I John 2:1–29 (Continued)

July 16, 2013

I don't know where the line is. How much leeway is there between saved and lost? How narrow is the narrow road? 

After carefully reading, studying, and writing about God's Word for these past 44 months, it seems as if the road is even more narrow than I thought. What I know is this: I want to be as close to the center of that road as I can get. I do not want to flirt with the ditches and become accustomed to the edges.

John describes the enemies of Christ. These were people who used to be part of the group of "believers" but they left the group which showed that they weren't "believers" at all. What they said they believed and the truth about their lives, were polar opposites. I John 2:21b–22 - "No lie comes from truth." He goes on. "Who is the liar? It is the person who does not accept Jesus as the Christ. This is the enemy of Christ: the person who does not accept the Father and his Son."

This is the point where people start going through a check list to convince themselves that they are OK.

1)  Have no other gods
          ✔  I don't do that
2)  Don't take the Lord's name in vain
          ✔  I don't do that
3)  Don't grieve the Holy Spirit
          ✔  I don't do that
4)  Accept Jesus as the Christ
          ✔  Yup—I've done that

WAIT A MINUTE!! WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?!?

We say we have no other gods, but is anything in my life more important than Him? Self? Work? Family? Christian "service"? Anything? We say we don't take the Lord's name in vain, well maybe you aren't swearing, but what about the times you should have told someone about Christ and you didn't? What about that? You say you don't grieve the Holy Spirit by cursing His name, but any time you choose to not follow God's commands and instead do things your way, you are indeed grieving the Holy Spirit. You say you accept Jesus as the Christ—really? Is He Master of all areas of your life or are you using Him for (what you think will be) your get-out-of-hell free card?

Much of modern Christianity has made Jesus into this feel-good, lukewarm, I-just-want-you-to-be-happy guy. Where do you hear Him being talked about as Master and how often do we hear messages about being a "servant" of Christ? We don't want to hear that! We want to be our own master. Jesus is our back-up plan. We are capable. We will be in charge—thank you very much.

The problem with that way of thinking is that it is heresy. It is not God's teachings. We sure have messed things up. We strive to teach our children from little up to be self-confident, independent, and critical thinkers. Where is that scriptural? Scripture says our confidence comes from Him, it is in whose we are not who we are. Our dependence should be on Him, that is where freedom comes from. Our thoughts should be like His thoughts.

Where on earth did this Americanized view of Christianity come from? Certainly not the Word of God. World view says make it to the top—Christ says serve. To confess Jesus as Lord does not mean mere lip service. He must be LORD!

God has given us everything we need. Jesus clarifies everything in the Old Testament. His teachings show us how to live. His Holy Spirit is in us. I John 2:27 - "Christ gave you a special gift that is still in you so you do not need any other teacher. His gift teaches you about everything, and it is true, not false." He is Truth and His Spirit guides us. I John 2:29 - "If you know that Christ is all that is right, you know that all who do right are God's children."

I've still been thinking about II Peter 2 and the concept of servants—verses—slaves. Jesus is to be our Master Jesus. If He is Master we are servants. If we aren't HIS servant, we are a slave to whatever controls us, our own lusts, selfish desires, and ultimately—Satan. Hmm. Servant to Christ—OR—slave to Satan. We are one or the other. We are not our own boss. We are either surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and we are HIS servant, or in our futile effort to remain in control, we have relinquished ourselves to Satan and we become his slave.

Master Jesus—kind, loving, compassionate, Father, gentle, patient, etc. As His servant we are the beneficiary to all those things and we in return live our lives in service to Him. We bend our knee and allow Him to guide us and direct us, and our hearts desire is to follow His commands and to bring honor and glory to Him.

Satan on the other hand is a cruel dictator that seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. Like a roaring lion he devours. And while you think you are independent and master of your own domain, you are not. Instead you are a slave to a cruel dictator whose only mission is to destroy your soul.

Servant to a Loving God

OR

Slave to a cruel dictator

It truly is one or the other. I choose to surrender and bow my knee in submission to Master Jesus, to live my life in service to Him, to listen and accept His instructions, and to do everything I can to bring honor and glory to His name. When my life on this earth is over, I want to hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21–23)  

Being a servant to Christ brings freedom. Selfish desires only brings bondage. 


Next Entry: I John 3:1–24

I John 1:1–10

July 13, 2013

"When it comes to salvation, there aren't several roads... there is only one road... there aren't several ways... there is only one way... there aren't several paths... there is only one path. And that path is Jesus himself. Jesus is not one of many options. He is the only option or nothing at all. ~ From NCV Introduction to John

I John 1 is comprised of only ten short verses, but those ten short verses are packed full of TRUTH. If the only page you had of the entire Bible contained I John 1, it would be all you needed to understand God and the way to salvation. 

John knew Jesus. He was there. He heard Him. He saw Him. He watched Him. He touched Him. He knew about God through Him—and he couldn't keep it to himself. He had to tell others what he knew. He wrote it down and he announced to others who Jesus/God was/is and how we can be in fellowship with God and what prevents that oneness with God from happening.

Here is John's message (my paraphrase):

God has always existed. Jesus is the "Word" and the Word gives life. Jesus walked, talked, and lived among man. His life continues forever. Jesus is part of the trinity. He was with God before the world began. God was revealed to man through Jesus during His time on earth. The way to God is through His Son Jesus. Knowing God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ brings joy to your life and unity with other believers. Jesus shows us that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. None. Sin puts a barrier between God and ourselves. Denying the barrier doesn't make it go away. To think sin does not cause a barrier is only fooling ourselves and calling God a liar. The only way to remove the barrier is to confess our sins. IF—we confess our sins, THEN—the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin. We can trust God. We can trust God to do what is right. We can live each day in God's light.

You cannot have darkness (sin) in your life and also be in fellowship with God. I John 1:8 - "So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth." Continuing to live in sin is refusing to be a servant to Master Jesus. It is asserting your own will over the will of God.  It is self choosing to live in darkness while saying you are a follower of God who is light. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Light is a symbol of goodness and truth. God is light. If God allowed darkness in it would alter the Light of God.

God cannot change and cannot be changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But, while God is eternal, man is mortal. If we have accepted God's Light into our lives and then allow darkness in, it doesn't change who God is but it does change us. Our light loses its brightness and if we do not get rid of the darkness, the darkness takes over. I John 1:7 - "But if we live in the light as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God's son, cleanses us from sin." The only way to have fellowship with God (and others) is to live in the light of God's truth.

IF we say we have not sinned we make God a liar and we are fooling ourselves. IF that is our attitude then the bottom line is we have rejected God's teachings and His truth is not in us. But IF—we confess our sins, THEN—He WILL forgive us of our sins and He WILL cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But it all hinges on one thing: IF we confess.

