Method or Madness

In the Method or Madness, one is looking into the methods for taking a dramatic role and making it believable. The operative word is to be heard at the back of any theater. The Method is to mumble. (that is practicing mumbling, and loud.)
The twist is for the actor to become the part they seek to play within the Theater.
In the practice of speaking, the actor must speak clearly to an audience of people filled auditorium or coliseum. In the Method there is set a pattern to follow. Some have listed it as a holy order. It is as though it to be a secretive pattern, correct and true and it is for those who follow it religiously to perform on stage. It to me is the going further to achieve something desired within the theater group.
But whatever its method, the technique, that is tried by many and is surely the strange, maybe bizarre to others who are on the outside of the "acting world".
In performing on stage, the main goal is the actor not get carried away by their emotions in doing the part. They say "Method" teaching is to help someone work out their part so well, it is believed and the actor is seen as the groomed and can aspire others as they give the scripted character their voice. In any form, should not the play present an art?
Although singing is added, and flair plus talent is a real incentive, yet one must exhibit the very character they are to act out on stage as their very own.

However a person gains a role in a play, you will see either a seasoned performer or someone just trying to act.  There are some who truly have the gift to be in theater, and others well, I am not sure why they chose that field.
I though have much respect for those who take on roles in plays and such. I have seen the hard work and even seen those who sing in a play work hours for months, to get the just right look, to get the just right sound and harmony with an entire singing team. Whatever people implement into their acting roles, it is their zeal for acting that should be seen. Of course, that is my opinion, please!
I am no specialist in those who act for a living or otherwise. But I am interested in how they achieve what they do to improve and to excel in their acting careers.
If the "method" is needed to help train another for their part, then where would be the madness? If you fall down a short hill and require some aspirin for a time, would  not that aspirin be helpful to you who just experienced every bump and rock of said "short hill fall" as you rolled?
The point of such techniques is to help one into their role and in that make the part their own. It is to be realistic, however the work on it appears hard.

In only doing one play in high school, I thought of it as work! And my thought was, "why did we need to perform a play to get a grade?"
I sensed a real problem when one only speaks the words without the full "me" being or portraying the girl next door.

What a person requires to perform before hundreds of people may not seem like a big deal till you must speak before the "big deal crowd of 300 people!
I compare acting with speaking or acting in plays, for we certainly must be those who will stand and speak about God and His love for all.

I remember always raising my hand to be first to do "the oral book report". Not sure they still do those, but in the day of the twentieth century and while in grade school, one had to actually read a book and report on it. Viewing the statistics today that few graduating from high school can read, I wonder what their actual achievement was in school. We must be able to read, like books, but also street signs, read to sign contracts, sign up for medical care, and the such. YOU must be able to read to take the Rules of the Road test for your driver's license. Or do they just hand those driver's licenses to anyone without a test today.  Whatever the situation, at some point reading will be needed and how will you do without reading?

Will our lives depict a method or a madness about it? Will our lives which should be taken as serious for an eternity be for His glory, poured out in a fruitful way to speak of His goodness?
The Bible gives us the studies on men and women who trusted God. Sprinkled through the pages, you also find those who had a madness about their life.
As in "method" acting, one sees the actor create what they desire to portray. It is not "a" game to them. For them it is their life, their joy. Just ask one who loves acting and donning those costumes for their newest part in that next great play!
Whatever their creation strategy, their professionalism shines through. Those who love the "stage" call it home!

Finding our place (our home) in the "Sun" is the place in the Lord that is righteousness and healing is available.

Malachi 4:1-4

4:1 "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty. 

4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
NIV

It is not what we believe, for the demons believe----and tremble!

James 2:19-26
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. NKJV


Our faith, our trust is to be in God and not in some form of trying to get to God. God is here and He is NOW!
He came to EARTH.  He died for sinful man. We asked forgiveness for denying Him, and received unto us a salvation and life always being restored, renewed and expanding into His plan for each of us.

We walk through the valley of the shadow of death, not by strutting in arrogance, but in a faith belief that God is for us. It is His delight to give us the kingdom.

AS we walk out our door like Abraham did, we walk out and do what the Lord said do.

Never mind who might complain. Our approval will always be from God. YOU might get it from a man, but where will they be when the fire comes, when the storms blow and your place is moved to another place? No raves from man will profit anyone.

God did not call us to misery and lack, He called us to be one mind with Him.  In our righteousness and right standing with God we should be those who stand, not in the closet ....after praying.......and speak of the Lord, of His divine love, and our opportunity to escape the hellfire awaiting those who refuse HIM.

What James contended with in this passage, was people who cried up faith. They depended on their bare confession to comply. We apply our faith, yes by speaking, but then we go and do what we could not do before.
If you never have worked, then apply the word that you are more than a conqueror and fill out some applications for work on-line. Then you will see your fruit of faith in action.
Abraham spoke all the while of Isaac and taking the boy up to the place of sacrifice, but each time, as Abraham spoke, to the young men who went with them......"the boy and I will go up to worship and we will return to you."
See here in Genesis 22:5-14 ....NKJV... And AbrahAm said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife and the two went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said "Here I am, my son." then he said, "Look the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told Him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order, and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me." 13 The Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord- Will-Provide; as it is said to this day. "IN the Mount of THE LORD it shall be provided."

