Hebrews 12:1 – 13:25

June 17, 2013

So, how do you live by faith? You follow Jesus' example; you put one foot in front of the other; and you hold on. Hebrews 12:1 - "So let us run the race that is before us and never give up."

To be successful at living a life of faith you first have to remove anything in your life that would block your relationship to Christ. You must remove any and all sin. You can't be successful if you allow those things to continue in your life. You have to look only to Christ and not to your own abilities or to the abilities of others—only to Christ. He is the One who began our faith and He is the One who helps us to live it out. He is our example. He suffered death on a cross, but he accepted the humiliation and shame as if it were nothing. "He held on" even while wicked people were doing evil things to Him. Hebrews 12:3 - "So do not get tired and stop trying."

Our struggles and sufferings are against sin. Don't give up. Don't try to avoid the pain.

Hebrews 12:7 - "So hold on through your sufferings..."

God will change you and grow you, and He will be faithful to His promises. What God puts in our lives or allows in our lives is meant to help us to become more like Him. It isn't easy, and it isn't always fun, but it is meant for our good.

Hebrews 12:11 - "It is painful, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right ways."

So be careful how you live. Try to live in peace with all people. You cannot control the actions of others, but you can control yourself. Be careful not to allow sin to creep into your life.

Hebrews 12:14 - "Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord." Be careful who you associate with.

A "religious unbeliever" can cause many problems for you. Be careful not to get caught by the trap of sexual sin or to believe the lie that wealth is the answer. Eternal rewards are worth far more than any short term discomfort.

Our lives should be different from those around us because we have met Jesus. Hebrews 12:22–24 - "You have come to Mount Zion...you have come to thousands of angels gathered together with joy... you have come to the meeting of God's children... you have come to God... you have come to Jesus... you have come to the sprinkled blood..." So, you really have no excuse.

Be careful! Hebrews 12:25 - "Do not refuse to listen when God speaks." To refuse to listen to Him before you knew Him is bad enough. But to refuse to listen to Him after you have met Him is SO much worse. So, hold on—and be thankful. God has prepared a kingdom for us that cannot be shaken. God is in control and we can trust Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Deuteronomy 31:6 - "I will never leave you. I will never forget you."   

We can be confident in Him because He is trustworthy. Psalm 118:6 - "I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper. People can't do anything to me." Hebrews 13:15 - "So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak his name."

PRAISE—what keeps everything else in perspective. It keeps your heart calm even in the midst of "the storm." It keeps your focus on what is important. Praise keeps the

God

↓

Man

relationship in the correct order. It is what allows you to live a life of faith. So, hold on. Do good to others. Share the faithfulness of Christ with those you meet. We can be assured that the God of peace will give us every good thing we need so we can do what He wants.

Hebrews 13:21 - "I pray that God will do in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, and to him be glory forever and ever. Amen."

It is all about Him. May our lives bring honor and glory to Him. May this lawsuit (which was begun in direct violation of God's principles but which has been used by God to strengthen and purify us and to take His message forward) continue to be used to bring honor and glory to His name.

*****

Jane as the following written in her Bible after Hebrews:

Enoch 
  - pleased God - had faith - brought blood sacrifice
  - walked with God
  - walked contrary to world - a separated life of holiness
  - a supernatural walk - "step by step"
  - our trust is in God, not Social Security
  - walked in same direction as God - don't take a vacation from God - be consistent
  - game Methuselah as example of godliness

Prayer - "confidential conversation with God"; "a fellowship of our thought with His thoughts."


Next Entry: James 1:1–27

Hebrews 11:1–40 (Continued)

June 14, 2013

I went back and found the letter I wrote to our lawyer in 2008. Here is a portion of what I wrote:

"At the risk of you thinking we have lost it, we want to share with you how we feel. We truly would not change a thing. We feel so blessed. While this whole process has been painful, it has also filled us with great joy. Our faith in the faithfulness of our God has increased beyond measure. We absolutely believe the lawsuit will never go to trial. We will admit to you that there is no logic behind that statement. It is just an absolute belief. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We are certain. Not because of the possibility of mediation or because of the skill you and our team of lawyer's possess, even though we are grateful for all of that. Our faith is in the Lord and His promises. Psalm 112 is a promise we claim. We will wait upon the Lord. We are praying for His guidance. We will wait upon the Lord."

Psalm 112

Praise the Lord!

Happy are those who respect the Lord,

   who want what he commands.

Their descendants will be powerful in the land;

   the children of honest people will be blest.

Their houses will be full of wealth and riches,

   and their goodness will continue forever.

A light shines in the dark for honest people,

   for those who are merciful and kind and good.

It is good to be merciful and generous.

   Those who are fair in their business

will never be defeated.  

   Good people will always be remembered,

They won't be afraid of bad news;

   their hearts are steady because they trust the Lord.

They are confident and will not be afraid;

   they will look down on their enemies.

They give freely to the poor.

   The things they do are right and will continue forever.  

They will be given great honor.

The wicked will see this and become angry;

   they will grind their teeth in anger and then

      disappear.

   The wishes of the wicked will come to nothing.

Beside Psalm 112 in my Bible I have written: April 2008—God's Promise. I wrote the letter to our lawyer (which included Psalm 112) three days after writing "God's Promise" beside Psalm 112. The very next day, Jane spoke her final God-given words to us when she said "Jeremiah 33," a promise of restoration and freedom. Exactly one year later—to the day—God incredibly fulfilled His promise of restoration and protected us from the mouth of the lion. There will come a day when the threat of "the storm" will be over and we will be free once again.

Amazing to look back now and realize the order of events. We believed God's promises FIRST. Then we went way out on a limb and proclaimed those promises to our lawyer. AFTER we believed and took the leap of faith, God sent us His final message through the lips of Jane E. Wolfe. Jeremiah 33—A promise of restoration and freedom. Incredibly, one year to the day later, God fulfilled the first part of His promise. He restored us in an amazing way

We believe. We are sure. We are certain. Our faith is in Him and HIM alone.

