THAT Forgiveness!

 

Forgiveness: that which is wrapped up in God's love!

Jesus hung on the Cross! He was forgiving others all the while giving them the Father’s kingdom. Was thinking on this the past several days and meditating verses like reproofs of instruction are the way of life found in Proverbs 6:22-23!

God in His wisdom brought reproofs to us through His word of truth. And that instruction in that reproof is the way of life. That word of God is a commandment. It is a lamp to light the way for us.

Again, in view of Jesus hanging from the cross, we are reminded of those He still could and would communicate with while encountering such hate of hostile people. And can we or will we continue to communicate the Father’s word of truth to those who vitally need it right now?

One specific passage I think about is when the religious leaders called Jesus names. John 8 :37 ( Jesus speaking here) I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 “But you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 “You do the deeds of your father. “Then they said to Him, “we were not born of fornication; we have one Father----God.” 42 Jesus said to them. “ If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but he sent Me. 43”Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 “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.” 45 “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” 

John 8:48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon,; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 

John 8:53 Are You greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are dead. “Who do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 “Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,”, I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “you are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them and so passed by.

Jesus continued to give truth to those who had hardened hearts! His claim to be eternal: “I AM” was also seen to these as His speaking of His being divine. Jesus spoke the truth. But hardened hearts will not listen and these religious people would not hear. From His beginning of hearing God’s word from the prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah who lived in tumultuous times, that of the Law of Moses in the first books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, it was Jesus Who would know what David wrote as the worshiper of God, what Ezekiel saw in visions, what Daniel prayed, and what was given in visions for that which be sealed up for another time to be the revealed and Jesus would know what was given in Malachi and yes, is so needed today. And it is that which Malachi is quoted of speaking given in the passage found in Luke 1:16-17 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” This is of course speaking of John the Baptist who prepared the way for Jesus. He herald the arrival of the Messiah, the gift of God’s grace.

 

Forgiveness was something Jesus spoke about: Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” 15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Adopting forgiveness of others into our prayer life is a daily discipline that Jesus emphasized. What we are disciplined in prayer and for others as in forgiveness, one grows, and becomes a character that has qualities that will sustain relationships with others.

Forgiveness is that which is wrapped up in God's love and that kind of love makes one strong! At the Foot of the Cross we gained salvation. We are the forgiven. In not forgiving, we forfeit a life in HIM! If we do not forgive, our Father in heaven will not forgive us!

Mark 11:20-26  Amp.    20 In the morning, when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered [completely] away to its roots. 21 & Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! The fig tree which You doomed has withered away! 22 And Jesus replying, said to them, have faith in God [constantly]. 23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, be lifted up & thrown into the sea! And does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you and you will [ get it].  25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him &  let it drop ( leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings & shortcomings & let them drop. 26 But if do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.

 

The teaching here is that the tree represented men in that generation. They were not producers of anything but gave their lives to being hypocritical of others. The men of that priesthood exploited others for their own profit of gain. The priesthood of that time which was at one time confirmed by the miracle of a dry rod, the budded, & blossomed branch that had brought almonds ( Nu.17:8) is now showing evidence of fruitlessness.  This rod had revealed Aaron’s authority who served with Moses.…The priesthood of Jesus’ day had moved away from God. They now were drunk in their own glory! AND they had produced  their priesthood according to their own plans & imaginations. They had rejected Jesus and would soon be rejected by Him.    

True spiritual health is indeed found in forgiving others! At the Cross, Jesus spoke: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34

He came to earth, to live as a man, and died between two criminals. Hanging by the strength of nails, he sees the soldiers who mocked and scourged Him. He recalls the blows that tortured Him and while that is visible in His mind, what runs vividly is that Caiaphas & the high priests of the Sanhedrin…have sentenced Him to die. With blood running over his eyes, He sees John with His mother Mary. His apostles and friends that He knew well had deserted Him. Peter denied Him 3 times…….& only the fickle remain, yes that crowd who just praised Him on His entrance into that city of Jerusalem has now demanded His crucifixion some hours later!