We are justified by faith when we are the obedient to follow His instructions and those who He has placed around us as leaders.
It is not looking at the LIST of to DO....and marking them to do later..........much L...A.....T.....E.....R......!

Abraham had to leave his tent and follow the instructions. We have to be obedient to follow through with what we desire to happen in our lives. YOU cannot search for a job from the easy chair. And God will test. He did test Abraham. And Abraham was not found wanting. He obeyed, even if it cost him his son. But GOD!

It is not enough to just confess, but take action. If you need new smoke detectors, then have them replaced. They have expiration dates on them, you know, right?
It is not enough to just confess, and not do what the Lord asked you to do. If it is to write, then write. Just put something down. Ask the Lord for His thoughts for you today and write them, and then write what they mean, and then write your heart!
I do not do to gain the favor of a man but to please My Father in heaven. 2 John 4-6...It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And not dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you heave heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. NIV

The MESSAGE states this: I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent to living out the TRUTH, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends and this is not a new commandment but simple a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard and nothing has changed.

UNITY WITH GOD....is not madness. Unity is one heart, one thought (His thoughts) and holding fast to them and then act them out .................yes, in real life. No we are not actors, we are living without dress rehearsals. We are expected to not sit with the scornful, nor take counsel of the ungodly nor stand in path of sinners. Being planted is being planted in His thoughts, His character not by emotions to give a performance of the flesh creature, but living life that is fruit that which builds, and creates a place where others comes to partake of God's goodness.
God spoke to Abraham in the tent, and in the field. He spoke to him on the mount. Where will He speak to you? It will not be while you text, but when you pause, listen for His voice, and obey.

For me, I desire to obey no matter what. And speak what He wants me to speak. I write what He places on my heart. It will minister for it is Word that prevails. It will go forth and be performed not by magic mirror or smoke or waving a wand, but will be performed by His power the Holy Spirit. The WIND IS BLOWING! HIS WORD IS GOING FORWARD! WILL YOU BE FOUND TO RECEIVE THAT WHICH GOD WILL DO, AS HE DID FOR ABRAHAM?

Praying we will be found in obedience! Receiving the Message with great eagerness is so important and like the Bereans we are to examine the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul ( a pastor) said was true. (Acts 17:11)

Hebrew 13:15-19
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
NKJV

Allow a praise to come. Speak or prophecy to that which your heart desires. Whether is to be a new bride, a new manager, a new business owner, a new ministry to youth or a new you. Speak those verses and scripture that speak to where you desire to go and grow. Become what He desires and what He APPROVES FOR YOU! There is no method or madness. It is being true to follow Him where He sends and do What He desires. Living in His love is honorable and is the place of blessings and security. Amen

I HAVE A NEW WEB SITE AVAILABLE NOW WITH OTHER CURRENT BLOGS AND YOUTUBE TEACHINGS. I INVITE YOU TOO CHECK IT OUT.  THERE IS A PRAYER REQUEST SECTION ON THE SITE.

www.godsgoodnessandlove.com

Notice:

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 
Hearing and Obeying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIiZSDh_2Fk

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

A Kodak Moment or the "Son" Moment

I remember the Kodak camera era. What innovative equipment to capture a moment in your life! Yes, those Kodak moments were in the 20th century. I still have many of those moments of my life, my families live's captured for all time or till they fade, get wet or worse. Yet it is something to hold in your hand.

And sometimes I come across that which is not rightly focused on anything. I examine and think "what happened on this day"? I try to envision the day and what camera we might have used or what was available that did work. Well, it looks out of focus, yes, completely blurred and rather grainy!

Yes, those were the days. Today it is taking them and putting them on your laptop and printing them out yourself. Now that is a chore!
And with me choosing which one to print takes even longer and can take me hours to get just one job done!
Yeah, should be the faster, right, wrong!

In truth though I am led back to the Bible and handling those pages like I do those pictures. In those pages I see lives, men and women alike, and how they were changed from glory to glory in God!
I think that is why I love holding the pages of the Bible in my hands, feeling those pages and looking into those words that fill page after page with such exciting adventures of people who either loved God or hated Him. There were those who ran with His Word and His power to touch other people's lives and some just played the game never really knowing Him.
In the space of a couple of hours, I love to read over someone's life, like David's, or Jeremiah's and see what touched their hearts. There were so many qualities in them, and they had some failures as well, yet they knew God.
Coming on the time of His sacrifice, I am remembering my day to receive Him as Lord. And in receiving Him, we move to His realm. We must understand that the Word of God is spirit and truth..........and if our flesh man has not died, he must do it so the spirit man in us can rise in power.

Genesis 8:20-22
20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.

22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat, Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease."  NKJV

Yes, SEEDTIME and harvest while the earth remains is paramount for God placed seed in us. In the moments before being conceived a sperm had to have persistence to find that egg. It had to keep moving, not understanding where it was going, but it was for destiny.
And it that destiny, a child is born. In that destiny found from the seed that God created long ago.

We find our way today with persistence, with and endurance that will never quit!