*****

Jane has the following written in her KJV:

Faith CREATES afresh today – "Brings into being."
"God was ABLE" – See Matthew 9:28–29
Faith is assurance... evidence of things not seen.
1) he was righteous (Abel)
2) he pleased God (Enoch)  See Jude 14
3) moved with fear (Noah)
4) obeyed and he went (Abraham)
5) she judged him faithful who had promised (Sara)
6) were not afraid (Moses)
7) choose to suffer instead of conform (Moses)
8) had respect for the goal (Moses)
9) out of weakness was made strong, stood strong to the end (heroes of faith)
God has a better plan.


Next Entry: Hebrews 12:1 – 13:25

Hebrews 11:1–40

June 13, 2013

Faith. It's all about faith.

Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it." This is the verse I quoted in a letter I wrote to our lawyer early in the process of the lawsuit. Sometime I'll go back and look up the date. We told him that in our hearts the lawsuit is over. God promised us His protection and we believe Him. 

It was because of their ability to have faith in the unseen that we remember the great people of the past. Faith—being sure and knowing, even when it is not yet visible or tangible.

It is by faith—we believe the world was created by God.

It is by faith—we understand that what we see was made by a God we cannot see.

It was by faith—Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain. God was pleased with Abel because of his faith.

It was because of his faith—his testimony lives on.

It was by faith—Enoch was taken to heaven without dying.

It is by faith—we please God. Hebrews 11:6 - "Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real.."

It is because of faith—"...that he rewards those who truly want to find him." (Hebrews 11:6)

It was by faith—Noah heard and believed God's warning about things he could not yet see.

It was by faith—Noah obeyed God and built a boat to save his family.

It was by faith—Noah proved the world wrong.

It was through faith—Noah was made right with God.

It was by faith—Abraham obeyed God's call.

It was by faith—Abraham left his own country to go to another place even though he had no idea where he was going.

It was by faith—Abraham could live like a foreigner in tents in a strange land while he was waiting for God's promise to come true.

It was by faith—Abraham was able to become a father as an old man.

It was by faith—Sarah was able to conceive.  

It was by faith—Abraham trusted God.

All these great people lived (and died) in faith. They lived by looking forward → to God's promises. Hebrews 11:15 - "If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back."  To live by faith you cannot be looking back. You must look forward and believe.

It was by faith—Abraham was willing to give up the one thing that could fulfill God's promise.

It was by faith—Abraham believed that even if he gave it up, God could give it back.

It was by faith—Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau.

It was by faith—Jacob blessed each one of Jacob's sons as he was dying.

It was by faith—Jacob, while weak and dying, still worshiped God while leaning on the top of his walking stick.

It was by faith—Joseph, when he was dying, made sure everyone knew and understood God's faithfulness and promises. God took him to Egypt so he could save his entire family. God turned evil intent into blessed redemption.

It was by faith—Joseph wanted to make sure his bones were returned to God's promised land.

It was by faith—Moses' parents hid him for three months in disobedience to the king's order.

It was by faith—Moses didn't take the easy way out as the son of the king of Egypt's daughter. He didn't deny his heritage. Hebrews 11:25–26 - "He chose to suffer with God's people instead of enjoying sin for a short time. He thought it better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God's reward."

It was by faith—Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king's anger. Hebrews 11:27b - "Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see."

It was by faith—Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the door posts believing the angel of death would pass-over.

It was by faith—the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do it under their own power they all drowned.

It was by faith—the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.

It was by faith—Rahab was saved because she willing to risk everything in order to do the right thing.

It was by faith—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets defeated kingdoms. They were weak, and yet they were made strong. Hebrews 11:33 - "They did what was right, received God's promise, and shut the mouth of lions."

All these people are known for their faith. It wasn't easy and it wasn't always pretty, but they persevered. Hebrews 12 gives us the blueprint for how to run the race and and run it well.

From the Life Lesson:

Faith is more than a belief in God. It is also a way of life.

"Faith is the belief that God is real and that God is good... It is a choice to believe that the one who made it all hasn't left it all and that he still sends light into the shadows and responds to gestures of faith... Faith is the belief that God will do what is right... God says that the more hopeless your circumstances, the more likely your salvation. The greater your cares, the more genuine your prayers. The darker the room, the greater the need for light... God's help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it. Nothing results from apathy... do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort is no faith at all. God WILL RESPOND. He has never rejected a genuine gesture of faith. Never!" ~ From He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado.

Next Entry: Hebrews 11:1–40 (Continued)

Hebrews 10:1–39

June 12, 2013

Okay, so yesterday I write about what this lawsuit is all about and how it isn't just about the money but it is also about either forcing our home (and business) away from us or taking our home for themselves. After I finished writing I did what I always do and I read the next chapter. Hebrews 10. And I read verse 34, "...and you even had joy when all that you owned was taken away from you, because you knew you had something better and more lasting." Hmm. "When all you own has been taken from you..."

Well, I have to tell you—that got my attention!!

Is God trying to tell me something? Is this insight into what is to come? Why am I reading this immediately after I write about the purpose behind my sister and brother-in-law filing this lawsuit and what the end result would be if they are successful? For a brief moment "what if" fears set in. But then truth and faith returned.  Praise the Lord!

