Life Lessons from God's Word
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Commentary on my Life now
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Commentary on my Life now: My Comments: I thought it was about time I spend time letting you know what the Lord is doing in my life and how He is using me. Because aft...
Commentary on my Life now
My Comments: I thought it was about time I spend time letting you know what the Lord is doing in my life and how He is using me. Because after all when we become a Child of God we are graced with doing Kingdom work. It really has not been that long since I penned a few lines before about where I was yet I felt this is a good time to take stock and let you know what life looks like now.
After my Hubby passed on the Lord had me move as I said before and I settled into fellowshipping and various Ministries within a wonderful body of believers. Though I did not understand why the Lord would move me here He has shown Himself faithful and true since I followed His urging to come here. The bonus for me is my Grandchildren and children who live close by. I get to see them now and again and even have some of my Grandchildren visit with me and that is a blessing from God.
When I am not at Church, the Library (like now), helping out or doing what needs to be done for myself or my family then I paint or even less now, write children's stories. When my youngest Daughter was little we would tell running stories night after night about Unicorns and other animals creatures. Some of the stories I write have to do with these little creatures but always there is a message in the story of our Lord. Mostly though my writing consists of this blog which the Lord gave me to give to all who take the time to read it and I thank Him for giving it and you for reading it. Comments are always welcome. Lol (for those who do not know this shortcut it mans Laugh out Loud, which I do often).
The paintings I do are usually scenery and always after the oil dries I add Scripture as that is what the Lord asks of me and has since He had me start painting about eight years ago. I pray you are busy with the Lord's work no matter what it is. We are to do the Lord's bidding and work with our whole heart even if our job is to clean the streets, raise our children, write books, work for someone else or we are self-employed, it does not matter. Everything we do we should do for the glory of God and to the best of our ability and with joy in our hearts.
Everywhere He places us is an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus and bring others into the family of God. The Mother who raises her children to love the Lord and know Him has done a wonderful work with the Lord. The man who sweeps the streets or drives a Taxi with joy shows the countenance of Jesus and maybe he will be able to share the Gospel with people he comes into contact with. When we work for someone and are always on time, eager to do more that asked, never complaining, cheerful and so forth, we show the face of Jesus and might be the only Word of the Lord a co-worker or Boss may ever see. When we serve an unbelieving spouse joyfully we may be the way for them to find Jesus and understand the Gospel. I could go on but you get the idea.
I once heard a story of a women (I will shorten it) who was married a very long time to a husband who drank all the time and went out to drink with buddies bringing them home late at night when the bars closed down only to have her get up and cook them a Meal.
She did so and graciously and with smiles. Never grumbling or refusing. This was amazing to me at the time because I was married too and I was sure I would not do as she did with out grumbling at the very least. I changed after I heard the rest of the story.
When she was serving the meal one morning with a smile on her face and humming a cheerful tune, one of the men who had often come home with her husband asked, "Every morning we come home with your Husband, you get up, make a meal, serve it with a smile and are always cheerful, Why?"
She answered, "Because I may only have twenty years to love on him as I know where I am going when I die but I do not know where he is going."
Her husband and most of the men sitting at the table, because of her living witness and love, were converted. God loves a cheerful giver that gives for the glory of God.
That story helped me change my attitude years ago. I hope it speaks to some of you as well. You and I may never see the conversion of the person we show the joy of working for or with, but we are not to love just those we think will come to accept Jesus' Sacrifice of His blood on the Cross for our sin and His Resurrection from the Dead so we may live forever. We are to love everyone and treat them lovingly and to do it joyfully as for Christ Jesus our King.
