Caught or Taught?

There are many times that we have students in our home who come to study through international exchange programs. This year is no different. We have a sweet young lady from France who recently arrived. She is soft spoken, gentle, curious about all these new things she is being introduced to. Church, food, children, home learning….It is all so new and exciting for her! (and us too truth be told)

 

 

Today, to celebrate two of our children’s birthdays we headed to Green Bay; it was a day of riding amusement park rides, eating pizza and cotton candy and visiting with grandparents and great grandparents. Since we see them so seldom it is always a treat for the children to get to spend a day with them. Card games and cribbage and so much to talk about!

 

One of those things is Jesus. The great grandparents are not familiar with the joy of the Lord; they know nothing of this great life changing faith.  Nor do our exchange students most of the time. Often there are some awkward moments (mostly with my mother in law) who unfortunately (?) sees every encounter with others as an opportunity to tell them what they must do to be saved. While some may admire the way she “preaches to all” I fear it catches very few.

 

No doubt we are commanded to go and teach and preach boldly the message of the Gospel. Yet I ponder as I listened to her today telling our student and “unsaved” family about how they just dress and what they must do . .. Are we teaching or are we catching, for Jesus?

 

There is a difference. We are called to be fishers of men, We are called to teach. Certainly there are many out there who have a need. The question is, do they see this need? We can preach to every person we meet, every day, every place but if they do not see for themselves, this need for Christ…

 

Humility. It is humility that draws other to see a difference and to desire what we have. Certainly I do believe that we are to dress in a way that is pleasing to the Lord; I believe that there is a way to be saved and I have no doubt that we must be obedient to the commands of our Lord.

 

 

But what does it profit, to tell someone who does not even know Him, how they must be saved? We cannot preach modesty, spiritual gifts, salvation or any other, to those who do not yet desire the milk of the Word.

 

 

I jokingly said to someone that the difference between catching someone and teaching someone is that, when you catch them, they aren’t completely willing. Perhaps they sit and listen for a time; maybe they agree with some of what you say, but they are not seeking. They may be pacifying – seeking to keep peace – they do not feel invited though so much as they perhaps feel trapped.

 

 

Teaching on the other hand, is something that happens when someone is pursuing a curiosity. Those we meet, as we learn of them and they learn of us, we are teaching. They are teaching. We learn and share, gently, together. We show the humility of Jesus. It is our work to encourage and inspire them; just as he served so ought we to serve. In humility.

 

Perhaps there are times we believe we are being humble; we ought to be cautious though. Why are we speaking? Is it out of pride because we feel we know more? Do we speak in a way that makes our faith sound tiresome? I consider the times I have engaged in conversation about the things I do, the ways I do them … Was I glorifying Him or me?

 

 

 

Can we stop and consider if we are being gentle and patient. Let us not be as the Pharisees – telling others all that we do and seeking glory from man – let us rather show grace. To them and to one another. We all have so much to learn. As I read and study more and more about the meekness and humility of Christ, I am sure, that there is so much more I must learn. I have no doubt we must pray more and more for humility and for meekness, of Christ, within ourselves.

 

 

And so this is my prayer. I do not want to catch them. I want to walk with them. I do not want to be in a hurry. I do not want to be bothered by all that they “need” to know and to do. I want to know them, as He knows them. Learning of them as they learn of Him. Walking by faith in patience and in love. One step at a time. ❤

 

 

Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 ~ FlyBy Promotions Review

We love Veggies Tales! And we love What’s in the Bible? too!!  So I was so excited (my kids were too) to see this one!  As my oldest son said, “Its like Star Trek preaching to the galaxy which is what they should be doing! This is them doing what God wants.”  Great little mind 🙂

 

 

Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 is a must-see for all ages.  A great new video from VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer! My oldest son loved all of the Star Wars and Star Trek implications he found in this one. And what a wonderful way to share what really matters; the value of sharing the love and purpose God has given us, with others. Galaxy Buck is a fabulous way to share deep truths in a way that is simple for all ages to understand.

