FRESH START TODAY…God’s Plans are worth seeking!
Jeremiah 29:11-13, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. NIV
On Sunday, July 10, 2011, we attended a wonderful church that proclaimed the grace and mercy of our God. I listened very carefully to the sermon the young pastor was preaching, but the at the end of the service God whispered to my heart the verse that is the topic today. The history behind the verse is that God’s chosen people were in exile in Babylon and would be there for 70 years. The Lord declared and gave instructions to His people to live and prosper in a country that was not their own. I am sure the people were not comfortable living away from their homeland. To change where you were comfortable to a place where you needed to make personal adjustments is not easy for people. I have heard people say when a new manager is hired, “I will leave if the manager changes what we are use to doing!” Let me tell you that being diagnosed with breast cancer has changed me! I do not believe that I will continue to neither live with the same attitude nor live the same way that I have lived in the past. I am a child of the King and my life was a bought with a great price. I am deeply loved by the same God that told the people of Israel that He had plans for them, to prosper them and not to harm them, plans to give them hope and a future. He clearly said to call on Him and come to Him and to pray to Him, and that He would listen. We are to seek Him with all of our heart and this is the secret to this generous and loving promise.
I have been receiving emails of great encouragement from people we love dearly. One email touched my heart last night telling me of the impact Marty and I have had on her life as she struggled in her past. We were God’s chosen vessel to be an encouragement to her, but her words were so deeply endearing to us. She stated that I was strong in my faith, but my faith is a credit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit through His loving discipline. I truly do not believe that having breast cancer is punishment! When we wake up every morning we make choices for that day. God gives an opportunity to start fresh with an attitude that will bless Him and lift us and other people up when we seek Him with all of our heart. My pray recently has been, “Bless me Lord, so that my life will glorify you!” This pray is open ended, which means God is FREE to answer this prayer according to His loving plan. I am truly humbled by the power of the prayers of God’s Saints who know me and the one’s who do not know me. I feel I am being cradled in the arms of a Holy God through these wonderful prayers. Your one solitary life will make a difference in our dark world when you seek the heart of the God that loves you as much as He loves me. Look deeper to the message of the cross and what Jesus accomplished for humanity.
The words of the song ‘Thank you’ comes to my heart, with tears flowing, as I have received your phone calls and emails. I am so humbled to know so many people have been encouraged through the ministry that Marty and I have shared with you through the years. This has given us a continued desire to want to encourage you more. In fact, this has reminded me about the heart of Jesus Christ as He ministered. He reached out to the individual even though there were curious crowds that followed Him all the time. Jesus Christ sees the heart of all people. I am fully accepted by Him and He is the audience of one that is watching my moves, thoughts, actions and attitudes. (Psalm 139) He is watching you.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 36)
FRESH START TODAY … Decide today to seek God’s will!
Genesis 50:19-21 Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. NIV
On April 25, 2010 I wrote in my Bible along side this scripture, “God does have a bigger plan than we could ever imagine in our lifetime!” I had stopped writing in my blog for a while due to not feeling well and I did not understand the reason for me wanting to close the topics on FRESH START TODAY. A dear sister in the Lord said, “No, you cannot stop because I need more!” That was said to me on Facebook just before the diagnosis that I had breast cancer. When Marty and I were driving home after the first doctor’s visit God gave me the above scripture. The story of Joseph is about a hotheaded young man that saved many lives after being broken through trials. Have I ever been a prideful person? Yes, friends and family. I have been prideful and this attitude does not please the Lord. But my question is why would God pour out His magnificent GRACE on me?
