What are We Embracing Today?

Embracing the dangerous might hold you by its thorns!

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.
What does evil imply when applied to daily living? Scripture tells us to choose our friends carefully and many people choose to go with the "crowd". Some remain close to family for "a hand-out" while others look for various ways to get rich quick! Still the word of God, His very wisdom tells us to choose our friends carefully!

You can pick a crowd, any crowd, like the one at the coffee shop, the crowd at the Mall, the crowd at the workplace and within them you will find at least one person either male or female remarking of someone in the world won the lottery, someone bet on "something" with their last buck in hand and won some pile of money or else they are that someone "who"  was just given "a new car" when they "just" walked in the door of a store downtown.
And many times, yes, the "righteous" fellow will gravitate to follow the crowds roar of enthusiasm for those who made it rich overnight, became a new car owner or even of that person who instantly experienced loss of weight overnight.

Anyone knows that keeping healthy takes more than just healthy eating. It takes more than just reading on the latest health tips available to us.  It also takes exercise and good sleep at night to heal a body and give it strength.
Others know that the best foot forward is out the door to the job and out the door to make a difference for your family. But there remains the man or woman who choose to seek the easy way out. They seek to gravitate toward the couch, stay out of gyms or even the paths to exercise the "dog" and continue to the ever growing waistline. They seek to avoid the workplace by looking for a simple hand-out!

Ask anyone who has really lost weight and how they at the very beginning of the "want to" within them, they turned to a spouse for support, they turned toward applying some effort to getting back to being the size 10 or the size 12 by eating less foods, picking healthier foods like fresh vegetables and they prayed over their endeavor to lose weight. It takes the diligent person to find the rowing machine, the outerwear for the rainy season to hit the paths in the rain & where the joggers are found regularly, exercising their way to the more healthy body for long life.

So if one finds friends who travel the wine tasting avenue, then there could arise some potential hazards to the wine tasting adventure. One might turn out to be a real "taster" to never stop.
On the other hand, you might run with the crowd who loves to  stand in long lines for lottery tickets to win the next big bundle to just go buy more lottery tickets. Yikes!

Proverbs 12:24  The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor. Yes there are many who want to live in the mansion. There are many who want to drive that "exotic" looking car without the work behind the effort to gain such things. The slothful will not rule! Those lazy in attitude will remain slothful. They will devise their way from their sofa or couch.
To really work, is to put effort in that which we are hired to do and do it to the point of where we are learning to increase in productivity. My husband is one who wanted to learn as much as he could of the maintenance side of machines, the maintenance of anything that would produce energy to mankind. In that he learned skills, not found in books but with "all hands" on the job and in detail of the very work. In that today, he teaches many others how to apply those skills.
In recent weeks, I had noticed of the special reports of those in cities looking to put more emphasis on what people call the blue collar worker. In that is the person who has learn the trades: welders, electricians, mechanics, iron-workers, etc. For in this the 21st century there is a laborless force for what is called the "blue collar" worker. Many women are choosing that field many frown upon today as it pays too little for them to live. But when one really looks at the whole picture, many are choosing to have "no labor" a part of their lifestyle. They want: easy, free if possible, with no loss of that which they really like and entertain in their hearts to have.
Then one can also find those who say they are doing their work, but later find that while a specific problem reared its head, the person or persons involved or should have been involved were off like someone on Facebook! Surely if we are hired to do a specific job, then we should do it to the ability God has given us to do our work.

Something for nothing seems to be the motto of many people and of those coming from other countries as well! It appears that some people choose welfare instead of actually living a life to the full that God planned for us to live. Even today we find those who would rather play games than work.  But this great land was built by the strength of arm and the sweat of the brow.
I think of my Savior who walked to many cities in His day to make sure others would know of the love that had come from the Father of lights and of whom there is no variableness. He never changes His mind. He does not change His word to fit us, we spend time in His word to find out what we truly look like and how we are to act. So that one day we will see the actual image God planned for us what it looks like and how to live that image.
Hopefully we are embracing truth and not lies. Hopefully our eyes are on Jesus and that we have strength and power through the Holy Spirit to move through this life in that which pleases God. In this hopefully we awoke today and rose to walk another day in the glory of the Lord, to hear Him speak and how we can be a blessing to others. This was never meant for hand-outs but a hand-up to see God's love, and bask in the beauty of Him. Today commit your works unto the Lord and your thoughts shall be established. (Proverbs 16:3) Be fixed in Him, and when you do, He leads and controls your thoughts toward life, to brand-new information that is from His treasury of wisdom. Really there is no alternative!