Forgiveness was and is His focus! And it is His love that prevails! In those final hours on earth, He has forgiven those who trespassed against Him, including Peter. Jesus had told Peter in Matthew 18:21-22 to seventy times seven to forgive another. He forgave the paralytic at Capernaum: Mark 3:3-12. He forgives the sinful woman who anointed Him in the home of Simon the Pharisee: Luke 7:37-48! The adulteress caught in the act and was to be stone: John 8:1-11

 

Whether it was throwing out the money changers in John 2:14 or Matthew 21:12-17, these Jews were having a business within what was God’s House of Prayer. They were far from God and Jesus caused the conversation and His teaching to remind them of what was given as truth. They had their own belief and in their hardness they were the persistent and the obstinate in wrong thinking and no longer covenant people of God. It was because of their unbelief that opened a door for the Gentiles to have opportunity to receive Christ.

Jesus gave the example of the forgiving heart! And He had a return ticket to His Father! John 16:28  "I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father"

 Jesus fulfills His own mission and that of His Father on the Cross! He directs His final word, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit. Luke 23:46

  

Jesus accomplished the plan of God! Jesus the majesty, and the power. “Behold your King!” John 19:14….Jesus is presented as He who is majestic & dignified….He went bearing His own Cross John 19:17.  Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” John 19:19 ;The innocent Lamb slain for the sins of man, yes yours and mine that we be the forgiven. Now completed, He is the obedient to the Father, He is love defined for the world to see, and He redeemed us with that death on the Cross!

"Certainly this was a righteous Man" (Luke 23:47).

The righteous forgive, but they also continue like Jesus did. And that is to get up…and give the word of life to others even when they refuse, bully or even try to stone you with words that are nothing but lies. YOU know who their father is! We get up and continue to give life. We continue to forgive but speak truth. We forgive and move forward and with appreciation. We make our boast from our hearts that God is love, and He is with us. We continue daily forgiving, giving thanks to be alive in the kingdom of God, and forgetting the past. Appreciation is giving thanks for that which we have come to the table where blessings abound, reproofs are instruction in the way of life. And when we hide His word in our hearts, it is so that we not sin again. For in His word we are the warned, we are kept in His truth and with it is a great reward. (Psalm 19:11)

Forever His word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89) In our intimacy with Him, His word gives us wise and discerning behavior. Jesus carried it and displayed it always. It is a path of heritage and of joy. It is guidance of the Lord’s instruction that enables the believer to negotiate right and wrong: Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

 Our lifestyles should be dictating what instruction that we should be getting. If our message is watered-down, then what will contribute to growth in the believer who ministers to those on the outside. We should people of strength, life and influence, but those who receive only water-down messages or give water-down testimonies will only people with no strength, no life and definitely no influence. But they would reveal they have tolerances for those things God hates. YOU know them: like the haughty look, like the lying tongue, like the hands that murder, like the heart which devises wicked schemes, like feet that run swiftly to evil and yes, the false witness and he who sows discord among the brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) 

And if you and I bow to these things, what does that speak of our character? For we must stand against the lying tongue by giving truth. We must stand against murder, for that of God is for life and not death!

 We must stand against wickedness that tries to murder the fatherless and the widow, to him Who tries to murder the babe in the womb. For these speak of men who have fallen to the depths of hell. We must be those who have reproof in God's instruction to live. Let us not fail in forgiving others, but let's remember to always stand in truth, speak it with boldness of heart and expect God to be with us and nor forsake us in Jesus' name. For ours is the kingdom of God.....Amen.

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Discipline

 Was reading an article on discipline today. I had just come from hearing a recorded program on health and ways to strengthen the immune system within the body. In this recent news on body health are the ways to know what causes things like sickness or flues as fungus in the body: peanuts, corn, and wine. ( also like some vaccines)So it was worth waiting to watch to learn what steps to take when you have issues within your own body, what not to eat or drink and how to pray about it! Discipline is so needed in regard to just living life on this earth! And today, you can be bombarded with many fast foods commercials, as well as those fast cars or durable trucks and fast methods to acquiring drugs from your pharmacy (delivered to your door),  but rarely does one hear how they should be disciplined to know what God speaks about it all!

 While viewing one such recorded program early this morning, I remembered this one player who was so sought out in that field of basketball. This goes back to the twentieth century and the 1980's! To play in the national basketball one had to be suited for producing wins no doubt. But this young man, even though selected as the 12^th pick as "the hopeful" to make a real difference for the team to the Washington Bullets, yet he proved no help to them. This young man was predicted to go all the way for the team but in truth his life was undisciplined. He was noted for having no discipline when he ate anything he wanted nor what he ate nor  gave any thought to exercise. Of all that could be noted of this player who many were expecting great wins with, showed up revealing at that time he had eaten his way out of the NBA. Overweight at his rookie training camp, he earned some undesirable nicknames.

