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Trial to Triumph – or “Why is this happening to me?” Part 7

Posted on November 3, 2014 ·

picture gold bars4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is [a]coming soon].Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that [c]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall [d]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Going through a trial is no picnic but the Lord has given us some clear directions for how to continue in His peace during the trial. He tells us not to fret or worry but to tell Him by specific requests what we need.  I have learned to be accurate in asking for what I need.

 I have a sister in the Lord who was in deep debt. She added up all her debt and came to an amount of one hundred thousand dollars. We prayed and trusted the Lord that He would cleanse her of all debt. A few months later – her debt was met and cleared! Praise the Lord! When I prayed for a husband I was very specific. I searched my heart and asked the Lord for a tall businessman who was a seasoned Christian who had no children and did not need me to support him. The Lord answered my prayers with my wonderful husband Walt who is all of the things I asked for and so much more.

Notice what happens when we ask and also thank the Lord for all that He has done and for what He is going to do especially during a trial. His peace comes to us. That peace guards our hearts and minds from attacks of the enemy.

Jesus is Lord!

 

Filed Under: Hope, Love, Obedience, Victory ·
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Serious Love

Posted on July 28, 2014 ·

picture people getting along14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters,[d] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister[e] is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. 1 John 3:14-15

I was reading 1 John today and as I read it I noticed how many times John stressed to his readers to love one another. Somebody told me once that the letters were written because churches were struggling with problems. So I suppose that John wrote that because some people in the church were struggling to love each other, and in fact some hated each other!

Now why did that happen? Brother Yun, author of the Heavenly Man said that in China non believers hurt Christians but in the United States Christians hurt Christians. The closer we get to one another, the greater the chance of hurting each other.

We all say and do things without thinking sometimes. Our words or actions can wound. That’s why forgiveness is so critical. So that even if we are hurt by another Christian we can avoid becoming  “hateful” and continue to love each other – yes, even if the person never apologizes to us. Notice that John says that anyone who hates another brother or sister is a murderer at heart! That is serious! 

There was a woman at my church many years ago who went out of her way to wound me several times. I had a real struggle to keep on loving her. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Love, Obedience, Peace, Uncategorized ·
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Texting the Lord

Posted on July 21, 2014 ·

picture of text l love youLet us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. Hebrews 4:16(AMP)

 

I know a young High School couple. They love talking to each other and when they are apart, they text constantly. Even when I was sitting next to the young man at a family gathering the texting went on. Constant communication. It reminded me of the way we keep in constant communication with the Lord.

Little words of love, praise, and thanks sprinkled throughout our day. When I keep the presence of the Lord close to me even when something unexpected happens we are right in tandem. He is right there. His presence calms, directs and helps me throughout my day.

The Lord loves to hear from us. There are people I would never bother with a question or even share a thought with because they have no interest in my life. But the Lord is different. He wants us to come boldly before His throne. Unlike kings of old who never permitted an uninvited person to approach them the Lord is a warm and loving Father who wants us to come on up and sit on His lap and tell Him what we are feeling and thinking ; even when we are frightened or worried or sad or if we have messed up. He wants to hear it all. His love is never ending.

I have met Christians who have told me they only pray for others and don’t want to bother the Lord with their own needs. These Christians don’t realize that they are the Lord’s children. I never worried about asking my parents for food, or a new dress. My mother was available to hear about all the little things going on in my life. The Lord is like that. He loves to hear from you. And when you are quietly listening to Him He will speak to you too.

We are blessed to have a loving Heavenly Father.

Jesus is Lord!

 

Filed Under: Love, Peace, prayer, Uncategorized ·
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Staying Attached to the Vine

Posted on July 14, 2014 ·

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15: 1-4

 picture of vine and grapes

 

I had dinner the other night with a group of women. The woman sitting next to me was a missionary. As we spoke I noticed how she made her decisions based the guidance she received from the Lord in prayer and in the Word. I thought that was great. And it touched my heart to see how the Lord has a special and unique relationship with each and every one of us.

He wants to guide and help us through our lives. Before the earth was formed He gave careful thought and planning to us and our lives. He knows the best plan for our lives.

How do we get to the point that we want the Lord to direct our lives and decisions? I think that the more we come to love Him, the more we trust Him with our lives. I could see how very much that Missionary loves the Lord and spends time in prayer. She is like someone who has moved closer to hear better. She is firmly attached to the vine and the very life of Jesus flows through her life.

She is attached to the vine.

Let’s do the same.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Love, Obedience, Uncategorized, Word of God ·
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Loving the Unlovable

Posted on April 28, 2014 ·

blog picture homeless man34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:34-36

Sometimes we can learn valuable lessons from young Christians. I have had the honor of knowing some of the most beautiful hearted young Christians.

I was at work one day with a young woman with a gentle disposition and a fervent love for Jesus. She was an example for me. She told me she had been to church the day before and at the Communion she had stood next to a smelly homeless man. But that’s not the way she saw him. She said she remembered Jesus and how we minister to Him when we love and help the needy. Her heart went out to that man. She said she felt the Lord tell her that he was hungry. After Church she and her young husband took the man out for a bountiful meal.