 

This is such a fun movie! My kids all watched this one, a few times, and every time the laughs just kept coming!  Buck and his fellow crew members travel through deep space, to Sector 9, and along the way they learn some amazing and powerful lessons. In a way that is just super exciting!!

 

https://player.vimeo.com/video/139391452?wmode=opaque

 

 

 

“In only 40 minutes your children get to travel the galaxy, into deep space. Share Buck Denver’s simple dream – to save the galaxy. As he works for the Galactic Mission Board, he dreams of carrying God’s love to every corner of the Milky Way! Except he doesn’t have a starship. Or a crew. Or even a captain’s license. He just needs a chance. But when that chance comes and Buck finds himself leading a real mission into deep space, things don’t go at ALL like he imagined! If he’s doing what God wants him to do, why is everything going wrong?

 

 

From VeggieTales® and What’s in the Bible? creator Phil Vischer, Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 is a wild, galactic adventure that teaches kids a powerful lesson about trusting God with everything – even our dreams!”

 

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Sharing the love of God and the truth of His love for us makes everything that we do, no matter how small, bigger than we can ever imagine!  When we trust in God and follow Him everything that we do is BIG! ❤

What IS the Hope?

It saddens me when I post something, meant to inform, and a firestorm of anger breaks out. People begin fighting; words are thrown around sarcastically and the meaning and purpose of the posting itself is lost.  My post this morning was about living for God; being aware of what His word says so that we are not deceived. And yet one line within that video caused a friend, to become angry and tell me I am speaking “the devils words” to her….. We need to be humble, we need to be teachable. Always. If I am in the church for 2 months or 20 years, I pray I will always remember His calling ad keep that hope in me. How important it is TODAY or us to be aware of His Word, and to live it and speak it BOLDLY.

 

I hope this timely reminder inspires you, and sets a fire within your soul, to live in a greater way today, than you did yesterday ❤

 

Oswald Chambers writes:
“…that you may know what is the hope of His calling… —Ephesians 1:18
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.

 
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “workout your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.

 
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly— “By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you….” Rise to the occasion— do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.

 
May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality— a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.”

 

Are you Sure?

(10) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

 
“Conventional wisdom” is not really wisdom! It is what is generally held to be true by many, yet it may, in fact, be fictitious. Some may be able to convince themselves that they will be safe from what lies ahead because they are with the right church—rather than being right with God. This is extremely dangerous, as it indicates do you trust in the wrong thing?

 
The letters to the seven churches each are concluded with Jesus saying, “he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”—plural—meaning we should glean all that we can from each letter rather than focus on just one.

 
One cannot conclude that, just because he fellowships with a particular faithful group, he will be carried along in its positive momentum and benefit from the promises of protection and other blessings. An unfaithful individual in a faithful group will reap what he sows, not what the rest of the group sows.

 

Are you sure you’re on the right side? What evidence do you have that you know Jesus? How will Jesus respond to your laundry list of “Christian” activities?

 

Please understand…I ask for the same reason Jesus gives the warning. It is the most loving thing I can do!

 

“Many” will go to hell even though they thought they’d waltz into paradise. Jesus will say to them, “Depart from me, I never knew you (Matt 7:23). The most frightening thing is that word “many” …. Will you sound like the “many” calling out in desperation, “Lord, Lord, did I not….in your name?” (Erasing Hell, Francis Chan)

 

Be sure you are on the right side. We CAN know.

 

Matthew 10:22: “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved”.

 

He makes it clear, this is an individual thing – How is your relationship with Jesus?

 

 

Who Don’t you Love?

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27).

So great should be our love for Jesus, that every other relationship falls to a distant second in importance. We must be willing to sacrifice everything, lose everything, forfeit everything in this life for the furtherance of the gospel and His Kingdom. We must be willing to bear that cross and live by the two greatest commandments: love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40). Its sacrificial love (John 15:13). Whatever we are unwilling to give up in obedience to and for Jesus Christ (even relationships) it is an idol. And idolatry is a sin against God.

