Painful Thorns

 What a difference 50 years makes in one's life! 

What was held in disgust years ago, people do it so willingly today. Was seeing a teaching on what the swimsuits looked like in the twenties and thirties of the 20th century. Everyone had on clothes, but was meant for swimming. Each dressed, the man in his slacks and the woman in a two piece suit covering from the neck to passed the knees. Today it is anything goes. You have a display of nudity in all forms on the beaches today. Sad to say, many have fallen into the culture theme of being free in sin. I remember the Rockettes of yesteryear. Those dancers in NYC were in the Macy's parade over Thanksgiving. What appeared were very thin women. What once looked like healthy dancers, with an amount of muscle on the legs and arms, today they are skin and bone ....Was wondering if it had to do with people losing weight just to be thin. What would Jesus think today?

Jesus was the “meek” man. He humbled Himself before the Father to walk in His steps regarding His image and the foundation of the work to be set forever in His word.

In God's perspective, people who humble themselves, are these people who are strong, while from a human perspective, it depends on whom they want to impress. You can see that in the story of those who impressed David’s son instead of staying alongside David as the King! ( of Ahithophel’s advice to the King seen in 2 Samuel 16, 17, and what occurs in 18) Ahithophel commits suicide out of bitterness in 2 Samuel 17:23.

At the point of Grace, we choose whom we will serve. We are told over and over to forgive those who have done something against us. Yes, and that can occur daily in this world we live in today!

But Humility is so important that God gave Paul some help to make sure that he would stay humble: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 NKJV 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Yet, this “thorn” in the flesh is a person. We know this because we see it in the Old Testament: Ezekiel 28:22- 24 NKJV “Behold, I am against you, O Sidon; I will be glorified in your midst; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I executed judgments in her and am hallowed in her. For I will send pestilence upon her and blood in her streets; the wounded shall be judge in her midst by the sword against her on every side; then they shall know that I am the LORD. 24 “And there shall not longer be a pricking brier or a “painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the LORD GOD.”

From this verse 24, we see that insults of the nations are compared to prickly briers and painful thorns. Numbers 33:55 ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. 56 Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’”

 In this year, we certainly have the irritants of painful thorns. You expect truth and get that which relates to honoring the evil and to destroy the good!

From the time of Jesus, His walk was about the persistent heart giving the kingdom of God that had come: the Gospel! Jesus was effective in that He laid down His life and could take it up again because He spoke it into being. Paul saw the power of Jesus’ walk and proved to be an effective servant of God.

So humility has a dominant thrust in it where appears a willingness to submit to God, to what is His truth and remain in it to give to others. These two willingly submit to giving their whole life into God’s glory. So what would be the level of our humble hearts? Ephesians 4:3 …endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Unity with each begins in the unity each of us has with God. And it is within that unity with God you can keep unity with others.

So in returning to Ahithophel we find a most fascinating character. In 2 Samuel 15: 12 Ahithophel was a trusted counselor to King David. He was also a member of his cabinet. The King relied on Ahithophel’s advise as if he spoke from God himself seen 2 Samuel 16:23.

Ah yes, but things changed for the “bad”. It was David’s son Absalom that led a rebellion against him. and in this rebellion Ahithophel betrayed David by joining with rebellious Abasalom. AND we can know the king’s heart on this matter when David recounts those painful laments of heart when a trusted Ahithophel betrayed him in Psalm 41:8-9 and Psalm 55:12-15.

Psalm 55:12-16 NKJV For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. 13 but it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in the throng. 15 Let death seize them; let them do down alive into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them. 16 As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me.

AHITHOPHEL: whose name means “foolishness” certainly proved to be the foolish man and it was indicated in his first meeting with Absalom in 2 Samuel 15:12. Yes the rebellion was on! And some parts of historical record give a light on what occurred to make Ahithophel do what he did to the king! In historic background, Ahithophel was the father Eliam found in 1 Chronicles 3:5. And then the grandfather of Bathsheba, so this was a personal ordeal for the man who knew the king and had worked side by side with him. Yes, David as the king with loose morals at this time defiled another man’s wife. Instead of being on the front lines in battle with his men, David stayed in the palace and then had his eye on the lovely Bathsheba bathing.  So in this corrupted action on David’s part, Ahithophel’s sense of wrong crowded his thinking.

