A Threat Against Loyalty

 

Defining Loyalty Will be Found in Our Character: Luke 14:26-27 NKJV 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 
         1. Loyalty to Christ is found in these 2 verses

     2. Entering into the New covenant, our loyalty should be toward Him

     3. Peter confirmed this word: Acts 5:29 We ought to obey God rather than " men.”

     4. Our character will determine where we go in life and find what rules it!

At the beginning of our conversion usually during counseling for baptism, we are asked to consider this passage seriously. Verses 26-27 are particularly important because loyalty to Christ is the issue in this context. Jesus makes it plain that, after entering into the New Covenant, our highest loyalty is to Him.

This is extremely important because the character of every life is determined by the loyalty that rules it. Peter confirms Jesus' words in Acts 5:29, saying, "We ought to obey God rather than men." He made this affirmation following Jesus' crucifixion.  Persecution was imminent against the fledgling church. However, we must understand that the world is always a threat against our loyalty to Christ.

Heard on the news where the new mayor of New York refused to mention anything of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. We have to have that "sacrifice" God ordained.

Loyalty to Jesus Who Rules

  Ephesians 4:17-24 …..NKJV….17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (dealing deceitfully) 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus; 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  (like living with big egos)……23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and holiness.

Lewdness: ( from v.19)  one who has the characteristic nature to act out his arrogance & contempt in public. ( We see ignorance and that contempt in public when people refuse Jesus.)

Every person has character, and  the character of every life is determined by the loyalty that rules it. 

Slaves of Sin No More : Romans 6:12-23     NKJV……12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that dorm of doctrine to which you were delivered.

18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness,  and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those thins is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Alignment with God into His Presence : Romans 5:6-11    NKJV.......6 For when we were still without strength in due time Christ dies for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

From Romans 5: 11 we also rejoice in God because we have a present fellowship with God through Jesus. We are to understand and know that the two: Sanctification and justification are not the same.

Each has a different process but within the same pattern God has provided to us. His purpose is they both began at the same point of salvation. In that profession and confession of our faith in Jesus, we are the forgiven, the justified and sanctified.

But it is Justification that aligns us with that standard of God’s law. It is that God activated card that brings us into His presence.

AND Sanctification is that inward spiritual work that Jesus Christ works in us.

Jesus confirmed that word when He spoke this: John 14:18: "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

As our High Priest, He continues that work in us after our justification. He not only washes us of our sins by means of His blood, but He also labors to separate us from that which is of the  natural love of sin and the world.

Jesus said this: John 5:17    NKJV  17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

Philippians 1:6   NKJV    Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

This good work: Philippians 1:6..is in physical and moral sense. It conveys that of producing benefits.

God in His mercy sent Jesus. In HIM, we have the benefit of life eternal. He made us holy. In that work which is continuing, it is possible for us to be the godly witness before men.

If God's only purpose was to save us, He could end the salvation process with our justification. Certainly, His purpose is to save us, but His goal is to save us with character that is the image of His own.

PATTERNS: Spirit –filled relationship with Jesus..Acts 3:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:29-31 Now Lord look on their threats and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Boldness: parrhesia (par-rah-see-ah) unreserved, freedom of speech with frankness, candor, and cheerful courage. It is divine enablement that comes from the Holy Spirit and not by man!

Jesus reminded them in John 8:31-32 this: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word you are my disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Abiding in Jesus makes us free continually when we abide in Him continually. We are to know His word and repeat it in our speaking!

He was speaking that which you will know from Him as truth is that which sets you free. It is abiding in His presences and makes one free. It also represents that we stay within His boundary being active within that pattern He has divinely produced. It does not happen in one moment but many moments of our lives.

Our giving time to Him and His presence is a costly thing. It is an investment not to be taken lightly. Within God and His pattern for life is abiding, then pressing forward in that once given freedom through His son Jesus. Jesus did this all the way to the grave. He kept reaching out to His Father and in that Resurrection with great light would bring Him forth unto the new DAY! In that day of rest, we are new, living out in the light and truth of God and not by some word of a liberal!

