This is the testimony of Natalie Dixon, who experienced a miracle healing in her life on January 14, 2012 at New Life in Osceola, Arkansas. Let her tell you about it...
Well, where do I start? From the time I was a baby I had a growth problem with my leg... When I was very young I started wearing a brace to hopefully stretch my ligaments to help me walk a little better. Although the stretching of the ligament was not going to grow my bones, it would help my leg some where I wouldn’t walk on my tiptoes. Which the length needed to grow too. But doctors cannot grow bones so they worked on the tendon.
Well my mom had to exercise my foot all the time and I had to wear a brace to school. The brace went up to my knees ...so it was very noticeable! So as a child I got all the jokes I could stand. Which we are human and we carry a lot of the bad comments into our adult life and after awhile you believe them.
After some time, I don’t remember my age.. My mother just got tired of the braces and exercising my foot so she just quit! So I’m a young child that is growing up walking on my tip toe and not to mention the length wasn’t the same.. So I really got the looks ridicule from all the people in high school.
I adjusted as life went on ... But my infirmity never stopped me from trying to live life to the fullest! I would run jump play anything I could! To make a long story short.. I have done a lot of things with this infirmity... I went to college, got married, became a mom...
When I got in church and God filled me with the Holy Ghost in on April 20 th, 1997!! Wow! How amazing! God loved me despite all the harsh words I had heard from people in my life!!! How that I was crippled and made fun of but inspite of all that the God of Heaven still loved me!!!
I really enjoyed church! I loved soul-winning and was on fire for God! The infirmity that I had in my leg never stopped me from witnessing! I was going to win people to God walking straight or not!! Now through life I always got prayer for my leg and my foot! Don’t get me wrong… I did! I did not make an issue about it.. just would always go get prayer. If God healed me… “Wonderful” and if God didn’t heal me,” Wonderful!” My infirmity never stopped my walk with the Lord!
On January 14, 2012 , like any other day , I got up getting ready to start my day. I knew that Bro. Doran’s in Osceola was having revival! I just felt an overwhelming desire to go, which I love to go to church anyways but this was like overwhelming! So , I went to church that night! I knew God must have something special and amazing in this service so I was on my way! I never dreamed that I would be the miracle that was so profound that night!
After the preaching, there was an alter call , so I went! I always go try to give things to God and to cleanse myself from the message being taught that night! People prayed for a while in the alter and God was moving greatly! Bro. Brandon Houseworth asked , “Is there a person here that has a problem with their right leg?” Well, I just raised my hands and said, “I do!” He asked, “What’s wrong with your leg? “ I said, well, my right leg is shorter than the left leg.” I think Bro. Houseworth said, Well, that’s a good problem.. lol.. or something to that nature. So, prayer began and then Bro. Houseworth wanted me to sit in a chair, so I did! Well, a lady laid her hands on my feet and prayer began again! I was enjoying just the presence of God , when all of the sudden, I here a “ahhhhhh” and people praising God! I was like that has got to be good!!! Are you ready? EVERYONE WATCHED MY LEG GROW IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES!!!! IT GREW 2 INCHES OR MORE! I was like such in shock to the miracle it never really came into my spirit till the next morning. I woke up and both feet hit the floor. NO MORE TIPTOEING! I tried to walk like I used to and when I did my right leg would raise up too high!!!There was no need to do that because God gave me new bones! I now walk flat-footed! My bones in my hip do not hurt!! It is truly amazing! Im still in awe!! I DON’T WALK LIKE I USED TO WALK..HE MADE THE DIFFERENCE!!!!
I was chatting with a friend.. she said , that the man that was at the pool of Bethesda was there for 38 years! Well, I am 39! A baby usually starts walking good after the first year! So, I was healed of an infirmity that I had for 38 years!! My story goes along so much with this story! When God healed the man , the Lord healed him “wholly” which is his body , spirit and soul!! Every since I have received this miracle, I feel like I have been healed entirely, “wholly” . All the pain from the past and years of emotional abuse from having an infirmity feel erased from my mind! Because humans are cruel and after years of hearing comments when I was young , you really feel like you are not good enough!! Or that you will never be good enough! But praise be to God, I’m healed body soul and spirit now!! God is amazing! I love Him!
Note: A little information about Natalie Dixon: I'm a blessed beyond measure! I have a wonderful husband! I have 3 wonderful children that I love with all my heart. I have the greastest church family. Im involved with the work of God as much as possible. I love Him , I love Him, I love Him!!!!!
I work with the deaf at our church. Christian Life Center in Brookland, Arkansas. Besides I think sign language is beautiful ..just another wonderful way to glorify God! Thanks for your goodness Lord!
Im just a good apostolic lady who loves serving God and being in His Kingdom! Anything to help His kingdom florish that is my desire! Im pretty easy going , love people , love soul-winning! Never meet a stranger.
Showing posts with label power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label power. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Words of Delight
As the bus pulled away from the stop, this morning, a passage of scripture came to my mind. I was very upset! Actually, to be honest, I was very angry! I was angry enough, now I am just telling you how I felt, that I wanted to take someone out behind the woodshed and give them a beating. Whoa! Now I have some folk’s attention.
No, I wasn’t angry at any of the passengers on my bus, they have all been well behaved and quiet this week. No, I wasn’t angry at any of the children’s parents. We all get along very well. No, I wasn’t angry with any of the co-workers on my bus, there was only one on there at the time and he was upset also. No, I wasn’t angry at a thoughtless driver. The road was empty. However, I was very angry and it was because of the thoughtlessness of a parent.
As we were loading a child on the bus I had asked their parent if they were ready for Thanksgiving in a couple of days. The parent looked at me and said, “If it were just my child and I having it together I would be ready. But we will be going to my Dad’s and I would just as soon not go there.”
I was a bit taken back by their honesty and wasn’t sure how I wanted to respond. My co-worker said something to the effect they should be happy to be with their parent and enjoy the time together. To this statement the parent replied, “I would and understand what you are saying, however, I am not looking forward to being called stupid and many other names. That is how my dad is and I will deal with it but I would rather not.”
I looked into the eyes of this forty-year-old parent and could see the raw pain in their eyes and recognized they were speaking from their heart. In just that moment I was given a glimpse of years of pain caused by thoughtless words that hurt beyond belief, leaving wounds that are open and bleeding. I saw years of compounded damage and pain.
After a few more comments about Thanksgiving day, the parent turned and left. I shut the bus door and looked in the mirrors before pulling out into the empty street and said, “That makes me so angry! How can a parent be so cruel to their children as to call them stupid?”
As I seethed at the thoughtless deeds of the unknown parent a passage of scripture came to my mind, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” Psalms 19:14. As it ran through my mind I focused on this part, “Let the words of my mouth . . . be acceptable in your sight, O Lord!”
It is amazing how powerful words are! They can be destructive, tearing down and destroying a person. Words can also be constructive, building and strengthening someone. It is our choice in how we use them. Words can hurt and words can heal. Again, it is our choice how we use them.
The words that comes from my mouth need to be words that would be acceptable as far as God is concerned. The word “acceptable” comes from the Hebrew word “ratson” and means delight. So if my prayer is, “Lord let my words be acceptable to you,” I am actually praying, “Lord, let what I say bring you delight!”
I realize that there is nothing I can do about the thoughtless father who spoke words that have hurt and scarred his child. That is beyond my control. My anger was only for a few moments and quickly turned to tears as I felt the pain of that child. Still, there is little I can do to erase the damage that has been done. However, one thing that can happen, and I am praying it will, and that is I can be much more careful how I speak to others in the future.
God, let the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight. Let what I say bring delight to you. May the words that comes from my tongue be words that lift up and encourage. Help me to speak words of blessing and promise, words of life. Let my words be words of delight!
Well, it’s just a thought! God Bless . . .
No, I wasn’t angry at any of the passengers on my bus, they have all been well behaved and quiet this week. No, I wasn’t angry at any of the children’s parents. We all get along very well. No, I wasn’t angry with any of the co-workers on my bus, there was only one on there at the time and he was upset also. No, I wasn’t angry at a thoughtless driver. The road was empty. However, I was very angry and it was because of the thoughtlessness of a parent.
As we were loading a child on the bus I had asked their parent if they were ready for Thanksgiving in a couple of days. The parent looked at me and said, “If it were just my child and I having it together I would be ready. But we will be going to my Dad’s and I would just as soon not go there.”
I was a bit taken back by their honesty and wasn’t sure how I wanted to respond. My co-worker said something to the effect they should be happy to be with their parent and enjoy the time together. To this statement the parent replied, “I would and understand what you are saying, however, I am not looking forward to being called stupid and many other names. That is how my dad is and I will deal with it but I would rather not.”
I looked into the eyes of this forty-year-old parent and could see the raw pain in their eyes and recognized they were speaking from their heart. In just that moment I was given a glimpse of years of pain caused by thoughtless words that hurt beyond belief, leaving wounds that are open and bleeding. I saw years of compounded damage and pain.
After a few more comments about Thanksgiving day, the parent turned and left. I shut the bus door and looked in the mirrors before pulling out into the empty street and said, “That makes me so angry! How can a parent be so cruel to their children as to call them stupid?”
As I seethed at the thoughtless deeds of the unknown parent a passage of scripture came to my mind, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” Psalms 19:14. As it ran through my mind I focused on this part, “Let the words of my mouth . . . be acceptable in your sight, O Lord!”
It is amazing how powerful words are! They can be destructive, tearing down and destroying a person. Words can also be constructive, building and strengthening someone. It is our choice in how we use them. Words can hurt and words can heal. Again, it is our choice how we use them.
The words that comes from my mouth need to be words that would be acceptable as far as God is concerned. The word “acceptable” comes from the Hebrew word “ratson” and means delight. So if my prayer is, “Lord let my words be acceptable to you,” I am actually praying, “Lord, let what I say bring you delight!”
I realize that there is nothing I can do about the thoughtless father who spoke words that have hurt and scarred his child. That is beyond my control. My anger was only for a few moments and quickly turned to tears as I felt the pain of that child. Still, there is little I can do to erase the damage that has been done. However, one thing that can happen, and I am praying it will, and that is I can be much more careful how I speak to others in the future.
God, let the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight. Let what I say bring delight to you. May the words that comes from my tongue be words that lift up and encourage. Help me to speak words of blessing and promise, words of life. Let my words be words of delight!
Well, it’s just a thought! God Bless . . .
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Belt of Truth
The Apostle Paul in, Ephesians 6:13-14, tells us that when we have done all that we can to stand, we need to stand, “having your loins girt about with truth.” There are times when we have done everything we can possibly do to stand and it is at this time we have to put on the armour of God and stand. The first piece of equipment mentioned is the girdle or belt of truth. This wide belt is wrapped around the loins of the soldier. The loin, externally, is the hip area of the body. Internally, the loin is the procreative power. The girdle or belt was made of leather and studded with nails. It was used to protect the loins and it was also used for supporting the sword.
One of the ways that the enemy attacks us, is by speaking lies into our lives. These lies don’t have to make sense and many times they don’t. They are just things the enemy of our souls will speak to weaken and destroy us. In doing so he is able to cripple us and is often able to put a stop to our fruitfulness. As Jesus said he is a thief and has come to steal, kill and destroy!
It is from the belt that the weapon of the soldier is secured. Suspended from the belt, the sword is close to the hand of the soldier. It is always ready and available for him to use it. It is ready to swing into action! You will also notice that the sword is tied to the belt. When we discuss the sword, we will find it to represent the Word of God. Truth and the Word of God are tied to each other. To try and separate them is impossible.