It is not about looking for the thing that will get us more praise or adulation. It is not about getting compliments for doing something for others. It is not about pleasing others. It is all about our Abba Father and giving Him glory. Jesus in the Garden prayed asking the Father to take the cup from Him if it were possible and then said, "Not my will be done." The He allowed the guards to arrest him, allowed people to lie about him, allowed people to beat, whip, tear His skin and muscle, allowed them to mock Him, allowed them to hang Him on a Cross and willingly died for us the most painful of deaths. Why? Because He loved us and did not want any to perish. The women in the story I told, did not want her Husband to perish but unlike Christ she could not do anything to save Him. But like Christ she could do what she had to do joyfully and willingly. The Father used the Crucifixion of Christ His Son to save us. Can we do less?
So though tired I will joyfully do whatever the Lord allows me to do for increasing the Kingdom by loving on others, writing this blog, posting His Word. painting Scripture Art, taking care of my Grandchildren (29 and counting and 11 Great Grandchildren and 2 more coming this year), cleaning the Church or helping people in need anyway I may, and now applying to be a Foster Parent. Yep, at 67 the Lord has laid on my heart the desire to help parents and children in a different way than I have in the past. Keep me in your prayers as I go into this new phase of my life working for the Lord (He still has me doing the blog so that will not be changing).
May you all seek what He has for you to do and then do it joyfully unto the Lord. If you are unsure than whatever you find yourself doing, washing cloths, working on cars, building, cooking, working, do it for the Lord and joyfully.
Abba Father, we give all praise and glory to You who loves us more than we will ever comprehend. Thank You for the work You have given each of us to do and we pray You will show us through Your Holy Spirit how to do it with joy and thanksgiving for Your glory and in the name of Jesus so all will come to know and love You and one day be with You in Heaven and the New Earth. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.
Rebishka
After my Hubby passed on the Lord had me move as I said before and I settled into fellowshipping and various Ministries within a wonderful body of believers. Though I did not understand why the Lord would move me here He has shown Himself faithful and true since I followed His urging to come here. The bonus for me is my Grandchildren and children who live close by. I get to see them now and again and even have some of my Grandchildren visit with me and that is a blessing from God.
When I am not at Church, the Library (like now), helping out or doing what needs to be done for myself or my family then I paint or even less now, write children's stories. When my youngest Daughter was little we would tell running stories night after night about Unicorns and other animals creatures. Some of the stories I write have to do with these little creatures but always there is a message in the story of our Lord. Mostly though my writing consists of this blog which the Lord gave me to give to all who take the time to read it and I thank Him for giving it and you for reading it. Comments are always welcome. Lol (for those who do not know this shortcut it mans Laugh out Loud, which I do often).
The paintings I do are usually scenery and always after the oil dries I add Scripture as that is what the Lord asks of me and has since He had me start painting about eight years ago. I pray you are busy with the Lord's work no matter what it is. We are to do the Lord's bidding and work with our whole heart even if our job is to clean the streets, raise our children, write books, work for someone else or we are self-employed, it does not matter. Everything we do we should do for the glory of God and to the best of our ability and with joy in our hearts.
Everywhere He places us is an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus and bring others into the family of God. The Mother who raises her children to love the Lord and know Him has done a wonderful work with the Lord. The man who sweeps the streets or drives a Taxi with joy shows the countenance of Jesus and maybe he will be able to share the Gospel with people he comes into contact with. When we work for someone and are always on time, eager to do more that asked, never complaining, cheerful and so forth, we show the face of Jesus and might be the only Word of the Lord a co-worker or Boss may ever see. When we serve an unbelieving spouse joyfully we may be the way for them to find Jesus and understand the Gospel. I could go on but you get the idea.
I once heard a story of a women (I will shorten it) who was married a very long time to a husband who drank all the time and went out to drink with buddies bringing them home late at night when the bars closed down only to have her get up and cook them a Meal.
She did so and graciously and with smiles. Never grumbling or refusing. This was amazing to me at the time because I was married too and I was sure I would not do as she did with out grumbling at the very least. I changed after I heard the rest of the story.
When she was serving the meal one morning with a smile on her face and humming a cheerful tune, one of the men who had often come home with her husband asked, "Every morning we come home with your Husband, you get up, make a meal, serve it with a smile and are always cheerful, Why?"
