Looking for the Consolation:the Happy,the Revival, the Resuscitation

Luke 2:22-35
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word; 
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."  

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 
NKJV

Waiting and looking for the Consolation is what Simeon, the just and devout did and the Holy Spirit was upon him. In reading the above we see Simeon being led by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple. And he, Simeon, saw baby Jesus, and took Him up into his arms. Simeon, with age well depicting his age and his looking, his waiting for that which was to come, the Holy One, he now held in his arms. And he blessed God.

In thinking on that period that Jesus came, Israel was being taken over by the Roman rule. Although not hard set or engraved in stone at the time, yet, Rome was moving and taking over large blocks of land. They had come with some power to see their plans not only survive but be implemented into new people and more lands. It was written that when they were going through Egypt, that the extreme northern parts were built with roadways and even had some trees planted to line that roadway for travel into the country and to some of the most eastern parts of the northern territory.
So Rome was expected to make some kind of change and the Jews did not want the change from what they had already knew and experienced. They had their religious views already set into God and unto God. But what Jesus did when He came was to upset that which the religious men had put into practice by adding man's own agenda's and ideas and held only small vestiges, those smallest amounts of a hint toward what God had actually said and did!
What God did was to send His Son, send to declare what was coming, and what change would allow the Holy Spirit Who was over the face of the deep in Genesis 1:2 b.... to come forward to that moment when Jesus would be resurrected after His crucifixion to come upon all believers in Acts 1. (see below)
Genesis 1:2-5
 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

Acts 1:4-14

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 

NKJV

Yes, being gathered together after His crucifixion but waiting on His departure into heaven, they still had much to ask Him about. Verse 7 "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And again Jesus affirms that it is not for us to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.......that which only the Father needs to KNOW AND WILL ACT ON! 

Acts 2:1-16

2:1 Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 

NKJV

How they wanted their homeland restored! From the time of David till Jesus' time, much had occurred in Israel and the Jews had been scattered. Some sixty or so years after Jesus departed into heaven, every stone of that fine temple had come down. People were sent into all directions. That city no longer remained. Certainly a far cry from what was seen in David's time, of dusty roads, and worship in that place that took a while to get to now was only a memory in that which was documented as to history. There was much prosperity at the time of Jesus' life when He had come to earth. It was especially noted that in the time of those festivals and those who were appointed as to the bread making,  surely knew those numbers of people making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the week-long festival.

What Simeon must have seen, what he must have experienced in all the time of his life, yet when he saw and recognized the Consolation: the revival to that which God intended, the Resuscitation of the life that had come!

Simeon had spent much time in prayer. He spent much time questioning God about it and when it "happened" he saw it and embraced it! He embraced the life in Jesus, the new.......that breath then being given into man's life and the hope that life from God would restore all for Israel and for mankind. Why do I write of that?

For looking at verse 32 of chapter 2 of the book of  Luke we find starting in verse 29:

and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."  

Thank You Jesus, ....."a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of YOUR people Israel."
He was seeing Jesus bring light to the Gentiles, those who are not Jews by birth, but would become sons by believing in Jesus.

And the Happy......well Simeon, said " Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace."
Not that Simeon was looking to die now that he had seen the "Consolation" but that he was so satisfied, so happy, so pleased, so contended, so FAVORED, so JOYOUS! He was saying, "it is great to be alive!" "I have seen this awesome thing of God, His Son to come to earth, I rest now, because of His goodness, His great love and will continue to see His glory be unwrapped to the Gentiles and the people Israel. Hallelujah!"

Anyone who spends time in prayer, knows what searching, looking and waiting looks like. They search the Word, they look toward that horizon of their life and wait with that hope, that expectation "I will see this great thing God has for my life." "I will see it, recognize it, jump for joy because of it, for it is my life, it is good for me, and God has sent it to me because it was made for me!
Jesus was sent for we surely needed salvation,.............and it was in that of a SAVIOR!
Truly this is a time to look and give thanks. It is time to look over our lives and give thanks for that which God caused for us to experience............and when we can truly RECOGNIZE .....we are like Simeon, the one who can jump for joy, receive a resuscitation of life that God sent life into that which was dying, was of the broken and that which might have been kicked to the curb!

Simeon was found in the temple. He came to prayer. And those who spend time in prayer will see the same Consolation today. They are not those looking and speaking against God and His Word. God is Spirit and He desires us to live in the spirit....to see with spiritual eyes.

Hebrews 3:1-6.....1 Therefore holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle, and high priests whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is the faithful as a son over God's house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. NIV

Mary surely saw those things come, not how they might play out, but saw them as coming toward that blessed Child who would fulfill that plan of being the Consolation. She saw her own heart pierced. She was found in prayer.....not only at Her Son's crucifixion but also on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:14)

Who do we pray to? Or do we even pray? Of whose family do we belong? Let us turn away from that "which seems newsworthy on T.V. and look at Jesus who was and is the CONSOLATION!
For when we set our hope and prayer on life......then we receive life. When we set our prayer on that which is right for us, it will bring us to a joy that cannot be taken away, we will continue growing in satisfaction and always preparing to meeting Him in the air. It is always moving, expecting, searching and growing to see Him more clearly!
I hope to see you there!

Father, may we be like Simeon who was the expectant. He was one who was looking for the Consolation. In it, his faith was growing exceedingly, and his love abounding. Simeon came to the place where he recognized Him and gave a word of praise and thanks. Thank You Father for allowing us to be counted worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith with power. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in us and each of us in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Amen.