Our prayer time is to seek God's heart and hear Him give His heart on those things concerning us, our families, our neighborhood and community. Our prayers are to be that incense that is sweet aroma and is soothing to God. As we keep reaching, we change. In reaching and seeking we are allowing the Holy Spirit in our prayer time to water the "seed". In that time we call the "altar" time......with God, we allow the watering to begin. For the altar is surely the place to meet God. It is the opportunity to give time, and lean to Him to understand His ways of doing things.
For one like Abraham (Genesis 22) we see him always going to do what the LORD God asked him to do in that which involved the "sacrifice". Truly we are the "living sacrifices" and are to be those accepted by God.

Romans 12:1-2
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  NKJV

Our reasonable service: is that which is done according to the Word of God. And to do that, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

His Word that is spirit and truth will lead us into His ways, thoughts that are so much higher than ours.

Isaiah 55:9

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts. NIV

1 Peter 2:4-8
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

"The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,"  8 and

"A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense."

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.  NKJV

1 Peter 2:8 Amplified Bible.....And, A Stone that will cause stumbling a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God's ] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined ( appointed) to do.

It is built in "the spirit" first and seen later in the natural. To those obedient keep hearing and keep seeking. We must start in prayer, receive His Word that grows us, strengthens us, and expands us to be a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Being established in that way, we are the precious in His sight. We will never be put to shame. We are to be the obedient!


2 Corinthians 2:14-17
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.  NKJV

Now thanks be to God who leads us in triumph! When? ALWAYS!
AND in that walk, we are the diligent to keep working toward seeing His Word formed in our lives and seeing that we are victorious. We become the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.......an aroma..........and in that we "are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. It is to one person the aroma of death leading to death and to another the aroma of life leading to life. Those who operate in diffusing that aroma speak in the sight of God in Christ. Speaking in clarity and clearness is our role!
If someone is not receiving that Word, then are they operating in the "flesh" creature?

If we stay in His Word, we are the protected. When we speak as He did, we speak in clarity and clearness that is direct to His plan and purpose for our lives and those of others.



Ephesians 5:15-21
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.  NKJV

We are to be about walking as the wise being attentive, and using the time diligently knowing the Lord's will.It is being about His plan. In being filled with the Spirit, we are speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We are those who sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. It is giving thanks to Him for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submitting to one another in the fear of God. That submitting is keeping the peace and love ruling. If it isn't doing that, then we need to find out why! We are to keep a walk of the Spirit. We are to stay in alignment with Him and abide in His peace. If we are the bumpy, the waddling, much like a vehicle out of alignment running down the road on 4 wheels, then we must find out why we are the ones out of alignment!
We may want to run with God, but end up on the bumpy roads, the rutted roads of the rigorous routines of previous leaders at home, in the church or even in certain ministries. But the bumpy roads can be removed when we stay with God.


Proverbs 2:12-15
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who leave the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.
NIV

Staying in God's wisdom directs us away from wicked men whose words are the twisted speech. There is no clarity in them. They are those who leave the straight paths to walk in the dark ways delighting in doing wrong. Yes their paths are the crooked, the perverse..........and are the devious.
Make sure you know those who lead you in teachings and praying. Make sure you know God has sent them. Should any come and darken the gathering, who speak perverse language, then take it to the JUDGE!

Yes take it to the JUDGE! Just like the woman in Luke 18.


Luke 18:1-8

18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"

6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" NIV

The woman kept going like we should in prayer. Keep going and asking what or on whose behalf you are praying. For He will not put you off! He is our justice! And He is the way that has straight paths. It is the unending way of truth leading us every forward into eternity.



In John 5, we find Jesus stating that the Father judges no one. So all was entrusted to judgment and the Son was to see over it. It was stated that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. See below:
John 5:22-23
 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.  NIV

It is better to obey God and heed His warnings. We are to pray and find what He is red flagging on that we must avoid. In our day to day and our work with others, the protection lies on that which is of Jesus Christ and He as the Judge. Pray! And let Jesus be the JUDGE in your day! Pray and water that "seed" that is a greatness in and through God and brings glory to Him.
It is that which is freedom but not to go and do all the wild and wrong things to glorify what?


In that moment of today, that rides out like a wild surf on the ocean water, are we bringing glory to God in our prayers and in our speaking to others.If we are riding high, is in His power and His might? Is it through the Holy Spirit?
Is there clarity in His word..........such a clearness that everyone hears and knows clearly that we represent God and Him alone.

If there is a moment being taken today of your life: will it appear clear and bright for God or will it be the out of focus, the dimly lit room, with nothing being viewed but completely blurred........distorted and of no use. It does not take a lot to distort a picture. Any false moves can cause distortion!
You ask me or anyone who just came from an eye appointment!

Yes I still have some of those blurred or out of focus pics and I keep a few them. One was of our baby daughter in her crib. And the others were of me and my husband. Still, God has a plan and it is for His glory and may we find our moment in the "Son"!

James 4:13-15
" 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. NIV



For it is in Him that we will live, move and have our being. If it isn't, then find out why!
And only you can do that. No one can do it for you! That relationship begins with talking to God in the name of Jesus. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit will guide you into His perfect love, peace and plan. The seed in you will grow and become what He intended for your life!