She answered, "Because I may only have twenty years to love on him as I know where I am going when I die but I do not know where he is going."
Her husband and most of the men sitting at the table, because of her living witness and love, were converted. God loves a cheerful giver that gives for the glory of God.
That story helped me change my attitude years ago. I hope it speaks to some of you as well. You and I may never see the conversion of the person we show the joy of working for or with, but we are not to love just those we think will come to accept Jesus' Sacrifice of His blood on the Cross for our sin and His Resurrection from the Dead so we may live forever. We are to love everyone and treat them lovingly and to do it joyfully as for Christ Jesus our King.
It is not about looking for the thing that will get us more praise or adulation. It is not about getting compliments for doing something for others. It is not about pleasing others. It is all about our Abba Father and giving Him glory. Jesus in the Garden prayed asking the Father to take the cup from Him if it were possible and then said, "Not my will be done." The He allowed the guards to arrest him, allowed people to lie about him, allowed people to beat, whip, tear His skin and muscle, allowed them to mock Him, allowed them to hang Him on a Cross and willingly died for us the most painful of deaths. Why? Because He loved us and did not want any to perish. The women in the story I told, did not want her Husband to perish but unlike Christ she could not do anything to save Him. But like Christ she could do what she had to do joyfully and willingly. The Father used the Crucifixion of Christ His Son to save us. Can we do less?
So though tired I will joyfully do whatever the Lord allows me to do for increasing the Kingdom by loving on others, writing this blog, posting His Word. painting Scripture Art, taking care of my Grandchildren (29 and counting and 11 Great Grandchildren and 2 more coming this year), cleaning the Church or helping people in need anyway I may, and now applying to be a Foster Parent. Yep, at 67 the Lord has laid on my heart the desire to help parents and children in a different way than I have in the past. Keep me in your prayers as I go into this new phase of my life working for the Lord (He still has me doing the blog so that will not be changing).
May you all seek what He has for you to do and then do it joyfully unto the Lord. If you are unsure than whatever you find yourself doing, washing cloths, working on cars, building, cooking, working, do it for the Lord and joyfully.
Abba Father, we give all praise and glory to You who loves us more than we will ever comprehend. Thank You for the work You have given each of us to do and we pray You will show us through Your Holy Spirit how to do it with joy and thanksgiving for Your glory and in the name of Jesus so all will come to know and love You and one day be with You in Heaven and the New Earth. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.
Rebishka
Saturday, September 27, 2014
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: God's Chosen Remnant
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: God's Chosen Remnant: Zephaniah 3:13 , New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 13 T...
God's Chosen Remnant
13 The remnant of Israel
Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.”
Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.”
{The
following are verses which speak to the remnant of God’s people Israel
Many are coming to know Him now
yet there will be a time when their will be a multitude of believers
(Revelation 7:4) from all the tribes of the children of Israel
Isaiah 1:9, (NKJV)
9 Unless the Lord of hosts
had left to us a very small remnant,
we would have become like Sodom Gomorrah
Isaiah 11:11New King James Version (NKJV)
11 It shall come to pass in that day
That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time
To recover the remnant of His people who are left, fromAssyria and Egypt Elam Shinar
That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time
To recover the remnant of His people who are left, from
Isaiah 11:16, (NKJV)
16 There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria , as it was for Israel land of Egypt
Isaiah 46:3, (NKJV)
3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel
Isaiah 10:20-22, (NKJV)
20 And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and
such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will
never again depend on him who defeated them, but
will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The
remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. 22 For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; the destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
Isaiah 37:31-32, (NKJV)
31 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Jerusalem Mount Zion
Romans 9:27-28, (NKJV)
27 Isaiah also
cries out concerning Israel Israel
The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”
The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”
Romans 11:25, (NKJV)
25 For I do not
desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should
be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Isaiah 17:7-8, (NKJV)
Isaiah 28:22, (NKJV)
22 Now therefore, do not be mockers, lest your bonds be made strong;
for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth.
for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth.