If we refuse to share the gospel with a friend or family member because we fear we will lose our relationship with them, we are saying we love ourselves more than we love them. We are saying that our relationship is more important than their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Unsaved family and friends need to hear the truth; we cannot withhold what we are charged with by the Lord himself. Do we not want to see our unsaved family and friends get saved, before it is too late? We cannot be indifferent, and refuse to share the gospel, EVERY WORD OF IT, for in that we are not truly loving others. And many who believe they are sharing in a “friendship evangelism” only show that they care more about their relationships than they care for the eternal souls of those who do not have the only one that really matters.

If we truly love them we will do all we can to snatch them from the fire; let us go:

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:31)

 

Love God Greatly ~ Esther Study – Week 1 – Day 1

 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. (Esther 1:1-4)

 

S: Matthew 6:19-22 (KJV)
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

O: What do you consider your treasures to be? So often we get so busy, so concerned with the things of this world that it moves us away from the Lord. The things we desire and treasure. do they bring us closer to Him or are they in the way of our going deeper? Our walk with the Lord; we need to ensure that He is our focus. That we rid our lives of those things which are against Him and His word. Reevaluating what we treasure; what things mean the most to us all.

A: The word is such a dark place today. There are so many things and people that are contrary to the Word of God. We need to be careful, we need to evaluate things against His word to make sure that we are treasuring the things that really matter. Perhaps we need to make some changes in life and our routines and habits. I know I need to remember, in those days that are hard, that seem less than what I expected them to be, that my treasure is in Heaven. I need to choose to be joyful; choose to be content with things. Remembering that the Lord and my walk with Him is treasure enough. I need to embrace and remember all things that the Lord has already done and then speak those testimonies to others!

P: Jesus I ask you to search me, seek out those things in my life that are keeping me from a deeper walk with you. Lord cleanse me, sanctify and anoint me Lord that I may be of service to you for I am yours to use. Jesus keep me in the light; keep me salty, that I can share and walk with others who are seeking you. Being your hands and feet, being a workman you approve of. Jesus bless those who are seeking you; help them to come out from among the unclean ones and walk in your light and your love always! Give strength and love and light to these dark times. For our hope is in you alone. IN Jesus name! 🙂

Be blessed ladies!

Jenn

Where We Belong

I admit it – I am going to be very transparent here. I am struggling a bit right now. It is challenging me to see some very strong, lovely, Godly people who are having many trials right now – And then to see family members; steeped in sin, far from God – who are doing well. Enjoying their days and good things… I admit – i am not glad for them. It maddens me that they have, and those seeking and living for Him, have not.

I remember growing up – being a young adult- Not once did anyone come to save the day. Not family or friends. I had people there to support me and inspire me. But if I did not work, i did not eat. When I was arrested for doing something stupid, I had to pay the consequences. I had to face the music and admit what I did wrong. When I could not pay my rent; I had to get a second job so I would be able to pay. I went without a phone, I had electricity turned off once or twice.

When did we get to this place? Where kids do wrong and life just goes on. No big deal. How did we arrive in a time where a girl being pregnant, unmarried, loose, and unsure who the father is; makes her privvy to government monies, baby showers and celebrations? Where is the shame? Where is the “grow up” in all of this? My cousin, she is young, she is required to do nothing. In her mess, she is “living the good life” . Her days are full of being cared for by family and friends, even though she is repeatedly wrong. Drugs, alcohol, girls and boys, jail … no job, no education, no desire for any. It angers met. The wicked prosper….

I cannot lie, it truly upsets me. i cannot lie – I shake my fists – I seek God wanting to know why .. steeped in sin, no good thing – yet a life full of good things….It is not right.

I know. We are all sinners. We are saved by His grace and His mercy. BUT, hear me, is there not a BIG difference between those who are His, who are seeking to live ALL for Him. There is a difference between us who do everything and anything, for Him, and those who do not care for Him and the things of GOD. Why?

