Standing

Mary weeping for Jesus!

John 20:10-18 NKJV 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping; and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" ( which is to say, Teacher)
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me for I have not yet ascended to My Father but go to My brethren and say to them. I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God." 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Crisis!
Are we still standing, when things do not go exactly like we planned? The persistent ones will continue to look but sometimes not at what the "real" is at the moment.
Mary was still looking into the "tomb".  That was the "real" to her at that moment in time.
Now she sees two angels seated at the place where Jesus was laid earlier. She sees them, one at the head and the other at the foot end of the stone cold slab.
And she weeps! Verse 13 gives us some detail: "woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

She was still looking for the "dead", and life appeared. Verse 15: "woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" And she supposing Him to the the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.
Mary, she turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!"

Life was still present. Jesus continued in life and that which was planned by the Father for good. Sometimes our focus is looking at what did not happen. Ever been in that place????
Yes, I was and for some time. Really do not like that I did but sometimes, we wonder and then meditate on something far too long. But Life appeared and He spoke to her.
Just because something does not appear to happen, we must not look back at the tomb, but look for the Life and speak to Him about what we know did not happen.
Closed doors does not mean it is over! Death could not hold Him down and it will not hold down that what we believe with an expectancy that God is for us and IS still working .........but we must BELIEVE and hold to that which the Lord has given us in our hearts.

Many commentaries write they could not explain why she did not recognize Him. I believe she carried the last image of His battered body, the torn skin and muscle and blood that stained. The most horrendous thing had happened to Jesus to whom she loved and she remembered. The tomb probably reminded her of that day and now she is searching. But Jesus spoke to her as He had at other times. The "teacher" is speaking and she receives His WORDS: :17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me for I have not yet ascended to My Father but go to My brethren and say to them. I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God." 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

She had understanding and it appeared in her character. She waited and watched! The other disciples went to their homes. But she watched!  She got to the deliver the message to the other disciples that Jesus was alive among them!

The Dake's Study Bible gives this:  love feels no load. Love revealed in the place of the tomb when one thinks on the good times together. But there is the other too, when one thinks it is all over, and please throw some more dirt on the "dead" thing. Yet, God says it is not over for the believer in Jesus. Because what you and I hold in our hearts, that is of faith and truth will rise when God gives the "go ahead "for no door is closed to those who seek.

Keep seeking, keep searching and knocking and it will be revealed to you for your best days are ahead in His name and to His glory. Amien.

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Standing in Line:Order, Order, Order

Do you ever overhear what people talk about while standing in line? If they are right in front of you, you cannot but help hear what is on their mind. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

They are speaking of where they need to be. They speak of the long line and still speak of their new wares they are taking home for their own desires. Now in a store, like a grocery market, food is generally the theme. YOU hear the "I want", with the response, "That is not a vegetable"......and then the conversation ends with a "snort" or something close to it.

Yes, people in lines can be excited about going on the next ride, like at Disneyland, Magic Mountain or what about those lines at the movies? I remember seeing a line clear around the movie theater in a small town in Wyoming when Saturday Night Fever came out. (yes, that was the 70's) And I am not sure why there was such a line. I did not think there was that many young people in the city, ourselves included, but the size of that line made me think, "not all of them are getting in to see the flick"!
Then I remember the times I wanted the 405 ramp and was in the extreme "left land" of the highway. Of course, could I not see the super LONG LINE to my right that started about a mile back? No! Let's see now, if I drive another two miles and exit off, I can cross over and drive back about 5 miles to get back on the highway, but be far enough back to stay in right hand LANE  to exit onto ramp for 405. Okay, no hurry that way or taking the SUPER LONG WAY AROUND! What was I thinking when leaving work?