June 3, 2011 - I walked into the Community Clinic in Heber/Overguard, AZ to see a Nurse Practitioner to have a breast lumped checked. He immediately scheduled a mammogram and an ultrasound in Show Low, AZ. These tests lead to a biopsy and the dreaded diagnosis I feared, “breast cancer”. The surgeon was chosen, and a modified radical mastectomy was performed on June 28th along with the start of breast reconstruction performed by a plastic surgeon immediately following. All these procedures have been done with no health insurance coverage. The bills are starting to come in the amount of about $30,000.00 so far with Marty and I having a monthly income of $1,700.00. The State Medicaid program has denied coverage, because we earn too much to qualify. The maximum allowable income is $613.00 a month. The chemotherapy has not yet started because I still need to heal from the surgery. My appointment with the Oncologist is scheduled for July 19, 2011. Yet I am at peace! I have received the prayers of hundreds of people and I feel them every moment of every day! I have received calls from people from almost every church where Marty and I have served over the many years. I have had God’s Kingdom people lay hands on and pray for me that do not even know me. One of Marty’s colleagues where he attended at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary drove from Payson, AZ to pray with me before I went into surgery. I have had opportunities to share Jesus Christ and His Grace to many people. I am more filled with God’s love than I have ever experienced. The world cannot understand the kind of peace the Lord told His believers they would have if they put their trust in Him.
Thank you all for the encouraging emails that Marty and I have received… I am sure there will be rough days ahead, but the unity of God’s people is my answer to this spiritual crossroads.
Genesis 50:19-21 Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. NIV
On April 25, 2010 I wrote in my Bible along side this scripture, “God does have a bigger plan than we could ever imagine in our lifetime!” I had stopped writing in my blog for a while due to not feeling well and I did not understand the reason for me wanting to close the topics on FRESH START TODAY. A dear sister in the Lord said, “No, you cannot stop because I need more!” That was said to me on Facebook just before the diagnosis that I had breast cancer. When Marty and I were driving home after the first doctor’s visit God gave me the above scripture. The story of Joseph is about a hotheaded young man that saved many lives after being broken through trials. Have I ever been a prideful person? Yes, friends and family. I have been prideful and this attitude does not please the Lord. But my question is why would God pour out His magnificent GRACE on me?
June 3, 2011 - I walked into the Community Clinic in Heber/Overguard, AZ to see a Nurse Practitioner to have a breast lumped checked. He immediately scheduled a mammogram and an ultrasound in Show Low, AZ. These tests lead to a biopsy and the dreaded diagnosis I feared, “breast cancer”. The surgeon was chosen, and a modified radical mastectomy was performed on June 28th along with the start of breast reconstruction performed by a plastic surgeon immediately following. All these procedures have been done with no health insurance coverage. The bills are starting to come in the amount of about $30,000.00 so far with Marty and I having a monthly income of $1,700.00. The State Medicaid program has denied coverage, because we earn too much to qualify. The maximum allowable income is $613.00 a month. The chemotherapy has not yet started because I still need to heal from the surgery. My appointment with the Oncologist is scheduled for July 19, 2011. Yet I am at peace! I have received the prayers of hundreds of people and I feel them every moment of every day! I have received calls from people from almost every church where Marty and I have served over the many years. I have had God’s Kingdom people lay hands on and pray for me that do not even know me. One of Marty’s colleagues where he attended at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary drove from Payson, AZ to pray with me before I went into surgery. I have had opportunities to share Jesus Christ and His Grace to many people. I am more filled with God’s love than I have ever experienced. The world cannot understand the kind of peace the Lord told His believers they would have if they put their trust in Him.
Thank you all for the encouraging emails that Marty and I have received… I am sure there will be rough days ahead, but the unity of God’s people is my answer to this spiritual crossroads.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 35)
FRESH START TODAY… The fullness of Christ!
Colossians 2:8-11, See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. NIV
This is week 15 of the FRESH START Series and next week will end the study. I have enjoyed reflecting on these Scriptures in hopes to change my human thinking. The Bible is full of encouragement! We all go through school learning math, history, social studies, science, biology, music, chemistry, English, and math. We learn to read in elementary school and are required to read books. We learn colors and the alphabet, but are we taught how to get along with our neighbors?
