| Acts 8:5-6
"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did."
NKJV
The love of God is compelling. His love can overcome all differences between believers. It can drive us to brave and heroic deeds; to reach those who do not yet know God. We spend our lives building up walls through fear and insecurity. In the safety of God's love, He now asks us to tear those walls down; often with people who make us uncomfortable.
The Jews and the Samaritans did not get along; in fact they hated each other. The Lord led the early church at Jerusalem to minister and love on the Samaritans. They were willing to lay down their lives and reach out to others; God did incredible things in Samaria and beyond. What will the Lord do through us if we are willing to reach outside of our social groups? Stretch outside of your comfort zone and see what the Lord does on the outside and be amazed at what He does on the inside. The Bible says this...
Rom 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." NKJV
Life Lesson: We should love one another including other people groups.
Lord,
You alone see the fears inside me. I ask You to help me love others. Help me reach out to others who are just as scared as I am. Because You love me, I know I can love others. You tell us to do this so...Lord I need your help. Strengthen me to love others in the midst of a cold, dark and bitter world. May that light shine like a beacon of hope to all who see it and stand as a witness of Your love for the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee My comments: I have been so blessed in my short 64 (now nearly 67)years of living to be the recipient and observer of miracles in my life and my loved ones lives.
When I was three I had polio and God healed me of it leaving me a leg a bit shorter to remind me that it truly happened.
When I was a couple of years older my Dad who was a fisherman, craber and for a short time ran a mail boat run, hit an iceberg and the boat was sinking. Jesus appeared to me and told me to tell my Mom to light the Holy candle. It was in the front room the room we closed off during the winter to conserve heat. Yet she believed me and went and lite it and prayed for my Dad and the safety of the other men on the mailboat. The mail was closed in waterproof bags and thrown overboard so that hopefully some of it would make it through as the men knew they would not unless a miracle happened.
At the same time she lite the Lampotic another boat came into view and rescued the my Dad, the men and the mail.
When I was 11 the Lord came to me again and told me to have my Mom lite the Lampotic as Dad was in danger. His Dad had cancer and was dieing and Dad had been spending a great deal of time with him in the hospital and not sleeping. He had to haul cargo freight from CA to AZ and on the return trip he fell asleep at the wheel He went off the road down an 80 foot ravine. The onlookers said it looked so smooth when he went off. They looked down at the Semicab which looked more like a crumpled wad of paper and they did not think he was alive. Then as the Lampotic was lite and Mom prayed my Dad miraculously climbed out of the upper window and was half way up the side of the ravine before anyone went down to help him as they were all in shock. He only sustained a slight cut over the eye to remind him of the experience and God's mercy.
When my second child was two months old she was dieing. Her eyes had sunk into her head, she had dark black circles around her eyes. This happened in a matter of hours. The Dr said she had a deformed kidney and it had to of happened while she was inside of me. My folks got her and I a plane ticket from AK to WA. Before leaving my Aunt and Cousin asked if they could lay hands on her and pray for her. I said yes and by the time we arrived at the hospital my daughter was revived and did not have a deformed kidney. They said it had to have been pneumonia.
We all have miracles that show us God's love for us. The very breath we take, the different abilities we have, our minds, our heart beating, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the birth of a child, food, oxygen, the list goes on. Usually we do not see them for what they are. We look for the big ones and feel God does not hear us if we do not get what we ask for yet He loves us through the small as well as the big.
Through all of those times I loved God yet did not know the true meaning of accepting Jesus the Christ as my Savior. It was many years before God was to help me learn just what it meant. I thank Him for the miracles in my life and for persisting in chasing me and capturing me with His unending love. May you know His peace and experience His forgiveness and Love.
Abba Father thank you for the miracle of our lives and all the miracles you do for us even when we do not understand them. Thank You in Jesus name in union with Your Holy Spirit. Amen. Rebishka |
Life Lessons from God's Word
Monday, January 30, 2012
We are all miracles
Psalm 56:13, ESV, Psalm 119:105, ESV, Psalm 73:2,17: When we slip and fall He delivers us.