Isaiah 50:10, (NKJV)
10 “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His servant? Who walks in darkness and
has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and
rely upon his God.
Zechariah 8:6-8, (NKJV)
6 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in
these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’ Says the Lord of hosts. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from
the land of the west;
8 I will bring them back, and they shall dwell in the midst of
Jerusalem. They shall be My people and I will be their God, in truth and
righteousness.’
Micah 4:7, (NKJV)
7 I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation;
So the Lord will reign over them inMount Zion
So the Lord will reign over them in
Jeremiah 31:33, (NKJV)
33 But this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
My Comments: Though we are Called Out to be the
chosen of the Lord Jesus who He offers blameless before the Lord God Almighty
there have and always will be those who were chosen by God the Father from
Abraham's seed from the nation of Jerusalem. They will one day return to Him as
they have returned and are returning to Israel
Those nations who come against Her will have to
answer to our Might God. When God talks about what He will do to those who come
against Israel Israel Israel
That does not mean they will not have to pay
consequences for coming against His nation and peoples. They will and many have
through the ages as will those who come against Her now and in the future. Those
who protect Her will prosper and those who do not will be punished.
I shudder when I hear Christians (at least that
is what they call themselves, I wonder) say bad things against the Nation of
Israel and listen to the lies of the deceiver and newspersons and spread those
lies. They heap coals upon their heads unless they repent and do what the Lord
God, the One True and Living God, the one they claim to serve, tells them to
do. He tells us all to support His Nation. He tells what He will do to those
who do not. Do you stand with God Almighty or with the ruler of this world?
Like with salvation this is a choice. We can
choose to follow a Righteous and Holy God or we can choose our own way, the
worlds way our false god’s, the father of lies. For me I choose to follow Abba
Father though I am imperfect in all ways, I will follow Him and ask Him to help
me follow better and represent Him in a way that glorifies and brings Him
praise.
This study is really too large to do in one so
I will do more on it in the future though even that will not be comprehensive
so I encourage you to study the Old Testament and any cross references you find
in the New Testament of which you will find many.
Yes, we also are God’s chosen because Christ
Jesus chose to come to Earth, die in our place on the Cross for our sin and
most importantly as He said He would do, rise again on the third day. Of which
many saw, talked, touched and ate with Him and attested to doing so. What God
says He will do, He will do because He is Righteousness complete.
Abba Father, turn our Nations back to following
You, hearing and obeying Your Word and supporting Your chosen people Israel
In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit I
pray. Amen
Rebishka
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Sing, Praise, Dance and Rejoice Before the Lord.
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Sing, Praise, Dance and Rejoice Before the Lord.: 1 Corinthians 1:31 , New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 31...
Friday, September 26, 2014
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Names of God continued, #3.
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Names of God continued, #3.: Genesis 17:1 , New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 17 Whe...
Names of God continued, #3.
17 When Abram was
ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to
Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God;
walk before Me and be blameless.
Acts 3:15, (NKJV)
15 and killed
the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Romans 9:5, (NKJV)
5 of whom are the fathers and
from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over
all, the eternally
blessed God. Amen.
Psalm 91:1, (NKJV)
91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Revelation 21:6, (NKJV)
6 And He said to
me, “It is done![a] I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the
water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Revelation 15:3, (NKJV)
3 They sing the
song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and
true are Your
ways, O King of the saints!
Deuteronomy 33:27, (NKJV)
27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the
everlasting arms; He will thrust out
the enemy from before you, and will
say, ‘Destroy!’
Isaiah 9:6, (NKJV)
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. and His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(MY Note: Whenever you see a Capitalization of words like
wonderful, counselor then those denote the names of God not just attributes of
God Almighty)
1 Corinthians 3:11, (NKJV)
11 For no other
foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Malachi 3:3, (NKJV)
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.
1 Peter 5:4, (NKJV)
4 and when the
Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade
away.
1 Peter 4:19, (NKJV)
19 Therefore let
those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing
good, as to a faithful Creator.
