Leading Us Home

Voice of Prayer

Was working on a teaching this week and was captivated by the meanings of some of the words of Psalm 46.

Psalm 46:1-11  NKJV God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  3 though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. 

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High,  5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD. Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two. He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

I read over the Psalm 46 a number of times and went to look at the Hebrew meaning of the words. Of course the meaning of some words are evident while you read over it. Like God is our refuge and He is our strength and He is to be our resent help in trouble. That trouble has the meaning of a "tight place". 

Is there a time when it seems you are down to a certain amount of money in the budget and something goes awry, something goes terribly wrong and you must buy an appliance like the stove or refrigerator or did one of the kids get the measles that was eradicated from this country, but a someone from a third world country has introduced it again here in the U.S. and toward those never have been inoculated for the terrible disease!  We should know that measles, if not treated right will cause blindness!

Then moving on to verse 2, the earth being removed, and though mountains being carried into the sea you might remember the movie 2012 where California went into the sea by a strong earthquake. And then verse 3 here mentions of the waters that roar and are troubled and the mountains shake with its swelling....and I thought of the volcanic eruptions where the mountains swell with the magma hot and rising to the top to spill over in the man-made communities built so close to the explosive mountain. I then read on about that water that is troubled within the meanings and found it looks a lot like RED TIDE....yeah, the meaning of troubled is "chamar" ( which pronounced Khaw-mar) and means to glow red! It ferments with scum...like dead things! Wow and this was written how many thousands of years ago?


But in all this commotion, there is a living place of prosperity of peace and safety. That is found in the city of God, the holy place of His very presence. Although things may appear as trouble, desolation, and chaos, still God is here. He is help to us and He is for us. He is the very God who knows all things and created the heavens and earth in Genesis 1.
We should be meditating on the beauty of the Lord and how He went to the Cross for us that we might be set be free, yes to be free...... no longer held as the captives to sin but free to be the person God planned for us to be.

Our focus should be upon not the Red Tide or the explosive volcanoes set for destruction but on the God Who is more than enough for us. He is our victory, not someday but right now. Because there will be commotions, and rumors of war, but we are to hold that focus on Him who gave His all to see us become the sons of God.

If you are encountering a "tight place" understand God already knew and He has a plan. For we all have people around us daily making not so good choices, but we have the mighty One and He is standing by to deliver us out of harm. Delight in Him today and know His ways for His word is truth and His Holy Spirit is ready to lead you not only out of trouble and harm but to lead you home!

Psalm 121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills----from whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper (protector); the LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve you

from all evil; 8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

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Where Our Spirit Fails, God Never Fails

Voice of Prayer

Psalm 143:7-10  Amplified Bible 7 Answer me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit fails; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit ( the grave). 8 Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning for on You do I lean and in You do I trust, Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift my inner self to you. 9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I flee to You to hide me. 10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me into a level country and into the land of uprightness.

Answer me speedily!
Answer me yesterday Lord.....sound familiar. Gee God, I needed the answer yesterday. For many us, we need the answer yesterday to whatever may be occurring today. But if we had been on guard over our walk with Him, we would have known when to spend that extra time praying, and less talking or more time reading His word about something specific instead of looking for the answer from another mouth other than God's mouth.

We are to live by the Bread that comes from heaven. It is life -giving, power packed with all we need and it keeps us safe in God's presence.
That self-gratification thing though can get us into trouble. It takes us places that are terribly unsafe, reckless and where our spirit can fail within us.
David said this in Psalm 143 and reading from verses 1 and 2: Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with Your servant for in Your sight no man living is [in himself] righteous or justified.

David has prayed. When we get to verses 7-10, we see him praying for his deliverance and the quickening of the Holy Spirit in his life.
David prayed for the agreeable in God. Though really bad things were occurring, still David held on to his convictions that God is good. He was seeking the Spirit of God that would reveal the prudent, the reliable and yes the most wise way to walk on the right path.

There will always be situations in our lives: some mistakes made by us and some made by those who may touch our lives in some way. Still the prayer to God is made for the guidance when trouble is not only prevailing but should be implemented well before something or someone "comes to disturb the peace".

It is holding on to God's peace within His presence, we keep to the level country. Anything outside of God is then revealed that is where the dangers and false speaking lie.