Some things I KNOW:

• When this all started we opened our hands and surrendered ALL to God and His Will. ALL! Our home, business, lives—everything. A stake was driven in the ground (literally) and it remains there today. Our joy does not come from anything we possess. We could have nothing and still be happy individually and as a couple.
• We specifically sought (and still seek) God's plan for our lives. Was His plan to move us out of our home so we were available to serve Him elsewhere? We have listened carefully. When we went to Honduras we met a couple who gave up everything to go and volunteer at the farm. They talked about how God stirred in their hearts for months, as a couple and individually, and they knew God was calling them to this ministry. We have had no inner stirrings of God calling us to a different life and asking us to leave our home and business to "go." None. In fact, the exact opposite is true. He has given us additional ministries right where we are. He has opened our eyes to those around us. He has given us many confirmations that our ministries are effective and blessed by Him. He has grown and expanded our business. We have not sat on our hands and been idle while we wait for an official outcome to the lawsuit. We have worked hard in our ministries and we continue to work hard to improve our home and business.
• God gave us Jane. Meeting Jane can only be described as a God-ordained appointment. I met Jane on the very day the verbal attacks from my sister and brother-in-law and their plan to implement their hostile take over of our joint project began. During our very first meeting, Jane prayed an incredible prayer of blessing on my life. And then, even though I went to see her every Monday morning, there was nothing—for six months. During that same time period, my husband and I walked and prayed together every day; I went every week to visit Jane even though she was often not aware I was in the room; and my husband and I surrendered ALL. We were reading God's words, we were seeking godly counsel, we were praying, and we continued to live and love. We were open to whatever direction God was leading us. Then just three days after the lawsuit was filed (on my normal Monday morning visit with Jane), God gave us instruction (Praise me first); a promise (I will protect you in court); and an incredible second prayer of blessing on our lives. For ten more precious months, God continued to use Jane to speak words of instruction, encouragement, promise, and blessing to our lives.
• God closed the mouth of the lion and totally protected us exactly one year to the day that Jane spoke and gave us His last words. Jeremiah 33—A promise of release and restoration.
• God is faithful.
• God is just.
• God cannot lie.
• We are safe in His hands.

Those are all things I KNOW! I know... that I know... that I know. We can go to God with a sincere heart and a clear conscience. God is real. He is available to us, and we can draw near to Him. So, Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he has promised." That is our life. We have chosen to believe and to follow His leading—no matter what.

But, there is a flip side for those who have known the truth and turned their backs on it. Jesus is no longer their High Priest and there is no longer a sacrifice for their sins. Hebrews 10:27 - "There is nothing but fear in waiting for the judgment and terrible fire that will destroy all those who live against God." What an awful reality! The writer of Hebrews quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 - "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them." and Psalm 135:14 - "The Lord will judge his people." Hebrews 10:31 - "It is  terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Hebrews 10:36–39 - "So do not lose courage... you must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. For in a very short time,

"The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. The person who is right with me will live by trusting in me. But if he turns back in fear, I will not be pleased with him." Habakkuk 2:3–4 

But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved."

We believe! Just two words, but it says it all.

WE BELIEVE!!

Addendum: 11/30/16 ~ There are times when you read the Bible that something just jumps off the page at you. It happened today as I was reading this chapter. Actually, it happened twice.  

The first phrase is found in Hebrews 10:13 - "But after Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, forever, he sat down at the right side of God. And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power." I've never thought about it that way before. I obviously knew scripture talks about Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father, but I never thought about Christ sitting there and waiting for His enemies to be put under His power and held accountable for their actions.  

The second thing that stood out to me is found in Hebrews 10:26–31.

"If we decide to go on sinning after we have learned the truth there is no longer any sacrifice for sins. There is nothing but fear in waiting for the judgment and the terrible fire that will destroy all those who live against God. Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was found guilty from the proof given by two or three witnesses. He was put to death without mercy. So what do you think should be done to those who do not respect the Son of God, who look at the blood of the agreement that made them holy as no different for others' blood, who insult the Spirit of God's grace? Surely they should have a much worse punishment. We know that God said, "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them." And he also said, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (emphasis mine)

Hebrews 10:13 - "And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power."  

Hebrews 10:31 - "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Accountability is real. God is a God of amazing love and righteous wrath. We (people) tend to want to make God into someone who is warm and fuzzy and a god who just wants to bless our socks off. We (people) don't want to face the reality of judgment if we decide to insult God's grace by continuing to sin. There IS accountability.

I'd like to grab some people by their collars, shake them, and say—WAKE UP!! Don't you get it?!? God is a God of love and wrath!! Our choices dictate which attribute of God we will receive. A day of accounting WILL come!! Today, before it is too late, stop being stubborn and change your heart and lives. Please!

But yet, I know it is a decision only they/you can make. I cannot make it for them/you or I would. I have made my decision. I choose to believe. I choose to obey. I don't ever want to face the wrath of a righteous God. I want to hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

TODAY!! Before it's too late. Please listen! Please accept God's gift of Grace.   


 Next Entry: Hebrews 11:1–40

Hebrews 9:1–28

June 11, 2013

Jesus became the sacrifice—the perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 9:12–14 - "His sacrifice was his own blood, and by it he set us free... he offered himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God." Hebrews 9:26–28 - "But Christ came only once and for all time at just the right time to take away all sin by sacrificing himself. Just as everyone must die once and be judged, so Christ was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people. And he will come a second time, not to offer himself for sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

God is an "on-time" God. A friend of mine and our church choir used to sing a Black gospel song about God being "on-time."

"He may not come when you want him, but he'll be there right on time.  He's an on-time God... yes he is." (You can listen to Dottie Peoples singing it here.)

We are soon approaching the six year anniversary of my sister and brother-in-law filing the lawsuit against us. Six years. I look at the pictures of the special group of Sunday School girls who walked this journey with us and I think—Wow! What a change from when they were 6th and 7th graders to graduating seniors. Six years is a long time but God is an on-time God, and when "the storm" is supposed to be over it will be over.  I thought for sure it would be over before this special group of girls graduated. Even though it isn't over, I still had the awesome opportunity to meet with them one last time before they headed off to college and to share with them what God has done these last six years.

Six years.

We have made so many changes to our home and land during this time of waiting. As I was working outside today it just became clear all over again what this lawsuit is really about. More than the money they are seeking, my sister wants this house and our property for herself, or at the very least, she wants it away from me. That speaks volumes. Who could actually want to take something from someone else? I don't get that.

It's been six years, but I can still vividly recall what my sister said to me while I was standing in our kitchen. She walked up to me, put her thumb and first two fingers together, pointed them at my face, and then through clenched teeth said (while using her fingers to punctuate each word for emphasis), THIS.IS.MY.HOUSE! I remember saying, "excuse me"? My sister quickly back tracked and said what she meant to say was this is where she stayed when she visited. But her words revealed the truth and the hatred she was hiding spilled out. She wants what I (we) have.

