Carving Out That Treasure

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Yes, those plans to make, a list to write out, making sure every desire for great food is listed and not left out. Even that big pan for the "bird" is important. Yes, that carving time will come for the turkey. It most likely will bring a smile to some, but not all at our table will be pleased. Hopefully our youngest member will have a desire for turkey this year, and if not maybe a burger will do!

 Being intent on serving healthy food, meeting most appetites with a choice of good things, and pondering on all the cook times and when to serve can mount quickly. And if you have more than one meat to prepare for the oven, not mention the other items requiring some oven time, one finds "the oven shuffle" a practice year after year will come close to a possible perfection.

But life is more than food and drink. And being disciplined is vital and is to be treasured when keeping a close walk with God.

Technology today has given most things to keep God's Word close at hand. They carry it with them either in the cell phone, the tablet, or some other device that they prefer. But keeping it close to hand does not mean that it is in our heart.

Carving out that time, just like carving that turkey starts with a grocery list. And in that list for life, it takes some discipline, certainly some time and much effort to do.

Meditating God's Word requires us to keep it active in our hearts and our minds. It must be a commitment. Connecting with God is meeting Him face to face. It is seeking Him and He is found.

My husband has been reading some commentaries on the Gnosticism that was considered the earliest enemy of Christianity. Gnosticism was that which held a certain belief that of the physical world, salvation was the release from the physical body. But physical to us is to mean face to face.

"Gnosticism" does not ask how one is saved from sin, but asks the one question of what the possible origin of sin (or evil) might be. Those who considered themselves gnostic would anxiously guard their secret sect. They regarded knowledge more important than faith. They carried within them the denial of the humanity of Jesus Christ.

What they believed and what they spoke was contrary to God the Creator!

Spending time in the Word gives us a clear picture of the Creator. Speaking out His Word, giving voice to His commands, we begin to think like our Father thinks. Mediating truth will bring multiplication to truth in other areas of our lives.

One specific I think of is that of "only surface" relationships. God presented Himself in His entirety. He gave us that which declares Who and What He has done. But when we first meet someone or see them maybe only a few times throughout the year, we will not actually "know " them, or will they just be a fantasy. A true relationship in fellowship- requires us to actually engage another.

To me it would be the same as driving a standard shift vehicle. You must engage that stick shift to move.

Ezekiel 36:26-28

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.  NIV

Our salvation came through Jesus and we do have the Spirit of God living on the inside of us. And the more we apply ourselves to seek Him, spend time with Him, we move in greater power of His Spirit.

I do not know your encounters with a stick shift but I had many encounters. The teaching my mother had for me, proved to me to be loud, instructional and many tears. Along came my friend Loretta, and her desire to teach others to drive a standard shift car. That one was fun indeed. All I had to do was put about fifty cents worth of gas in her car, and we were off on a driving lesson.

I had to listen, but I also had to engage.

Encountering God, His deep love and His presence was electric to me. The more I looked for fellowship with other like-minded individuals, I too experience even more electrifying times with Him. He is more real to me than anything or anyone.

Each time we choose to declare Him, His Word and His love, we see manifested Jesus the Christ. And the Comforter, the Holy Spirit fills our tanks to the full line. His Presence in our lives transforms us and will cause us to take note that we too have been with the Spirit . of Prophecy. Jesus!  1 John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NKJV

Yes, we should love God more than we love turkey.

As we come to the end of another year, may I as a spiritual mother speak words of wisdom. As I speak this out and type the words of God's wisdom, may you see revealed to your heart God and what He has planned for you. May you believe for the "new in God". God our Father always desire us as His children to keep believing, trusting and expect what He has planned.

Ps 24:7-10

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in. 

8 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

The LORD mighty in battle. 

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in. 

10 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD of hosts,

He is the King of glory.

NKJV

I speak the opening of heavenly gates and ancient doors that will bring us into deeper relationship with  God. May you know Jesus in greater ways. In that may you always be renewed in strength to soar with God. (Isiah 40:3)  God rewards those who will come to practice justice in all their dealings with others. In the written words of the prophet Amos 5:24, it says this: "let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream." Speaking this all injustices must end.

Come to the spiritual refreshing. Come out of the wilderness and drink from the river of His delights.  John 4:10....10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 

NKJV

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19)

 In this way you (they) will lay up treasure for  yourselves (themselves) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that you (they) may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:19) (italics mine)

 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) Engage Jesus, engage the life we have through Him, and expect much life to be lived through Him, now and in this hour!

Amen.

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Speaking As To A Clear Conscience

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Rings of Gold

Proverbs 11:22..........22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. NKJV

Without character....yes, a woman  without discretion is compared to a sow with a gold ring! But I found other things while looking over this passage and was intrigued and taught much about it.
Yikes, am I trying to impress someone by getting the "extra work " done? Do I think I am the only one who can do it? Have I forgotten who is God around here? Believe me, I am one who tried to control a whole family. You know the comings, the goings, the eating times, the trips out of town, the party times, the family gathering times, and oh yeah, even when everyone needed to sleep. I felt like the control tower for an airport. No, seriously, I wanted everything just right. You know the right clothes, the right hair-do, the right time, the right-weather! Seriously, Shelley, the right weather..............well, you get what I am saying. That is why it is SO IMPORTANT TO STAY IN THE WORD OF GOD!

In ....2 Peter 2:20-22.... 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." NKJV
Wow, returning to the "old way" of doing things.............not good .........!
It is literally one who turns from the clean to the unclean, the one "without taste" [Taa'am (OT:2940)]....one without moral perception, without morals, running after lusts that are filthy. But I also found that is also the word translations as a meaning for "fool".

Again, is it possible that one would try to flaunt that, " I am really good at my job", or "writing", or "raising children", or "exercising to sport at size 4", or "climbing the corporate ladder"?
Is it possible when the plea comes for whatever kind of help, am I the "only one who can do the job"?
We certainly can see the importance of God's Word when we are raising our children, for we have a book to guide us and teach us in directing our children to life. And when we read in Proverbs, we find much about "the fool".

I also found this in :Proverbs 12:15...............15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But he who heeds counsel is wise.  NKJV
Wow, right in "his own eyes"........
My daughter and I have had very little time together the last few weeks, for me, getting over "this fatigue thing" and she, well, a "a coughing thing".
Now we both are those who spend time in the word of God and prayer. We certainly have the "God of Glory" move on our behalf numerous times. But one thing is certain, and that is we need to heed the advice of the Holy Spirit when He says "to REST"!

We came to that "thought" over the weekend. We had a meal together and of course, it is always fun time with our grand-daughter. But from the time of our trip back East in the Fall, we took "No Time" to recover from such a long trip. And as you know your body will certainly tell you when it is time to stop and "do nothing"!  Right?
Well, long story made short, we both each had a choice. We could do things, the right way and in character with God and His grace or do things our way, and keep doing and doing and doing with no rest.
So, were we finding OUR counsel better than God's? I will let you be the judge!
Just like our children who should be raised in admonition of the Lord, we too, should continue to follow His plan for wholeness and goodness to us!
One thing is certain, we had a choice and chose the wrong way to walk. I tell you today to choose His plan that keeps you safe everyday. Just because someone needs you to go above and beyond today or tomorrow may not be in the best interest of you or your family or God's plan.
Keep in mind that we are always forgiven when we confess "being foolish" and thinking we know the best for ourselves.  There are many nice people out there in the world, and would love to have our help, but is it above and over the amount any sane person should try to do? Do we ask the Lord for His wisdom or do we like the stroke my fur kind of thing?
If we keep doing the same thing over and over, and the result is the same, then we should be asking, "Lord, what can I change today in my life that will help me do what You have asked me to do and not become weak in my body?" "Where Lord, am I missing the mark to write and pray and study Your Word and keep watch on my home and family as well?"
This is from my perspective and will different from yours. But "choose life" today!
Lord, I do not want to be like those who refuse to pay attention to You. Help me to turn my back on being stubborn. Help me to not make my heart like flint and refuse to listen to the words that You have sent by Your Holy Spirit. (Zechariah 7:11-12)

Father, today I thank You for Your grace to us. I am thankful for the Blood of Jesus shed at Calvary. I am thankful that I have a new day in YOU. I pray for all who read this and who feel that they have at times strayed from truth and YOUR guidance and chosen their own way to do something specific. Father, in Your Word, You define who is wise and understanding among us: the one who shows it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13) Deeds that follow You and by being disciplined to listen to instruction in being wise with our health. Today, I want to encourage others to follow YOU and choose life for their bodies. May they find "the security" that lies in knowing You KNOW the best for each of us. When our flesh rises up to make a "foolish" decision, may we quickly discern the threat of such deception and to walk in truth of what YOU show us to follow in righteous and peace. As Your eyes look into the inmost places of our hearts and minds today, please help us to allow YOU Almighty God to show us things we need to see and teach us how to be free from the attitude that we can do it ourselves. Create within us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Remind us daily Lord that we are "not to trust our feelings and emotions" for they make terrible masters. Thank YOU Lord for hearing and answering our prayer in Jesus' name. Amen.

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