Yes, David was king but was to be the honorable and here he slipped terribly in the acts of murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah the Hittite. What Ahithophel proposed in his pursuit of David is given in 2 Samuel 17:1…… Ahithophel gives Absalom advice: “Now let me choose twelve thousand men and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and weak and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee and I will strike the king.

It was a personal hostility that Ahithophel held for David. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world. 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Through the Gospel, revelation of truth is power. And in the operation of God’s power through this gospel is victory over sin and death. But to the Jews, this very message of Christ crucified signaled weakness and proved Jesus the false Messiah. The Jews looked for signs instead of in Messiah’s power ( Isaiah 35; 61)  The Jews stumbled in this truth. And of course to the Gentile mind-set, they held no messianic expectations. No, they held only what a deity should be like, so the message of Christ crucified was foolishness to them.

Yes, David did try to hide his corrupted acts. He treated this young woman terribly and her husband even worse. He wanted her to sleep with her own husband to hide his dilemma her creating a child within her womb. But the honorable Uriah would not do that while the men he fought with would not have the same thing available to them. David proceeds with another act of betrayal to place Uriah on the front line of the battle. Yes, death would occur to this young man.

Ahithophel most likely burned in his thinking that became a hate with a force behind it! So Absalom set to take David’s throne, and he, Ahithophel, must have thought some kind of good must have turned towards him in favor, but David prayed in 2 Samuel 15:31 “O LORD I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”  Remember David had already prayed in Psalm 55!

In Ahithophel’s  counsel to Absalom to immediately attack David before he can regroup, a change occurs in a dramatic way.  A loyal friend to David, Hushai pretends to have turned to Absalom’s side and urges him to delay an attack. It was God causing Absalom to heed Husahi’s advice and Ahithophel realizes a fatal mistake. In bitterness, he knows that God will not punish David now. No, because David repented and prayed for God’s hand on the outcome of his own stupid behavior.

In despair it was Ahithophel who would die:  “He put his house in order and then hanged himself (2 Sam 17:23). In prayer, David displayed anguish. He wrote of betrayal in Psalm 55:13-14.  A seemingly spiritual companion betrayed David in verse 13: “ but it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance”.

2 Samuel 15:31 Then someone told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, “O LORD I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

Humility goes hand in hand with meekness. Jesus the meek had a restraint being held in the “kind, the gentle, and the sensitive to others’ needs. This is done in truth, with no lying and stealing. They are those who will agree with that which is God’s word. They will not argue God’s word, neither will they insist on their own way in it. People could approach Jesus! They could speak with Him and He would return that which was life to them. He was and is the meek but He is not the “weak”! Like Jesus we are to be the firm and the uncompromising regarding following truth. And what is revealed to us is that Jesus did not overwhelm others who were aligned against Him.

God’s grace has been poured out to us! People who know their Lord and God are the blessed and it shows! We too can enjoy this abundance of grace. We should let people go and give them over to God.

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 me their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Jesus hung on a Cross at Calvary and forgave the one who hung there with Him. Jesus told the man that he would be with Him in Paradise. The other went his way into hell. It was one who held onto Jesus the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Painful thorns indeed appear in our walk. But we keep our eyes on Jesus! You can see insanity in the world, but peace is found in the Lord alone!

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Just Take His Hand

 

Mark 1:21-31 NKJV 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone!” What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are----the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with aloud voice, he came out of  him. 27 Then they were amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “what is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

 

Here in verses 21-28 you have an unclean spirit that knows who Jesus is and the religious group see Jesus as trying to give a new “doctrine”. Amazing, right? Yet here you have the two healing types are going on in Mark 1.

In the beginning of Gospel of Mark you have the calling of the disciples: Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea ( fisherman, you know) and then you then have James and John the sons of Zebedee and they were in their boat mending their nets when Jesus called them.

These people as fishermen worked hard and made money to pay their bills and their taxes! As the Sabbath came, Jesus and the disciples are in the synagogue. It is then that Jesus casts out the unclean spirit on the Sabbath as He taught. Yes, Jesus is teaching and the unclean spirit within a man walks into a service in the synagogue.

Jesus called those who would be active for the kingdom of God. No these would not be waiting on a check from any government, these men would work indeed!