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

STIRRING OF THE WATER

John 5:1-15

The Amplified Bible states this:
John 5: 1 Later on there was a Jewish festival (feast) for which Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways). 3 In these lay a great number of sick folk---some blind, some crippled and some paralyzed (shriveled up)----- waiting for the bubbling up of the water. 4 For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted. 5 There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition. He said to him, "Do you want to become well?" [Are you really in earnest about getting well?"]  7 The invalid answered, Sir I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me. 8 Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk!"  9 Instantly the man became well and recovered his strength and picked up his bed and walked. But that happened on the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews kept saying to the man who had been healed, it is the Sabbath, and you have no right to pick up your bed [it is not lawful].  11 He answered them, The "Man Who healed me and gave me back my strength, He Himself said to me, Pick up your bed and walk. 12 They asked him, Who is the Man Who told you, Pick up your bed and walk? 13 Now the invalid who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had quietly gone away [ had passed on unnoticed], since there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward, when Jesus found him in the temple, He said to him, "See you are well!" "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had made him well.

Where does your healing come from? Does it come in a bottle? Does it come instantly? Well according to some pastors, some say it takes awhile for many to get their healing, yet I have never found that looking over the pages of healing Jesus did. And many times, He just gave a command like the above. He did not lay hands on him but Jesus saw the helpless man. It does not say that Jesus gave Him His hand, it only says, "Get up! Pick up your bed and walk!"

Can you imagine day in and day out, laying on a mat, some kind of sleeping pad? Talk about a hard bed! And we complain if the bed is not a King size bed!
I always think why this man was chosen. There were many there that day who had some kind of lameness, blindness or other ailment. They were some who could not do much or go very far. Yet Jesus came to this one man. Some teach that Jesus did not want to bring a demonstration and that is probably true. But my question: "Did any follow Jesus when they saw the miracle or did they not see at all?"
Yet we know the leaders did see it. In reading on in the same chapter and down to verse 16 Amplified reads this: For this reason the Jews began to persecute (annoy,torment) Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
Reading on in verse 30 I am able to to do nothing from Myself [independently, of my own accord----but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide . As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and my judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [ I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.

That stirring of the water was doing more than just healing some people. It disturbed those who saw a man healed on a day that they regarded as religious. Man certainly wanted to change what God had given in the beginning.  At some point, anything given by God would ultimately be brought back to being twisted by man and the good like Jesus did, was violating their (Jewish leaders views) which was on the premise of the pride "thing" and hypocrisy.

STIRRING:

On this thought process today, I go to that moment when Jesus probably has been given a nudge by the Holy Spirit to go to the pool! And entering and seeing all those who are unable to do anything for that which binds them to illness, weakness, to a debilitated state where they either have to lie on a mat day in and day out or they might have some movement, but yet need help.
It has been written in some commentaries that whether an "angel" came and stirred the water is not certain. Some think at some times that there was a possibility of minerals being sent by a heating form from underground and would cause the stirring, that bubbling up as an effervescent action. My thought is in reading this today that God in all His graciousness had brought some hope to those who saw it and could get to it. And the second was this and I think this is above all the most important..........that Jesus came into that place and walked over many.........spoke one to one with the man and the man walked away from the pool, from that which ailed him and praised God for His goodness to Him. I believe that Jesus comes to us, any who somehow find themselves in an area like the pool of Bethesda. He comes to check on us. And are just watching for the pool of water to be "stirred " again or are we looking for Jesus, the Healer? Are we looking over to Sister So and So (and you know, she has issues too) who we can tell our trouble to or are we proclaiming the good news that Jesus has healed  us and made us complete? For you would certainly know that a gathering together of sick souls and bodies brings out the worst these dear folks suffer from in their life!
If you have even been in for an infusion, you can hear the stories and grant many must give their information as to any allergic reactions but to continue in giving the same details to a new person who just walked in is tough on that new person. Some are apprehensive enough about what they are about to endure for hours, but those who know God can have peace that passes all our understanding.

Jesus told the man to "Get up, take his mat and walk!" Jesus wanted him to walk which he had probably never done, and to take his mat. Take of that which would remind anyone you had been in that condition and walk. Walk!
Now Jesus can come in and do quietly for us when no one watches, when no one cares, and when others are waiting on that "pool" thing. But walk.........praise God, give glory to Jesus the Healer, the Great Physician and do what you are to do everyday..........all to the praise of God and His mighty deeds! Tell others about what Jesus did for you,........and tell them when He healed you and what you profess today about Him.

Do we get caught up in that "POOL ACTION"? ARE we captivated and would rather wait for our turn, you know our time in the pool or will we recognize and know Jesus came to heal all. In all His journey in and around those He came in contact with, I did not see any go or leave in anyway, shape or form the same, but for the unbeliever who did not like what He was doing any day of the week and on the Sabbaths would probably without doubt leave empty, no healing and the same 'ole' person.

Matthew 19:2
2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. NIV

Matthew 21:14-15
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 
NKJV

Luke 4:40-41

40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. 

NKJV

I recently heard of this care called "Wound Care" and it is for those who have gone through some kind of treatment like radiation or many surgeries and the body will no longer heal itself in that area of body, so one has to have this wound care for that body area. It is sometimes for the rest of one's life but is helpful to those who really need it.
Jesus is our Wounded Care giver. For He surely bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was the wounded for our transgressions ( our sins).
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten,and afflicted by God [ as with leprosy] Matthew 8:17
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needed to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

In closing: Jesus asked" are you really earnest about getting well?"
Are you " fully serious"? Are you " zealously sincere" about getting well?
Are you "making a demand" for healing?"
Yes, Yes, and Yes!
We have to act like the healed even when we do not feel it in our bodies. We must rise up........take this word from Isaiah 53 and confess that we are the healed and made whole by the wounded Jesus who took our transgression and was bruised for our guilt and iniquities (sins) . He took my punishment and your punishment and we do not have to have it, ever. That chastisement needed for us to obtain peace and well-being was met in Jesus. Today, we are the healed, made whole. Our lives are characterized by being the comfortable, the healthy and the HAPPY! Amen.