If we can discipline ourselves to work at a job, then we certainly can discipline ourselves to be active in reading about, and pursuing Jesus. It is not “hey God, I will catch you up on my leisure time.”

Was thinking of the young woman who had been kidnapped at birth and raised by another woman. The whole of this young teen now is based on a lie. Even though she had seen what she thought was a good life, still all of it is based on the false which is a lie.

We start each day either that which is based on God and His Word or of the other. If our lives are dealing with us in the middle, and the choice is only us then we have no hope. Our only hope is in Jesus Christ! Truly Jesus is the Son of God. Truly He has risen to give us life abundantly.

 Jeremiah 10:23-24 says that the way of man is not in him to direct his steps.

We have to understand that, when we come to God, we are admitting to Him through repentance that our salvation is not internal—it is not something we can produce. In the same vein, the right way to live is not within us. It must come from outside, and that "outside" is God. Thus, we ask God to direct our steps. At baptism, we are asking God to make us into the image of Christ and to rid us of the perversions of human nature that have produced this world.

Psalm 101:7    NKJV……He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.

That continue means: shall NOT BE ESTABLISHED…

Matthew 26:57-60   NKJV…………….57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high Priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, the elders and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “this fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.” 62 and the high priest arose and said to Him, “do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “ I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless; I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Sacrificial love toward other people will be decreasing, but the real cause is that the relationship with God is cooling off. People want more sin and more freedom in that sin!

Matthew 24:9-13       NKJV  9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another and will hate one another. 11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many 12 and because lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

In Closing:  Philippians 4:8  to think on that which is true and noble not fantasy…

Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy ----meditate on these things.

Proverbs 25:19 instructs us, "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint." Faithfulness always indicates a person who deals truthfully; he can be trusted. Yet, dealing with unfaithful people is usually painful because one never knows whether they will come through. Or if you truly will see them in your need.  Thus, our evaluation of ourselves comes down to this question: How can God trust us if we are not striving to be honest now? More want to be entertained and the very thought of work is just terrible for them to handle.

Whatever may be going on in your neighborhood or community, Jesus and His Strength will be required. We must remain in Him and His peace to take the next step through a darkened path. He will set us on His straight and narrow and see we have all the light we need to get to end of days. His truth is every lasting!

  

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Cloudy with a Chance of What?

Voice of Prayer

Now if you live in the Northwest region of the U.S. you will certainly have some cloudy days. Of late we had those fronts come that bring not only low clouds, heavy rain, but also some dampness with cold brisk winds. This is April and not January, please! Now I realize the "old saying" that April showers bring May flowers, but the flowers we already have in sight require some much need sun and not a soaking pot of soil with extra amounts of water!
In searching or seeking the Lord, we can sometimes find those cloudy days with a chance of something we did not expect.
Was reading a book given to me by a neighbor to read on prayer. It has been quite a delight to read and the endeavors the author walked through provided answers to him through seeking the Father in prayer times, reading of the word and fasting!
Was thinking of David encountering Goliath...you know the young man charging the giant in front of multitudes that were more equipped than he in their active role of military, still the young man poised with God and His plan solved the dilemma for King Saul!
Noah too, had much rejection as well.....as the pastor of only what was of few people being his family, he built an ark in the desert and with very little help. We know it took him a while to build it since the one hundred years marked the end of construction and the beginning of much rain.

Faith is needed to live a spiritual life! Faith is required for those not afraid to see the unseen appear when they believe, fast and pray for the thing they seek. Certainly those things should be for the glory to God and to His praise, and He certainly does not mind us having things as longs as "things" do not have us!
The initial faith to just make it across town is certainly safety we all seek. It is also the faith most walk with. It appears as: "Lord help me to cross over to the other side in safety" and then when there, we pray the same to return home. But when we are really strong in faith we are those who live by the spirit, to see in the Spirit as the Spirit leads us home and to God's glory! It is a bulldog faith that pulls the crippled out of wheel chairs, and sees the dead live to walk again!