God will always do exactly what He as said He will do. He never changes. If we are joining the group, then what "role" has God told you to fill. He placed something in you from the foundation of the world. He also places people around us to help in determining that place, but we must be the those resilient to say, " I know God and He loves me." "He will bless me with all that I need." "I will embrace those God sends to surround me in His love, His peace and His plan!"

Jesus said this:

Luke 10:18-24
18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

22 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."   NIV


Jesus full of joy through the Holy Spirit spoke: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure."

We must come humble before the Lord, and ask His plan and direction for us. Are we not to be the demanding or even the scornful!  We are to look to Him for He has the plan for our lives. We must find how we fit in that plan.

"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see........for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

Humble yourself. Come before His presence. Worship Him and pray. Seek His guidance. And hear from heaven, for He will direct your steps that are ordered just for you.

Psalm 37:23-24
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.  NKJV

That "steps" are companionship. The companionship of a good man.........is confirmed. And He favors the way with "conversation".
There must be some kind " of Kodak moments" or the "Son" moment.........to have time with God. To have history with Him, spend time is a companionship. It is costly!
That time of companionship will water you, and will give place to the "you" God has in His heart, and what He intended, and planned for. YOU are not here by mistake. God does not make mistakes! Get that focus on Him, be watered by the Word and by prayer in the Spirit. We will see you at the victory line in clarity and truth! Amen!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

ALL FLESH SHALL SEE

Luke 3:3-6
 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the LORD,
Make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "
NKJV

Luke 3:3-6

And he went into all the country round about the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance (of hearty amending of their ways, with abhorrence of past wrongdoing) unto the forgiveness of sin. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, the voice of one crying in the wilderness [shouting in the desert]; Prepare the way of the Lord, make His beaten paths straight. 5 Every valley and ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be leveled; and the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough roads shall be made smooth; 6 And all mankind shall see (behold and understand and at last acknowledge) the salvation of God (the deliverance from eternal death decreed by God). [Isaiah 40:3-5]  Amplified

Some of the saddest stories have come over the news in the past two weeks. Surely people have lost their lives in homes sliding down hillsides and vehicles overtaken by water. When there is a barrier like across a roadway, it is there for a "reason" and it is not the one that says" hey, let's try out that road, it is UNDER WATER right now!"

I know not what some people's thinking is at the time or if they have the concept that the brain is in the  continual"ON Mode" position, but some of their thinking gave them ideas that they could drive through deep, deep and fast moving water that is filled with debris like broken bridges, downed fir trees or even other vehicles floating down river.
And I wonder in each case if they were saved! I wonder if they went to heaven or did they have time for Jesus at all!
And at this writing I think of all the young adults who strap bombs onto their being and blow themselves up to kill other people. What kind of hate that must reside in their hearts that they could blow others up so that "they" the bomb person can have some how many maidens waiting for them in paradise to give them pleasure???? What a lie! I thought of the young couple who killed what was it "nine" individuals and then end up dying in a shoot out and left behind a small infant. Terrible! I wonder how many demons were waiting their arrival in hell? Who told them to do that? We must know truth and that comes from pouring over the Gospels that Jesus taught to others who followed Him. He always gave glory to God His Father!

In going on in Luke 3 we find this when John the Baptist spoke:

7 So he said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, You offspring of vipers! Who secretly warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with [your] repentance [that is conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin]. And do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father, for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up descendants for Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, so that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.Amplified

And finishing on from verses 10-18........was about love. It was to share your tunics. If you have two, share with him who has none. And he who has food, do the same..........share (verse 11) 

AND SO ....WITH MANY OTHER [VARIOUS] APPEALS AND ADMONITIONS HE PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS (THE GOSPEL) TO THE PEOPLE. (verse 18)

There is so much today on the news.......and of that which is suppose to be a faith, but not sure of what it is in..........as they dismember people and seek to destroy others with horrific acts. But my Jesus came to give life. Any other is of the devil.........for he (the devil ) came to steal, kill and destroy.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Jesus came to give us  a life that is full of life and overflowing with life.

He came to give life everlasting.

John 6:46-51

46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 

NIV

For what do I worship?

I worship Jesus who was born of the virgin Mary!

Luke 1:26-29

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 

NKJV

I give thanks to the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth!

Genesis 1:1-5

1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. 

NKJV

I believe Jesus is coming again soon!

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. 

NIV

All flesh are to see Jesus in us. Not under or in any other name. The testimony of Jesus points us to the realities that life today is to be in Him and through Him. Jesus did not come to badger, bully, to kill, to profane another, but to give life and give light to a dying world. Life has come through the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus. Not touched by man, no DNA of man but of only God. In Jesus we saw Him declare and demonstrate works of God for all to see.

He always directed His disciples back to the truth that He only did what He saw His Father doing. And He only spoke what He, Jesus, heard His Father speak.

Yes, it was this total agreement based entirely on what God told Him. Jesus obeyed!

As John the Baptist went about in the "wilderness" to declare the coming of Jesus, we too must proclaim His coming again. Our testimony is to remind others of what "love" looks like to a dying world. It is sharing what we have: not only in love, but in food and in clothing. It is our declarations that testify and yes, give demonstration to truth that God is love and He sees after our needs.