Truth is so vital to our survival! Truth is what will keep us pure. Jesus, while praying for His disciples to be kept pure said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Truth is what will keep us from stumbling along the path of life. “Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend (cause to stumble) them” (Psalms 119:165) (words in brackets added by author).
Jesus told his disciples, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth”: Truth is given to us for a guide or a teacher. When we are filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth becomes a part of us. As we wrap truth around us, we are allowing the Spirit of truth to teach us. As the enemy attacks us with his lies from hell, the Spirit of truth recognizes the lies and reveals them as such to us. It protects us from the lies of the enemy.
When we have wrapped ourselves in truth, we allow our lives to become fruitful. Paul tells us we are light in the Lord so we should walk as children of light. Why? “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” If we are wrapped in truth, we will produce truth in our lives! (Ephesians 5:9) Our lives will be a reflection of Jesus Christ and will cause others to want Him. If we fail to protect ourselves with truth then our lives will be destroyed as well as our testimony.
Many people look at truth as only knowledge. I have seen people shout when something is preached that they have a revelation of. I actually had an individual come to me one night after church and say, “I got so excited when you got to preaching truth! I had to dance me a little jig!” I asked him, “When wasn’t I preaching truth? What I preached came right out of the Bible!” He had knowledge and understanding of one part of the message and became excited when what was preached agreed with what he knew. Yet he failed to open his heart and mind up to more truth as it was being revealed to him. He should have been shouting because God found him worthy of more truth.
Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” (John 8:32). However, He is speaking of more than knowledge. He is speaking of action as well. The verse above says, “If ye continue in (obey) my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”; In John 3:21 Jesus also said, “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” Again, Jesus is speaking of action when He is talking about truth. It is more than just the knowledge of the scriptures and how to apply them. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”: (John 14:6) (Words bracketed were added by the author.)
When we wrap truth around us, girting up our loins with truth, we are doing more than just learning the scriptures. We are living truth or we are living the scriptures in our daily walk. When the enemy tries to attack us, we are protected because truth is what we do, rather than it being just what we know.
This is a portion of chapter two of the book I am currently writing.
One of the ways that the enemy attacks us, is by speaking lies into our lives. These lies don’t have to make sense and many times they don’t. They are just things the enemy of our souls will speak to weaken and destroy us. In doing so he is able to cripple us and is often able to put a stop to our fruitfulness. As Jesus said he is a thief and has come to steal, kill and destroy!
It is from the belt that the weapon of the soldier is secured. Suspended from the belt, the sword is close to the hand of the soldier. It is always ready and available for him to use it. It is ready to swing into action! You will also notice that the sword is tied to the belt. When we discuss the sword, we will find it to represent the Word of God. Truth and the Word of God are tied to each other. To try and separate them is impossible.
Truth is so vital to our survival! Truth is what will keep us pure. Jesus, while praying for His disciples to be kept pure said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Truth is what will keep us from stumbling along the path of life. “Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend (cause to stumble) them” (Psalms 119:165) (words in brackets added by author).
Jesus told his disciples, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth”: Truth is given to us for a guide or a teacher. When we are filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth becomes a part of us. As we wrap truth around us, we are allowing the Spirit of truth to teach us. As the enemy attacks us with his lies from hell, the Spirit of truth recognizes the lies and reveals them as such to us. It protects us from the lies of the enemy.
When we have wrapped ourselves in truth, we allow our lives to become fruitful. Paul tells us we are light in the Lord so we should walk as children of light. Why? “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” If we are wrapped in truth, we will produce truth in our lives! (Ephesians 5:9) Our lives will be a reflection of Jesus Christ and will cause others to want Him. If we fail to protect ourselves with truth then our lives will be destroyed as well as our testimony.
Many people look at truth as only knowledge. I have seen people shout when something is preached that they have a revelation of. I actually had an individual come to me one night after church and say, “I got so excited when you got to preaching truth! I had to dance me a little jig!” I asked him, “When wasn’t I preaching truth? What I preached came right out of the Bible!” He had knowledge and understanding of one part of the message and became excited when what was preached agreed with what he knew. Yet he failed to open his heart and mind up to more truth as it was being revealed to him. He should have been shouting because God found him worthy of more truth.
Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” (John 8:32). However, He is speaking of more than knowledge. He is speaking of action as well. The verse above says, “If ye continue in (obey) my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”; In John 3:21 Jesus also said, “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” Again, Jesus is speaking of action when He is talking about truth. It is more than just the knowledge of the scriptures and how to apply them. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”: (John 14:6) (Words bracketed were added by the author.)
When we wrap truth around us, girting up our loins with truth, we are doing more than just learning the scriptures. We are living truth or we are living the scriptures in our daily walk. When the enemy tries to attack us, we are protected because truth is what we do, rather than it being just what we know.
This is a portion of chapter two of the book I am currently writing.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
It's Just A Little Thing!
I love it when God takes something simple from everyday life and teaches me a spiritual truth with it. Usually it isn’t profound or deep. It is usually just something simple. That is what happened today, just a while ago. Here, let me share it with you.
Jared has been having trouble with his car for the past several weeks. The alternator went out so he saved a couple hundred dollars up and bought a new one, actually a remanufactored one. A coworker came over and they put the new one on. At this point we found out the battery had been killed when the alternator went out, so save some more money and buy a new battery. However the new alternator was bad and it took several different theories and a couple of diagnostic test (more money) to find this out. I am sure there are some spiritual truths to be learned in all of this but not the one I want to share.
Today Jared got the new part and I went out to lend a helping hand in installing it. Actually I mostly held the front-left side of the car down by leaning on it and watching him. After taking the older one out, with some difficulty, Jared was unable to get the new one back down into its place. There were several hoses and wiring in the way. He had loosened them and moved them out of the way and it still wasn’t working out. Finally he said, "I just can’t get it to go past this ‘do-ma-fligee’!" (Now a do-ma-fligee is Doranese for anything you don’t know the proper name of that is attached to the motor of a car)
I came around and looked at the obstacle only to notice there was another hose that could be moved. I pointed it out to him and when he moved it the part went right into place. It was at this moment a spiritual truth came to my attention. I told Jared, "That is the way it is in our lives so often!" I went on to explain:
There are times, in our lives, when something will try to intrude into our spiritual life. It will poke, prod and push but won’t be able to get in because there are things blocking it. We don’t pay much attention to the blocks, they are just there and have been there for a long time. We are paying attention to that which is trying to get in and we focus on keeping it out with obvious effort.
Then, one day when we are not paying a whole lot of attention, we remove the block. We have forgotten why it is there. It just seems to be a nuisance and who needs it anyway, move it out of the way. When we do that which has been trying to get in has an open door and it slides right in.
Paul tells us in Romans to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. He is warning us to be careful not to allow the flesh any opportunity or it will take advantage. In other words he is telling us not to remove the "blocks" that have been set up to keep sin out of our lives.
Today it might not seem like a big deal but somewhere down the line it will be a big deal. My father was a carpenter and he believed in the old adage, "measure twice, cut once." I loved it when he would tell me, "Don, I cut this board two times and it is still too short!" There was some advice he would often repeat and give a spiritual application to. It you are measuring and you are a sixteenth of an inch off here it might not seem like a big deal, why it is only one little line on most tape measures. However, when you get sixteen inches further along you are now an inch off, which to some folks again might not seem like much. LOOK OUT! When you are sixteen feet further long you are now a foot off and the further you go the further off you are.
How often do we look at things in our lives as not being big deals? We say they don’t really matter or make that much of a difference and yet when they are ignored they end up compounding their effects in our lives to the point they are a big deal. They open areas and give opportunities for other problems and sin to enter our lives and take a hold.
Today it was simply taking a bolt out and moving a power steering hose that allowed an alternator to slide through. What might be keeping sin out of our lives? If we remove that one simple obstacle what sin might we be opening ourselves up to?
Today it is just a sixteenth of an inch and we consider it no big deal! But, a little further on, it is the reason that the door or window doesn’t close or the wall is out of square. Today it is just a little simple matter of saying yes instead of saying no. It is no big deal but somewhere in the future it has opened the door for other things.
I have to wonder where did it start for Judas? What got him off track? He didn’t join Jesus and the disciples to betray Jesus, no that happened because something else wasn’t taken care of earlier. Have you asked where did it start for Demas? Paul said that Demas had forsaken him because he had a love for this world. He didn’t say he had backslidden and walked away from God. However, something had been removed in his life that allowed the love of this present world to grow until it became more important than his ministry. I wonder what the end of that story was? We know it was just staying home from the battle when kings go to war that put David in the wrong place at the wrong time. The result was more than just adultery, which was bad enough, it was a loss of purity in his family. He wasn’t allowed to build the temple. Murder, incest, betrayal and adultery took a stronghold in his family. All of it was the result of protection being removed.
Well, remember it is just a thought! God bless . . .
Jared has been having trouble with his car for the past several weeks. The alternator went out so he saved a couple hundred dollars up and bought a new one, actually a remanufactored one. A coworker came over and they put the new one on. At this point we found out the battery had been killed when the alternator went out, so save some more money and buy a new battery. However the new alternator was bad and it took several different theories and a couple of diagnostic test (more money) to find this out. I am sure there are some spiritual truths to be learned in all of this but not the one I want to share.
Today Jared got the new part and I went out to lend a helping hand in installing it. Actually I mostly held the front-left side of the car down by leaning on it and watching him. After taking the older one out, with some difficulty, Jared was unable to get the new one back down into its place. There were several hoses and wiring in the way. He had loosened them and moved them out of the way and it still wasn’t working out. Finally he said, "I just can’t get it to go past this ‘do-ma-fligee’!" (Now a do-ma-fligee is Doranese for anything you don’t know the proper name of that is attached to the motor of a car)
I came around and looked at the obstacle only to notice there was another hose that could be moved. I pointed it out to him and when he moved it the part went right into place. It was at this moment a spiritual truth came to my attention. I told Jared, "That is the way it is in our lives so often!" I went on to explain:
There are times, in our lives, when something will try to intrude into our spiritual life. It will poke, prod and push but won’t be able to get in because there are things blocking it. We don’t pay much attention to the blocks, they are just there and have been there for a long time. We are paying attention to that which is trying to get in and we focus on keeping it out with obvious effort.
Then, one day when we are not paying a whole lot of attention, we remove the block. We have forgotten why it is there. It just seems to be a nuisance and who needs it anyway, move it out of the way. When we do that which has been trying to get in has an open door and it slides right in.
Paul tells us in Romans to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. He is warning us to be careful not to allow the flesh any opportunity or it will take advantage. In other words he is telling us not to remove the "blocks" that have been set up to keep sin out of our lives.
Today it might not seem like a big deal but somewhere down the line it will be a big deal. My father was a carpenter and he believed in the old adage, "measure twice, cut once." I loved it when he would tell me, "Don, I cut this board two times and it is still too short!" There was some advice he would often repeat and give a spiritual application to. It you are measuring and you are a sixteenth of an inch off here it might not seem like a big deal, why it is only one little line on most tape measures. However, when you get sixteen inches further along you are now an inch off, which to some folks again might not seem like much. LOOK OUT! When you are sixteen feet further long you are now a foot off and the further you go the further off you are.
How often do we look at things in our lives as not being big deals? We say they don’t really matter or make that much of a difference and yet when they are ignored they end up compounding their effects in our lives to the point they are a big deal. They open areas and give opportunities for other problems and sin to enter our lives and take a hold.