John 4:24 "God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. Living in God is living in reality not what you see on those reality T.V. programs!  We are to reject those things that separate us from God. And we are to nurture an increasingly deepened relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is only that which comes from Him that brings life.

The Spirit of God the Holy Spirit came and Jesus spoke of His coming.
Jesus is the example of the cultivated life in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit came on Jesus at the Jordan in the water baptism and the Holy Spirit proved vital energy to His life of devotion to God the Father. In drawing from the well of salvation, we draw on the very promises of God that produces the life God intended us to have. In the light of these promises we have the light of life that came through Jesus. And in that light we see both spiritually and physically. So there should be no blindness in our lives.

David with spiritual eyes took 5 stones but he only needed the 1 stone to slay the giant. The other four stones was for the brothers of the giant! (1 Samuel 17:40)
Noah had spiritual energy and spiritual knowledge to see how to build an ark with his family. Have you worked with family? And the wise men saw the star.....being led by the ONE who CREATED the very stars in the sky to lead them to the Messiah, to upset King Herod and to make a statement to the wise men in a dream to depart another way home! ( Matthew 2:12)

Clouds appeared on these situations but not so much as a real cloud, because Noah had never known rain, and still it was a "word" given that rain was coming to flood what they knew as home. David was flanked by military "know it all's "  who had a the savvy but not God's favor.
Those captured by God, and His excellence will find truth carried out in justice. These two sought to bind themselves to God's presence and His promptings. Being sensitive to God's Spirit quiets our spirit into His peace. Responding to Him is answering in obedience that is of worship to Him and for Him.
 In these it was of what one could count as cloudy with a chance of something happening, but God intervenes when He gives His word. These two were delivered out of adversity!
For Noah, his family was preserved. The first covenant of promise was given. Noah built but God gathered. In obedience, Noah put something together for God and when the structure was sturdy and ready God gathered. God gathered with the love to usher and place in safety that which God Himself wanted to preserve as the godly family and God's creation of animals.
For David, a throne was established that would come from the very lineage of a shepherd boy. Told of the enduring house (1 Samuel 25:28) for Abigail ,married to a scoundrel, knew by the Holy Spirit when meeting him on the way told told him that  he was one who fought the battles of the LORD and evil was not found in David throughout his days.
 In 2 Samuel 7 God declares in verse 13 that He would establish a throne of the seed of David. Through Solomon the generations were set to deliver the manifested King. Verse 16 God declared "your house and your kingdom shall be established forever."
Jesus lived out His time in the Spirit. He moved from place to place to declare the Father's glory. He lived by the spirit to see the future and we too, are to declare our future by the words of spirit and truth.
Jesus operated by the Holy Spirit of truth. And Jesus wore a crown of thorns. Cloudy with a chance of what?
For many people of that day expected Jesus to take over the throne from the king, move Rome out and live free and happy. Awe, but this was not to be done in this manner. For the Messiah was seen by wise men, and was expected by none else but only Mary and her cousin Elizabeth knew. Time reveals all and just because it is cloudy and raining out of that which may sound like defeat, death causing disease or loneliness, yet God is on the scene. He has never left us. He did not leave Noah, David nor did He leave Mary, Elizabeth or Jesus. In relying by faith we see that which we believe.
Down on our knees we submit to His plan, and by praying we seek to know the truth for our lives. And in that we find comfort from the psalmists before us that spoke of despair but rose to see justice in their time!
You may be saturated in mire, but God delivered us in freedom of salvation and with our debt paid we are to rally in the goodness of God and be comforted that help is here and available when we truly look with spiritual eyes in faith to see the way in which we are to walk according to His plan and for His glory! Amen.