John the Baptist told those who (Luke 3:14) served as soldiers to "never demand or enforce by terrifying people or by accusing wrongfully and always be satisfied with your rations (supplies)and with your allowances (wages). I believe there is scripture that sums all this up:

1 Timothy 2:1-7

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. 2 for kings and who who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, to be testified in due time 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle-----I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying----a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. NKJV

There is One Mediator and His name is Jesus!( it is not Theudas, Judas, mohammed or ???).........Jesus is our God and our King) He is the Son of God! Matthew 3:16-17.....

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."    NKJV

We all are to have knowledge of truth. In study of the Gospels and all that Jesus taught on, those parables should be our mainstay diet. When they are our delight and our counselors, we will be those fulfilling God's plan for us.........and that is one-to-one-to-one.

In the previous blog: Water to Wine: Holding Him in our Hearts, we saw how Mary watched her Son grow and become that for which He was destined for and to accomplish. She knew the things which were spoken about her Son by those who had the prophetic voice. She saw within her home how He acted and behaved when no one was watching. In what we hold here in this teaching, we see the disciples "recognize" and continue to follow.
Luke 24:28-35
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
NKJV

The Lord has indeed risen. And He is still standing true to the "breaking of the bread". He is still opening the Scriptures to us, to those who seek His face and revere His name!

Those who "really know" Jesus will act like Him. From the above Jesus was still speaking and acting on Himself being talked of in the scriptures. And when He had taken the bread and broke it........their eyes were open. They "recognized" their Rabbi, their Savior, the Holy One of God!

If we find something seems wrong on the news, take it to prayer. Take the "thing" to God and ask Him. Take it to church or whatever body of believer's you have fellowship with. And then bring it here...........write in the comment section. We, together here will help you pray about what you comment on.  We are the powerhouse for Jesus.............for we have His Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead resides in us. Let us join forces........and stop the bullying through prayer and by extending love to our neighbors by feeding them and giving them something to keep warm. Our greatest days of seeing His power released on earth is right before us. Recognize Him, act on what He speaks........and......................keep looking up for our redemption draws near! (Luke 21:28)...............Our Redeemer has paid it in full and He is standing by to bring us in to that for which we believe to know as truth.

Keep walking, keep proclaiming and let us pray....individually and together in corporate prayer that.......peace be in earth as it is in heaven. 

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth (in me)

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not

into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.



You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Me!

Ever thought of the importance of naming the generations like we see in
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Have you ever thought when God told Abram, "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, go to a land that I will show you....THIS WAS NOT A WEAK LITTLE SUGGESTION.........IT WAS "GET OUT"!

Abraham moved from the place people knew him! He moved from the familiar. I am thinking it was important as we saw with Jesus.........familiarity was breeding contempt toward Him.(SEE MATTHEW 13) Abram was to become Abraham, he was the signal of movement from the ordinary to the extraordinary in God.

Genesis 12:1-9....................2:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:

"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. ............. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.  NKJV

In reading the end of Genesis 11, we find Abraham needing to be separated from his father Terah. For Abraham needed to move to Canaan, the land of promise. We sometimes need to be separated to that which God has called us. And Abraham needed to be separated, as we see from Genesis 12...."get out of your country".....get away from that which is familiar! And told Abraham that he would make him a great nation. "I will bless you and make your name great."
Ever notice today how so many what to be famous? Ever see how many will take over a meeting and the podium to get their say in? AND the meeting is "not even about what these intruders come to speak about!!!!
Interesting how people want to speak, yet it makes no sense when they finally do get to do it. It certainly takes time with God, to see our place, what He has planned for us and how to get there by following and THEN BY LEADING OTHERS, AND THAT IS HOW IT WORKS AND BY NO OTHER WAY!!!

Then we read, that God went even further to remove Abraham from Lot. He was going to do a new thing in someone ready to run with the "God thing".
Genesis 15:1-21............15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." 2 But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!" 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

7 Then He said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it." 8 And he said, "Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?" 9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates-- 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites." NKJV

And we finally see Abram become Abraham, Sarai become Sarah and see the birth of Isaac.

Genesis 17:5-22.......................5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

9 And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."

15 Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her." 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" 18 And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!" 19 Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year." 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.  NKJV


Abram became Abraham. He moved from a place known for idolatry! The city of Ur.....was ..UNDER a kind of theocracy. They worshiped a diety of the moon. If you remember, he came from the same area where the Tower of Babel was built in Genesis 11:3-4.    But Abram became a man of faith, and resisted the pollution of an idol based society.

Then we find Isaac, the son of promise!  But we also find, that when Abraham tried to do it his way, he got an Ishmael. He certainly was not allowing God to be the beginning of this adventure for a child. And in doing it is way, he suffered heartache and caused much grief to himself and to other's.
Genesis 21:1-7........... 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him--whom Sarah bore to him--Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me." 7 She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."     NKJV

Isaac, was the promise, the "laughter" that God presented to Sarah. Long after, when all is done, then she too, inherited the promise of a child. The barren had become fruitful and produced a son. As Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah under the leadership of God, he became wealth under the same mighty Hand. Those issues of family life in Ur were gone. Isaac, the promised, now had life, and was to raise children of his own. Not under the idolatry of early years for parents in Ur, but become the separated unto God. Even in marriage, Isaac was given a wife. He would not intermarry among the Canaanites, but would have a marriage with someone from his own people. And we see Rebehak take her place. As Isaac came to wealth by birth, so too, his receiving did not stop there. Even his wife was given to him. When the servant was sent out to find the woman for Isaac, guidelines were furnished. The instructions from God were made plain. Isaac was in "receivership".