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

The Love that We Share

Psalm 90:14
O satisfy us with Your mercy and loving-kindness
in the morning [now, before we are older], that we may
rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad in proportion to the days in which
You have afflicted us and to the years in which we have
suffered evil.
16 Let Your work [the signs of Your power] be revealed to
Your servants; and Your [glorious] majesty to their children.
17 And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord
our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands--
yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it.

In this Psalm we are directed to prayer!
I always hear my husband pray for our meals, and over our family, home and that which God has given to us as in the job (finances), a vehicle for driving to work, a place to attend church to worship our God and especially that extra time to have with our grandchild and family. We plan to come together with our love ones at different times during the year. But it was just over the weekend, I heard my husband speak, "the love that we share".

I told my husband that is important for the love we all share for the Lord, binds us together. In thinking and praying on this for today, I was brought back to Moses who prayed this for the whole of those who would ultimately die in the wilderness. There were many who were not going into the Promised Land. And Moses prayed a prayer.
Take a look back at the entire prayer in Psalm 90 and think on the wilderness, and the surroundings. The only people were those they had known in Egypt. Moses had brought them out of bondage under the leading of the Lord. Moses had obeyed to do what the Lord showed him to do in his connecting with Pharaoh, to the plagues, and to ultimately bring them all out. Moses prayed from what we read here from Psalm 90...and verse 11-12...."Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of you, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

In dealing with people, as to living around large volumes of people, and being in contact with many different ethnic groups ( men and women alike) we are to have a love that can only come through knowing Jesus and His love. It is having the wisdom of God.  Like Moses and his leadership ability, much was gained by hearing and obeying God and His directions. He had much to contend with and mostly was due to a people who were "slaves" to their own thinking, their lack, their depending on making bricks, and not looking for the "new" to life!
If we take note and look back for a moment we can see that which Moses probably saw for all that was recorded. Persecution was to come, and it came in the Garden of Eden. In all that was recorded and we can read here in the Holy Bible, we can see Cain kill his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8), Ham the son of Noah, mocked Noah (Genesis 8:20-23). We also see in the time of Isaac the son of Abraham being mocked by Ishmael.(Genesis 21:8-10)
8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." NIV

 Esau had wanted to kill his own brother Jacob. (Genesis 27:41-42)
41 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob." 42 And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, "Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.
NKJV
And we come back to that of Joseph who was the exalted in Egypt and became the deliverer to bring food to a people and a famished land. Forgiveness!

It was by harassment and bitter hate that Joseph was given over into a pit, to become a slave and become the deliverer for his family and many others in a time of severe famine. It was in that love he had for them all, the ability to forgive, that allowed him to move forward in live and see a life that was beautified by the glory of the Lord.

We see Joseph as the fourth son of Jacob. It was the not the first son or the second son of Jacob, but the fourth who played such a great role in the history. Yet, the tribes are all important in the foundation of the family of God and those who would follow.

Yes, the love that we share.

We may not understand the thinking of some we come in contact with, but surely God gives us wisdom to understand our fellow man or fellow woman!

In Matthew 25 we find this: 34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison and you came to me [ignoring personal danger].

37 The the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?"

40 the King will answer and say to them, ' I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.' 41 "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons);42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care]' 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ' Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?"

45 Then He will reply to them, ' I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.' 46 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [ will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life." Amplified Bible

Now in all my years of hearing and being taught, I always heard this as for doing for those who are lacking, sick and without........anybody.. especially those you did not know.......BUT.......never heard it as verse 45 speaks..............the "followers" of Jesus. Now that takes or makes a shift in another direction.
Let's see, if we start in the "home", are we seeing after ........say not only those within our home, but what about those who live far away and maybe alone?  (you know a relative) What about those who are the saved, and in need of some help and  ministering care?
It is interesting that the whole chapter is talking about two kinds of people. In light of the teaching, we see people who are to be lights to the world. As the Gospel is presented to us, we too, look for those outlets to minister that same light to others. It begins within us and then to others. It begins in our character of that which we boast. Is our boast in the Lord or in our own goodness and  what you might do for me?

Let's look first in the home: as the spouse, do we look out after our spouse? Do we see where we might help them in their day, in their work, or around the home? Will we see after them when they are not well, see after them when they are not around.......say, like at the work place? Then do we help in the way of laundry, doing dishes, or maybe planning and preparing a meal, the wife usually prepares. How about taking the "kids" to school even though they ride the bus? What if we took some extra time to show those of the house of God, those "followers" of Jesus we care about them even when they are not around!
To that spouse, do we say........"I appreciate you". "Thanks for all you do to help me!"? Do we take time to text them that message of how important they are to us? Will we take time to mend a favorite shirt, a little girl's princess dress, or how about designing something of ribbon over a neckpiece for earbuds that you do not use, but is a help to another? What about calling someone to invite them out for dinner with your family?
Then the "follower" of Jesus you go to church with, will you invite them over for a holiday? If they are alone most of the time, what if we had them come for dinner on Sunday or maybe a barbeque on Friday evening?

There are all kinds of harassment going on right now! One surely has a view whether on the roadway, in a mall, at school or in the workplace. At some point today in a given moment someone is being bombarded by those who will hate and harass, and seek their own agenda. But ours is suppose to be that like Jesus........and to love no matter what.
I believe that the Psalm 90 that Moses prayed for those who would die in the wilderness was a prayer for any who live out their lives in knowing nothing but slavery, although God has the way through His mercy and grace. I believe he desired the children of these people to see and know of the miraculous that their God had done for them in that wilderness. Yes many died there. But many went into the Promised Land to see and know more of God. Our choice is choosing that which is or should resemble Moses that he cared for those given into his hand for keeping watch. They brought a lot of heartache and much time in prayer to Moses for them.