It is the Apostle Paul who told young Pastor Timothy, (1 Timothy 4:7-8)"But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Now, exercise is important for producing good benefits in condition of the heart and to strengthen one’s core to keep up with work in the workplace, home details as to cleaning and to food preparation, plus that which would also all children's activities, and to life in general. One must make it a rule to keep active and on the alert for that which is good  for the right kinds of food with actual life in it and not some dead food that is considered junk and only destroys one’s health. Another obvious thing I have learned is that many of the elderly have to learn how to get up should they should fall whether indoors or outdoors.  And yes, there are many written articles, talk shows, medical health benefits to show the elderly how to get up from that fallen position, but you also need to know which would benefit you in the long run.One such thing is like glutathione for your cells ( you know for energy).

A good way to find the way to good health, and those benefits is found in that discipline to be immersed in the word of God! It is God’s word that is the foundation of our lives. In the Scriptures, God reveals Himself and His will for us. If we want to know and enjoy God, the place to begin is God’s word.

 

Apart from the Bible, we cannot know what God is like. He is our Father, has love for us and really wants to give us His wisdom for this life. For you and I, we can  see some aspects of God in nature and the creation, but we would never look at an oak tree or a butterfly and know that God is holy, sovereign or loving. We could never know what Jesus did to redeem us by hiking through the Grand Canyon.  Not that I would consider hiking Grand Canyon, but for us, we have been on some pathways here in the area we reside. And although not as rocky nor as mountainous, still one must be capable to stay on the pathway and jump out of the way of that fast moving golf cart headed to the golf course. Knowing Jesus is knowing Him  Who is well disciplined. He obeyed the Father all the way to the Cross at Calvary. So too, Health is important to us if we desire to live long lives, for we must know the difference from what is franken-food to our body and what is actually good to our body to thrive and live long on the earth.

Yes, we must be awakened to truth, and that is in God who never changes. His spiritual truth remains the same: yesterday, today and forever in Christ Jesus!

Here’s what Scripture says about itself:  "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts." - Jeremiah 15:16. To eat God's words means we take them in, hear them consistently by either reading them or hearing them and speaking them out after that hearing them. And when we do this, they become a joy and delight to our hearts. So we should be the delighted. We should have a joy in our hearts understanding His words guard us in our thinking. In that shaping our thinking to match His, we should consider Psalm 1.

 In that Psalm, there are two forces that will shape our thinking: either the world or God’s word: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2) For you and I, we can either follow the counsel of the world or the counsel of the Word. Psalm 1 tells us that we should make God’s word our delight and meditate on it consistently – day and night.

That word  "blessed" in verse 1 is happy and expresses itself in the sense of joy and satisfaction in one's state or circumstances. And it is often the result of blessing that comes from a trust in the LORD when obedience is found.

1 John 5:3 For this is love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Was thinking of Jesus speaking to the religious: "you are like your father the devil." What He actually said was this: John 8:42-44 "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but he sent Me. 43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because 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.

It is never the ethnic nor family pedigree that makes one acceptable to God but honoring God by believing in and loving Jesus Christ. Some people are just out for that "fifteen minutes of fame" not looking for the long haul of life. And one certainly does not gain long life unless he is in Christ Jesus.

When it comes to spiritual disciplines for the Christian life, the first thing we should seek to incorporate into our lives is regular meditation on Scripture. Like the food we eat for life, energy and rest, we also meditate on God’s word as to dwell on it, to roll it over in our minds in order to apply it to our lives.

It is like trying those new foods out and reverting to a bag of chips when the taste of the new and the vivid dark color of the food is all green will not satisfy the "old man" in his eating habits. And yes the flesh creature would rather watch TV than read the word of God. Flesh creature will always be that spiritual underachiever, living so far below the potential that God has placed within them. Discipline is required for just about everything that has to do with living in this world. That applies to when you go to sleep at night to when you arise at the first morning light!

Now that discipline in 1 Timothy 4 is an interesting word. In the Greek the word gymnaso appears. It means to train or to exercise naked. Or in athletic terms, as it was in Paul’s day, was to take off that shirt to work out. That was a stripping off the unnecessary to move through a routine so exercise would be a benefit to them for those Olympic games.