I am not jealous. I am not wanting those others have But what about that sweet couple who wants a baby? who understands and is ready to be a mom and a dad. what about that inspiring older couple;so full of Him and His spirit – they live a beautiful life that one cannot doubt, is all for Jesus – they can barely get by. Perhaps one has no car and takes the bus or a taxi, faithfully, to church for services. Another teaches Bible Studies, coming to others who are seeking. They struggle, they fight to just keep their head above water. And in all of, for all they have, they give God the glory.

It’s about eternity.  This world – it is not for us. The joy, the things that those of this world have, they do not, and should not, matter to us. I am not angry now. I am sad, for all those out there who are rescued by man again and again, never being left to stand on their own. never having been taught how to make a way. I am sad for those who may never know God, because the world has given them so many good things – too many good days and good friends and good things – they do not need God.  i am sad for them because all of this, counts for nothing, when we consider what really matters. Bless those who struggle, and do so full of the joy only Jesus can give. Bless those who just know, that while the wicked prosper, they have MORE in Christ alone.

Save me Lord for “my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.  For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Ps 73:2-3.)  i feel like Asaph truly; so bothered by seeing  the riches of those who are not living for Him. I can admit it. Some days I admit I pray this: “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.  For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning” (Ps 73:13-14.)  There is no doubt there are days I have to ask why? Why do I struggle to live for God when those who don’t have so much more? Is there a point? Why is every day a new struggle for me while they eat and drink in joy and sin?

God is so gracious though – to keep our feet in a place where we do not stumble. HE reminds me, as I believe He reminded Asaph (truly a Godly and righteous man): “…when I thought how to understand this”… (the prosperity of the wicked compared to  the hardships of God’s people… “it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end” (Ps 73:16-17.)  We praise and we worship; it is then only, that we see how “Truly you set them in slippery places, you make them fall to ruin.”   He sets them in a place where they will fall.  God will cause them ruin. Though they seem to have it all right now, in this world…  ultimately in the end is destruction and it will come.  “They will be swept away utterly by terrors.” In the end those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire where they will suffer forever (Rev 20:15.)  What they have now is of no matter. They enjoy all these things but none can save. Perhaps some days we forget what is in store for those who are so “Rich” right now.

“Nevertheless… (Ps 73:23.)”  In all of my foolishness; as I covet an easy life for myself, for those I love…I miss the bigger picture. I forget how much greater what we have, is compared to all that they have. I lose sight; like a dumb animal (Ps 73:21-22.). Who wants the blessings that are upon the wicked? I am ashamed of myself for thinking it at all.

“I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will receive me to glory.” 

God is all I need. HE is all we ever need. Focus on the eternal.

“Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:25-26.) 

God is our reward. May we never forget. Remove our eyes from those wicked that are before us and look up . Seek His kingdom.  If we look to the world, if we compare with the world ~ there is o comparison. Great is our reward and that reward is Him. For all of eternity. This world is dark; it gets darker all the time. Right is wrong and wrong is right. There is no good thing here for us. As His children, let us never forget we are  in the world but we are NOT of the world.

 

 

 

How He loves us

He loves us so. It’s all we hear; the love of God. How great it is, all encompassing and unconditional. As I was reading this morning in Leviticus, I was reminded of how deep His love really is. (I love this book, I know many find it hard to read but if we consider the reason and purpose for each little thing, its just the most amazing thing ever!) When there is a true love for some one is it not true that we are that much more detailed in what and how we do things? Do we not seek to do things which we know bring them joy and go out of our way to not do those things we know displease them. As He reminds them of the bondage He freed them from; how He provided for them and was with them through it all; He even tells them what they need to do. Again, in such detail there should be no doubt. Right?