Genesis 24:19-47.....19 After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful. 

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.   23 Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" 

24 She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor." 25 And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night." 

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." 

28 The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. 29........(she) had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31 "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." 

32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say."

Genesis 24:34-49....................34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.' 

39 "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?' 

40 "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you--you will be released from my oath.' 

42 "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar," 44 and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.' 

45 "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' 

46 "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also. 

47 "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?'........(she answered..) 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.'

"Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn."      NIV

Genesis 24:50-51.............50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed."    NIV

Genesis 24:62-67............62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?"

"He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. 

66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.    NIV

Isaac was the son of the covenant. It was his life that had the evidence of favor by God. In Isaac we see a child become that which was destined by God. He became a man of peace as we see in Genesis 26:20-22............20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.   22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land." 

In devotion, we see him in verse 67 that Rebekah became his wife and loved her. He became devoted to his wife. To love her all his days, he was comforted by her in and after his mother's death! And of faith, we see Paul writing about both Isaac who was born of the free woman, Sarah in Galatians 4:21-23.........21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 

And then we come to the twins born to Rebekah and Isaac. We see one loved greatly by Isaac and one loved greatly by Rebekah. That will cause problems, will it not? As we see in Genesis 25:23....the elder Esau, the favored by Isaac, would be declared to serve the younger. And Rebekah conspired, yes, to scheme, plot, get her own way, for Jacob to receive the blessing. We find Jacob running to Laban in Paddan-aram to get away from the violence that erupted between the twin brothers. Many years passed and the two were joined in peace finally to give respect to those to which it was due!  

Genesis 35:27-29.................27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt. 28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. 29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. NKJV

In Jacob, we find him gaining the birthright, that which is leader over the family, in giving the prayer, the teaching of the Word of God and in wisdom for decisions.........remember Esau sold that birthright for a cup of soup! YIKES! Jacob was the supplanter, a sure liar in getting his way. But amidst all the turmoil and trials, he left Esau, and ran into the waiting arms of Laban, that selfish person who was always grasping for what others had. In always taking what he wanted, he found that retribution ....that punishment or penalty came out of gaining a wife, not of his choice......again, what he wanted. But one thing showed an evidence that he was serving many years for two wives and then many years to tending Laban's flocks. He gain Leah and Rachel. Leah gave him....Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulin.......a daughter Dinah. Then Leah's maid, Zilpah, gave him two more sons...................Gad and Asher. (Genesis 30:9-13)

Leah was not loved like Rachel was, but Judah came through Leah. And out of the tribe of Judah came Jesus the Messiah.

Rachel had two sons, one Joseph and one who caused death for her, Benjamin.

Rachel was a liar as well....and it was interesting that she chose to take things that were not hers in .....regard to Laban & his covetousness. Her life depicted one toward God but she held superstitions of her country and in worshiping the teraphim....Genesis 31:19.

When God is not in the beginning of the plans, then we resort to odd superstitious things, but is in faith that we walk. And in so doing, that faith must grow, and we see it in Rachel. She was well remembered long after her passing as seen in Ruth 4:11-12......11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you from this young woman." NKJV

Why do I write all this? Why do I see the importance for there to be generations mentioned.........? For we must have our beginning in God. Each had their own thoughts and processes going on, but each would fail until they hooked up with God and had HIS leading them to their future. That leading was not going to be in failures, and lack and disappointments, but in each, we saw a fulfillment of what was promised them. 

WHAT has been promised to you? In Abraham, we see him receive direction and instruction from God. And when they did, he and his wife had much laughter added to them. They had to move away from idolatry and look to God, their source. In Isaac, we saw a young man receive his inheritance as a son. Because his parents believed, he gained life. We saw him act in fear of man much like his father did earlier in our reading of this great lineage. In weakness, Isaac too, told those that his wife was his sister......

Genesis 26:1-9................... 2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar. 

7 When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful." 

8 When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?"

Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her." NIV

But in all this, we see a man pray for his wife to conceive a child.

Genesis 25:21-23.................21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 

23 The LORD said to her,   

"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated;

one people will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger."  NIV

And came two individuals......twins who would be total opposites.