As being disciplined to right eating of food for the body: like not eating candy, no drinking wine with that meal, leaving off dessert and taking an extra few laps around your neighborhood will peel off some that fat on the body. So, too, you and I must do the same in the spiritual realm. We must strip away all the garments of pretense as we meet with the Lord each day in prayer, in that Bible study and in fellowship. We must come before Him with an open and honest heart, not telling God what we think, an opinion but truly sharing our hearts, those hurts, fears and tears but truly sharing every problem we might hold in our heart.

Disciplined today might not bring you that NBA contract to your life, but stripped to being a truly productive living being will always include that encouraging and enriching workout with God the Lord, so that we need not try to be someone we are not! To be the real in God, it must be about the truth of  God Who will take us  from where we are and bring us to a place of strength, peace and power as we come to Him day after day for nourishment that is of benefit and life to us. We will come to satisfaction in Him when we continually humble ourselves to the speaking that we require some help with what goes into our mouths for our God is faithful and He will be there to help! 

 It is He, Who makes us spiritually strong when and if we are the willing to be faithful to hard work of saying no to the flesh and yes to the spirit man. It is saying no to wrong types of food and saying no to the wrong types of things our eyes focus on that brings the wrong thing into our lives. We are to say yes to the spirit of doing right things that are the necessary as in spending quality time with Him who planned for us, purposed to set us apart and to develop a deep and genuine walk with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Yeah, it is not the NBA, but He is all I need to accomplish life on earth. He is Greater, Majesty on High....the Great I AM! He is all that I (or you) need in that love of His, a grace with much mercy and peace. It is all about living for Him, and living in such a way others will notice. And if they know not my name, they will know His because that is how we live for Him, to make Him known, that in Him we live,  move,  and have our being in Him. It is all the right moves and actions from the Father of whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

 Light be in my life (your life) concerning diet, that new way of eating, that new routine for exercise and that all important time with Him the Lord of glory. Thank you Lord for the light that reveals those dark things that must be stripped away to run the race YOU have set before us. Today WE run in His name and to His glory, we are thoroughly determined to be set in being disciplined. Yes, Amen to discipline!

 

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A SIGN AND A WONDER OR DRUG DEALER?

Should we not be a sign and wonder to those we come in contact with in our daily lives? Should people not see that we speak differently, act differently and do not carry the fear factor?

Great trials were put upon the Hebrew nation when they were under the rule of Pharaoh. And the LORD God reminded them of it!
This He spoke:
Deuteronomy 7:7-9, 11-21
The Lord did not set His love upon you and choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the fewest of all people. 8 But because the Lord loves you and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.
11 You shall therefore keep and do the instruction, laws, and precepts which I command you this day. 12 And if you harken to these precepts and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love which He swore to your fathers. 13 And He will love you, bless you, and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your land, your grain, your new wine, and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15 The Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt which you knew will He upon on you, but will lay them upon all who hate you. 16 And you shall consume all the peoples whom the Lord your God will give over to you; your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. 17 If you say in your [minds and] hearts, These nations are greater than we are; how can we dispossess them? 18 You shall not be afraid of them, but remember [earnestly] what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. 19 The great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out, So shall the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. 21 You shall not dread them; for the Lord your God is among you, a mighty and terrible God. Amplified Bible

In that day and time, there were nations wanting more land and more power. They traveled to conquer others. They went prepared to go out with military might to take down and remove any who got in their way.
But the Lord cares for those who are His own. He cherishes with great love and though trials come, our trust is to be in Him.
In truth that still exists today. Oh no, you will not see them march across the desert with their leaders on the finest horse or camel. But they still exist today. Today they come selling their wares on the airwaves of the television:that big screen showing their wares for certain!

God was telling them not to remember of the defeat they experienced in the land, but for them to remember the signs and wonders by His Hand that brought them out of Egypt and out of bondage!

There are those who accept things that the world hands out. We are to be in the world, but not of it, right? John 17:14
14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  NIV
The Lord God spoke to His people to say the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out, So shall the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid.
Now medical advancement has made great strides in bringing new strategies that help those who cannot walk without help of "the artificial leg" or the artificial arm or hand for use in everyday living life. And praise the Lord for His goodness. We have seen great strides forward in those areas of those who have gone through kidney transplants, and bone marrow transplants. For those of the bone marrow kind must remain away from people and their diseases (like cold, flu, and the such) for sometime and the robot has come on scene to help those youth in the area of their school work!

