Don't look at the car pay attention to the driver!

Don't look at the car pay attention to the driver!

As the Lord has been dealing with me on issues of my past, He has brought certain things to remembrance and set me free from the chains they held me bound in. Today was another of those such days.
As I was riding down the road I saw an old classic car go by and I thought I recognized the driver so I strained to see who it was. It was then that I heard the words" Don't look at the car , pay attention to the driver." And then the flood of memories came pouring in.
When I was in Jr. high school (middle school to some) my best friend and I were leaving school together; I lived behind the school so I walked but she lived further away so she got a ride. As we were talking she said , " hey come meet my brother." I didn't care anything about meeting her brother it was the car that I wanted to see. It was a yellow and black Chevelle SS and sharp as a tack. Just beautiful.  That meeting was the beginning of the rest  life as I knew it then.
Through many things lining up and a lot to troubles sorrows and struggles I ended up marrying him  at 16. He turned out to be a violently abusive man, who was so controlling I still have issues to be set free from today. But that's not  the  reason for this blog.
Through these memories the Lord showed me that if you pay attention to" the car" self  desires and the enemy will draw you in by the pretty things, by the things you think you need, by flowery words and gentle persuasion.  But when it's got you that is when all hell will break out upon you.  If you pay attention to " the driver" you will use discernment and know who the driver is  before you take that leap.
Is it self and or the enemy driving your car or is your car driven by the Holy Spirit?

Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

A new testimony for me to share with the world.

I just want to share what the Lord has done for me with you all.
About a month and a half ago I was in a wheel chair with 3 failed attempts to have back surgery and then another surgeon refusing surgery saying that I was to fat for the surgery to do any good. I had not been able to walk but very short distances ( from couch to bathroom) and then in so much pain it would always make me cry. I had gotten to the point where I finally said to God, I can not take this any more so either you heal me or take me home because I no longer can live like this. Yes, I know we are supposed to be happy and thankful we are alive no matter what our circumstances are but, until you are in that position you don't truly know how you will act.
Then we had a series of revival meetings at our church and I missed more than I wanted to because of the pain but, the Lord had plans for me and He saved the timing for me. I went to one of these meetings and the Word truly filled my soul and spirit with a renewed desire. I made a decision that no matter how bad I felt I was going to the rest of those meetings and Praise God He showed up and showed out.
I was called out at one of the meetings and thought the man of God was willing to wait for someone to push my wheel chair up to him, I felt the Lord say if you really wants this stand up and go after it. And I did, I walked up front.No it was not easy and it had the ability to make me look like a fool if I fell but, I knew God had spoken to me so I needed to trust Him on this. God Healed me that night and I haven't needed the wheel chair since except for long distances because my muscled need to be restrengthened since I sat in a chair for over a year.
Yes, I am now in Physical Therapy but that is only for restrengthening my muscles to allow me to continue walking safely without re injuring myself. When you have been in a wheel chair for so long your muscles forget how to work or even times the don't want to work. and it is my opinion that if you retrain them safely you won't have more troubles. Anyway, A month and a half ago I was just getting up from a wheel chair and yesterday my PT said that I am 75% out of 100% stronger than I was when I got to his office, only God can do that.
P.s. Being in the wheel chair I got so far down that I let almost all of my muscles go and had gotten to the point of not even being able to lift my hands praise and today , I can not only do that I am even beginning to see muscles appear on my arms.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!!!!!!!
Written by: Cheryl Kraus 9/26/2014

God Speaks I Write: Do You Know My Jesus?

God Speaks I Write: Do You Know My Jesus?: Do You Know My Jesus? Do you know that since the beginning of time, you and I were born into sin?(Genesis 3) Do you know that the punish...

Do You Know My Jesus?

Do You Know My Jesus?