This lawsuit is about more than just money. If money were the only motive it would have ended long ago. What they are doing just doesn't make logical or economical sense. They are spending far more than they could ever possibly recoup even if they "won." It can't be just about the money. Her Freudian slip, said at a moment of weakness through clenched teeth, revealed the truth.

Who could actually take something that belongs to someone else? They can. No one appears to be safe from their actions. Not friends, and not family. Nothing appears sacred or off-limits, and anything and everything appears acceptable if it benefits them.

What I know for sure is this: God cannot lie; and God is on-time. He will bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

Addendum: 11/30/16 ~ God not only brings salvation to those who are waiting on Him, He also brings accountability and justice to those who are living for themselves.

"True repentance is not just confession of sin, but a sincere willingness to not do that sin again. If your conscience is not clear toward God in even one area of your life, repent, and ask God to cleanse you because of his shed blood." ~ From Life Lesson Application

Addendum #2: 7/28/18 ~  Five  more years have passed since I originally wrote this journal entry. It has now been eleven years since my sister and brother-in-law filed their ruinous lawsuit against us—and the lawsuit continues on. Our faith remains strong. God cannot lie and He is on-time. The lawsuit will be over when the time is right. Until that time, we rest on His promises and we wait on His timing.

When this journal entry was first written, I thought I was only keeping a record of my personal thoughts for myself and my family members so no explanations were necessary. But when reading this entry today, I realize an explanation needs to be written so a wrong impression is not given. When I wrote that my sister wants what we have (our house and property) it could give you the impression that we have a large expensive home/estate. That is not the case.

We choose to live our lives simply. We built a small cabin type home on a secluded piece of property we bought twenty years ago. This piece of property (which includes a woods and large pond) had been abused and neglected for years. We don't view our home and property as "ours." We understand we are simply the caretakers of what God has given us. For the past twenty years we've enjoyed working hard to respect the land and show the beauty of God's creation by landscaping, building stone walls, and planting hundreds of pines and other trees. It is a quiet, serene and peaceful place (partly because of the surroundings), but mostly because we are at peace.

When my sister and brother-in-law filed the lawsuit against us they owned multiple high end homes and properties. Wanting to take what we have wasn't fueled by their lack of possessions. Their actions can only be described as actions that are fueled by anger, revenge, and jealousy—wanting what someone else has. There is no other way to explain it. It's a twisted way of thinking, but my sister and brother-in-law's attempt to force us to pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars (and therefore lose what we have) isn't so much about achieving a monetary gain or the "value" of something. It's about trying to take away from us what they resent the most—our inner peace and happiness. It's irrational, but if they can "win" then they think they can project upon us in their position and they can take our position. What they don't understand is this: inner peace and happiness does not come from the things you "own" because money can't buy it. Inner peace only comes from knowing whose you are, surrendering your all, and putting your faith and trust in HIM.    


Next Entry: Hebrews 10:1–39    

Hebrews 8:1–13

June 10, 2013

Jesus, through His death and resurrection, replaced the need for a priest. In the Old Testament, the old agreement meant the priest was the only one who could go into the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. God designed the tabernacle but it was built by human hands. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus the old agreement was no longer needed. HE became the new agreement. Hebrews 8:1–2 - "We have a high priest who sits on the right side of God's throne in heaven. Our high priest serves in the Most Holy Place, the true place of worship that was made by God, not by humans."

The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31–34.

"Look, the time is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and the people of Judah. It will not be like the agreement I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of Egypt. But they broke that agreement, and I turned away from them, says the Lord. This is the agreement I will make with the people of Israel at that time, says the Lord. I will put my teachings in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. People will no longer have to teach their neighbors and relatives to know the Lord, because all people will know me, from the least to the most important. I will forgive them for the wicked things they did, and I will not remember their sins anymore."

The Lord has done His part. Jesus is the promised new agreement. His death and resurrection paved the way for our salvation. The choice of whether to accept His unfathomable gift of grace is up to each one of us. We have made our decision. We choose to believe. We choose to surrender to His Lordship.

I can't help but sing: "What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. When I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace; when He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the Promised Land. What a day, glorious day that will be."

We believe!!


Next Entry: Hebrews 9:1–28

Hebrews 5:11 – 7:28

June 06, 2013

Hebrews 7 explains how Jesus is a priest forever like Melchizedek in the Old Testament. God (through Jesus) has done His part. Hebrews 7:27 - "Christ offered his sacrifice only once and for all time when he offered himself." Forgiveness is available to all mankind because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Hebrews 6 deals with what we do with the sacrifice Jesus gave. Christ's sacrifice was never intended as just a "get out of hell" free card. While freedom from eternal damnation is one aspect (and certainly an extremely important one), the sacrifice Jesus made was meant for so much more than saving us "from" something. His sacrifice should save us "to" something. Our salvation should be noticeable. It should change our way of thinking, our hearts, and our way of life. We are to be continually growing and maturing in Christ.

The writer of Hebrews talks about how the people "were slow to understand." They were still like babies, understanding very little when they should have learned enough to become teachers. Hebrews 5:14 - "But solid food is for those who are grown up. They have practiced in order to know the difference between good and evil." (See Philippians 1:9–11) To not learn and to not grow is to take God's grace for granted. It is an abuse of His sacrifice and puts you in danger of falling away from His true teachings.   

If you are not turning towards God and learning from Him, you are turning away from God and getting farther away from His will. Our lives should be changing to become more like Him. That is not something that just happens. We need to be intentionally seeking Him and following His teachings. Again, if you are not turning towards, you are turning away. Psalm 78:40–43 - "They turned against God... they grieved him... they did not remember his power... they forgot..."

Hebrews 6:4–6 records what I believe to be some of the most disturbing words in the whole Bible. It makes me incredibly sad to read it because I recognize this happening in people I know. May it never be said about me.

