Aug 17, 2012

When Life Gives You Lemons


When Life Gives You Lemons....
          (make lemonade)
 I have heard that said so many times in my lifetime but, today that brought me to the Word. There are several scriptures this brings to mind but, today I am only going to focus on a few.
Lets start with "Genesis 50:20"...But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.(KJV)
We have all had things not go the way we planned . That is because we all have a free will and we all live here on earth together. I think of things like Jesus being crucified. satan wanted to distroy Jesus many times from His time of birth but, when He was finally on the cross and died  satan thought he had won. But, then there is the rest of the story. Jesus gave up His life to save  all of us from the penalty of our sins and when He arose He conquered death and hell so it no longer had a hold on us.
Or here is another thought, it may be trivial compared to what Jesus did but, maybe easier to understand. Have you ever had people harrass you or gossip about you or lie about you and though it hurt God carried you through, and then later on someone else is going through it and God uses you to help them? Without  you having gone through it first you could not have helped them see Jesus carrying their burden. And without God using your pain to minister to theirs  it could have turned a different way and led them completely away from God.
Ok, so here is another verse that comes to my mind. "Psalms 30:11"...You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,(NLT)
Have you ever noticed that when we loose a loved one and our grief is  all consuming, there is usually a new life born shortly after to bring your joy back. It isn't as if we have forgotten our loss but, the joy of a newlife  seems to cover our grief . Or say let's use another example. Have you ever lost a friend that you really thought the world of, due to lives changing or paths seperating and it grieved you so bad that you thought you'd never get over it? Then later on in another setting God brings a friend into your life that is so like you and  your traveling on the same path and it turns out to be a lifetime friendship.
Though you wonder ok, so how do these scriptures fit in with lemonade? We have all had things go wrong when we had big plans for things working out our way, but then something or someone comes along and changes it because of their plans or their ways, but then we say ok i will do something different and it works better than your original plan. Well God had the same plans and because He made us with a free will , we changed things and destroyed  the perfect communion we had with Him. So He sent Jesus down to carry our sins to the cross so that we could have our perfect communion with Him once again and it worked out so much better because when Jesus washes away our sins now we have become family to God and can live with Him for eternity.
May God bless you and keep you!

Aug 15, 2012

A Wise Woman Builds Her House


A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.(Proverbs 14:1)

This may seem pretty straight forward but, have we really got a clear understanding of what this verse means? The bible is full of how you can destry your home(family) and how you can strengthen it. So let's look at some of them today.

The very first one that jumped out at me was Proverbs 18:21..The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
If we constantly nag, condenscend, insult, spew angry words, we are tearing down any relationship that we have. But, if we are cheerful,  uplifting, compassionate, encourageing etc. we are building a solid foundation of relationships.

A woman's role is so important in the home that Satan's first attack was directed at Eve. To turn her away from God and decieve her into thinking that there is a greater and more fullfilling  role out there for her. Now this is not against any woman who works outside of the home. God knows and understands todays need for the woman to work outside the home but,  His call to nurture and train your family in the ways of God do not change  because of the need to go out and work. Are you giving your children your best reflection of Christ in your daily walk?Orare they learning more of their daily walk from others or the television and computer?The Lord designed the home to be the wellspring of discipleship, a center where hearts are bound together for His glory.Unless we teach our children to serve and praise the Lord in the course of every day, we merely train their hearts to have "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." We must not merely disciple them in church attendance, but in daily spiritual discipline and honor to God.

In Genesis we see that God created a woman to be a help meet to her husband, not above him or beneath him. Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman. (Proverbs 21:9; see also 21:19; 25:24),we are to be a helper to our husband , by many means, not be a slave to them but, through encouragement, prayer and support we lift up our husbands and stand firmly beside them . When we minister together with them we are a team not adversaries. when we raise children with them we are a team not adversaries.

But, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord always!(Joshua 24:15). Though this scripture has no gender specifics but, it is something God has placed on my heart for a long time, and even now you will find it posted on my door as you enter. It is a scripture that I will live by for the rest of my days and for the rest of the teaching here, I am learning along with you and hereby commit to growing more and more each day in the knowledge of my role in the family.

Aug 10, 2012

Be Still and Know that I am God!!!