Today it was simply taking a bolt out and moving a power steering hose that allowed an alternator to slide through. What might be keeping sin out of our lives? If we remove that one simple obstacle what sin might we be opening ourselves up to?
Today it is just a sixteenth of an inch and we consider it no big deal! But, a little further on, it is the reason that the door or window doesn’t close or the wall is out of square. Today it is just a little simple matter of saying yes instead of saying no. It is no big deal but somewhere in the future it has opened the door for other things.
I have to wonder where did it start for Judas? What got him off track? He didn’t join Jesus and the disciples to betray Jesus, no that happened because something else wasn’t taken care of earlier. Have you asked where did it start for Demas? Paul said that Demas had forsaken him because he had a love for this world. He didn’t say he had backslidden and walked away from God. However, something had been removed in his life that allowed the love of this present world to grow until it became more important than his ministry. I wonder what the end of that story was? We know it was just staying home from the battle when kings go to war that put David in the wrong place at the wrong time. The result was more than just adultery, which was bad enough, it was a loss of purity in his family. He wasn’t allowed to build the temple. Murder, incest, betrayal and adultery took a stronghold in his family. All of it was the result of protection being removed.
Well, remember it is just a thought! God bless . . .
Thursday, October 14, 2010
How's Your Thinking Been?
Have you ever read a passage of scripture, or maybe just a verse, many times and one day read it only to realize you haven’t read it that way before? This happens to me on a frequent basis. In fact it just happened the other night. Let me share what happened.
Jared and I had been having a discussion. We had been talking about some different things, some of which were happening in our lives and some that were not happening. After several minutes of talking I told Jared, "I really feel like I need to spend some time in prayer, will you join me?" Of course he joined me and we enjoyed a good time of discussion with God about our concerns.
Many months ago, while in a prayer meeting, a passage of scripture had come very forcefully to my mind. I had looked it up and the verses had become directive and favorites in my personal arsenal of scriptures. In fact I wrote an article about the incident titled, "My Friend Said Don’t Be Careful!" As I was praying this passage came to mind and I felt to share it with Jared.
As I began to read the verses I was inspired that God would again use these verses for a reminder of the peace He offers and assures us of. Only this time I did not stop where I usually stop but continued reading the next several verses. That is when I realized I had missed something on the earlier occasions of reading the verses. In fact I had been missing something here all my life.
In Philippians chapter four and verses six and seven the writer Paul tells us, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Another word for careful is worry which is the main thing I needed to hear on the previous occasion. God, or my friend, told me to stop worrying!
Worry is simply the wringing of your hands wondering what you are going to do or what is going to happen. I have been around some worriers in my life. A really good worrier can create monsters out of nothing. Their minds will make mountains out of ant hills! It is the result of an undisciplined mind and Paul said we are not to worry but to take our needs to God in prayer. We are to ask of God, with thankfulness, those things which we are concerned about. When we do this, God will allow a peace to come upon us that will protect our emotions and our thoughts. To me this is exciting!
Here is where my last reading became even more interesting. I have found it to be true that when we pray we often undo our prayers because of a lack of faith which is evident through our verbal conversation. We ask God to meet a financial need, then talk about how poor we are, what a struggle we are in and how much we lack. We ask God for healing and then talk about all of the pain and suffering we are experiencing. Our conversation destroys our faith and also negates the peace of God which God has given us. Lookout, here come the ulcers!
Paul continues with his instruction in Philippians chapter four and verse eight by saying, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." HOLD THE BUS! I had never read this passage with the passages mentioned earlier. What a new thought this produced!
Jared mentioned how powerful scriptural principles will be to us if we read them as they are written, in the proper context. I have often read and quoted verse eight and given instruction that we should use it as a guide for living or thinking. However, I have never thought of it as a guide for believing!
So basically Paul is telling us to stop worrying. He is telling us to pray in a certain way. He is telling us that God will send an unexplainable peace to protect our hearts and minds. Then he is telling us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy. Wow! So instead of destroying my faith and tearing down what I am actually trying to accomplish, I will be strengthening them through this change of attitude. I will be continuing to reside in peace because I will be erecting a wall of protection around my heart and mind by my conduct.
Paul underlines this principle in verse nine when he said, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Do what we know is right. Follow Paul in as he follows Christ. Listen to the Word and apply it to your life. Doing these things will result in "the God of peace" being with us.
In a nutshell we need to stop worrying! Bring our needs to God in prayer, asking of Him with thanksgiving. We can enjoy the peace in the midst of turmoil knowing God will protect our emotions and thinking. We are thinking on the good things and pushing aside the bad worrisome things. We keep doing what we have heard to do from the Word of God. As a result God will be with us. God will, I know I already said it but I have to say it again, be with us!
Just remember, It’s just a thought!
Jared and I had been having a discussion. We had been talking about some different things, some of which were happening in our lives and some that were not happening. After several minutes of talking I told Jared, "I really feel like I need to spend some time in prayer, will you join me?" Of course he joined me and we enjoyed a good time of discussion with God about our concerns.
Many months ago, while in a prayer meeting, a passage of scripture had come very forcefully to my mind. I had looked it up and the verses had become directive and favorites in my personal arsenal of scriptures. In fact I wrote an article about the incident titled, "My Friend Said Don’t Be Careful!" As I was praying this passage came to mind and I felt to share it with Jared.
As I began to read the verses I was inspired that God would again use these verses for a reminder of the peace He offers and assures us of. Only this time I did not stop where I usually stop but continued reading the next several verses. That is when I realized I had missed something on the earlier occasions of reading the verses. In fact I had been missing something here all my life.
In Philippians chapter four and verses six and seven the writer Paul tells us, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Another word for careful is worry which is the main thing I needed to hear on the previous occasion. God, or my friend, told me to stop worrying!
Worry is simply the wringing of your hands wondering what you are going to do or what is going to happen. I have been around some worriers in my life. A really good worrier can create monsters out of nothing. Their minds will make mountains out of ant hills! It is the result of an undisciplined mind and Paul said we are not to worry but to take our needs to God in prayer. We are to ask of God, with thankfulness, those things which we are concerned about. When we do this, God will allow a peace to come upon us that will protect our emotions and our thoughts. To me this is exciting!
Here is where my last reading became even more interesting. I have found it to be true that when we pray we often undo our prayers because of a lack of faith which is evident through our verbal conversation. We ask God to meet a financial need, then talk about how poor we are, what a struggle we are in and how much we lack. We ask God for healing and then talk about all of the pain and suffering we are experiencing. Our conversation destroys our faith and also negates the peace of God which God has given us. Lookout, here come the ulcers!
Paul continues with his instruction in Philippians chapter four and verse eight by saying, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." HOLD THE BUS! I had never read this passage with the passages mentioned earlier. What a new thought this produced!
Jared mentioned how powerful scriptural principles will be to us if we read them as they are written, in the proper context. I have often read and quoted verse eight and given instruction that we should use it as a guide for living or thinking. However, I have never thought of it as a guide for believing!
So basically Paul is telling us to stop worrying. He is telling us to pray in a certain way. He is telling us that God will send an unexplainable peace to protect our hearts and minds. Then he is telling us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy. Wow! So instead of destroying my faith and tearing down what I am actually trying to accomplish, I will be strengthening them through this change of attitude. I will be continuing to reside in peace because I will be erecting a wall of protection around my heart and mind by my conduct.
Paul underlines this principle in verse nine when he said, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Do what we know is right. Follow Paul in as he follows Christ. Listen to the Word and apply it to your life. Doing these things will result in "the God of peace" being with us.
In a nutshell we need to stop worrying! Bring our needs to God in prayer, asking of Him with thanksgiving. We can enjoy the peace in the midst of turmoil knowing God will protect our emotions and thinking. We are thinking on the good things and pushing aside the bad worrisome things. We keep doing what we have heard to do from the Word of God. As a result God will be with us. God will, I know I already said it but I have to say it again, be with us!
Just remember, It’s just a thought!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Signs of the Believer in Osceola, Arkansas
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;" Mark 16:17 KJV
On March 19, 2010, in a little northeast Arkansas town called Osceola, the signs of the believers were manifest. It was a Friday night that was filled with great anticipation. For the past forty days the United Pentecostal Church of Osceola had been praying and fasting. They had been reading the Book of Acts and asking God to do a supernatural and spiritual work in their lives. They were desiring to be released into the Spirit of Apostolic Revival. Their prayer was, "God we want the Spirit of the Early Church! We want what they had!" Now, for the next few hours they were determined to worship God with all they had and let God do His part.
The Osceola City Center had been rented to accommodate the expected crowd. Several slipped into a racquetball court that had been designated as a prayer room and began to seek God for the service that night. Little did those prayer warriors know God’s attention had already been captured by their desire.
The service started with a great Spirit of Praise and from the start people were caught up in the Spirit of Worship. A gentleman, seated toward the front, stepped out from his seat and began to walk back and forth praising God. It was just a few moments later that the Worship leader stopped everything!
Pastor Tim Doran, of Osceola, was leading the Praise and Worship. He came over to Anthony Brown, the worshiper, and said, "You have cancer, don’t you?" Anthony said, "Yes sir I do."
Pastor Tim said, "The Doctors said it is bad and don’t give you any hope, is that right?" Anthony said, "Yes sir, that is true!"
Pastor Tim said, "When we were in the prayer room, God saw how you worshiped Him in spite of your illness and pain. He told me to tell you that He is going to heal you of cancer!" As he said this Pastor Tim reached out to lay hands on the sick man and jerked his hand back and said, "I don’t even have to touch you! God has already healed you. In Jesus Name be made whole!"
During the twelve and some half weeks that have passed since that time, Anthony Brown has reported that he is getting stronger each and every day. On Sunday, June 6, 2010 he came to Pastor Tim Doran, who is now Anthony’s pastor, and told him that he needed prayer for his feet. One of the symptoms of the cancer was that his feet would itch so bad that he would actually scratch the skin off trying to get relief. Pastor Tim prayed for him and the itching is completely gone!
On Wednesday, June 16, 2010 Anthony Brown went to see his doctor for his scheduled cancer checkup. After the test and examinations were complete his doctor came in and sat down with Anthony and said, "I don’t understand how a man with pancreatic cancer taking four insulin shots per day has a blood sugar reading of 80? I just don’t understand. In fact I am going to go get another doctor to look at this."
He left and returned with another doctor who went over the reports and looked at Anthony and said, "I don’t understand how a man with pancreatic cancer who takes four insulin shots a day can have a blood sugar reading of 80? I just don’t understand!"
The first doctor pulled out his cell phone. He showed Anthony and the other doctor a picture that he had taken of Anthony earlier. There were sores from the cancer all over Anthony’s body. His figure looked sickly and gaunt. The doctor looked at the healthy looking energetic figure before him and said, "This is not the same man, I just don’t understand!"
Anthony told the amazed doctors, "I understand exactly what is going on. Jesus Christ has worked a miracle of healing in my body. He has healed me of cancer!"
Both doctors shook their heads in amazement and said, "It is a miracle, we can’t argue with that!"
These signs shall follow the believer. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover! However, sometimes God gets so excited about healing a worshiping believer that He doesn’t even wait for the laying on of hands!