"Some people cannot be brought back again to a changed life. They were once in God's light, and enjoyed heaven's gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. They found out how good God's word is, and they received the powers of his new world. But they fell away from Christ. It is impossible to bring them back to a changed life again, because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming him in front of others."

Wow! What disturbing words to read. They were in God's light; they enjoyed all of God's gift of salvation; but they fell away; they lost it all; and there isn't a thing we can do about it. And because of their stubbornness and refusal to change, "they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming him in front of others."

Oh, how that brings tears to my eyes. The choices we make MATTER!! Be careful! There are consequences for the choices (both the good and bad) we make! Hebrews 6:7–8 - "Some people are like land that gets plenty of rain. The land produces a good crop for those who work it, and it receives God's blessings. Other people are like land that grows thorns and weeds and is worthless. It is in danger of being cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire." (See Psalm 1)

Be patient. God is fair. He will not forget the things you have done by helping His kingdom. It is through faith and patience that you receive what God has promised. There are two things that God cannot change:

1. God cannot lie when He makes a promise, and
2. He cannot lie when He makes an oath.

CANNOT! It's not that God doesn't lie or that He won't lie, HE CANNOT LIE! Hebrews 6:18–19 - "These things encourage us who came to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong."

God has promised us His protection and He cannot lie. We are sure of His promise. We do not doubt it in any way. We are especially grateful for the way He gave us the promise because it was not in a way we could have expected, concocted, or manipulated. We didn't look through the Bible to try and find something we could claim as God's promise. We weren't even anxiously looking for or seeking a promise. That is why His promise was even more special. It was totally unexpected. Who (even in their wildest dreams) could ever have imagined that God, in His Sovereignty, would choose to use an elderly woman with dementia in a nursing home as His chosen way to deliver His prayer of blessing, and His messages of Purpose (Psalm 8), Praise (Psalm 150), Protection (Psalm 140), Provision (Isaiah 30), Path (Psalm 1), and Promise (Jeremiah 33) to us? It was humanly impossible. It could have only been the Hand of God, and we are so grateful.

We didn't know we needed a promise, but we sure have appreciated ALL of the promises HE has given us these past six and one half years. It has been an encouragement just like the writer of Hebrews penned. God cannot lie when He makes a promise and He cannot lie when He makes an oath.  Hebrews 6:18 - "These things encourage us who come to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given."

Thank you, Jesus for your sacrifice given once and for all. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for giving us your blessings and protection. Thank you, LORD, for your promises and for your "rest." For all these things and more—we thank you!


Next Entry: Hebrews 8:1–13

Hebrews 4:1 – 5:10

June 03, 2013

"By grace of God, I've come to place where I can't work up a worry (rest)." "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." ~ Written in Jane's KJV Bible.

Rest. God has offered to us a place of rest. There is of course heaven, a place of eternal rest. But in addition to eternal rest, we have also been offered a "place of rest" on this earth.

"Now, since God has left us the promise that we may enter his rest, let us be very careful so none of you fail to enter. The Good News was preached to us just as it was to them. But the teaching they heard did not help them, because they heard it but did not accept it with faith." Hebrews 4:1–3 

It wasn't the teaching that failed, the failure came from the choices they made. They "heard" the teaching but they refused to accept it with faith. They chose disobedience. The old hymn has it right when it says: "Trust and obey for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Hebrews 4:5 - "We who have believed are able to enter and have God's rest." Our choices determine our life results.

Obedience → Happy in Jesus → Rest

God rested on the seventh day, His perfect work of creation was complete. God made available to us His perfect work of redemption, and as believers, we can rest in that. God provided the Israelites a way of redemption from the Egyptians. They could have rested in His deliverance and protection, but instead, they chose not to trust and they chose not to obey, and as a result of their choices they lived 40 years wandering around in the desert and they never received His "rest." Those who did not obey and did not trust were not allowed into the Promised Land. Not only did they not get the future reward, they missed out on peace and "rest" in the present, their time on this earth.

The writer of Hebrew again says—TODAY. Hebrews 4:7 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn." Stubbornness—the root of the problem. That is what keeps most people from surrendering to God and obeying Him. It's not ignorance—it's stubbornness. It's a refusal to let go of whatever you need to let go of (pride, selfishness, the need to be in charge, etc.) and let God be—God. Hebrews 4:10–11 - "Anyone who enters God's rest will rest from his work as God did. Let us try as hard as we can to enter God's rest so that no one will fail by following the example of those who refused to obey."

The phrase "try as hard as you can" does not mean we are working to earn our salvation. To enter God's rest is to finally "get-it"; to fully understand the

God

↓

man

relationship; and to daily live the "God is God, I am not" concept. If you don't daily commit to surrendering your will to the authority and Lordship of God, you will find the sin of self-sufficiency slowly creeping back into your life.

We can attest to what it means to find God's rest while on earth. Oh, what a change there has been in our thinking. Before we learned to surrender all I used to occasionally have "what if" fears about my husband's business. What if the economy goes bad? What if there isn't enough work? What if? What if? Our entire livelihood and our son's entire livelihood depends on this business. What if? What if? Then "the storm" happens, the economy goes bad, and all my prior "what if" fears which at times clouded my thoughts—happened. BUT! It did not bring fear.

What would have earlier created worry, fear, and angst in our lives, now has no power or control in our lives. We are living in God's rest and it is only because of one reason: we have committed to surrendering ALL to God. Oh, what peace (and rest) that gives. When the economy went bad, we didn't frantically go out searching for work—God brought the work to us. When the lawsuit threatened the very existence of my husband's business and took hundreds of thousands to defend our innocence—God doubled our gross revenues. God is in control and we can REST in that. 

We need to "work hard" at surrendering. God does ALL the rest. TODAY don't be stubborn! Listen to what He says! Hebrews 4:12 - "God's word is alive and working and is sharper that a double-edged sword." It convicts, it prunes, it does whatever is necessary to make us as believers more like Him. For the believer, it brings freedom and rest. For the non-believer, it condemns. "It judges the thoughts and feeling in our hearts. Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived." (Hebrews 4:12b–13)

I've often wondered if people would change their hearts and lives if they understood that someday they will stand before Christ and have to explain the choices they've made and the way they lived their lives? Would it matter? Would they care? As believers we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and have to explain our choices and how we lived, and we will be rewarded accordingly. A non-believer will stand before Christ at the Great White Throne judgment, and they will be held accountable—eternally—for their stubborn refusal to surrender to Him.