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
Not Moved
It's not difficult to walk on a sidewalk under normal circumstances. However, it's a little more difficult when the surface is coated with ice. And it would be almost impossible if there were hundreds of ball bearings covering the concrete. Balance and stability are adversely affected by anything that prevents reliable traction. We need a sure, solid surface to make any headway when we're walking.
Life is like that too. We need sure, solid footing in our lives. How do we keep balance and stability so we can keep moving forward in life? For the Christian, two things provide a solid foundation.
"For you [God] have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life" (Psalm 56:13, ESV).
1. What is the first thing that provides Christians with a sure footing?
2. Why is this done?
The Psalmist also tells us a second thing that keeps Christ-followers from falling:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, ESV).
3. What is something else that gives us stability when we walk?
4. How can you apply this verse to your life?
That's why in a world of spiritually slippery surfaces (jealousy, lust, hatred, etc.), it's vitally important to maintain your relationship with God and His Word.
In Psalm 73, the psalmist realized he was about to fall. He said,
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped" (verse 2).
He was envying the wicked because of the easy time they were having. But notice verse 17 says,
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end."
When the psalmist went to God's house, he was able to refocus on God and His Word. It was then that he got his sure footing back again.
Are your feet ready to slip? Make it a point to go to God's house this weekend. And while you're there, focus on God and His Word. Make it a true worshipful experience. When you come home, write down what God has said to you. How will this keep your feet from slipping?
-----------------------------------
The Bible Minute studies by Woodrow Kroll of Back to the Bible Ministries
My comment: Our God is always willing to save us when we stumble, fall or walk away if we but turn to Him in humiliy and repentance and confess our sin and trust in Him. He loves us. This just blows me away that one so pure can love one such as me. He is my example on how to love others, and forgive others. Because of how He has and does love me and has and does forgive me I am free to love and forgive others and embrace the unembraceable.
He loves you and will forgive you if you but ask Him. He gave His only begotten Son to die on the Cross for your sins and mine and there is nothing you or I could do that He would not forgive us and has as long as we accept His Son's sacrifice on the Cross. If you have not asked Him to be yours then please do so today. Ask Him to be yours and He will not deny your humble request, When you do you will find He leads you to His body of believers and He will nurture you through them and His word.
Not Moved
Life is like that too. We need sure, solid footing in our lives. How do we keep balance and stability so we can keep moving forward in life? For the Christian, two things provide a solid foundation.
Receive
"For you [God] have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life" (Psalm 56:13, ESV).
1. What is the first thing that provides Christians with a sure footing?
2. Why is this done?
The Psalmist also tells us a second thing that keeps Christ-followers from falling:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, ESV).
3. What is something else that gives us stability when we walk?
4. How can you apply this verse to your life?
Reflect
Falling down is no fun--it hurts! You can end up with broken bones or other major damage. And what is true physically is also true spiritually. Falling spiritually can damage not only our own lives but the lives of other people.
That's why in a world of spiritually slippery surfaces (jealousy, lust, hatred, etc.), it's vitally important to maintain your relationship with God and His Word.
In Psalm 73, the psalmist realized he was about to fall. He said,
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped" (verse 2).
He was envying the wicked because of the easy time they were having. But notice verse 17 says,
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end."
When the psalmist went to God's house, he was able to refocus on God and His Word. It was then that he got his sure footing back again.
Respond
Are your feet ready to slip? Make it a point to go to God's house this weekend. And while you're there, focus on God and His Word. Make it a true worshipful experience. When you come home, write down what God has said to you. How will this keep your feet from slipping?
-----------------------------------
The Bible Minute studies by Woodrow Kroll of Back to the Bible Ministries
My comment: Our God is always willing to save us when we stumble, fall or walk away if we but turn to Him in humiliy and repentance and confess our sin and trust in Him. He loves us. This just blows me away that one so pure can love one such as me. He is my example on how to love others, and forgive others. Because of how He has and does love me and has and does forgive me I am free to love and forgive others and embrace the unembraceable.