I remember a lesson learned when I was in 4th grade that changed my life forever regarding accepting others that may be different. The Principal came into the classroom to speak with all the students about a young man that would be coming into the class within a few days. He was different on the outside, but was not different on the inside. He had a severe physical handicap, but she encouraged us to get to know him. (Some of you reading this blog may have been in that classroom with me that day.) She asked us to treat him like any other classmate. I listened with great interest, because I had just had major surgery the summer before and had been different at one time. I got to know Gary and he became a good friend. He gave me a desire to get to know other children that were different and they have blessed my life. Do we teach children today to accept others that are different in the public school system?
We who are believers take on the fullness of Jesus Christ and He accepts all people. Why are we prejudice? Why are we judgmental? Why are we cruel? Why do we not accept people who are weaker? Why do we reject a person when they make mistakes? I have to ask myself these questions, because I am a human just like you. We tend to stereotype people of a different race. Human tradition is not always bad, but it is better to take on the attitude and mind of Jesus Christ! He is the head over every power and authority.
Henry Blackaby stated that the moment we accept the truth about Jesus Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit we have the fullness and power of the God living in our hearts. We begin to learn as we take our journey through our individual lives by reading God’s Word. New believers sometimes watch those who have been believers longer than we have been. That can be good and it can sometimes be deceiving due to our sin nature that shows its ugly head. We are to be a reflected light of the one that is perfect and allow the power of the living God to have His way through our life. The closer we grow to know the Lord the more we learn to surrender to the gentleness that is revealed for us to follow. I already have spoken about letting the gentleness of God’s Spirit guide our hearts and minds. How do we do this? We can genuinely pray for our hearts to be changed! God sometimes does the changing through the avenue of trials that we experience that will open our eyes. An example is when a doctor becomes a patient, or the lawyer is accused of a crime, or a teacher needs to be taught, or a physical therapist needs personal treatment due to an injury. I believe that you get the picture. My husband has said to me recently that if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. Let us all take on a positive attitude and become part of the solution with the power of God’s truth and wisdom.
May the Lord bless you as your read this week’s Scripture and my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give you His Wisdom.
Colossians 2:8-11, See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. NIV
This is week 15 of the FRESH START Series and next week will end the study. I have enjoyed reflecting on these Scriptures in hopes to change my human thinking. The Bible is full of encouragement! We all go through school learning math, history, social studies, science, biology, music, chemistry, English, and math. We learn to read in elementary school and are required to read books. We learn colors and the alphabet, but are we taught how to get along with our neighbors?
I remember a lesson learned when I was in 4th grade that changed my life forever regarding accepting others that may be different. The Principal came into the classroom to speak with all the students about a young man that would be coming into the class within a few days. He was different on the outside, but was not different on the inside. He had a severe physical handicap, but she encouraged us to get to know him. (Some of you reading this blog may have been in that classroom with me that day.) She asked us to treat him like any other classmate. I listened with great interest, because I had just had major surgery the summer before and had been different at one time. I got to know Gary and he became a good friend. He gave me a desire to get to know other children that were different and they have blessed my life. Do we teach children today to accept others that are different in the public school system?
We who are believers take on the fullness of Jesus Christ and He accepts all people. Why are we prejudice? Why are we judgmental? Why are we cruel? Why do we not accept people who are weaker? Why do we reject a person when they make mistakes? I have to ask myself these questions, because I am a human just like you. We tend to stereotype people of a different race. Human tradition is not always bad, but it is better to take on the attitude and mind of Jesus Christ! He is the head over every power and authority.
Henry Blackaby stated that the moment we accept the truth about Jesus Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit we have the fullness and power of the God living in our hearts. We begin to learn as we take our journey through our individual lives by reading God’s Word. New believers sometimes watch those who have been believers longer than we have been. That can be good and it can sometimes be deceiving due to our sin nature that shows its ugly head. We are to be a reflected light of the one that is perfect and allow the power of the living God to have His way through our life. The closer we grow to know the Lord the more we learn to surrender to the gentleness that is revealed for us to follow. I already have spoken about letting the gentleness of God’s Spirit guide our hearts and minds. How do we do this? We can genuinely pray for our hearts to be changed! God sometimes does the changing through the avenue of trials that we experience that will open our eyes. An example is when a doctor becomes a patient, or the lawyer is accused of a crime, or a teacher needs to be taught, or a physical therapist needs personal treatment due to an injury. I believe that you get the picture. My husband has said to me recently that if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. Let us all take on a positive attitude and become part of the solution with the power of God’s truth and wisdom.