"We cannot be in a right relationship with God unless we live humbly, honestly, and dependently on him." (Life Lesson Observation)

Max Lucado, in his book The Applause of Heaven says it this way:

"If we confess our sins..." The biggest word in Scriptures just might be that two letter one, if. For confessing sins—admitting failure—is exactly what prisoners of pride refuse to do.

Justification. Rationalization. Comparison. These are the tools of the jailbird. They sound good. They sound familiar. They even sound American. But in the kingdom, they sound hollow...

When you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your care on him, and when there is truly no other one that you can call, then cast all your cares on him for he is waiting."

Excuses. We are all good at making excuses and rationalizations. Well I'm not perfect but I'm better than so and so. I'm not that bad. It's not really sin... at least not the big ones. I do a lot of good. I'm certainly not worse than most. I read my Bible... sometimes. I put money in the offering plate... sometimes. I give the things I don't want to charities. I'm a good person... at least most of the time. I'm sure God is glad I'm part of His team. Excuses. Excuses. No more excuses!!

God is faithful with the THEN, but it all hinges on the IF. 

IF—we confess our sins... THEN—I will forgive. 

IF—my people who are called by my name... THEN—I will hear. (II Chronicles 7:14)

 "True repentance is not just confession of sin but a sincere willingness to not do that sin again." ~ From Life Lesson for Hebrews 9

Next Entry: I John 2:1–29

I Peter 3:1–22

July 03, 2013

Do your part to get along. Be kind. Be humble. Be understanding. Be loving. Be agreeable. Don't repay a wrong with a wrong. Don't repay an insult with an insult. When others seek to hurt you do not respond with anger.

Christ teaches us to love, and when we respond by following His teachings we are blessed. That doesn't mean the offense committed against you is excusable. It means you understand what Jesus taught when He said (through Paul in I Corinthians 6), "What's wrong with being wronged?" It means you've decided to follow Christ's example of enduring the pain and, "He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him." (I Peter 2:23)

Scripture gives such clear guidelines. Do you want to be happy and enjoy life? Then don't say evil things; don't tell lies; stop doing evil; do good; don't look for fights; do look for peace; and pursue righteousness.

The Lord sees the good people (eyes are on them)
     and listens to their prayers (ears are attentive)
But the Lord is against (face is against)
     those who do evil.

I want to live my life so the Lord's face is turned towards me. What a mental picture of the Lord leaning in, interested, and listening closely. I never want to experience what it would be like to have the Lord against me with His face turned away and refusing to listen. What a horrific thought.

When you live your life according to God's teachings who can harm you? No one. You may suffer from those who seek your harm, but they cannot truly harm you, and you are instead blessed. You do not need to be afraid of their threats and you do not need to be frightened by them. Make sure Christ is Lord of your life. Always be ready to answer anyone and everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have which is found in Christ! Answer in a gentle respectful way. Keep a clear conscience "so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed." (I Peter 3:16) There is no shame in suffering because of doing the right things. Christ suffered for our sins so we would be eternally protected from evil. We can (and should) be patient and wait upon the Lord.

Sometimes we wonder... hmm. Why six years? Why has "the storm" lasted six years and counting?

God showed me something new today. In Noah's day the world was evil. Messengers were sent to warn the people that accountability was going to happen. God provided a plan for their salvation. He offered, but He knew few were going to listen. He instructed Noah on what to do. Noah obeyed. And then—God waited patiently while Noah built the boat. God waited for years to fulfill HIS plan to hold the people accountable. He knew what He was going to do; He promised Noah His protection; He warned people to change their hearts and lives; and then—He waited patiently—while Noah built the ark.

Why six plus years? I don't know, but He does. He has promised us His protection. His words declare what happens to those who refuse to obey Him. He has a plan and He is waiting for whatever needs to be finished. At the right time He WILL fulfill it. We will be faithful and wait for Him. It isn't a judge who has delayed a ruling, it is God patiently waiting for something in HIS plan to be completed.


Next Entry:  I Peter 3:1–22 (Continued)

I Thessalonians 1:1–10

May 14, 2013

Paul's message to the people of Thessalonica (and God's message to all of us): Continue strong; your hope comes from Christ; God loves you; you were chosen by him. You've suffered much, but you've accepted all He is teaching you with the joy that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Because you surrendered your will to His, you've become an example for others and what the Lord is teaching you has spread. Because of this your faith in God has become known everywhere. You've done your part, so now wait. Wait for God's Son to come from heaven. Continue strong. Wait!

"I have found that the casual Christian has little or no influence upon others. I am finding that it is only the Christian who refuses to compromise in matters of honesty, integrity and morality who is bearing an effective witness for Christ. The worldly Christian is prepared to do as the world does and will condone practices which are dishonest and unethical because he is afraid of the world's displeasure. Only by a life of obedience to the voice of the Spirit, by daily dying to self, by a full dedication to Christ and constant fellowship with Him, are we able to live a godly life and have a positive influence in this present ungodly world." ~ From Unto the Hills by Billy Graham  

Addendum: 10/17/16 ~ "Because of this..."  Because is a theme that runs throughout scripture. The people of Thessalonica had a testimony to share because they were faithful and totally surrendered to God's teaching and His Will even though they suffered much. We have the story of Daniel standing strong in his faith because he was betrayed and falsely accused. Because. It is often BECAUSE. It is the same in our situation as well. We have a story to tell because of the betrayal by loved ones and their subsequent filing of this lawsuit. "Because of this..." HIS story is going out in a way I could never have imagined. 

Don't try to avoid the "because" situations in your life and don't waste any time regretting them. It is often those very situations that God uses to bring honor and glory HIS name.


Next Entry: I Thessalonians 2:1 – 3:13

Colossians 2:6–23

May 09, 2013

Keep on keeping on! Finish what you started.

"As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live in him. Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always be thankful." Colossians 2:6–7 

Paul says to watch out for false teachings. The way to guard against false teaching is to:

1. Keep your roots deep yourself. Don't just listen to what others say or read about what someone else has learned. Find out for yourself what God's Word says.
2. Be strong in the faith. Take Jesus at His Word. Believe Him!! His promises are just that—PROMISES!
3. Be thankful ALWAYS and in ALL things.  

If you follow Paul's guidelines and do those three things, then the danger of being led astray by false teaching is almost non-existent.

When Christ sets you free you are free indeed, and Christ has made us free. Colossians 2:14 - "He canceled the debt..." We are no longer bound by the power of sin over us. We have been made free and we are alive in Christ who forgives all our sins. He canceled the debt. Colossians 2:15 - "God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless."

Keep your roots deep; stand strong; always be thankful. Colossians 2:19 - "It is from him that all the parts are cared for and held together. So it grows in the way God wants it to grow."

Addendum: 10/3/16 ~ Excerpt from Flying Closer to the Flame by Charles Swindoll:

"When you are not sure something is from the Spirit, tread softly. Back off. Use Scriptures as your guide. If they are of the Lord, those unidentified inner promptings won't contradict anything biblically. Peace will remain your companion. The Lord doesn't lead against his own revealed Word. So don't get on a hobbyhorse over something that is questionable or clearly unbiblical.