In our coming in and our going out, may we speak with peace to others with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May we speak grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. It is the Lord Who gives grace to the humble!
May we respect those who work hard and who is over us in the Lord and who admonishes us. (2 Thessalonians 5:13-24)  In close encounters with family and those of the family of God, we desire to hold each in the highest regard in love because of his work.  We pray to be those that would encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone making sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Praying for those of the body of Christ to be joyful always (verse 16) to pray continually (verse 17) to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus.
Today, may we, "the beloved" build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit and to keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. To guard and keep ourselves in the love of God, expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) which will bring us unto life eternal. And refute [so as to] convict some who dispute with you ( or us) and on some have mercy who waiver and doubt. We strive to save others, snatching [them] out of the fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing even the garment spotted by the flesh and polluted by their sensuality. [Zechariah 3:2-4) It is to the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord be the glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all ages of eternity). FOR IT IS THE LOVE THAT WE SHARE!  Amen. (so be it.) Amplified


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

SUCH AS I HAVE, I GIVE TO YOU

Acts 3:1-16
3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
NKJV

HEARD this awesome testimony by Joyce Meyers. And have thought about it here for days. And I thought on this scripture from Acts 3 about the lame man from birth asking alms.

First:

Joyce told how she was at the beginning of finding Jesus full on. She told of her desire of the
Bible studies in her home and how they grew. She told what her own life was like as she had been and lived. As we have heard her testimonies, and she has some awesome things to speak about God's goodness and love. We surely have heard them before in one or two of her conferences and seen those programs where she teaches and answers questions by those who are seeking God and His ways. Although I have never been to one of her conferences, I try not to miss some of her televised teachings. She diligently studied, did not go to any Bible College. God, the Holy Spirit taught her! Of this teaching, she told about the scripture and Noah and Abram.

She taught on the "Rainbow" and the "Circumcision".

Genesis 9:12-17

12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." 

17 So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth." 

NIV

Genesis 17:9-14

And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant." 

NKJV

Second:

Joyce told about in the ministry God was building through her was a lot like the two examples you see here. She said she saw so many people getting the "Rainbow" and how she would hear their testimonies of how God was blessing them early on in "their" ministries. Yet, she was seeing in her own life the circumcision of the flesh. Yes, she certainly made people laugh and I was one of them, but boy, she was right on about the two things. For we certainly can see those who are the blessed so rapidly and the other is, "Let's take some flesh off of you, child!" Yikes!

In hearing her testimony, I too, thought on the part when she said she had attended no Seminary. I too have not attended any Seminary nor did I go to any Bible College. It is the Lord Who has taught me every step of the Way! And I went back to Acts 3...."such as I have, give I you, in the name of Jesus, rise up and Walk."

Yes, Peter and John are going up to the temple for prayer. And at this gate, a man had been laid. So any people who entered might see the lame man and give him alms. When this lame man saw Peter and John, he spoke. He asked a question. Although I am thinking he did not make eye contact with them, for Peter said, "Look at us." When the man had given attention to them, hope had risen in his heart, Peter spoke. And in the name of Jesus........he spoke and he took the man's hand to rise and walk. Of the witness of Jesus rising from the dead..........Peter gave a testimony of about the power was not of them or their own power, but was from and through Jesus to the lame man. Yes, faith that came through Jesus gave the lame man now wholeness........perfect soundness in the presence of all people present in that place. Jesus who was denied and disowned by those He came for, had continued to raise people up from their weakened state, from that which brings one captive to sickness, weakness, lameness and the broken. It was in that which was strengthened to be used as God intended.

Look on us.........Look on what we speak...........in the Name of Jesus.....that Authority still continued. That power from on high still availed and was seen in those who believed on the name, were open to receiving that which was of the unseen, and gained strength and healing. Silver and gold would not help other than for a short time, but God was wanting the whole man healed and back to living life as was intended. 

In reading this time and again, I always wonder how many people just walked on by him, never giving him any attention, just walking by and maybe flipping some coin in the cup or container to hold the "handouts" given him. What he gave attention to when asked, he got an answer. 

When needing something, and asking alms, he got what he asked for. But what if God desires our attention for something greater, something bigger?

What if God desires to bring us up from that which is lameness to us and to what He is desiring to do? What if we stop looking down at the circumstances, and say, "yes Lord, I know of this rut I am in, this____________, but I would like to rise out of it. Today I give you all my attention to not be lame anymore and not stay in this rut that has caused a lameness in me not moving forward with life. I too would like to bring people to gather much like the "lame" man when he attached himself to them by holding on...........to give glory to God, to give praise and jump for joy." "That is the way I want to live my life, Lord!"

In what we see like in Noah, he spent a some 60 or 70 years building an ark for safety to those who believed. In the end, they saw the "Rainbow" in the sky. What a site, to come through hearing all the unbelief and probably cursing and joking against Noah and his family. Then to see the flood take the life of people and animals and then see the amount of time for the flood waters to recede. Still their focus, had to be one when "will we get off this ark?"

I remember traveling many times with our daughter. She had gone with me to visit family on the East Coast. And in one fall time of year, we flew. It was good going, and we had good visit, but on the way back, I could see she was ready to do something else. And flying at 36,000 feet does not give you much choice of the things to do on an airplane. So when we were flying over the "badlands" of the Dakotas, she was ready to disembark.  She was ready to jump with a parachute of course. But I told her I could not do that, for the "badlands" get too much snow and severe cold. "No thanks, I will continue on here."