But when we get to verses 11- 12 of Psalm 143 we find this: 11 Save my life, O Lord, for Your name's sake; in Your righteousness, bring my life out of trouble and free me from distress. 12 And in your mercy and loving-kindness, cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my inner self, for I am Your servant.

What David is praying for here is to be helped in his daily devotions to God. Quicken by the Spirit of God is what David desired most. Though so many things were incensed against him, still his thoughts were on keeping his heart open to hearing and receiving God's truth.

No one is exempt from trouble of this world, but when we keep our focus we prevail. Where our spirit seems to fail, we must be strengthened in the word of God and know that He never fails.

I like Psalm 27:13-14 in the Amplified Bible. It states this: 13 [What would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! 14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brace and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Seeing God's goodness is remaining in Him. It is seeing Him on a daily basis and not once a week for an hour. If we truly are the sons of God, we will glory in His might and strength. If we truly are His sons we will know His voice when He speaks. We will know when He has come to our defense when it is really needed and not when we just whine about something.
He knows us, He knows what we are about. He knows our failings and our triumphs, but they fail in comparison to His great love and glory. Our hearts are to be filled with all that He is from His word. Anything less is the grave!

Keep your peace, gain your strength and let your heart become the stout and the enduring. Make your stand with God and see His glory fill your life. Amen.

Notice: 

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Defiance is Beheaded

Psalm 14:1....The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt,  They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.    NKJV

Psalm 14:1 Amplified: The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right.

Romans 3:10-13 Amplified................10 As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and
upright and conscientious, no, not one. 11 No one understands [no one intelligently discerns or comprehends]; no one seeks out God .12 All have turned aside; together they have gone
wrong, and have become unprofitable and worthless; no one does right,  not even one! 13 Their throat is a yawing grave; they use their tongues to deceive ( to mislead and to deal treacherously). The venom of asps is beneath their lips.

Psalm 5:9-10............9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;

Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb;

They flatter with their tongue. 

10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!

Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,

For they have rebelled against You.   NKJV

Defiance is seen vividly in these accounts. They do not seek God, they go wrong in every decision they make.  They are the unprofitable and when they speak, they speak with venomous words that kill another. 

In the time of David, we saw him come against Goliath. Now when thinking back to that time, we remember David minding his own business of shepherding sheep. In his 24 hour daily routine of keeping the sheep in hand, he was asked by his father Jesse to go to the front lines and take food to his brothers who were in the military and others who were in the stand off with the Philistines. David held a place in regard to God and His power, for he saw God do mighty things for him while tending those sheep in the wilderness.

We know one hulk of a man stood against the whole might of Israel and his name was Goliath. He was DEFIANCE!

1 Samuel 17:4-19

4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 

(In verse 8, we understand that the giant was after Saul. For he made the remarks that they who stood at the front line were the servants of Saul.)

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 17 Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them." 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.   NKJV

Yes, David had become the messenger of what was transpiring with Goliath. (verse 18)....Carry back news of them...!

1 Samuel 17:21-27

21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel." 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him."   NKJV

David asks: "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?" "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

1 Samuel 17:40-52

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands." 

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.   NKJV

In David's story, we find he was faithful to do what he was asked to do when asked by Jesse, his father, to take food to the brothers.  In the case of Goliath, we find hostility for others. Goliath was openly challenging Israel. He was the prideful in his own stature and muscular development. He saw Israel as weak and insignificant. Goliath was faithful to  himself. And he took that great pride and spoke. He displayed his mockery toward Israel and their God. Yes, his throat was the open tomb.

 The abominable works: the hateful and the loathing leading to destruction was evident every time he spoke.   Meaning: Philistine: pelishtiy...OT:6428....one who rolls in the dust

David was probably seen as one who came to publicly ridicule the mighty men who were to fight "Goliath"....the one who rolls around in the dust. Yet, this man was a GIANT. AND he presented a problem to King Saul and his mighty men. But David did not ridicule anyone. He took his stand with God and ran quickly to complete God's plan for him to do. And when the stone sunk into Goliath's forehead, David again ran quickly and took Goliath's own sword from the sheath that was fastened to his body, raised the sword...........and removed his head permanently.

