When Wounds are Many

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of stars; He calls them all by name. 5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Brokenness happens! It happens to rich people and poor people! It will happen to those in the city and to those in the country! It will happen everywhere to men and women alike. When wounds are many, it is only the Lord who can cure their pain and the sorrows of the wounds.

People are human. They make mistakes! Just look back at the Garden of Eden! Wow, what a mess, yet we each can say we have created such messes at some point in our lives. Although ours did not cause mankind to fall to sin, yet, our family is affected by such messes and sometimes for many generations since we ultimately all came from that same garden. Right?
You can see that today in the number of adults who have no regard for father figures. They do not regard them for they neither had one nor knew of one. But if it is never talked about, the problem will continue to grow to cover a nation will ill-regard for men in leadership.

I was recently hearing a teaching on Proverbs 27:5-6. In this the teacher told that rebukes can hurt and yet rebuke will come to the one experiencing that world of hurt. And if we truly have a really good friend, a rebuke given with love is more apt to bring change to our lives.

In the world today you are to love all people everywhere in everything. It has something about being politically correct. But rebuke is to make some uncomfortable. Like knowing that killing is wrong, and same sex marriages are also wrong according to words God set forth and delivered, not only through the prophets but also through that of the Son of His love!

There are those times one may need to be told that they are of the foolish nature and wrong! But we must remember we cannot make people choose right over wrong. People will do with that correction the way they desire and if they choose the other, then so be it. But reality is, that is if we do not warn them with a rebuke, then we are accomplices to the very problem these people hold especially if they are family. Even close friends seem to repeat the same from the last few years. They hold on to the fact they are alone and need somebody, so they choose the same person they chose a year ago. And most likely they will fall to the other's lies and be hurt resembling last years hurts!

Ah yes, when wounds are many, and they continue to become many more when changes are not made. WE certainly are to love others and are to love them in their mistake making progress, yet if they continue in the same muddy mess, something must change.

Of course, we start with us first!  Each of us must find the word of God and apply it to our own lives. We are to walk accordingly to the path set by God for us. In this we have protection. But if we choose to go our own way in making decisions of choosing that spouse, that new job or even a change of living from city to country, from the farm to the beach, many decisions may be made haphazardly causing more destruction to one's own life. We must make our decisicions based on the truth of God's Word.

Proverbs 27:5-6 Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. If we never speak up, then we are loving others into more sin. Even as a physician has to bring some formula to the table of a person's care if they are truly sick. If the physician only caters to bringing what is pleasing rather than bringing what is really needed the sick patient may become more ill to the point of death!
Tough love is better than flattering hypocrisy!

In Matthew 26:49-50 we find Judas kissing Jesus. 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
Judas in his hypocrisy kissed Jesus with the "kiss " of the intimate friend. Betrayal can cause many wounds like in this situation. But Jesus was revealing His true nature. And Judas revealed his true nature. In this Judas had received coins from those he gave Jesus up to. Within those coins was not the coins that the nation of Israel produced but was of the coinage that represented Caesar. What a terrible place for Judas to be. He had taken of that which was precious, and Jesus allowed Judas his day in the arena of pain. And within that Judas suffered a lot to the point of death.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend for they are not just the "yes man" but they will speak truth. According to Ephesians 4:15 in the Amplified Bible: 15 rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly.] Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ ( the Messiah, the Anointed One).
 If we are the true friend, we will act according to the word of God: no more and no less, it will be about our being submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ in our lives, showing allegiance to him and where there is disharmony God's way will always take precedence.
Acts 4 :19-20 But Peter answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard..'