Sin played a big role in that of pharaoh in Egypt. He worshiped the river, and he got frogs, millions of them. For what people worship, they will gain millions of problems like pharaoh. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt had no regard for the God of the Hebrew nation. He regarded those Egyptian gods and with each he regarded highly came to him in the form of a plague. It was each plague that carried out to show God was the "only true God" and the Egyptian gods and their pharaoh were powerless before Him.


Everyday if we spend anytime watching a football game, a favorite "who done it" type mystery or even a kids' movie on a made for children TV station, one is inundated, yes swamped, downright bogged down into that which is regarded as the "next best medicine", the next best "cure" on the market. "Call about it today", is their request.  Are we the sign and wonder or just the drug dealer who deals out that which brings harm?
There was a day when "drug dealers" were hunted down and put in jail or prison, but today it is broadcast into every living room in America. We certainly try to record that which we desire to watch and go past that which deals "drugs" into the home at least every 5 of 13 commercials between the maybe 13 minutes of a show or mystery, detective type show you watch. Did you count them at Christmas time? Yikes!


Deuteronomy 7:25-26
25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. 26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing. NKJV


We are to watch over our heart with all diligence. We are to visit those scriptures and passages Jesus spoke about and did all for the glory of God. When we take for ourselves those things that are an abomination to us, we become the doomed. Not because we do not love God, but because a snare was put on the body of the believer. What we put before our eyes can be that "hook" that will pull you in little by little, till you are trapped. Ask any who have been healed of taking drugs for many years. Our Father is one who is to be recognized and that we are to know and understand that He is love, and He is the faithful. He desires the good for us.
There is no sickness in heaven so why should we so readily receive sickness here? And everyday there is another virus, and another strain of something for sin is still rampant, right?
When something does come your way, is it easier to just go to the Dr. or is it in the best interest first to consult God on the matter? Is faith geared toward the Dr. than for what God has already done for you through His Son Jesus?

 Following the Lord and His direction, will keep us close to hear HIM speak about such things. He gives us the measure of faith to trust Him, but do we activate our faith toward His speaking, and His truth or into that which the world advertises for your good like: that new car, that new house, that new truck that you must have. Certainly we have need of transportation, but some folks just need to move closer to their job and not the 2 hour commute that seems to have been going on for decades now.

Those that followed Pharaoh, the king of Egypt followed him into a great and tragic death. Moses did not pity him and he was not about to serve his gods, those things that pharaoh took pleasure in.

The nation of pharmaceuticals is making money by the ship loads from those who do not know how to dispossess them. And much we can do today, is to look for better ways of eating healthier and caring for our bodies like exercise and drinking plenty of water. There are times one must have a vaccination due to low immunity, but always seek God first and to His plan for you! He cares and wants to be involved in your healthcare!

 Our Father wants you around for a long time to declare His goodness to you, so that you will declare it to others. Will we tell others about Jesus and His life for us through His death on the Cross or are we more likely to talk about the latest new "drug fad"?
Yes, a lesson indeed is learned here, when we know trials and tribulations can come to hurt the body, but taking something that can cause a million and one other problems, is like having Pharaoh as your leader, which leads to destruction.
Proverbs 4:23-27
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from  you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil. NKJV


Father, in Jesus name, we stand "our watch in prayer" today against that which desires to hook us into that which can kill. That is against Your plan to make us a nation which follows God and gives voice to His glory. It is our prayer today to have the healthful body that comes from our diligence of seeking out the right healthy foods and to drink plenty of water, and have the hours of sleep we need each night.
Help us Holy Spirit to guard that which tries comes into our homes. Help us and lead us away from that which will be destruction to us and our families. We pray today that wisdom is found on our lips who has understanding that You our Father is God and no one else. We do not desire any other "gods" in our lives. As we look toward tomorrow, may our steps be established in that which is truth and safety for us and our children and their children. May we be those who always seek Your guidance first in prayer and time with You before grabbing that next best thing the world may offer.
Help us to see those who just want to lead but have no experience with You. Help us to see those who are after our hurt for their gain. We believe our feet are removed from evil today. Thank You Lord for Your goodness today. We glorify Your name. May we be a sign and wonder to those who walk this way through the world and may they see and know we as the different and the wise who have One God, One Creator and His Name is Jehovah, our Stronghold in the time of trouble (tribulation).(Psalm 37:39).