Have you seen those who like to roll in the "dust"?  Kick up some dirt, throw stones at another person, protest loudly and still have no "good" results? Have you seen those that boast in themselves?

Our counsel is to be with the Lord. We are to find His will in His word for us. In that counsel, we find that He is the faithful and true. In that Word, we find hope, love, safety and wisdom!

Defiance is on every corner. It is raising its ugly head. And wherever it might be seen, remember what David spoke. "I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. AND I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."

Going out in God's name is that He is 1st in our lives. We speak that His name is above every other name. We declare Him to be the One TRUE God! Consider for a moment the defiance we may project on our own. It could be the putting of our trust in our abilities or even in knowledge. Gaining knowledge that is wisdom from the world can be detrimental when not putting God 1st. That knowledge of the world is problematic. But God's Word delivers us to safety and moves us out of harm's way.

From Ephesians 6:17, we find that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Leaving His Word and guidance can bring us into many mistakes and failure. David used the smooth stone. It was the tested in the wilderness. It was the proven and in it we see Christ our Cornerstone. As David confessed God before the infidel, he was the ready and the prepared. And the sword was used against Goliath when he was knocked out cold by the small, smooth stone. Ah, yes God will confound the wise of this world indeed!

For the "giant" was only knocked out with the smooth stone to the forehead. But it took the power of God in David to run alongside the fallen giant and take his sword from its sheath and take off his head. Yes it took the power of God and David had to have a trust in God.

1 Samuel 17:37........ 37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"  NKJV

We cannot rely on our own experiences from trials or tribulations of the past. For David saw deliverance from the paw of the lion, to that of the bear and yet these were different animals that acted much differently in battle. Each animal attacks knowing their own skill. 
So too, we must think on where our walk is with the Lord. Do we sing praises like David did in the wilderness? In every act we do each day, is it done unto the Lord and to His praise?

And I close with this:

1 Samuel 21:1-6, 8-9........................21:1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?" 

2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find." 

4 But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here-provided the men have kept themselves from women." 

5 David replied, "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men's things are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!" 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away. 

8 David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's business was urgent." 

9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one."   David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."    NIV

Pressure had come to David. Saul was breathing out lies and cruelty about David. And Saul wanted David gone for good. David fled into the Philistines territory. Looking into Psalm 34, we find a man so in tune with God that worship was forever on his mind. In reading the pages of his life and his fight against Goliath, the moment of real trusting in God came when brought before Achish the king. And appearing as a madman before the king proved success to David.  He found concealment within his own country. Yes, he found the cave of Adullam that was in the wilderness of Judah. David still sought to make "his boast in the Lord".

What the enemy has chosen to use against you, know that it will certainly come back upon himself. As with David, and asking for the bread, he gained 5 loaves..........5 meaning grace. The sword kept under the ephod was used again by one with authority as of a "priest".  We have a High Priest who intercedes for us. In our daily affairs of life, battles will show up on the scene, but where we stand, makes the difference of who fights for us. Is it in ourselves and our abilities, or is it in our allowing God the Holy Spirit to guide us through?

"Lord behold we have here two swords"........and He said, "It is enough".
 Luke 22:38.

enough...hikanos...2240........enough for the....coming season is the meaning.

And they certainly saw great war before the nation of Israel.

God's word is powerful and it is the weapon to wield upon the enemy. David used praise. Interesting the giant had a weaver's beam that if thrown into the direction of David would have went through him and planted him in the ground, yet the giant did not use it. He had the sword and did not use it. And  he even carried the javelin,  yet it was not used either.

Rely on God...........and He will show you what you have in hand that is from Him that will be used. What the enemy has in his hand will be used against himself. Understand, you have the victory in Jesus' name. Amen.

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

Desert and Devils

Luke 4:1-13
4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' " 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

'He shall give His angels charge over You,
To keep You,'

11 "and,

'In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "

12 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " 13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
NKJV

In the Blog: That YOU MIGHT have PEACE through THE STORM, we looked at how Jesus remained in peace. He was sweating blood in those last hours He prayed for that which was a storm. He was facing death, He was facing the enemy...........and nothing was found wanting in Him. He was the spotless sacrifice. He did not refuse to go to the Cross!
How many of us today, want to fight at the first hint of someone speaking dislike against us, our opinions or our character?