On March 19, 2010, in a little northeast Arkansas town called Osceola, the signs of the believers were manifest. It was a Friday night that was filled with great anticipation. For the past forty days the United Pentecostal Church of Osceola had been praying and fasting. They had been reading the Book of Acts and asking God to do a supernatural and spiritual work in their lives. They were desiring to be released into the Spirit of Apostolic Revival. Their prayer was, "God we want the Spirit of the Early Church! We want what they had!" Now, for the next few hours they were determined to worship God with all they had and let God do His part.
The Osceola City Center had been rented to accommodate the expected crowd. Several slipped into a racquetball court that had been designated as a prayer room and began to seek God for the service that night. Little did those prayer warriors know God’s attention had already been captured by their desire.
The service started with a great Spirit of Praise and from the start people were caught up in the Spirit of Worship. A gentleman, seated toward the front, stepped out from his seat and began to walk back and forth praising God. It was just a few moments later that the Worship leader stopped everything!
Pastor Tim Doran, of Osceola, was leading the Praise and Worship. He came over to Anthony Brown, the worshiper, and said, "You have cancer, don’t you?" Anthony said, "Yes sir I do."
Pastor Tim said, "The Doctors said it is bad and don’t give you any hope, is that right?" Anthony said, "Yes sir, that is true!"
Pastor Tim said, "When we were in the prayer room, God saw how you worshiped Him in spite of your illness and pain. He told me to tell you that He is going to heal you of cancer!" As he said this Pastor Tim reached out to lay hands on the sick man and jerked his hand back and said, "I don’t even have to touch you! God has already healed you. In Jesus Name be made whole!"
During the twelve and some half weeks that have passed since that time, Anthony Brown has reported that he is getting stronger each and every day. On Sunday, June 6, 2010 he came to Pastor Tim Doran, who is now Anthony’s pastor, and told him that he needed prayer for his feet. One of the symptoms of the cancer was that his feet would itch so bad that he would actually scratch the skin off trying to get relief. Pastor Tim prayed for him and the itching is completely gone!
On Wednesday, June 16, 2010 Anthony Brown went to see his doctor for his scheduled cancer checkup. After the test and examinations were complete his doctor came in and sat down with Anthony and said, "I don’t understand how a man with pancreatic cancer taking four insulin shots per day has a blood sugar reading of 80? I just don’t understand. In fact I am going to go get another doctor to look at this."
He left and returned with another doctor who went over the reports and looked at Anthony and said, "I don’t understand how a man with pancreatic cancer who takes four insulin shots a day can have a blood sugar reading of 80? I just don’t understand!"
The first doctor pulled out his cell phone. He showed Anthony and the other doctor a picture that he had taken of Anthony earlier. There were sores from the cancer all over Anthony’s body. His figure looked sickly and gaunt. The doctor looked at the healthy looking energetic figure before him and said, "This is not the same man, I just don’t understand!"
Anthony told the amazed doctors, "I understand exactly what is going on. Jesus Christ has worked a miracle of healing in my body. He has healed me of cancer!"
Both doctors shook their heads in amazement and said, "It is a miracle, we can’t argue with that!"
These signs shall follow the believer. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover! However, sometimes God gets so excited about healing a worshiping believer that He doesn’t even wait for the laying on of hands!
Friday, April 30, 2010
I Have a New Name
Yesterday a beautiful three years old came out to greet her brother as he got off the bus. She climbed up on the first step, by her mother, looked at me and smiled. Instantly I lost my heart! She asked if she could have a piece of candy too and of course I gave her and her baby sister each one.
As I watched, the children scamper across the yard toward the house I was amazed at what a beautiful family they were. How happy and content the children all seemed to be. I was then reminded of the rest of the story.
Several months ago we had stopped to pick up the older brother for school. As I was doing my paper work and the bus aides were buckling him in they were talking to the mother about his sister. This little boy has been adopted by his parents. Now they were in the process of adopting this little girl.
Someone asked what the baby’s name was and if they were adopting her. The mother went on to explain that after a period of time the parental rights of the birth parents would be severed. At that time she was giving this child a new name and a new life with a new family.
As she said this, I remembered a passage of scripture in the Book of Romans where Paul told the Church of Rome, ""For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:15-17). I must admit I became really excited.
In Rome many times a child was put up for adoption because of debts owed by the birth family. It was common in Bible times for family members to be cast into a debtor prison or sold into slavery to pay the debt. So instead of allowing that to happen to their children parents often put the child up for adoption. When this child was adopted, he took on the name of the adopted family. His old name was forgotten. Everything that connected him to his past was forgotten, as if it had never happened. All of the old debts or even any crimes of the past were all forgotten as if they had never happened.
The adopted child became a natural heir to his adopted father, with the same rights as a natural child. He was given a new identity. It was as if he had never lived a day before his adoption, as if he were born again. He no longer had to live in fear of slavery or bondage because of his past, he was given a new beginning. He received a brand-new life!
Paul likens our relationship to Jesus Christ to that of an adopted child. The fears that were associated with our past no longer have a claim on us. We no longer have to live in a spirit of fear. We have been adopted by God to be His children! The spiritual debts we owed no longer have a claim on us. We have been told " . . . the wages of sin is death . . . " (Romans 6:23a) however we are no longer being held accountable for that debt, it has been forgiven. We have now been given "...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." *Romans 6:23b)
In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Fear is not a gift from God. It is not part of the inheritance of a child of God. Rather, our inheritance includes power, speaking of a super natural or miraculous power. It is also referring to being able or something being possible. We have received the Spirit of Love from our Father. This is speaking of a Godly love that is a love-feast. There is an abundance of love from the Father. We also receive the Spirit of a sound-mind which is referring to a mind that is controlled or disciplined. What a heritage!
The enemy would have us to live in fear of our past, but God has not given us a spirit of fear of the past or the future. We have a new name or authority, power. We can expect the miraculous in our lives! We are given a spirit of love, acceptance or forgiveness. We can feel wanted of God! We are given the spirit of a sound, disciplined mind. Free to think upon the promises and accept the blessings of God. It is our heritage!
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," (Luke 4:18-19) When we come to Jesus, He will heal our hearts that were broken by life. He will bring us deliverance from our past that holds us in captivity. He will open our eyes to the hope and promise we can find in Him. He will allow His blood to flow through our lives setting us free from the blows life and sin has given us. He will give us a new life and new beginning.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) we have the promise of a new life in Christ Jesus! No matter who we are or what our history is, we start over again at adoption.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2:17) Jesus is speaking to the Church and makes us this promise. Let me explain what this means to us.
A White stone was given by judges, during a trial to show the defendant was not guilty. A black stone was given to show the defendant was guilty. When Christ promised the over comer a white stone, He also promised a new name to be written in the stone. Not only did He say not guilty, but Christ is promising absolution from guilt. He is telling us, "I will not only say you are not guilty, I will give you a brand new name that will not connect you with you past, but will give you a new beginning."
Friend, when I was born again into the Kingdom of God I really got more than I bargained for. I thought I was just receiving forgiveness of my sins. However, I found out that I received a brand-new name and with it I also received a brand-new life. Oh what a Savior!
It’s just a thought! God Bless...
As I watched, the children scamper across the yard toward the house I was amazed at what a beautiful family they were. How happy and content the children all seemed to be. I was then reminded of the rest of the story.
Several months ago we had stopped to pick up the older brother for school. As I was doing my paper work and the bus aides were buckling him in they were talking to the mother about his sister. This little boy has been adopted by his parents. Now they were in the process of adopting this little girl.
Someone asked what the baby’s name was and if they were adopting her. The mother went on to explain that after a period of time the parental rights of the birth parents would be severed. At that time she was giving this child a new name and a new life with a new family.
As she said this, I remembered a passage of scripture in the Book of Romans where Paul told the Church of Rome, ""For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:15-17). I must admit I became really excited.
In Rome many times a child was put up for adoption because of debts owed by the birth family. It was common in Bible times for family members to be cast into a debtor prison or sold into slavery to pay the debt. So instead of allowing that to happen to their children parents often put the child up for adoption. When this child was adopted, he took on the name of the adopted family. His old name was forgotten. Everything that connected him to his past was forgotten, as if it had never happened. All of the old debts or even any crimes of the past were all forgotten as if they had never happened.
The adopted child became a natural heir to his adopted father, with the same rights as a natural child. He was given a new identity. It was as if he had never lived a day before his adoption, as if he were born again. He no longer had to live in fear of slavery or bondage because of his past, he was given a new beginning. He received a brand-new life!
Paul likens our relationship to Jesus Christ to that of an adopted child. The fears that were associated with our past no longer have a claim on us. We no longer have to live in a spirit of fear. We have been adopted by God to be His children! The spiritual debts we owed no longer have a claim on us. We have been told " . . . the wages of sin is death . . . " (Romans 6:23a) however we are no longer being held accountable for that debt, it has been forgiven. We have now been given "...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." *Romans 6:23b)
In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Fear is not a gift from God. It is not part of the inheritance of a child of God. Rather, our inheritance includes power, speaking of a super natural or miraculous power. It is also referring to being able or something being possible. We have received the Spirit of Love from our Father. This is speaking of a Godly love that is a love-feast. There is an abundance of love from the Father. We also receive the Spirit of a sound-mind which is referring to a mind that is controlled or disciplined. What a heritage!
The enemy would have us to live in fear of our past, but God has not given us a spirit of fear of the past or the future. We have a new name or authority, power. We can expect the miraculous in our lives! We are given a spirit of love, acceptance or forgiveness. We can feel wanted of God! We are given the spirit of a sound, disciplined mind. Free to think upon the promises and accept the blessings of God. It is our heritage!
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," (Luke 4:18-19) When we come to Jesus, He will heal our hearts that were broken by life. He will bring us deliverance from our past that holds us in captivity. He will open our eyes to the hope and promise we can find in Him. He will allow His blood to flow through our lives setting us free from the blows life and sin has given us. He will give us a new life and new beginning.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) we have the promise of a new life in Christ Jesus! No matter who we are or what our history is, we start over again at adoption.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2:17) Jesus is speaking to the Church and makes us this promise. Let me explain what this means to us.
A White stone was given by judges, during a trial to show the defendant was not guilty. A black stone was given to show the defendant was guilty. When Christ promised the over comer a white stone, He also promised a new name to be written in the stone. Not only did He say not guilty, but Christ is promising absolution from guilt. He is telling us, "I will not only say you are not guilty, I will give you a brand new name that will not connect you with you past, but will give you a new beginning."
Friend, when I was born again into the Kingdom of God I really got more than I bargained for. I thought I was just receiving forgiveness of my sins. However, I found out that I received a brand-new name and with it I also received a brand-new life. Oh what a Savior!
It’s just a thought! God Bless...
Monday, March 1, 2010
Umbrella of Protection and Power Part 2
Every one of us should have a desire to have more power with God and to come under His protection. Several years ago, God impressed upon my mind the importance of having this type of a relationship with Him. I want to have a relationship of protection and power with God. I called it “The Umbrella of Protection and Power.” This is the second blog in a series on this subject.
There is a relationship between pride and self-respect. Pride that leads to self-respect is controlled pride. We must have self-respect, which is a sense of self-value or self-esteem. This is seeing ourselves as God sees us. However, the pride that God hates is uncontrolled pride and it motivates the works of our flesh. This is the pride where the “I” is in control. “P-r-I-d-e” where the big “I” is in the center and dominates.
If I want protection from God, it will only come through my submission. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:5-7, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (KJV) It is better to humble ourselves than to have God humble us!