Fishermen would have a first-hand look at casting, not nets into the water, but casting God’s word and reeling in an unclean spirit! Jesus was giving the reality of demons and the kingdom of God. In reality the lusts of men cause them to touch things and play with something dangerous to cause sickness and even death. And Jesus revealed the kingdom had come, that kingdom of God where Jesus carried authority. Furthermore, He gave this power to His followers.

 In Mark 1:25 Jesus tells the demon to be quiet! He wants no testimony of the adversary. “Be quiet!”

And yet today, we have many speaking and declaring testimonies that are not true and only that which really is disguised but harms many not by any ounce of healing but fruits of evil to kill.

But Jesus points to healing, a physical healing to liberate men from the dread results of sin. A follower of Jesus should not be hearing testimony of the devil. A follower is to follow Jesus and declare the truth of God’s word over situations or trials and even viruses. Faith people call the unseen to be seen! Walking by faith is that faith or trust is in God who is our shelter from the storm, He is our shelter in the shade, a shelter from the heat of other people’s wrath or hate! ( Isaiah 4:6)

Either we speak God’s word with authority or we speak weakly. And speaking weakly is that you do not believe or have faith in God. Our witness is to be of the Lord! If you accept the witness of demons, you will not make them be quiet. But Jesus commanded the demon to be quiet. "Come out of him".  Can you imagine this man when the demon cried out and left him right there in that public place? Can you imagine what people would do today if that happened before them in a church or even in another public area? Yeah, panic city would occur! Here these amazed people are seeing authority in Jesus of what they have never seen before. Yet they had the same doctrine of God, but never relayed that to others. Wherever God works, the enemy opposes. And it can anyone again who opposes God and His truth!

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

Fame went out about Jesus! But Jesus was touching the man’s heart not for fame but for the kingdom of God. Something was occurring in Israel, the Messiah had come. A fire was starting and it was a good one!

 Jesus spoke no words to Simon’s mother-in-law. He simply took her by hand and lifted or raised her up. One touch from God and she rose! He helped her to her feet and she was cured immediately. This fever left no weakened condition to this woman. She was cured, restored to serve others.

Are we healed and serving others or are we still hobbling about trying to get healed and still have people serving us? And she served them, not in a weakened condition, no she was alive and well by the hand of Jesus Christ. Amazing, the healing miracles of Christ Jesus. He dealt with each one in an individual case or as a group. He heard their cries, and this mother-in-law of Peter’s shows that the priest of the Lord ( Peter) had a family to care about. So Peter tells Jesus of his wife's mother and of the fever. Following Jesus, that follower would see with his eyes and hear what the Lord would do in those situations. Those who pay attention to the actions of the Christ will do those things as well. For the Lord lives in our hearts and He is active in His pursuit of the lost person requiring healing today.

In this passage from Mark 1, we see Mark underscoring the need for faith in the person Jesus Christ, in the  message, the Gospel had come, and the very power of Jesus to help those in need. Because Jesus in you and me enables us to engage and help those in extreme need. You and I must know the identity of Christ Jesus. Demons may know and confess His divine son-ship, but we must see through to the Cross, see His crucifixion, and resurrection, to take up our cross and follow Him. Because there are demons one day and healing the next that one may encounter, and if you think otherwise, then you know not that the kingdom of God has come.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature . 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe; in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents and if the drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.”

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 and they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

The signs confirms the ministry of Jesus Christ. His followers continue to carry out that the kingdom of God has come. The casting out of demons, speaking in tongues, and healing all is the ministry He revealed and all this comes by believing in Him.

Christ is lifted up and seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is in us and with the Father we are all one In Him! We are changed from glory to glory, we are encouraged to live for Him and become the image of Him. He kept His walk for a little over three years. He never quaked at anything. He kept hearing and receiving what the Father gave Him to do. 

Now it is your turn. So how about that person next to you, have you prayed for him today or just took his hand and lifted him from his sickbed……for in Jesus we live and move and have our being! Amen!

                                             New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Something like Scales, Thorns, and Clouds without Waters

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An Inside Job

Let heaven come.....

Deuteronomy 5:29: "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!"

 Which of these - the will to carry forward what we have received or the heart - is more important to growth in conversion and leaving Babylon? Which of them is subject to the other? Is the will a self-determining agent, or does something else determine it?