In the passage above, we see Jesus come into the desert from being baptized and with others like John the Baptist, to coming to that which is desolate. In today's society people can feel desolate, so isolated even though there could be hundreds around them. Why?
For one thing, man was never meant to be an island to himself. Man was to be a part of a family. In referring back to the passage, satan was addressing first to the needs of the man. He was pointing to Jesus the need for food. Are we not that way today? What's for dinner and we just finished lunch! But Jesus charged him with truth that man was not to live eating only bread but also by every word that comes from God. But how many today get charged up over some "rally" that speaks of no life to anyone, including those giving the rally? If tempers are flaring up, then why? Jesus does not appear to be hot-tempered, but He does appear focused and armed for anything the devil would bring in questioning Him.
He was questioned "If you are the Son of God"..........Jesus again pointed it back to God and His commands.
 Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'
From the book of Deuteronomy we find in chapter 6:16-17 "You shall not tempt and try the Lord your God as you tempted and tried Him in Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God and His exhortations and His statutes which He commanded you.
When we look at the passage about Massah in Exodus 17:7, we find this. "And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?"

The Amplified has this: " He called the place Massah [proof] and Meribah [contention] because of the faultfinding of the Israelites and because they tempted and tried the patience of the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"

Yes, Jesus had to have known of this scripture.........from readings of the first five books of the Pentatuech or the Law of Moses. (also known as the Torah). Jesus was not going to go against anything God the Lord was doing. He kept His peace and pointed the devil back to God! Do you think the devil was mad? Of course he was and would find those who he could use to fan the flame of hostility, dislike and much contention toward Jesus.
Yes, the desert was a place of confrontation. It came in the form of Jesus standing against having to prove anything of His own, but was always giving proof that God was to be served and always first in everything.

The desert is a place of sand, scorpions, many snakes and loneliness. It is comprised of those creatures that are willing to live with wind driven sand, scorpions and yes snakes and no doubt loneliness.
I remember a trip long ago to Disneyland. In our quest to go west and visit the playland of America, I was a teen. I remember the excitement and all the hoopla surrounding the trip there and back. In the time back, and stopping in a desert place for a picnic, I thought of the noise, all those people in lines and the loud voices. But in this place, I heard the quiet. I heard the sound of much sand being driven along by a soft breeze. As the sun started it's decent into the western sky, I looked toward the east and saw the light fading quickly, and wondered about the loneliness that would consume that place so soon. I thought of how when we would take our leave, gathering our trash up, those cans of pop, and take the last sack to the trash bin and taking our appointed seats in the car to leave this tranquil scene. How fast would our footprints would be covered over by the sand that continued its dance around those platforms of concrete that held those picnic tables on a level plain.

Back to the passage above, Jesus had to have been disciplined in the Word of God as He was Jewish. He had the heritage and was seen at age 12 asking questions at Jerusalem. See below:
Luke 2:43-50
43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
NKJV

 And so it was, Jesus was found in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. It even states in verse 48........that His parents were amazed at Him! Did they not know this about their son? How could they not see it? Jesus knew He needed the time with those scholars. Jesus knew He needed that teaching to the place He was destined.

Yet, we find they were amazed at seeing Him doing this! We hope our grand-child is seated in the midst of teachers like Jesus was and to see her asking questions and that she too, will astonish people at her understanding and answers concerning the SCRIPTURES.

In the broken society of today, so many young adults have no foundation of family. They have no one to turn to in the event of sickness or death of a single parent. Many youth and young adults are found living on the streets of every large city in this country! Why?

In all this, these can be bombarded by those who seek to destroy them, and how they gain their trust is to start testing them in that "wilderness" area and find what they really want. And like most who live and die, many want to have some authority. They want their name known in the work place, should they have a job. Many of course, want authority in the home or in that place where a few may gather to call it a home life. And again, if there is no foundation of home life with both parents, some youth fall into the hands of those who live outside the community to lead those into bonds of more bondage to that of "gangs" who would have the "new" member believe that they are now family!

Like Jesus being tested in the wilderness, Jesus had the discipline of knowing Father God and where He put His trust.