So she would walk the aisle. She would stand awhile, watch a movie for a little bit, and then walk the aisle again. Yes, she was done!

The family of Noah had to keep watch for the first sign of life after the waters started to recede.

As for Abram, well, he had to leave the family. Yes he had to leave Haran. He had to repent of dead works, could not worship idols and follow God only. In his quest to follow God, he found a lot of hardship, and that which so many couples desire: children. In his journey of life, he kept that hope alive. But to keep that hope alive he had to see it. Our eyes can truly see, but they have no voice. Abram and his wife came to that place. In living in that tent, that place could isolate one indeed, but it had no real fortress of walls, but could confine only by shutting everything else out.

That which came to Abram we read in Genesis 15. In verse 1 we begin..........and see that in a vision we were told, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great."

In lamenting toward God, Abram said, "O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, the one born in my house is my heir."

In the Amplified it reads like this: verse 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, This man shall not be your heir, but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir. 5. And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars---if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be. "[Hebrews 11:12] 6 And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to ) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God) [Romans 4:3, 18-22; Galatians 3:6, James 2:23] 7 And He said to him, I am the [same] Lord, Who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees to give you this land as an inheritance.

God got Abram outside the "tent" to take a look. And although his eyes could not see, yet the voice he heard was God speaking............look and count, and see............these are the number of your descendants.

We need to stop looking down at the same "stuff". We need to get out like our son-in-law does. Get out and look into the sky and watch for those things that orbit the earth and give that light that there is more going on than down here on these five blocks, two big cities, or even up and down the Columbia River. As our son-in-law points out to those satellites and the space station, we can see with our eyes that activity is going on outside our realm. We can see and speak..........give voice that what God has for us is above and beyond that of this earth. It is heaven on earth. It is life that was meant to glorify God and in all His awesome deeds.

Yes, circumcision must take place to remove that which does not need to be in our heart (in our soulish nature). Things must be removed from us that would hinder us. Taking our eyes off the situation and moving them to God give us the ability to move outside anything that might separate us from that which would be freedom for us, health to us, ministry and a testimony of faith that God is with us and He is for us! Move outside of you today. Move and look toward that which God has and is giving as a blessing.

We have great teachers like Joyce Meyer who can and will show us how to get that flesh under control. They have the testimony of faith that comes by hearing God and obeying. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you today and move from that cup of lameness into God's great power for life!

Father, we pray in Jesus' name to not have any limitations . We pray to be set free from anything that might represent a closed tent, a closed door, to bring us to isolation. We saw this lame man who even thought that by being laid by the Gate called Beautiful was anything but beautiful to him. He had to give attention to that which was coming by way of life in the Name of Jesus Christ. Help us to see and not fall victim to that which would be blocking as to our walk and seeing the promises fulfilled for us.

 Grant to us to see with eyes and give voice to that which is life and power to us through Your Holy Spirit. Please help us to be renewed to that which was given to us in our youth. Help us to see that fear and doubt are of no help to us, Help us to see that we have been enabled to run as in our youth, that we are the awakened to the great miracles as we saw in the lame man and who Jesus our Lord and Savior has apprehended us to His life of love, attention to us, and His great desire for us to live a life of peace on earth as it is in Heaven.

Father, please bless teachers like Joyce Meyer. Give them continued strength to keep up that walk and race of life with expectations that You are not through with them or their lives. Help them and us as well to grow in the grace and knowledge of You Jesus. We have no future without You our Lord. Amen.

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

ACCEPTING A RADICAL LIFE

A radical life is characterized by that which is the effective in bringing change. The radical is that which is spoken of as being complete, far-reaching, thorough, major and even of being rigorous.

 As of a person: one who is zealous, and revolutionary!

 John 2:13-17

  13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."  

 NKJV

  Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up!

  This zeal, this passion and fire has eaten Me up. Yes, Jesus had a passion. His zeal was that which consumed all His time and attention. He was passionate and was led by that passion to minister to everyone. He did not just see the rich and the famous, but He saw and spoke with those who made up the crowd of the"down and out". He spoke to those who made their living by asking for "handouts"! Jesus' concern was for that which concerned His father God and made for a radical life to live. In what we have seen of Jesus and His life, it started far from the ways our lives began. His mother was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, carried Him to full term, gave birth and laid Him in a manger. He lived in a home with many siblings and of His life, at the young age of 12 years old, He was found with the teachers, and spoke with wisdom!

  I remember being 12 years old and having many teachers in school and spent time with the Math teacher more than all the rest. Well, for one, it was the NEW MATH, and my parents did not understand what the new teaching was about! And for wisdom, not likely, other than I knew I needed the "help" & needed it from the one who knew it well! (I wanted to pass the grade with my peers!)

   As a young child, I started out with zeal for not being locked in by doors, gates or any kind of fence. Ask anyone who knew me when I was but three and they will have the story to tell. Yeah, no fence was going to keep me fenced in, where I did not want to be. I wanted to be free, run, and keep running!

   Jesus gave with zeal. He captured people with that passion that consumed Him. Yes, meeting Jesus we all had a decision to make. It was entirely based where you wanted to spend eternity: heaven or hell!  He did all by the AUTHORITY given to Him by God!

  Yes, when we read on in Chapter 2, Jesus was questioned on His conduct. Jesus remained the focus. He kept the "fire" burning as well we should do also.

 When honoring God, it is a thing of the heart. It is one which is serious. In what Jesus found was the "Market for  Business" and it was in the Temple which was for God and service to Him only.