Genesis 26:34-35.....................34 When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. NIV  


AND IN JACOB, we saw the liar become the "one who contended with God". Yes, his polygamy was contrary to the original law. It was evil!!
In that which he left behind, the ignorance, the inexcusable, he gained a higher life in God. 
Hosea 12:3-6.........3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb,
And in his strength he struggled with God. 
4 Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed;
He wept, and sought favor from Him.
He found Him in Bethel,
And there He spoke to us-- 
5 That is, the LORD God of hosts.
The LORD is His memorable name. 
6 So you, by the help of your God, return;
Observe mercy and justice,
And wait on your God continually. NKJV


Isaac was to bless the elder. He was to bless his son Esau, and have him lead the "family", but Jacob wanted the blessing and in deceit he took it. He planned out how to do it and deceived an old, blind Isaac. AND WE READ in Genesis 26:35...we see Esau and his wives....Judith and Basemoth.......and they were grief to Isaac and Rebekah.
Jacob contended and God received that which Jacob had prayed for. Jacob received his name change "contender with God".....see Matthew 11:12."I will not let go except Thou bless me."......Genesis 32:26.
Jacob had been driving himself, to be what he believed was his. But now God would lead him. Now he would return to peace with his brother and live for God!

In the three generations, we saw one move from the land they knew (Ur) to move to Canaan. They would receive an inheritance in trusting God. In their plans, they failed, but God caused them to rise higher than before. Isaac received his wife without seeing her. Can we the children of God, do as much and receive what God has for us without first seeing it, but JUST READY TO RECEIVE IT? IT IS TIME FOR RECEIVERSHIP!!!!

Will we grow and become those who will contend for the faith? 
In this day and time, I am what you would call the spiritual mother. As that spiritual leader, I am to speak words of wisdom, that comes from a heart that is the throne of God. We must know our leading, and that it must come from Him and His wisdom. We must know that we are there to encourage those like Isaac..........that laughter is good, but you need wisdom as well. In those moments of laughter, we look to the future and we see the choices that can be made. But we must expect to receive with faith that which God is wanting to entrust to our keeping. We can see the Jacob or the Esau.......we can see the liar, the one who appears peaceful but always attracts other covetous men and women. Or we can also look to the robust type in Esau, who looks like someone out of FIELD AND STREAM. BUT.....we must look to God, the beginner of all things. It is in Him , that we live and move and have our being. If we like, Jacob submit to authority, we too, can have that name change that will be one of respect and honor and NOT one of shame and dishonor.

In closing: in the time of Jesus, he too, faced the familiarity......and this is what occurred. 

In Matthew 13:53-58......NKJV.....53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. In this we see familiar was breeding contempt toward Jesus , the Messiah. These people were so familiar with HIM, they could not understand how He spoke with wisdom and did mighty works. "Is this not the carpenter's son"? "Is not His mother called Mary"? ....."and His brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas"?  AND THEY WERE OFFENDED AT HIM! THEY COULD NOT RECEIVE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LOOK ON THAT HE WAS THE CALLED.......HE was just Jesus, the carpenter's son. But those who would receive, called Him the Son of God! He was the anointed, Bread of Life...... John 6:32, Dayspring ..........Luke 1:78, Good Shepherd.......... John 10:11, Holy One of God...Mark 1:24, Horn of Salvation....... Luke 1:69, The Life....John 14:6, Light of the World....John 8:12, Lamb of God.....John 1:29, and Prince of Life.....Acts 3:15. 

Jesus went on to say,............ " a prophet is now without honor except in his own country and in his own house."
For that which we deem not useful to us, not gain, will be like those in Jesus' hometown disdain the prophet, the man or woman with the wisdom of God who speaks with authority? Will we be those who " are so familiar" just cast off the good and remain with the mundane and mediocre life?
Mine is to chase after the Spirit of Prophecy Who is Jesus! I hope it is yours as well!



Father, thank You for the Spirit of Prophecy that is Jesus. (Revelation 19:10) It is that testimony of faith just like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had! I pray that any who read this would be captivated by the love God had for each successive generation and how God wanted to guide them through to health and wealth. We desire to be hooked into the vine, that place of the Lord that will increase our lives. We desire to hear His directives for our lives. Like Paul, we too, desire to be those who will be the intimately acquainted with You.
Wherever we stand in our walk with You, may we be ever moving toward You and hearing You give us the plans for our lives. May we be those "faith" people who exercise that faith like the generations before us. It is in YOU that we live, move and have our being!
Father, may we look to You and hear all that is being spoken about what we must need to know about for our families and communities. Help us to see those who speak with wisdom and have a relationship with You that we will be receptive to hear all that You speak to us through Your word and through those men or women you send on our pathway. May we always look out for the other's best and may we be those men and women of honor and not of the dishonored. May we be fruitful in delivering words of wisdom to those who are in need of guidance today. We thank You for filling us with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that we may walk worthy of You Lord, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of YOU. We thank You for past and present relationships. We learn from those who oppose us and from those who are for us. We also give thanks for discernment and spiritual understanding. We enter Your gates with thanksgiving in our hearts. It is Jesus' name we pray and give thanks. Amen and Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

Spiritual Poetry

How would you define poetry? How about a literary work that is written with intensity....given in ideas....with a distinct flow of a style and rhythm?
I had no idea of how to proceed with this other than the Lord wanted it written out. It was a title given to my husband. So I prayed about it and put it on the list to publish. So here is what I have gotten in prayer.
I thought of this song done in the sixties. It was called "Poetry in Motion".  It was a song sung by Johnny Tillotson. There were two lines of verse that stood out to me........."a flower of devotion, a swaying gracefully."