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

Give Me, Make Me

Luke 15:11-24..........................11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.    NKJV

Have you ever had God speak to you about a passage that seemed to take all night? Although I remember sleeping and having a dream, I could still hear Him speak about "Give Me, Make Me".
In the passage of scripture above we see the walk of a young man from being in plenty to being in want. He had been given money to spend. He gathered all that he had, took a trip to "never land" and wasted his possessions.
It says that he lived with prodigal living......!
Prodigal: to strew about ( to scatter, to disperse) spendthrift, wasteful, driving away, one who squanders away money or something of value.

Famine hit the land and the young man joined himself to a citizen of that country. "Joined himself"......another interesting play on words.

To join: to be in union with another, to participate with, to bring together for a purpose as to unite against something or someone

Exploring a foreign land is one thing, but to go to a foreign land to spend all you have and that which you value on things that bring no life is not a good thing! What is the saying, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. " Unknown author. This young man went to a foreign land to spend all that he had on something he evidently thought would be fun to do. Then when the famine came, he fell further into the pit of a mess and ended up in spending time feeding swine! To me, it appears that he hit a real low place, and the lowest of the low to be dwelling in and to feed swine. But it certainly was this young man's life for awhile. Have you been in school and there was a Future Farmer's of America class for high school age boys? Was it one where they kept their hogs for market? It was those who raised them as their project for class and a grade!
Well, one our F.F.A. students had his hogs close to our cafeteria. Yes, you guessed it! If the wind blew from that direction, the smell was horrendous. So, I can imagine what this young man came to in dwelling with the hogs!

We can make our plans but somehow, there is always something going on that will affect what we are planning, either with other people, with other things and of course, with other nations or countries that we might be scheduling to see and visit. If we decide to take some time in lifting weights and gain some body strength, when do we go TO THE PLACE of just maintaining it? Or do we desire to move into folly and let the body building become more than what we need or should have?
What about playing in a band? Do we practice to bring glory to God or is to flaunt "my expertise and ability in one instrument" ?
Do we decide to take off a couple years from church to gather at the bar to minister to someone, when in reality we find ourselves moving into Folly Land?

James 4:13-17..............13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. ..NIV

1 Corinthians 15:33-34............33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. NKJV

Evil company begets more evil.

For some do not have the knowledge of God! But we are to awake to righteousness!

Isaiah 52:1-3.....Awake, awake!
Put on your strength, O Zion;
Put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city!
For the uncircumcised and the unclean 
Shall no longer come to you. 
2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise;
Sit down, O Jerusalem!
Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion! 

3 For thus says the LORD:
"You have sold yourselves for nothing,
And you shall be redeemed without money."  NKJV

Like the young man, he gave into that which was for nothing. The fun, merriment, wine, women and song soon left when his money was all gone! He was the famished, the desolate in a land of famine. But we are to be the church, Zion, the believer in Jesus and in whom we are to put our trust and gain His strength. We do that in God's Word. We put on those royal beautiful garments and shake ourselves from the dust. We shake off the dust, and come to sit at the table set for us.

I think of the oil embargo back in the early 70's. Some cities were not hit as hard as others, but it looked something like this. Living in a large city, you had to be up by 3 am to get to gas station by 4 am , and wait in line to get gas before the pumps ran out of said gas. Yes, we had that lifestyle for a count of several months, and it was always best to get to the gas station as quick and as early as one could, so that you might be first or second in line, because if you were later, that would put you late for work at 7 am.Or, you had no gas and had to wait till the next delivery of gas in how many days?

Then while the gas thing was going on, yes, there was the union of the meat cutters who were striking, AND THEN, there was no milk (yes, even the dairymen had a problem as well). So we encountered a lot to get what we needed at the stores for the little one who should have plenty of food and milk. I remember that at least one whole year, our lives seemed chaotic!
Do you know what it is like to cross the picket line when there are "big men" picketing that store and  many other thousands of like men picketing stores around the state and country?

Just like then famine can start in one place to spread to other areas as well, so do other things like water shortages, shortages  on food supplies and sometimes even gas!

Are we squandering that which we should keep back? That mentality of "give me" is "I want all that is mine and I want it now". That "me" thing gets a lot of us into trouble at times. It also comes under the heading of "SIN"!