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The Full Counsel of God

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Prayer for a Friend

Voice of Prayer

Job 42:7-10 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, " My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has." 9 So Eliphas the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zohpar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. 10 And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Wow the power of prayer when we care enough to pray for our friends and our neighbors! Whether close by or far away, it is important to cover others with God's thoughts and not ours. And of course, those words are found within that Bible.
In the midst of any trial, we must focus not only on getting through it but to pray others will get through their obstacles as well. We should always know that satanic forces can mount when people are loose with their lips speaking of wicked intent or blaspheming others.
Enduring means we keep watch over our neighbor as we keep our walk with God. Although those trials and tribulations come, we have victory by our faith we hold in God.
Greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

We must never think someone is sick because of of some stinking sin! The devil cares not for anyone but himself and will use anything to steal, kill and destroy (you) John 10:10
God has given us His word and love and within that we are to encourage the downcast, comfort any who may be afflicted and yes, we are to strengthen those who may be weak in their walk with God. As we hold fast to God and His Word, you be comforted in knowing He is for you and not against you.

Trials can come and go, but God is forever. As the Sustainer of all things, I believe us to be in "good hands!'

In the spirit of forgiveness, prayer allows us to reach across the street or across the country with God's love. In our action to prayer, we are seeking to seek Him who hears from heaven and answers.

Hebrews 2:14-15   NKJV  14  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Understand that we have an opponent. Satan is his name and he is real! And he is active since he is running out of time for his rule!

  John 8:44, in accusing the Jews of unbelief, it is Jesus Who puts Satan's nature in plain words:

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Seek out God and His way, truth and light! Seek God and know the way in which to walk for trials will occur, and other's exist on this planet so they can affect your walk. But we should remain to be the committed to God and His plan for our lives. In and through prayer we can find life that is real, that comes to pass and is manifested for others to see!

As our granddaughter would say: "take your peace, and seek". Take your peace and be seated before your CREATOR. BE seated, and become acquainted with Him. For our faith walk is to honor God. And the honest struggle should be of the spirit and not by the flesh creature.
Pray today for those who may not understand or know you. If anyone falsely accuses you, know the devil is on the scene. Pray for the man or woman and pray to forgive "no matter what" the circumstance may be.

Pray confidently for the Lord hears the prayer of the righteous. Trust Him to speak the answer you desire of Him. Acknowledge Him to clear the way and ultimately honor Him for He blesses the home of those who will be honest and a sincere heart.

Father, thank you for friends! Thank you for those we have not met yet but hope to soon! We pray for their safety and for their homes. We pray for their families and their jobs.
Thank YOU that we have hearts knitted together to see YOUR glory fill this land. And for whatever trials, tribulations or anything else the enemy might try, we seek to glory in YOU and YOUR word of truth. Come kingdom of God and be done in our lives today as it is in heaven. It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.


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The Content of the Fool or The Capable Freind

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." quote: Martin Luther King Jr.

I remember the day this gentleman spoke those words. Being a young teen, I could not understand why people could not get along with one another. I knew this man to be a 'pastor' and one who spoke a lot differently than any pastors I had ever known. Yes, this man spoke about life and he spoke about a nation of people living in unity with one another.

The major thing I took from his speech was the above and I thought about it this morning. There have been many church channels carrying it. And in giving it to the "viewer" the importance is stated we must live in unity.
We had church last night and what a time with the Lord and having the opportunity to stop the teaching and pray for a lady officer and the young man with her. And they came in after our "service" had started. Yes, would you stop your "service" to minister to those who walked in off the street? We surely must pray for the Police Officers who police our communities and in that serving, we as the residents can sleep at night!

Yes, there was all ages and a beauty of color and how God worked it all together for those who love God............to those who are the called according to His purpose. (not the plans of man, intentions of those around you or me, not according to circumstances of your vehicle, job, kids or other family, not according to man, but ...according to God's purpose!)

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. NKJV

Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke "out of his heart" that his children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. 

And that is the way our Father in heaven expects. And that judgment takes place according to the character of your heart and my heart!

What do we hold there in that place we think is hidden from the world?

I see 'protests' today and many speaking loudly of this great man of the 20th century. A man who spoke with the wisdom of God and..........spoke always from his heart. It was his heartfelt words of love, peace and unity that carries to this day. Yet, it was something that cost him his life, just like that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is all about the content of our "character".