In the above scriptures we find the Israelites needing proof that God was among them. Yet they had seen the miracles and did not continue to believe, but the brutal elements of the wilderness, that desert area, brought reality to them, they could die out there. They had no trust in anyone but themselves. Even as the group, we had seen them trying to make bricks without straw....in the events leading them out of Egypt. It was each man gathering for straw which could not be found and making something that would not last.

In this tight net group of people, they still held on that which they knew by their own strength and power. Is that not what we see today? People want respect, honor, authority, and the only leadership with that comes from God Himself. You will even hear people speak, "Well he is a self-made man!" And there are those who can come to the top of some thing, but in reality is a house of cards, a castle made of sand that will not stand in any long term of time.
Jesus held to truth in whatever group of people He was facing. It all started in the desert with one devil and ended up by the end by meeting with many devils. 

Jesus did not remain isolated, with His own views, He took those of the Father to the world. He faced the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And we should be willing to do the same. "Well, Shelley, not everyone believes as we do!"   And you would be right. Ours is to pray for those in our community who can have their eyes open to the oppression they are in. Although some may venture to say they are not the oppressed.


Jesus heard those questioning who His Father was...........""Whose your daddy?"

Matthew 13:53-58
53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
NKJV

Mark 6:1-6
6:1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
NKJV

Men in those high positions probably looked down on those who did the trade labor as the carpenters. Yet, Jesus was the Son of God and managed to keep the profile of the humble, the man who worked with his hands to make a living.
I think of those I have come in contact with over the last 18-20 years who have the most awesome of testimonies. I think of those who have been changed so dramatically by the hand of God. We had met a group of young people on their way to Missouri back in 1995. They had broke down on the side of the road of the Interstate outside Billings, Montana. My husband just happened to be there on that day.......Billings, and was driving home along Interstate 90  about 3:30 pm. He saw this  group standing along side this hill top and drove by, but slowed all the while looking into his rear mirror, and  being prompted by the Spirit of God to give " them help". Well, he moved to the side of road and backed up to help them!  He looked it over, told them what he thought it needed, then helped get their vehicle to the next town, getting water for the overheated radiator......and calling me to let me know we had "guests" coming for dinner. Well, they came in by 5:30 pm.  They had the story to tell, and how God had my husband show up to "help". They were on their way to school, to get their pastorals. Each had a fire of God on them. They ate dinner and talked non-stop about the plan God had for them. Yes, we got them off on their way. And we saw them the next time ( several months later) they came through. Yes, at dinnertime we heard the dramatic reports of all that God was doing in and through them.
Who was their daddy? How could such young ones speak with the wisdom of God? Because they knew the FATHER and had that relationship with Him they esteemed very highly. We saw this with Jesus.
What we saw in like our young friend Isaiah and all his friends, we saw in Jesus, and they were all kept by the Spirit of the Living God to do what needed to be done for God's plan. They stayed in peace.


In addressing that which the devil spoke in Psalm 91............he said.....10 For it is written:

'He shall give His angels charge over You,
To keep You,'

11 "and,   'In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "

But in the actual text in Psalm 91.........it states "For He shall give His angels charge over you , to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone."

What the devil left out that we can see here by visiting this scripture.................."in all your ways."

" Well, in what ways," ................ skipping down to verse 14-16.......gives us the answer................" Because he ( Shelley, Shelley's husband, Shelley's grandchild...) have set their love upon God therefore it is God WHO WILL DELIVER ( Shelley, her husband, grand-daughter) for God will set us on high because we have KNOWN HIS NAME. (GOD'S NAME)
We call upon God, and He will answer each of us, God will be with us in trouble; God will deliver us, honor us............give us long satisfying life and His salvation for us. Amen.

Psalm 91:14-16

14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him. 

16 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation." 

NKJV

In light of the Lord and His ways, our peace is not of this world. Our peace comes from another "kingdom". It comes from that which Jesus came to bring to us. First to the Jews, and then second to the Gentiles.
Acts 16:6-10
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.  (them: gentiles)
NIV

So thankful that the Gospel was sent to the gentiles. So thankful to be added to the family of God. So thankful for the opportunity to give a testimony of the goodness of God. For whatever our days allotted to us, may we sound out His goodness, not by the temporary, that which is passing away, but by the eternal way. Like Paul, and like Jesus, the great sacrifice, our peace comes by abiding in Him. That peace is violent, takes peace by force, not as the world, but that which remains abiding in the Father Who spoke into chaos and brought life out of it in the beginning.