Leviticus 26:1-14 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

If only every relationship was this easy! Well maybe easy isn’t quite the right word but consider….When we meet someone new, it takes time for us to learn about them. Their likes and their dislikes. What brings them joy and where they are sorrowed. But with God, He puts it all out there. Over and over again. He says. I am the Lord, reminding us of who He is, that He should ask these things of us. Being as socially inept, and introverted, and awkward when I am “out there” I personally appreciate someone telling me from the get go what will make and break our relationship. And God certainly does that; He did it then and continues to do so now. But look at the blessings; the protection that He provides for those who seek to keep His commands and do them. Isn’t it worth it? Honestly I too often feel like I am short changing Him – all He gives and the little I give to Him? Yet it is more than enough when it is ALL that I have to offer 🙂
14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.
32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

But if we are unwilling to follow His commands…..Oh my! It is sad that so many forget that while He does love us, He does not allow us to do whatever we desire. There is right and wrong; there is a standard we are called to live by. He is a holy God;  He hates sin. It does not mean that He hates those who sin but He surely will not allow one He loves to be rewarded when they are not doing as they should. We are called to a greater purpose. It may be a challenging walk but is it not worth it? Too often am I engaged in conversations with people who believe that God is love. A gentle soft, tolerant love that loves us as we are and expects nothing of us but occasional prayer, maybe a visit to the local church here and there….And He loves us just the way we are. But there is so much more. We need to love Him that much more. It’s so hard to explain how when you have truth, and you really know His word, nothing is really hard work anymore. It’s joy unspeakable!

Lev – If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

We have all done wrong. We have all sinned; we all come short of the glory of God. It is true. I fail Him daily and yet….still there is a way. For every one of us. Consider the Tribe of Dan; an example of His grace and mercy to all. The Tribe of Dan is not listed in Revelation 7 and 1 Chronicles also leaves them out of the genealogy. In Leviticus 24 one of the tribe of Dan blasphemes the name of the Lord and for this he is stoned and the tribe cursed. But they didn’t learn from that. Throughout the Bible we are shown their penchant for idols too. They even stole the idols they worshiped! Jewish tradition says Dan was the first tribe to follow Jeroboam into his sin of idolatry, and often the term “Dan” is used to represent idolatry.But in Ezekiel 48:1 states that Dan is first in line when land is distributed at the beginning of the millennium. Interesting right?

Do you see, how often they turn from Him; choosing their own ways? Are we not the same today? Yet still He loves us and makes a way! As terrible as all this may be, no matter the disobedience there is still a way that has been made. We must never forget that God’s Plan encompasses every one that answers His call (I Tim. 2:4).

It’s glorious how He loves us!

Revelation and the Antichrist ~ Review

The word revelation by definition speaks to things being revealed that are hidden. An unveiling, of future events, of knowledge. An ability to see clearly even, if you will.

The Book of Revelation is an amazing book. A puzzle, in many ways, that can only be read and understood when God Himself reveals these mysteries to you. As I do love puzzles and mysteries, I was very quick to accept the opportunity to review this book. So often I find there are more books written based on an opinion of what the book says and lacking scriptural notes. They just don’t make you exercise that faith.

Unfortunately this was not much different from most I have read previously. While it was a very easy read there was very little that made me say “aha” Now I know that this is not really a good prerequisite for a book; I mean I am no super genius, no Bible scholar by far, but I do have His spirit living within and believe that He guides me and my reading material. Sometimes more closely than I would like. haha

There is a great deal of detail within this book; much symbolism too.  And while I do agree that this book of the Bible is rich in just that, I sadly believe that in many cases the meaning was lost in all the symbolism.  It can be a challenge for many yet often we over think His word and what His meaning is within. It is simple; in many cases what it says. Don’t get me wrong there are things to be gleaned from this book I am sure, but for me personally, there are too many spots that I question his explanation of.  I do appreciate that there was much scripture used, linking those outside of the Book of Revelation to those within so you could see (again) correlations made throughout the Bible.. ( New Testament anyway).  As with all things, I stress we as readers, must pray, seek Him and be discerning in all that we read, letting His word be the ultimate authority. And some things that we just cannot understand? Perhaps it is His will.