Do you know that since the beginning of time, you and I were born into sin?(Genesis 3)
Do you know that the punishment for sin is death?(Romans 6:23)
Do you know that God the creator of all things loves us inspite of our sins.(John 3:16)
Do you know that 2000 years ago God became man and walked among us, 
just to redeem us from that curse of sin and death?(John 3:16)
Do you know that as a man He was persecuted, He was ridiculed, He was mocked, he was rejected, just for you and I?( Isaiah 53:5)(Matthew 27) 
Do you know that He was bruised and beaten and tortured and hung on a cross and died just because He loves us so very much?(Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27)
Do you know that He conquered death , hell and the grave, and He arose  breaking the curse of sin?( Luke 24)
Do you know that He is Alive forever more and is coming back one day to 
collect His people, to live with Him forever?( John 14)
Do you know that He is returning to bring judgement on the world for those who reject Him even still and to clean the world for good of all sin and unrighteousness?( 2 Peter 3:10-11)
Do you know that He loves you so much that He chose you from the very beginning of time? (Jeremiah 1:5)
Do you know that all He asked for in return is that you believe in Him( John 3:16)

 Well brother's and sisters, you do now! Will you choose this day to believe and receive His gift of salvation and love?

Peter, Satan has desired to sift you.......

        Peter, Satan has desired to sift you....
                      Luke 22:31 &32 KJV
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat : But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

I like the way the Message Bible words this scripture with today's understanding in mind. 
Message Bible version: “Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.”
I find it really interesting that as a believer Satan finds us so much of a threat that he asks for permission to sift us.  But, even more powerful is the confidence that we can count on Jesus to be pray for us and not leave us to go through this time alone. 
There are at least 2 other places in the word that we find  that Satan tried to sift other believers. (Job 1 & 2) God allowed Satan to sift Job....his test was to prove his faithfulness, (2 Corin.12:7-9) God allowed Satan to sift Paul.....his test was to keep him from pride. Now as with Peter's sifting it was to test his faithfulness and he actually failed but, Jesus knew he would  that is why He told him ... when you come through this testing; (not if , when)  come back and help others with a fresh start a you have received. Failure doesn't have to be the end; it can be the end to self and the beginning of a new life  with Christ living in and through us not self. 
The Message Bible puts it very accurate in meaning. Stan has a desire to separate us from Jesus.
Notice that Jesus had to inform Peter of his coming trial because Peter was completely unaware of the battle for his soul. We tend to pose this question ..... If Jesus knew this was going to happen to Peter or even to any of us why doesn't He stop it from taking place.  Because Jesus knows the beginning from the end and knows that if we endure and trust Him that we will come out the other side a much stronger and more powerful disciple of Christ , wreaking havoc upon the works of Satan's. 
Does Satan want to sift us? Yes, most definitely he does. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:(KJV) 
Have you ever noticed that you will going about life, things going good  and things all of a sudden seem to come out of left field  almost knocking you off your feet? If we really want to make an impact for Jesus and the kingdom of heaven , then we need to realize that there is going to be a price to pay. We will be tested in a number of ways but, know that if we persevere Jesus will use it to refine us to become even more effective than we have ever been before.
  we can find 3 things that Jesus wanted Peter to learn and I believe we can learn the same from Peter's example. 
1) He had to learn to submit to the Lord with humility.
2)  Jesus wanted him to learn to love others regardless of whether they were Jew or Gentile.
3) He needed to learn submission to the will of God. He had to learn that his will and God's will are not always the same.
When Satan sift's believer's , his goal is to damage their faith so much as to render them useless . We have to learn to put down our pride and put on the Holy Spirit's courage.
And as we go through these tests and trials we need to remember these key things. 
Jesus, said He is praying for us. Jesus said He will never leave us or forsake us. Jesus said ... Fear not, I will be with you even to the end of time. (paraphrased). 
And finally the word says in Ephesians 6:10-17 (KJV)
 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God !


And let us not forget the last thing that Jesus says in these verses. WHEN we come through go and strengthen you brothers and sisters.!!!!!!

Make your Battles Count!!!

As I was reading a good friends status this morning on face book, it really spark something in me. I want to share with you what the Lord showed me through this , but will also show you her status.

Worldwidestayathome Momsministry

Don't allow the enemy to pull you into a battle that God has not called you to fight.