To humble myself requires self-discipline. It means that I must deny myself and bring myself under authority. However, by humbling myself to God I place myself under the “Umbrella of His Protection and Power.” Notice also that by humbling myself to God I am also now the recipient of a great benefit from God. The offer given to me is that I can cast my cares, my anxieties and worries upon Him. He cares about me. He will also take care of all my worries.
Submission does not know distinction. Peter tells us to submit ourselves to our Elders. We need to understand that Peter is writing to the Church and is not talking of age when he uses the terms younger and Elder. The word younger, as used here, speaks of one that is new or fresh. We would call them a Beginner, or Rookie. The word Elder speaks of those who would be the ministry and Spiritual Guides of the Church. He also directs us to submit to one another. We need to put humbleness on as a “cover-all!” By doing so we give ourselves protection from pride, arrogance and insolence. We must submit ourselves to God! This brings us under His protection. It makes us reliant on His power. It also allows God to exalt us.
I have noticed that when we read certain passages of the Bible, which have become familiar to us, we sometimes fail to read all the scriptures that pertain to the subject. For example, we often use 1 Peter 5:7 to say God wants us to give Him all of our cares. Yet we fail to include the condition to be able to cast our cares upon Him is our submission. We quote James 4:7 saying if we resist the devil he will flee from us. Yet we fail to include the first part of the verse that tells us to submit ourselves to God. By missing these key components, we set ourselves up for failure and frustration.
Paul gives us key instructions, in Ephesians 5:21-33, regarding our relationship as the Church with God. He likens the Church to the wife of Christ and likens Christ as the husband of the Church. In this instruction, he tells the wife to submit herself to her husband just as the Church submits to Christ. He instructs the husband to love his wife and give her the same sort of love that Christ gives the Church. We place emphasis upon the wife submitting herself to her husband. However, again, we often fail to read the first verse on this subject and here Paul tells us in verse 21, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (KJV) Paul tells us we need to submit ourselves to each other. That would be wives submit yourself to your husband. In addition, husbands submit yourselves unto your wife!
Paul is instructing us to submit ourselves unto each other because of our commitment to Christ. By doing so, we again bring ourselves under the “Umbrella of Protection.” Here is how the Protection works: Christ protects all under His “Umbrella of Protection.” Through submission to Christ and to his wife, the husband comes under the “Umbrella” of Christ and protects those under his own “Umbrella” which would be his wife and his children. Through submission to her husband and to Christ, the wife is under the “Umbrella” of her husband and the “Umbrella” of Christ. This submission protects those under her “Umbrella” her husband and her children.
Nothing can get to the submitted wife without passing through the “Umbrella of Protection” that her submitted husband has placed over her. Nothing can get to the husband without passing through the “Umbrella of Protection” that a submitted wife has placed over him. Nothing can get to their family without passing through these “Umbrellas” and the “Umbrella of Protection” that Christ places over those living in submission. He gave Himself for His bride!
The enemy of our soul would have us to live in fear of submission! This is a lie of the enemy. He refused submission choosing rather to rebel. When we hear the word “submit” he paints a picture of a mouse, a door mat, weakness and being timid. However, we find that true power comes to us as we submit ourselves to God. In fact, in Matthew 5 as Jesus is teaching what we call the “Beatitudes” His first one tells us they way to receive the Kingdom of God is to realize that we are nothing without Him. The third one tells us if we are meek, submitted, we will inherit the earth. We will be victorious! These are just the opposite of what we would naturally assume to be true.
God somehow help us to realize the power and protection that will come to our lives when we submit ourselves to you and to others. There is power in submission.
This is the second in the series “The Umbrella of Power and Protection.”
It’s Just a Thought…God Bless!
There is a relationship between pride and self-respect. Pride that leads to self-respect is controlled pride. We must have self-respect, which is a sense of self-value or self-esteem. This is seeing ourselves as God sees us. However, the pride that God hates is uncontrolled pride and it motivates the works of our flesh. This is the pride where the “I” is in control. “P-r-I-d-e” where the big “I” is in the center and dominates.
If I want protection from God, it will only come through my submission. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:5-7, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (KJV) It is better to humble ourselves than to have God humble us!
To humble myself requires self-discipline. It means that I must deny myself and bring myself under authority. However, by humbling myself to God I place myself under the “Umbrella of His Protection and Power.” Notice also that by humbling myself to God I am also now the recipient of a great benefit from God. The offer given to me is that I can cast my cares, my anxieties and worries upon Him. He cares about me. He will also take care of all my worries.
Submission does not know distinction. Peter tells us to submit ourselves to our Elders. We need to understand that Peter is writing to the Church and is not talking of age when he uses the terms younger and Elder. The word younger, as used here, speaks of one that is new or fresh. We would call them a Beginner, or Rookie. The word Elder speaks of those who would be the ministry and Spiritual Guides of the Church. He also directs us to submit to one another. We need to put humbleness on as a “cover-all!” By doing so we give ourselves protection from pride, arrogance and insolence. We must submit ourselves to God! This brings us under His protection. It makes us reliant on His power. It also allows God to exalt us.
I have noticed that when we read certain passages of the Bible, which have become familiar to us, we sometimes fail to read all the scriptures that pertain to the subject. For example, we often use 1 Peter 5:7 to say God wants us to give Him all of our cares. Yet we fail to include the condition to be able to cast our cares upon Him is our submission. We quote James 4:7 saying if we resist the devil he will flee from us. Yet we fail to include the first part of the verse that tells us to submit ourselves to God. By missing these key components, we set ourselves up for failure and frustration.
Paul gives us key instructions, in Ephesians 5:21-33, regarding our relationship as the Church with God. He likens the Church to the wife of Christ and likens Christ as the husband of the Church. In this instruction, he tells the wife to submit herself to her husband just as the Church submits to Christ. He instructs the husband to love his wife and give her the same sort of love that Christ gives the Church. We place emphasis upon the wife submitting herself to her husband. However, again, we often fail to read the first verse on this subject and here Paul tells us in verse 21, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (KJV) Paul tells us we need to submit ourselves to each other. That would be wives submit yourself to your husband. In addition, husbands submit yourselves unto your wife!
Paul is instructing us to submit ourselves unto each other because of our commitment to Christ. By doing so, we again bring ourselves under the “Umbrella of Protection.” Here is how the Protection works: Christ protects all under His “Umbrella of Protection.” Through submission to Christ and to his wife, the husband comes under the “Umbrella” of Christ and protects those under his own “Umbrella” which would be his wife and his children. Through submission to her husband and to Christ, the wife is under the “Umbrella” of her husband and the “Umbrella” of Christ. This submission protects those under her “Umbrella” her husband and her children.
Nothing can get to the submitted wife without passing through the “Umbrella of Protection” that her submitted husband has placed over her. Nothing can get to the husband without passing through the “Umbrella of Protection” that a submitted wife has placed over him. Nothing can get to their family without passing through these “Umbrellas” and the “Umbrella of Protection” that Christ places over those living in submission. He gave Himself for His bride!
The enemy of our soul would have us to live in fear of submission! This is a lie of the enemy. He refused submission choosing rather to rebel. When we hear the word “submit” he paints a picture of a mouse, a door mat, weakness and being timid. However, we find that true power comes to us as we submit ourselves to God. In fact, in Matthew 5 as Jesus is teaching what we call the “Beatitudes” His first one tells us they way to receive the Kingdom of God is to realize that we are nothing without Him. The third one tells us if we are meek, submitted, we will inherit the earth. We will be victorious! These are just the opposite of what we would naturally assume to be true.
God somehow help us to realize the power and protection that will come to our lives when we submit ourselves to you and to others. There is power in submission.
This is the second in the series “The Umbrella of Power and Protection.”
It’s Just a Thought…God Bless!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Umbrella of Protection and Power Part 1
Every one of us should have a desire have more power with God and to come under His protection. Several years ago, God impressed upon my mind the importance of having this type of a relationship with Him. I want to have a relationship of protection and power with God. I called it “The Umbrella of Protection and Power.”
There is a relationship between pride and self-respect. Pride that leads to self-respect is controlled pride. We must have self-respect, which is a sense of self-value or self-esteem. This is seeing ourselves as God sees us. However, the pride that God hates is uncontrolled pride and it motivates the works of our flesh. This is the pride where the “I” is in control. “P-r-I-d-e” where the big “I” is in the center and dominates.
James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (KJV) James tells us that God resists or opposes the proud. This is because pride represents a direction that is opposing to God. It is like swimming against a strong current. God’s divine nature is not compatible with sin or pride. There is not enough room in the universe for God and the pride of man. God will eventually bring everything into submission to Him. (Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10)
You might ask, “Why does God resist and hate pride and why does He humble the proud?” This is a good question. The reason is that pride restrains the wicked from acknowledging God. Pride erects a temple; it constructs a throne and then places a person’s selfish ego upon the throne. Pride deifies the ego, making it God, and the ego demands that worship is given. God has commanded that we have no other God’s before Him.
God loves the person who is humble in their spirit. Pride creates a barrier that holds God distant from the proud. As gravity draws everything to it like a magnet, humility attracts God’s gracious attention. Humility brings the human spirit to the place where God can take our flaws and make something beautiful out of us. Where pride says “I am already perfect and do not need God to improve or help me!”
God elevates the humble. Luke 14:11 tells us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. God always defeats the proud and He always promotes the humble.
Our attitude toward God should be to shun pride. 1 John 2:15-17 tells us, “15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (NIV) Pride is labeled as an objectionable attitude toward God and our fellowman. Shunning pride is to say no to its daily overtures.
I want a right relationship with God and with my fellow man. I want God’s blessings to be upon my life. I want His protection and power to be in my life. I can realize this if I am willing to humble myself before God.
First of the Series “The Umbrella of Protection and Power.”
It’s Just a Thought! God Bless…
There is a relationship between pride and self-respect. Pride that leads to self-respect is controlled pride. We must have self-respect, which is a sense of self-value or self-esteem. This is seeing ourselves as God sees us. However, the pride that God hates is uncontrolled pride and it motivates the works of our flesh. This is the pride where the “I” is in control. “P-r-I-d-e” where the big “I” is in the center and dominates.
James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (KJV) James tells us that God resists or opposes the proud. This is because pride represents a direction that is opposing to God. It is like swimming against a strong current. God’s divine nature is not compatible with sin or pride. There is not enough room in the universe for God and the pride of man. God will eventually bring everything into submission to Him. (Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10)
You might ask, “Why does God resist and hate pride and why does He humble the proud?” This is a good question. The reason is that pride restrains the wicked from acknowledging God. Pride erects a temple; it constructs a throne and then places a person’s selfish ego upon the throne. Pride deifies the ego, making it God, and the ego demands that worship is given. God has commanded that we have no other God’s before Him.
God loves the person who is humble in their spirit. Pride creates a barrier that holds God distant from the proud. As gravity draws everything to it like a magnet, humility attracts God’s gracious attention. Humility brings the human spirit to the place where God can take our flaws and make something beautiful out of us. Where pride says “I am already perfect and do not need God to improve or help me!”
God elevates the humble. Luke 14:11 tells us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. God always defeats the proud and He always promotes the humble.
Our attitude toward God should be to shun pride. 1 John 2:15-17 tells us, “15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (NIV) Pride is labeled as an objectionable attitude toward God and our fellowman. Shunning pride is to say no to its daily overtures.
I want a right relationship with God and with my fellow man. I want God’s blessings to be upon my life. I want His protection and power to be in my life. I can realize this if I am willing to humble myself before God.
First of the Series “The Umbrella of Protection and Power.”
It’s Just a Thought! God Bless…
Friday, February 19, 2010
Take Up Your Bed and Walk!