...When you are confident that it's of God, stand firm, even against other people's doubts. Be strong and resolute. That's a part of walking by faith. There are times when other people will say, "There is no way in the world God could be in this"; yet you know absolutely in your heart that He is. At times like that, simply stand firm. You won't be able to convince them, but that's all right. God is still doing unusual things.BUT don't get weird. You can be confident in God without becoming spooky or seeing lots of things no one else can see."

Well said. The Lord NEVER leads anyone to go against his written Word. NEVER.


Next Entry: Colossians 3:1 – 4:1

Philippians 4:1–23

May 08, 2013

So, what are we as Christians to do? Stand strong!  No matter what is going on around you—STAND STRONG! Not in your own strength and power. Stand strong in the LORD.

Paul lists how we should live:

• Stand strong
• Be joyful in the Lord ALWAYS!
• Be gentle
• Be kind
• Do not worry about anything
• Pray often
• Ask God for what you need
• Be God-reliant not self-sufficient
• Give thanks ALWAYS

And the result of living the way Christ wants us to live? Peace! God's peace. Peace that only He can give. Philippians 4:7 - "And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Think about these things:

• What is good
• What is worthy of praise (GOD)
• What is true
• What is honorable
• What is right
• What is beautiful
• What is respected

Think—and then DO! God will give HIS peace to you.

Paul concludes his letter to the people in Philippi. He thanks them for their help. He tells them what all he has learned during his walk as a follower of Christ. What Paul learned (and what each of us can learn as well) can only be learned by totally surrendering to God. Paul learned it during the hard and difficult times in his life.

The "hard times" is often when we are the most open to learning what God wants to teach us as well. It is during those times:

• We can learn to be satisfied with what we have 
• We can learn to be satisfied with whatever happens
• We can know how to live when we have plenty
• We can know how to live when we are poor
• We can learn the secret of how to be happy—no matter what
• We can learn our circumstances don't determine our happiness—whether there is enough to eat or there isn't, if we have more than we need or if we don't have enough

 We can learn all those things when we learn this:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)

It is not our strength—it is HIS. 

I vividly remember a time when I was on the brink of a breaking point. I was absolutely buried under the paperwork of the lawsuit. Buried. It was overwhelming and I felt like I was drowning in "the storm." (Part of the plan of my sister, brother-in-law and their lawyer was to overwhelm us with their demands during the discovery process.) I was driving home from making copies of (and numbering) literally thousands of pages of documentation. As I was driving, I KNEW I could not in my own strength handle the demands placed upon us. This verse came to my mind and I said it over and over and over again. I would emphasize the next word in the verse each time I said it.

I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I CAN do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I can DO all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I can do ALL things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I can do all THINGS through Christ who strengtheneth me. I can do all things THROUGH Christ who strengtheneth me. I can do all things through CHRIST who strengtheneth me. I can do all things through Christ WHO strengtheneth me. I can do all things through Christ who STRENGTHENETH me. I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth ME.  

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENETH ME. Over and over all the way home. The peace of God came over me and I KNEW I could do it. Not because of my strength because my strength was gone. I couldn't do it—BUT GOD COULD! And He did.

Tears come to my eyes. Partly because I am remembering some of the painful details from that time in our lives, but the tears are not only because of the pain. The tears are also in recognition of what all God did to carry us through that extremely difficult time, and the joy, peace, and contentment He has given to us both then and now. He has taught us so many things, and it has been worth it all.

Paul explained an important truth to the people of Philippi and that is the importance of "giving." Life is not about "getting," it is about "giving." What pleasure there is in giving to others from an open hand as opposed to having a closed fist. God knows what we need. Philippians 4:19–20 - "My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. Glory to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen."

It truly is ALL about HIM!

*****

Philippians is over. I can't believe how fast the books are flying by. There isn't much left.  It is almost scary. I can't imagine being done with journaling through the Bible since it has been part of my everyday life for almost three and one half years now. I will probably be done by the end of summer.  I wonder what will be next?

Addendum: 9/21/16 ~ Now it has been almost seven years since I started reading through the Bible and writing my thoughts. It turns out I wasn't "done" when I finished writing in my journals. Instead, it was The Beginning. And here I am today, once again finishing up with Philippians, and once again feeling like time is flying by with only one and one half journals left to enter into Blogger.

I know at least a portion of what is "next."

See:
LORD – What Am I to Do?;
The LORD Answers!;
I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

I don't know the when. I don't know the how. I only know that God has it all under control. We will follow Him even if our next steps are not clear. He will make the way, and we will follow. 


Next Entry: Colossians 1:1 – 2:5

Ephesians 6:1–24 (Continued)

May 01, 2013

Put on the full armor of God. Don't try to go into battle in your own power and using your own protection. The battle isn't ours to fight! The only way to be strong is "in the Lord and in His great power." It isn't our strength that matters, it is our obedience. I'm not pretending it is easy. It isn't because you are in the line of fire. But it is freeing to know that you aren't in charge and God is in control. The battle is His; the battle plan is His; the length of the battle is His; and the battle victory is His. Our job is to stand strong, rely on Him, and wait for Him. So stand strong by putting on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:13 - "And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing."

So stand strong with:

• The belt of truth tied around your waist
• The protection of right living on your chest
• The gospel of peace on your feet so you can stand
• The shield of faith which you can use to stop ALL the burning arrows of the wicked
• Let God's salvation be your helmet (Psalm 140 - "...who shields your head in the days of battle.") 
• Arm yourself with the sword of the Spirit which is God's word
• Pray always, in the Spirit, for God's will and God's plan in your life. (Psalm 140 - "Rescue me O Lord from evil men...")

THEN WAIT! Don't give up! Stand strong! It is the Lord who "secures justice and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise his name and the upright will live before him." (Psalm 140:12) So stand strong. Spread the message. Encourage others. Bring honor, glory, and praise to HIS name.

Addendum: 5/9/2016 ~ I am going to be taking a short break from transcribing my journal entries. I leave tomorrow and will be spending the next week staying with two of my grandchildren while their parents take a vacation. Since they will be in school all day I am going to have a lot of uninterrupted time on my hands, something I would never have available to me while at home. So, I am going to use that time to go back to the beginning (again) and read through all the entries for a final proof reading, making sure links work, adding any new labels, etc. I don't know how far I will get, but it will be interesting to read my journal in an uninterrupted continuous way.  It will also be interesting to see what God wants to show me and teach me this time. Whenever I have paused in the past, there has always been something I was to learn. So, I am ready and willing, Lord. Show me what it is YOU want me to learn.  

