOU have had then you can make yourself bitter. Only surrendering to the power of a loving God, asking first for His forgiveness, making the decision to drop the rock of shame, then you can ride the waves of peace.
When a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ we begin our journey to become, in character, like Him. This scripture tells us to allow our gentleness to be event to all people. We are not to be anxious about anything, but let our petitions and prayers, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God. We forget to be thankful!
“Lord, thank you for the blessings that you so graciously have already poured into my life, for friends and family and for those that have been willing to reflect your mercy and grace. I ask for you to bless me, so that I may bring glorify you. I ask for a spiritual awakening and the power of the Holy Spirit to overtake the evil that seems to be present in our world today. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.”
Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV
I decided to walk through memory lane this morning and realized that the Lord, through the years, has richly blessed me. Finding out a high school friend had passed away in 2011 prompted this memory walk. I met my gracious husband one year after high school, but we first became acquainted with each other in my junior year and his senior year. We got married six months after our official meeting. Both of our mothers arranged the meeting. My husband was in the Air Force when we first got married and we literally traveled the world. We had our two children in the first five years of our marriage. We have seen the Alps of Switzerland, Austria and walked through the streets of Copenhagen, Denmark. We lived in Southern Italy for 2 ½ years and visited Rome and Naples. When returning from Italy in 1973, we both experienced the gift of salvation that is found in Jesus Christ. Our marriage took a new direction and new experiences surfaced as we began to walk with the Lord. God the Father had been with our marriage and individual lives every day before the Holy Spirit revealed the truth of Jesus Christ to us. We just did not know or understand this reality. Our past sins were forgiven and God was now planning our future.
We have lived in California, Minnesota, Alaska, Wyoming, Arizona, Washington and Oklahoma. The joy of witnessing God at work through our lives has given us rich experiences. We literally hung on to the shirttail of the activity of God’s Holy Spirit! We are not done yet, because God has healed me from breast cancer. Rejoicing continually in the prayers of our family and friends in the Lord. The Lord has guarded our hearts and we have been living under His powerful GRACE! One of the blessings was my husband graduating from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 1986.
Sharing these thoughts with you only has meant to encourage you to begin to look at all the positive experiences you have gone through and to begin to rejoice in God’s riches. Your first thought should be of your salvation, which is the greatest gift you will ever receive. He promises an abundant life, but not without tribulation. He does make us better through these tribulations and/or difficulties if we trust His heart. If you focus on all the negative experiences that YOU have had then you can make yourself bitter. Only surrendering to the power of a loving God, asking first for His forgiveness, making the decision to drop the rock of shame, then you can ride the waves of peace.
When a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ we begin our journey to become, in character, like Him. This scripture tells us to allow our gentleness to be event to all people. We are not to be anxious about anything, but let our petitions and prayers, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God. We forget to be thankful!
“Lord, thank you for the blessings that you so graciously have already poured into my life, for friends and family and for those that have been willing to reflect your mercy and grace. I ask for you to bless me, so that I may bring glorify you. I ask for a spiritual awakening and the power of the Holy Spirit to overtake the evil that seems to be present in our world today. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.”
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 43)
FRESH START TODAY – A promise from our Savior, Jesus Christ
Titus 3:4-7, But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. NIV
The Book of Romans clearly walks you through God’s plan of Salvation. You can use it to instruct others to understand God’s plan. (Romans 10:9) There may be people reading this devotional who do not know God’s plan for their life. I would be in error if I only wrote for believers, because the Lord loves all sinners. The Lord never intended for people to die in their sin to face eternal separation from God. This statement seems harsh, but I needed to hear it, too. God speaks about the heart all the way through the Bible and this is how the Holy Spirit touches humanity with His love. We must love the sinner and not judge too harshly the people that have not received this wonderful promise. I used to say “by the grace of God there go I!” There are many believers that can say that before accepting Christ as their Savior they used to be worldly, gossiping, backbiting and unkind. That is sin, my friend. We are not right before God because of our own actions and attitudes. Righteousness is a church word that just means we can be right before God due to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is the Holy veil that hides our sins and intercedes for us on a daily basis as we pray to the Holy Father. He sifts the words of our prayers and God the Father hears our heart’s attitude.