May the Lord bless you as your read this week’s Scripture and my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give you His Wisdom.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Concern for the 21st Century Church (Separate Blog)
Concerns for the 21st century church
I am a believer in Jesus Christ and the Grace that He has given me due to the action of my faith! I am nobody in and of myself, but I am somebody in Christ. I am not writing to impress anyone. My husband and I have attended many Southern Baptist Churches in the South, the Southern Midwest, and the Western portion of the US. We are finding that tradition has become a way of life in several churches. The elderly are attending but young families are disappearing. I am saddened by the way people are controlling the church and not allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to be in control. In the South the churches are “family” owned. In the West it is the “elderly” who own the church. Their traditions are preventing the power of God’s Spirit to flow. Pastors who have dedicated their lives to serving a Holy God are being fired by these “owners”, and others are resigning and not returning to ministry because of the worldly ways of the church. Jesus said that there would be a time that the church would kill the under-shepherds, thinking it was God’s will.
John 16:2-4 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. NIV
My husband is one of those powerful Spirit filled Southern Baptist Pastors who is no longer willing to pastor a church. We now serve the Lord in the mission field outside the church now as Campground hosts. People are hurting and seeking answers. In the casual atmosphere of the campground we have been able to minister more effectively than in the church. Jesus is still the answer and the Wisdom of God is found in reading the Bible. Jesus warns against having the heart of a Pharisee! We all must be careful! (Holding to a form of Godliness but denying the power)
Henry Blackaby, a noted pastor and author of many 21st century works, I believe, Holy Spirit inspired writings said – “…the reason people do not come to God/the church, is because they do not see God at work in the world today!” Jesus said “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.” But unfortunately in a majority of our churches today, God is not being lifted up. He is being soaked up by stagnant sponges soaking up preaching and teaching, but not pouring it out to an unbelieving world. There is a prevailing attitude of “what can I get out of this for me?” In essence they are withholding the Gospel from younger families because of their judgmentalism. They have an attitude of “It’s my way or the Highway”.
2 Tim 3:1-6 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV
In one of the churches where we served the “owners” became very upset because as pastor, my husband gave permission for a church member to have a baby shower in the church building for her daughter. Her daughter was a non-believer and she was having a baby without being married to the father. The “owners” unspoken and belligerent stand was that her sin would corrupt the Sanctity of God’s house. The truth is we are all sinners and Christians are still sinners “saved by grace.” None of the church members came to the baby shower except the family of the mother, my husband and I, however, the youngest son of the mother of the unbelieving daughter made a profession of faith that day. The precious soul of one lost person was won to the Lord, and the “owners” missed witnessing the activity of God’s Spirit due to their absence. God sees the Heart of the true believers and lifts up those who are willing to depend on the strength of Jesus Christ who gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us in our thinking.
Speaking from a background as a Southern Baptist, we as Southern Baptists need a truly humble Spiritual Awakening! We need to pray the “ownership” mentality from the church and demonstrate the activity of God in the church.
I am a believer in Jesus Christ and the Grace that He has given me due to the action of my faith! I am nobody in and of myself, but I am somebody in Christ. I am not writing to impress anyone. My husband and I have attended many Southern Baptist Churches in the South, the Southern Midwest, and the Western portion of the US. We are finding that tradition has become a way of life in several churches. The elderly are attending but young families are disappearing. I am saddened by the way people are controlling the church and not allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to be in control. In the South the churches are “family” owned. In the West it is the “elderly” who own the church. Their traditions are preventing the power of God’s Spirit to flow. Pastors who have dedicated their lives to serving a Holy God are being fired by these “owners”, and others are resigning and not returning to ministry because of the worldly ways of the church. Jesus said that there would be a time that the church would kill the under-shepherds, thinking it was God’s will.