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Field of Blood: Self Interest

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You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

The Tower of Babel

https://youtu.be/kzA30KPP8kk

Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

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Quality without the Zika virus

Dragonflies

I was thinking of the word "quality" today. Now decades ago, quality meant something made to last. It was made to last long, have a look of style without regrets in it! I remember this ad from a television division that the quality would go in before the name would go on.....that is into the future!
Had a flashback to the earlier day and how anything our family bought lasted for years. My mother had no automatic dishwasher other than my sister and myself.  One of us would wash and the other would dry. Of course the one drying had some extra opportunity to complain about the dishwasher. I like drying myself, but I chose to rinse again if need be. But anyone who dried them, had to put them away and that meant extra work indeed! So if you liked drying and complaining, you paid back in extra work.
Heard this clip of a mid-afternoon show coming on (yesterday)...it was during the news break at noon. I actually like One America News because they give accurate news and not the garbage the regular media seem to think I want to hear. NO thank you!
From a local station, a preview of a coming attraction showed this young woman of about twenty and she did not think her dad was giving her enough money to live on weekly. Okay I am catching up, now what ....is she receiving an allowance or what? Then the host of the show shouted out a thousand dollars a week. I stopped from exiting the room. A thousand dollars a week? And the young woman starts to cry, stands up like in a fit of hurt and demands more money, because....and hear this....she does not want to work at a job because " it is so hard"!

I had no words. Really I still have no words for this thing I heard and they televised yesterday. I figure if you are in good health, no broken bones and have a brain, you can work at a job. Most people I know have jobs, have worked at a job or are about to get a new job! How exciting is that to do something, be creative in the person God created each of us to be, right?

So with quality, washing dishes, and a thousand a week is not enough.....something is out of whack somewhere! I remember my dad saying a job was an advantage to many people. He grew up in the time of the great depression and many people had no jobs to go to or make money for their families.
In all this, I think what an advantage we have in God when He can show us the right place to work to make the finances we require, we can find ways to make washing dishes fun when you really dislike the dishwasher to run. (people say the run quiet today, I disagree!)
But by prayer each day we can touch the face of God and speak of the desires in the new job, maybe a new dishwasher or even pray for someone else's need.
Making demands today seems to be the rule of the day. People making demands on that which they either know nothing of or they know all too well!
BUT what about the demand for quality to go in us before we go any further?

Quality: the standard of a thing measured; to the degree of excellence: do you work toward a better marriage, do you work in knowing your kids better

Working order: working according to the nature and the purpose of a machine or of a person…OF A person will be one….of favorable character with tendency/ praiseworthy character Merriam Webster Dictionary

That Strength is Living conditions that regards one alive with life blood, as to  necessity for food, shelter, clothing   and security..….. also to having regard for actual life that which is valid…., has the meaning of the legitimate living by force…that is sound and reliable.                                                      

Do people see us as being sound, reliable, a legitimate one who lives with ability, a quality of excellence that has a praiseworthy character?   

 Within this code of conduct, it was our God who gave us true happiness and well being through that which is truth in His instruction. 

 In a nation that was founded on God, the initial word at the very beginning was for people to read and write.

In all the years I went to school and graduated from high school, the point was to be educated to read and write and to work at some job. It was to prepare for " the future"! Yesterday my husband and I were appalled to hear that in city of Detroit Michigan that only a 5 percent number of those graduating high school have the ability to read and write their own name. In the city of Baltimore Maryland, it was a little more at 11 percent of those graduating high school could read and write their name. Why is that leaders are allowing the young people to be "dumbing down" when educated should be the optimum word for the day of their youth to their graduation year. They say many are not going to college because of money, but I wonder how many are not going to college because they cannot read or write. I know this is going on in some cities for we heard it done last year in a school system in Oregon.