When being married, that union is of more than one person and can quickly add up to 5 or more people in said union. FAMILY! And being in a family, causes us to think about others more than ourselves or it should, although sometimes we do not see that actually happening in some lives, especially in young children and teens.

NOW, don't get me wrong here, we can certainly take a couple of weeks off and enjoy some time abroad. We can take a day or two here or there to take care of something at home or at a Dr.'s office, but are we taking the "me" time to a whole new level? Well, Shelley, I have worked here for 20 years and I am getting almost 3 weeks off this year, but when I get to 25 years of service to this company I will gain 5 weeks off. Sounds good right, sounds like you have worked and worked and worked to get where you are today, but what if God desires you to be somewhere else doing something new?
And that work, is it just for you....or is it for your entire family? Is it I want more money to buy more things, or I am saving for our kid's college coming in ten years.

God does not mind us having things or enjoying life, BUT DO THOSE THINGS HAVE US?

This young man squandered all that he had. He joined himself to another when the famine came. He fed the swine and then he started to come to his senses. Looking at verse 17......And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' 20 And he arose and came to his father. 

He came to himself, he became aware he was more than a swine feeder, and he was still starving! (At least the swine were eating!) He decided to leave the "folly" behind.

Proverbs 14:24..............24 The crown of the wise is their riches,  But the foolishness of fools is folly.  NKJV
His going away from what he knew and moving far from that which was good, made him the fool!

It appears that when one is foolish, more foolishness crowns him with more folly!

Proverbs 16:22....22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.

But the correction of fools is folly.  NKJV

He saw that in his leaving home for a foreign country brought him to lose his wealth and anything of value. He went through a famine in the land to end up with the swine and yet the swine were eating pods but at least they were eating. He was not being given anything to eat!. He certainly came to place of correction.
But being in "folly" will bring one to be crowned with more "folly" like we see with the young man.

In verse 18 he states that he will rise out of this "bad" place............that low place of defeat, of lack, .........a place called sin...........and repent. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. And he went to the Father!

Wow! When one hits the bottom, they are willing to be called the servant and be one to come back to the home of grace and love!

Remember from Isaiah......chapter 52 and verse 3.....
Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion! 

3 For thus says the LORD:

"You have sold yourselves for nothing,
And you shall be redeemed without money."
In reading of the son, we certainly saw him desiring to loose himself from the bonds of his neck........and seeing nothing, in famine, the desolate had nothing, he returned to be redeemed without money. He came to the love of the Father!


We find another man being called folly....and Nabal was his name.
1 Samuel 25:25-31............................25 Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. 27 And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. 29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. 30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, 31 that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant."  NKJV

Nabal was different. He liked being the landowner, and foolish. She, Abigail,knew his character as one who was very rude and what some call as "behaving churlishly". As she had heard of the bad thing her husband had done toward David through a servant, she was pleading her own ignorance to the whole matter or event. When Abigail went to meet David, she knew that he would be on his way to fight against Nabal for speaking to his men as he did and would make NO EFFORT to gather food for David's men. Even though David and his men had kept Nabal's flocks secure from those who would steal in the country as they did, Nabal showed no grace to them. He acted like he had never heard of David!

But Abigail in her defense takes food for David and his men. She desires them to be given what they asked for from her husband, but who was not willing to give. She speaks that David's enemies would be as Nabal, her husband. 

meaning of Nabal: dote, senseless, vile, stupid, and wicked

Abigail went on to speak prophetically that David would know that the Lord fights the battles and evil would not be found in him throughout his days. She even speaks of Saul, but does not speak his name out loud. She says, "your life (David) will be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God".  ...."the lives of your enemies he shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling".

Did God not do that to "Goliath"? Did God not show David what he needed to do in the wilderness and could ultimately perform anywhere else? She went on to prophesy......"And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, 31 that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant."
Meaning that David would come out good on this "bad deal". It would bring no grief to David, who kept his watch over his men and over the flocks of Nabal, who proved vile.

She finished with, may you remember your maidservant. Remember Abigail who stopped the vile Nabal from ruining another's life by being the good wife. Remember Abigail who thought of the needs for others when it was within her hand to give it! Remember Abigail who came and reminded you that this would bring no grief to you in later years!