John 16:2-4 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. NIV
My husband is one of those powerful Spirit filled Southern Baptist Pastors who is no longer willing to pastor a church. We now serve the Lord in the mission field outside the church now as Campground hosts. People are hurting and seeking answers. In the casual atmosphere of the campground we have been able to minister more effectively than in the church. Jesus is still the answer and the Wisdom of God is found in reading the Bible. Jesus warns against having the heart of a Pharisee! We all must be careful! (Holding to a form of Godliness but denying the power)
Henry Blackaby, a noted pastor and author of many 21st century works, I believe, Holy Spirit inspired writings said – “…the reason people do not come to God/the church, is because they do not see God at work in the world today!” Jesus said “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.” But unfortunately in a majority of our churches today, God is not being lifted up. He is being soaked up by stagnant sponges soaking up preaching and teaching, but not pouring it out to an unbelieving world. There is a prevailing attitude of “what can I get out of this for me?” In essence they are withholding the Gospel from younger families because of their judgmentalism. They have an attitude of “It’s my way or the Highway”.
2 Tim 3:1-6 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV
In one of the churches where we served the “owners” became very upset because as pastor, my husband gave permission for a church member to have a baby shower in the church building for her daughter. Her daughter was a non-believer and she was having a baby without being married to the father. The “owners” unspoken and belligerent stand was that her sin would corrupt the Sanctity of God’s house. The truth is we are all sinners and Christians are still sinners “saved by grace.” None of the church members came to the baby shower except the family of the mother, my husband and I, however, the youngest son of the mother of the unbelieving daughter made a profession of faith that day. The precious soul of one lost person was won to the Lord, and the “owners” missed witnessing the activity of God’s Spirit due to their absence. God sees the Heart of the true believers and lifts up those who are willing to depend on the strength of Jesus Christ who gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us in our thinking.
Speaking from a background as a Southern Baptist, we as Southern Baptists need a truly humble Spiritual Awakening! We need to pray the “ownership” mentality from the church and demonstrate the activity of God in the church.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 34)
FRESH START TODAY… Where is your heart?
Col 3:1-4, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. NIV
I am asking this question of myself, “where is my heart?” more than I am asking you. This weekend has been very busy with the start of the real camping season due to the heat in the Phoenix starting to climb. People loose their common sense when they camp sometimes, so I get impatient with attitudes. My heart sometimes struggles with having my heart on things above. Do you? Marty says that believers are out of balance at times because they are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly value. That does not sound very positive, but we do live in the world. People are not heavenly minded at times. There is a popular saying “What would Jesus Do?” but you have to read the Scriptures about all the encounters He had with the public to really get an answer to the question. He was passionate most of the time, but He did get frustrated at times, too. When people kept asking for signs and miracles He questioned their faith in the matter. We bless the Lord by trusting and having faith in what He has already done for us. Our Salvation, as believers is the greatest gift we will ever receive, but we do not seem to be satisfied due to the challenges we face every day. I am thankful and know that to wake up every day to a new beginning is a wonderful gift.
When I write these blogs they seem to put me back into the balance of what the Lord wants me to experience as a believer. I know that I struggle with my humanity daily, but to place the circumstances in the light of the bigger picture helps me to have a heart to serve and love the Lord in the challenges of each day. This is part of the reason I encourage you to write in your journal via computer or a notebook, so that you can see the activity around your own life. He is alive and desires you to know He loves you each and every day.
We received a wonderful email from a friend who has not written to us in a long times and she blessed our hearts in what she said. You never know where those special blessings will come and it usually is the prompting of the Holy Spirit at just the right time. I praise the Lord for a FRESH Start every day!
We belong to the Savior and we have been hidden in the heart that is pure and Holy! We have been raised with Jesus Christ and are joint heirs with Him! Oh, my, my answer just came to me as the Lord brought to my mind these next Scriptures. I just told you that I was frustrated at the public’s attitudes? Well, here is my answer!