Oh yes, what we harbor in our hearts is seen and heard throughout the year. What we desire, those hurts and even tragedies can be seen and heard decades after the occurrence. Yet we can all bring it to God...........casting it upon Him.

1 Peter 5:6-9
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.   NKJV

Casting something out, away from us can be hard to do. And the main thing from the above scripture is the humbling of ourselves under His mighty Hand. We are to be discreet. That is: to be soft and gentle, to be restrained in walking circumspectly in our speech and in our actions! We remain in His power when we remain in Him and speak as Jesus would speak.


Our pleasing God is making the right choice to do right and receive His praise. The knowledge of God, which is instilled as a gift, compels or constrains one to depart from evil. In other words, it leads one to keep the commandments of God.
Martin Luther King, Jr saw this for his children and for his entire family. He spoke out of the abundance of his heart that was of God and of God alone. His course was set in truth and died because of it. Yet, people still remember of what he spoke of and believed. When God rules our hearts, it shows!

When our hearts are set to obey Him, it will show on the outside of us. That is: what is in your heart will be seen by others see on the outside. It is seen in our conduct.

Departing from evil is paramount for our lives to remain in the peace of God. Being humble before. God is taken into account as we live our life for God in every circumstance, in every aspect, and in every situation, and by choosing His way, we learn to hate evil and to love to do what is right, good, and pleasing to God! Godly living is the fear of the Lord!

If the fear of God is to hate evil, then the fear of God is also to love a godly way of life. The fear of the Lord is filled with moral content. It is a good life where people live in unity and not by playing the "blame game".

Those who abide in God will be the faithful. They are the honest, the happy, the loving, patient, kind, persistent, and satisfied. They seek to honor another. They seek that for others no matter their color or creed. And of course the other side looks like this: they are the selfish, the rude, the grumpy, the dishonest, the wicked, the mean, the unforgiving. And in children one can see if they are the rowdy, the rude, the playful, the fidgety, the funny, the adventurous, the stubborn or the non submissive.

Our belief is to be in God and humbled before Him. When we stay in His kingdom of rule, we abide in His truth, see His justice prevail in our lives, and seek it for others. When we know how much we are loved by Him, we cannot help but please Him.

I believe we pleased Him greatly on Thursday night. We stopped our service to do His bidding for this police officer. Our duty is toward God and His plan, not only for our lives but for those around us who may be: the broken, the abandoned, the weary and the fearful. Can we move into that place to put God first and let Him have His way in everything we do, even in a church setting?

I also believe that people we did not know were touched by God. And His touch means everything. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke a truth and it still rings out today. 

In closing:

Life's most persistent and urgent question, is "What are you doing for others"?

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. 

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Holding Our Feet to the Fire!

Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
NKJV

Proverbs 27:17 tells us that iron sharpens iron.........so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Who is the true "friend"? 

John 15:13

 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  NIV

The only greater love I have seen of late, is that of Jesus! For He laid down His life for you, me, for man-kind.

Then Jesus goes on to say, "you are my friends if you do what I command". "That you lay down your life for your friends." "I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (verse 15) And it is Jesus Who chose us, He appointed us to go and bear-fruit that will last. And when we do, the Father will give us whatever we ask in His name. His command to us was to love each other. (John 15:12-17)

Isaiah 54:16-17

16 "Behold, I have created the blacksmith 

Who blows the coals in the fire,

Who brings forth an instrument for his work;

And I have created the spoiler to destroy. 

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment 

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,

And their righteousness is from Me,"

Says the LORD. 

NKJV

The Amplified reads like this: Isaiah 54:14-17..You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order): you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 15 Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you. 16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals and who produces a weapon for its purpose; and I have created the devastator to destroy. 17 But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

When people are in unity with the Lord, they will be in unity with one another.  Those to sharpen us should be that which waters us. In Proverbs 20:5, it reads, Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.(NKJV) By discernment will those who live for God, carry His presences are those who will discern that which is another who is in unity. We  are to draw on that which will encourage and bring strength by God's word.