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OVERFLOW

What are we overflowing in? Are we giving comfort and cheer to others or are we giving grief, distress and torment? When in need for something important to us and family, is it for life or death? Certainly in this day and time we hear of paper mills shutting down right before the holidays and another how many out of jobs? 
But if we actually live in God and His Word, what should rule us, rule our hearts? Is the plight (that struggle or difficulty) ruling and making all the decisions for us or are we allowing God to move on our behalf?
Most people today will not enter a church for prayer. And many do not know how to speak to God. Our life should be that which demonstrates His power flowing through us and not only for us and to us, but to others as well.
In today's reality the truth is that the Bartender down the road is the "pastor" or "clergyman" where people go to speak about their "problems". They add a drink or two to their courage and start speaking. Letting it give power to their "letdown's" and failures and it reveals by their speaking where they are going in their thought life. Their life speaks "failure". But that is not what God intended for those who love Him and know Him!

Luke 6:43-45
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 
NIV

Luke 6:43-45

For there is no good (healthy) tree that bears decayed (worthless, stale) fruit, nor on the other hand does a decayed  (worthless, sickly) tree bear good fruit. 44 For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit; for figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramblebush. 45  The upright (honorable, intrinsically good ) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable, intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks. Amplified Bible

In reading this scripture we think and compare what Jesus speaks of the tree and bushes........those which produce nothing but thistles and thorns and those which produce fruit that is good.

He goes to say that "out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his (your mouth and my mouth) speaks.

OVERFLOW

What ever we hold in that storage place in our hearts will overflow into either the worthless, stale or that which is honorable, intrinsically good. He speaks of two men: the upright man and the evil man. In our day to day activities I wonder which are we: man who shines in goodness and being honorable or which brings dark clouds of doom and destruction?

Was thinking of that spoken on a news report of those closing down an Interstate somewhere in the Midwest.......and wondering how many men, women or even children could not get to a hospital on that Interstate on that specific day who were needing emergency care at a hospital those hours that main roadway was closed? Is there not a better way to address desiring 15 dollars per hour for your job pay? Is there not a way to gain attention on a matter without maybe killing people who might need emergency medical care and not get it, because why?

Out of the overflow of our hearts, our mouths shall speak. Yes, people need money to live........to pay bills, pay for childcare and buy that car for maybe carpooling back and forth to work. And surely people need insurance. But I remember when I desired a raise in pay, I took it to the supervisor and especially during the time of my yearly work performance REVIEW time. I surely know people who are not getting their worth in the work they provide, and I do see them trying to get another needed education class or two in, and even see them gaining some more time in training time on computers. Whatever the task, the thing desired it begins with us and where our heart resides. For wherever our heart is, there we reside.

People can have what they say or speak. What they believe right now, is what they have either stored from God's Word or that of the world. If the parents and grandparents lived in lack and spoke lack in their lives, then the children and grandchildren will probably have lack as well. We cannot compare ourselves to others in what they have or do not have. We each have the choice to go to school and learn, and each of us has the choice to work.

In our community, we pray for people to have jobs that pay well. We pray for the children to have both mother and father and have time together to know each other and thrive well in peace and comfort in knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

In our meeting time together around God and His Word as believer's, we pray for people to be touched by God and for their lives to be changed in such a way that others will know God has come to them for the miraculous. We have prayed for safety in our region from any who would be labeled  the "terrorist" to really come to know Jesus the Savior and the Redeemer.

Proverbs 15:4 

A gentle tongue [with  its healing power]

is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in 

it breaks down the spirit. Amplified Bible

Having that gentle, healing tongue has the power to comfort others. It is having peace in our tongues that will convince others of the good when we speak that way. That healing tongue is a tree of life .....and lives in peace. In thinking on this day, I am brought back to that contrary wind. Have you ever seen a contrary wind? You know the one of which I speak, especially if you live in what is a gorge area along a great river.  It blows non-stop at the same speed for hours, and breaks off limbs and sometimes big branches, if speed of wind is high and sustained long enough. That contrariness is destructive as demonstrated by the wind we cannot see, but the effect on that tree is noticeable to the eye.
 Any who speak as of those hard words may not break the bone, but they surely break the heart (the spirit man). Nothing good comes from parading harm, but only brings more harm. Even if it is for the right thing in the wrong form will bring only more of the same.