May that light shine in that which seems dark today in our understanding. The only time we are to be spectators is when are in that place in God that holds us by His Word. That Word brings peace to every circumstance we may face.  I know, I have seen that Word work in my life. Making the Lord our refuge, our place of safety, no evil befalls you or me. No tornadoes or seismic activity should reach our home. But if a tremor is felt, understand what you believe in will rule. If our trust is truly in God and trouble ( any danger ) is coming, then we must obey Him. Stay out of harms way, and believe Him to do the impossible for you. For He will give His angels charge over us to accompany and defend us and cause us to persevere in ALL OUR WAYS OF OBEDIENCE TO HIM AND HIS WAYS. AMEN!

FOR Jesus, it looking like total destruction, but He walks today. He looks over those who have trouble. As with Stephen, the righteous man, who was stoned to death.

Acts 7:55-58

 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. 

NKJV

Father, thank You for the peace that passeth our understanding. That peace is a force, and it is more that is detrimental to the devil. Speaking opinions is one thing, but boasting about one's own success is giving the importance to one man or to the one woman. But the peace we really need, not that in our doing of things, but in obeying You and acting on that truth. Father, may all our ways of obedience to You be seen in our lives. May we look into that perfect law of liberty that gives a glimpse of life everlasting with no harm, no plagues, no goofiness from the enemy. Help us to be the diligent to look over that Word and get it into our hearts so we are not deceived by the devil. Jesus was the equipped and knew he (the devil)  was trying to put something over Jesus. But Jesus was the learned. He was discipled by God! (Isaiah 50:4-6) I pray that we would have that tongue of the learned and know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit Who will awaken us morning by morning to hear with our ears. For it is YOU Who has opened our ears to hear Your voice. I pray that any who really desire Your peace will not be the rebellious and not away from truth, but face YOU and receive all that YOU would speak into our hearing ears. Today, we pray to be those who will support others who may have trials or tribulations weighing them down. Strengthen our 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 and continuing steadfast in prayer. (Romans 12:12) as we live this journey, help us to reach others with encouraging words that give life. Help us to be the "kind" when we are needing to make decisions that involve other people's lives. We are not the "island", we are people who need people around us. Not those who will prop us because we whine or need that shoulder everyday, but because we are here to encourage those who need encouraging and those who might need a correction by love in walking the right pathway. Though we walk in the mist of trouble, You preserve our lives. Stretch out YOUR hand against the anger of our foes, with YOUR right hand You save us. Lord 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

Courageous from the Inside Out.........September 11, 2014

Proverbs 30:2-5...Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended into heaven or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know? 5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (NKJV)

Today, being courageous is doing what is right according to what our Father God states in His Word and not according to the world's standards.
We are aware of the Mental Knowledge. As good as it may be, is still inadequate and is capable of producing pride!
In 1 Corinthians 8:1-3...Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. (NKJV)

Courage is being able to stand in the face of an enemy (a report of sickness, disease;  any person who sets out to harm another person;  presenting conflict to the body of believer's or elsewhere: ie, on the job site, in ministry, within a family situation that causes bodily hurt, and occurring at the least likely moment)

We have been given our five senses, but they make poor masters in the event of decision making! Basing our decisions on our senses is folly. Without true knowledge we fall victim to our senses and relying on them is detrimental to our lives. Making a decision based on the fear factor, we are likely to run into the confusion arena where darkness takes over. Instead of running to the Father of light with His knowledge, His wisdom, we choose to blanket ourselves in the darkness of confusion and as the fear multiplies, and terror grips our souls, we look for the "way out of the circumstance". When we do not rely on the Word of God, we become the driver (of our situation) to act out on the fear based emotions we are experiencing. This acting out is based on false evidence.
Our trust is to be in God. We are to have knowledge of the Holy One.