Our mentors should be those who walk the walk of faith in God everyday. A wise man will draw out of you that which is as fine wine. Our discipleship is that we should hold onto in Jesus. Allowing Him to bring those who will encourage in the path of life that is anything of life and goodness and never boring.

When we abide with those who live for God, those who continually seek the Lord are the wise and they can continue to give us that which the Father has given them, in the Word and through prayer.

Yes, they look like the Meek, but the also sound like the Prophet Who went  into the Temple of God and turned over the tables of money changers. His Voice is one that is the powerful, the holy, the Righteous, and full of majesty.

Psalm 29:3-4

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

The God of glory thunders;

The LORD is over many waters. 

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;

The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 

NKJV

Holding our feet to the fire, is holding in that place where God is a consuming fire. It is that place as seen In Hebrews 12 and verse 27 indicating the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Our kingdom is that which cannot be shaken.......it is the kingdom of God. He presented us with grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (verse 28)

When choosing the Lord to lead us, we find the mentors who He would  allow to mentor us. And it is His plan, not ours. They will be those who live the Beatitudes. They are those who abide in peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition that is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.

Benjamin Franklin was once quoted as saying: "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

And do we not know that by experience with children? When allowing children into our daily lives like washing dishes, doing laundry or maybe taking out the trash, they learn! I remember when my mother taught me to do laundry. I was probably 14 but was folding clothes long before 14.
When we marry, we allow another into our life. We learn how to live with another person. But it must be on that which is in God and His Word.  When the thrill of marriage begins to fade, then we must know that God is to be involved. We must humble ourselves and submit to God in how do I put aside any anger, any unforgiveness as the days move into months of being in a hard place. When the excitement of being married seemed to leave unexpectedly, we each as individuals have to choose to speak and do the best for the other person. It is subduing any pride issues we may hold. And then hold God's light on the situation. It is done not in the flesh, but by the Spirit of God.

When we get involved in other's lives we learn. Allowing Jesus into our hearts will sharpen us so that we might go out and sharpen others. That kind of sharpening comes from spending time together around the Word of God, not at a bar, or at the movies, or even in a park, unless you have gone there to minister to another, to sharpen them in things of God.

Hold your feet to the fire of His Word and expect..........see those inner motives change for others and you will be out there sharpening others as well. When we get involve into other's lives, we learn.  We learn to participate in the things of God that makes for a family, the body of believer's for His glory. Sharpening another is finding that which is the treasure in them, that which shines likes a diamond, and all other is just debris and should fall away.

Father, today we pray in Jesus' name for that walk in sharpening others. Father, we know it to be that which is holding our feet to the fire of Your Word. We pray Jeremiah 23:28-29....that those who have Your Word, let him speak YOUR Word faithfully. "What is the chaff to the wheat?" "Is not MY word like fire" says the LORD. "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"

For some it may be a new thing but may it still be to Your glory. Today we also pray for the discipline and self-control needed to carry out this plan. Lord, enable each to flow in that which is a gift of discernment to draw out of others what is of value and to let the other which is like chaff to go.

Teach us to clearly understand Your leading in ministry to people. Help bring them into our lives and enable us to continue to communicate with each other in the body of believer's  as we do with the new ones who come to us.

 We pray that they always communicate YOUR love for those YOU have put on our pathway. Lord, we pray we never grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap if we “do not lose heart”. (Galatians 6:9)

 Amen.

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TRADING GLORY FOR SORROWS

Judges 16:1-5.............16:1 Then Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. 2 When the Gazites were told, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, "In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him." 3 And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

4 Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." NKJV

When Samson took hold of that gate of the city, he pulled up the entire gate with the lintels and we are told this gate had a plating of metal throughout. (the gates were done that way so as not to burn completely away when being attacked by foreigners). It was usually a double door and was locked at night by a wooden bar across the middle. We are told that he pulled it up and put in on his shoulders and carried them (the two wooden doors of the gate that was woven throughout with metal) to the top of the hill that faces Hebron! Wow!
Please realize that this carrying of the gate is up a hill all the way and with added weight on the shoulders.

