Hypervigilance

Voice of Prayer

2 Kings 13:20-21...........20 Elisha died and was buried. 

Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.  NIV

Even when Elisha had passed. His bones still had the life of God in them to cause a man to live and stand on his feet! Even in death, he was still in motion for God!

Are we passing a mantle that others can experience in their own lives?

Are we giving others the wisdom we have acquired to teach the young how to move forward in God?

We cannot do this if we are stuck in stuff or distracted by stuff!

Yes, God knows those who are His! He knows those who thirst........!

Recognizing glory is when we see Jesus so strongly, so powerfully, in someone and know that all of heaven is behind what they, the person says and does.

When Elisha passed, no one received that mantle he carried and he had the "double portion" from Elijah! What do we leave behind, if Jesus should tarry? Is anyone interested in receiving the "double portion"?

What we fix our eyes and hearts on determines what will be accomplished in our lives! Heard the most alarming report the other night on 60 Minutes. It was by what people call today " a whistle blower" but I like what they called them in the days of "old".....the Messenger, the Watchman on the Wall.

But this young man surely had a good heart in what he is seeing from the "silicon valley" in regard to the cell phones and their "apps". He told of how they ...the business people want your time and complete focus....to keep one's attention through the day and night.

He gave the example of the monkey and banana thing. Yes, he compared people as the monkey and the banana as the prize..........and how it is always about the prize to win or the prize to gain!

The greatest prize I can think of ...is to know....Him.....and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. That I may press toward the prize that which  Christ Jesus laid hold of me. Always pressing forward to those things which lie ahead....the spiritual kingdom that Jesus came to bring ...........salvation and life with the Father.

The technological things certainly makes one take note, but should not be that which distracts us from what God speaks. Our citizenship is in heaven and we are to stand fast in the Lord.

I am no monkey and I am not punching buttons for others to make their money. For whatever craze that may be on the horizon may it not make you crazy thriving to hear its every ring, ping and song that someone liked you, tweeted you or texted you!

The young man gave some very good evidence of how people are being manipulated by a system. He called many men who had worked on it and in truth one man of the company he worked for, did bring some thought on it, but after two years nothing was done so the young man left that place. 

I believe in the young man' heart, he desired others to know the hazards of doing overtime with your phone in hand. He wanted people to know that  hypervigilance is against keeping the mind and body safe. He made me think of a teaching recently how hypervigilance is being experienced not only in those who went to war but also those who stayed home. It is that part of the adrenal glands that is always producing more adrenaline for the "fight or flight" mode of the gland.

Our peace should be found in God. And for one who has seen this hypervigilance.......it is always on and always active when one tries to rest. So for me and others like me, we stay in God's presence and within His peace. God is loving, active and is always available to our call in need. 

We should be willing to hear and act out of what God has given and shown us. What wisdom that comes from the world we should certainly discern how much is needed for our own wise decisions. In the end, prayer is our guard. In keeping close to God in word and prayer, we find we are made in God's image and we are not here for another 20 year study on how people's bodies, especially the young teens fair in hypervigilance. We must be warned, but we must heed and follow God's commands............to love our neighbors and yes pray for them............but to love God more and more. He is the true God, the One God, holy, mighty and self-existing............I will keep my focus on HIM to recognize glory. In accordance with purpose of His will, His kind intent was so that we ( that means you and me) might be to the praise and the commendation of HIS glorious grace (favor and mercy) which He bestowed on us in the Beloved. 

We celebrate His resurrection, the Beloved's this week. That which is is of the true and to be valued is in Him Jesus Christ the Anointed One, to the honor and praise of God that His glory is manifested and is recognized. Choosing to stay out of the hypervigilance arena...........to God be the glory. Amen!

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Prayer is Relational: The Results Appear as SIGHS AND WONDERS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJJmF_d9DA

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The Love that We Share

Psalm 90:14
O satisfy us with Your mercy and loving-kindness
in the morning [now, before we are older], that we may
rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad in proportion to the days in which
You have afflicted us and to the years in which we have
suffered evil.
16 Let Your work [the signs of Your power] be revealed to
Your servants; and Your [glorious] majesty to their children.
17 And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord
our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands--
yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it.

In this Psalm we are directed to prayer!
I always hear my husband pray for our meals, and over our family, home and that which God has given to us as in the job (finances), a vehicle for driving to work, a place to attend church to worship our God and especially that extra time to have with our grandchild and family. We plan to come together with our love ones at different times during the year. But it was just over the weekend, I heard my husband speak, "the love that we share".

I told my husband that is important for the love we all share for the Lord, binds us together. In thinking and praying on this for today, I was brought back to Moses who prayed this for the whole of those who would ultimately die in the wilderness. There were many who were not going into the Promised Land. And Moses prayed a prayer.
Take a look back at the entire prayer in Psalm 90 and think on the wilderness, and the surroundings. The only people were those they had known in Egypt. Moses had brought them out of bondage under the leading of the Lord. Moses had obeyed to do what the Lord showed him to do in his connecting with Pharaoh, to the plagues, and to ultimately bring them all out. Moses prayed from what we read here from Psalm 90...and verse 11-12...."Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of you, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

In dealing with people, as to living around large volumes of people, and being in contact with many different ethnic groups ( men and women alike) we are to have a love that can only come through knowing Jesus and His love. It is having the wisdom of God.  Like Moses and his leadership ability, much was gained by hearing and obeying God and His directions. He had much to contend with and mostly was due to a people who were "slaves" to their own thinking, their lack, their depending on making bricks, and not looking for the "new" to life!
If we take note and look back for a moment we can see that which Moses probably saw for all that was recorded. Persecution was to come, and it came in the Garden of Eden. In all that was recorded and we can read here in the Holy Bible, we can see Cain kill his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8), Ham the son of Noah, mocked Noah (Genesis 8:20-23). We also see in the time of Isaac the son of Abraham being mocked by Ishmael.(Genesis 21:8-10)
8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." NIV

 Esau had wanted to kill his own brother Jacob. (Genesis 27:41-42)
41 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob." 42 And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, "Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.
NKJV
And we come back to that of Joseph who was the exalted in Egypt and became the deliverer to bring food to a people and a famished land. Forgiveness!

It was by harassment and bitter hate that Joseph was given over into a pit, to become a slave and become the deliverer for his family and many others in a time of severe famine. It was in that love he had for them all, the ability to forgive, that allowed him to move forward in live and see a life that was beautified by the glory of the Lord.

We see Joseph as the fourth son of Jacob. It was the not the first son or the second son of Jacob, but the fourth who played such a great role in the history. Yet, the tribes are all important in the foundation of the family of God and those who would follow.

Yes, the love that we share.

We may not understand the thinking of some we come in contact with, but surely God gives us wisdom to understand our fellow man or fellow woman!

In Matthew 25 we find this: 34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison and you came to me [ignoring personal danger].

37 The the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?"

40 the King will answer and say to them, ' I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.' 41 "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons);42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care]' 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ' Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?"

45 Then He will reply to them, ' I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.' 46 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [ will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life." Amplified Bible

Now in all my years of hearing and being taught, I always heard this as for doing for those who are lacking, sick and without........anybody.. especially those you did not know.......BUT.......never heard it as verse 45 speaks..............the "followers" of Jesus. Now that takes or makes a shift in another direction.
Let's see, if we start in the "home", are we seeing after ........say not only those within our home, but what about those who live far away and maybe alone?  (you know a relative) What about those who are the saved, and in need of some help and  ministering care?
It is interesting that the whole chapter is talking about two kinds of people. In light of the teaching, we see people who are to be lights to the world. As the Gospel is presented to us, we too, look for those outlets to minister that same light to others. It begins within us and then to others. It begins in our character of that which we boast. Is our boast in the Lord or in our own goodness and  what you might do for me?

Let's look first in the home: as the spouse, do we look out after our spouse? Do we see where we might help them in their day, in their work, or around the home? Will we see after them when they are not well, see after them when they are not around.......say, like at the work place? Then do we help in the way of laundry, doing dishes, or maybe planning and preparing a meal, the wife usually prepares. How about taking the "kids" to school even though they ride the bus? What if we took some extra time to show those of the house of God, those "followers" of Jesus we care about them even when they are not around!
To that spouse, do we say........"I appreciate you". "Thanks for all you do to help me!"? Do we take time to text them that message of how important they are to us? Will we take time to mend a favorite shirt, a little girl's princess dress, or how about designing something of ribbon over a neckpiece for earbuds that you do not use, but is a help to another? What about calling someone to invite them out for dinner with your family?
Then the "follower" of Jesus you go to church with, will you invite them over for a holiday? If they are alone most of the time, what if we had them come for dinner on Sunday or maybe a barbeque on Friday evening?

There are all kinds of harassment going on right now! One surely has a view whether on the roadway, in a mall, at school or in the workplace. At some point today in a given moment someone is being bombarded by those who will hate and harass, and seek their own agenda. But ours is suppose to be that like Jesus........and to love no matter what.
I believe that the Psalm 90 that Moses prayed for those who would die in the wilderness was a prayer for any who live out their lives in knowing nothing but slavery, although God has the way through His mercy and grace. I believe he desired the children of these people to see and know of the miraculous that their God had done for them in that wilderness. Yes many died there. But many went into the Promised Land to see and know more of God. Our choice is choosing that which is or should resemble Moses that he cared for those given into his hand for keeping watch. They brought a lot of heartache and much time in prayer to Moses for them.

In our coming in and our going out, may we speak with peace to others with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May we speak grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. It is the Lord Who gives grace to the humble!
May we respect those who work hard and who is over us in the Lord and who admonishes us. (2 Thessalonians 5:13-24)  In close encounters with family and those of the family of God, we desire to hold each in the highest regard in love because of his work.  We pray to be those that would encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone making sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Praying for those of the body of Christ to be joyful always (verse 16) to pray continually (verse 17) to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus.
Today, may we, "the beloved" build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit and to keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. To guard and keep ourselves in the love of God, expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) which will bring us unto life eternal. And refute [so as to] convict some who dispute with you ( or us) and on some have mercy who waiver and doubt. We strive to save others, snatching [them] out of the fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing even the garment spotted by the flesh and polluted by their sensuality. [Zechariah 3:2-4) It is to the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord be the glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all ages of eternity). FOR IT IS THE LOVE THAT WE SHARE!  Amen. (so be it.) Amplified


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

ACCEPTING A RADICAL LIFE

A radical life is characterized by that which is the effective in bringing change. The radical is that which is spoken of as being complete, far-reaching, thorough, major and even of being rigorous.

 As of a person: one who is zealous, and revolutionary!

 John 2:13-17

  13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."  

 NKJV

  Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up!

  This zeal, this passion and fire has eaten Me up. Yes, Jesus had a passion. His zeal was that which consumed all His time and attention. He was passionate and was led by that passion to minister to everyone. He did not just see the rich and the famous, but He saw and spoke with those who made up the crowd of the"down and out". He spoke to those who made their living by asking for "handouts"! Jesus' concern was for that which concerned His father God and made for a radical life to live. In what we have seen of Jesus and His life, it started far from the ways our lives began. His mother was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, carried Him to full term, gave birth and laid Him in a manger. He lived in a home with many siblings and of His life, at the young age of 12 years old, He was found with the teachers, and spoke with wisdom!

  I remember being 12 years old and having many teachers in school and spent time with the Math teacher more than all the rest. Well, for one, it was the NEW MATH, and my parents did not understand what the new teaching was about! And for wisdom, not likely, other than I knew I needed the "help" & needed it from the one who knew it well! (I wanted to pass the grade with my peers!)

   As a young child, I started out with zeal for not being locked in by doors, gates or any kind of fence. Ask anyone who knew me when I was but three and they will have the story to tell. Yeah, no fence was going to keep me fenced in, where I did not want to be. I wanted to be free, run, and keep running!

   Jesus gave with zeal. He captured people with that passion that consumed Him. Yes, meeting Jesus we all had a decision to make. It was entirely based where you wanted to spend eternity: heaven or hell!  He did all by the AUTHORITY given to Him by God!

  Yes, when we read on in Chapter 2, Jesus was questioned on His conduct. Jesus remained the focus. He kept the "fire" burning as well we should do also.

 When honoring God, it is a thing of the heart. It is one which is serious. In what Jesus found was the "Market for  Business" and it was in the Temple which was for God and service to Him only.

Ezekiel 33:30-33...30 As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, "Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD." 31 "So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. 32 Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song who has a pleasant voice and play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. 33 And when this comes to pass---surely it will come----then they will know that a prophet has been among them." NKJV

That prophetic word can come, like it did for those as we see from Ezekiel. In referring back to some church services, one can see people excited for one praise and worship leader but cut down another, rather because of not liking the songs of the second choice "leader" chose for that service. Even though said "leader" has the anointing, prays in tongues, yet is reviled by those who think: music is either too loud, too slow, not enough drums, too many singers on the platform, or there is not enough "bass" guitar players playing. Or that they, the reviler, could do the job better! Yes, it is back to doing a better job than Ms. So and So or Mr. So and So could ever do.

Meaning of greed: intense and selfish
the desire that is heartfelt for being wealthy, being number 1, being the best at any thing
it is coveting something.........and remember what God spoke about that.
Covetousness-- "pleonexia" meaning having a desire for more.
It is found in Colossians 3:5 So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]; sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God). Amp.

Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

It is building a structure, a lusted-for thing, like being CEO of a company and no real credentials to do the job. Whatever a person lusts after in their heart, that is the thing that will be erected in their heart to be gratified. The question asked most today to the young.......those of grade school is: What do you want to be when you grow up? And their answer of well over 80 percent was that of the "super" athlete. So the other question asked was: What about a Dr. or lawyer...........the Dr. came in 2nd and the lawyer came in 3rd place next after the Super Athlete at number 1. Wow!  I wonder where on the list was the grocer, the pharmacist, the street sweeper, the pastor of a church, the nurse, the elder care person, and the welder, and ship-builder?
In reality, how attainable is that really for average person, that super athlete? For most know that it takes hard work and some amount of gifting, again from God, to play that pro-ball. And those who last, are those who have the passion for it. They enjoy it, and do well in that sport. They are always training, and their thoughts are playing with a team.

Jesus spoke to those about God, and He gave them that needed instruction. Some wanted it, some reviled Him for that correction and many just walked away. Like what we read in Ezekiel 33, we find that which so spoke of those Jesus came in contact with.

For some heard Jesus and others only wanted to revile Him. And many heard when He taught as a Rabbi in the Synagogue, yet many did not hear.  AND many did not do the Word!  That zeal Jesus carried in His heart proved what some would know as disastrous, but Jesus saw it bring Him closer to the Cross. For anyone today, who goes to the House of God and shows love, but their hearts pursue their own gain, they are those who were much like those within the Temple that day Jesus drove the money changers out. What a mob scene that probably looked like!  

The One standing for the honor of God and to His glory and those who just wanted gain in their pockets owing it all to greed,  and then we saw the chaos ensue. These were men wanting things their "own way" and that which brought financial gain into their hands. 
There is a day coming when man or woman will have to leave business at the door and come with open hearts to give honor and glory to God only. There is coming a day when one will be asked to give up their old life for that which brings life and not the deadly path so many encounter today. 

In building that God intended, was that which is completely holy to God. The temple was going to be found in us. And nothing could be brought into the temple that would take away from God!

If God did not allow King David to build the Temple because he was a man of war, how much so in our time for those who go (who attend) the HOUSE of God? How much more today should we find our full attention given to Him Who gives life? How much more should our hearts be filled with that for God and not selfish "man" (Men).
Why?
David truly had heart to build that Temple because of the love he carried for God. But God wanted another to build and had chosen Solomon to do it. David raised the funds needed, and brought all that was needed as of the gold, the silver, and fine woods. Yes, where our heart resides will shine on others or darken on others. In what God had planned from the beginning was His HOUSE, " that body of Christ " that would be with its heart toward one God: (that devotion, that adherence to and faithfulness to God and His plan and not to that of man or men wrapped up in their deeds ( those lustful desires for me, myself and I) , yes the HEART issues that come from man's personal  teachings or anything that would represent some earthly kingdom or thing !

 For where our heart is, there is where we will go for an eternity! For what we treasure, that is that which holds us to, keeps us placed and maybe not in not such a good place, but never the less, the place we treasure and hold onto. Jesus saw the Temple where God would come, and was seeing the day when the Holy Spirit would come to abide and comfort. His interest was in maintaining that which was holy unto the Lord.

It was not buying, trading and selling, but about having worship toward God. It was about employing prayer and having a relationship with God the Father. The temple was not about a few hearing and speaking to God, it was for all men and women alike to hear and speak to God. If people would only come there would be no need of war anymore! It would be a time when people would lay aside all that comprises them toward death. Those who continue to war, do not know God and have never met Him in the secret place! They have never laid anything at the Cross!

1 Timothy 6:17-19

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life

NKJV  

Our trust is not to be in "things" but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. I would rather have what God desires for me to bask in THAN something that is not life to me or anyone else. We are to be the ready to give, willing to share, and storing up that which is a "good foundation" for the time to come..........laying hold unto eternal life. We were to come to serve and love God!

For Lord, we certainly brought nothing into this world and we will not take anything with us when we exit.

Father, today we pray for people everywhere, to come to the Light of Jesus, and know He is life everlasting. For the rich Lord, in this world, we charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, not to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on YOU, God for YOU richly and ceaselessly provide us with everything for our enjoyment. Lord, I pray that we wold be rich in good works to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share with others. And in all this, we are laying for ourselves the riches that endure forever as a good foundation for the future, so that we may grasp that which is life indeed.(1 Timothy 6:16-19 Amp)

MAY we truly focus on that which is life to us, and expect that as we wait on His goodness, those blessings will be poured on us His Beloved!

Father, thank You that having a radical life is one which looks like the devoted, not of one race or color but of many races and many colors. May our prayers be offered in reverence to Your Holy Name...........may the HOUSE of PRAYER be known and may people know that all are welcomed to come. It is in Jesus' name and to His glory we pray and believe for the HOUSE OF PRAYER TO OVERFLOW TO ALL WHO HAVE ZEAL FOR YOU OUR FATHER.  We accept the radical life that honors You. AMEN.

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

THAT REVOLVING DOOR!

Ever been to the city..........seen one of those really big revolving doors where at least five people can slide in as it revolves to the inside..........of building....open up and people step "out quickly" as the door revolves around to the outside of building again?
Yes, modern times, modern machinery..............all those moving parts........to move a glass compartment round and round to accommodate thousands of people a day.
Was thinking of our lives the last few days with Thanksgiving Day well over and Christmas Day in view now..........seeing all those commercials of yes, really low, low prices.........get that furniture today and pay no sales interest till 2020. That furniture would be wore out in that time if the family has more than two people in it, right? But thinking on the time that has passed and people who have either touched our lives or influenced them to a great degree. In some cases I have seen our family as those in that revolving door and people stepping in for a time to meet us and then move on or out as the case might be. I remember the young people we took to church, and one young man who was touched by God and how he touched our hearts. Although he is not with us today, I pray we see him again one day. For couples who separated and went their separate ways, we certainly shared in their heartache and in their new lives as well. For the wife, was a difficult road to finding work again after so many years of raising children. For the husband, well, he went on with his work and hopefully with his singing for the Lord. In others, we saw young adults go into ministry, come out of ministry and some go on to make a life with a spouse, raising children and becoming hopefully what God planned for them. Some have kept in touch, many have not, but in all that, I can still visit them in my heart where I hold those so dear, and  in those thoughts, the man or woman or child who touched our hearts in ways no one could have done.
I think of those that were of the divine nature and how God brought just the ones we needed in our lives at the time. My thoughts pour over those who had come almost a thousand miles to end up in a church we attend today. My thoughts go to those who fought overseas and returned to fight internal battles of the mind in seeing so many die needlessly in countries so needing God and real family lives! I think of those who have families close by, like less than five hours, but do not see them much. I think on those I came in contact with in the summer time in the park and who were on the verge losing their home, and/or losing their jobs and had no place to go.
But God has a plan! He has one that is of love and life forever!
Finding that pathway is for those who see, and many today are blind. They are like those I think about from that movie, "Wreck-It Ralph"...........the flying insects flying toward that great light close to the end of movie. They become mesmerized like the "bad guy" in the movie, who at this point is a part himself and a part flying insect.......although is the violent, harmful insect of great size, right?
But being mesmerized by something is not good, whether in a cartoon movie or in real life.  What do we attach or dreams or visions to? Is it to life or......?

Jesus presented the "real", that which adds to us, and helps us to continue to being the children of God! As we have read through the Gospels, we discover all the ups and downs of the lives of disciples who followed Jesus. Jesus talked of their "little faith" by rebuking them in Matthew 8:26.
And He said to them, "Why are you timid and afraid, O you of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and wonderful calm ( a perfect peaceable-ness) 27 And the men were stunned with bewildered wonder and marveled saying, What kind of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him! (Amp)

Just like the disciples, He comes to question us. He asks, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13)
He asks them:" Who do you say that I am?"(Mark 8:27)

Jesus knew the Spirit of God had shown Peter who He was.......and desired they not speak to others about it........(Mark 8:30)

As we saw in Peter, we too, can have knowledge of the Holy One. We can know why He was sent. In the case of Peter though, we also know that he not only attached his hopes and dreams to Jesus, but am thoroughly convinced that Peter also had some great visions of conquering the Roman occupation in Jerusalem at the time.

Again we find Jesus addressing Peter in that of Matthew 16:21 and onward to verse 25..........21 From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death. 22 Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You! 23 But Jesus turned away from Peter, and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [ an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me] ; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men. 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciples; let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].  25 For whoever is bent on saving his [ temporal ] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life ]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [ life everlasting].

Yes, Peter spoke sharply about his plan for the Lord Jesus, and in return Jesus spoke God's plan........"for you Peter are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men."

Change comes, people come and yes they sometimes leave. Although I would liked to have kept them friends by my side or at least close to me and mine for a long time. Alas, it turned not that way.......no that revolving door keeps us together in God's presence and allowing those to come that we might meet for five minutes, one hour, two months or maybe some 18 years. But sooner or later we meet the "new", the incoming, those just starting out in marriage, those having that first child or maybe the third, we meet those who have lost a spouse and a close friend of ours, but that revolving door keeps turning, life is going forward, and the sun will surely rise in the East tomorrow.

Peter certainly faced some challenges, like we all do. And Peter turned his back on Jesus when others asked of his involvement in Jesus' life.

Luke 22:55-62
55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." 57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." 58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" 59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
NKJV

It all came down to "loyalty". For we find Peter in Acts. And he spoke " we must obey God rather than men."

See below the passage:

Acts 5:23-32
 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
NKJV

That loyalty came by heeding and continuing to follow after truth. As Peter was His witness to these things of what they wrote about to give to us, we also know that we abide as Peter and the other Apostles. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, comfort us, and lead us into life everlasting. Whether we see ourselves in Peter or maybe John the Beloved, we each have that place and for my husband and myself it has appeared much like a big revolving door. We have people come to us, visit for awhile and then move on. But I am looking forward to eternity and catching up with those who have gone on to glory, to visiting with those who will not have to leave us again, but we will all be together to worship, to glorify and bring praise to God, the God of Love, Who is Love and will always set us on those pathways where we experience more love, greater peace and much joy........yes, how much He has given to us..............and will keep on giving to us for an eternity. Amen.

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

Responsibilities: Salt and Light

What are we responsible for? What responsibilities do we have right now? Growing up in a family who believed everyone pulled their own weight, we each had responsibilities. We each had a bed to make, dishes to put in the sink and wash. We had to make sure that special outfit was on it's way to the washer, if we desired to wear it in a couple of days. What we wore on any day, was our responsibility if we wanted to wear it again without the dirt, grime, or sweat. I only list grime as my sister and I played baseball in the summer months, so dirt, sweat and grime were a part of the outfit at the end of the day! I played with the neighborhood "kids" and she played on a team!
Responsibilities!
1 John 2:29...................29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. .NKJV

1 John 3:3....3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.  NKJV

1 John 3:21-23.................... 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.   NKJV

John 17:11-19…. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.   NKJV

We are to be:

1.    Free of worldly influence…SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD (verse 17)

2.  Very much in the unsaved world, but participants in the government and social processes..............like voting!

3. No longing living in the sinful nature but living according to righteousness

4. Sanctified, having the word of God in our lives..SO...we look and act differently!

 1 Timothy 4:6-7.................6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. NKJV

Exercise: Timothy is told to exercise himself toward godliness. He was instructed to give that which he was nourished in and it is those words of faith and of the good doctrine Timothy was commended on........to continue to follow carefully. 

Proverbs 15:26.......26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,    But the words of the pure are pleasant. NKJV

Those who follow after righteousness, those in right standing with God have pure words that are pleasant! They are a joy to be around! They encourage you, love God and always have a testimony of faith on the goodness of God in their lives!
How interesting today, we see so many speaking out about what was sent to another either in email, text, or twit, and was in regard to hate, bullying, and meanness for others to see. So sad that people want to openly regard hate for another. Was asked to watch this concert by my friend was asked to have this concernt up north. He has a band and has had such favor with God, that this concert was going to have livestreaming. How awesome was that? 

So my husband and I tuned in and waited for concert to begin. On the side of the window box, it stated you could leave a tweet message. It also stated to write something kind! WOW! People have to be REMINDED TO WRITE SOMETHING KIND!  So I wrote out the message and sent it.BUT MY THOUGHT PROCESS TOOK ME TO THE SPOT, how did our world get so out of balance AND GET SO UGLY?

If there are anger issues, one needs to find out why they are so angry. Blaming others, does not release us out of a prison of anger, anymore than a bath or shower will remove pain from one's heart. Those issues are to be addressed through the Word of God. Talking with others generally will not help you, but may make things worse.  We really need the Word of God to wash those areas of hurt and pain. Unless, someone just wants others on their side, so they can sin all they want, so they can curse others all they want, and continue to walk in anger, resentment, and the "the world owes me" mentality, then "that being kind" will not be seen BY anyone. Nope, being kind will not exist!

Learning our responsibilities, is much like learning our way through life. Do this and don't do that. Eat this, and don't eat that. Watch this and don't watch that! All those do's and don't's can have one questioning everything they encounter.

It is choosing good over evil. It would be like Eve tasting the fruit of the tree of knowledge just to find out what happens. Instruction and correction are for our benefit. If we choose not to be instructed or corrected then we walk down a path with many problems, sink holes, and disasters. I desire to avoid those!

Proverbs 12:1...........Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.  NKJV

Proverbs 13:18..........18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,
But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.  NKJV

"BUT HE WHO REGARDS A REBUKE WILL BE HONORED."
 If we have the instruction to not "touch" then why do so many want to touch what they should NOT HAVE OR INVITED INTO THEIR LIVES?

YOU eat too much chocolate cake every day, you gain a weighty problem. Our walking with God is seeing Him in the Words He placed for us to see, hear and adhere to for our walk through this life.
Timothy is told in 1 Timothy 4:7 to exercise toward godliness! Yes that godliness has a look about it! Take a look at all those who go to gyms and exercise daily. They are not doing it to remain the same size they are. No, about half of those attending a gym for exercise are wanting that next look they saw in Vogue. They want that model's size, even though the model is 5' 7 inches tall. They desire to be pounds smaller and to do that in most cases, is remove those "bones from your body". Am I right about this? Now there are some who go, like firefighters who want to remain in strength when they fight fires. There are those who do that endurance training and who are part of the "wilderness rescue" group. You know those men and women who will backpack into the farthest reaches where there is "NO CELL SERVICE" to reach someone who has either gotten lost, fell from a glacier climb to the top of a mountain peak or one who suddenly died.

Seriously, I have worked in a gym and seen how many want that "skinny" look to wear those "skinny" jeans. Just had seen a warning on the news (KATU) in the past 10 days about some lady wearing those "skinny" jeans. She was not a twenty something, but older. She had worn the said jeans to help a friend move. Well, it seems that all that up and down bending with boxes caused her some leg pain and much swelling from the knees down to feet. She had to go to the hospital and they found this nerve damage being created by the "skinny" jeans. With the intense tight fit, nerves were being pinched dramatically. She was warned about wearing them and that it was possible for her to lose her legs if that kind of problem continued. Yes, they mentioned to this lady that there could be amputation if she continued to wear them.  To me that is dangerous. It was clear to see that this woman was in major pain and the swelling caused her grief. Instruction came and will she follow it?

But let's think about exercising! What ways are we "exercising" our responsibilities? Are we committed to be sanctified and look different to the world? Are we as those church goers sanctified and ready to recognize someone in pain, someone who hides, someone who may be defiant, but feels so lost and abandoned.
Exercising comes from the day to day routines that involve others and not just family members. 
Each of us though, either good or not so good have made a commitment to exercise in the things of God. Our commitment to God is known by others. Anyone can know in the first 5 minutes of conversation where our heart resides.

In writing this, I thought of my brother-in-law. He rises early and gets things done. He grabs that "special" cap, and off he goes to do errands and minister. He wears that cap with some writing on it. And many people know exactly what it means and gives him a thumbs up!
I think of my sister and brother-in-law and how they daily fill up on the Word of God. They pray together and minister life to others.  They are always looking out to hand someone a new Bible, a word of encouragement or give them a new book to read about something on Jesus and His coming again soon.


Matthew 5:13-16.........13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. NKJV


In the pass couple of weeks, it was been a hard place for me in remembering my step-dad and how good he was to my mother, especially in these last years of life. I am in the peace of God, knowing that I cannot travel, yet with all that has transpired in the last two weeks, still God is with me and my family back East. With the blood testing continuing with blood draws for me on a monthly basis right now, I have had to turn my attention to praying for my family as they see many things multiplied as in caring for two properties. They have increased meal preparation and trips to the Dr. for check-ups.

With the passing of my step-dad very recently, and mother in the hospital for almost a weeks, I think of all the opportunities for my sister and brother-in-law to minister to other people. They took on the daily caring of our mother in the hospital but also ministered life to others about Jesus.

How many of us would have coiled up in a ball or like a babe and just became silent? How many of us would refuse to continue to live when someone close to us dies? How many choose to give up when there are so many still living out in the world and may be on their way to someplace that is away from God entirely and for an eternity? Would anger show up or some other bad emotion? Are we giving our best to those around us or do we want our way "when others are hurting from loss"?

On their way out of hospital and the city the other day, my brother-in-law had to stop for some meds for our mother. It was one of those hot days in the south. He wanted to leave the car running with the air condition on high with my sister and mother in the car while he picked up the meds. He was not going to leave them in a "hot car".  He of course had stopped at Costco!

YES, it was a Friday and was probably very busy there. I was imagining this "long, very long" line he got in to purchase the meds. In the course of the line and conversation, and seeing my brother-in- laws' cap, the pharmacist mentioned she was having trouble with a son in that he would not talk with her anymore. In the length of the line and that conversation, my brother-n-law encouraged her in the Lord and prayed right there in line, for the return of the son to his mother!

Responsibilities!

From Matthew 5.......we are to be the salt that preserves life, just like verse 13 states..........if that salt loses its flavor, then how shall it be seasoned? In early years of this country, many used the salt on meat that they stored in meathouses. It was suppose to cure and help the meat to last for periods of time.( in reading on this, I found there was a preservation method and is reported throughout the history keeping of this country)

My brother-in-law last week at Costco, was salt to a woman languishing in such pain that her son will not talk with her. He was a son who had rejected her! But I believe that all has changed dramatically.  Salt was given to this woman, to give hope and help her continue forward. My brother-in-law was and is that light that gives light to all who are in the house and at Costco!  Halllelujah for those who are salt and light!

John 12:36...........36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." NIV

Be responsible today and wash in that Word that sanctifies. Get that head up, and shoulders squared, and walk firmly with faith in your heart knowing it is not over. Whatever may be on the horizon, you have the salt to be light to someone who may be in pain, who may have a loss as well, but God has the answer!

I believe my brother-in-law and sister were light to many. And if all knew the entire story, many would know that we too had a loss, but it did not show. They kept going forward and spread the love of God to others. Can we here do as much?
God met them at every juncture, every decision, every moment, and He caused strength to rise up in them and keep them going through out an emotional week.

My prayer today is for all those who are battling illness, sickness caused by disease, those who have to deal with a loss.
Father, thank YOU for Jesus, the Son of YOUR Love.(Col 1:12-14.... 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. NKJV)

 As we have been delivered from the power of darkness and moved into the kingdom of YOUR dear Son, the son of YOUR love, we are thankful. We give praise that we can operate in the Light of YOU and see what is before us. Help us to be the responsible ones who will move in the power of God and not judge others because they are having some issue with anger at the moment. We all have experienced some anger due to loss or illness or even a brokenheart! Those who are of God know when we are not to sin in anger at anyone or anything. 

Our desire is to reach and touch lives for the kingdom of God that has come through Jesus our Lord and Savior. We choose to be those who will be salt to those in pain and anguish. We choose to be those who will abide in truth and be committed to be responsible when others cross our paths who may have a loss or dealing with a disease that refuses to die. We need to understand that anger that comes when death changes everything, but does not have to defeat us!
Father, YOUR word is true, and we confess and profess that YOU are for us. YOU will never leave us or forsake us. We ask today to be those who will encourage those who have trials or tribulations that are weighing them down. Today we come boldly to the throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in this time of need. (Heb. 4:16) Strengthen hearts for the battle ahead and give patience as we wait on You. We pray to be those who rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfast in prayer.(Romans 12:12)
As we live this journey, help us to reach out to others with encouraging words that give life. Help us to be "kind" when we are wanting to choose bedtime for our daytime. Help us to make the right decisions and give some time to others, even if it is just making that phone call, sending a card, or giving a needed hug to someone who is hurting. Help us to create new habits that will exercise our faith in going and doing all the while relying on YOUR grace and goodness to us!
Help us to "kick the habit" of wearing black clothes every day. Help us to be colorful in our dress, in our prayer life, and in our walk with others.

Father, the Word states in Psalm 138:7-8 that though we walk in the midst of trouble, YOU preserve our lives. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of our foes, with YOUR right hand You save us. YOU, Lord, will fulfill Your purpose for us. Your love , O Lord endures forever----do not abandon the works of Your hands. Amen.

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