Journal #11 is finished. When I pulled out Journal #12, I noticed there was one more entry for Ephesians—today's journal entry. I thought I would wait to begin Journal #12 until after my break, but then decided to finish Ephesians. I'm so glad I did. What an encouraging message to read as I once again hit the pause button before the final push to finish Journal #12 and Journal #13.

THEN WAIT! Don't give up! Stand strong! It is the Lord who "secures justice and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise his name and the upright will live before him." (Psalm 140) So stand strong. Spread the message. Encourage others. Bring honor, glory, and praise to HIS name.

It is getting so close to the end to this part of the journey, only one and one half journals left. It is exciting and a little frightening at the same time. I'll be sad to see it over, but I am also very curious to see what God has planned for our next steps.

Addendum #2: 7/16/2018 ~ When am I ever going to learn? In May of 2016, I thought I was doing a final read through and edit. Now it is July of 2018, the lawsuit is ongoing, and I am doing yet another read through and edits. You just never know what you don't know. After a several month break from working on the blog, I suddenly realized the initials I used to protect people's identities were very distracting. So, for the past months I have once again been reading through all my entries to remove and replace all proper names and initials with descriptive words instead. Is this my final time through? I have no idea. All I know is I'm following HIS lead and when HE is ready for me to change the private box to public I will know and I will obey. Until then, I will continue to prepare the way for the release of:

Walking By Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness

and 

Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead)

Next Entry: It's All Coming Together

Romans 16:1–27

March 01, 2013

Paul ends his letter by giving thanks to all of those who helped him and to those who have worked to further the kingdom of God. He also gives them one last bit of advice. 

"Brothers and sisters, I ask you to look out for those who cause people to be against each other and who upset other people's faith. They are against the true teaching you learned, so stay away from them. Such people are not serving our Lord Christ but are only doing what pleases themselves. They use fancy talk and fine words to fool the minds of those who do not know about evil. All the believers have heard that you obey, so I am very happy because of you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent and what is evil." Romans 16:17-–(Emphasis mine)

Good advice.

Romans 16:27 - "To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ.  Amen."  


Next Entry: I Corinthians 1:1–31 

Romans 11:1–36 (Continued)

February 21, 2013

Paul talks about those who are stubborn and refuse to submit to the Lordship of Christ. He compares them to branches that are cut off and worthless.

This time of year our lawn is covered with broken branches. Especially because of our "retriever" Dozer. He loves to carry sticks and goes out into the woods and drags branches back to our yard. We need to get out there and clean up the lawn once the weather gets nicer. But as I look out and see the dead branches, I can't help but think of Paul's descriptive words:

"Those branches were broken off because they did not believe, and you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Do not be proud, but be afraid." Romans 11:20

The contrast between a beautiful, live, growing tree and dead branches lying on the ground, is striking. A tree isn't alive and vibrant because of its branches, it is totally reliant upon the roots of the tree. Our blessings, success, and witness comes from the root—Jesus Christ. We are part of the tree when we accept that understanding. If we are stubborn and refuse to accept Christ and His teachings, we are worthless to him, and we are cut off. As my Dad would have said, "a no-good-good-for-nothing," just like the branches lying on our ground.

Those who refuse to accept the Good News are enemies to God. Even though they are enemies God still loves them. Romans 11:29–36 - "God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them... Yes, God's riches are very great, and his wisdom and knowledge have no end... God made all things and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever!  Amen."


Next Entry: Romans 12:1–21  

John 17:1–26

November 09, 2012

Yesterday I wrote how I feel as if momentum is building in our lives. Today I realize momentum is building in more than one way. Momentum is also building in the life of Christ. He begins to tell His followers about the progress of events.

John 13

He washes his followers' feet; He teaches them about the importance of servant-hood; He tells them what is going to happen before it happens; He reveals the truth about who Judas really is; Judas went out into the night; then when he was gone, Jesus said—NOW! NOW the time has come for His and the Father's glory to be shown. 

John 14

Jesus prepares His followers; He comforts them; He encourages them; He reminds them that "I am the way" and that they must believe; He promises to send them the Helper and that He is the Spirit of Truth; and He gave them His peace. He was like a coach gathering His team privately together one last time; giving them some final instructions; calling them in a circle; putting their hands together; and on the count of three saying, "Come now, let us go."

John 15

They are on the way to Gethsemane; God's plan is in motion; it is time; and Jesus continues His teaching and pep talk. Remain! Remain in me! I am the vine; you are the branch; God is the gardener; you will be pruned; it is for your good and the good of others; the world will hate you; you must tell people about Me.

John 16

The teaching continues; Jesus warns them ahead of time on what will happen; He explains to them how the Helper (Holy Spirit) will be the one who proves the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment; the Holy Spirit will lead; He will tell what is to come; He will bring glory to Christ's name; sadness will turn to joy; you can ask for anything in Jesus' name, and the Father will do it; He said all these things so we could have peace; there will be trouble in this world; "but be brave! I have defeated the world."

John 17

Jesus prays for His followers. The time has come. He prays for: 1) glory be brought to Him and the Father; 2) the return to Glory they had together before the fall of man; 3) the protection and safety of the believers from the world and evil one; 4) the believers to be ready for service by His truth—the Word; 5) the believers to be unified as one; 6) the world to believe in Him because of that unity; 7) those who follow Him to see and share in His eternal glory forever and ever.  

It is getting closer to the time that His followers are to be sent out. The momentum is building and Jesus says, "I am praying for them." What a thought and promise. God is preparing us, teaching us, and equipping us. And most importantly, He is praying His protection over us as He is getting ready to send us out.  

Thank you, Jesus! Jane (Her Name Was Jane) has the following verses written beside this chapter.

Psalm 97:10 - "People who love the LORD hate evil. The LORD watches over those who follow him and frees them from the power of the wicked."
II Timothy 4:17–18 - "But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength so I could fully tell the good News to all those who are not Jews. So I was saved from the lion's mouth. The Lord will save me when anyone tries to hurt me, and he will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be the Lord's. Amen."

Life Lesson Verses:

Deuteronomy 4:7 - "... the Lord our God comes near when we pray to him."
Psalm 32:6 - "For this reason, all who obey you should pray to you while they still can. When troubles rise like a flood, they will not reach them."

My Life Verses:

Psalm 32:8 - "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you."
Hosea 14:8 - "I, the LORD, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree; your blessings come from me."

*****

I went out for a walk after I wrote this morning. Yet another old hymn was running through my mind.  :)

Revive Us Again

Hallelujah, Thine the glory

   Hallelujah, Amen.

Hallelujah, Thine the glory

   Revive us again.   

We praise You O God, for the Son of Thy love

For Jesus, who died and is now gone above.

We praise You O God, for Thy spirit of Light

Who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night.

Hallelujah, Thine the glory

   Hallelujah, Amen.

Hallelujah, Thine the glory

   Revive us again.

All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain

Who has born all our sin and has cleansed every stain

Revive us again, fill our hearts with Thy love

And may our souls be rekindled with fire from above.