There is either bad news or God's news. The place we choose is where we dwell and what we believe is delivered to us everyday. If I abide in thinking on sickness and ill health all my days, then I am enforcing that thing myself. I am expecting ill health. But if I speak to the bones and joints of body and I call them in health in Jesus' name,  I am making a demand on my own bones and joints to to live healthy and not respond to any disease. I speak that the "Spirit life of 1 Peter 2:24 permeates every bone and joint of my body with life and health that is like God's! I demand that every internal organ perform a perfect work, for I am the temple of the Holy Ghost; therefore I reside in the Word of God that I am healed and made whole. (Proverbs 12:18)
If I should reside where people profane another people, calling them evil names and abiding on that day and night, then that is what I enforce into my life and being.

God is greater than and above all that could possibly be happening on this earth, in this country and within the county and community of which I live. I am declaring God's Word that will not return to Him void, but will accomplish to where it is sent. I give voice. And He creates the fruit of our lips. I am confessing God's Word and in that I am having fellowship with him. I make the practice of eating right, and doing what my body needs and I also look at God and His medicine on a regular basis as well. I look into the perfect law of liberty. And in it I have life and health to all my flesh.

Proverbs 3:7-8
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones. 
NKJV

In receiving Jesus, we are kings and priests. We have the heritage of ruling and reigning. But it is in peace and not taking over I-? on stopping traffic ..........for any given time. But by the Spirit of God we take our place in speaking God's word and by praying (and confessing) that the decree shall be established to me (and to you) and that light shall shine on our ways. Job 22:28
In the Amplified Bible it states this: Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from  our sins by His own blood. [Psalm 89:27] 6 And formed us into a kingdom ( a royal race), priests to His God and Father---to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen. (so be it).

 Allowing God to have His way is speaking His Word over our finances, and our health and our family.

In closing:

Jesus told us in Mark 11:23-24 that whatever "mountain" may be in the way, causing a problem, that we can speak to it. Verse 23..."Be lifted up and thrown into the sea "...........and when we believe ,no doubting, at all in our hearts but believe that what we have said takes place,  will be done for us. Verse 24 states that .....whatever we ask for prayer and believing (trusting and being confident) that which we have asked is granted to us, we will get it!

If that mountain is finances, then today know that what Jesus spoke about affects the natural world. The world in which you and I live. If you need a great increase in finances, I will agree with you right here and now. "God has given us His Word so that we can govern as kings and priests. We pray and agree as it mentions in Matthew 18:19....."that if two of us agree and we do right here, touching on this matter of greater increase in finances, ( we harmonize, make a symphony together) we ask today, we believe it to come to pass and be done for my sister or brother today in Jesus' name. May they have the righteous desire for that which takes care of their families needs and keeps the home filled with good, laughter and good health that comes from God alone.

No longer is it the carnal mind operating here, but we today hold those thoughts and (feelings and purposes) of Christ, the Messiah. Today we speak and believe and yes, practice that which we have spoken, and in living in that God kind of peace, we come to the place of being untroubled, not flustered or bothered. We hold together on this truth and that we will see God come through on our finances in Jesus' name. Amen.