It is pretty simple to apply God's Word. In  Proverbs 23:12 ...apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge. (NKJV)
It is paramount to apply our hearts to instruction. Just like learning to swim, takes some time, and water swallowing at times, so does learning to read, understand, to practice what we have read, & meditated on in scripture.
I am in awe when people say, "you do not have to read the Bible everyday"! Wow, I certainly do! And if I am not reading it, then I have the CD on with scriptures either on healing or from the New Testament playing. I also keep praise and worship to God going in the center of the house as well!
I surely want the Lord to know that He is welcome in this home! I want Him to always know I desire His wisdom and His way of doing beyond any natural thing I could every choose to do.
In Proverbs 2:10-14...it says that wisdom enters our heart, and knowledge is pleasant to our soul, 11 discretion will preserve us; understanding will keep us. 12 to deliver us from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, 13 from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; (NKJV)

Again, it appears simple for us to stay in the light of God and His knowledge.  As we stay in His Word and learning His wisdom, then we will not fall into the fear factor of relying on the five senses and of clothing ourselves in darkness!  It is imperative to have the light of God's truth shining in on the thing or the man who set out to harm us! We definitely do not want to be the driver, who forcefully drives further into darkness and confusion and try to make a "right decision" based of the senses that bring folly.
It is the Word of God that will keep you and me, preserve you and me, and will deliver us from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things. We are to adhere to God's teachings, and stay in the light, understanding God's ways and thoughts are life to us. As we do this daily, our hearts are growing in courage to make the "right decisions" in the moment we need them most. When or if the enemy appears, we have the courage in our hearts to defeat him with the light and truth of God's Word.

Today, I set out to be faithful to teach others of God and His knowledge. In 2 Timothy 2:22-26 we are told to flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 but avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife; 24 and a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.  (NKJV)
You will know those who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart. YOU will also recognize those who do not. No, we are not to quarrel or argue, but in humility those who are to be corrected should be corrected. Look at the life of Jesus, and how many people that He corrected. I can think of the priests in the temple when Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers. I also think of Jesus correcting Peter. People must remember what love looks like and it is more than me telling you, "oh, I love you!" You can ask our daughter, that a lot of love came through correcting her and I am certain, our daughter loves her daughter and does correct and will correct her consistently when it is needed. It takes a pure heart filled with the love of God to pursue being humble, avoiding ignorant disputes, avoiding strife, but to correct when necessary.
Then it appears that our hearts are to be filled to the maximum with the love of God and His Word!
Pay attention at the next meeting or leadership time together, and watch those who operate out of the pure heart, who are willing to yield! Then watch for those who take the floor and run with loose lips. Pay attention, to those who want your attention and have to have their say, and then watch those who are humble in the sight of God, who will remain silent till time to speak. Truly, correction is love and is needed, not only in the homes, but in the communities, in business, and in government!

In a recent study I got on Peace, I like what John Paul Jackson wrote in WAGE PEACE! He said that peace is like authority. It is not a spiritual gift that we were born with, but it is something we experience and carry with us. (Is something we grow in, my words)
So the more we KNOW God, and pursue HIM in righteous, & peace, the more we speak, the more authority we carry the STRONG peace through the darkness, to seek light and the truth of God's Word.
 I have learned peace to be a violent word. In the Greek, it means to obtain by quietness by removing what seeks to distract and destroy. This peace is not the simple compliant and serene peace, BUT IS AN aggressive taking out or forceful removal of that which needs to be removed. Peace is not a passive word. When seeking God and His peace, love, faith and righteousness, I am setting my boundaries. So when I say peace in my life, I  am saying what Jesus spoke in the Gospels. When He spoke "peace be with you", He was stating a command that all chaos, darkness, anything of the enemy had to be removed.

The instruction God has given is there so we can place it in our hearts.It is through this instruction that we learn how to co-operate with God and His way of doing things. As we continue studying and meditating on the Word of God, we grow wise in things of God and His kingdom. We become those living wisely and who practice it regularly.
Today, let's take His wise counsel, fill our hearts with knowledge and wisdom of the Holy One, so if and when the enemy tries to darken the doorway of our hearts, we will tell him to take a hike. Today, I believe us to make no provision for the flesh, but I do expect we will walk properly as we see the day approaching of the Lord's return.

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