Saw this young woman on the path behind our home. (Thursday noon) as I worked on this passage of scripture. She looks like she was in training for she was jogging with a metal cylinder on her back. I think of all those firefighters who have to get to a terrain where a fire is raging and their work requires an uphill climb, not far from a roadway and yet far enough to require some foot work! And you can at times see some men or women training with those heavy backpacks on their backs.......loaded down with the essentials to rescue someone who is need of help!


Let's think and meditate on this: Samson spent the night with a prostitute. He rises at midnight, to go remove a gate from its foundation, and possibly a locked gate with the cross-bar attached to them. He gathers all this on his shoulders. And he walked or ran it up-hill for about nine miles. ( Hebron was about nine geographical miles. Some think it was to a hill called el Montar, which is 45 minutes from Gaza). Either way this was some feat! Oh, and did I mention the road was made of sand? Gaza was by the sea and Hebron was in the hills.

So if one is deep into sin like he performed with this woman, was he desiring to leave in "the dark" so no one could see him? The scripture plainly points out that those of the Gazites were watching for him and knew when he was in the city with the prostitute. It says they surrounded the place where he had gone into the prostitute.
And what about that gate.....and did he really need to pull it up .........and take it?
Again think about him not destroying the gate, but actually pulling it up together, one piece and carrying it forward away from Gaza and going up to Hebron. What was he thinking?
The city of Gaza was no longer secure. The gate into the city was now gone.

Gaza was a long way from Samson's home. Was he hoping to not be seen by those who knew him or knew of him? Yet, the watchmen knew he was in the city for they set up to ambush him when he came out of the prostitutes place.  Samson was in Gaza for no honorable reason. We read that he took the gate at midnight, so where was the "watchmen"? Was no one watching the city gates? Is it possible that those watching and waiting for Samson saw him lift the entire gate? With their weapons drawn, were they afraid to do anything to him?  
If someone did that today, no doubt, that person would be arrested! So many places today have the cameras that they record 24-hour day periods and pull them up when a death or accident or some other incident occurs.
But in that day, people believed in that Divine Power of God! So many places today have the cameras situated outside businesses to capture traffic on roadway and on the sidewalk. They record 24-hour day periods and pull them up when a death or accident or some other incident occurs. They surely keep an accurate record when placed in right area and right position in front of business or parking lot!

As the Judge over Israel and against the princes of the Philistines, this man had a lot of things going on. Was his counsel now of no effect? Those of that counsel sat at the city gates to exercise government rule.
In meditating this, I thought of how that justice is done today in America. I thought of a "county seat". Growing up in the south, I knew something of the county seat. It was in the main city or town of that county where government order as in justice prevailed. If there arose any complaints through the county area, the complaint was sent to the administrative person in charge. The papers filed were handed to the judge. He would rule either in favor of the complaint or rule against it as the law states in that county or state.
Counties, as like the one in which I lived, would carry out or administer state laws at the local level.
As in our town, the "Court House" was where the government was administered at the township or city level.

When we think of Samson heading for Hebron but never reaching it, was he moving further AWAY from God? Yet, we find in looking at the word Hebron, we see it is as a "community seat of association". Did Samson like being away from the things of God and was he choosing to stay in the polluted world of sin. He could have easily stayed connected with God the Holy Spirit, and give up the fleshly ways of the world to keep a walk of faith and prudence.

HEBRON in Hebrew is (inter alia) and comes from the word for "Friend" (haver). But because of sin, was Samson still bound to the gate he managed to remove from the earth that held it. Even in the size and weight of this major gate with two doorways included, it was still in one piece. Was he still bound to those who he became a friend or an acquaintance of?

Was he angry when finding a gate closed? And was he so proud that "no gate could hold him"?

When we go on to read of Samson, he is entangled with Delilah! He, Samson, went from bad to worse. For in this passage we probably find a woman who had no sinful life, but she was promised the 1100 pieces of silver from each of the princes of the Philistines. And she did it! That made her become a prostitute by being paid a wage for it........to bring Samson down!
I wonder how many get entangled in some little something and think it harmless, when like Samson, they can remove the gate but it still be intact.......and in reality never let anyone through it.
Like this gate, and similar to where he would minister justice, but had justice gone out the way side of things? Again, would he have no power to administer justice in Israel after this?
As a Judge, Samson was to rule righteously. The Judges were to be faithful to Jehovah's righteousness. In Samson, we saw him getting deeper into sin.
Even though the book of Judges is small and lists only a few, there are those who shine like Deborah. (blog: Appointed by God, Deborah the Prophetess) But Samson is remembered as the one who gave in to sin, led by his own fleshly desires and to die while being held captive by those who hated him, the Philistines.
Are we possibly doing something like Samson and not know it? Are we holding up something we like to do, and look good doing it and want others to know how "great" we are doing this thing? It could range from the workplace to church. It could be in music, in sports, in computer work, or even in singing. It could be coming from making 20 cents a day to 2 million dollars in days!

In closing:

Acts 8:9-24.....................9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

20 Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me." NIV

WOW! It says that Peter told Simon, you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. In the blog "HAPPY ARE THE PEOPLE", the people who know God are those who are not bitter, not after their own thing, but after the glory of God. It is in His glory that we have those radiant faces and the joyful heart that look at doing what God the Lord planned for us to do.

As we look at Simon from Acts 8 and verse 24, we find he asked for Simon to pray..........but Peter told him to repent of the  wickedness and pray to the Lord.....perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart!

It does not say that Simon repented of his act toward the holy things of God and thinking he could buy the Holy Spirit. He asked Peter to pray for him. 
Was not this like Saul?  Have we not read time and again of the pride that Saul got into as he thought he could do without the Lord's leading. He was even giving sacrifice without the priest being present. That which was duly performed was given by God, but it also meant that that sacrificing was as worship and was of the inward heart. Yes, it was a heart issue!  It was not just an outward show to perform something. Obedience with a faithful trusting heart is what pleases God. 

1 Thessalonians 2:4....................4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. NIV
Romans 14:17-20...................17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.  NKJV

I remember this gentleman who was in the church we were attending. He loved to work out. And he did some training in the field of body builders. He had done it for awhile and after an amount of time the Lord told him to stop doing it.
He shared with the body of believer's that his doing it was for his benefit and not God's. He had come to a place where that "thing" was so important that it had become " a god" to him. So he stopped doing it. He obeyed God. We must be those who willing choose to put down that which only glorifies us and pick up that which glorifies the Father. What could possibly be in our lives, that we must put down and move away from to glorify our Father in Heaven? 

Samson did repent at the end. It cost him his life! And it was recorded............for us to read and hear! He traded glory for sorrows!

Father, we are told in Romans 8:8 that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. It is Your Holy Spirit that has come to dwell in our hearts by faith. Today we are alive because the Spirit which is life is in us. Living by YOUR Holy Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body. We have received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, " Abba, Father."
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 
Father show us where we might have something that could become a "god" to us. Help us to check our hearts daily and listen to Your rebuke.
We desire not to trade Your glory for sorrows, but we desire to bring praise to YOUR name and shout praise forever!

We pray to be those who will repent when we know we must to stay in Your Presence and YOUR glory. We desire to hear every command and obey them.

We know that You have given us Your Holy Spirit and according to John 3:34,35, "for since he Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God's own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!

We desire today to bask in the beauty of Who You are. We are expectant to have a life filled with adventure, but also with wisdom, truth and righteousness that keeps us in the shelter of the Almighty God in Jesus' name. Amen and Amen.

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

A Moment, A Mist in Time

How do we define a life, who was so valuable to the kingdom of God? If I could put it down on paper, write it in honor of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it would be glorifying to the One Who created such a fine lady.
Today, I write in remembrance of a dear friend who departed to be with the Lord on February 10, 2015.  I will call her "Jude"..........and she impacted many lives with her love for the Lord and His goodness. She had a contagious laugh that would cause others to join in and laugh as well. Just ask my daughter about that laugh.  On her serious side, Jude was as quiet as a mouse in hearing the Lord speak His next direction to her!
I dedicate this to the memory of her today!

I knew her through serving with her. For these almost two full decades, we have had a relationship. Although since she and her husband had moved from the Seattle area in 2004, we remained in contact with calls, visits and even dinner out! We came to know her in 1997. Spent time assisting her in Bible studies with other women. I gleaned a great deal about being the "lady" God desires us to be. She served in Women's Ministry, led Bible studies, led Prayer Ministry and of late, had a ministry for missionaries. I remember that she with her husband cleaned bathrooms for two years and never complained. A lot of information and knowledge of a gracious, serving lady came to me and I put it down as the memories have come. Yes, it was seven years we lived close by to one another. They had moved to be closer to her mother for awhile.
 In all this, she was a friend to many, loved to pray and loved to tell others of how God brought her through many trials and tribulations. She would glow with the Presence of God and seemed to be effervescent with a freshness of a cool breeze on a hot day!  It was always her goal to be mindful of God, an instrument to glorify Him much like David did.
She loved to drive "little sport cars" and if she knew not what to cook for dinner, she would throw some onions in a  skillet and just saute' till she could figure something out. She wanted her husband to come home and find her busy preparing for his trip home from a busy day at work!
Yes, she was always looking out for others indeed!
It was her delight to feed you even if you had just had a meal. She certainly looked out for the needs of the many whether in the "hug" ministry or ministering to a broken heart in prayer!
We could be in a crowd of people, and find something that could make us laugh, like talking about those "June Bugs" being we were from the South. Yes, she spent some time there when a child and together, we had much we could cover about the "good ole' south"!

Her beauty was a moral beauty. She stood out from the crowd and had the "graces" of a true lady.
She was rich in the things of God, and gloried in Him, as praise continued to flow from her mouth.
Today, I believe she stands with Jesus and giving glory to Him even still. I know her to be laughing with joy in expressible and full of His glory. Yes, a contagious laugh I am certain is still heard throughout the kingdom.

My question is this: " what will people remember about us?"

Would people be reminded of some wisdom God had us to speak to them or could they possibly remember a truth that God allowed us to speak to others about God, that made them smile and weep at the same time? For I genuinely do both right now!
Will our lives continue to speak truth of God the Father and declare His goodness when we have left this world?
 I am in awe of someone who can live fully for God and be thankful. For whatever Jude's plight, she always came through like a "trooper" and clung to promise of life through Jesus, the Lord and Savior!  That is what I desire for me and my family. I desire for many people to know God as I do and what I saw demonstrated in and through a woman totally committed to God!

There are people we can read about and study in the Bible and know how they came through great trials and tribulations. We can learn and glean so much from lives lived totally for God!

We can certainly remember some of the "ladies" of the Bible.  Let's see, Miriam was devoted to God and to ministry. She was faithful, disciplined and a leader. Deborah, was remarkable as the prophetess, a wife of Lappidoth, and a judge. She was also known as " a mother in Israel". She was devoted to God and she obeyed His instruction. She was known for her wisdom that came from a humble path of service to God and to man.  In Ruth's life we have found out that God never changes, is always on the scene, in circumstances, through people and yes, showing up in some major events in our lives!  She came through some tough times of loss and suffering. But she responded by giving her heart to not only Naomi's God but she served others.

Now Hannah, what a lady indeed, and how easy to keep her mouth closed when her husband had another woman living with them. Yikes, someone would have been exiting that house, if it were mine! Even though bullied, Hannah had a fellowship with God that showed she was a woman of strength and courage to believe God for the best in any situation! In these cases, prayer was always on the forefront of any matter or situation going on at the time!

As men and women of God, do we look to God for our answers and trust He is for us? Do we see that our faith in the One True God brings out a beauty in us that others will see and know?

And then I think of Elizabeth, the righteous and the obedient. Though childless, her barrenness was something that could cause her and her husband to be thrown out of the church. She had strength where many would have discouragement and disappointment. Her days  were filled with an expectancy that God answers. The Lord brought them the word, “ He will also be before Him in the spirit of Elijah”…(.Luke 1:15,17)

Even as Zacharias prayed and got the answer.........it was his questioning in unbelief that shut his mouth till the baby John came forth into this world and make a difference for the kingdom of God. Elizabeth displayed her praise and thankfulness toward a loving God and she experienced the miraculous, did she not?

Our lives are for but a moment.....a mist in time.......James 4:14............14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  NKJV

So in comparison to a vapor like shaking a fizzy cola, do we see our time is so short here on this earth?

If we are but for a moment in time.........then shake this vessel Lord and make me like a cola that fizzes and that YOU can shake me up..........cause me to move......that I may speak, to pray with an earnest heart,  glorify God, and serve my fellowman to make the mark You intended me to do in this moment of time.

 It was said that James M. Black, in 1893, a Methodist Sunday School teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was calling roll one day for a youth meeting. One of the youths did not show up. Her name was Bessie, the daughter of a drunkard. He was disappointed to find no song or anything about the roll call up yonder.......(with Bessie on his mind).....he in effect said, "well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she (Bessie) will be there.."

The "inner voice" seemed to say, "why don't you write one?" But he dismissed the thought. When he arrived at the gate on his way home. the same thought came so strongly that tears filled his eyes. He went to the piano and began the effortless task of writing the song.............of course we know it to be the song that was sung in the Academy award winning movie, Sergeant York (1941).  

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

This Mr. James Black certainly heeded God the Holy Spirit and wrote what he felt for all the Bessie's in the world. He sat down and wrote a song about what was his heart and the Father's heart!

I am looking forward to the day I can stand with my friend, Jude, and meet all the ladies of the Bible, for they truly are the example of the way to walk to see God's face, and experience His love everyday of our lives!   I have a music box that has this quote on the face of it.......On the face of the lid..................there is this orchid opening up.....and the verse goes like this: "Special People...Touch our Hearts and leave their Fingerprints there FOREVER....
Jude certainly touched my heart.............!

Father, today, I thank You for all the Jude's, the Elizabeth's, the Ruth's, and the Hannah's, who by example, showed us that we can benefit from knowing Your truth and wisdom. Today, I pray that any who read this, man or woman alike, would benefit from knowing that God has something special planned for us. YOU Father planned for us from the foundation of the world. We sometimes may not like the ending, but surely You God do not make mistakes, and You keep us from the enemy. It is You Who knows our frame and Father, our eyes are on You, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  If we are but for a moment in time.........then shake these vessels Lord and make us like a cola that fizzes and that YOU can shake us up...........to move................shake us up.........to be that effervescence... SO....that we willingly will speak, will be willing to pray, to glorify God no matter what, and serve our fellowman to make the mark You intended us to do in this moment of time.

For there are many, Father, who make an impact in other people's lives, but may we be those who will sound different and look different. May they know us to be the son's and the daughter's of the Most High God. Like our friend Jude, may we show proper respect to everyone, love the brotherhood of believers, and fear God. ( 1 Peter 2:17)

Lord God, I pray for us to speak with the wisdom of God and give revelation of Your word that dispels the darkness.

Like Jesus, may we be those who will lead and teach others. Father activate the gifts in us and use it for Your glory. Help us to mentor those who could use it and embrace it. Just like the lamp that needs to be plugged in to light the living room, who might we need to connect with today for Your glory? Cause us to be the those who will lead and cause others to succeed in Jesus' name. May we be those people who will cause others to come to know our God our Father and to bring to YOU, a smile to Your face. Amen.

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