Hebrews 5 - Jesus is our high priest, an intercessor between us and God. Because of Jesus we can "come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it." When Jesus was on this earth He prayed to God and "his prayer was heard because he trusted God."

Even though He was the Son of God, He learned obedience by what He suffered. The same can be said about us.We learned obedience because of our suffering, and for that we are grateful. Obedience and full surrender is often learned best during times of suffering.

Addendum: 11/29/16 ~ So many people try to avoid times of suffering by trying to "pray away" their problems instead of surrendering and learning from them. Charles Swindoll in Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life says it perfectly.

"Life is difficult... really very little more than an endless series of problems. Do we want to moan and groan about them or face them? Do we want to teach the next generation the disciplines involved in accepting and solving them or encourage them to run and hide? ... The tragedy, of course, is that the substitute itself ultimately becomes more painful than the "legitimate suffering" it was trying to avoid. And, adding insult to injury, the avoidance of legitimate suffering means we also avoid the growth that problems demand of us. Our determination to push pain away instead of meeting it head on creates a vicious circle. Could this explain why God's wisest saints are often people who endure pain rather than escape it? Like their Savior, they are men and women "acquainted with grief." I recall that Jesus "learned obedience from the things which he suffered (Hebrews 5:8) not in spite of those things. Do you have a problem? You're smiling back at me. "A problem? Would you believe several dozen problems?" If you listen to the voices around you, you'll search for a substitute—an escape route. You'll miss the fact that each one of those problems is a God-appointed instructor ready to stretch you and challenge you and deepen your walk with Him. Growth and wisdom await you at the solution of each one, the pain and mess notwithstanding."         

Well said.  


Next Entry: Hebrews 5:11 – 7:28

Hebrews 2:1 – 3:19

June 02, 2013

Jesus is above ALL. He is above man, above Moses, above prophets, above angels—above ALL. He is God.

The writer of Hebrews quotes a portion of Psalm 8. Jane requested that I read Psalm 8 to her in early 2007, long before I understood that God was going to use her to speak words of wisdom, promise, and encouragement to us. I can't adequately express what Psalm 8 now means to us. 

"What is man that you are mindful of him? Or the Son of Man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly angels and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands and put everything under his feet."

While I have quoted this part of Psalm 8 hundreds of times I was always a little confused by it. Are these verses talking about man? Or, are they talking about Jesus? I just wasn't quite sure.

Hebrews 2 explains it. It is about both. Man is made "a little lower than the angels." Jesus, as part of the God three-head is above the angels. But when He came to this earth as God/man, He assumed for a little while this lower place so that by our believing in His death and resurrection He can lift us into His own sphere above the angels at His second coming. Hebrews 2:9 - "Jesus, made for a little time lower than the angels, dies for man that he may lift men above angels into the family of God."

Hebrews 2:10 - "God (including Jesus) is the One who made all things and all things (including us) are for his glory." We are his children, his family. We have physical bodies, so Jesus himself became like us and took on a physical body. Hebrews 2:14–15 - "He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil—and free those who were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death." Jesus has done it all "so we must be more careful to follow what we are taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth."(Hebrews 2:1)   

We cannot accept Grace and then take all He has done for granted. Jesus is the builder, we are the house. Hebrews 3:6 - "But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. And we are God's house if we keep on being very sure about our great hope."

We must keep on keeping on. We must continue to follow God. Today! Now! Not later! TODAY!

Hebrews 3:7 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn..."
Hebrews 3:15 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn..."

Today! Joshua 24:15 - "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Do not be stubborn. Being stubborn cost the Israelites. They were stubborn and wanted to be in control themselves. And the result was they turned against God, and they bore the consequences for their actions. God was angry with them and instead of receiving His promises of blessings they received His promise of anger. Hebrews 3:11 - "They will never enter my rest." It was because of their sin that He was angry. Because they refused to obey "they were not allowed to enter (the promised land) and have God's rest, because they did not believe."

You can't "believe" and not obey. You either believe (and obey) or you don't believe (and you disobey). Saying you believe is not enough. True belief, by its very nature, means you obey. So, "Be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God. But encourage each other every day while it is "today." Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you. We all share in Christ if we keep till the end the sure faith we had in the beginning." (Hebrews 3:12–14)

Today! I want to enter his rest. I choose to believe and obey.

"Usually it is those who have suffered most who are best able to comfort others who are passing through suffering. Our sufferings may be rough and hard to bear, but they teach us lessons which in turn equip and enable us to help others. Our goal should be to learn all we can from what we are called upon to endure, so that we can fulfill a ministry of comfort—as Jesus did. The sufferer becomes the comforter or helper in the service of the Lord." ~ From Unto the Hills by Billy Graham

Addendum: 11/29/16 ~ As I was reading this passage this morning, a statement found in Hebrews 2:2 just pierced by heart. There IS accountability. The writer of Hebrews warned them to be careful. Follow what you were taught. Follow the scriptures. Follow Christ's teachings. FOLLOW!! Follow so you don't "stray away from the truth." Hebrews 2:2 - "The teaching God spoke through angels was shown to be true, and anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment that was earned.

If you don't follow God's teachings, and if you don't obey those teachings, you receive the punishment that was earned. It isn't the fault any(one) or any(thing) else. It falls squarely on the shoulders of the person who has refused to follow and refused to obey. 

I just can't imagine. I can't imagine standing before Christ and coming face to face with the reality of receiving the punishment earned by refusing to follow and obey His teachings. I am determined to follow. I am determined to obey. Like the words of a song from my childhood: I have decided to follow Jesus... no turning back... no turning back. 

I am determined to Walk on His Footpath. I am determined to Follow His Lead.