Ezekiel 33:30-33...30 As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, "Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD." 31 "So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. 32 Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song who has a pleasant voice and play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. 33 And when this comes to pass---surely it will come----then they will know that a prophet has been among them." NKJV

That prophetic word can come, like it did for those as we see from Ezekiel. In referring back to some church services, one can see people excited for one praise and worship leader but cut down another, rather because of not liking the songs of the second choice "leader" chose for that service. Even though said "leader" has the anointing, prays in tongues, yet is reviled by those who think: music is either too loud, too slow, not enough drums, too many singers on the platform, or there is not enough "bass" guitar players playing. Or that they, the reviler, could do the job better! Yes, it is back to doing a better job than Ms. So and So or Mr. So and So could ever do.

Meaning of greed: intense and selfish
the desire that is heartfelt for being wealthy, being number 1, being the best at any thing
it is coveting something.........and remember what God spoke about that.
Covetousness-- "pleonexia" meaning having a desire for more.
It is found in Colossians 3:5 So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]; sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God). Amp.

Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

It is building a structure, a lusted-for thing, like being CEO of a company and no real credentials to do the job. Whatever a person lusts after in their heart, that is the thing that will be erected in their heart to be gratified. The question asked most today to the young.......those of grade school is: What do you want to be when you grow up? And their answer of well over 80 percent was that of the "super" athlete. So the other question asked was: What about a Dr. or lawyer...........the Dr. came in 2nd and the lawyer came in 3rd place next after the Super Athlete at number 1. Wow!  I wonder where on the list was the grocer, the pharmacist, the street sweeper, the pastor of a church, the nurse, the elder care person, and the welder, and ship-builder?
In reality, how attainable is that really for average person, that super athlete? For most know that it takes hard work and some amount of gifting, again from God, to play that pro-ball. And those who last, are those who have the passion for it. They enjoy it, and do well in that sport. They are always training, and their thoughts are playing with a team.

Jesus spoke to those about God, and He gave them that needed instruction. Some wanted it, some reviled Him for that correction and many just walked away. Like what we read in Ezekiel 33, we find that which so spoke of those Jesus came in contact with.

For some heard Jesus and others only wanted to revile Him. And many heard when He taught as a Rabbi in the Synagogue, yet many did not hear.  AND many did not do the Word!  That zeal Jesus carried in His heart proved what some would know as disastrous, but Jesus saw it bring Him closer to the Cross. For anyone today, who goes to the House of God and shows love, but their hearts pursue their own gain, they are those who were much like those within the Temple that day Jesus drove the money changers out. What a mob scene that probably looked like!  

The One standing for the honor of God and to His glory and those who just wanted gain in their pockets owing it all to greed,  and then we saw the chaos ensue. These were men wanting things their "own way" and that which brought financial gain into their hands. 
There is a day coming when man or woman will have to leave business at the door and come with open hearts to give honor and glory to God only. There is coming a day when one will be asked to give up their old life for that which brings life and not the deadly path so many encounter today. 

In building that God intended, was that which is completely holy to God. The temple was going to be found in us. And nothing could be brought into the temple that would take away from God!

If God did not allow King David to build the Temple because he was a man of war, how much so in our time for those who go (who attend) the HOUSE of God? How much more today should we find our full attention given to Him Who gives life? How much more should our hearts be filled with that for God and not selfish "man" (Men).
Why?
David truly had heart to build that Temple because of the love he carried for God. But God wanted another to build and had chosen Solomon to do it. David raised the funds needed, and brought all that was needed as of the gold, the silver, and fine woods. Yes, where our heart resides will shine on others or darken on others. In what God had planned from the beginning was His HOUSE, " that body of Christ " that would be with its heart toward one God: (that devotion, that adherence to and faithfulness to God and His plan and not to that of man or men wrapped up in their deeds ( those lustful desires for me, myself and I) , yes the HEART issues that come from man's personal  teachings or anything that would represent some earthly kingdom or thing !

 For where our heart is, there is where we will go for an eternity! For what we treasure, that is that which holds us to, keeps us placed and maybe not in not such a good place, but never the less, the place we treasure and hold onto. Jesus saw the Temple where God would come, and was seeing the day when the Holy Spirit would come to abide and comfort. His interest was in maintaining that which was holy unto the Lord.

It was not buying, trading and selling, but about having worship toward God. It was about employing prayer and having a relationship with God the Father. The temple was not about a few hearing and speaking to God, it was for all men and women alike to hear and speak to God. If people would only come there would be no need of war anymore! It would be a time when people would lay aside all that comprises them toward death. Those who continue to war, do not know God and have never met Him in the secret place! They have never laid anything at the Cross!

1 Timothy 6:17-19

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life

NKJV  

Our trust is not to be in "things" but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. I would rather have what God desires for me to bask in THAN something that is not life to me or anyone else. We are to be the ready to give, willing to share, and storing up that which is a "good foundation" for the time to come..........laying hold unto eternal life. We were to come to serve and love God!

For Lord, we certainly brought nothing into this world and we will not take anything with us when we exit.

Father, today we pray for people everywhere, to come to the Light of Jesus, and know He is life everlasting. For the rich Lord, in this world, we charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, not to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on YOU, God for YOU richly and ceaselessly provide us with everything for our enjoyment. Lord, I pray that we wold be rich in good works to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share with others. And in all this, we are laying for ourselves the riches that endure forever as a good foundation for the future, so that we may grasp that which is life indeed.(1 Timothy 6:16-19 Amp)

MAY we truly focus on that which is life to us, and expect that as we wait on His goodness, those blessings will be poured on us His Beloved!