Father, thank You for food, clothing and shelter. In the name of Jesus, we desire not to be the anxious and worried. No we desire not to be anxious about life, or body for we know our life is greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent than clothing.]
I pray today for any who reads this and needs a raise in finances to further care for their wives or husbands, their children, their children's advancing in school or even their own and its priorities and in their healthcare, that their eyes would be open to see that which is available to them right now. I know from my time in the workplace, that You provided other means of finances as to a retirement account being established for me by the place I worked. Father, I pray today for finances to come in those forms of  consulting contracts, that raise in pay in the workplace, favor with other managers and CEO's, and those desiring a change entirely in what they do for a living. For those who need courage today, we call on Elohim, the Creator of heaven and earth Who was in the beginning. You have made us, You have crowned us with glory and honor. YOU are the God of might and strength.  Father, we want to be daily reminded that Your wisdom is from above and is willing to yield to reason; to cooperate one with the other. (James 3:17 Amp)
Those who are Your people are a blessing, especially to the those of the household of faith----those who belong to God's family, the believer's. May people see today the importance of sowing the seed of spiritual good among the people to reap that which is of material benefit.
Today we call You Jehovah-Rohi, You are our Shepherd and we shall not want for any good or beneficial thing. We bless You Jehovah-Jireh, the One Who sees our needs and is the provider for them.
Help us today and I mean everyone who reads this: may we love courageously those who are the supervisors, the managers and those even higher as the CEO's of any company. For the younger generation and this their first job, help them to be honest and diligent toward their work and asking for increase. Show us how to interact in talking about any increase we may need at this time. We desire to do this with a pure heart and a good conscience. Help us to confront that which we must confront, but not by harming another, but by being honest about the need, and to speak fearlessly the truth. We acknowledge our emotions that can be out of control right now, but we do not want to be ruled by our emotions and led by them to harm or put ourselves where destruction lays wait. We desire to make right decisions concerning how to approach 'the boss' on this matter of finances.

 (for those praying today ) May what I speak and say honor You today in that place I connect with ___________________( name of boss, name of manager, name of CEO, name of supervisor, if a baby-sitter ...The Parents of child/children you watch) May they truly have hearing ears to hear me as I do this in love and peace. To God be the glory. Amen.

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

Dealing with Pain

Ever dealt with pain? I mean pain that continues with no relief.  In seeing people dealing with their pain I think how easy it is today to take a pill. There are many who must get their relief  in the pharmacy with a prescription or in one over the counter. I thought today of days early on in my life when a game of basketball with friends at school brought me to grief on the floor when my foot got entangled with my sister's foot in making a shot.

Yes, for years I went to chiropractors and doctors alike. There were times the pain brought me down from my regular routine to bed time for days and weeks at a time. The pain would come and go. Finally I decided, I needed another's help. So applying God's word has helped me so much. He has given me wisdom to know which nutrients I need to keep peace in my muscles. One thing I have seen in the many years, that when one suffers with pain from any source, one can be stopped in their tracks. Literally anyone with a confrontation of pain, heartache, and death can stop someone cold. They will freeze up, unable to cope with the situation that faces them.

I love to walk and hike some distances. But we had not been able to do that till we found relief in the Word. Early on, we would hike the long canyons in Colorado. Another was a hike out of a reservoir area we were hunting one year for elk. I would not want to do that again in mid October. But praise the Lord for His goodness to those who do their own thing!

But the subject of pain can bring tears, and remembrances of hard times of doing nothing in life. Pain can separate a person from other people. Nothing from our past can add to our future. Taking baggage with us from the past only brings the past to this present moment. Dwelling on hurts and disappointments only brings despair. 

Ecclesiastes 1:12-16....I discovered that the lot of man, which God has dealt to him, is not a happy one. It is all foolishness, chasing the wind. What is wrong cannot be righted; it is water over the dam; and there is no use thinking of what might have been. 

16 I said to myself, "Look, I am better educated than any of the kings before me in Jerusalem. I have greater wisdom and knowledge." So I worked hard to be wise instead of foolish --but now I realize that even this was like chasing the wind. For the more my wisdom, the more my grief; to increase knowledge only increases distress.     TLB

In the Living Bible this verse is paraphrased, “What is wrong cannot be righted; it is water over the dam and there is no use thinking of what might have been.”

