How blessed we are to have relationships, family, and friends that make are lives so much more rich. And Jesus is the One that holds these relationships together by His infinite love and mercy. That wonderous love for us is the glue that holds all things together.
It came to my mind this a.m. how Your Holy Spirit quiets my mouth when a thought comes to verbalize that which is not edifying to another. You have just kept me silent and its discarded into the “delete” bin. How liberating that is!
How grateful I am for Your grace to accept and love by Your Spirit in those moments that would speak forth things which would not speak love, but would speak disapproval, condemnation, or even small jabs that collectively create deep wounds.
(In the case of confronting sin, it is not wrong to confront sin, but it is most effective when done through Your love and wisdom. )
You have taught us that life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverb 18:21
Thank You Father for this wonderful truth and even more for the grace to enables us to “eat the fruit of it” when our words are guided by Your Spirit.
What continually flows through my mind is that “it is the Spirit that gives life.” (John 6:63)
Romans 8:6 “The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life”.
It will bear fruit and conquer negative thoughts when we do as you command us to do.
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, and if there is excellence and if
anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
You are life!!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
He cares
John 10:13
“He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep.”
As I read this You brought to my mind, Father that courage does not run just because of someone being very brave but because of caring, because of love.
Even though we might not consider ourselves brave at all, we do have a Savior who is valiant. He resides within us. We have a Savior who has demonstrated His love for us and can do all things through us. He loves us deeply and our Shepherd cares for our every need.
Teach me to trust You and enable me to have courage when called upon to have it. To remember not to be concerned for my own life, for it is in Your mighty hand. To care enough to act in the moment of need in someone else’s life. To truly trust You even though fear seeks to kill every good deed You ask of us.
The hired hand ran because he didn’t care. Jesus laid down His life by His own initiative because He cares.
“He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep.”
As I read this You brought to my mind, Father that courage does not run just because of someone being very brave but because of caring, because of love.
Even though we might not consider ourselves brave at all, we do have a Savior who is valiant. He resides within us. We have a Savior who has demonstrated His love for us and can do all things through us. He loves us deeply and our Shepherd cares for our every need.
Teach me to trust You and enable me to have courage when called upon to have it. To remember not to be concerned for my own life, for it is in Your mighty hand. To care enough to act in the moment of need in someone else’s life. To truly trust You even though fear seeks to kill every good deed You ask of us.
The hired hand ran because he didn’t care. Jesus laid down His life by His own initiative because He cares.
Monday, January 17, 2011
I Shall Never Die
This a.m. the article in the VOM magazine, that Tom White wrote about “we will never die” came to my mind.
It struck me the way people, even myself, think of “dying” and call it that. It is correct in the sense of our physical body expiring and no longer useful. But as a child of the One true Living God that has called me out of darkness and into His marvelous light, as a believer in the Risen Christ, I desire that You, Father make me to live knowing the real me never, ever will die.
Jesus said in John 11:26 “Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
The reality of this, is what I desire Father, for You to instill deeply within me. When thoughts of leaving this earth come, may they be thoughts and words that are of life not death. May they automatically think how absolutely wonderful it will be to finally get to go home; to be in the presence of Your glory, to worship You unhindered by flesh; to see Mom and believing friends that have gone on before me. To be living in an environment of purity and total light, not in a sin laden world.
To live in the reality of this truth is very valuable. The perspective of our life would change. The body becomes less precious to us. The things that seem so important or are so burdensome to us now, would not be that way because we would have a growing awareness of the temporary status of earthly life.
Is 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Then the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
We could know that one day we will look back and see clearly how You were working in us and in our circumstances to complete the work that You began in us to make us complete in Christ. (Col 1:28)You say in Psalm 92 that the righteous “will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green”.
We will not think of “growing older” as such a terrible thing as the world does, but as a part of a journey that we can accept, where we can still learn and grow, still be a useful child of Yours.
When You have fulfilled Your purposes for our life, help us to look forward to shedding this flesh and join all the other “witnesses” that have gone before us. By Your gracious Spirit we will be willing to give up this body and get on with real life!!
So Father I pray You weave into my heart the truth that “I shall never die”.
It struck me the way people, even myself, think of “dying” and call it that. It is correct in the sense of our physical body expiring and no longer useful. But as a child of the One true Living God that has called me out of darkness and into His marvelous light, as a believer in the Risen Christ, I desire that You, Father make me to live knowing the real me never, ever will die.
Jesus said in John 11:26 “Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
The reality of this, is what I desire Father, for You to instill deeply within me. When thoughts of leaving this earth come, may they be thoughts and words that are of life not death. May they automatically think how absolutely wonderful it will be to finally get to go home; to be in the presence of Your glory, to worship You unhindered by flesh; to see Mom and believing friends that have gone on before me. To be living in an environment of purity and total light, not in a sin laden world.
To live in the reality of this truth is very valuable. The perspective of our life would change. The body becomes less precious to us. The things that seem so important or are so burdensome to us now, would not be that way because we would have a growing awareness of the temporary status of earthly life.
Is 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Then the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
We could know that one day we will look back and see clearly how You were working in us and in our circumstances to complete the work that You began in us to make us complete in Christ. (Col 1:28)You say in Psalm 92 that the righteous “will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green”.