1 Peter 2:9-12, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. NIV
The Lord is great!!!!! He sees the heart of those that believe and He will give an answer for us when we set our minds on things above.
Col 3:1-4, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. NIV
I am asking this question of myself, “where is my heart?” more than I am asking you. This weekend has been very busy with the start of the real camping season due to the heat in the Phoenix starting to climb. People loose their common sense when they camp sometimes, so I get impatient with attitudes. My heart sometimes struggles with having my heart on things above. Do you? Marty says that believers are out of balance at times because they are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly value. That does not sound very positive, but we do live in the world. People are not heavenly minded at times. There is a popular saying “What would Jesus Do?” but you have to read the Scriptures about all the encounters He had with the public to really get an answer to the question. He was passionate most of the time, but He did get frustrated at times, too. When people kept asking for signs and miracles He questioned their faith in the matter. We bless the Lord by trusting and having faith in what He has already done for us. Our Salvation, as believers is the greatest gift we will ever receive, but we do not seem to be satisfied due to the challenges we face every day. I am thankful and know that to wake up every day to a new beginning is a wonderful gift.
When I write these blogs they seem to put me back into the balance of what the Lord wants me to experience as a believer. I know that I struggle with my humanity daily, but to place the circumstances in the light of the bigger picture helps me to have a heart to serve and love the Lord in the challenges of each day. This is part of the reason I encourage you to write in your journal via computer or a notebook, so that you can see the activity around your own life. He is alive and desires you to know He loves you each and every day.
We received a wonderful email from a friend who has not written to us in a long times and she blessed our hearts in what she said. You never know where those special blessings will come and it usually is the prompting of the Holy Spirit at just the right time. I praise the Lord for a FRESH Start every day!
We belong to the Savior and we have been hidden in the heart that is pure and Holy! We have been raised with Jesus Christ and are joint heirs with Him! Oh, my, my answer just came to me as the Lord brought to my mind these next Scriptures. I just told you that I was frustrated at the public’s attitudes? Well, here is my answer!
1 Peter 2:9-12, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. NIV
The Lord is great!!!!! He sees the heart of those that believe and He will give an answer for us when we set our minds on things above.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 33)
FRESH START TODAY… Set your hearts on things above…
Col 3:1-4, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. NIV
This study of FRESH START TODAY has been attempting to teach you and me to let go and let God. The Holy Spirit has been directing us to change our mind to surrendering to the mind of Jesus Christ. The Scripture this week continues this thought by telling believers to set our hearts on things above. The Lord God gave Moses the commandments not to place His people in bondage, but to deliver them from the bondages they had placed themselves in through years of rebellion. The people still had difficulty in keeping the commandments that would protect them individually and their neighbors, so through the avenue of time Jesus Christ was born to teach people the spiritual truth of those commandments. If we were to look at the commandments of God as a list of “don’ts” only, we have missed the true messages. God loved His people and wanted the best of what He could give them and they just did not understand. The understanding comes only through a personal relationship with God. Moses had that personal relationship and he moved forward in obedience with a life full of blessings knowing the God that created the world. His strength and wisdom came from the presence of God in His life. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives believers today a direct path to having a personal relationship with the Trinity that is present in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We communicate through prayer and Jesus Christ who is seated at the right hand of God intercedes for us to God the Father. Jesus was the only righteous human being that ever lived and God the Father sees us as righteous due to our faith in His Son. Jesus Christ has become the permanent curtain of righteousness and who became sin for us on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ is our shield and we will appear with Him in glory!
My words are not new to many believers who have heard this message. We have difficulty is applying the truth of what Jesus Christ has given us through His obedience. His passionate heart saw you and me through time. He loved us and continues to love us. We cannot earn His love by any works we may accomplish during our lifetime. We are obedient because we have learned to trust and love Him. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to love as God first loved us. Our lives, as believers, are hidden with Christ in God. What a blessing to have accepted this truth and moved on to set our hearts on things above. Though we live today we have been raised with Jesus Christ.