Father, thank You that having a radical life is one which looks like the devoted, not of one race or color but of many races and many colors. May our prayers be offered in reverence to Your Holy Name...........may the HOUSE of PRAYER be known and may people know that all are welcomed to come. It is in Jesus' name and to His glory we pray and believe for the HOUSE OF PRAYER TO OVERFLOW TO ALL WHO HAVE ZEAL FOR YOU OUR FATHER.  We accept the radical life that honors You. AMEN.

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

THAT REVOLVING DOOR!

Ever been to the city..........seen one of those really big revolving doors where at least five people can slide in as it revolves to the inside..........of building....open up and people step "out quickly" as the door revolves around to the outside of building again?
Yes, modern times, modern machinery..............all those moving parts........to move a glass compartment round and round to accommodate thousands of people a day.
Was thinking of our lives the last few days with Thanksgiving Day well over and Christmas Day in view now..........seeing all those commercials of yes, really low, low prices.........get that furniture today and pay no sales interest till 2020. That furniture would be wore out in that time if the family has more than two people in it, right? But thinking on the time that has passed and people who have either touched our lives or influenced them to a great degree. In some cases I have seen our family as those in that revolving door and people stepping in for a time to meet us and then move on or out as the case might be. I remember the young people we took to church, and one young man who was touched by God and how he touched our hearts. Although he is not with us today, I pray we see him again one day. For couples who separated and went their separate ways, we certainly shared in their heartache and in their new lives as well. For the wife, was a difficult road to finding work again after so many years of raising children. For the husband, well, he went on with his work and hopefully with his singing for the Lord. In others, we saw young adults go into ministry, come out of ministry and some go on to make a life with a spouse, raising children and becoming hopefully what God planned for them. Some have kept in touch, many have not, but in all that, I can still visit them in my heart where I hold those so dear, and  in those thoughts, the man or woman or child who touched our hearts in ways no one could have done.
I think of those that were of the divine nature and how God brought just the ones we needed in our lives at the time. My thoughts pour over those who had come almost a thousand miles to end up in a church we attend today. My thoughts go to those who fought overseas and returned to fight internal battles of the mind in seeing so many die needlessly in countries so needing God and real family lives! I think of those who have families close by, like less than five hours, but do not see them much. I think on those I came in contact with in the summer time in the park and who were on the verge losing their home, and/or losing their jobs and had no place to go.
But God has a plan! He has one that is of love and life forever!
Finding that pathway is for those who see, and many today are blind. They are like those I think about from that movie, "Wreck-It Ralph"...........the flying insects flying toward that great light close to the end of movie. They become mesmerized like the "bad guy" in the movie, who at this point is a part himself and a part flying insect.......although is the violent, harmful insect of great size, right?
But being mesmerized by something is not good, whether in a cartoon movie or in real life.  What do we attach or dreams or visions to? Is it to life or......?

Jesus presented the "real", that which adds to us, and helps us to continue to being the children of God! As we have read through the Gospels, we discover all the ups and downs of the lives of disciples who followed Jesus. Jesus talked of their "little faith" by rebuking them in Matthew 8:26.
And He said to them, "Why are you timid and afraid, O you of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and wonderful calm ( a perfect peaceable-ness) 27 And the men were stunned with bewildered wonder and marveled saying, What kind of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him! (Amp)

Just like the disciples, He comes to question us. He asks, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13)
He asks them:" Who do you say that I am?"(Mark 8:27)

Jesus knew the Spirit of God had shown Peter who He was.......and desired they not speak to others about it........(Mark 8:30)

As we saw in Peter, we too, can have knowledge of the Holy One. We can know why He was sent. In the case of Peter though, we also know that he not only attached his hopes and dreams to Jesus, but am thoroughly convinced that Peter also had some great visions of conquering the Roman occupation in Jerusalem at the time.

Again we find Jesus addressing Peter in that of Matthew 16:21 and onward to verse 25..........21 From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death. 22 Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You! 23 But Jesus turned away from Peter, and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [ an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me] ; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men. 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciples; let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].  25 For whoever is bent on saving his [ temporal ] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life ]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [ life everlasting].

Yes, Peter spoke sharply about his plan for the Lord Jesus, and in return Jesus spoke God's plan........"for you Peter are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men."

Change comes, people come and yes they sometimes leave. Although I would liked to have kept them friends by my side or at least close to me and mine for a long time. Alas, it turned not that way.......no that revolving door keeps us together in God's presence and allowing those to come that we might meet for five minutes, one hour, two months or maybe some 18 years. But sooner or later we meet the "new", the incoming, those just starting out in marriage, those having that first child or maybe the third, we meet those who have lost a spouse and a close friend of ours, but that revolving door keeps turning, life is going forward, and the sun will surely rise in the East tomorrow.

Peter certainly faced some challenges, like we all do. And Peter turned his back on Jesus when others asked of his involvement in Jesus' life.

Luke 22:55-62
55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." 57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." 58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" 59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
NKJV

It all came down to "loyalty". For we find Peter in Acts. And he spoke " we must obey God rather than men."

See below the passage:

Acts 5:23-32
 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
NKJV

That loyalty came by heeding and continuing to follow after truth. As Peter was His witness to these things of what they wrote about to give to us, we also know that we abide as Peter and the other Apostles. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, comfort us, and lead us into life everlasting. Whether we see ourselves in Peter or maybe John the Beloved, we each have that place and for my husband and myself it has appeared much like a big revolving door. We have people come to us, visit for awhile and then move on. But I am looking forward to eternity and catching up with those who have gone on to glory, to visiting with those who will not have to leave us again, but we will all be together to worship, to glorify and bring praise to God, the God of Love, Who is Love and will always set us on those pathways where we experience more love, greater peace and much joy........yes, how much He has given to us..............and will keep on giving to us for an eternity. Amen.

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

Distressed or JUST Upset!