There were two trees in the Garden of Evil: Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Word of God teaches that the heart or mind is the dominating center of our being.

Consider a circumstance that each of us faces, perhaps many times on any given day. If a person has before him two options, which will he choose? Unless some overriding reason exists, he will choose the one most agreeable to him, that is, to his heart, his innermost being.

What if the choice is between moral or immoral alternatives? If as the person uses phrases like "the ole sinner" It is then evident he must choose between godliness and sinful indulgence,! His object is seeking "the heart's desire". So which will he select? He will choose the latter because he prefers it, all arguments to the contrary notwithstanding.

Well Jesus taught and reinforced this very specific point. In Matthew 15:19-20 Amplified Bible 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings, and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander and irreverent speech. 20 These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile him.  

So what we see from the above, the heart holds the evil thoughts, that which is of disputes and has designs for murder, harm to another human being.

So again, the heart, that which we regard as our mind, will and emotions can rule and certainly have various influences affecting the course of life. 

Proverbs 4:20-23 confirms this:

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out it spring the issues of life.

This certainly is an "inside job"!

We all have habits either strong or shaky. To be strong and choosing right ways, we stay the course for the Tree of Life. If we have taken to choosing right, following in the way of Jesus our Shepherd and Savior, we are to become disciplined in the Word, and quick to follow instructions.

But if we are of the shaky attitude, the aimless, without peace and planning through God and His word, we become the "one going somewhere to happen".

The same is true of the one with strong standards from God's Word, they will follow the rules of the road, take note when roads are closed and turn around to not drown.

Yet you find those who will climb fences to get that "magnificent camera shot of the waterfalls even though, due to fire, the place is deemed dangerous to people and is fenced off even with razor wire!. For them, anything goes, and it generally will appear one day for them, that they come to the end of their weak attitude toward life. We will read of their unfortunate demise and how they were taken so quickly, yet they lived their lives in that hapless, fast moving mode of life!

If we come from two parents, raised by two parents, each will certainly show the positive affects. Growing up in America would certainly prove positive to living in a country where battles are the on- going thing like you find  in some middle eastern countries today.

So you come from two parents: male and female and within that barrier then you would have children growing up with two parents, living in chaos free zone, living in a community where children attend school, have three meals a day and expect to go to college one day!

On the other side of the spectrum: you find children raised independently.

The child or children will have behaviors that cause them to rebel since they had no instruction in TRUTH. If either parents were absent from their up-bringing and they ultimately were raised by Grandma, their outlook and attitudes would certainly be different from those who had both parents within the home. Even those children who live in foreign countries may have to grow up independently and create their own form of values.

But our values that we develop for the most part would be that we would treat others how we would desire to be treated ourselves. So in the "heart" of each person, there  is one of those two trees from the Garden of Eden.  Knowing that it is the heart that determines one's preferences, those inclinations or choice would be revealed by their will to do it!  God directed Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of good and evil. His plan was to protect, but it was also to prove of His joy for them that they followed His ways and doings in the Garden. 

I like the scripture passage from James 3:11-18 Amplified Bible 

11 Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water. 13 Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [ which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contentious (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.  

15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). 16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition ), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion ) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.  

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). It is willing  to yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits: it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering ad insincerity).  18 And the harvest of righteousness ( of conformity to God's will in thought and deed) is the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

Yes it is certain that how we were brought up plays a big role in our lives. It all begins in the heart. And was our heart nurtured in the things that lead to life or to death?

It starts with the heart of each of us! To whom we will serve. There are two trees: one is for life and the other we were told not to eat from.

May each of us keep the unity of the Spirit through a bond of peace set by the Lord in one faith, in one baptism, and one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all things.

May we choose life, regard the Word, when spoken, is alive and active and that it has its home in our hearts. Today, may God have His way in our lives by His Holy Spirit for it is Jesus Who sits on the throne of our hearts. May we know that Word dwells in us in all richness , as we teach, admonish, and train each other in all insight, intelligence and wisdom in spiritual songs, making melody to God our Father, with grace of God in our hearts! 

May we today abide in the peace of God where there is no confusion, no waffling, no jealousy of any kind. May we know that God's word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish to where it is sent..