I have a friend and sister in Christ that was brought by a co-worker of hers to a Bible study class that I used to teach. The class was for women that had circumstances in their lives where they could freely speak about and not be judged. What was talked about in the class stayed in the classroom. This woman used to attend the class sitting with her arms closed across her chest and a frown on her face. She listened to the women as they shared their concerns. She would not come for 2 or 3 weeks and then would show up again. This occurred over several months. We honestly cared about her and began to pray for her to see the love of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit started to work in her heart as she began to forgive issues that she could not release without His help. Her heart began to change and in God’s time she said to the ladies, “I thought you were all phonies, because of the love that was shared in the classroom, but now I know that it is real!” The tears began to flow as we all recognized the activity of the Holy Spirit. This is why we are not to judge others, because only God knows the issues of a heart. He knows how to reach the individual, but we need to be available to share the truth about God’s love. The Lord gives mercy and grace to those that would pray to accept this promised gift.
A wise preacher once said that the Good News (Gospel) of Christ is either substantiated or negated by the love and unity the church demonstrates. The reason some people do not understand how to accept the love of Jesus Christ is because they have been battered by others they thought they could trust. Your continued love for the unlovely is what may lighten the burden of their pain. The Holy Spirit will give you the strength to say and do what you need to do for this person.
Read the scripture for today and listen for truth that is being said. May the Lord bless you this new day as you begin fresh in your relationship with the Lord.
Titus 3:4-7, But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. NIV
The Book of Romans clearly walks you through God’s plan of Salvation. You can use it to instruct others to understand God’s plan. (Romans 10:9) There may be people reading this devotional who do not know God’s plan for their life. I would be in error if I only wrote for believers, because the Lord loves all sinners. The Lord never intended for people to die in their sin to face eternal separation from God. This statement seems harsh, but I needed to hear it, too. God speaks about the heart all the way through the Bible and this is how the Holy Spirit touches humanity with His love. We must love the sinner and not judge too harshly the people that have not received this wonderful promise. I used to say “by the grace of God there go I!” There are many believers that can say that before accepting Christ as their Savior they used to be worldly, gossiping, backbiting and unkind. That is sin, my friend. We are not right before God because of our own actions and attitudes. Righteousness is a church word that just means we can be right before God due to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is the Holy veil that hides our sins and intercedes for us on a daily basis as we pray to the Holy Father. He sifts the words of our prayers and God the Father hears our heart’s attitude.
I have a friend and sister in Christ that was brought by a co-worker of hers to a Bible study class that I used to teach. The class was for women that had circumstances in their lives where they could freely speak about and not be judged. What was talked about in the class stayed in the classroom. This woman used to attend the class sitting with her arms closed across her chest and a frown on her face. She listened to the women as they shared their concerns. She would not come for 2 or 3 weeks and then would show up again. This occurred over several months. We honestly cared about her and began to pray for her to see the love of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit started to work in her heart as she began to forgive issues that she could not release without His help. Her heart began to change and in God’s time she said to the ladies, “I thought you were all phonies, because of the love that was shared in the classroom, but now I know that it is real!” The tears began to flow as we all recognized the activity of the Holy Spirit. This is why we are not to judge others, because only God knows the issues of a heart. He knows how to reach the individual, but we need to be available to share the truth about God’s love. The Lord gives mercy and grace to those that would pray to accept this promised gift.
A wise preacher once said that the Good News (Gospel) of Christ is either substantiated or negated by the love and unity the church demonstrates. The reason some people do not understand how to accept the love of Jesus Christ is because they have been battered by others they thought they could trust. Your continued love for the unlovely is what may lighten the burden of their pain. The Holy Spirit will give you the strength to say and do what you need to do for this person.
Read the scripture for today and listen for truth that is being said. May the Lord bless you this new day as you begin fresh in your relationship with the Lord.
Friday, February 3, 2012
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 42)
FRESH START TODAY – Learn to Fly Like an Eagle!
Isaiah 40:31, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint NIV
This morning as I praised the Father in Heaven I began to remember the Old Testament stories of how God communicated, provided and desired a relationship with His people. He spoke to Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, King David, Samuel and the list goes on and on. In the book of Hebrews names are mentioned to honor the people of faith. As I prayed I began to thank the Lord for His written Word. When we search the scriptures we can find the very nature and personality of the God of the Universe. He related to mankind in a personal way through centuries, as people were inspired to write the stories of their relationship with the living God. King David poured his heart out to God through the music of the Psalms and we learn about a God that loves the music that comes from a dedicated and faithful heart.
The scripture that I am relating to today are the words that my son used to put all over His wall when he was a teenager. People gave him gifts of eagles. I truly believe that my son hung on to these scriptures for many years as he suffered through many disappointments in his life, but there is a deeper meaning I have now come to understand.