Hallelujah, Thine the glory

   Hallelujah, Amen

Hallelujah, Thine the glory

   Revive us again.

Listen to Revive Us Again here.


Next Entry: John 17:1–26 (Continued)

John 15:1 – 16:4a

November 07, 2012

Remain! Remain! Remain!

John 15:4 - "Remain in me and I will remain in you." Jesus is the vine; God is the gardener; we are the branches. It is

God

↓

Man

It is not God = Man or

Man

↓

God.

We must understand this! The branch cannot exist without the vine; it will wither and die; be thrown into the fire; and burned. It cannot produce fruit without the vine. It must remain with the vine. To produce fruit, to produce much fruit, the gardener (God) must trim away the dead or anything that hinders the production of fruit. The pruning process makes the branch thrive and the branch produces even more fruit—fruit that lasts.

The branch doesn't decide what to change—the gardener decides. It is our responsibility to remain. Remain connected to the vine. Remain committed to the vine. Remain in submission to the vine. Remain in the flow of life and love from the vine. Remain dependent upon the vine. To remain means to submit yourself to the authority of the vine and gardener. To truly understand the

God's Will

↓

Man

relationship. John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and follow my teachings, you can ask anything you want, and it will be given to you." There are some who read a verse like this and selfishly think it means they can use God like a puppet or benefactor so they can ask for anything they want and they can get it, as if God is their own personal servant. But look at it more closely. "If you remain in me and follow my teachings..."if you do those things, then your will and God's will, will be aligned and your heart will desire what His heart desires. John 15:16 - "Go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name." IF—THEN.

One of the fruits we are to produce is LOVE. John 15:12 - "This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:17 - "This is my command: Love each other." Pretty clear and straight forward. Those commands leave no room for anger, revenge, greed, deceit, force, control, or selfish desires. Those actions absolutely remove you from the vine and the ability to produce fruit. The fruit God wants is: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is what God wants. The only way to achieve those fruits is to remain. Remain in the vine. Welcome the pruning of the gardener. The producing of fruit is worth it all.

Remaining in Him does not mean a trouble free life. The world hated Jesus and the people of the world may hate you. But, we are not alone because we are part of the vine. John 14:16–17 - "I will send you the Helper... he is the Spirit of Truth." People who hate you may try to destroy you, but they cannot be successful. They cannot separate you from the vine. The gardener's pruning is what makes you strong. It's makes you understand that life is not about you—it is about Him. Jesus tells us what we do for the "least of these" is what we do for Him. The reverse of that is true as well. When someone does something to try and stop us or destroy us, their actions are actually against Christ because we are part of the vine. They may try to stop the production of fruit, but it isn't just the branch they are attacking, they are attacking the vine. It isn't our fight. It's God's. So let Him handle it.  Leave it in His hands.

We have one responsibility—Remain! Accept the pruning. Produce MUCH fruit.

Addendum: 7/4/2018 ~ As I was reading this post this morning the words of John 15:16 stuck out to me. "And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last." Fruit that will last. This has new meaning to me. It is the only thing that is important and truly lasts.

We've all heard the saying that you "never see a U-Haul behind a hearse," meaning you can't take your earthly possessions with you when you die. But it is so much more than that. In the months before my father-in-law's death, he lost all of his cognitive skills. It was a very sad thing to watch. In life, he was a very prideful man. He was proud of his business, his awards, his trips and vacations, his accomplishments, etc. But now, at the end of his life, he lost all memory of the things he was so proud of. He forgot he had taken those trips, he forgot about his awards and accomplishments, he forgot about the business he started, and in the most part, he forgot about his family. It was all gone. And then it hit me. It isn't just your possessions you don't take with you. You don't take your goals and accomplishments, your awards, the things you take pride in—you don't take anything earthly with you. 

The only thing that matters is "fruit that will last," the things you have done that brings Honor and Glory to God.

Who did you lead to Christ? Who did you help in His name? Who did you encourage in their walk with Christ? What have you done that holds Kingdom value? Because if your life accomplishments don't hold Kingdom value, if it isn't "fruit that lasts," then it really doesn't matter.

The poem by C.T. Studd says it all. 

Only One Life

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yest only one,
Soon with its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice,
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh, let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call,
I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Next Entry: John 16:4b–33

John 11:1–57

October 29. 2012

The death of Lazarus. I am struck again by the words of Jesus. John 11:15 - "I am glad for your sakes I was not there so that you may believe." What looks disastrous is many times for our good.

Oh, how I can relate! As I look back over our lives I can see how God has used the different "deep water" times in our lives to build us up; grow us; change us; deepen our faith; and use us... ALL for our good. I am grateful—yes, GRATEFUL—for all the deep water times in our lives and "the storm." They are truly Blessed Events and we will not squander them.

Jane (Her Name Was Jane) has written a comparison between Martha and Mary's response to life and Lazarus illness and death in her KJV Bible.

Martha—Self-centered
Mary—Christ-centered

Martha was busy "doing" whether it be preparing the house and food or going to meet Jesus after Lazarus died. Mary on the other hand, was busy "being." Mary was the one who poured perfume on Jesus feet and wiped them with her hair. She didn't go to meet Jesus coming, she "sat still." Jane has written "submission, peace, confidence." When Jesus asked for her "she arose quickly, and came unto him." When she saw him, "she fell down at his feet." Her dependence was not on self or "doing," it was on "being," totally dependent on the Lord.

Our concerns should not be about what "we" want. It should be—Jesus, what do YOU want from me?


Next Entry: John 12:1–50 

Matthew 24:1–51

June 27, 2012

Jesus prophesies about His second coming in this chapter. Several month ago while talking to my Sunday School girls about Hunger Games and the similarities between that story and what the Bible says about end times, it became very apparent that they were totally unaware of what the Bible says about Jesus' second coming, the tribulation, and the Great White Throne judgment. So, I spent a lot of time studying it myself so I could teach it to them. The end result was four pages of information for them. End Time Prophecy 101 is included in this journal. The girls were very interested. We've since shared it with our daughter and son-in-law and will soon be sharing it with our son and daughter-in-law. Many other people have requested a copy of it as well.

Jesus prophesied about His second coming while sitting on the Mount of Olives, exactly where the prophet Zechariah predicted the Messiah would stand when He comes to establish His kingdom. It is just amazing how scripture is intertwined with prophecy foretold and prophecy fulfilled. See End Time Prophecy 101 for a summary of His second coming.

A few things stand out in this chapter:

1. Don't be afraid
2. Those who keep their faith will be saved
3. Always be ready

We don't know the "when" of His second coming, but Matthew 24:32–33 says we can determine the "season." Don't be afraid. Keep the faith. Always be ready.   