May we not choose rebellion, but choose oneness with God, to hold up His word and to speak clearly that we have expectancy in our hearts to never be the same. That we hold to Him and desire greatly to see His glory come in our lives.

Father, Your divine will be done on earth in us as it is in Heaven. Today we choose to totally lean on YOU and learn of YOUR wisdom, drawing on Your strength and filled with Your quietness……that is bringing the Results we believe for us who believe together in unity and harmony. May this bless YOU and bring beautiful music, a lovely sound to YOUR hearing Father. Amen and amen.........let heaven come......

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Laughing Our Way Through Purpose: Producing Excellence

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In Order With God: Being Established

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Ordering Strawberry Lemonade and Tea Comes Instead

Was out with our grand-daughter last Friday to spend time outside our home while she visited with us! We decided to make reservations and take her to a place not far from here, have some late lunch or early dinner...yet, enjoy the scenery that is laid out perfectly around the Gorge Hotel. We arrived somewhat early, and waited for our table. Being seated our grand-daughter asked for a strawberry lemonade for her drink. Great idea I thought as warm as it was outside, the cool drink would certainly be refreshing on such a hot day!
Well, the drink was not available, so we asked for lemonade instead and in a few minutes a glass of unsweetened tea arrived at the table. The young man seemed very pleased that he was bringing tea to the table and all I could think was "that does not look like lemonade"!
I certainly tasted the beverage and was hoping that it was not a glass of      "very dirty lemonade" and it was just tea. Yes the tea that arrived at our table was just brewed as well, but we asked for lemonade!

Was reading in the Psalms today and came across Psalm 100! It is one of my favorites that my mother help me learn as a small child.
Psalm 100  (NKJV)
Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness ; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, be thankful to Him and bless His name. 6 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

That word "serve" is 'ahad. In the Strong's has the numbering of 5647 and has the meaning of to work for, serve, do labor for someone; to be a servant, to worship.

In serving God, and know it is our faith that pleases Him, do we do things within our day that will worship God and bring delight to Him?

In the "hall of faith" found in Hebrews 11, verse 6 reminds us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

As the born-again believer, we know that He is God! As in any relationship with another person, we spend time with them. We find out things of their nature, their abilities, their likes and dislikes and the best is that which brings a smile to their face! God is not a man. HE IS not a man who lies, but God, the Creator of heaven and earth! We are to know Him, the ONE, the HOLY God who gave His best for us.

Nowhere is God and His omnipotence seen more clearly than in creation. When God said, "let there be light,"......and it was so. ( found in Genesis 1:3,6, 9, etc.) It is revealed in God's power preservation comes. For all life on earth would have perished if were not for His continual provision of everything we need. For man it is food, clothing, and shelter. For beast, the rain brings fruit on trees as to leaves that are edible. The tree provides other fruit and some as nuts, and much shade during a hot summer blast of heat. We also know from the word of God that "the seas were assigned their limit" in Proverbs 8:29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

As man, we certainly need tools for carving out a roadway. We must have materials to create, but the Almighty God spoke and by the power of His Word everything was created from nothing!

Job 38: 4-11 NKJV  4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements?" "Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; 9 When I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; 10 When I fixed MY limit for it, and set bars and doors; 11 When I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!"

Yes, it is revealed in the Bible, that which was written of God and those things He stated of His promises, His love and goodness to all. But the born-again believer, if really walking with Him reveals that each step throughout their day, all things should glorify God. They are things that will please Him, and help us see that God looks out for our good. Although we choose, yet it is His word that should lead us. So from Psalm 100 and the verse "to serve the LORD with gladness, should be that which is glorifying Him. It should be our faith speaking through out the day just like He did, He does speak now, and He will always speak.

In understanding and knowing Him, we bask in His presence because of Him and not just ask for "stuff"! Acknowledging first thing of the morning light, we are faith in action that God YOU are 1st in my life today and every day.
Opening His word, allows our inner man (our heart) to be flooded with that Light of His Word feeding our souls and helping us to grow up. AS our faith grows, that shield of protection is working, moving mountains out of our lives, knowing His goodness, and leaning back into His peace and His promise that "He will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us."
Living in His presence, we receive vision for the future. For it is of good and not of evil, it is given in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that is walked out, influencing others, and being fruitful.
Yes, increasing in that knowledge of a loving God, we surely live from the Holy Spirit, walk without doubt, maturing daily, and receiving our dreams and desires that were God-ordained.