Only God can restore. He can change that which needs to change and a lot of the time it starts with each of us. As my daughter always says, “it’s a heart issue, Mom!”

We can be encouraged that whatever is dealt to us may be as bitter lemon, but God can make lemonade out of it and see us prosper in the future.

In the scripture above, the increase in  knowledge is that of the world. People think the more head knowledge they have the more happy and prosperous they will be, but it is the wisdom of God that leads us to life in abundance, a more set for a course of glorifying Him and not us. Learning something that helps us become more equipped in the course of life as a nurse, a doctor, and/ or lawyer always take some education. But to keep getting an education in something you cannot get a job in is futile.

In life there is always going to be disappointments, discouragements, and pain, but how we address them and move on determines our success in moving forward in life. Applying God's Word to that source of pain helps tremendously. In applying that life-giving word, we are taking God's pill for the situation.

 Psalm 38:6-8...6 I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly;

I go mourning all the day long. 

7 For my loins are full of inflammation,

And there is no soundness in my flesh. 

8 I am feeble and severely broken;

I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. NKJV

Turmoil in the heart is a serious thing.  Being consumed about an illness, a family in chaos, illness of family member miles away, over a child's rebellion at home and in school, or just feeling abandoned in times of pain, can cause turmoil. It can cause us to stop. Have you or anyone around you ever mention, "I do not like this ride anymore and I want to get off? Or "just stop this planet please, I would like to try another?" I have!

Weariness can drag a person down when they continually mourn the thing for which they meditate on in regard to loss and or pain. They might see disappointment as to a job loss, or a ministry. They might see a family breaking apart by the most unusual circumstances, and not know what to do to stop it. Although the person above in Psalm 38 was most likely dealing with some sickness or disease within their body, he surely meditated on hearing the verdict of the illness.  He was groaning in his heart because of the magnitude of the circumstance.

Psalm 38:17-20.....17 For I am ready to fall,
And my sorrow is continually before me. 
18 For I will declare my iniquity;
I will be in anguish over my sin. 
19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong;
And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. 
20 Those also who render evil for good,
They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.  NKJV

David was mentioning his sorrow, his pain was continually before him. He points to sin that he had to declare to God. Even though he felt his enemies were strong and even those who hated him had multiplied, he courted the truth that God would help him since he followed after good. 
In experiencing pain, we can feel as weak as the weakest elderly person alive today, with no resistance available. But where we are weak God makes us strong.


We are to cast our care upon God for He cares for us!

Psalm 55:22........2 Cast your burden on the LORD,

And He shall sustain you;  He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.  NKJV

1 Peter 5:6-10....6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.   NKJV

Father, I pray for all who need peace today, that they would be settled in YOUR peace and plan. Today, I pray for all those who are dealing with pain in their hearts, that they would rise up knowing Jesus took this to the cross. As the Great Sacrifice, He came to give us hope in our final outcome. Jesus came to make sure that we would be perfected, established, strengthened and settled, understanding that life is to be lived in unity with You our Father. We pray this in His name, that today, men and women everywhere would be those with eyes open to see the adversary for what he is and that he is a liar. YOU Lord came to give us life and life more abundant. 

Jesus told us in Matthew 10:39 ......39 "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it. TLB

We know that we must surrender everything to God. He instructs us of total self-sacrifice in devotion to God's will. We are told to deny self to gain the spiritual life.  For if we do not completely and wholeheartedly relinquish our life for the higher life in God, we will lose both.  Today, we seek to pray in self-examination asking if we have truly relinquished everything to You our Father. We desire to abandon our former life of pain and heartache. We know this, that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us His power, His love and His sound mind. Father, for wherever we are not settled in this word, help us to be strengthened as YOU give us Your Word in prayer time, that secret place in meditating Your truth. Help us to say NO to pain and live the life YOU planned for each of us. We thank You we are not alone in pain of the body or the mind but You are an ever-present help in trouble. Amen!

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