Bless the Lord 🙂

Awake

8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Lately I am feeling quite discombobulated (I love that word) Its a challenge to stay awake and alert when it seems each day is just a bit of a struggle for me. I am tired; not enough time at His feet. And so I joined a wonderful group of ladies to read, with them, the Bible, front to back, this year. We just started but already I feel such a blessing from some of the women there. Their comments; things He has placed on their hearts; truths revealed to them already.

There is much coming my way this year. I know it; I claim and believe it because His word tells me it is so. Watching the heavens which He created, for glory and to “be a sign….” A sign of His coming? A sign of His power? A sign of the power within words, within sound. Thinking of how He spoke and there it was. Just like that. Should have been there to see it. I bet it was a Kodak moment. 😛

Then there is Cain who as I read, reminds me, of the value of a right heart, a right spirit, in the things we do. Reaching out and going beyond because of our love. For Him and for others. That cup of coffee I bring my husband in the morning; freshly brewed….Some mornings I bring it with a less than good spirit. Some mornings I bring it and am snappy about how no one brings me coffee in the morning “must be nice”. Its a Cain moment. We cannot serve as He did, if we serve others with our heart in the wrong place.

And some days, like my oldest son, what we want and what we get are very different. We know it and we are vocal about it. We complain; the actions of others disappoint us. They do not measure up to what we “know” they should be. Lord help us to be wise. What witness do we show? I have been told more than once that I  definitely show I am on fire; alll the time. I wonder though – what witness do I show? There is so much we must do; so much we must share. I mean eternity is the issue here right. We have to be awake. SO we can hear and be ready.

Exodus 34:2: And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.

AM I ready? Each morning when I awake; am I ready to meet Him and present myself to Him? I need to be ready. My children are wild and crazy; they play and they fight (my boys are all the way boys – you know what I mean right?) and so many mornings I awake only to roll out of bed and start breaking up the fights; yelling out orders…No time to get ready. I cannot make it to the meeting place even. In moments of frustration and anger (and there are too many of those lately) I get distracted by one thing or another – next thing I Know the day is almost done and did I ever make it to the top? Nope. In fact I gave up on getting there. We must not give up.

I have three little ones. My oldest is 8 (Ty), my two little ones are 4 (Alex) and 2 (Cora). They are precious to me. But they are young; they are being trained. And that means there is very little they can or should do without momma near their side. Let it be. I think of His word; how He reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. This is my time to serve; not half heartedly. Not with a grumbling spirit but with a heart that joys the love and joy that I have for these little ones who are growing into big ones. I need to bite my tongue and quit the glib comments about who could or should help and when and how. I need to remind myself that it is Him who sees all; the laundry and the messes that are made, the floors that are scrubbed a million times each day, HE sees. So who cares if it doesn’t seem to matter. Lord let me minister with a quieter spirit; let me show your love as I wash those dishes; scrub the crayon off the walls, pick up after all these sweet ones (big and small) ❤

In all of this I read from the first page, In the beginning….to the very end, the Book of Revelation which reminds us of how important it really is to trust Him. Must keep that faith. No matter how often we fall we can not stay down. We must get up and dust ourselves of and try again. We must embrace our imperfections and strive to see them as He does. I have often been reminded by the Lord, when nitpicking about my oldest son, that Paul was tenacious. Paul was imperfect, impulsive and Moses was quick to anger. He was not so good with people, or words, but there was a great purpose in those “flaws” that we see, which brought a greater thing to fruition. There is a power in our weaknesses that we will just never really know. Faith. It comes by hearing and reading His word. Faith. It grows greater when I bite my tongue; swallow the nasty and bitter words and hold out my arms in love. When I smile and serve even when I am tired and worn.

Truth is…I am broken. I was void, empty and dark. But truth is He took me out of that. He made me salt (I liken myself to that crazy cajun seasoning !?!?) and He made me light. Some days my light is super bright (in your face) other days, its a bit dimmer, a warm soft light. I strive to be a warmer and softer light while also remembering that sometimes that stronger, brighter (think floodlights! ha) are necessary too. I come to Him, I meet Him where I am and give Him all I have. And trust that He is more than enough; all I need.

Talk about love. Talk about grace.