Spiritually speaking, that is the way the Lord views us. He desires us to be that flower of devotion as we move through life ever so gently swaying gracefully in His plan for our lives.
Did you know that when you hold the Bible in your hands to read, you have poetry before your eyes? Did you know that 1/3 of the Old Testament was in poetry form?
But today we look at the New Testament.

In the New Testament, we see it in written form as the Beatitudes. (also Luke 20-26)
Matthew 5:3-10.....
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. NKJV

Poetry in motion. Mary, the mother of Jesus responded to Elizabeth with a poem. It is known as the "Magnificat".

Luke 1:46-55

46 And Mary said: 

"My soul magnifies the Lord, 

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 

48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 

49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name. 

50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him 

From generation to generation. 

51 He has shown strength with His arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 

52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

And exalted the lowly. 

53 He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich He has sent away empty. 

54 He has helped His servant Israel,

In remembrance of His mercy, 

55 As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and to his seed forever."  NKJV

Yes, even the New Testament has some listed poems: like in Luke 2:14, and in Luke 1:68-79.

When God the Holy Spirit spoke through Jesus in the beatitudes, He was wrapping up the package of beauty the disciple of the Lord and how the disciple would look like now and for tomorrow. In looking over Matthew 5:3-10, Jesus was giving details of how the disciple's character and lifestyle would be different than walking in ways of the world. Anyone, an whosoever, would be a person with attributes that was distinctive of the "kingdom of God".

In Mary's poem, we see praise and worship toward God! She said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."
Her spirit was rejoicing in knowing truth of God Who was the Savior!

For both of these two given,Jesus and Mary both endured pain and heartache. Jesus was the Ultimate Sacrifice and was the example of the "Believer".  He, though, was the pure without sin or blemish. He gave His all for us. He was the example who knew that the Word of God, that scripture was power and saw change for Himself and for others. His was one that spoke of the Father and the kingdom of Heaven.

Mary saw many come against her after these words were spoken. She saw some to want to cast her out and yes, throw rocks, because of what she was going through. But that is for another time. Right now we look at the beauty of how these spoke to encourage others, and breathe life into mortal souls.
Psalm 150:6.............6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
NIV

We, too, can speak like these two spoke. We can take the Word and speak that spiritual poetry to see our lives change and the lives of others as well. 

1 Peter 3:4.....4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. NKJV

When we speak His word there is beauty! We can pray the prayer that He would give us the “incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious” in His sight.

We can pray and worship making Him the Lord in any situations, whether for male or female, that 

where anyone in our past has convinced us that we are less than who He made us to be, that He would show us how to replace those lies with His truth. Even though hurtful words  have been spoken to us, we deny their right to continue playing over and over in our minds. 

Our value is far above rubies. 

Proverbs 31:10-12...10 Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies. 

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain. 

12 She does him good and not evil 

All the days of her life. NKJV

Our value whether, the husband or wife, when looking at this scripture, it all is pointed toward the heart. We should have our trust in our mates and do them only good and not evil all the days of their lives. Our value should be something others will notice. Knowing God and His word, and speaking it with confidence, gives us the edge, that ingrained capacity for meeting the "storms", and "the bad report" with courage.

God's wisdom enhances the beauty He has for us is to the full and it always glorifies Him. May we truly reflect His image in us.

Jesus spoke only what He heard the Father speak.  John 8:47.......47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."  NKJV

As Kingdom Citizens, we were shown what each category looked like. As His disciples, we were to have them before our eyes and understand. We were to imitate His life and tell others within our circle or community of people about Jesus. ( I have heard that it is within 15 feet where you stand, work, or live as in your home.) (so who is within 15 feet of you right now?)

That beauty goes hand in hand with His power and His honor. That quality always emphasizes His greatness and His authority!

Jesus and His mother Mary moved through life allotted them. They kept their vigil on the Word of God and exuded God's Presence and His glory! It is true Spiritual Poetry when we keep that Word and move though in this journey of life into life eternal. May it be to God's glory forever!

Father, it is in Jesus' name that we pray today. Set a guard over our mouths according to Psalm 141. Please keep watch over our lips and do not incline our hearts to any evil thing as those who practice wicked works with men who work iniquity. Lord, we pray that we do not eat of their delicacies.

Father, it is YOU we seek with our whole heart. We know that YOU are not in the" let's scare mankind today business." No, YOU are the One who gives life. Today we deliberately choose to behold the beauty of You the Creator who made the heavens and the earth. It is You Who made the forests, the rocks, and the rivers. YOU created the ice- caped mountain ranges, the birds that fly and sing, blue skies with clouds of white, and children to sing and dance. You created Jesus with the plan of Redemption. In all this we closely guard Your Word. We take it to our hearts for though things are coming on the earth, You will keep us in Your bosom. Though others may experience wrath, we take comfort and are encouraged that You will care for us even in times of trouble.

Like Mary we sing today. From Psalm 59:16-17...we will sing of Your power, yes, we will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been our defense and refuge in the day of trouble.  To You, O our Strength, we will sing praises; for God is our defense, our God of mercy.

Father, it is Your wisdom that enhances the beauty YOU have for us! May we be those with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 
May we truly reflect YOUR image in us. Amen and Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV