BAD SUCCESS?!?

Joshua 1:8-9
 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."    NKJV

Can you imagine, God asked these wandering people in a desert to meditate the Word? Yeah, no microwaves, no frozen dinners, children running rampant, and scorpions, and God wanted them to meditate the Book of the Law!

So that means they had to be there when the reading of whatever was available so they could hear it, right?

From verse 1 of Joshua 1, it is the LORD speaking to Joshua.

And God told Joshua:"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Yeah, man....good success is a good thing! And we have to be "active" in making our prosperous. Meditating enough of the Word will cause us to speak it out loud, share with others, and become the prosperous.
In that there is a "good success", then there must be a "bad" success as well, for God the LORD mentions "the good success" and how to get that good and keep it. We are told it is by speaking it out of our mouths, meditating on it by looking, reading and seeking and then to observe to do what it says.

"Yeah, but God I am on a schedule!" And God would say, "well you made your own schedule, change it yourself?"

In the passage we see below the importance of being justified of that which pertains to God, for the unrighteous sin. To us was given those oracles of God!

Romans 3:1-24

3:1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. 

As it is written: 

"That You may be justified in Your words,And may overcome when You are judged."  

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"?--as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. 

9 What then? Are we better than they?

 Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: 

"There is none righteous, no, not one;  11 There is none who understands;There is none who seeks after God.  12 They have all turned aside;They have together become unprofitable;There is none who does good, no, not one."  13 "Their throat is an open tomb;With their tongues they have practiced deceit";"The poison of asps is under their lips";  14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."  15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;  16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;  17 And the way of peace they have not known."  18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."  

(Yes, from the above in verses 9-18, there are those who will not seek, or know God. They practice their own "thing".) ( They are doers of empty words and are self-sufficient doing it!)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,   NKJV

Now the report in Romans 8 was that Paul  and some of his followers were saying, "Why not do evil that good may come?" But the Apostle was on his guard against this kind of ridiculous thinking. 
That which was spiritual in the Law and Prophets came through the Cross. And grace was mad available, but not abused!

Romans 5:19-21

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   NKJV

Paul saw what "crazy" thinking would come about by some minds thinking they could DO all the sinning they wanted because they were under grace and that "grace would abound all the more, (verse 20)  (you know that "super-grace")
 Now what Paul was seeing  in Corinth was a church group who allowed sexual immorality within their ranks. The Word must be given and not watered down or parts left out to make "people" comfortable. God is truth and He desires us to walk in truth as His Son did!
Let's remember Zacchaeus....he came down a tree after seeing Jesus.........and he was repenting for all that he had done. I mean this man was talking fast for the Prophet, Wisdom, and Knowledge came to where he was gazing!
Luke 19:5-10
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
NKJV

Yes, this was Repentance on Zacchaeus' part.

Read what Paul sent to the church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Our lives must be that of sincerity and truth!

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."  NKJV

Paul said "I wrote to you in my epistle ( my letter) not to keep company with sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. BUT NOW I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard or an extortioner----not even eat with such a person.


People will read something or do just enough to get "themselves into a world hurt" and all that was needed was to find that like Joshua was told, mediate that book that is given by God, that which is life and direction for success that is the "good".

Paul noted the problem in Corinth needed addressing and he insisted that the incestuous couple be excommunicated for there were those within that church body thinking that nothing was wrong with the incest. To them, it was somehow the excellent liberty for a Christian to have because God gives more grace. Right?
WRONG thinking! JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLY WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

If you tolerate something within society and take it to the body of believer's, you wear that garment you tolerate. You will be known by that garment. God is love, and He loves those He has created, but He will not tolerate sin, in any form!

In verse 6 we are reminded of the leaven from the book of Luke and found in chapter 12.


Luke 12:1-3
12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.   NKJV

Success in anything for our lives starts with salvation, comes to be fruitful when we make a commitment to God's plan and purpose for us and is seen by others when we are the loyal.
There are times in our lives we must make a stand for something greater than ourselves. We must look into God's Word and His way of thinking for the purpose He has for each of us. And anything we lightly esteem that runs throughout society will look much like the Corinth Church.

WE who have received Jesus were buried with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. 

We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. (Romans 6:4-6 Amplified Bible)

Paul goes on to say in verse 12 of chapter 6....let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its craving and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.

Verse 9......Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him.

He goes on to this in verse 17......BUT THANK GOD,though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed.

And in verse 18...it reads this way: And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose and action). Amen!!!!

22 But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. 23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.

A true Christian is circumcised in heart.

Philippians 3:2-3  Amplified bible…2 Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists] look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.

Our boast is in Him and Him alone. 
If I or anyone comes up to one of your services and hear you mention "you" in the first 15 minutes at least five times, then I know your boast is in you and not in Jesus. 
Our boast is to be in Him, as He was given as the atoning sacrifice for us. Our identity is in Him. And without Him we can do nothing.
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
NIV

Yes, there is a "success" out there. For some people, it is in all the wrong things.........and looks like:

Jeremiah 12:1-2
You are always righteous, O LORD,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?
2 You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.  NIV

Psalm 73:1-12.....................73:1 A psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart. 

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

I had nearly lost my foothold. 

3 For I envied the arrogant 

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 

4 They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.   

5 They are free from the burdens common to man;

they are not plagued by human ills. 

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;

they clothe themselves with violence. 

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;

in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

and their tongues take possession of the earth. 

10 Therefore their people turn to them 

and drink up waters in abundance.   

11 They say, "How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?" 

12 This is what the wicked are like--

always carefree, they increase in wealth.  NIV

We can see from the above that the wicked flourish as well as those who know their God!

Yes, there is a day coming when all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. I am thinking there will be many tears and much pleading, but God's Word stands. It is eternal. And those who do not know (in intimacy) Jesus with their heart will have nothing to stand on. 
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is by Jesus' shed blood we are the saved.  As each of us submit, becoming the body of Christ, we begin to see in the light of Christ and how He loved us who would be the church and He gave Himself willing for us. And through Him, He has made us holy, cleansing us by the washing with water through the word and to present us to Himself as a radiant church that is without stain or wrinkle, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:22-28)

Today, let's open up to Him, and ask for help in situations that are beyond us. Today let's allow God the Holy Spirit to speak to us about the situations we may be in that may be only death to us forever. God loved us and sent His best for us. Would it not be wonderful to spend an eternity finding out about His love that is for us and not against us?1 John 4:10-11
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NKJV

In closing: Romans 12:9-17....Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, give to hospitality 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse, 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. NKJV

Remember when we elevate ourselves, making our boast in me, myself and I, we help no one but ourselves. We are to have the fear of the Lord. And it looks like this! That fear of the Lord:   The fear of the LORD is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, and the evil way. (Proverbs 8:13)

Meditate On His love, His faithfulness, His strength:
Love: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John
Faithful: Isaiah 49:7, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Keeper: Psalm 121:5
Strength: Psalm 27, Habakkuk 3:19, Isaiah 12:2
Are One: John 17:20-23
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. NIV

Father, we pray to keep the Word before our eyes, to meditate and speak it out just like YOU did. We pray to be those who will not elevate ourselves, but make our boast in the Lord.  We understand that You have planted them (the wicked), and they have taken root;

they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Father, we ask in the name of Jesus to be those who will be the active in pursuing not with just our lips but with hearts set on You and to know Your purpose for our lives. We desire to have that fear of the Lord that is to hate evil, pride, arrogance and the evil way. Let our love be without hypocrisy. We understand that Word of LOVE is YOUR kind of love and comes from meditating like Books of 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John. Help us Holy Spirit to keep that which has been given to us by our diligence and may we always bring forth praise to God and give thanks for our Savior Jesus Christ. We desire to be One with You as You were with Father.

 May people know us by the love we expect to carry as we keep close to YOU and YOUR Ways. For Your Ways are truly higher ways and Your thoughts are the higher thoughts that lead us out of the gray areas and into YOUR LIGHT! AMEN.


Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: Rebuilding The Temple of Praise-Prayer

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

OUR STEPS WILL EITHER POSSESS OR DISPOSSESS THE LAND

Proverbs 4:10-13
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
NIV

Was meditating on "our steps" we take everyday. It was something I thought of in hearing of all the chaos in France right now. And then for some reason, I thought on the OCCUPY that was part of the news back five + years ago.

In Proverbs 4, we are told that God's wisdom will guide us along straight paths, and when we walk, our steps will not be hampered ( hindered ). We are also told that when we run, we will not stumble for when we hold on to instruction, and do not let go, that instruction, that Wisdom from God will guard our life when we guard the instruction.

GOD has a place for us. I know I write on this a lot, but I have gotten some more insight on it in the last few days. Thinking of our grand-daughter and her activities, her parents saw the steps she took to possess where she lived. If you remember, her father, showed her as a baby and then a toddler what was hers as her parents provided a healthy home for them all. She already owned it, it was hers, and it is where she lived as a small child. Then as she started walking and talking, she went into soccer and swimming lessons. That is a  place that she now possesses! Every place she has marked out with her foot is hers and no one can take that from her. She was instructed in soccer and in swimming and she can do both. Is she the expert? No, not yet, but she has the opportunity to grow in a greater skill in these if she continues in them. They are both good and health to her body in the form of exercise!

We too, can gain greater skill in taking instruction from our Father in heaven. We too, can possess that place where our steps take us. But will they be for the fruitful, life-giving instruction of God or will it be of the devil kind of instruction, who desires to kill, steal and destroy?

Acts 5:25-42

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

33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God." 40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. 

NKJV

In obeying God and His instructions we walk in a place that may mean much adversity like we see for Peter and the other apostles in chapter 5 of the book of Acts. Please read it for yourself, especially to see how God cares for His own. It was noted by Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law, that "if what ( Peter and the others ) were doing was of God, you cannot overthrow it......lest you be found fighting against God."

 What is of God will continue! It may mean much adversity and much intentional harm, but God is greater. And if He really lives in us........then He should be ruling this body by His Word of truth.

Where do we occupy today? Can it be the safe place or is that which we are determined to stay just because we like the notoriety? Is where we occupying bringing glory to God or to ourselves? Of late, you see some men or even women lose their jobs, and in the light of their dismissal you find them so lost, for their identity was in that job. Sad but true, and many truly lose sight of what is truth and right  by ending up in despair and such depression they can no longer make right decisions for their god was the job!
I remember my husband had the desire to learn as much as he could as in a trade occupation. He had opportunities open to him to not only weld but also operate many machines, like cranes, and see how the cold weather as well as the hot temps might hinder production in coal mines. He had many opportunities to take extra classes and he seized all that he could back in those early days to manage a dam site today. He took steps to possess a place. Was not sure where he was headed with it, but he knew was to master them!

Proverbs 16:9

9 A man's heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps. 

NKJV

God is bound by His Word. He cannot lie, and He will not go against what He has already placed for us to come to. That place we are to possess is by His Word. In His plan, it has nothing to do with wickedness, but in grace, truth, and love. But wanting our own way, and doing our own thing causes us much harm, and even death.

People like the avenues of communicating today. Yet in all those I see, there is much danger. There is not the formal eye to eye and face to face communication of decades ago. Today, it is just a text or a quick "tweet". In giving this much thought, I am surprised how some handle their employees' Work Evaluation. Of course, this writing context is in regard to those teachers, bosses, those in any management positions and even in regard to business owners, that one to one contact would be important.
 In regard to meeting eye to eye, we can express our heartfelt questions and answers in regard to either our work or even work within school as in the Parent/Teacher Conferences. In reality though, if we only send a text to "Well Done" and the person needs some work in some areas, are we not adding to their defeat in life? Some folks just do not like communication at all. They are content with the five minute e-mail explanation, the 30 second tweet or such else to communicate.

In posting a comment in regards to something important as a job or a student's work record, would not a more formal of meet and greet over this thing so important to maybe the life of the job, or maintaining school attendance.
There is so much that probably should be said but is left undone because we "decided to text" or "tweet" someone about how they are doing. I think of the applying for a job today and online. I am not sure if that is just a way to weed them (the applicant's) out that may not fit the job. I know that I liked going for those interviews and meeting with people face to face. In meeting one on one, you find their real heart on the job they are trying to fill. You find the real heart of those teaching your children at school. You find the real heart of those you might attend church with.

Going back to our grand-daughter, I think of how different her life would be if her parents just texted, " well done " with a HAPPY FACE on it! If there was correction by just texting.........the sad, grumpy face would not work!

In doing that they would be shortening their commitment time, that being in her face, and showing her what the life in God is really about. They must show her daily how her steps will possess that land God has planned for her! In society today, we surely see those who have not had the face to face with parents and those who really care. We have seen the effects of a 30 second text sent at the wrong time as in many young and middle aged getting into terrible car wrecks. Please understand that this is my opinion. I think Jesus liked getting out among them and looking into their eyes and watching their body movements as He spoke truth. I think He liked getting involved and letting them know He really cared for them.

In this age of this kind of communication we can surely see that people can maintain a low - key commitment and almost no responsibility to anyone. It is like the elusive unicorn. In sending a text once or twice to someone does not mean that anyone will really know us? It is not commitment and it is not possessing a place in society. Commitment is time and money.

I believe that those who post their page are posting the "fake" person. The real you or me is the one who lives and breathes and acts out at home where no one sees. In that posting of our thoughts from a heart not guarding the instruction of God can surely lead us down to a place thinking we really have a voice when we really do not have one.  We can write it out and expand on it, and then at one point, one day comes when we grab that megaphone (horn) and gather those who think as we think. But is it of truth? Is it something that will last? For truly God desires to keep His own safe! So are our hearts one with HIM? Do we delight in Him or we salivating for our fifteen minutes of fame!

Communication is awesome! It is truly needed in the amount of people who cover this earth. But my thoughts are, if God desires this technology, will we see where sin might abound more and see our own glory and not God's glory?

Our pastor likes us sitting down together to meet and talk. It is his desire that we know one another. It is his desire that "like Jesus" we too communicate face to face. We did it during the summer at the park during an actual service time. We circled our chairs and faced each other. We also have come to eat together after a service time of Word and worship. We get to know the neighbor. We get to know how to pray for them and see them succeed, not by voicing loudly over a "megaphone", but actually speaking what is in their heart that comes from God. It may be in bits and pieces..........but God can restore those who are broken. God can cause restoration to come, when we start out slow, possessing our steps as the individual and then as the child of the Most High God. Our boundaries should be those that God placed at the foundation of this world.
We too, should look back at the Ten Commandments and realize God has it all in hand when we choose to follow and guard His instruction and know that He has given us the land..............that no man can take from us. Amen!

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
NIV ( list found in Exodus  20 )

In closing: I think about Adam when he was formed by God. God brought him into the garden and to work there with his hands. He called Adam to name the animals. Adam was not created to just sit and let others work for him, but he was created to have the relationship with God and live life to the full! It was the place already prepared for him, much like the place prepared for our grand-daughter and even our own. It was the place prepared to start enjoying life with a family and with others.

Ah, but sin came into the garden. Adam did not guard the instruction given him!  Our grand-child did not come to sit and observe, she came to participate in life. She did not come to sit on her laurels and not work for she certainly has her chores to do within the home. And in the right time, she will go to college, she will work at a job.  She came to learn and possess land.
We must guard that instruction given to us. In seeing our grand-child grow in God, I expect her to be taking those steps to continue having a healthy body, learning an instrument that will bring praise to God, see her teach the parables of Jesus and see her become all that God has destined her to be. She is possessing the land. May God be glorified!

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

Loving by Subduing, What?

Psalm 115:16-18..................16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD,  Nor any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the LORD
From this time forth and forevermore.        Praise the LORD!    NKJV

The LORD God gave us the earth to subdue. In thinking on scripture I had thought on it for awhile. I took it to heart. I found some teachings on it. And then prayed over it..........wow, Lord, subduing!

Well, the years have come and gone and still I meditate this word.

Oh, well, I have to get down to business here:

WAS thinking on what I needed to do for the day. I like to plan out the week in regards to cleaning THE HOUSE, LIKE ONE DAY FOR THE LIVING ROOM, ONE DAY FOR THE OFFICE, ETC.
Was working on this project today and it really wore me out! Seriously, all that moving of the rugs and wiping and cleaning! But we just cleaned in here and it needed it again. Yes, it is something that must be done.
We had done some spring cleaning awhile back, but I sensed we needed to clean the carpets again. So I started moving one thing out, and the next, and the next!

We could see the weather warming up, and that triple number in measuring the heat, is more than I want to think about. Today, seemed like the best day because of the cooler temps. Okay, let's get moving here on some carpet cleaning and furniture moving. As I was moving things around, and wiping the dust, I had this thought. Or I should say, I know the Lord gave me the thought. This is how you love each other! SUBDUING!

SERIOUSLY, LOVE IS SUBDUING THE EARTH, REALLY?

Now, I had never thought of it in those terms. I always thought of it as just doing "my duty" for those of my family and those I know. But it is more than that according to what I am hearing from the Lord. Every time I killed a spider in the bathroom, and every time I shampooed the carpet I was expressing love. What? Well, our grand-daughter does not like spiders, not in the house or in the bathroom she chooses to use! Every time I wiped a spill off the floor or removed a light bulb that burned out was an act of subduing.

Well. that seems simple, right? And then He talked more about every time we move a piece of furniture, every time we clean up a mess, every time we prepare something for others, as in food or sewing or repairing, we are expressing love to another. Every time we make a pitcher of ice tea, or a pot of soup, we are subduing!  It is not just about eating or washing dishes, but actually doing something for someone and not expecting to receive anything back. As the Lord spoke to me while I was cleaning and doing, I saw the magnitude this represents in His kingdom. So I gained wisdom from God and see with new eyes.  It is something to me that gives me a smile on my face  and  that my family will have a sanitized home tonight!

Yes, how much do we love those closest to us?
Well, how much clutter do you see around you? Is the place spotless? How about that office space at work or in the home? Does it look like someone moved in and is setting up housekeeping with things that belong in a "kitchen"?
How about the rest of the house....does it look like a bomb went off in it?

The earth has been given to you and me. This small piece of reality is located on a block, on a street, in a town. Within all this I (we) have a car, a truck, and a small pet! Although our pet is family, we regard her care as we do ours.
Yes, this ruling in the earth is an exact place where I reside. It has been given to me since birth. When I was given life, I had a room that I shared with a sister. My mother was prompting us always to dust, to keep our clothes picked up and and keep the bed made up. Yes, we got the idea pretty fast and our mother was one who would look at the drawers of the dresser and make sure every thing was neat and in its place. In regards to cleaning, we always saw our parents cleaning the vehicles we owned. That outside of the vehicle was as clean as the inside was! Those white walls on those tires looked like showroom beauty!  You could give it the "white glove test" and it would win 1st place!
As a rule, we could not eat in that vehicle unless at a drive-in movie. Can anyone remember those?  Then each of us were responsible for whatever mess we made. That is one teaching that has carried me through life. WHAT MESS HAVE I MADE? How much do I love my husband or my neighbor?

In regards to their dressing, my parents looked like they stepped from the cover of magazines. Seriously, my mother reminded me of a model. She cared for herself and she looked good doing it. My dad looked like a "Country Style" theme. He wore the nicest western shirts and jeans. Anyone who knew him, knew he would have on Tony Lama boots. He did not own a faded pair of jeans nor a faded shirt or wore out boots. His wear for the barn certainly looked better than some I have seen in the past. Their shoes had a shine whether they just came from the store or were three years old. They cared for everything they had bought.
Our home was one that was remodeled and it look wonderful and was kept in immaculate shape. Yes, I had many examples to follow when I was growing up.

IN writing this, I think of so many who go places to rule and they cannot clean their car! I always think of Pigpen from the Charlie Brown cartoons.
HOW many want to rule in other places and their car looks like the dump ground or their bathroom looks like hurricane Andrew went through it? Well, Shelley, I was not here when Hurricane Andrew went through Florida! Well, you are here right now.  And you have now heard of Hurricane Andrew. And you are responsible to subdue the earth, right?

Genesis 1:28-31.................28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.    NKJV

And God blessed them.........."be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
SUBDUE!
Be fruitful and produce! I believe that means more than children. I believe it means we are to care for this earth as God did when He created it in beauty! I believe the more we care for something............that means "KEEP IT CLEAN" AND "TAKE CARE OF IT", THEN fruit is multiplied on that one thing. The more we work in caring for our pet "poodle", the more God brings to us in information in caring for her. The more we put into caring for our bodies, the more God brings information on good foods and those which bring energy and long life to them. The more I focus on the Word of God, the more Word He gives me pertaining to life, and godliness.



Genesis 2:18-25...................18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said:

"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.  NKJV

In scripture we find God assigning men to have a "helpmate". Her worth was to be his help, assist him in accomplishing goals in subduing the earth.......to encourage him, and partner with him in producing children to populate the earth they would subdue.
God did not want Adam to be alone.
Is the man subduing, as to working in the field, the place he is called? If he is taking his role seriously about being the man God created to be, then are you and I, as women, taking our role seriously and filling it?  In working alongside our husbands, we find a relationship and not only that, but we find a man who leaves his mother and father.......joins with his new wife, his partner for life in the grace of God and fulfill the assignment given to them. They join forces! They join together what God had always planned to do. He does not bring along all the ideas or thoughts his folks had...........no, he joins forces to find what God planned for him and his "helpmate"...........they join together. He knows his wife and her family. THE HUSBAND LEADS LIKE JESUS LEADS!

Proverbs 31:10-11............10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  NIV

A wife of noble character........who can find?

She is not the woman found on a "stripper pole". She can be found at that Bible study, that prayer meeting, or in church worshiping God.

Where are you the, man looking? Do you have your "helpmate"?

Then give thanks for the helpmate of noble character! If you do not see that "noble character" then profess and confess that you will see it. We must always remember that everything in life begins with us. Life and death are in the power of our tongues!  We have to make the effort, take that step into following God and His commands.

We take those little steps at first and see them grow. We grow and become those men and women of God that follow His instruction and hear His voice when He speaks.

In perseverance, we prove our appreciation to God and for His saving grace.

1 Corinthians 15:56-58............56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. NIV

Our character is revealed the more time we spend with God. We gain strength the more we hear Him and obey. In that intimacy, like the husband and wife, our intimacy with God proves our faithfulness to do all that He commanded from the beginning. It is in that intimacy and connecting, that we find we can speak and be heard. But if I walk around just speaking and not hearing, then I miss everything God is speaking to me. If I think I am right, and just keep mouthing my opinions or thoughts, then I am going to be in a big mess!

I believe that in marriage, we should always reflect on the day we said, "I do", and remember that it is about a relationship of people and of a God. If we understand that the love displayed for all to us came at the darkest time of history, should not our light shine at this darkest time as well?

We can think we have all the answers, but ONLY GOD HAS THEM! OUR faith cannot be in ourselves. It has to be placed in God! His leadership demands us to obey to eat the good of the land.

 Isaiah 1:19-20................19 If you are willing and obedient,

You shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel,

You shall be devoured by the sword";  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.     NKJV

So where you stand today, in a house, on a block, in a town or city, what are you doing to subdue the earth? Have you gathered the clutter and removed it to the trash or the "recycle"?

As the wife, are you available to your husband? Do you seek peace and pursue those things which make a place of comfort for him to come to? (or are you just hot and bothered by everything? ....and just speak your mind?) Remember God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours!

As the wife, do you hear and listen and communicate daily with God and your husband?

As the husband, do you seek that peace with your wife?

Do you hear her and listen by communicating with her daily?

As a couple, a team, do you work together to overlook each other's faults and weaknesses?

Are you goal setters?

Are you together, those worshipers of God?

Are you walking together in unity? Do you look good and sound like God speaking?