We experience emotions of despair! Those feelings that the situation we face is hopeless and impossible. The realization dawns upon our consciousness bringing with it the certainty that all hope is gone and we have arrived at the “Irr Home.” Everything that lives here is “Irreparable,” “Irremediable,” “Irretrievable, ““Irreclaimable,” “Irrevocable.” With this realization comes a perception of impotence, bringing with it the awareness of powerlessness and weakness. Struggling with the conception of thoughts that leave one paralyzed with fear, feeling very ineffective to face yet another day of the same.
These are the feelings of the real world. Products of a world that is determined to take the best we have to offer and to stomp on it crushing it beyond repair. We have tried our best, and our best is not enough! We have offered all that is sacred and dear to us, only to have it rejected. We have gutted it out until we feel that our guts are literally ripped from our bodies. The world looks at us with a look of contempt and scorn and says, "You made your bed now sleep in it!"
However, I have good news for you! The wonderful, glorious, marvelous and miraculous news of the Gospel and that is, "When the world says you made your bed now sleep in it!” Jesus says, “Take up your bed and walk!"
It is just another day like any other day for the past thirty-eight years. Somehow, he drags himself one more time down by the sheep market to the Pool of Bethesda. He is not even sure why he goes to all of the trouble, knowing that there is no possible way for him to get his self into the pool if the angel were to come today. With this acknowledgment also comes a feeling of despair. There is the realization that his situation is hopeless. Not only is he physically impotent; he is powerless to change his life! Into the midst of this chaotic jumble of embroiled emotions came Jesus!
Jesus came to this place, the Pool of Bethesda, which conveyed ideas of magical cures. Bethesda was a place where sometime during the year an angel would come and trouble the water. Hoping to be healed the infirm tried to be the first into the water. It was a place that was close to the sheep market, and like is the case with the local dairies, I am sure the emanation of the sheep gathered into that one small place would begin to attack the olfactory sense of those who came to the pool. There were also bodies of men and women who were sick with all manner of diseases, impotent people. They were people who were blind, the halt, the crippled, and the withered. It was a painful picture of the chief kind of human suffering and bodily disease. It was a place of hopelessness! It was feeling that must have permeated the air. It must have been like a cauldron of fear percolating out feelings that each situation is irremediable and irrevocable! Coming to the realization there is no hope!
Helpless, powerless, that was the atmosphere of the pool of Bethesda. Individuals grasping at the illusive, fragile dream that they might be the first into the pool the next time the water are troubled. Each person is struggling to hold on to that dream of healing through years of failure. Listening to a constant bombardment of doubt and fear come from those around them that had been at the pool for so many years. Their spirits, once high with hope and promise, have now shrunken in distress as realization dawns on them, their situation is hopeless.
Jesus looks on this impotent man, knowing how hopeless his plight is. He does not even require faith from him. Jesus just asks him, "Wilt thou be made whole?"
This individual might have come to the place in his life where he was doubtful of the blessing of healing because of the resulting responsibilities. Now he is hearing a question he might have heard from others. We hear him as he whines out, with a professional drawl, his oft-told story. He shows his loveless ness, quarrelsome ness, and ugly temper. He gives the melancholy recital of his frequent disappointment with an air of insolvent resignation. You might even sense a gloomy satisfaction with his lot in life. However, Jesus does not rebuke him for his lack of faith. He does not require anything special of him. All he simply says is "Take up your bed and walk."
We are the ones who determine how we are going to relate to God. The Psalmist asked himself the question, “Why am I so discouraged and sad? I have decided to put my hope in God. I have decided to praise Him again! He is my Saviour and my God!” (Ps. 43:5) We do not have to go to a “church” service and wait for God to “zap” us with a lightening bolt from heaven. We should not wait for God to change and solve our problems before we worship Him. We need to put our hope in God and worship because He is God! Hope in His Word! (Ps 119:81) When you feel that you have come to the end, gone as far as you can, you have tried everything there is to try. Your only hope is in His Word.
Many times we say, “I can't see it being any different, I can't perceive it changing, it will always be this way!”
Paul said in Romans 8:24-25 “It is not hope if I can see it!” Hope is waiting with endurance for that which we cannot see!
Jesus stood before the tomb and shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" "I'll resurrect you but you have to come out of the grave." "I'll give you hope, but you have to come out the tomb!" "I'll make a change in your life, but you have to make a change in your residence!"
Blind Bart was in a hopeless place in life, blind, begging, and sitting alone on a dusty road, when Jesus came down that road. Bart calls out to Jesus but others tell him to shut up! His situation seems to be even more hopeless. He cries out even louder, in his despair. Again, they tell him to shut up! Nevertheless, hearing the despairing cry, Jesus stood still! He stopped His world! He called for Bart to come to Him.
That blind man jumped up! However, before running to Jesus, he stopped and took off his coat, which told the world he was a blind man. He left his old life behind. He then ran to Jesus and told Jesus that he wanted his sight
We allow ourselves fall into traps and snares of the enemy as he desires to create a feeling of hopelessness in our lives, it works like this: We plant God’s Word in our hearts the same as we plant seed in the field. However many times we allow the cares of this life to choke, strangle, clog, retard, stifle, throttle, smother, suffocate, asphyxiate and gag the Word of God. It dies like a plant choked by weeds.
The bombardment of our lives by financial problems, many of our own creation and others that are just the circumstances of life, cause us to feel it is hopeless. We need to leave behind the clothes of a beggar and go to the king. Stand on his Word. Stop telling God how big your problems are; start telling your problems how big your God is.
Life brings us problems and heartaches. It delivers broken hearts and bruised lives. It binds us in chains of despair and blinds our eyes to the promises of God. We say I will worship God when He blesses me. I will shout when I feel like it. I need to get up out of my seat, shout and praise God because I want to... I want to because He is God! I need to take up my bed and walk!
I do not have to resolve to live this way; I can take up my bed and walk. It is time I realize the situation is not hopeless, God has walked into the stinking situation that I am dealing with and told me to take up my bed and walk. It is time to change locations.
Therefore, when the world tells me I have made my bed now I have to sleep in it! There is no hope! There is the assurance that Jesus is telling me to take up my bed and walk!
It’s just a thought! God Bless…
These are the feelings of the real world. Products of a world that is determined to take the best we have to offer and to stomp on it crushing it beyond repair. We have tried our best, and our best is not enough! We have offered all that is sacred and dear to us, only to have it rejected. We have gutted it out until we feel that our guts are literally ripped from our bodies. The world looks at us with a look of contempt and scorn and says, "You made your bed now sleep in it!"
However, I have good news for you! The wonderful, glorious, marvelous and miraculous news of the Gospel and that is, "When the world says you made your bed now sleep in it!” Jesus says, “Take up your bed and walk!"
It is just another day like any other day for the past thirty-eight years. Somehow, he drags himself one more time down by the sheep market to the Pool of Bethesda. He is not even sure why he goes to all of the trouble, knowing that there is no possible way for him to get his self into the pool if the angel were to come today. With this acknowledgment also comes a feeling of despair. There is the realization that his situation is hopeless. Not only is he physically impotent; he is powerless to change his life! Into the midst of this chaotic jumble of embroiled emotions came Jesus!
Jesus came to this place, the Pool of Bethesda, which conveyed ideas of magical cures. Bethesda was a place where sometime during the year an angel would come and trouble the water. Hoping to be healed the infirm tried to be the first into the water. It was a place that was close to the sheep market, and like is the case with the local dairies, I am sure the emanation of the sheep gathered into that one small place would begin to attack the olfactory sense of those who came to the pool. There were also bodies of men and women who were sick with all manner of diseases, impotent people. They were people who were blind, the halt, the crippled, and the withered. It was a painful picture of the chief kind of human suffering and bodily disease. It was a place of hopelessness! It was feeling that must have permeated the air. It must have been like a cauldron of fear percolating out feelings that each situation is irremediable and irrevocable! Coming to the realization there is no hope!
Helpless, powerless, that was the atmosphere of the pool of Bethesda. Individuals grasping at the illusive, fragile dream that they might be the first into the pool the next time the water are troubled. Each person is struggling to hold on to that dream of healing through years of failure. Listening to a constant bombardment of doubt and fear come from those around them that had been at the pool for so many years. Their spirits, once high with hope and promise, have now shrunken in distress as realization dawns on them, their situation is hopeless.
Jesus looks on this impotent man, knowing how hopeless his plight is. He does not even require faith from him. Jesus just asks him, "Wilt thou be made whole?"
This individual might have come to the place in his life where he was doubtful of the blessing of healing because of the resulting responsibilities. Now he is hearing a question he might have heard from others. We hear him as he whines out, with a professional drawl, his oft-told story. He shows his loveless ness, quarrelsome ness, and ugly temper. He gives the melancholy recital of his frequent disappointment with an air of insolvent resignation. You might even sense a gloomy satisfaction with his lot in life. However, Jesus does not rebuke him for his lack of faith. He does not require anything special of him. All he simply says is "Take up your bed and walk."
We are the ones who determine how we are going to relate to God. The Psalmist asked himself the question, “Why am I so discouraged and sad? I have decided to put my hope in God. I have decided to praise Him again! He is my Saviour and my God!” (Ps. 43:5) We do not have to go to a “church” service and wait for God to “zap” us with a lightening bolt from heaven. We should not wait for God to change and solve our problems before we worship Him. We need to put our hope in God and worship because He is God! Hope in His Word! (Ps 119:81) When you feel that you have come to the end, gone as far as you can, you have tried everything there is to try. Your only hope is in His Word.
Many times we say, “I can't see it being any different, I can't perceive it changing, it will always be this way!”
Paul said in Romans 8:24-25 “It is not hope if I can see it!” Hope is waiting with endurance for that which we cannot see!
Jesus stood before the tomb and shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" "I'll resurrect you but you have to come out of the grave." "I'll give you hope, but you have to come out the tomb!" "I'll make a change in your life, but you have to make a change in your residence!"
Blind Bart was in a hopeless place in life, blind, begging, and sitting alone on a dusty road, when Jesus came down that road. Bart calls out to Jesus but others tell him to shut up! His situation seems to be even more hopeless. He cries out even louder, in his despair. Again, they tell him to shut up! Nevertheless, hearing the despairing cry, Jesus stood still! He stopped His world! He called for Bart to come to Him.
That blind man jumped up! However, before running to Jesus, he stopped and took off his coat, which told the world he was a blind man. He left his old life behind. He then ran to Jesus and told Jesus that he wanted his sight
We allow ourselves fall into traps and snares of the enemy as he desires to create a feeling of hopelessness in our lives, it works like this: We plant God’s Word in our hearts the same as we plant seed in the field. However many times we allow the cares of this life to choke, strangle, clog, retard, stifle, throttle, smother, suffocate, asphyxiate and gag the Word of God. It dies like a plant choked by weeds.
The bombardment of our lives by financial problems, many of our own creation and others that are just the circumstances of life, cause us to feel it is hopeless. We need to leave behind the clothes of a beggar and go to the king. Stand on his Word. Stop telling God how big your problems are; start telling your problems how big your God is.
Life brings us problems and heartaches. It delivers broken hearts and bruised lives. It binds us in chains of despair and blinds our eyes to the promises of God. We say I will worship God when He blesses me. I will shout when I feel like it. I need to get up out of my seat, shout and praise God because I want to... I want to because He is God! I need to take up my bed and walk!