(Psalm 64:10)

We have all heard these words from time to time but, what exactly do they mean? And do we really heed them?
Let's first look at the meaning of the words still and know. Websters dictionary gives these meanings.
Still...... abstaining from motion,sedentary, quiet, free from noise or turbulence,without movement.
Know...... to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty,to be cognizant or aware of, to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of .
So what exactly is God saying to us when He stells us to be Still and to Know? It is my understanding that when things come up in life and they always do and will , that when we take it to our Father God, and we hear Him say... "Be still and know that I am God; that even though at the moment it looks like we have to do something or that he isn't moving on our behalf , that He wants us to just stop doing long enough to put our faith in Him to handle things.
I have found often times in my own life there are times when I am impatient  it seems like He is not hearing us, that in my human nature I rush in to get things done or moving along on my own steam and then things seem to turn out a disaster pretty much every time.
But God is all seeing and all knowing and His ways are the perfect ways and His timing is the perfect timing.
Not always does God move when we want Him to ( almost never from what I have discovered ) but, when He did finally move I learned that if He had of moved on my timing or in my way that I would have missed out on something much greater that He had in store for me.
Just as any parent does , God wants the very best for His children. Do we trust Him enough to let go and wait on Him. Do we trust Him enough to be still and know that He is in control?
I urge you brothers and sisters of Christ, Be still and Know that God is taking care of our every need and desires, He is in control and will bring us through.
©2012