"Simeon reminds us to "wait forwardly." Patiently vigilant. But not so patient that we lose our vigilance. Nor so vigilant that we lose our patience." ~ From When Christ Comes by Max Lucado

Next Entry: End Time Prophecy 101

Matthew 22:1–46

June 25, 2012

A story about a Wedding Feast. Jesus tells the people that the kingdom of heaven is like a king (God) who has prepared a wedding for His son (Jesus). When the feast was ready the king sent His servant to tell the people but they refused to come.

So the king sent other servants to tell those who were invited that everything was ready, and they refused to listen. Not only did they not listen, but they grabbed the servants, beat them and killed them. They were too interested in their own businesses to be bothered with what was offered to them. The king was furious and sent his army to hold them accountable. The murderers were killed and their cities were burned. The king sent his servants out again. This time they were told not to bother with the people who refused to come or refused to listen. They were to open the feast up to everyone.

The wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came he saw a man who was not dressed for a wedding. The man was thrown out. There was no defense and there was nothing he could say. He was thrown into the pit of darkness. The Great White Throne judgment has the same result. There is no defense. Nothing can be said. The unbelievers fate is sealed.

"Yes, many people are invited, but only a few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14) 

Three different groups of people tried to trick Jesus. The Pharisees (a sect that were strict followers of the law); the Herodians (Jews who supported Herod); and the Sadducees (Jews who did not believe in the super-natural ability of God). All three groups were determined to try and trick Jesus and therefore destroy Him and His ministry. They tried to trick Him about whether taxes should or should not be paid—and they were amazed at His answers. They tried to trick Him with questions about what happens after death if a woman was widowed from different brothers—and they were amazed with His answers. They tried to trick Him with questions about which commandment was the most important. Jesus answered by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:19:

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

Then Jesus asked them a question. As much as they thought they knew scripture, they just didn't get it. They were trying to trick THE Christ—and they couldn't answer His questions. Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 to them:

"The LORD said to my Lord: Sit by me at my right side, until I put your enemies under your control."

Until! "The Lord has made a promise and will not change his mind... the Lord is beside you to help you." Psalm 110:4–5.

 "Jesus did not retaliate. He left the judging to God. He did not take on the task of seeking revenge." ~ From No Wonder They Call Him Savior by Max Lucado.

Until then...we wait.

Addendum:  12/22/15 ~ UNTIL!! We will continue to wait. "The Lord has made a promise and will not change his mind." We believe in HIS promises. Both His promises of blessings and His promise of consequences.

My heart has been really burdened for my sister lately. I've spent time fasting and praying specifically just for her. For some reason this seems like a crucial time. Jesus IS three kinds of stone: a cornerstone, a stumbling stone, and a crushing stone. My prayer is that for my sister He will become a cornerstone. If I could make the choice for her I would. But unfortunately, I cannot make it for her. So, I fast and pray for her to make the choice that she can build her life upon. 


Next Entry: Matthew 23:1–39

Matthew 21:1–46

June 20 - 21, 2012

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling what the prophets said in Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9. The people were excited. Here was their long awaited earthly king—or so they thought.

They still did not understand. They thought He was a great prophet and king, an answer to their immediate problems, when actually He came to be the answer for all eternity. When He arrived in Jerusalem He went to the temple. God had given specific instructions on how to build and use the temple. It was to be a place of prayer and personal gifts, commitments, and sacrifices to God. The rules had purpose and meaning. But now, it was no longer about a personal relationship and a sacrificial heart. It was about ritual only. You didn't bring your own gifts and sacrifices. No, you just went and bought a dove or two and gave that. It no longer had meaning. It required no personal commitment. Just a "been there—done that" ritual.

Jesus made it clear how much He despised that kind of thinking, attitude, and actions. He threw over the tables and removed those trying to profit off of what was supposed to be gifts to God. Once the temple was cleared of the evil, then Jesus began to heal the blind and crippled. The Pharisees and leaders saw the wonderful things Jesus was doing and witnessed the children praising Him. All they saw and heard made them very angry. They were the experts in the law, so Jesus asks them, "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" and then he quotes Psalm 8:2 - "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." (Emphasis mine)  Praise—the most important thing Jane (Her Name Was Jane) taught us. Not only does it bring you into a closer understanding and communion with God, it also silences the foe and the avenger.

The next day, as Jesus was walking back to the city, He passed a fig tree that was without fruit. Jesus said to it, "You will never again have fruit"... and the tree dried up. The disciples were amazed. Matthew 21:21–22 - Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to this tree and even more. You will be able to say to this mountain, 'Go, fall into the sea.' And if you have faith it will happen. If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer."   

Our lives are to produce fruit. That is what God designed and called us to do. If we are not producing fruit then our lives are worthless in furthering God's kingdom, and we are in danger of being removed from His presence. IF—we believe, THEN—He will answer and He will give us the desires of our hearts. This isn't saying you can do whatever you want and demand what you want. No, when our desire is to serve, obey, and please God, then our desires line up with the heart of God, and our prayers will be in keeping with HIS word. IF—we do that, THEN—He will hear and will answer our prayers because we will want what HE wants. Our will is aligned with His.

The leaders and priests just could not accept that Jesus was God/man. They tested Him. They tried to trick Him. They did everything they could to oppose Him. Even when they knew He was talking about them and to them, they still refused to accept His teachings and acknowledge Him as LORD. Refused. They were so focused on trying to "get" Him that they totally refused to listen to Him. Jesus told them two parables. The first was a story about two sons. The first son refused to obey but later changed his mind and followed his father's orders. The second son "said" he would obey but never followed through with his commitment and did not follow his father's commands. Jesus asked them, "Which son obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first son." Jesus compared their actions to that of the second son. "Even after seeing this, you still refused to change your ways and believe him." 

Then Jesus tells the story about a man who owned a vineyard. He protected it; he watched over it; he did everything to make it the best possible. When he left for a trip he leased the land to some farmers. When it was time for the harvest he sent his servants for his share of the grapes. But the farmers didn't want to lose any of the profit. They wanted it all for themselves, so they beat one of the servants the owner sent and killed two of the others. So the owner sent even more servants the second time. He gave them a second chance, but they responded in the same way. So, the owner decided to send his own son thinking, "They will respect my son." But when the farmers saw the son they not only didn't want to lose a portions of the profits, they realized they could lose the whole vineyard because the son would inherit the land. They said, "If we kill him it will be ours." So they grabbed the son, threw him out, and killed him. Then Jesus asked the priests and leaders, "So what will the owner of the vineyard do to these farmers when he comes?" The priests and leaders answered, "He will surely kill those evil men. Then he will lease the vineyard to some other farmers who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." Then Jesus said, "Surely you have read this in the scriptures."

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:22–23

"So I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to people who do the things God wants in his kingdom. The person who falls on this stone will be broken, and on whom ever that stone falls, that person will be crushed." (Matthew 21:43–44)

The leaders and priests knew Hwas talking about them, but they didn't change their hearts and lives. They instead wanted to have Him arrested, but held back because they were afraid of the people's reaction since the people believed Jesus was a prophet. They were faced with truth, but just would not surrender.