I do not have to resolve to live this way; I can take up my bed and walk. It is time I realize the situation is not hopeless, God has walked into the stinking situation that I am dealing with and told me to take up my bed and walk. It is time to change locations.
Therefore, when the world tells me I have made my bed now I have to sleep in it! There is no hope! There is the assurance that Jesus is telling me to take up my bed and walk!
It’s just a thought! God Bless…
Friday, December 4, 2009
A Place Where Hope Has Never Dared To Go!
It has been a while since I sat down to write. There are a lot of things bouncing around in my head so this might just be a bit of rambling but hopefully I can share some of the things that are on my heart.
I was reading in my Bible in the third chapter of Acts. It is one of my favorite stories. Peter and John are on their way to the Temple to pray. This is something they must have done on a regular basis from the way it reads. As they approach the door of the Temple, a man calls to them in an effort to get their attention.
This man had been lame all of his life. For years, people had carried him to the Temple and laid him beside the busiest entrance so he could beg money of those coming and going by him. This was all he had known and this was all he expected from life. When he saw the two men approach, he once again asked for money. To what must have been his surprise, instead of ignoring him or tossing a coin his way, one of them said. “Look at us!”
His heart must have began to beat a bit faster as he thought he was about to receive a memorable amount of money from them. Then as equally fast, it must have plunged to his crippled feet as the next words spoken were, “We don’t have any money!”
Here was a man whose only hope everyday was that people would have pity on him. His hope was that he would receive enough from others that he could slip through life. His greatest hope was that someone would be kind enough to give him just a little more and make his life a bit easier. That was his hope. However, his hopes are crushed! Then God moves on a couple of preachers to take him to “a place where hope had never dared to go!” Peter said, “I don’t have money but I will give you what I have!” Taking him by the right hand, he commanded the man who had been lame to arise and walk! As he lifted him, the lame man’s feet and ankles received strength. He not only arose, he not only walked, but he went leaping, running, and praising God through the temple. For the first time in his life, he entered the temple because those who were lame were not permitted to enter the temple. He was no longer lame! The ban had been lifted!
God’s greatest desire for us is to take us to “a place where hope has never dared to go!” If we are children of the King of Kings then we have the right to the benefits of the kingdom. We are too often afraid to dream or even to hope that life can be different. Too often, we are content to ask for the leftovers, the spare change. God’s desire is to give us more that we can dare to hope. The world tells us think positive thoughts, but in our despair, we cannot even hope!
Paul speaks to us from Ephesians chapter three about God’s feeling for us. I do not have the time or space to go into a deep study on this but let me briefly share what God spoke to me. God fills us with His Spirit to help us to understand the magnitude of His love for us. To allow us to share the power and fullness of life that comes from Him. His Spirit living in us is to allow Him to do so much more than we can ever hope for or dream. It is His desire to take us to a “place where hope has never dared to go!”
We are not destined to live with broken hearts. Yes they will come. Life will happen and our hearts will be broken. Bad choices that we make will lead us to broken hearts. Life happening will often results in broken hearts. Sins of loved ones and those dear to us will often lead to broken hearts. However, we must realize that we are not fated to live with them. They are just opportunities for God to take us to “a place where hope has never dared to go!” He came to heal the broken heart! He came to make it new again! The broken heart is an opportunity for God to show His power and His love in a life!
Failures and defeat are part of life. We make mistakes. We fail in judgment! Oh if we could only live the moment again we would do it so differently. We cannot call back or relive those moments. Chains hold us captive by the mistakes and failures of yesterdays gone by. Fear holds us captive! Bonds of fear chain us. We are listening to the haunting taunts of failure! We will be happy with a couple of additional links in the chains to let us to move. We would never dare to hope those chains would be removed and we would be free to live and hope again! Hey! I have great news for you! Jesus Christ came to set the captive free! He came to take you to a place where hope has never dared to go! You can be free from you yesterdays. You can know a brand new tomorrow walking with Jesus Christ and allowing Him to set you free!
I have known people who lived in fear. Fear blinds you. You cannot see because of fear. Hurts and wrongs in your life will cause you to live in fear. This fear will blind you to what God wants to do in your life. A person who is blinded will always remember the last thing they saw before the injury. Too many people have allowed life to blind them and they live with a picture of the hurts and injuries that have happened to them. It is all they see. God has touched their lives, but all they see is the hurt. God has filled them with His Spirit, but all they see is the hurt. God has promised them joy, peace and righteousness, but all they see is the hurt! Again, I want you to know He came to heal the blinded eyes. Not just those physical eyes that are unable to see, He came to heal the spiritual, emotional eyes that are unable to see past yesterday! He came to take you to a “place where hope has never dared to go!”
Life impacts us! Sometimes it impacts in a good way. Many times life impacts in ways of sorrow and pain. Impact, a crash, blow or shock to our body will leave a bruise. We all have had bruises. We know them to be both ugly and painful reminders of the impact. They tell me that the bruise is the result of stopping the blood from flowing through that area. Until the blow resumes to flow there will be a bruise and healing will not take place for healing is in the blood. When the blood is set free to flow again then healing begins to take place and soon the bruise is gone and the impact is behind us. He came to liberate the bruised! Life shocks us. Life hurts us. Life affects us leaving bruises in its place. Once again, God is the difference maker! The blood of Jesus Christ will heal. God will take us to “a place where hope never dared to go.”
I remember several years ago that God spoke to me, as if in an audible voice, about being a God of Comfort. (Read my blog on the Great God of Comfort). The passage was from Second Corinthians chapter one and Paul speaks to tell us that God allows us to go through suffering, pain and misfortune so that we can experience His Comfort. However, it does not stop there. We experience His Comfort so that we might share that Comfort with others when they also go through suffering, pain and misfortune.
I had this driven home fourteen months ago. I was standing in an ICU waiting room with my son Jared. In the ICU, room was his fiancé. They were to be married in about five weeks. All of his hopes and dreams lay at deaths door. I am his father. All of his life I have tried to protect him from pain, suffering and misfortune. I have tried to fix those things that were wrong and make them right. That day I stood helpless.
I was talking on the phone to Abby, my daughter and I began to weep. Just a few years earlier, I had stood with her and Kelsey when they had lost their baby. Again, I had been unable to protect them or to fix things so they would not hurt. As I began to weep, I told her how helpless I felt. I had not been able to protect her and I could not do anything for Jared. It hurt so badly and my heart broke. I will never forget what Abby told me that day. She said, “Dad it is alright. You and mom have taught us there are times we just have to rely on God. Because we have gone through these times, we can now put our arms around others and tell them from experience that God will be there and God will heal and deliver! This is the only way we can really know that.” Once again, God took me to “a place where hope never dared to go!”
The lame man only hoped for a couple of dimes. God took him to “place where hope never dared to go.” How about you, what is it that you are dealing with that has broken you heart. What is it that has you bound, blinded or bruised? Is it the past? Is it the failure of a marriage? Is it the repeated mistakes? Is it the death of a loved one? There are so many things? However, I promise you God wants to take you to “a place where hope has never dared to go!” Let Him…
It’s just a thought…God Bless!
I was reading in my Bible in the third chapter of Acts. It is one of my favorite stories. Peter and John are on their way to the Temple to pray. This is something they must have done on a regular basis from the way it reads. As they approach the door of the Temple, a man calls to them in an effort to get their attention.
This man had been lame all of his life. For years, people had carried him to the Temple and laid him beside the busiest entrance so he could beg money of those coming and going by him. This was all he had known and this was all he expected from life. When he saw the two men approach, he once again asked for money. To what must have been his surprise, instead of ignoring him or tossing a coin his way, one of them said. “Look at us!”
His heart must have began to beat a bit faster as he thought he was about to receive a memorable amount of money from them. Then as equally fast, it must have plunged to his crippled feet as the next words spoken were, “We don’t have any money!”
Here was a man whose only hope everyday was that people would have pity on him. His hope was that he would receive enough from others that he could slip through life. His greatest hope was that someone would be kind enough to give him just a little more and make his life a bit easier. That was his hope. However, his hopes are crushed! Then God moves on a couple of preachers to take him to “a place where hope had never dared to go!” Peter said, “I don’t have money but I will give you what I have!” Taking him by the right hand, he commanded the man who had been lame to arise and walk! As he lifted him, the lame man’s feet and ankles received strength. He not only arose, he not only walked, but he went leaping, running, and praising God through the temple. For the first time in his life, he entered the temple because those who were lame were not permitted to enter the temple. He was no longer lame! The ban had been lifted!
God’s greatest desire for us is to take us to “a place where hope has never dared to go!” If we are children of the King of Kings then we have the right to the benefits of the kingdom. We are too often afraid to dream or even to hope that life can be different. Too often, we are content to ask for the leftovers, the spare change. God’s desire is to give us more that we can dare to hope. The world tells us think positive thoughts, but in our despair, we cannot even hope!
Paul speaks to us from Ephesians chapter three about God’s feeling for us. I do not have the time or space to go into a deep study on this but let me briefly share what God spoke to me. God fills us with His Spirit to help us to understand the magnitude of His love for us. To allow us to share the power and fullness of life that comes from Him. His Spirit living in us is to allow Him to do so much more than we can ever hope for or dream. It is His desire to take us to a “place where hope has never dared to go!”
We are not destined to live with broken hearts. Yes they will come. Life will happen and our hearts will be broken. Bad choices that we make will lead us to broken hearts. Life happening will often results in broken hearts. Sins of loved ones and those dear to us will often lead to broken hearts. However, we must realize that we are not fated to live with them. They are just opportunities for God to take us to “a place where hope has never dared to go!” He came to heal the broken heart! He came to make it new again! The broken heart is an opportunity for God to show His power and His love in a life!
Failures and defeat are part of life. We make mistakes. We fail in judgment! Oh if we could only live the moment again we would do it so differently. We cannot call back or relive those moments. Chains hold us captive by the mistakes and failures of yesterdays gone by. Fear holds us captive! Bonds of fear chain us. We are listening to the haunting taunts of failure! We will be happy with a couple of additional links in the chains to let us to move. We would never dare to hope those chains would be removed and we would be free to live and hope again! Hey! I have great news for you! Jesus Christ came to set the captive free! He came to take you to a place where hope has never dared to go! You can be free from you yesterdays. You can know a brand new tomorrow walking with Jesus Christ and allowing Him to set you free!
I have known people who lived in fear. Fear blinds you. You cannot see because of fear. Hurts and wrongs in your life will cause you to live in fear. This fear will blind you to what God wants to do in your life. A person who is blinded will always remember the last thing they saw before the injury. Too many people have allowed life to blind them and they live with a picture of the hurts and injuries that have happened to them. It is all they see. God has touched their lives, but all they see is the hurt. God has filled them with His Spirit, but all they see is the hurt. God has promised them joy, peace and righteousness, but all they see is the hurt! Again, I want you to know He came to heal the blinded eyes. Not just those physical eyes that are unable to see, He came to heal the spiritual, emotional eyes that are unable to see past yesterday! He came to take you to a “place where hope has never dared to go!”
Life impacts us! Sometimes it impacts in a good way. Many times life impacts in ways of sorrow and pain. Impact, a crash, blow or shock to our body will leave a bruise. We all have had bruises. We know them to be both ugly and painful reminders of the impact. They tell me that the bruise is the result of stopping the blood from flowing through that area. Until the blow resumes to flow there will be a bruise and healing will not take place for healing is in the blood. When the blood is set free to flow again then healing begins to take place and soon the bruise is gone and the impact is behind us. He came to liberate the bruised! Life shocks us. Life hurts us. Life affects us leaving bruises in its place. Once again, God is the difference maker! The blood of Jesus Christ will heal. God will take us to “a place where hope never dared to go.”