1 Kings 17:8-24
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink." 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.' " 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

17 Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?" 19 And he said to her, "Give me your son." So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" 21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." 22 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!" 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth." 



How many opportunities to we get to help another person out during a day, week or even a month? In reading the above, seeing a woman give that of which she had so little of, became much in the hands of the prophet! When Elijah came to her, she was gathering what little she had and adding the needed sticks for the fire to bake her meager portion of bread. The prophet told her to prepare without fear, a portion and bring to him first. Yikes, what little only to give to someone else. What was this prophet thinking? Yet, she obeyed him, and prepared the small cake from it first and brought it to him, and then she and her son ate. And it was as the prophet spoke. "The bin of flour shall not be used up, not shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth."

Every year about this time, I always recall a lady who had three daughters. While working at the gym, I encountered her and learned she was far from family and friends. It was late in November of 2003, and her husband had been sent to the northwest to work for this well known company. He was good at his work and was considered valuable there. In this relocation of coming across an entire country, brings one to those thoughts of loneliness and distress or despair. Although they had two healthy daughters ranging in ages of 3-6 years of age, the baby had been born with severe allergy to most foods and formulas for a baby to have. Whatever went into that little tummy, would have a bad outcome to her causing much abdominal pain and gas. She would cry out in her distress and pain. The mother was alone at times to care for the children, as the husband had to fly overseas and her only time away from home was the gym. 

She would appear at the door of the establishment. Although very tired and pale looking, she would present the baby to whoever was at the desk, make her apologies of the baby's pain and tears, and make her way toward the locker room to change. She always told whoever was at the desk that they could come and get her if it "was just too much crying for them to handle." "She said she understood the crying was non-stop and very loud and painful to hear for long periods. " 

The supervisor would tell the Mom to be at peace, exercise and rest while she could, and just come back when she was ready. The limit of time for any child or baby was two hours, and the Mom always appeared right on time to get the child. Off she would go, with much thanks rolling from her like a torrent of water that runs along a gorge. In two days, she would be back looking tired and haggard again.

After about two months of seeing the baby and hearing her terrifying cries, the Dr. was trying out some new rice formulas but alas, they did not work. Again, one could hear those cries all over the gym. About a year after the baby's birth, the specialists were finding things the child could have with much less pain and agony. She began to grow somewhat more quiet with her new schedules of feedings and much more activity of playing and not just being held anymore. Another year went by, and now the child had a sweet smile on her face. She had a laugh that was beautiful to hear. And her mother, well, she could come to the gym and enjoy some time to herself, and work out without any fear of someone coming to get her because of the crying baby!

One day while in a supermarket picking up a few things to add for an evening meal, I heard this cry. I recognized it as the small child we would see at the gym. But this cry was more like just being upset! Yes, I like many others had grown accustomed to her "cry" of distress. But now this cry represented a small one who was just upset at something within the boundary of the store. As I checked out with the cashier, and walked out those sliding doors, I could still hear that cry!

Years passed, and one day the Mom came to say they were moving back to the East Coast. What her husband had come to do had been accomplished. They would be leaving and before they did, they would be coming in to give a farewell to those within the gym and the childcare department. It was a difficult moment. She came in with all three girls. They wanted to thank everyone there, but particularly two who would hold that baby for hour each while she exercised, gained her composure to fight another battle with stomach cramps and pains of a tiny baby. She shed tears of thankfulness and great love for those who gave of what they had within them. She was gracious indeed and I will never forget her or those three fine young ladies.

Today, I reflect on that which this mother had in feeding her son. I wonder at the pain they both might have experienced and looking at what remained to keep them alive was so little and somewhat bleak. The prophet said, "please bring me a little water in a cup". Yes, she was off to get the water, but then a demand came for a morsel of bread.

What we hold in our hands can certainly help another person! What we regard as lack or even in famine still has value that can be given for one in need. Sometimes people just need to know that they are not alone. As with this mother and her son, it would prove to her advantage when her son would fall dead some time later.

What we see happen for another, God will see to it that it will be done for us, for our family. What I experienced was a baby who could not be comforted, but she knew we would not leave her alone in all that pain. For the mother, she came to know that she too was not alone, and that someone would be there to help. Sometimes people just need a moment of our time, not a lecture, not some great advice, but just be there. Just show up for that job, and see who needs that hug, maybe a card to encourage, maybe a joke or two to lighten the day for them, and then remind them that they are not alone in this moment of anguish, distress..........in a day of more of the same, when we, as the children of God, can bring light, bring hope, bring laughter to a somewhat turn down day for some.

If I could just in this moment help you see that what you have right now will help another. What you can give right now, is greater and of more value to one who has lack in some area of life.
What we can share, speak or even pray can help another see that God is with us. In that moment of time, when all is set and done, and it is time to leave, will we hear,  "Now by this I know that you are a man (or woman) of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth."

There may be an "Amanda" or maybe an Adam in your life. He or she may need some extra love and care today. Find that someone who needs that hug, a hand-up, and lift them in a way that will help them see God in you. You will touch their heart, change their life, and bring you to a place that You CAN SEE GOD!

Our character is seen when we respond to something out of control. In spiritual health, one is hinged on hearing the good news which brings health to us. It is of utmost importance that we remain the loyal, those who speak truth, tolerant of others, have that loving nature, and traits of one who is the patient and determined.

Father, we desire to be Your Witnesses forever. Help us to see where we should declare without hesitation that True Word that brings faith and hope. We desire our lives to be that which is the reverent before You Lord, obeying truth always, and to glorify Jesus, so that our faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:21) Help us to target that which must be corrected that hinders us from being a "help" to others. May we be those who are the trees of righteousness, for the healing of the nations. It is in Jesus' name and to His praise and glory. Amen!

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