How shall I serve the LORD today? HOW should you and I serve HIM who has given so much? But we must receive HIM, know WHO He is and what He has done. In that service for all the days of our lives, may we keep God close, always sensing His love and peace wrapped about us, standing steadfast and speaking with loud voices, "for the LORD is good, HIS mercy is everlasting and HIS truth endures to all generations! Amen!

Notice: 

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Soaring with Eagles

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A Family Affair

Genesis 1:1-6
1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
NKJV

Our Father God created. And it has continued to expand, for you and I continue to hear reports from NASA about another galaxy, and another planet like ours being spotted in the vast universe.

God said and it was so. And He called out LIGHT!

With light shining within our homes, what do we see?

What do we create for our families? What atmosphere do we create when no one is there, when no one is home? Are the beds made? Are the dishes done? How about a meal for that spouse? Or is he limited to the two meals a day and snack for evening, as a purposed plan for his eating habits today? Remember that weight thing has to be considered.

It tells us from the above scripture, that the earth was without form, void and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the deep waters.

And then God spoke:"LIGHT!"

So when we have our beginning with God, do we ask for His light into the 1st part of our early morning time and if we do, what do we start with?

Hopefully it is in praying, asking the Holy Spirit to have His way in us and then move into worshiping the Lord and give voice to His Word by speaking it out!

In the days of "old" the people started on their days before the sun arose. There was water to get from a well or stream. There was wood to gather for a fire. Much activity could be heard, inside and outside of a dwelling place. Remember what might have been used to light a room.
Was it winter or was it summer time? The wife would be starting on the first meal of the day and it had to be a hearty one to get the husband off to do his duty of work for the day. Also in those days, the man worked with the wife to prepare for the family, prepare for the aged members who could no longer see to their needs. So everyone knew how to cook a meal on an open fire. Yes it was a family affair!

Today, much has changed, and I am not certain all for the good. Let God be the judge!
So which one would we embrace, which one do we look like, and which one will expand us in the right direction to make a difference for the kingdom of God?

For both will expand just as God's light has expanded. This whole world is based on that foundation He put into motion.

1st Scenario:
On rising on the 1st work day of week:

Husband works, wife works part-time,  two children, part-time family cat.
They rush around, one makes coffee, another makes sandwiches to fill paper bags. One or two yell at each other. Maybe one is kissed, door slams, and the house is empty!
Looks like Hurricane Sandy went through it! Making a quick walk through, one finds that place in upheaval.
No beds are made, dishes in the sink, pans on the stove, and clothes everywhere.Yikes!
The father gets home, dishes in the sink, pots and pans on the stove. Oh my! What's for dinner, who shopped?
Kids come in, not happy again.
Mom comes in to find everyone arguing, gazing around the room she sees the piles of stuff and nothing put away. Stumbling, and numb from her day, she grimaces at the noise escalating from the kitchen area. "Oh yes, I forgot to shop again."
There is more loud talking, one is sulking, then everyone complains they are "the hungry".
Still have to wash a pan or two, Mom is done. She has vacated the kitchen. She probably had to with no room to really stand in a space with both feet as the boots and shoes cluttered the walking area of the living room. Then she spots an empty box on the living room floor and oh yes, the seldom home cat is demanding something to eat as well! He is meowing loudly and rubbing against her pantsuit leg! Then she remembers speaking aloud, 'oh my", the "cat needs food".
She asks her husband did he not get work off early. He said of course, "it is Monday, right." " It was our bowling day."
She responds, "yes, but the market is right next door." He turns with a scowl and shrugs his shoulders to the "kids".
Dinner is something like ramen noodles. The kid's snubbed their noses at it. Both are off to bed with no dinner. The father kicks the boots out of his way, looks around the room and falls into his chair in front of the T.V.
Mother has gone in to shower and plans on going to bed. She makes a mental note: "PBJ for lunches:kids! She turns off the light!
Who put the kids to bed? Who helped?
When night is done, the day starts again.