Just recently I have been studying lessons by Kay Arthur on “Teach Me to Pray” and she encourages believers to fly spiritually! She said that by reading God’s Word daily and praying is like the power of the wings of a bird. You cannot fly without both wings being in motion. A Fresh start today gives us the opportunity to soar as eagles as seek the face of the living God through reading the Word and praying.
I mentioned in a previous devotion that God did not give me breast cancer, but allowed it only to draw me closer to Him. Through the trials of treatments I did become weary at times, but the presence of the Holy Spirit abounded through my husband, friends and family in their prayers and encouragement. I have renewed my strength and feel better physically then I have in several years. I owe my dedication and my praise to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit for blessing me with healing. I am honored to bring Glory to God and He deserves the best that I can offer Him in being available to bring others to the truth of what Jesus Christ has done for mankind. When we experience the trials that God allows us to experience we can grow to know the heart of God.
Reading the experiences of those that have gone before us we realize that human nature doubts from time to time. Jonah (he ran from God) and Job (lost his family and all his earthly riches) are examples of trial and many doubts. The Lord blessed those he loved at the end of their trials and they grew to know nature of our God. Job was humbled to the majestic God that revealed His wisdom and power to him at the end. Sin is forgiven, but there may be consequences of sin we must endure for us become more like Jesus Christ.
Our hope must be in the Lord to receive the promise of renewed strength. We take flight like the wings of the eagle as we take time grow in faith through reading God’s Word and talking to the Lord daily. I have learned that doing things for the Lord is not what He desires, but growing to know Him and His love is what blesses Him the most. I remember that God wanted to provide, give land flowing with milk and honey and have a relationship with His people when they fled slavery in Egypt. He has not changed His desire for His people today. We need to trust His heart and have a desire to know Him.
Jesus Christ has been given the believer GRACE that we cannot earn, but is a gift from God the Father. He has provided the sinner a way to become pure before a Holy God.
Isaiah 40:31, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint NIV
This morning as I praised the Father in Heaven I began to remember the Old Testament stories of how God communicated, provided and desired a relationship with His people. He spoke to Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, King David, Samuel and the list goes on and on. In the book of Hebrews names are mentioned to honor the people of faith. As I prayed I began to thank the Lord for His written Word. When we search the scriptures we can find the very nature and personality of the God of the Universe. He related to mankind in a personal way through centuries, as people were inspired to write the stories of their relationship with the living God. King David poured his heart out to God through the music of the Psalms and we learn about a God that loves the music that comes from a dedicated and faithful heart.
The scripture that I am relating to today are the words that my son used to put all over His wall when he was a teenager. People gave him gifts of eagles. I truly believe that my son hung on to these scriptures for many years as he suffered through many disappointments in his life, but there is a deeper meaning I have now come to understand.
Just recently I have been studying lessons by Kay Arthur on “Teach Me to Pray” and she encourages believers to fly spiritually! She said that by reading God’s Word daily and praying is like the power of the wings of a bird. You cannot fly without both wings being in motion. A Fresh start today gives us the opportunity to soar as eagles as seek the face of the living God through reading the Word and praying.
I mentioned in a previous devotion that God did not give me breast cancer, but allowed it only to draw me closer to Him. Through the trials of treatments I did become weary at times, but the presence of the Holy Spirit abounded through my husband, friends and family in their prayers and encouragement. I have renewed my strength and feel better physically then I have in several years. I owe my dedication and my praise to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit for blessing me with healing. I am honored to bring Glory to God and He deserves the best that I can offer Him in being available to bring others to the truth of what Jesus Christ has done for mankind. When we experience the trials that God allows us to experience we can grow to know the heart of God.
Reading the experiences of those that have gone before us we realize that human nature doubts from time to time. Jonah (he ran from God) and Job (lost his family and all his earthly riches) are examples of trial and many doubts. The Lord blessed those he loved at the end of their trials and they grew to know nature of our God. Job was humbled to the majestic God that revealed His wisdom and power to him at the end. Sin is forgiven, but there may be consequences of sin we must endure for us become more like Jesus Christ.
Our hope must be in the Lord to receive the promise of renewed strength. We take flight like the wings of the eagle as we take time grow in faith through reading God’s Word and talking to the Lord daily. I have learned that doing things for the Lord is not what He desires, but growing to know Him and His love is what blesses Him the most. I remember that God wanted to provide, give land flowing with milk and honey and have a relationship with His people when they fled slavery in Egypt. He has not changed His desire for His people today. We need to trust His heart and have a desire to know Him.
Jesus Christ has been given the believer GRACE that we cannot earn, but is a gift from God the Father. He has provided the sinner a way to become pure before a Holy God.
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