The earthly things that we once set our minds on should no longer interest us as believers, so why do we allow them to control our thinking anymore? The mindset of the world keeps us in bondage. Things like people telling us “we cannot do this” or “you will never amount to anything”, or “just look out for number one”, or “if it feels good then you can do it”. The world teaches us to be selfish, but that is a common mindset that we have as sinners. We need mind changing solutions and the roadmap of Wisdom that comes from reading the Bible daily. I encourage starting fresh today to set your hearts on things above. You will be blessed.
Col 3:1-4, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. NIV
This study of FRESH START TODAY has been attempting to teach you and me to let go and let God. The Holy Spirit has been directing us to change our mind to surrendering to the mind of Jesus Christ. The Scripture this week continues this thought by telling believers to set our hearts on things above. The Lord God gave Moses the commandments not to place His people in bondage, but to deliver them from the bondages they had placed themselves in through years of rebellion. The people still had difficulty in keeping the commandments that would protect them individually and their neighbors, so through the avenue of time Jesus Christ was born to teach people the spiritual truth of those commandments. If we were to look at the commandments of God as a list of “don’ts” only, we have missed the true messages. God loved His people and wanted the best of what He could give them and they just did not understand. The understanding comes only through a personal relationship with God. Moses had that personal relationship and he moved forward in obedience with a life full of blessings knowing the God that created the world. His strength and wisdom came from the presence of God in His life. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives believers today a direct path to having a personal relationship with the Trinity that is present in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We communicate through prayer and Jesus Christ who is seated at the right hand of God intercedes for us to God the Father. Jesus was the only righteous human being that ever lived and God the Father sees us as righteous due to our faith in His Son. Jesus Christ has become the permanent curtain of righteousness and who became sin for us on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ is our shield and we will appear with Him in glory!
My words are not new to many believers who have heard this message. We have difficulty is applying the truth of what Jesus Christ has given us through His obedience. His passionate heart saw you and me through time. He loved us and continues to love us. We cannot earn His love by any works we may accomplish during our lifetime. We are obedient because we have learned to trust and love Him. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to love as God first loved us. Our lives, as believers, are hidden with Christ in God. What a blessing to have accepted this truth and moved on to set our hearts on things above. Though we live today we have been raised with Jesus Christ.
The earthly things that we once set our minds on should no longer interest us as believers, so why do we allow them to control our thinking anymore? The mindset of the world keeps us in bondage. Things like people telling us “we cannot do this” or “you will never amount to anything”, or “just look out for number one”, or “if it feels good then you can do it”. The world teaches us to be selfish, but that is a common mindset that we have as sinners. We need mind changing solutions and the roadmap of Wisdom that comes from reading the Bible daily. I encourage starting fresh today to set your hearts on things above. You will be blessed.
Friday, May 6, 2011
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 32)
FRESH START TODAY … Think about what has been given to you!
I have decided to read the Bible through again, because I am sure that I have missed some wisdom I have not yet understood. The Wisdom of God is like trying to drink from a fire hose on full blast where it could blow your head off. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit of God shuts the fire hose down to a trickle so we can drink from His Wisdom! To fresh start each day is my new motto. This study reminds me that we can have a new beginning every day. My son-in-law gave me a Chronological Bible that is written in the NIV translation, but you read the Scriptures as they happened in time. The reading I just finished was the book of “Job”. Job was a righteous man of great faith, but God allowed him to be “sifted” by the devil. He lost everything to include his wealth and his children. Job had some well-meaning counselor “friends” that continued to tell him to repent of all his sins. Some of their counsel seemed righteous, but they did not see the bigger picture of what was really happening to Job. Job expressed himself frequently that he had done nothing wrong, so why all the tragedy in his life? Then God finally spoke… This is where these Scriptures get interesting to me. We begin to witness the Creator’s perspective and this begins with verses starting in Job 38:1. He begins with questions like “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you understand.” (NIV Job 38:4) Then Job was given more than he had before due to his righteousness before the one true God that loved him. Job never cursed God for his tragedies.