2nd Scenario:
Rising on the 1st day of work week:
Husband works, wife works part-time and they have two children. And one dog!
Husband comes in after work to help with meal preparation. He stopped at the market for some special fixings to do up one of his famous burgers. Meats on the grill!
Kids come in from school, hang their jackets up, Mom is on her way home.
Dinner table set, mom arrives, dinner is on the table.
Mom had a meeting downtown and saw some adventure movies on sale and got a couple for the family to watch on "Family Night".

 Everyone eats. Dog looks for some kind of meat from the table. But alas, he returns to find his bowl full of dog munchies and his water bowl filled to the brim as well.
Dad and kids wash dishes, Mom prepares lunch boxes with sandwiches for the next day. She pours milk into thermos for the kid's, put in their favorite peanut butter cook with chocolate chips. Laughter is heard throughout the house.
Dad goes in to turn back the bed covers in the kids rooms for the kids. Mom checks how the bath is going for the younger child. "Is that too much bubble bath in the water?" She checks their clothes for school the next day, but knows she has no choice in what they will wear.
Dad helps the eldest kid with homework, it is some new "math".........and when done sends him off to think about their plans for Saturday for the whole family in the park for the big game of baseball.
Mother and Father visit: each child in their room, they pray, and tuck them in. The eldest complains, "ah, I am too old for that "kid stuff" dad!"
Mom and Dad smile and exit quietly........in the living room over a cup of tea, they
 talk about their day at work, check on their bank account, all bills paid, they go over any goals for the end of the year.
She tells him about some things at work and they pray together over the situation. They ask the Lord's direction for the day and week ahead.
She readies for bed, and he then follows. He checks to make sure all is in place. And that every door is locked is his final look at the security of his family. He prays over the family again, pleads the Blood of Jesus. Turns out the light!
When the night is done, the day starts again.

Seems scenario 2 would be the best solution for a thriving and growing family, yet I think the 1st is what a lot of people see and experience.

The important thing to remember is that our Father God created. And when He is in it, there is light, life, and a place to really thrive and grow in Him. It is joyous and maximizing the God- kind of life. It is ease when everything and everyone is in their place and fulfilling their roles.

Also understand this: both of these families know God. They have accepted Jesus as Lord. But only one family is truly living under the leadership of Jesus. The other is floundering!

Now this is really pointed or directed to the men who read this.
Since we are made in the image of God, we are to imitate Him and follow what He has written to us for our good.
Ephesians 5:1-2
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
NKJV

So husbands, what did you sacrifice for your family today? Did you shop for groceries? How about some special berries or chocolate for your wife?
Could you have done the dishes, put them away and have the counter ready to prepare another meal later?

God created the garden of Eden and he created man. He gave him the garden and gave him the animals to name. What a job, right? How many is there and how long did that take? I know it took about a day to come up with a name for our little poodle. You know that name has to fit!

But seriously, God gave Adam some jobs to do and it was TO take dominion in that garden and do it with a walk with the Father Who created him.

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

That helper is "ezer" (ay-zer) OT 5828...5826 .....aid, help....to succor
I like what the definition states:to provide with what is useful in achieving an end.
I think this one is amazing.........."and is liken to something that one does or gives to help another..........in a situation that is often difficult and can be one of suffering."

Remember that Adam came from the dust of the ground! He was a man of mind, will and emotions.
And then Eve came along. And they lived in a garden that God provided. It had every kind of tree and what beauty must have been in that garden!
Yes, she came along to help Adam in a situation. It might be something of a difficulty...........some hard work.........and even (Yikes) some suffering!
The helper---the helpmate---- had come to assist what Adam was doing. Well, he had named the animals........but what else.......well, he was to tend the garden........take dominion and rule!
But the serpent came in, and Adam was not taking his right in dominion. It was that chaos again........and much like Hurricane Sandy! It looks that way in the lives of families who are to be led by the Father, Helpmate Mother, children achieving an end that is useful.

 God said this in Genesis 3:16.........

Genesis 3:16
6 To the woman He said:

"I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you."  NKJV

When they had fallen from sin, they were given God's thoughts on their lives.
And He stated that Adam would rule over his wife Eve.
That word  " rule " is 4910 in the Strong's Greek/Hebrew definition.

It means to be in good condition. Even though they had now fallen into sin, God was stating, "Adam, your wife will be in good condition."