But there is another line, I am thinking about. It is composed of women of any age who have been mistreated, abused, the beaten, the betrayed, the abandoned and the left for dead. I see a line of women who should be honored for their gift of having a child. I see women who had homes, but have been left to fend for themselves in a world that seeks to lust after youthful things. I think today of women who need a loving hug in friendship, not in how much they can give the other. I see women who are left to their own devices of not having a job, not having a real education but raised a family only to be abused by the spouse and left to live what life they have remaining in loneliness, and despair. What a broken spirit she must have!
Yes there is a line of women who know not their true identity in Christ. Their world is nothing of order, but is seen as sickness, sadness and loss.
They are weighted down with ugliness others have placed on them. But there was "no shame" in the garden.


Genesis 2:24-25
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

There was no shame in the garden of Eden. It was not known, for God did not give them shame to know. It was when satan entered the garden that shame appeared.


Genesis 3:9-12
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." 11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" 12 Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."  NKJV

Proverbs 3:35

35 The wise shall inherit glory,

But shame shall be the legacy of fools.  NKJV

Fools attack others. They come with "their own desires" and take from those who are considered the lesser,yes, the weaker, those with little or no self esteem!  Those who have done this to women will leave a legacy that only fools can leave. For God truly wants those who have been the wounded, the abused, and the abandoned to know He is watching. And He will have His day! HIS JUSTICE WILL ROLL ON LIKE A RIVER!
Amos 5:23-24
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
NIV

We must lift women up to Him, and pray for their security to come in Him. Let's lift those who have no one to walk with them to their final day and their final breath.

Psalm 44:15-16

15 My dishonor is continually before me,

And the shame of my face has covered me, 

16 Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles,

Because of the enemy and the avenger. NKJV

For women who have this outlook see themselves like the verses speak above. They are the covered in shame. But it is the adversary, the devil who continues to voice the hurt, the pain, the loneliness and tears speaking that no one cares! 

Women are more than just a body, Women have minds, and they have the ability to bring forth a child when conceived in their wombs. Women are of value. They nurture babies. They bring them forth in love and never leave them to fend for themselves. For most women, they endured to have their child or children AND bring them into a home with much love and care. In that Father, I would ask You to keep them in the bosom of Your love.  Thank You for protecting that woman in her day of deliverance of child and answering her prayers for the baby of her love.

Women of all ages today stand in a line, waiting their turn to be released from that which seems endless. Their plight was begun in the garden of Eden, but it does not mean they have to remain in it. For we truly have a Savior who died for those who would believe in Him. Romans 4:24-25
for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Deuteronomy 32:28-35
28 "For they are a nation void of counsel,
Nor is there any understanding in them.
29 Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would consider their latter end!
30 How could one chase a thousand,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the LORD had surrendered them?
31 For their rock is not like our Rock,
Even our enemies themselves being judges.
32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom
And of the fields of Gomorrah;
Their grapes are grapes of gall,
Their clusters are bitter.
33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,
And the cruel venom of cobras.

34'Is this not laid up in store with Me,
Sealed up among My treasures?
35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.'   NKJV

There is a group......a nation...if you will.....of a people (men)..who are the void of counsel. They have no understanding. They see not nor understand truth and the importance of Godly wisdom. Those planted into the world's system and the culture, are established on a rock of "me, myself and I". Their intent is to take and take....speaking much like Proverbs  30:15.........15 "The leech has two daughters.
'Give! Give!' they cry.
Somehow  society dictates women are to be submissive, but they ARE NOT TO BE SUBMISSIVE TO HARANGUE OR ANY KIND OF ABUSIVE SITUATION. The one who bullies another is the individual who are gall as they deal out pain, their demand for their own way, and they inflict with words of venom toward the woman they violently harass. They are the bitter and the cruel in their demeanor. They are hostile and seek evil against women.
But God is the "women's " Advocate, and He will deliver. For those mistreating a woman in any way will find that calamity will come hard upon them.

Many of these are women are those who just want to please. They think if they over extend themselves into some unusual behavior some guy will think more about them and truly care with love for the. But you cannot please the devil. He came to steal, kill and destroy.