Jesus, as a "stone" is described in three different ways.

1. A cornerstone—someone to build your life upon.
2. A stumbling stone—someone who doesn't fit what you think He should be, or do what you think He should do. He doesn't fit your mold, so you decide to find your own way, and you end up tripping over what God puts in your path.  
3. A crushing stone—someone who avenges and administers justice to those who refuse to believe and surrender themselves to Him.

Jesus Christ. Built upon; stumbled over; or broken by. I choose to build my life on the Cornerstone.

Addendum:  1/1/16 ~ Our God pays attention to details. There are no maybes, ifs, or happenstance situations with God. As I went back and was reading Matthew 21 this morning I was struck again by God's attention to detail.

Jesus told his disciples to, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will quickly find a donkey tied there with its colt. Untie them and bring them to me...." He didn't say to go and try to find a donkey, to search the alley ways and streets and to find someone who will let you do what I am telling you to do. No, He gave clear directions. This is where you should go; this is what you will find; this is what will happen.

We often don't know the "details" in the trials we face in life, but God does. HE HAS IT UNDER CONTROL! That "trial" you are facing really can become a "trail"—an opportunity to follow the ONE who has it all under control.

Our faith remains in HIM!


Next Entry: Matthew 22:1–46

Matthew 14:1–36 (Continued)

May 22, 2012

Jesus walks on the water.   

Immediately after feeding the five thousand Jesus sent His disciples and the crowd away and He spent a considerable amount of time alone with God. It was probably between three and six in the morning when Jesus walked out to the boat where the disciples were. It was storming. The wind was blowing. The waves were huge. It was the middle of the night. The disciples are frightened and they see a figure walking towards them. They think it is a ghost  Jesus says to them, "Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:27–29) Peter said, "Lord, if it is really you, then let me come to you on the water." Jesus said, "Come."

Peter began to walk on the water towards Jesus. But when he looked around and saw the waves, and heard the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. He shouted, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out, took his hand, and saved him. Jesus said, "Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) When they got into the boat the winds calmed, and all those who were in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Some observations:

• There will be storms in our lives
• If we look at our circumstances fear will come
• When we remain focused on Christ we don't see the circumstances
• People watch to see how we respond to our circumstances
• Our actions and reactions should point people to Jesus—only He is worthy of glory, honor, and praise
• Only Jesus has the power to calm the storms in our lives
• We must keep our eyes focused on Him and Him alone

"As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option. As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take him or leave him, you might as well leave him, because he won't be taken half-heartedly." ~ From The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado.  

Next Entry: Matthew 15:1–39   

Matthew 5:1–48 (Continued)

March 26, 2012

Jesus teaches about sexual sin, again talking not just about the letter of the law but of the intent of the law. Someone who follows the letter of the law says I didn't commit the actual sexual act so therefore I did not sin. But Jesus says, I don't want someone who is a rule-follower, I want heart-followers. A heart follower understands the intent of the law, and understands that Christ wants pure hearts, changed lives, and a new way of thinking. (Ezekiel 18:30–32) We only fool ourselves when we think we are hiding our sinful thoughts and evil intentions in our hearts.

God knows our heart and thoughts. Jesus clearly explains that evil thoughts (even without action) is still sin. Thoughts generally turn into action, and Jesus says—get rid of your evil thoughts. Get rid of anything that causes you to sin. Change your hearts. Why live as close to sin as you can and hope not to get burned. Why not instead live as close to the heart of God as you can? Striving each day to be more Christ-like in your thoughts, words, actions, and deeds.

As for me, I choose to learn and grow each day. I choose to live as close to the heart of God as possible, understanding that I will never be finished with growing and learning while I have earthly breath. I choose to be a heart follower of Jesus Christ. 


Next Entry: Matthew 5:1–48 (Continued)

Matthew 4:1–25

February 29, 2012

Jesus is baptized. The Holy Spirit descends upon Him from heaven. God the Father says in an audible voice: "This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him."

Was there a celebration to mark the occasion? Matthew 4 tells us what happened next. THEN! "Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil." He didn't "find" himself in this situation, He was led into it by the Spirit himself. For forty days and nights Jesus ate nothing. All alone. Hungry. Miserable. Vulnerable. And then, at His weakest point, the devil attacks by tempting Him to assume God the Father's position by using scripture. "If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread." "IF." The devil was trying to create doubt. Trying to get Jesus to leave His man/servant role. Trying to get Jesus to focus on the "here and now" and not the eternal. Trying to manipulate the situation (tired, hungry, alone, vulnerable) for his own power and control. And Jesus answers him by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 - "A person does not live by eating only bread, but by everything God says."

The devil of course never stops with just one try, so he tries another approach. This time the devil takes him to the Temple, the very place God designed as a place for His people to go for forgiveness of sin and worship. And the devil takes Him there, to this holiest of holy places, and says to Him (quoting Psalm 91:11–12), "If you are the Son of God, jump down, because it is written in scripture: 'He has put his angels in charge of you. They will catch you in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.' " Again using the word "IF" and trying to cast doubt. Once again trying to get Jesus to leave His man/servant role by trying to get Jesus to focus on the "moment" instead of the eternal. As part of the Trinity, He was standing at the very place meant to honor Him. But that wasn't His role now. His role was to be obedient to the Father so His life would replace the Temple and He would become the Salvation—the Christ—for mankind.

Jesus answered the devil by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 - "Do not test the Lord your God."

The devil tries a third time. He took Jesus to the top of a high mountain and showed Him the kingdoms of the world and all their splendor. The devil, the usurping prince of this world, offered to "give" Jesus what was rightfully His if He would accept it right then from him instead of waiting to receive it from God. Jesus replied by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 - "Go away from me Satan!  It is written in Scriptures, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' "  

When Jesus commanded the devil to leave—he left—and then angels came and took care of Jesus.

A couple of observations:

• The devil's tactic to try and get Jesus as God/man to be self-sufficient instead of God-reliant is the #1 issue in all of our lives. The #1 issue is putting SELF before God, which is breaking commandments #1 and #2—PRIDE. He didn't choose some random temptation. He chose the very things that will trip every single one of us up if we don't respond the same way Jesus responded.
• The devil also appealed to SELF when he promised Jesus immediate satisfaction. How many times do we want to act immediately instead of waiting on the Lord?

Next Entry: Matthew 4:1–25 (Continued)

Joel 1:1 – 3:21

February 03, 2012

Hey! I'm talking to you! Listen up!!

The people of Judah had become prosperous and complacent. They were self-centered and self-reliant. It was good to have God around if they needed Him. But for the most part, they didn't think they needed Him. So God sent Joel to give them a "wake-up" call.

"God always gives us a chance to repent before he inflicts discipline. Like a loving parent, God's purpose is not to punish but to correct and nurture." ~ From Life Lesson

God will use (and do) whatever is necessary to bring His people back to Him.

Joel 2:12 - "The LORD says, 'Even now, come back to me with all your heart.'" Just feeling sad about what you have done is not enough. "Let your heart be broken. Come back to the LORD your God, because he is kind and shows mercy... He can change his mind about doing harm. Who knows? Maybe he will turn back to you and leave behind a blessing for you." (Joel 2:12–14)

"Warnings. Red lights in life that signal us of impending danger. They exist in all parts of life. Sirens scream as a marriage starts to sour; alarms blaze when a faith weakens; flares go up to alert us of morals being compromised. 

They manifest themselves in a variety of ways: guilt, depression, rationalizations. A friend might confront. A scripture might sting. A burden might prove too heavy. Regardless of how they may arrive, warnings come with the same purpose: To alert. To wake up. 

Unfortunately, they are not always heeded... warnings can be as blunt as a sledgehammer and we still turn our head and whistle them away... (we) believe we are the proverbial exception to the rule...

Divine warnings. All inspired by God and tested by time. They're yours to do with as you wish. They are red lights on your dashboard. Heed them and safety is yours to enjoy. Ignore them and I'll be looking for you on the side of the road." ~ From God Came Near by Max Lucado

I will force your enemies away. I will have mercy on you. Be joyful in the LORD your God because He does what is right. He blesses and he provides. Joel 2:26 - "You will praise the name of the LORD your God." You will never again be ashamed. I will do miracles for you. "Then you will know... that I am the LORD your God and there is no other God." I will pour out my Spirit on you. Anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. I will punish those who have tried to hurt you. I will judge the nations. Joel 3:16–17 - "But the LORD will be a safe place for his people, a strong place of safety for the people of Israel. Then you will know that I, the LORD your God lives on my holy Mount Zion."

Then you will know! One way or the other ALL will know that he is THE LORD.

Hey! I'm talking to you!! Listen up!

Addendum:  9/21/15 ~ I'm weary and I'm sad. From a human perspective, "the storm" seems insurmountable and hopeless—and there is no end in sight.

We just received the Settlement instructions from the judge. It laid out the rules and procedures for the upcoming Settlement Conference. In reading through the letter, it was clear that unless God intervenes, this whole process is hopeless. Both sides are supposed to be negotiating back and forth to try and settle this lawsuit before the scheduled Settlement Conference. The problem is there is NO negotiating with my sister or brother-in-law or their attorney.

We have tried so many times. We had a buyer for 1.1 million; we've offered to buy them out; we've offered to be bought out; we've offered them all the money left in the escrow account; and they have flat out refused every single offer without any discussion of any kind. They will not listen to reason. We will not try to protect ourselves and "buy" our freedom from them when we are not guilty of any of their accusations. If we had done some wrong, we would own up to it, but we haven't done anything wrong. They are like the stereotypical playground "bully." There seriously is no reasoning with them. They will do whatever they want to get what they want–period. And what they want is control, total dominance, and our destruction.

Without God intervening, a settlement is hopeless. So, if a settlement is hopeless, then that means "the storm" will have to go to trial. Oh, how I don't want that. First and foremost, I do not want to sit across from my sister in a courtroom. That is just SO wrong on so many levels. The thought of having to prepare for a trial and having to immerse myself in the mire of the black boxes that are stored away in the garage is nauseating. The cost to defend ourselves at trial will probably be well over an additional $100,000. We have already paid close to $250,000 to defend ourselves against their trickery and false accusations. We don't have an additional $100,000 and the thought of having to come up with that money is discouraging. The time and energy required? Exhausting. 

The weight of my sadness was heavy so I decided to go out for a walk. It was late at night and dark, but I headed outside anyways. I knew I needed to shed some tears, and pray. On one hand I am grateful for the years of grace God has so graciously given my sister and brother-in-law and I want for them to still have an opportunity to change their hearts and lives and get a new way of thinking. On the other hand, it has been over eight years, which is a long, long time.

Please, LORD—have MERCY!! I cried out to the LORD over and over again for mercy. At one point I stopped walking and just stood there, sobbing and begging for God's mercy. Our dog who usually runs ahead and is in full exploration mode, came back and stood beside me pressing his head and body against mine. "I" don't like "the storm" we are in. "I" don't want a trial. But this isn't about me. I pulled myself together and spent the next several laps singing the song, "All to Jesus I Surrender".

When I came back in the house, I picked up my laptop. Before I went out I had just completed entering the quote from Max Lucado. As I began to type again from where I left off, tears came to my eyes. Here is what I began to type:

 "I will force your enemies away. I will have mercy on you. Be joyful in the LORD your God because he does what is right. He blesses and he provides."You will praise the name of the LORD your God." You will never again be ashamed. I will do miracles for you. "Then you will know... that I am the LORD your God and there is no other God." I will pour out my Spirit on you. Anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. I will punish those who have tried to hurt you. I will judge the nations. "But the LORD will be a safe place for his people, a strong place of safety for the people of Israel. Then you will know that I, the LORD your God lives on my holy Mount Zion."

Thank you, LORD, for the reminder. We believe YOUR words. We will trust you. We will wait on you. We will do whatever you ask of us. We surrender all.

Addendum #2: 2/24/17 ~ Silly me.  When am I ever going to learn?

On 9/21/15 I wrote, "So, if a Settlement is hopeless, then that means "the storm" will have to go to trail." The Settlement Conference judge tried his best, but all efforts for a settlement failed. I almost fell back into the trap of thinking our situation is hopeless and the only option left is a trial when we have believed for a very long time that this lawsuit is not going to trial.

In our country's court system there is no option left but a trial. BUT GOD!!  Our faith is NOT in our court system or anything else. Our faith is in the LORD.  HE is our protector. If HE uses the court system—so be it. But, HE is not limited to the perimeters of a court system. HE will save us however HE chooses. Our faith is in HIM alone.

We continue to believe it is not God's will for this lawsuit to go to trial. So, how else could it possibly end? I have no idea. Our prayer is that my sister and brother-in-law will change their hearts and lives. Will they? I don't know. It doesn't look hopeful, but while there is breath there is hope. So, we will hope. All we know is this: no matter what—our faith and hope is in the LORD. It is HIS prerogative to choose the method on how it ends and when it ends. We will trust HIM. We will wait on HIM.  


Next Entry: Amos 1:1 – 2:16 

Daniel 6:1–28 (Continued)

January 24, 2012

Last night, as I was drifting in and out of sleep, a song kept running through my mind, the same song that I've found myself "singing" throughout the day and night for weeks now.

You Never Let Go  By Matt Redman

Even though I walk through they valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear.
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near.

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh, You never let go
LORD, You never let go of me.

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know you here on this earth.
 
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh, You never let go
LORD, You never let go of me.

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles.
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You!
Still I will praise You!


Next Entry: Daniel 7:1 – 8:27