 In searching further, we find it means to "feast" together. It is to revel in each other's company! Dancing together through life seeing after the other's need. It was to be done in a joyful attitude, and done together............not husband on one rail of a train track and the wife on the other rail of a train track, never meeting together except to produce a child. Yikes!
I like what the Webster's Unabridged Dictionary says about ruling: to indulge without restraint.
What if they worked together without restraint.........not putting up signs...........like:" me Tarzan", " you Jane"?
What if they worked in union together as say 2nd Scenario family?

They were to work together in preparation...........an agreement of life together, working together for the meal preparations, preparing for child/children.........and moving forward in their lives that was achieving an end. Every member of that family would prosper when the head, followed Jesus, and kept his watch over his garden, his family. Each doing, learning and prospering in the doing: like cooking, like shopping, like working in the yard, like painting a fence and like cleaning a dirty toilet?

Did our Lord prepare fish for His disciples when He was the RESURRECTED? YES!

John 21:9-12
9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast."  NKJV

Wow! The man, the God from Heaven, Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Lord of Lords prepared fish!

In leading the home, the leader, the man, the husband is to lead in every area. The wife, a leader in that understanding that her husband still leads. She is to assist him in that which to give assistance, and often times be one of a difficult situation that has some suffering in it. Ah, but who is it that suffers?
Jesus got the fish to prepare and not for just a couple of the "guys"! No He held a feast for them with bread added!  It was to be one of joy, reveling as a dance together that Jesus was the RESURRECTED and was sending His disciples out to be "those fisher's of men"!



As the nurturer, both husband and wife are to nurture as God nurtures. The Garden God created, He designed for someone to oversee that garden. He had to care for it.
So too, the father of the family is to nurture his family. He is to brood over it as God does. He is to look to the future for those who will become his family. He is to talk about, but also do the things listed within the living quarters of the home. Today, families have a whole multitude of electronics and gadgets that help out in the cooking of meals, keeping in touch throughout the day, and also caring for those things of our mind, will and emotions.

Some families I have met over the years I recall the amount of effort a husband will do for the family when the mother becomes so ill that she requires help.
I remember one such woman I met back in Ranchester, Wy. many decades ago. What I saw, was a man who cleaned the house, bought the groceries and talked much with his ailing wife. She passed some five years later, but I remember that love he gave, the love he so vigilantly displayed that was without restraint. He had someone to come in to help with her meds and someone to help with the laundry. But he did the rest! And God bless his heart for the love that was displayed toward his wife.

In closing: If our days start out like "Croods" then we probably need lots of help. We would need lots of prayer time and not just five minutes a day. Let's see now, it has taken how many years to get in this condition? So, yes, it will take more than just a quick "5" minutes to get things right and in order.

What is it the Bible says........Romans 15:5-6
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  NIV

Our lives requires what we can bring to the table for others. If your son or daughter never sees you cook a meal, wash a dish or take out the trash, then why should they do it, right? If everything is done for them, then how will they be productive in their lives? You will either still be taking care of them when they turn 30 years old or you will have millions of dollars to pay out for the butler and the maid they will require!

My husband loved to take us out for a camping trip. His focus was to travel to the country, and generally the mountains was his preference and to prepare food. He was great at cooking out of doors and the food tasted so rich and delicious.
I believe he gave everything within him to be what God planned for him. He still loves to be outdoors and cook outside, but it is closer to the house. He showed our daughter what productivity meant. And in turn, both she and her husband are showing it to their own.
We truly want to be the family God created and that is to share all our experiences in living, in preparing food for another, help with math, praying with children at night, spending time at the park and paying bills takes team work. And when we work together..........love one another, without restraints, without the labels like "wife in the kitchen only" or "husband only brings in the bacon", or "housecleaning is woman's work", then we have missed the mark of what I believe God desires for His family to be. We must look back at what God spoke even when they were leaving the Garden of Eden..........and see what God purposed for Adam to do for his wife and his family.

Jesus came to serve. He was the true Servant! I have seen my husband do the same. In truth he does a better job at cleaning a bathroom than I ever did. He always tells me to leave something, so that he will do it when he gets home. And he does it. He makes a list to do for me and I am not to do them!  I have truly seen what the love of God can do and how it can cause a whole family to flourish. When it starts in our homes, it will invade the "church" the body of believer's where unity will prevail, Jesus will return, and we will be with Him, in His family without restraint! Amen.

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