Today, I reach out with others who will read this and take it to heart that we must pray for those who are our sisters in the Lord. God is merciful and is much more merciful than human beings.

Today we pray for those in the abusive lifestyle, those who think they need to remove their clothes to be loved, and for those who are left, those in their 50's and 60's after many years of sacrifice, love and service to family members, are now counted among those without hope or any love. We seek to pray for those coming out of the situations to let go of any resentment toward others. May they know the grace of God that sets them free to experience God's love and trust. May they see clearly the abusive behavior, the hatred, strife and rage and any decisive harangue speaking as to any sexual, physical and verbal content.

God has much more for His ladies. For those who love HIM, He never leaves or forsakes. To any of the women found in this kind of human torture, should be looked after by THE children who were given life in early years. Grown children who ignore the abused "mother" look a lot like those who would rather forget their mother than to honor them!   Judgement will come to them, the grown children, if they continue to ignore the environment of bodily harm their mother may be experiencing. And choosing to give no help is not good.  For we are to honor our parents all the days of our lives.

Matthew 15:3-9

3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'  5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' 6 he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 

8 "'These people honor me with their lips, 

but their hearts are far from me. 

9 They worship me in vain; 

their teachings are but rules taught by men.'" NIV

 For women everywhere, may the God of mercy speak to each in their situation. Lamentations 3:22-24............22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,   Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"  NKJV

 For those who were married, let those men come to their senses. May they know that God brought them, he and his wife together in a faithful union. As the wife of his youth, he the husband is to keep covenant. That is, he is to hate divorce. For our God hates divorce and cruel men. May these men control their passions and never divorce their wives for any reason.

Any women who walk in generational curses of this nature are over-comers by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.
Women who are in dire straits must look for truth in God.  Any uncontrollable anger or rage is a curse and should be dealt with as such.


Order, Order, Order come to these who desire to leave the abuse behind. Father be their Gardener. May any vile thing, any cancerous evil be thrown into the garbage never to return to any of their lives.

Father God, in Jesus' name, we pray for women who are the abused and considered less than equals to man. Jesus was sent to bind up the broken-heart and to heal pain. Father You sent Your Word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction. Help them know it is not over. They still have lives to live and bring praise to You God for delivering them. Father, You love unconditionally.  For those growing weary in their day to day existence, may they find joy, peace and love in YOU. May they see truth and light in that which comes from the Father of Lights of whom there is no changing. YOU NEVER CHANGE YOUR MIND! (James 1:17)
Father, we pray that these women who desire the way out of this kind of bondage, would know that any anxiety and fear will neutralize their faith. May these women speak and affirm their faith is in You. May they make definite requests for their needs and cast all care on You for YOU care for them.

Father, Your best for them is found in Your Word. It is to encourage them, build their faith, and regard You as their God. Help them not to be passive about change. Help them to see where change must occur to come out of hurtful bondage.

Lord help them to be always forgiving and show any who may not be doing that. Expose the recesses of souls so they will not be locked up by any unforgiveness. Enable them to love their enemies as You Father have commanded in Your Word.
Today I also pray they would desire to choose You and walk free from the death that unforgiveness brings. Enable them to walk in light and be cleansed from all sin. Thank You for the plans and purposes You hold for their lives. Today You are their Healer, Deliverer, Provider and Redeemer. Comfort them in this day. Show them the way of true worship. Give them words of praise to sing out of their mouths and may a joyful step come back in their walk.

 I thank You that Yo have heard our prayers from heaven and are even now are answering… amen and praise to Your Name HOLY  Lord..........

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WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH?

Acts 7:51-60.........51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him- 53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.   NIV

From the last two blogs, we covered in "THE FALLEN" and  "PICKING AND CHOOSING" we discovered those like Saul who kick against what the Lord was wanting established. Saul was breathing out cruelties to those saints of faith who had put their trust in the Lord. And of course in Picking and Choosing, we find those who would rather lie about why they would not attend a service, or attend a Bible study. As we saw in the teaching, what does that make us look like when we would rather lie than tell the truth?