Aug 4, 2012

Satan's three eternal temptations-Part 3


Part3- The pride of life

1John 2: 16---  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
This is the " It's all about me " sin.
This study , though it goes along with the other 2 parts of this series, goes a lot deeper in study than the others did . As in the others where these temptations ctually lead into other sins, so also does this one but, i believe this one is a root that branches out in so many ways we need to fully understand it's reach to be able to stand firmly on the word against it.
Let's start out by investigating the meaning of the word pride, and we will also learn the meaning of each of the words that stem from it.
Pride- a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct,a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem. pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride. something that causes a person or persons to be proud.
These are the synonyms for pride- conceit, self-esteem, egotism, vanity, vainglory .
Conceit- an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance.
Self- Esteem-  an inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself.
Egotism- excessive and objectionable reference to oneself in conversation or writing; conceit; boastfulness. selfishness; self-centeredness.
Vanity- excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain;  conceit.
Vainglory-  excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements, abilities, etc.; boastful vanity. empty pomp or show.
When you look at all these definitions you really get your eyes opened to the seriousness of this particular sin that Satan uses.
This sin ,(or temptation that leads to sin) goes back much further than Adam and Eve. Though they were the first to be recorded as His first victims so to speak, it was around long before them. It actually began with satan himself. This was the very cause of Him as Lucifer -Son of the Morning- being thrown out of heaven.  The complete picture of this story can be found in Isaiah  14:12-14 and Ezekial 28:11-19. But the basics of it are that he sid I am going to make my throne above God's and be greater than God. Wow, talk about an ego.
 Then we fast forward to the garden of eden  where we see that  this was the final temptation that satan used on Eve before the fall of man . Why did he use that one and why does he still use that one?  Because that is the very thing that he wants for himself; to be equal or higher than God.
Leaping forwrd to the temptation of Jesusin Matthew 4:8-11. Satan tries to get Jesus to bow down and worship him  by tempting Jesus with power and glory. But, once again we see that Jesus stood firmly on the Word of God. Seeing his failure at bringing Jesus down through temptation satan left to plot other ways of destroying Jesus.
Now as we go in to the temptation used in the here and now I am going to defer to a study I found that pretty much sums up all that I would like to say and maybe even makes it clearer.However the author of this is unknow you can read it in it's complete form at http://nobody.hubpages.com/hub/Lifes-Little-Temptations-Part-3-The-Pride-Of-Life.
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 1013)
"Do not love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
"It's my life, I'll live it the way I want." That statement says a lot about how most people feel about their existence. They don't want anyone telling them what to do that is not a source that they trust. Even when people give them advice that they need, want, and expect, they still want to feel in complete control. You may think that is okay, but what makes it not okay is that many rebel against the idea that anyone is above them in authority, even God. They give up control to no one. The reality is everyone has someone in authority over them.
"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:6)
Every graduation speech ever made has said something about the student's life stretching out before them and gives them the prompting, "Go live it to it's fullest!" Ah, the pride of life! What will I make of my life? What things will I gather to my life? What people will I surround myself with to keep my life full? What can life do for me today? I see my kingdom stretched out before me - now bow to me - for I am king of my world!
When one considers any verse of Scripture on pride, one thing will always surface. Pride is always viewed as sin. There is no application of the word pride that you can find in Scripture that concludes pride is not sin. Given that fact, we are in trouble right away. Everywhere in the world, and in Christianity in particular, parents are telling children to be proud of themselves, to be proud of their country, of their heritage, of their race, to be proud of their life.
When one asks a Christian who uses the term pride why he uses that word, the usual response to the question is, "When I say proud, I mean it in a different way, a good way." Exactly what way might that be? "Oh, you know pride, you make me feel good, feel happy, you know, proud." When you get them to think more about the choice of that particular word, most really feel that there is no other word that fits what they want to convey. Thus they have a problem whether they know it or not.
Let us start with a definition in the common English language. The word pride is defined, according to the Webster's Standard Dictionary, as: "self-esteem; haughtiness or disdain." Is that what was meant by the Christian that uses the word? Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't. The word proud is defined as: "full of self-esteem; of vain or arrogant conceit; dignified." Was that what was meant by the Christian using the term? maybe the "dignified" part? But then how does another's behavior or attitude cause you to be dignified? "I am so proud of you son, you make me feel dignified?" I believe it is these type questions that expose that sense of being lifted up, of pride.
Let's try to be reasonable here. Many of these are good Christian people that don't mean pride in its Biblical sense when they use the word "pride" or "proud." Sometimes they mean "you make me rejoice in my spirit." Sometimes they mean "you bless my heart" or "you bring me joy" or "the choices you make fill me with gladness" and other things in that vein. They don't intend to say that the other person lifts them up with haughtiness and makes them feel differently about themselves than they thought before, or that they should think. People should consider how to say these sentiments in a way that does not include pride.
I believe a better concept for the Christian to exhibit in this life is self-awareness. We are to be aware of the people around us. We are to be aware if we are an example for God and how we measure up to His expectations. We are to be aware if our behavior is a stumbling block to others or is unhealthy to ourselves. We are to be self-aware, The issue of our self-worth is an entirely different matter and is provided by the indwelling Spirit. He is the One that lifts us up. He rewards us with blessings. He sanctifies us. He guides our path as we walk among men. We are to walk with God and be self-aware.
To be a child of the King and a joint-heir with Christ means that we are given great mercy and bestowed an honor we don't deserve. The honor makes us special, for if we do not tell others of Jesus, who will? But it does not lift us up to be better than anyone. We are all sinners saved by grace. We were the recipients of great grace. We are no more worthy of this, than Israel is to be God's chosen people. They were not to think of themselves any differently than gentiles, yet being called of God, they bore a special burden to give the gospel to the world.
"Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference." (Romans 3:22)
"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For all who call on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:12-13)
Pride is a hideous sin and insidious. It eases in when one does not pay attention, when one is not self-aware.
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)
"A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked one are sin." (Proverbs 21:4)
I believe the phrase above, "plowing of the wicked one" is a reference to Satan and his connection to this horrible sin which so easily besets all of us.
"He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exults his gate seeks destruction." (Proverbs 17:19)
"It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek ones own glory is not glory." (Proverbs 25:27)
So what is our example to follow as we live this life? Is it not to imitate Christ and His attitudes when He was on earth? How did God in human flesh view these things of which we have been speaking? If anyone could have been proud of Himself, would it not have been Christ? But Christ, in fact, shunned pride and anything else that distracted from what was of real worth - eternity and His purpose for being here. We also being made into Christ's image should shun worldly pride and remember why we are here, to fulfill our purpose.
"Therefore you shall be perfect [complete, made into the image of Christ], just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Christ was free from all pride:
Of appearance: "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." (Isaiah 53:2)
Of world success: "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces from Him." (Isaiah 53:3)
Of reputation: "And He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." "And Nathaniel said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (Matthew 2:23; John 1:46)
Of riches: "And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Matthew 8:20)
Of rank; "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? and His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? (Matthew 13:55)
Of kingship: "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)

It was not like Jesus did not think of these things. He told his followers for example, to regard their appearance (as they normally would) when they were fasting. He said He is a king. But His idea of success and riches and kingship were all aimed at heaven, eternity, and pleasing the Father. He thought of all those things but not with regard to reaping reward here. That is how we are to view pride, we are to follow Christ. We are to be all things to all people so as to be accepted enough to present them the gospel. We are to be heavenly-minded so that we are some earthly good.
 As for me I plan to spend a great deal of time w/ God searching me to see if there is any of these sins with in me and with the Word of God through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, I plan to get rid of all that I find. I know this will not be a one time thing but, being made aware of it helps to open our eyes to the tricks and temptations that satan uses and and do a better job of following hard after God and standing firm against the wiles of the devil.