I have read these powerful Scriptures before, but this time it gives me reason to rejoice! He created the seas, the clouds that give rain to the earth where no man has lived, the morning stars, He sees what is in the deepest of the oceans, He knows the center of the earth, He brings forth lighting bolts from the sky, He scattered the snow and hail as He commanded, He directs the path of thunderstorms, He brings forth the constellations in their seasons and His words go on an on! What reached out and grabbed me was in verse 38:36, “Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind?”
I count it an honor to have even a small amount of wisdom that God has given me. I can easily begin my prayers with joy as I am reminded to thank Him for all He created for my enjoyment. We take for granted the wonder of the perfect balance our God put in place by just His spoken words. We do not realize that He could speak it out of existence if He so chooses. His love for humanity made Him choose not to destroy the earth again, but the God the Father sent the Savior Jesus Christ to save us from ourselves and created a narrow path for us to follow to once again have fellowship with a Holy God. I rejoice in the Lord!
Can you close your eyes right now with me in prayer to thank God for the sun that heats the earth, the night that springs forth the diamond like stars in the sky? Can you thank Him for new life that He creates every day, the eagles that soar in the sky, the bunny rabbits that twitch their noses for our amusement and the kittens that cuddle in our laps? The loved ones that say “I love you” everyday are a gift from God! You may not hear the words every day, but you are loved.
Phil 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 have decided to read the Bible through again, because I am sure that I have missed some wisdom I have not yet understood. The Wisdom of God is like trying to drink from a fire hose on full blast where it could blow your head off. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit of God shuts the fire hose down to a trickle so we can drink from His Wisdom! To fresh start each day is my new motto. This study reminds me that we can have a new beginning every day. My son-in-law gave me a Chronological Bible that is written in the NIV translation, but you read the Scriptures as they happened in time. The reading I just finished was the book of “Job”. Job was a righteous man of great faith, but God allowed him to be “sifted” by the devil. He lost everything to include his wealth and his children. Job had some well-meaning counselor “friends” that continued to tell him to repent of all his sins. Some of their counsel seemed righteous, but they did not see the bigger picture of what was really happening to Job. Job expressed himself frequently that he had done nothing wrong, so why all the tragedy in his life? Then God finally spoke… This is where these Scriptures get interesting to me. We begin to witness the Creator’s perspective and this begins with verses starting in Job 38:1. He begins with questions like “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you understand.” (NIV Job 38:4) Then Job was given more than he had before due to his righteousness before the one true God that loved him. Job never cursed God for his tragedies.
I have read these powerful Scriptures before, but this time it gives me reason to rejoice! He created the seas, the clouds that give rain to the earth where no man has lived, the morning stars, He sees what is in the deepest of the oceans, He knows the center of the earth, He brings forth lighting bolts from the sky, He scattered the snow and hail as He commanded, He directs the path of thunderstorms, He brings forth the constellations in their seasons and His words go on an on! What reached out and grabbed me was in verse 38:36, “Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind?”
I count it an honor to have even a small amount of wisdom that God has given me. I can easily begin my prayers with joy as I am reminded to thank Him for all He created for my enjoyment. We take for granted the wonder of the perfect balance our God put in place by just His spoken words. We do not realize that He could speak it out of existence if He so chooses. His love for humanity made Him choose not to destroy the earth again, but the God the Father sent the Savior Jesus Christ to save us from ourselves and created a narrow path for us to follow to once again have fellowship with a Holy God. I rejoice in the Lord!
Can you close your eyes right now with me in prayer to thank God for the sun that heats the earth, the night that springs forth the diamond like stars in the sky? Can you thank Him for new life that He creates every day, the eagles that soar in the sky, the bunny rabbits that twitch their noses for our amusement and the kittens that cuddle in our laps? The loved ones that say “I love you” everyday are a gift from God! You may not hear the words every day, but you are loved.
Phil 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
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