Yes, we have two men, who had a mentality of being the "fool". But Nabal became the vile and the wicked. In being foolish, the fool became the stupid and the senseless in his dealing with people!
The young man went back to the Father and confessed his sins before him. He had a change of heart!  Our Father will meet us when we have gone too far in the wrong direction. We remain out of His goodness, if we continue to choose for "me, myself and I"..............or "GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME.........!

Proverb 23:26-28............26 My son, give me your heart,
And let your eyes observe my ways. 
27 For a harlot is a deep pit,
And a seductress is a narrow well.
28 She also lies in wait as for a victim,
And increases the unfaithful among men.  NKJV

Again, as we saw the young man, who was seduced by wealth. He wanted money and to leave what he knew to experience "the world" during a time of famine. Although he did not plan on famine, it can certainly happened even when there is abundance of food, abundance of commercial items, and much produce to be transported. Like what we experienced in Colorado in the 70's, people wanting more, caused others to be without a supply of meat, milk, or gas.

It was like the Portland longshoremen going on strike. And anybody who watched that or had packages to be sent out, knew those packages were not going to make it to their destination in record time. No, those packages might have gotten loaded into one big container, but they sat on dock till they could be loaded. Well, months started going by and by that February Hanjin was leaving the Port of Portland. And others went as well. Then Hapag-Lloyd that distributes to Europe was gone as well. These two supplied about ninety percent of the business to the port. Sad but true, this occurred this year.

Proverbs 30:15..................15 "The leech has two daughters.
'Give! Give!' they cry.  NIV

More, more, more, give me more!

Greed is always ugly....if the leech is crying........greed...."Give, Give".........will not it intensify with two young ones doing the same thing?
In the case of the young man, who had a change of heart, going home was by repenting. His brother who had remained had some grievance against him. Though the young man came back and the Father ran to meet him, and placed on him the royal robe and ring, the other son, the brother had grief. He was the brother who remained in the same place, chose not to spend, and yet had everything still at hand, but grieved! (Luke 16: 25-32)
The brother who remained in the home was envious of someone, a brother, who came out of a "pit"!

In closing: Our hearts must observe God's ways. It will surely keep us out of the pit and away from that which can cry out........that it is good, but it is in the end......that which is bitter.....to us.......to our souls, minds and spirit.

James 3:13-18...........13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  NKJV

Two men, seeking their own thing, their own way. One got into famine ........lack, much folly and came to his senses. The other continued his ways..MORE FOOLISHNESS........and died. 

1 Samuel 25:36-38..........36 Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light. 37 So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. 38 Then it came about, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.   NKJV

We have opportunities like Nabal did to honor the anointed king who was coming soon to his position like Abigail did. But Nabal the fool pretended to not know him at all. But yet when we look back at previous scriptures we find he even knew David's father's name and mentioned Jesse. This Nabal threw himself a party........a feast........and drank till drunk with wine. But Abigail told him what she had done. And then Nabal's heart died within him. 

Today we choose either serving self or serving God! Today we choose life or death. Will greed take us places where we meet with the untimely misfortune of death or disease? Will greed take us to those places where we rule and will not allow God any access to show us what is coming our way that MAY BE A BIG PROBLEM. for us LIKE FAMINE? Will we waste our health and wealth on that which does not bring life to us or adds anything good to us?

Father, thank You today for Jesus, the Son of Your love who died to give us life abundantly. Father, we know that covetousness or greed is idolatry.

Today, we choose to guard our hearts and we need You to show us the way. Show us by Your Holy Spirit that which is not fruitful for our benefit in our walk with You. Show us where our hearts may crave or want something that will be detrimental to us. Father You sent the best You had for us. We desire to give back to You our love and thankfulness for delivering us from death, hell and the grave. We know that chasing after other things, or people as in musical groups or sports may lead us down a path we do not want to go down. As according to Romans 1:25....we do not desire to exchange the truth of God for the lie...........and do not want to worship and serve any creature rather than YOU our Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Help us to see what we must recognize as that which brings death and not life to us. Help us to know when we start to venture too far off the right track with YOU.

We give thanks for Jesus, and we thank You for hearing our plea. We do not desire to be time wasters as we see the Day of Approaching of YOUR return. 

The Word will not return void, but will accomplish where it is sent. Today, we desire to totally lean on You and learn Your wisdom, drawing on YOUR strength and filled with Your quietness. It is in Jesus' name we pray! 

 May we bless YOU and bring beautiful music, a lovely sound to YOUR hearing Father. Amen and amen

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