Aug 2, 2012

A message that I should have blogged some time ago

Since the beginning of my blogs I made a vow to God that I would  only blog what He leads me to do. So though I know you all are waiting for part 3 of my latest blogs, I feel God interrupting the flow to bring this message to the front. Several months ago I felt the Holy Spirit speak this to my spirit, I let it go thinking it was meant for me. It was but, not just for me. Since then He spoke to me again  " take this to my people". So I took it to my minister thinking that is where God meant for it to go. But, during my quiet time with the Lord this morning I felt very strongly that He wants this word to reach far greater than just inside my church. There for I am bringing this message to you today and will continue with the latest series of blogs when I feel the release to do so.
This is what the Lord spoke to me.......

As with the Isrealites under the reign and rule of Pharoh, my people are going thru the tough battles, maybe even the hardest ones in your life. But, don't loose heart and grumle and complain because as with them I am coming to redeem you. Every time Moses went back to Pharoah things got worse for the Isrealites and that may seem to be happening to you but, as with them I am done with the enemies attacks on you. Place the blood of Jesus over your self and your house hold and stand firm, do not look to the left or the right because I am getting ready to bring you out of your battles into your victory. The next leg of your journey will be tough and you will be tempted but, follow  me and keep my commandments and I will take you thru to the promised land.
I do not know who this is for or what you may be going through but, I pray this reaches out to you in a powerful way and ministers to you and strengths you. God Bless you !

Aug 1, 2012

Satan's three eternal temptations- Part 2




Since the beginning of time Satan has used temptation to try to snatch people from the hand of God. Ironically he has always used the same three temptations. Though he is creative and they never seem to look like the same three they are all rooted in the same three temptations. 1John 2:16 tells us what they are. *For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.* KJV.

1) lust of the flesh
2) lust of the eyes
3) the pride of life

So let's examine each one and see if we can understand it more in order to try to stand against it stronger and easier.
           Part 2- The lust of the eyes!

As we continue in this study, I want to remind you of a few things. 1John 2:17 says that * The things of this world will soon fade away but the love of God will never fade.* He loves us so much that He gave His son that we may be able to come before Him w/ out sin, His love for us is so strong that He loves us when we were yet sinners, but if we choose the things of this world instead of Him we are choosing to turn our backs on His love. Just like any parent. You never stop loving your children,but that doesn't mean you can condone their sin.
Lust- a passionate or overmastering desire or ccraving; a strong desire or drive. The lust of the eyes is the things we look upon with desire or cravings.
As in part 1 we are going back  to the beginning with Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3:6, * And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.*
Eve saw with her eyes that it was good, and that was what caused her to believe the lie of satan.
Then fast forward to the temptations of Jesus. Matthew4: 8-9, Matthew Henry Commentary says " The eyes are delighted with riches,and rich possesionns, this is covetousness."
*Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.*
  And Jesus stood firm against that temptation using the word of God to help Him defeat the temptations that satan was trying to use against Him.  In Matthew 4:10 this is how Jesus responded.
*Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.*
So now here we are back to the here and now. Many will say, I am not tempted by this temptation, but, let's see if that is truely so. I am willing to take a good hard honest look at myself are you?
For the men, have you ever noticed a beautiful woman and looked longer than a quick glance.? Have you noticed magazines in the grocery store with scantily dressed women on the cover and not looked away immediately?
For the women, no you are not exempt from this. How about when you see a hot looking guy, do you think wow, i would love to be with him. or how about good looking actors do you not secretly dream about them?
 But, even if you are immune to this, that is not all this sin is about. Have you not see beautiful dresses or jewelry and craved them? how about fancy cars or houses?  This can also lead to the sin of jealousy.
But, ok let's go one step further and take this sin right into the church. Have you seen another glorified and wanted that same recognition?  Have you seen people in the body recieve a miracle and though you try to be happy for them you secretly wonder why wasn't that me?  Or what about those who get promotions in positions and you feel you should have gotten one?  How about a person being given a gift and you felt you deserved one and didn't get it.  This is coveteousness, , envy, jealousy and it is sin.
Lust of the eyes, has often been twisted around to make us feel better about doing it. It won't hurt me if i look at it as long as i don't lust after it. Sound familiar?  If you fill your eyes with things you know is wong or that you know will lead to lusting after them than it is wrong.
Matthew 5:27-29 (King James Version)
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 Therefore we should train our hearts by studying the Bible, shielding our eyes  from those things that draw us away from Him.
But, always remember that if we recognize and admit our sin and turn from it that God loves us so much He will forgive you and wipe away that sin fro our record.
Please keep following this blog to read the next part of this series. The final part, Part 3- The pride of life. It is looking like it will be another good one.