In this scripture we continue to see those outraged by God's anointed. If we are the church, yes those body of believer's in Jesus, then why is there all this judgment going on about who gives the message and if it is the right message. Seems to me, the Word works and is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to those in need of that specific word of God for that moment in time!

Stephen saw the effect of his speech in that group of people. He saw those enraged and ready to stone him. He saw those call him names and said he had spoke blasphemy. 

Where is that "stone"?

In giving the message of God, presents us with the choice to receive it. Should not matter if the messenger is red, yellow, black or white.............and what is white anyway..........? I know no really white folks. I remember my mom mentioning some blood-bloods once and they were probably the white folks, but I know I have some Spanish background and some Cherokee............so I am what...............?????

Now back to Stephen..........a man being persecuted, and about to be stoned for his speaking truth to them who would deny the Holy Spirit. Stephen even mentions their fathers resisting the Holy Spirit in the prophets God had sent to them.

If we are saved, and have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we can certainly pray in our heavenly language and allow God to pray through us much like he did in those days. We can operate in those same measures that they operated in at the time.

Do we want to be found fighting against God?

Acts 5:33-39................33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."      NIV

If God is directing you to have a Bible study, then have one and invite people to come. Do not pay attention to numbers of those who attend, but do pay attention as the Holy Spirit leads you through God's word.

Stephen was not deterred from speaking.  He spoke truth and continued to lift the name of Jesus. In what transpired in those moments of Stephen's speaking, men were angered seriously because of truth and they did not want to hear it. YOU know those who are called to preach and teach will continue to preach and teach. They will continually lift the name of Jesus and it does not matter the course of those around the "said speaker" of God...........the messenger sent to deliver the "specific message".

Stephen even tells them that he can see Jesus..............He was now at the right hand of God....and in the next breath, he proclaims that he can see Jesus is standing at the right hand of God!

Is it that Jesus now saw His favorite son being stoned, and was ready to receive him to glory?

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.  

Stephen even had time to pray...........! How many of us tell God that we do not have time to pray? What excuse could we use for not praying? 

And how did Stephen do that short prayer while being hit by stones and words of hateful men? He had a prayer life. He had to have sought God and spent time in prayer to have the Holy Spirit on the scene in this situation and for the wisdom Stephen spoke to those men. In those last moments he was praying that the Lord would not hold that sin against them! Wow!

It is like having a baby. It takes nine months. You have to eat the right food, exercise and have regular check-ups with the Doctor. In prayer, we check ourselves into the Word of God, eat precisely what we need and have the Great Physician to come check on us to see how we are doing. Right? 

If a ministry or even a job is like having a baby and caring for the said baby..........is it possible that we could be trying to get everything in before..........like say.....leaving for the day, or for a week off or even for a vacation? Will our absence affect others? What about ministry to others through a specific ministry? Every step.........in a job or ministry always involves others and our time away takes some planning!

For any decision, the leader in business , the church, home, in the mission field, whether Bible studies, ministering in jail, ministering in hospitals, feeding the homeless, for leadership meetings in the church, in big Business, taking care of and leading children (teaching them by example), or caring for an elderly parent, requires each of us to seek God's counsel on these important matters. It will take some prayer time, much like Stephen had to have done in his short life, to maintain the thought process for God to bless the men "who were stoning him."

Whatever we have before us cannot be accomplished without God's help! We cannot expect to accomplish in that "spirit of excellence" in God without consulting God first.

 I think of 2 Kings 5 where Elisha told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan River and he would be healed of leprosy. In all that pride and such of Naaman, still he obeyed and went to dip 7 times in the river Jordan. Naaman wanted to pay Elijah something. (verse 16)

With Naaman being healed in the dirty water of the Jordan, still Naaman wanted to repay the prophet! But the prophet had refused it. But we see something different in Gehazi. But let's read on about Stephen.  We will get to Gehazi!