 Next Entry: Hebrews 4:1 – 5:10

Hebrews 1:1–14

June 02, 2013

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. It is all about you Jesus.

"God has chosen his Son to own all things, and through him he made the world. The Son reflects the glory of God and shows exactly what God is like. He holds everything together with his powerful word. When the Son made people clean from their sins, he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven. The Son became much greater than the angels, and God gave him a name that is much greater than theirs." Hebrews 1:2–4

A "name above all names." At the name of Jesus every knee will bow. He is King of all kings, and He is Lord of all lords.

After the writer of Hebrews explained who the Son was, he quoted Psalm 2:7; II Samuel 7:14; Psalm 97:7; Psalm 104:4; Psalm 45:6–7; Psalm 102:25–27; and Psalm 110:1. He quoted those scriptures from the Old Testament to show the Jews (and us) how scripture was fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus and to prove that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. The writer of Hebrews wanted to make sure the people knew that Jesus came to fulfill the law. It isn't Jesus plus the law. It isn't Jesus plus anything.

Jesus and God are One. (See John 1:1–18)  By confessing Jesus is Lord you bring honor and glory to God. (See Philippians 2:5–11) The only way to be made right with God is by accepting the grace he gave through His Son. (See Romans 3:22–25) Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (See Revelation 21:13) Jesus is coming again. (See Revelation 21:20) His throne will last forever and He will rule with fairness. (See Psalm 45:6–7)

Jesus will remain:

• in all things 
• above all things    
• before all things, and
• after all things.

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. It is ALL about YOU!

JESUS!


Next Entry: Hebrews 2:1 – 3:19

Philemon 1:1–25

May 31, 2013

Philemon was a believer and a worker for the cause of Christ. A group of believers (church) met in his home. As was custom at that time, he owned a slave named Onesimus whose name meant "useful" or "profitable." Instead of being "useful" or "profitable" Onesimus betrayed his master, stole from him, and then fled to Rome. While in Rome he somehow encounters Paul, he accepts the truth of Christ, and it changed his heart and life. Paul understands that Onesimus has changed, but he also understands that he must go back and make amends for his evil actions. So Paul writes Philemon and tells him what has happened.

"In the past he was useless for you but now he has become useful for both you and me."  (Philemon 1:11) 

His name meant useful, but until he found his purpose in life (by surrendering to God), he was useless. Our names may not all mean that, but until we accept God's plan for our lives we are all "useless." It is only through opening our hearts, lives, and hands to God that we become "useful." Paul understood a very important truth. Not only did Onesimus need to go back to seek forgiveness, Philemon needed to give forgiveness. The Bible doesn't record what happened, but by the words Paul wrote about the kind of person Philemon was, we can know what happened—he forgave.

Forgiveness given is equally important as forgiveness asked. If Philemon would have refused to forgive, it would have had far reaching consequences. He would have lost his ability to be a worker for Christ; he would have lost his witness; and the church meeting in his home could not have survived. By forgiving, he modeled the way Paul lived his life and Christ's forgiveness of us. Philemon 1:18 - "If he has done anything wrong to you or if he owes you anything, charge that to me... I will pay it back, and I will say nothing about what you owe me for your own life."

Christ forgave us. We need to forgive others.

I've always said that forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. When you hold onto grudges and hurts it destroys you and harms those around you. Forgiveness can be given before it has been asked for, but it cannot be completed until there is a changed heart. We have forgiven my sister and brother-in-law and we hold no anger or resentment in our hearts. But it cannot be completed until they change their hearts and lives and seek forgiveness. The change has to be real and authentic—THEN— forgiveness can be completed. We experienced/modeled this with our daughter and son-in-law. When change was only "claimed," forgiveness could not be completed. When change was real, it was a done deal. It was over with and completed, with it never brought up or needed to be said again.

If a real change happens with my sister and brother-in-law the same thing will happen. If there ever is restoration, our relationship cannot (and should not) be the same as it was before. It was not based on truth and it was very unhealthy. But that does not mean a relationship cannot exist. When forgiveness is completed then a new relationship can be built on the foundation of Truth and upon God's principles. That's the only way.

Christ's death on the cross—forgiveness given. Surrendering our lives to his Lordship—forgiveness  asked and completed.

It is interesting to think about what kind of person Onesimus was. His name meant "profitable" yet he was a servant. By his actions we can surmise that he hated being a servant and that he felt he should be in charge of his own life. So he took matters into his own hands and stole money and ran away to his independence—or so he thought. When we try to be in charge we mess things up. When his heart changed he changed. It was no longer all about him and Onesimus became profitable FOR the Lord.

Before you can move forward you must FIRST go back and repent. 

***** 

Jane has the following notes written in her KJV:

Philemon – "the loving one"; Paul – "the little one"; Onesimus – "the profitable one"

Real imputation – "that which rightfully belongs to me" (Romans 5:12)
Judicial imputation – that which is reckoned unto one which is not rightfully his own  (II Corinthians 5:21)
     (a) God imputed to Christ the sin of the whole world
     (b) God imputed to (?)* righteousness of God

*Jane often used shorthand symbols (which I can't duplicate here and don't understand) in her writing.

Addendum: 1/16/17 ~ As I was reading this morning a statement in the Introduction for Philemon caught my attention. "As you consider how to respond, consider a higher law. A law which sets all men, slave or nonslave, free."

That statement reminded me of what the judge said during the Settlement Conference. In his opening remarks he said he didn't know why he was assigned this case, but then he went on to say things that made it very clear why he was given the case. He made the statement that even if you think you have been wronged and even if you think you have the right to avenge, consider following the King's law, and grant forgiveness.

He was speaking to my sister and brother-in-law and expressing this very same concept. Consider a higher law. Consider doing things God's way. Consider forgiving (and therefore dropping this lawsuit) even if you have the American right to sue and even if you think you have a case.

As we all know, his plea did not work. It was an amazing thing to watch a judge invoke Biblical teaching. Amazing. Thank you, Lord, for once again speaking Truth to my sister and brother-in-law.