If you cleaned the house, take a look at the garage, since that is his domain! What will you find?

If your garage looks great, but your house looks like something from "Gone With the Wind"......then some changes must occur!  As for our family, my husband easily moves from the garage to the house at will. He certainly helps in the cleaning of the carpets and moving furniture. I have always said, "you can eat off the floors in our garage"....... as my husband is meticulous about keeping everything spotless. I have to work at it! Yes, I do. I am a work in progress, indeed! 
I better check the office again, and make sure it does not look like a second kitchen in this house!

Where you rule begins at birth? Have you or I graduated yet? 

Take this time to reflect on your marriage or maybe your future marriage. Take into your heart all that needs to be in your heart to receive a good thing. Consider the marriage with no distractions, but quiet time together. Expect to laugh and talk and remember every anniversary. As a person looking to marriage, think on what you desire that this woman/man of noble character would look like. Speak out loud about what you desire today in that godly new wife/husband. Profess those words of life in God for this marriage, whether a future one or an existing one. Profess to the importance of it and ask the Lord how to care for it. Talk about the disappointments you may have had in the past, but remember that you are not ruled by past hurts. Give thanks for your wife/husband or future wife/husband!

Consider these points: should consider to spend time together talking, where it is quiet with no distractions…………just two people…..to laugh and talk, a time to get acquainted again

        To have every anniversary together and remember why you married in the first place and give than always for all the memories you have together as a couple For each to know the kinds of foods and movies each person likes or dislikes………to always be asking questions and to get a reply…………..not JUST a nod of the head!

           To always attend church and pray for each other as well as for others ( pray for other couples as well, knowing they may have problems like you have or have had in the past)

    To do something for someone else that is in your power to help them out

          To minister to other couples the importance of marriage and how to care for it

   To always be open about affection for each other! (to always put away any hurt, anger or disappointment away from you)

          Thanking God for the gift of a wife/ husband and to bless her/him daily with words of power in prayer!

Father, thank You for the opportunity to subdue the earth. We cannot do that without loving the other person. In Jesus' name, we pray to be men and women who will diligently look in faith to hear YOU speak our directives from Your Word of truth. We want to be led in YOUR power and wisdom. We desire to search the Word of Truth and find that place YOU have for us to dwell. We desire not to be the complacent fool, but one who dwells in safety and ease without fear of harm.  We understand that we must subdue the earth and that means where we live, sleep and walk. Our subduing the earth starts with each of us and how we take instruction and how we care for that which You have given us.

Father, our obtaining favor from the Lord and walking in unity is done with NO COMPROMISE! It is our union with YOU is, that we speak as YOU speak, and to do as YOU have done!

Today, we choose to know Your ways and thoughts. They are higher than ours.  YOU created a vast universe that YOU look over, but the earth YOU gave to us to subdue. Father forgive us for thinking that if we cannot clean a commode, or empty out the trash, or take our pet to the vet,  then how can we take our community in prayer and expect YOU to hear. How can we possibly expect to rule in any place if our home looks like a mess, and the garage looks like storage unit for the city! Forgive us for being complacent where we needed to be fire to clean our homes, care for families, clean the garage and focus on taking our community and state in prayer.

It is YOU who sees the hearts of all who read and pray this out. Our desire is to be in unity with our mate, with our God. For those who have no mate, then Lord bring them according to YOUR plan for their lives. Help them receive that new "mate" You are bringing to them. For those of us who have a spouse, we desire that our union would be one that brings glory to God forever!

 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! The Father loves the Son and has given (entrusted, committed) everything into His hand.” By this Holy Word, You gave to Us Your Holy Spirit without measure. I loose HIM now into our lives. Holy Spirit spark our lives with the match of faith. Show us where we have failed and show us how to love by doing good to others even in cleaning our homes, garages, and that car! Show us where we may improve that which we know will bring more favor to us and subdue the earth.

May our lives be dominated by YOUR truth that sets captives free! May we be couples in unity that hold up that Word of God as a standard. We are expectant God to have His will and way in our lives. In Jesus's name, amen and amen!

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