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Weak and Strong

Posted on May 19, 2014 ·

blog picture strong weak But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [b]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may [c]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

10 So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [[d]in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful [e]in divine strength).2 Corinthians12:9-10.

 

We are constantly bombarded with human messages on TV, music , movies etc. that we can fight our own fights and be strong in ourselves. But united to Christ we are told something altogether different.

In the reading above Paul discloses that he had been harassed by a “thorn in the flesh”.  I have had a rose thorn get stuck in my finger when picking roses and it can really hurt. I wanted that thing out of my finger! The Lord used that experience to teach Paul a critical lesson about our relationship with the Lord; “for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [b]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Faith and Trust, prayer, Uncategorized ·
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It’s a Matter of Give and Take

Posted on May 12, 2014 ·

blog picture woman hurt feelings

 

 

13)Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13(NLT)

 

Offence: to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done.

 

I was thinking about “giving offence and taking offence” this last week. This is probably the easiest tool that Satan has for dividing the Body of Christ. It can effectively eliminate harmony and peace between people who have been told they must “Love one another” – if we let it.

We can all give offence. Let’s face it, an unguarded word or look can speak volumes to a sensitive person. Sometimes we can offend without even knowing we are doing it. Sometimes even a Christian can deliberately do or say something to hurt another Christian. Sadly, I have seen many “offended” people leave a church because their feelings were hurt by another Christian. We can more easily forgive a non-believer than a brother or sister in the Lord. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Forgiveness, Obedience, Peace, prayer, Uncategorized, Victory ·
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A Place Just for You

Posted on May 5, 2014 ·

960041_763046300375859_1610115485_n[1]14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.[a] If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?[b]3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going. John 14:1-4.

My husband and I were getting our rental condo ready for the family members on their way for a visit. We carefully planned for each person’s comfort and enjoyment. We had painted, bought new furniture and appliances and had put up artwork that we thought would be a blessing to them. We had a wonderful time preparing for our coming loved ones. As I was working, I remembered that the Lord is doing this for each and every one of us that trust in Him.

He is truly preparing a place for us. He knows our tastes and likes. He knows what colors we prefer. He knows what makes us happy. He is anticipating our arrival with joy and happiness. He is looking forward to having us there. He is personally going to come and get us so we can always be there where He is.

As the day of my family’s arrival draws near I am filled with happy anticipation. So is He.

Jesus is Lord!

 

Filed Under: Heaven, Hope, Peace, Uncategorized ·
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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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God’s Timetable

Posted on April 21, 2014 ·

picture blog joseph wheat dreamNow Joseph had a dream and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him still more.6 And he said to them, Listen now and hear, I pray you, this dream that I have dreamed:7 We [brothers] were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and behold, your sheaves stood round about my sheaf and bowed down!8 His brothers said to him, Shall you indeed reign over us? Or are you going to have us as your subjects and dominate us? And they hated him all the more for his dreams and for what he said.

I was reading the story of Joseph and how the Lord used him. Although he was only a teenager, the Lord gave him a prophetic dream. He showed him that his family would  bow down to him. But when did that dream finally manifest itself in the natural?  -Years later.

Joseph had to be prepared for that final position. But as you recall his jealous brothers decided to get rid of him, selling him to a passing caravan of traders. Then he was sold to Potiphar, did a great job managing his household, and was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of trying to molest her. He wound up in jail where he learned to manage the needs of the prisoners. Later he met two of Pharaohs’ workers and interpreted their dreams. Later he was called to appear to Pharaoh where he correctly interpreted his dream and was appointed to rule as next in command to Pharaoh. Joseph’s position as second in command allowed him to provide for his family in the time of famine.

Joseph was given a prophecy. But it was years before he saw it come to fruition.

Maybe someone has given you a prophecy. Relax and let the Lord plan out how things will go.

Our problem is that we are the Burger King generation. We want things now and we want it our way. But that is not how the Lord works. He prepared Joseph step by step for his final destination – second in command to Pharaoh. It took years.

Joseph knew the Lord was with him. He knew that he would be a leader. He just did not know when. The Lord was the one planning and bringing things into being.

We are on God’s timetable

The Lord has plans for your life too. I have noticed that I have learned and grown from every job I have had. Some of those jobs were difficult. Some good and some bad.  But I have learned from each and every one of them.

So we learn to get on the Lord’s timetable – not ours.

We learn to be patient. The Lord is in charge of our lives.

Jesus is Lord!

 

 

Filed Under: Faith and Trust, Uncategorized ·
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Encouraging Ourselves

Posted on April 7, 2014 · 
picture encouraging ourselves

 

David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened  himself in  the Lord 1 Samuel 30:6.

You have probably read about the time when David and his men came home one day to Ziklag to find  that everything and everybody had been carried away by their enemies. David’s men were a mess. They blamed David and wanted to stone him. But David did something different. He encouraged  and strengthened himself in the Lord. Then he went out and the Lord gave him victory. The Lord restored.

How did he do that?

He began to remind himself of all the times the Lord had shone Himself strong on his behalf. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Faith and Trust, Uncategorized, Victory, wisdom ·
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More About the Rock Foundation

Posted on March 31, 2014 ·

“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” -Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

blog picture man on rockIn my last post we considered the difference between two houses. One was built on sand and the other built on rock. We saw that the house built on sand collapsed when the storms of life came.

Now let’s consider what happens when we are obedient, faithful Christians firmly planted on the Rock. The storms of life still come – job problems, kid problems, health problems, money problems and so on. But when the storm and floods are over, we are still standing. The Lord has told us that our lives won’t collapse. Our lives will go on strong with our feet firmly planted on the solid rock of the Lord.

Notice that as long as there is no storm the houses both seem to be secure. It is only when the storms, floods and winds come that the true foundation of the house is revealed.

Let’s stay on the Rock of obedience to the Lord.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Hope, Obedience, Uncategorized ·
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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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Something to Think About

Posted on January 17, 2014 ·

blog picture baby wtih cakeFor the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Philippians 4:8

 

Have you ever found yourself remembering a painful moment in life and in your mind adding in things you should have or could have said at the time? How about mulling over what someone at work said to you? Or at school today? Or worries about things that have not happened? These thoughts can make us feel angry, hurt, and sad or rejected or fearful.

 

Paul in his letter to the Philippians addressed this common problem. Led by the Holy Spirit, he advises us to replace these unpleasant and useless thoughts with thoughts about things that are true. When I start thinking about some worrisome thing I ask my self if it true? For example I was going on a plane flight. Thoughts of plane crashes started to pepper my mind. So then I had to ask myself, “Are my thoughts about me being in a plane crash true?” The answer was “No”. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Peace, Uncategorized, Word of God ·
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And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine). Revelation 21:5

May the Lord bless,protect and reveal Himself to you in the coming year.

Love,

Lori

 

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