We will not think of “growing older” as such a terrible thing as the world does, but as a part of a journey that we can accept, where we can still learn and grow, still be a useful child of Yours.
When You have fulfilled Your purposes for our life, help us to look forward to shedding this flesh and join all the other “witnesses” that have gone before us. By Your gracious Spirit we will be willing to give up this body and get on with real life!!
So Father I pray You weave into my heart the truth that “I shall never die”.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Offense
Matt 17:24-27
“But lest we give them offense, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”
Father, to me this is an amazing thing that Jesus does.
I wonder how this sounded to Peter at first. Apparently, after just having seen Jesus
transfigured and then curing the boy that the disciples failed to deliver because of their unbelief, Peter’s faith was in a place that it didn’t seem so far out or something to question.
If You told me to do the same, would I go to the sea (or even to the unknown) without questioning it?
Jesus did all kinds of miracles. In this one, it provided their own need. Even though Jesus explained to Peter that the “sons” are exempt he gave these orders to Peter in order “not to give offense." (:26)
I was thinking of the words that are used here in most of the translations-offense or stumble. They also mean to “be offended in one, to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority.”
The amplified states it further as "to judge unfavorably and unjustly". If Jesus were not to pay the tax and not fulfill the law, He would be judged unfavorably, unjustly and so would possibly keep many from believing and acknowledging His authority and seeing Him for who He truly is, God.
Jesus knows the human heart.
Father, help me to not allow what I see in others to hinder my relationship with You.
Your love for them is as deep as it is for me. Your character and love do not change according to our experiences and our shortcomings. You are the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)
“But lest we give them offense, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”
Father, to me this is an amazing thing that Jesus does.
I wonder how this sounded to Peter at first. Apparently, after just having seen Jesus
transfigured and then curing the boy that the disciples failed to deliver because of their unbelief, Peter’s faith was in a place that it didn’t seem so far out or something to question.
If You told me to do the same, would I go to the sea (or even to the unknown) without questioning it?
Jesus did all kinds of miracles. In this one, it provided their own need. Even though Jesus explained to Peter that the “sons” are exempt he gave these orders to Peter in order “not to give offense." (:26)
I was thinking of the words that are used here in most of the translations-offense or stumble. They also mean to “be offended in one, to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority.”
The amplified states it further as "to judge unfavorably and unjustly". If Jesus were not to pay the tax and not fulfill the law, He would be judged unfavorably, unjustly and so would possibly keep many from believing and acknowledging His authority and seeing Him for who He truly is, God.
Jesus knows the human heart.
Father, help me to not allow what I see in others to hinder my relationship with You.
Your love for them is as deep as it is for me. Your character and love do not change according to our experiences and our shortcomings. You are the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Arise
Jesus was praying and had Peter, James, and John with Him. Then, as the disciples were sleeping, He was transfigured and Elijah and Moses appeared with Him. They were talking to Him about “His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:31)
Departure seems to say His leaving this earth through His death. They spoke of what that would accomplish. What did that accomplish?
Salvation and new life for mankind, forgiveness, hope, victory over sin, death, and all the disease and sickness that bound the human race. Jesus had been ministering healing everywhere He traveled. He had seen the sorrow and anguish that sickness and disease brought. He was full of compassion toward those who were suffering, not only spiritually but physically.
The physical healings many times brought the realization that He was all that He said He was, the Messiah, the great I AM, God.
Peter spoke (Mark 9:6) even though “he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.” Luke 9:33 says “not realizing what he was saying.”
Even as Peter was speaking God overshadowed them with a bright cloud (Matt 17:5), not a dark one, but a bright cloud for He is Light.
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” (Matt 9:5)
“This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35)
Matt 17:6-7 “And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were much afraid. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid”.
Oh Father, You want us to listen to You. To comprehend, to perceive the Truth that You speak and so freely have given to us. You want us to arise, go forward and not to walk in fear. You desire that we know You first as Savior, Lord, and God.
You call to our remembrance that You also are our Healer. Your heart of love and compassion are ever before us. We are Your children and You are our God.
Arise with healing in Your wings, O Holy One of Israel!
Departure seems to say His leaving this earth through His death. They spoke of what that would accomplish. What did that accomplish?
Salvation and new life for mankind, forgiveness, hope, victory over sin, death, and all the disease and sickness that bound the human race. Jesus had been ministering healing everywhere He traveled. He had seen the sorrow and anguish that sickness and disease brought. He was full of compassion toward those who were suffering, not only spiritually but physically.
The physical healings many times brought the realization that He was all that He said He was, the Messiah, the great I AM, God.
Peter spoke (Mark 9:6) even though “he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.” Luke 9:33 says “not realizing what he was saying.”
Even as Peter was speaking God overshadowed them with a bright cloud (Matt 17:5), not a dark one, but a bright cloud for He is Light.
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” (Matt 9:5)
“This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35)
Matt 17:6-7 “And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were much afraid. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid”.
Oh Father, You want us to listen to You. To comprehend, to perceive the Truth that You speak and so freely have given to us. You want us to arise, go forward and not to walk in fear. You desire that we know You first as Savior, Lord, and God.
You call to our remembrance that You also are our Healer. Your heart of love and compassion are ever before us. We are Your children and You are our God.
Arise with healing in Your wings, O Holy One of Israel!
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