 Next Entry: Hebrews 1:1–14

Titus 3:1–15

May 30, 2013

Once you've surrendered your will to the will of the Lord, you will never be the same again. You cannot be. With His mercy HE saved us. What we do after that reflects our gratitude to Him. Our works reflect the change in our lives. It is in that order. It (works) never makes the change, works is instead the result and evidence of the change. Titus 3:5 - "It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit."

Now that you are changed, GO—DO! Paul tells Titus to make sure people understand these things. Believers should be careful to use their lives for doing good. Titus 3:8b - "These things are good and will help everyone."

Then Paul adds a qualifier. Titus 3:9 - "Stay away from those.." people who just want to argue and cause division. They focus on things that are not important (useless family histories, the law, etc.) and "stir up war everyday. The poison of vipers is on their lips." (Psalm 140). Their actions do not help anyone. Titus 3:10–11 - "After a first and second warning, avoid someone who causes arguments. You can know that such people are evil and sinful; their own sins prove them wrong."

Someone who loves to argue causes division wherever they go. We have witnessed this first hand. It is the effect of the Peanut's character who has a dust cloud surrounding him wherever he goes. When I was close to my sister, there was division between myself and my Mom, Dad, and my brother. When the ties between my sister and myself were broken, the division between myself and other family member completely disappeared and peace was restored. Sometimes it is only when you step back from a situation that you can begin to see the effect of someone who just wants to argue and cause division.

The forced separation between my sister and myself is one of the things I am grateful for. The lawsuit my sister and brother-in-law brought against us was intended to put us into bondage, but what it actually did was free me from a very unhealthy relationship with my sister. For that I am grateful. Thank you, LORD. 


Next Entry: Philemon 1:1–25

Titus 1:1 – 2:15

May 29, 2013

God cannot lie!

"God always speaks truth. When he makes a covenant, he keeps it. When he makes a statement, he means it. And when he proclaims the truth we can believe it. What he says is true." ~ From Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado.

God cannot lie. His truth is TRUTH. Titus 1:1-2 - "I was sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to help them know the truth that shows people how to serve God. That faith and that knowledge come from the hope for life forever, which God promised to us before time began. And God cannot lie."

As believers, His truth should be reflected in our lives. You cannot receive God's grace and remain the same. It changes you. Understanding grace means you can never live your life in the same old way again. Grace is not a license to live however you please. Not only is it not a license, it should not be abused and our lives cannot remain status quo. Instead, understanding grace should lead us on a path towards holiness.

That's why Paul again lists the attributes of an elder. Our Senior Pastor always says that you cannot lead someone where you have never been. So true. An elder (leader) is a manager for God, so his (or her) life should reflect God's. A leader in the church:

• Must not be guilty of doing wrong
• Must not be selfish
• Must not become angry quickly 
• Must not drink too much
• Must not like to start trouble
• Must not try to get rich by cheating others

A leader must be hospitable, love what is good, be wise, live right, be holy, and be self-controlled. They must hold onto truth and help others by using true teaching. Their life example and work points out the truth to those who are against true teaching. But even when you live right and do right, you will still run into people who just refuse to acknowledge and accept truth. Titus 1:11a - "These people must be stopped." It's not just that they are harming themselves so ignore them and let them go. They are harming others and hurting the cause of Christ. These people:

• Hurt and upset entire families by their actions and teachings which they do to get rich by cheating people.
• "They are liars, evil animals, and lazy people who do nothing but eat." (A quote from one of the Cretans prophets in Titus 1:12)

Titus 1:13–16 - "So firmly tell those people they are wrong so they may become strong in the faith... to those who are pure, all things are pure, but to those who are full of sin and do not believe, nothing is pure. Both their minds and their consciences have been ruined. They say they know God, but their actions show they do not accept him. They are hateful people, they refuse to obey, and they are useless for doing anything good." That is why they must be stopped. KJV - "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him. being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." NIV - "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."

So, is this why? Is this why "these people must be stopped"? We have said those very words many times. We strongly felt my sister and brother-in-law had to be stopped because of their actions. Their purpose was to "use" and "abuse," and because of that, we felt "these people must be stopped." So, (as our lawyer commented) we put our heads in the mouth of the lion to do it. But now for the first time, I am understanding more of what "these people must be stopped" means. Us knowing "these people must be stopped" involved so much more than putting a stop to their use and abuse of others and situations. So much more.

It is for the reasons listed in Titus 1:10–16 that they must be stopped. It isn't for the purpose of destroying them, it is for the purpose of restoring them," so they can become strong in the faith." Like we have said so many times, my sister and brother-in-law will either be like the Saul of the Old Testament (destroyed) or the Saul of the New Testament (restored). Once you have known Truth there is no middle ground. You either accept Truth and follow His ways, or you reject Truth (Him) and follow your own destructive, evil ways which will ultimately lead to judgment by the one true and holy Judge.

My sister and brother-in-law's actions did not begin or end with us. It has been a lifetime of choices. I don't know why God chose us to stand up against the lies, but He did, and we will. "These people must be stopped." Not just for the harm they have inflicted on others, but "so they may become strong in the faith." I pray my sister and brother-in-law will choose to surrender, change their hearts and minds, and follow the Truth. Everything we have went through has been worth it because of all we have learned and been taught. How awesome it would be if they would understand this waiting period was their day of Grace, and they would stop and change their ways.

That is our desire and prayer. However this ends, we are grateful for all God has done in our lives, and we are also grateful for the days of grace He has extended to my sister and brother-in-law. Titus 2:8 - "Speak the truth so that you cannot be criticized. Then those who are against you will be ashamed because there is nothing bad to say about us." So live by following the true teaching. Be self-controlled, serious, wise, strong in faith, strong in love and in patience, be holy, be wise and pure, be kind, work hard, submit to authority, encourage others, do good deeds, be honest. In other words: let your walk match your talk.

Titus 2:11–14 - "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to  say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

Titus 2:15 - "These, then are the things you should teach.  Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you."

TEACH!


Next Entry: Titus 3:1–15