I remember several years ago that God spoke to me, as if in an audible voice, about being a God of Comfort. (Read my blog on the Great God of Comfort). The passage was from Second Corinthians chapter one and Paul speaks to tell us that God allows us to go through suffering, pain and misfortune so that we can experience His Comfort. However, it does not stop there. We experience His Comfort so that we might share that Comfort with others when they also go through suffering, pain and misfortune.
I had this driven home fourteen months ago. I was standing in an ICU waiting room with my son Jared. In the ICU, room was his fiancé. They were to be married in about five weeks. All of his hopes and dreams lay at deaths door. I am his father. All of his life I have tried to protect him from pain, suffering and misfortune. I have tried to fix those things that were wrong and make them right. That day I stood helpless.
I was talking on the phone to Abby, my daughter and I began to weep. Just a few years earlier, I had stood with her and Kelsey when they had lost their baby. Again, I had been unable to protect them or to fix things so they would not hurt. As I began to weep, I told her how helpless I felt. I had not been able to protect her and I could not do anything for Jared. It hurt so badly and my heart broke. I will never forget what Abby told me that day. She said, “Dad it is alright. You and mom have taught us there are times we just have to rely on God. Because we have gone through these times, we can now put our arms around others and tell them from experience that God will be there and God will heal and deliver! This is the only way we can really know that.” Once again, God took me to “a place where hope never dared to go!”
The lame man only hoped for a couple of dimes. God took him to “place where hope never dared to go.” How about you, what is it that you are dealing with that has broken you heart. What is it that has you bound, blinded or bruised? Is it the past? Is it the failure of a marriage? Is it the repeated mistakes? Is it the death of a loved one? There are so many things? However, I promise you God wants to take you to “a place where hope has never dared to go!” Let Him…
It’s just a thought…God Bless!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Write a Message on Your Shoe!
Several years ago, actually about 3 decades back, my wife and I were at a concert and a song was sang by the group that stuck in my mind. I was able to find the song online, Let me share the words with you;
You're about to hear a truth that will loose you from the noose
The devil's been using to defeat you
To you it may be shockin', to him you will be lockin'
The power you thought he had over you
I learned that God put all things under Jesus' feet
And since we are His body, I'm sure we are His feet
I think you've got the picture and now know what to do
Write a message to the devil (devil) on the bottom of your shoe (shoe, shoe, shoe)
Chorus:Write a message to the devil on the bottom of your shoe
Tell him you rebuke him and he's a liar too
You've finished list'nin' to him, God's word you will do
And be sure to write this message on the bottom of your shoe (shoe, shoe, shoe)
When Satan tries to blind you by depression or confusion
He's trying hard to defeat you
To you he is lyin', tell him you're denyin'
The power you let him have over you
Remember God put all things under Jesus' feet
And since we are His body I'm sure we are His feet
Now that you've got the picture, remember what to do
Words and Music: Dianne Mays © 1979 Emmanuel Music
And do not give the devil a foothold." Ephesians 4:27
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
It's just a thought! God Bless...
Don Doran
TEAM Ministry
You're about to hear a truth that will loose you from the noose
The devil's been using to defeat you
To you it may be shockin', to him you will be lockin'
The power you thought he had over you
I learned that God put all things under Jesus' feet
And since we are His body, I'm sure we are His feet
I think you've got the picture and now know what to do
Write a message to the devil (devil) on the bottom of your shoe (shoe, shoe, shoe)
Chorus:Write a message to the devil on the bottom of your shoe
Tell him you rebuke him and he's a liar too
You've finished list'nin' to him, God's word you will do
And be sure to write this message on the bottom of your shoe (shoe, shoe, shoe)
When Satan tries to blind you by depression or confusion
He's trying hard to defeat you
To you he is lyin', tell him you're denyin'
The power you let him have over you
Remember God put all things under Jesus' feet
And since we are His body I'm sure we are His feet
Now that you've got the picture, remember what to do
Write a message to the devil (devil) on the bottom of your shoe
Words and Music: Dianne Mays © 1979 Emmanuel Music
Too often we listen to our enemy rather than the voice of our Savior! Let me share a couple of passages with you, I think the song says everything else that needs to be said:
"And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23
"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Rom 16:20""And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23
And do not give the devil a foothold." Ephesians 4:27
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
It's just a thought! God Bless...
Don Doran
TEAM Ministry
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Are You Still Waiting On God?
I just want everyone to know that I am not, by nature, the patient type. I grew up in a preachers home, so at an early age I had heard that tribulation works patience. I have never prayed for patience, because I didn’t want the tribulation that would cause me to have patience. Good thing, I have had enough without praying for more.
I said all that in order to say, I hate to wait! I hate stop lights that are set on timers. They have you waiting for the light to change when there hasn’t been a car passing in the five minutes you have been sitting there. Slow drivers, those who refuse to go the speed limit, make me twitch.
When my wife and I were first married, I had to learn to wait. I am the type person who hates to get anywhere early, but I don’t want to be late either. I know how long it takes me to get dressed, eat and drive to work, to the minute. The same goes for church. So when we were suppose to be there at a certain time and weren’t ready to leave yet, I would sit in the car a honk the horn. If you think that helps, guess again.
Let me give a word of advice to other men. DON’T DO THAT! I finally learned to find something to do, such as read a book or mess with the computer while I am waiting. We are still married thirty years later.
If I start a new project, I want it done yesterday! Many times I have worked a lot of extra hours to finish because I had a hard time waiting. Thank God, with age, I have become a little better at the waiting game.
I have had problems with passages in the Bible. You know, scriptures like, “They that wait upon the Lord….” for one. Another is, “Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him…” Still another, “…Those that wait upon the Lord, shall inherit the earth.” How about, “…Wait on the Lord and keep His way…” I came across this one just the other day, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me and heard my cry.”
Wait! I know it is something that I need to do, but I really don’t have time! I am in a hurry to get where I want to be in God. I am in a hurry to see things done in my life. I can’t wait! It is kind of like the fellow who was praying and said, “God I want patience and I want it now!”
Actually, the word wait is a very interesting word and in the Bible context that we have read it in here, has little in common with our definition. Without going into a long discourse of Hebrew definition, let me share what I got from my study on the word. Simply this: “qavah - to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:” (1)
To put it in our lingo, it is to twist together making one. Picture this: take a piece of thin string. It can be nylon, cotton or grass. Hold it in each hand and jerk on it. More that likely a good stiff jerk will cause it to break.
You know if you get enough of those thin little pieces of string and you bind them together in a twisting motion. Then you take a couple of those and bind them together in a twisting motion. Then you take a few of those and bind them together in a twisting motion you will have a line that is strong enough it will hold the Queen Mary to the dock in a storm.
What the Psalmist is not saying is this. I am just going to sit around and wait until it is done. Hurry up God! What the writer is not saying is I am going to put on my apron and bring your super!
I said all that in order to say, I hate to wait! I hate stop lights that are set on timers. They have you waiting for the light to change when there hasn’t been a car passing in the five minutes you have been sitting there. Slow drivers, those who refuse to go the speed limit, make me twitch.
When my wife and I were first married, I had to learn to wait. I am the type person who hates to get anywhere early, but I don’t want to be late either. I know how long it takes me to get dressed, eat and drive to work, to the minute. The same goes for church. So when we were suppose to be there at a certain time and weren’t ready to leave yet, I would sit in the car a honk the horn. If you think that helps, guess again.
Let me give a word of advice to other men. DON’T DO THAT! I finally learned to find something to do, such as read a book or mess with the computer while I am waiting. We are still married thirty years later.
If I start a new project, I want it done yesterday! Many times I have worked a lot of extra hours to finish because I had a hard time waiting. Thank God, with age, I have become a little better at the waiting game.
I have had problems with passages in the Bible. You know, scriptures like, “They that wait upon the Lord….” for one. Another is, “Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him…” Still another, “…Those that wait upon the Lord, shall inherit the earth.” How about, “…Wait on the Lord and keep His way…” I came across this one just the other day, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me and heard my cry.”
Wait! I know it is something that I need to do, but I really don’t have time! I am in a hurry to get where I want to be in God. I am in a hurry to see things done in my life. I can’t wait! It is kind of like the fellow who was praying and said, “God I want patience and I want it now!”
Actually, the word wait is a very interesting word and in the Bible context that we have read it in here, has little in common with our definition. Without going into a long discourse of Hebrew definition, let me share what I got from my study on the word. Simply this: “qavah - to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:” (1)
To put it in our lingo, it is to twist together making one. Picture this: take a piece of thin string. It can be nylon, cotton or grass. Hold it in each hand and jerk on it. More that likely a good stiff jerk will cause it to break.Next, take three or four of the same size in thickness. Put them together and twist them a few times. Now give the same stiff jerk. It might break, but it will be more difficult, this time. If you keep adding to the string, pretty soon you have a cord. Add more and pretty soon you have a rope.
You know if you get enough of those thin little pieces of string and you bind them together in a twisting motion. Then you take a couple of those and bind them together in a twisting motion. Then you take a few of those and bind them together in a twisting motion you will have a line that is strong enough it will hold the Queen Mary to the dock in a storm.What the Psalmist is not saying is this. I am just going to sit around and wait until it is done. Hurry up God! What the writer is not saying is I am going to put on my apron and bring your super!
What the writer is saying is, if I can unite myself with God. Somehow I must bind myself to Him. If I can become one with God I will become stronger. My strength will be renewed. I will be able to learn His ways. I will be able to be an over comer. I can become refreshed!
What a life changing thought. I don’t have to do this on my own? I have always thought that it is all about how tough and resilient I am. Now I am finding out that it is all about waiting. I am finding that spiritual success is all about uniting myself with Jesus Christ.
Many years ago, Brother Paul Price of Napa, California taught a lesson on how to get more out of the Bible. He gave an illustration that I have never forgotten and we are talking about thirty-seven years later. He read from Matthew 11 where Jesus offers us to take His yoke and learn of Him.
Brother Price explained that he had done research on the yoke (thus getting more from your Bible study). In the Bible day when they wanted to teach a young ox how to work in the yoke they put him with a trained ox that was bigger than the young ox. They hitched them so that the entire burden was on the shoulders of the experienced ox. All that the young ox had to do was walk in the yoke. His sole purpose was to learn when to halt, turn and go. He only had to learn the commands. He had to “learn of” the experienced ox that carried the load.
Jesus offers to have us unite with Him. He bids us to walk with Him and learn of Him. He offers us the opportunity to allow Him to carry the load, His yoke is easy. His burden is light. Really what He is encouraging us to do is to wait on Him. We are invited to bind ourselves together with Him. He wants us to become one with Him. We are able to renew our strength through Him. To be refreshed and rested because of Him.
Oh, waiting is a hard thing to do. I hate to say I can’t do it on my own. It hurts to say I need help, I need somebody else. Yet when I submit myself to the yoke I become powerful. Not powerful in myself, but powerful in Him.
It is a trust issue. I have got to come to the place where I stop wringing my hands together. I have got to stop pacing the floor and moaning and groaning because I don’t know what to do. I just need to wait on God, to trust in Him. I need to become one with Him.
I think what I am going to do is wait patiently on God!
I think what I am going to do is wait patiently on God!
God Bless! It's just a thought...
(1) (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
(1) (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
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