Wow those words speak volumes. 

To often as Christians we see battles going on around us and sometimes even in our own lives and our human reaction is to fight, and although it says in several places in the word that we must fight the good fight and also we are to fear not, we are also called to be wise  and to be watchful. We are also warned that the devil, our adversary is seeking whom he may devour. 

There are some out there whom it is easy for satan to trap and devour but, then there are some Christians that are  firmer in their stand and satan will use a system of small attacks to wear them down to the point where they are not strong enough to stand when he comes in with the big one. 

We are given example after example in the word of how and when to stand and when to fight, and my favorite example is Jesus. 

When He was   going through the 40 days in the wilderness, the devil was on His case badly trying to break Him.  And i am sure that after a few days that old devil was starting to get on Jesus' last nerve but, as easy as it was to just loose it and call down His heavenly authority, he walked it out.  When He was ridiculed and accused and beaten and falsely arrested , He could have spoken up for Himself , He could have  called down all of Heaven  to defend Him. But He stood silent, not bowing to the World or the enemy but, also not fighting . When He was hung on the cross and crucified more innocent then the world has ever known, He stood.

Because in His death He brought each and everyone of us redemption, in His death He conquered  an even greater war, against death, And in His resurrection, He took the victory over Death , Hell and the grave!

No we are not called to be wimps or doormats but we are called to use wisdom so in the time when we need it most we will be able to stand and , fight, being over comers in Christ.  And when we have done all that we can do stand and watch the redemption of the Lord take the victory for us.

In closing , these are how I see it. This earthly world has many evils, many demons doing the work of satan but, we don't need to go chasing after battles. Be guaranteed, if you are living and walking and working the life of Christ, they will come after you. I pray you are not to war weary to stand at that crucial moment but, if you are take heart ... the Lord strong and mighty will fight for you and He never looses. God be with you my spiritual brothers and sisters until we meet again.

Beauty for Ashes!!!!

                                        Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)

" To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified."

How many times have we seen or heard this verse and connected it immediately to  God giving us beauty in place of our troubles. Or that when bad things , pain, loss etc. happen to us that God will turn it into beauty.? We tend to often connect this scripture with the scripture that says " What you meant for evil, God has turned around for the good, Genesis 5:20" And I am not saying that that  isn't a meaning for this scripture but, let's take a look at another view of it.

The other day as I was reading this verse I felt led to research it and study it more. I happened upon this particular teaching that really stood out to me and  I felt led to share it with you. Many times when things go wrong or bad things  happen to good people, or innocents are harmed or killed by someone who is evil or being led by evil. We often tend to ask of God; where is the beauty from this ? 

The teaching that I found that really touched me was written by: Goodwin Tam Brisbe, and he brings us another view of Isaiah 61:3.

What does it mean when God says I will give you beauty for the ashes?  Well, let's first understand the meaning of ashes and where they come from.Ashes come from things that are burnt up. They turn to ashes and become an entirely different substance than it began as. They take on a new state that scientist call "irreversible reaction".  Then we begin to realize that our beauty will not come until we are completely burnt up and turned to ashes. When we get to the point of "no going back" to where we came from.  His beauty for us will come when  all of our trials and tribulations have come to an end and we are completely burnt up.

Now at first when I read that I was a bit confused and unsure of what this was saying. It seemed to me that it was saying that when my life is over and I go to be with the Lord, that He will turn all my trials and tribulations into beauty and I will receive my reward.  But, then after bringing it before the Holy Spirit and asking for clarification this is how I understand better. I felt led to read this verse "Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ; never the less I live, yet not I ; but Christ who liveth in me"

Now as I look back on the teachings on Beauty for Ashes , I understand it to mean, when I have completely died to self,  all sin is washed a way and my old nature is completely burned up., when I have allowed Christ to transform me into a new creature and the old person has become completely burned up to ashes. Then I will see the beauty from my ashes as I walk in the new person that Christ created me to be.

This is by no means saying that any other way of teaching this is wrong, only that this is another way to understand this verse.