Quality! If measured to the excellence scale where will most find themselves whether the business owner, the college professor or the doctor at some hospital? I certainly want someone qualified to operate if that is necessary for life, but if they cannot read or write then they will have no credentials to do that "thing". How sad for so many who lack an education they really deserved.

While at home, we did what we were asked and for an allowance, I do not remember one. We helped out with chores and feeding the livestock, and we got to see a movie once and awhile, but I do not remembering feeling that I missed anything from the time. I loved being with my parents, although I did not feel that I knew that all that well, but they saw that they had a job, and they saw we were fed and clothed with education in mind for our futures!

No, in fondness I think of the times of washing dishes with my sister, I think of the conversations we had around the table in the kitchen and how much laughter spilled into the yard for many to hear in our neighborhood. We never seemed to be without, but I remember my mother telling me at times not to ask for anything.
BUT there was generally two things I always asked for: one was pens to write my school work and the other was "ruled paper" to write the homework on to deliver it to the teacher the next day.
Yes in fondness, I think of my parents who decided to put some quality in their children and into their family. I pray that will happen in these United States of this country we call America. There should be no dumbing down for our youth, for they will lead someday. Hopefully it will not be in a welfare line, the food line or even any kind of hand out line, but they receive an education that will help them grow in life to become those responsible citizens this country needs!

Let's be responsible adults. We are to know the authority that has been given us here on earth in our salvation. Our authority that came through Jesus is to rule by the word of God, stand firm believing God's instruction to us and then be fully committed to seeing His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Only that which is allowed as holy is that which is approved by God. It is not by manipulating others to get something or even to get something done.
If this lack of quality in lives continues and famine appears what will be the outcome? The headline may carry news of famine, disease or Zika virus. But as a child of God I check out dried food reserves, I pray for clouds of dragonflies to come to this region of Washington and eat up those mosquitoes with Zika virus and I expect God to show us the next instruction for all our days on this earth.
If you wash a dish, or dry a dish, if you require extra money every week for living expenses the best place to start is with God. And pray for the youth of your community that they will be raised in the admonition of the Lord, be raised to be excited about going to school, to learn to read and write and to become the citizens God intended for them to become. We are to remember God is faithful and those who call on Him in spirit and truth, He will answer as we abide in His family, He will move prosperity to our home, life into our lives and continue to experience His goodness all the days of our lives in that quality of excellence! Amen.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and He adds to sorrow to it.

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Tongue of the Learned

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You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

FATHER FORGIVE THEM

https://youtu.be/ULu8EX3eOxs

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A Boss Baby

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Yikes! Have you seen that first flick of the Boss Baby? Can you imagine being led by a baby Boss? Certainly one must be trained for the area of work they desired to be positioned in for hopefully good pay, and of course advancement within said company. Yet there is that "one thing" that one must remember and that is to be diligent to do the best work one can do and especially in knowing when we are doing it unto the Lord.
Of recent days, the house is painted a new color. In this process you find those who desire to do the job, show up early and get started quickly to finish their assigned painting for the day. Yesterday proved futile with the winds gusting to 35 miles per hour, but today is beautiful indeed and very little wind to stop the required work!
One shows up for the job and gets started early, but the other comes much, much later and gives their expertise on the subject. Again, we must be willing to learn but would be more apt to learn from someone who loved their job!

It was like the teen who wanted a job at the  local Hardware Store in this town called Carson. Yet, in the writing of this article in a letter to the editor of  the local paper, the young teen required a minimum of 35 dollars to start and wanted Saturday and Sunday off! Now I wonder when he was going to work and if there is that place that pays the clean-up person the minimum of 35 dollars to start...where can I speak with these folks! Now if school is out, then most likely he could work during the summer, but still this was while school was in session.

Education and training is very important. As our grand-daughter points out she is learning her math to see clearly the ingredients for her recipes she loves to prepare with her mother and dad! Her dad has created some games to play with coins and the such to learn algebra.
 It takes study time within a classroom or quiet place alone and time to actually do the work yourself and not use some kind of instrument to get the correct answer. Kids today are allowed calculators in what, the 4th grade? Not sure how one could learn the process of working the math out, if a machine or piece of handheld equipment does the answering for you.
For me I have always loved reading, and finding out information from history, from the Bible to learning what recipes came from which country!  (Consider this: it was stated that Sir Walter Raleigh brought the potato back from the Americas and it was promptly introduced at the royal court of Queen Elizabeth. The group viewed it and then ate it raw! Since that time England swings with the new concoction of fish and chips. And if you are in England try them, they are oh so good!)

To learn anything, takes time and the willingness to study to acquire that place of knowing good information that equates with going somewhere with that which one can stand on and not that which equates no quality, which brings pain, darkness and no favor anywhere.

Anyone seeking that study time will seriously seek some good  time and generally alone time in a quiet room. My quiet time is in the office.  I love looking up early preachers of the Word of God and love finding out what their lives were truly like over one hundred years ago. For a person to bloom into what God has for them today, it requires them to have that foundation of the Gospel. Reading and studying the Bible from cover to cover would be a good start. And what is awesome about that today, is that they have the Bible on CD! So you could take it in your car or truck, to work or to the beach and see some great change come into your life!


Was thinking of the teen wanting the "great paying " job, but did he know how to push the broom, clean up and stack things in order? Could he take out the trash or was that left for the owner to do?
I think also of those walking the "streets" for change in the schools and most who carry the signs are made by 13 -17 years old. Now what change could they expect...for they have only known a few years of life and hopefully it was in school?  Yet even today there are those who walk the streets during school time, so I ask you what are they missing that day of which they might require in the future?

My husband and I saw this story of a young woman who most likely was about 21 years of age and she had been raised as an orphan. Not of this country, she grew up in the slums of a third world country, but chose to attend school. Still within her inadequate care of good food and clean environment she became ill, not unto death but did  have the kind of sickness which affected her brain. (especially in the thinking region of her brain) Still she proved to herself she could study and become a responsible adult.
It took her some years, but she moved from the fantasy to living as the responsible and in that she actually found parents to care for her who were not her biological but loved her just the same! For many though who have the advantage here, seem to need proof to back their own opinions and ideas.
Saw a writing by a theologian who stated that many today lack resources, many have the lack of time and many lack the resource of education to make the search for God. Of course he was mentioning those of third world countries. Many have to walk to find water and then it is not drinkable. Many are women who have been abandoned by husbands and now must care for their children alone! But I am certain that would not be the case in the country of which we live like America! Of late, the leading was toward creating "a god or goddess"!  People like the Avengers and the false reality many adhere to living, and the feedback  that was sent out today echoed the sentiments of the writers or creators of such are getting tired of the new story lines. But many people choose a leading in that which makes them comfortable to their idea of living for the fun times. In their consciences, they truly dodge that which they should grasp in knowing God but conform to gods and goddesses where magic rules, and responsibility is thrown out the window.


Jesus was given the tongue of the learned. He as the Prophet was given the exact word given to Him by the Father. Ezekiel 3:17 NKJV   17"Son of Man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me. Matthew 13:52 NKJV 52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is life a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.
Jesus brought forth that which was spoken of Him from the Old Testament and Revealed the New Testament in and through Him!

Jesus spoke this in John 12:49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

Jesus became the qualified. He became the Son . God opens our ears to hear. And like the Son we are not to be rebellious when He speaks. Jesus was willing to learn and to become what He was destined for as the divine sacrifice without sin! Despite the negative and the scorn, Jesus proved to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. He did not demand 35 dollars an hour to start out in His walk. No He was steadfastly set firmed and focused to accomplishe which even meant His death!

Isaiah 50: 7 continues with this: 7 For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. 8 He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.

God, His Father vindicates Jesus' character, approves of what Jesus did and declares Jesus innocent. And this was a prophetic word about HIM! With Jehovah as His advocate and His help, Jesus would prevail!

No "boss babies" here please! Truly our eyes are to be fixed on the word of God, following righteousness seeking the Lord always. We have received deliverance out of every phase of the curse for all men who will conform to His will. For when God promotes, others will desire to hear God's word through you and through me. For when God promotes, favor on our lives will be seen. And by faith we must believe and receive that which is in God for our light will break forth like the beams of the sun on a clear morning. Our righteousness that is of and in God will be seen as whole and healthy and God's glory will be our rear guard! Darkness has passed, light has appeared and in this day we delight. For in this process of time, we become what he destined for us to be in this moment now for His glory for now and forever. Amen!

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

The Presentation Of God's Empathy

https://youtu.be/r97SLTo_yz4

You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

The Corruption of the Faith Or The Agonizing Faith

https://youtu.be/1lHrhzEegtA

Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

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Vine Growers

Was moving some plants last month, and my husband and I came across a flowering plant that had a "tomato plant" growing up through the middle of it. Not sure why we had not noticed it, yet there it was with some blooms on it. Our thinking was that a bird must have dropped some seed or seeds from last years plants and somehow was ready to "do something this year", but proved rather late in its growing experience. Yeah, no fruit this year for that one plant.

John 15:15-17
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. NKJV

Calling us servants, we are to serve as Christ served. If He truly is our master, then we should know what He is doing. He chose us to do something specific. Now for some, they are to raise great children for His kingdom. Others, well, they are to worship and seek His voice. Still others can make it in the business scene and fill seats at the "city gates" where the city never closes.

As laborers we are to bring forth fruit so that the Father is pleased, not what we are pleased with at the time. As a child I remember my sister and I having homework. Most times I carried every book I had home so I could work well into the late hour only to carry the same books back to school. My sister sometimes carried a single book home. I use 'sometimes' loosely though. She could make wonderful report cards with all those A's on them. I always seemed more to be working for the varied A- to B+, to C- and possibly a D if I did not spend extra time with a teacher like for Math!

Also, if there was food involved, say a chocolate snickers bar, my sister was ready to eat it now, where I would wait till night time to feast on the wonderful flavors of chocolate and peanuts.

But I remember in my mother's speaking that it was the one who worked would get ahead in life. So year after year I carried books home and carried them back the next day. No, we did not have backpacks in those days. I know that working hard to be true today, and it is in that working hard that will produce progress. Working on the Word of God in our lives will produce when we continue to profess it and confess it out of our mouths. Waiters or those waiting to work do not get anything done. It would be like needing a job but never filling out an application for any specific job. No results!

John 6:26-29

 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." 28 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."NKJV

Remaining on the vine and connected to the Lifesource is imperative for us. Remaining in Jesus, we seek the food which endures for everlasting life. In that we seek to live a life where we are productive in society, in our family homes and within communities. We are to work and be faithful with what God desires for us to have here and now, but to always keep our eyes on the "eternal".

Colossians 2:6-10

6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.   NKJV

We are to walk as when we received Christ Jesus as Lord. Walking with Him, we are the rooted, and we grow being well established in faith. As we abound, in that faith, we are the joyful and we are the strengthened. Not listening to empty deceit or through man's philosophies, but truly living in Him in all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

In Him, we should diffuse His fragrance everywhere we go. Within Him, we influence others, we are the satisfied and furnished with all we need to see His kingdom come in our lives.

NT:4137

pleroo (play-ro'-o); from NT:4134; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:

We are in Him and can execute that office He planned for us to participate in. Being apart of the vine, we grow, become and last eternally. Whatever we do for the Lord let us do it with all our hearts. Let us not make it the pretense for personal gain, but only to bring glory to His Name. 

May we be found faithful, be a pattern to others, lead quiet and peaceable lives, live in integrity, have a pure heart before God, and make proper use of the gifts within us. Guard that which was committed to us by the Gospel. That good thing was committed to us by the Holy Ghost. And be not entangled in the affairs of this life, commit what you know to truthful men, and keep watching for Jesus' return. Faithful is the man or woman who will keep their watch and know the time is so short, indeed!

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published:

Speaking As To A Clear Conscience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUEiCK2djgY

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GOING FORWARD: TO BUILD!

1 John 4:1-6
4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.                 NKJV

I like what our pastor spoke on Thursday evening. He was speaking on that KEEPING IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT! Of course, we know what that is, right? But he simplified it: walking with the spirit is the building up and anything else is the tearing down.......that spirit of error!

In looking into that which we see in those with a prophet's call will see this:Jeremiah 1:9-12

Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: 

"Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 

10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To root out and to pull down,

To destroy and to throw down,

To build and to plant." 

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." 12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."            NKJV

Like what was given to Jeremiah, the prophet, certainly represents the picture of whatever is to be built was first rooted out........that which did not belong there in the first place. Pull down anything existing in structure........see it destroyed and then to build and plant.

It was a seeing what needed to come down.........that needed to be destroyed in Israel. But in all this for Israel.........that which was given to Jeremiah was for judgment to the people and the land! But we have the PROPHET:JESUS!

Today, we can see people who thoroughly want to destroy what has been established by God and they will use any means to do it. But in truth, these folks are only hurting themselves. We certainly do not want to be found fighting against God.

DISCERNMENT

IT IS GIVEN BY GOD: 

Daniel 2:20-22

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

For wisdom and might are His. 

21 And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise 

And knowledge to those who have understanding. 

22 He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him.     NKJV

He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. Is that not the most wonderful thing to hear? 

Like Daniel, we can see into that darkness, and find answers that may seem to stop us. But finding this takes prayer. When we read the entire portion in context, Daniel had asked his companions to pray as well.

Daniel 2:17-23

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: 

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

For wisdom and might are His. 

21 And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise 

And knowledge to those who have understanding. 

22 He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him. 

23 "I thank You and praise You,

O God of my fathers;

You have given me wisdom and might,

And have now made known to me what we asked of You,

For You have made known to us the king's demand."              NKJV

Yes, Daniel went to his house.......and sought out his companions and asked that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret.

Verse 19.....the secret was revealed and Daniel blessed God of heaven.

We certainly can find wisdom in the pages of Proverbs..........and read a chapter for everyday of the month!

GIVEN TO US THROUGH HIS WORD:

Hebrews 5:13-14

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.        NKJV

We find in the verses above that we can discern both good and evil.........truth and error.....by taking on the solid food........that is God's Word for us! That solid food helps us to grow and to exercise in discernment!
Our living on milk only is for infants. But the real meat is for those who have grown in their Christian walk. It is by doing that which helps us practice the Word, learning right from wrong and walking in righteousness. (Hebrews 5:12-14 TLB)

Philippians 1:9-11

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.               NKJV

Loving God's word will produce in us a discernment that is rich in truth, Embracing God's Word brings to us the good.......and show us clearly that which should be avoided. He directs us through to that which is excellence and of the best thing for us.

GIVEN TO A RENEWED MIND: KNOWING GOD'S WILL

Romans 12:2

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

2 Corinthians 2:16-17

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

ASKING: TO RECEIVE DISCERNMENT FROM THE WISDOM OF GOD

James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.   NKJV

NO doubting now, but if you lack wisdom ask God who will give liberally and without reproach.

Is it not interesting that God adds this portion to this verse...........no doubting.........for that man is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind?

Ever seen this in church? Church service begins.......people are worshiping..............PERSON....comes in and sits at the front and middle of congregation. They will not stand.............but said PERSON....just sits............placing their face in their hands. Then in the next moment.........the cell phone comes out..............PERSON......takes it in hand and writes out some text. In the next moment.............PERSON.........puts phone down............places face in hands again............and THEN LEAVES THE SANCTUARY...............never mind service has BEGUN!

NOT WORSHIPING GOD RIGHT NOW!!!

PERSON............goes out to the foyer to find some shoulder.........NOW, THIS IS NOT FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. AND interesting is the truth....of.....how many are out in the foyer.....some 15 -20 minutes after service has started.
What do people need to talk about while a service of worship is going on?
Not sure why I thought of this: but here goes!
Back in April, we had put some property on the market to be sold and praise the Lord, it sold! Hallelujah! My husband had wanted to go up and check on the property when we put it up to be sold. The few days before he was to go, we heard about this young woman, 19 years old..........drove off an overpass of I-5 while she was texting. She flew over and that Ford Explorer slammed to the ground. Yes all was recorded..........and it happened at 3:40 pm.......blocking southbound lanes till after 5 pm that eventful Friday the 10th. ( the texting we heard some days later as many investigated this tragic end)
What would have been so important to cause one to text and drive at the same time? My first thought was if "she was saved".

So we come back to PERSON. What if something really big is coming toward her and she needs God for the answer?

PERSON...........now has several patting them on shoulder............and said PERSON.............does not know what to do in THIS SITUATION. REALLY?!? Saved for decades now, and gone through really high water and things that can cause death..........and.......come out on the other side.........and still this up and down, up and down..........OH, POOR PERSON!

I have been there. But we really must grow up in the Lord. Friendship is awesome. Cherish your friends but do not let THEM become a "god" to YOU.

I like what Joyce Meyer said about something like that! She mentioned her early years, and how she was up and then down......depressed, not depressed.........and in reality.....she mentioned that those times of being up and down can sometimes be because "PERSON" likes the attention.......more  ................ than God teaching them how to go forward. They really like the ATTENTION!

But the main thing I remember what Joyce said was, that her husband would call her on it......this very thing, when she acted like this........! And he would speak something ...and Joyce said that he was right............She would be up one day and down the next. She was happy one day and sad the next. She said if someone did not speak to her, or she did not have the day she thought she should have had...........well, it was all over! Then she would go back and be depressed. But Joyce's husband told her she needed to stop doing that. Either God was God in her life or He was NOT! (She probably has a teaching on this!)

Well, Shelley, I think you are just judging PERSON. Scripture tells us that we can judge their fruit! What fruit are they producing?

Matthew 7:17-20
17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. NIV

Matthew 7:19-20
19 So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and thrown on the fire. 20 Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced.  TLB
Not good for anything.....my words!

I go back to the teaching on Thursday night, and the scripture our pastor gave on Galatians 5. And like God's fruit, there is (verse 22-23)  love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  NKJV

Yikes, yes, there it is.........crucified that flesh creature with its passions and desires. Now, let's take a look at us. Do we do any of that? If we live in the Spirit, then we are to walk in the Spirit. 

Okay........so let's say, we have to stand in line at the grocery store.........will we complain about it? It is the city you know! What about not being chosen to do something you really want to do? What about the pastors not noticing you at all.............they will not talk to you! Yikes!

So if PERSON is really needing say help for something serious....like life or death......why take it out to the foyer..........God says He inhabits our praises, right? So what about worshiping God and finding the answer in asking Him about it instead of man!

We must let God lead us, and that is into truth always! People like PERSON can certainly have some trying moments in their lives, but however hard that wave comes and however painful it may be......it is by His Word and His touch on our hearts that will brings us to the moments of victory. Yes our times are in His hand. He Who created the Heavens and the earth........He is the Master craftsman and He has a wonderful plan for PERSON!

But what if you or I "try to help PERSON"........BUT only end up giving her some crutches.........instead of what she really needs. What if you gave PERSON a boost last week and she still acts like she does? Well, Shelley, she seems to hear from God! So does the devil! 

Job 1:6-12

6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" 

Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." 

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." 

9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." 

12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." 

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.    NIV

I have been in that place where the pity pat worked for about 2 minutes. But ultimately we all need God............that friendship with man can take you so far, but it is that friendship with God that brings us to peace in HIM! And believe me, I would rather be in His peace when needing to make a MAJOR DECISION! Seriously, if someone has had the same behavior pattern , and nothing changes, then it is only God who can help. We should not be dealing with stuff that causes us to fall back into unbelief. If we have that kind of stuff that is a wave after wave............up one minute and down the next..........we as the individual have to find out why we do it, and then stop doing it!

FOR that word in James 1:5-8........is truth and anyone double-minded will not receive that wisdom of God.

I would rather have the wisdom of God and know that He is with me when those bad reports come. For people cannot be with you at 3 AM in the hospital room when the Admitting Dr. appears and tells you  ARE of the "high risk" you just signed up for, but the ONLY other answer is "death".

No, our trust has to be in God and in His wisdom.............to know when there is "truth or error" in our lives. We must know when to sign our names and get the needed treatment or leave it alone and go home. (see blog on HIGH RISK!)

I certainly like spending time with people and love hearing them laugh and tell their stories, but I am not one to stroke the fur. If we truly desire to move out of the mundane and into the supernatural of God, we must be men and women who seek God daily to know His wisdom. It is in Him that we are to live, move and have our being.
If we see someone in need, pray for them........encourage them in the Word..........maybe they need someone with them as they go for a test at the hospital or maybe help with a suffering or dying spouse, but we are not to become god to them. We are to direct them to God.

In closing:

I return back to what our pastor was speaking and that which builds us. If we are seeking that which strokes our fur, is that not the "bad thing" in getting people to rally around us? Are we those who attend church "with our own agendas" or we truly there to worship God?

In our distinguishing that which is Holy from the common thing is this:

Leviticus 10:8-11

 10 Your duties will be to arbitrate for the people, to teach them the difference between what is holy and what is ordinary, what is pure and what is impure; 11 and to teach them all the laws Jehovah has given through Moses."           TLB

1 Peter 3:3-6

 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.   NIV

And do not give way to fear................good word.........!

1 Peter 1:13-19

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."  17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

NKJV

Conducting our lives is that which is of faith and hope that are in God. Not living anymore in ignorance, but living out our lives in the fear of God. If our hope is in God, will we not trust Him completely? Like Jeremiah the prophet, we are the prophets of our own lives. As God had called Jeremiah, God has called us each to that which He placed in us long ago. It is certainly His plan to build. But running to others when we have a crisis can become serious when we begin thinking they have the answer for us. If we keep running to them instead of God, we become of no effect. And the devil will know it. It can then turn out to be detrimental at times. For some folks certainly have loose lips, and loose lips can sink ships. Certainly we are to be those leaders who solve problems, but our first priority should be to pray for them, and not just give a pity pat on the back!

Ours is not to think towards the negative of a "thing" but toward what God has planned. If one like PERSON, desires to be wrapped up in the wave after wave of doubt and unbelief, then where is God in all that? In the Superstorm Kartrina back in 2005...........who should "one" have run to? Seems like most did not have an answer and most could not come to help..............there was flood waters everywhere!
People did not need the pity pat on the back, they needed a solution to the problem. AND ONLY GOD HAS THAT ANSWER.

 In Daniel, we can read throughout many times when he and his companions were put on the line, so to speak..............that someone was coming against what they believed..........as in ONE GOD...........and not to pray to HIM....but Daniel brought his companions together to pray. If there is a crisis or a problem, by all means seek out a prayer person to agree for a healing, a promotion, a salvation, or even finances to come, but not to have the "fur creature stroked"!

Let's not be those with the "doom" mentality. We have a God who has a place wrapped up for us and that is in that knowledge of Him.

May we pray like Daniel, and speak as the "prophet" over our lives............and expect good things!

We can look into that "darkness" and know without a doubt that God will bring His light and gives us details of what we can do going forward.............to build! Amen!

Father, thank You for Jesus. He was made wisdom to us. As Jesus grew and became strong in spirit, may we also become the strong in spirit; filled with wisdom. (Luke 2:40)

May we even speak like Jesus did when He was only twelve years old, and that others would be astonished at our understanding and answers. May we be about Your business and not the world's. May we forego the "me, myself and I" trip.

But like Jesus, we desire to increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with You our Father and with men. (Luke 2:52)

May we be so much like Stephen to be full of faith and power doing great wonders and signs among the people that will bring glory to YOU our Father. (Acts 6:8) 

We desire to not be those "tossed by every wave".....like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For whatever wind of doctrine........even our own made up ones, have to be stopped. We desire to not be double-minded in all our ways. We have people counting on us as in our husbands or wives, children and even a elder parent or two.

Father, in Jesus' name, we pray and give thanks for the communication of our faith becomes effectual by acknowledging every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. Wisdom and might are YOURS. (Daniel 2:20) It is You who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (Daniel 2:21) It is YOU Who reveals deep and secret things.........that which is in the darkness. Thank You for giving to us that which we have asked of YOU. We are those who today are led into truth by Your Holy Spirit. And whatever He hears from the Father, He announces and declares to us those things that are to come. Thank You Father.AMEN!

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