Acts 6:1-11................6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)-Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."   NIV

Stephen full of God's grace and power.......did wonders and miraculous signs and then ............men began to argue with Stephen................but they could not stand up against wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
(read all of Acts 6 when you have time) We can learn a lot by Stephen's example.

 So what do we value? If like Stephen, we will speak with wisdom of God, and be prayer warriors to conduct the affairs of life we must do and do it with ease.

We must evaluate that which is before us............as to study in the Word with others, attending those church services and in going to those "special events".  We must take an evaluation of the thing before us,  its importance & the estimation of its importance to us!

What is the worth of this thing before me? Will I put a worth on the things of God or do I count them as nothing when it is about me and doing my own thing?  Allowing God to ENTER our lives on every decision , we are saying I value YOU God, I value You for the decisions in ministry, in this job, in this department, in this illness, in this problem at work, in this decision for this move to another state, in this hike to the high country! God, we  ask YOU to show us which way to walk in this job, in this ministry of Bible study, in this Prayer meeting, in the department where changes are on the horizon!  If the 11th hour is here, IS God and His wisdom in THE BEGINNING OF THIS DAY?

Well Stephen certainly came to the 11th hour. He lifted Jesus to others and was stoned to death. He left his body in peace knowing that Jesus was ready to receive him to glory.

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Wow! What an ending...........and yet people still study this passage and they receive the effects of truth and the importance of being one with God!

Will we.....yes,.....will we stand one with God .........or will our character show us to be otherwise...........like the liar...........who likes to lie about why they cannot attend some function...........one that we should probably put value on.


2 Kings 5:26-27.....................26 But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. NIV


The prophet naturally said that he would not accept a thing...........even though Naaman urged him, still Elisha refused the gift.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him (Naaman) and get something from him. YIKES!
Gehazi hurried after Naaman, and Naaman saw Gehazi running toward him. He asked Gehazi if everything was all right? Gehazi answered that everything was all right.
BUT HERE GEHAZI LIES..........NOT GOOD! In verse 22 of Chapter 5......"MY master sent me to say, 'two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing."

 "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.

"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. 

"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. 

What Naaman had, now came on Gehazi..........that leprosy was to cling to him and to his descendants forever. Gehazi left Elisha's presence. Just by lying, Gehazi changed the course for his entire descendants.  Again, what value do we place on telling the truth? In Stephen's case, it cost him his life and in the life of Gehazi, well, he chose to lie, and the rest is history..........he and his descendents suffered because of lies!!
In this we finish the series of three........being those teachings about lying and despising those called to minister either at the pulpit or in other areas as in jails or shelter or youth groups! In  THE BLOGS : THE FALLEN, PICKING AND CHOOSING, AND WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH? have shown us the importance of not lying to others and how to be effective in ministering life as in Stephen's case.

Father, Your word states in Psalm 24.......asking this question "who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who may stand in His holy place?" " He who has clean hands and a pure heart...........who has not lifted up his soul to an idol nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (3-5) Father ,we seek that which is of value to us. We do not desire the worthless thing, the idol which may speak but brings no life to our existence. Help us Holy Spirit to hear and obey. We know it is a choice..........but give us those needed warnings like YOU do, so that we do not miss one direction from You.

We desire our character to be that which is not a liar, but truthful. We desire not to be caustic, not to be the obnoxious and the grumpy. We desire to not be like Gehazi and seek out goods rather than seeking God.

Our desire is to be holy as You are holy..........and that we have understanding of that Word in our lives. We want to be the devoted, the determined and the persistent in seeking, finding and receiving Your truth into our hearts where real change takes place.

To YOU be all the glory for all that happens in our lives as we take these needed steps toward having the character that is the faithful! It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen and Amen.

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