Colossians 1:18, (NKJV)
18 And He is the
head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
My Comments: In the names of God
Almighty we also see His attributes and things He has and is doing for us. We
see He is from the beginning and will be to the end of time as we know it. He
is Creator, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Chief Shepherd the Firstborn from the
dead, He purifies us (Jesus), He is Wonderful, Everlasting Father, Counselor, He
is our refuge and the Lamb of God, the Christ (Messiah), He created the world
and all that is in it and holds it together.
I broke a glass butter dish the other
day. It only broke into a couple of large pieces so I thought I would just glue
it back together again. The directions said wet the surface lightly, apply glue
and clamp. So after doing the first two steps I stood there holding the pieces
together. Holding, and holding and holding. After a long while I could hold it
no longer so I gently set it down. For the Lord God Creator of the Universe, He
created it all and holds it together. Now that boggles my mind. Especially
since I cannot hold a few pieces together and I did not even create the piece
let alone all the elements that go into making up the piece. God made those
elements and gave man the talent to make the piece and even some a talent to
repair (not me though).
He created then gave us our own free
will to choose to be in relationship with Him the Everlasting God or follow
after other god’s. To follow after Him one must admit their sin, seek
forgiveness from the Creator and lover of our soul, Jesus the Messiah and
accept Him as our Redeemer, then follow Him. I remember the day I finally
understood what being Born Again was. My heart quickened, I knew what I was
hearing was true. Right there and then I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and
come into me. I gave Him my heart and soul and all I posses. Into His hands I
placed my very life in exchange for everlasting life in Him. He accepted me and
I became a Child of God and desired to know Him more than I ever thought
possible. I have a hunger and a thirst to study His Word to have more knowledge
and understanding of Him to be in a deeper relationship with Abba Father, Jesus
Christ, Holy Spirit the Triune God.
If you have not placed your life and
your soul in His hands I pray you will consider doing so loved ones as therein
lies true safety, faith, hope and love. This world lasts a short time and when
we leave it we stand justified by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) or condemned by
our sin. It is up to us and can only be done by our acceptance or denial of the
One True and Living God, the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End,
The First and the Last, the Purifier, King of Kings, The lamb of God, the
Creator of all there has been, is and ever will be. We do not know when our
last breath will take place. Ask Him for faith and He will fill you. Accept
His gift of Life Everlasting and become a Child of God Almighty.
Abba Father, it is hard for us to
fathom all that You have are and will do. I look back on my life and see the
times You called and tried to show me the truth and I went the other way. I
shudder to think I could have died in my sin and never known Your saving Grace.
I pray all who read Your Words will open their hearts and minds to You so they
too may come to You through the blood and sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus the
Christ. Thank You for giving us a way to come back to You.
Lord Jesus, lover of my soul, thank You
for pulling me back from the brink of the abyss and giving me new life in You so
I may be called a Child of God. Open up the hearts and minds of all who read
Your Words or hear Your words. Open their eyes and ears to Your truth and give
them a desire to know You. I pray they confess their sin and accept Your
sacrifice of the Cross so they may be covered by Your blood and sanctified by
Your Grace. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your sacrifice and Your love for us. Thank
You for accepting the Cup and choosing to die in our place.
Holy Spirit, thank You for filling me
with knowledge and understanding of You Word and filling me with a desire to
know Jesus more so I may have a stronger walk with the Way the Truth and the
Light. I pray all will come to know You and be filled with Your Holy Wind and
be comforted by You the Comforter and Teacher. Thank You for showing us the way
to our Lord Jesus the Christ who presents us to Abba Father.
Heal all who need healing especially
spiritual healing. Strengthen any who are weak or struggling due to lack of
faith or fear as You cast out all fear through Your Love. Teach us so we will
have the knowledge You desire for us and the wisdom and discernment to
understand Your Words and Your names and Your attributes. We praise You and
glorify Your Holy name. In the name of Jesus in union with the Holy Spirit I
pray. Amen.
Rebishka
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