Another time I met three young women who shared an apartment. All were devout Christians. They often told me how much they loved Jesus. One day they decided to have a “lasagna party” at their home for the many psychiatric homeless people that attended their inner city church. They fed about thirty people and made a joyful, happy time for people who did not have much joy in their lives.

Needy people often aren’t beautiful in the eyes of the world, but they are beautiful in Jesus’ eyes. Maybe we need to look around us for opportunities to bless those with need.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Love, Obedience, Uncategorized ·
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The Power of the Tongue

Posted on April 14, 2014 ·

blog picture child wordsDeath and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. Proverbs 18: 21

I wonder how many words we say in a day. Thousands, I guess. I often don’t remember that my words have a power. They can bless or curse. Lift up or put down. Frighten or encourage. Lighten a load or make it heavier.

I was working in a baby clinic a few years ago. As I entered the exam room, I heard a young mother speaking to her baby. “You’re no good. You are bad.” She said it twice before she noticed I had come into the room. I felt so sad for that little one. Words of death. That mother did not know the power of her own words. If she has not changed her words she will eat the fruit of her words in the behavior of her child. She will have what she said.

My eighty eight year old mother still speaks words of blessing and encouragement every time we talk to her. Those words of blessing still echo through my soul. I have heard them many times and yet they still bring comfort and the knowledge of my mother’s love. Words of life.

I have learned from my mother.

We remember that the Lord spoke the world into being. He also spoke and the ground was cursed when Adam sinned. Power.

The Lord wants the words that flow from our mouths to be life giving ,kind, loving, forgiving, uplifting blessings.

Let’s speak words of Life.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Love, Obedience ·
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How Do I Love Me?

Posted on February 10, 2014 ·

picture blog girl looking in mirror Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[e]38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[f]40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

“Love you neighbor as yourself”. I was thinking about this a few days ago. I need to love my neighbor – which we know is everybody- the way I love me. So let’s think about this. We feed and clothe ourselves. When we are sick we take ourselves to the doctor’s. We make sure we have a roof over our heads. We easily forgive ourselves for the mistakes we make. We are merciful to us. We look kindly at ourselves in the mirror and try to look our best. We are good to us. We love ourselves.

Now we need to think about our neighbor. The way the Lord defines our neighbor is any and all people of the earth. Everybody is our neighbor. Now the challenge is to love the people around us in the same way we love ourselves. That would mean we treat them kindly, meet physical needs – like food, clothing and shelter as we are able. Forgive easily the mistakes that others make. Love them from our hearts.

Notice that the Lord says that “Loving your neighbor as yourself” is equally important as loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul and mind.

Let’s love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Jesus is Lord!

 

Filed Under: Love, Obedience, Word of God ·
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From BEST FRIENDS:

Love Your Enemies

Sung by Maia

 

 

 

 

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The Measure

Posted on January 27, 2014 ·

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken togetherpicture blog measuring cups and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

 

I was baking a raspberry cobbler to day and as I measured out the flour, I remembered how the Lord said give and it shall be given  to you a good measure, pressed down shaken together  and running over will poured  into your lap. For the measure that you measure with, it will be measured to you.

 I measured out a cup of flour. Then I shook it down, then I pressed it down and I was able to add more flour to the cup.

But what if I used a quarter teaspoon to measure? Then I could expect a quarter teaspoon filled, shaken together and running over into my lap. If I use a gallon to measure with then I could expect a gallon pressed down, shaken together and running over into my lap. That’s quite a difference in volume, isn’t it?

So the bigger I give the more the Lord gives to me. He uses the measure I use! Really, most of us expect the Lord to be a big giver. When we pray we are not afraid to ask for big things, big solutions to our problems, big blessings for our families. So why shouldn’t our God expect us – His children – to be like Him?  Just as we have expectations of Him – so He has of us. He expects His children to be big givers – just like Him.

Give to whom?  To those that have a need that are in our lives, to valid charities, missions – what ever you have the unction to give to. Let the Lord lead you. We can never out give the Lord. Let’s use a big measure.

Jesus is Lord!

 

Filed Under: generosity, Love, Uncategorized ·
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Put That Rock Back!!

Posted on December 16, 2013 ·

blog picture rock and handTake no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” -Ephesians 5:11-14 (NLT)  

In  a recent entry I talked about letting your light shine. If you are in Christ and are obeying the Lord you will shine wherever you go. But it’s not always pleasant for people around us when we do shine. Paul says that people’s evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them. That is not a comfortable feeling for people to have. If you have ever been in a dark room and suddenly somebody turns on the light it hurts our eyes. Usually we would say “Turn off the light!!” In other words a bright shiny light can make some people uncomfortable and they want to turn that light off.

I am telling you this so you won’t be surprised that not everybody will have a positive reaction to the love, kindness and consideration you show to them.

We lived in the country for many years. I loved to go exploring with my children as we looked at the beauty of nature.  One day I saw a large interesting rock. Wanting to examine more closely, I lifted it off the ground. When I looked back at the place I had lifted it from I saw a whole colony of bugs running around in a panic. They were not happy that I had let the sun into their home. In fact, if they could have spoken to me they would have said “Put that rock back!!!”

So if you find yourself unappreciated for your love, just keep on loving them. Most will eventually get used to the light. Then share the Word as the Lord leads you.

Keep shining!

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Forgiveness, Love, Obedience ·
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