He loves you and will forgive you if you but ask Him. He gave His only begotten Son to die on the Cross for your sins and mine and there is nothing you or I could do that He would not forgive us and has as long as we accept His Son's sacrifice on the Cross. If you have not asked Him to be yours then please do so today. Ask Him to be yours and He will not deny your humble request, When you do you will find He leads you to His body of believers and He will nurture you through them and His word.
1 Corinthians 12:24-25, Luke 9:23; be a blessing to the body
1 Corinthians 12:24-25
"but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another."
NKJV
NKJV
It was there in the garden, when Eve looked at the fruit and saw that it was good. It was found in the face of Cain after his brother's sacrifice was accepted and not his. It was also seen around the cross as religious leaders mocked Jesus. What was it? It was selfishness. Friend, selfishness is the root of so much sin and suffering around us. Think about it. What causes one man to steal from another? It's a selfish desire for what's not his own. What leads a man or woman to commit adultery? It's a self-focused desire and want, with no consideration of their spouse. What would cause people inside the church to fight or divide? You guessed it... it is selfishness.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus states something extremely contrary to our nature. He says "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Deny ourselves. It's easier said than done but, with the power of God's Spirit, it is possible. Imagine if each person in the church would seek to bless the other. Imagine if instead of spreading gossip, we all spread encouragement. What if instead of condemnation, we practiced mercy. You see, in order for the Body of Christ to function as a whole, it cannot be divided. This means nailing our selfishness to the cross and leaving it there. When that happens, our church, our community and even our world will never be the same.
Life Lesson: The Bible points out that division is rooted in selfishness.
Dear God,
Thank You for Your love for me and for making me part of the church. Father, help me to be a blessing to the body and not a hindrance. Teach me to share encouragement and love with those I meet. Give me the power to deny myself and live my life dedicated to serving and loving others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank You for Your love for me and for making me part of the church. Father, help me to be a blessing to the body and not a hindrance. Teach me to share encouragement and love with those I meet. Give me the power to deny myself and live my life dedicated to serving and loving others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to tell what He died to say,
David McGee
My Comment:
This made me think of how we often think we know best and have all the answers and yet if we went to the Lord first maybe we would not think that way. Maybe we would stay in prayer for discernment on whay antoher is behaving the way they are or even to help us feel differently about another person who is part of the body.
Some friends of mine are concerned at the way and church they used to go to and their family is still going to, is heading. It may be heading towards Emergent Church doctrine and then again it may no be yet because the Pastor is doing things differently they are in a panic. Many have left that Pastors teachings and the family members who have stayed are staying to help the new Christians to not falter. That is a good thing we should all endeavor to do wherever we as Christians are planted or serving as part of the body.
My concern is that I do not want to be drawn into negative thinking about this Pastor without knowing what the Lord thinks and what he has to say for himself so I am just praying to the Lord to guide how I pray for him and his congregation.
It is easy to get drawn into talking about another person or part of the body. Our selfish sin nature thinks it is the end al of knowledge and understanding. It is something I battle with daily and give to the Lord daily and have seen Him working in me to change this behavior in me. My Mom used to say to me when I was growing up, "If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all." I will add if you can't say anything nice then take it to the Lord and He will help you to work it out and give you the words to say that will build up and edify.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Acts 6:3-4, Eph 4:11-12, serving and gifts
Today I will use another of Pastor David McGee's postings as my focus. You may access more of his at Cross the Bridge ministries on line or on CSN radio. I just happen to enjoy his postings and usually they go along with what I see a need in.
Acts 6:3-4
Acts 6:3-4
"Now
look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well
respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge
of this business. Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and
teaching the word."
NLT
NLT
In Acts 6, we see how important it became for
these twelve men to raise up other Godly disciples to help in the work of the
ministry. God had called these disciples to teach the Bible. In the midst of the
grumbling among the believers, a decision had to be made. They could have either
raised up other Godly disciples to help in the work, or they could have
neglected their study of the Word of God. In order to teach the people, these
men made a great decision. Instead of trying to delegate the order of business
among themselves, they presented others with the opportunity.
It is important in ministry to delegate and
'give away' ministry. God has given each and every one of us gifts in order to
serve Him and the body of Christ. The gifts that each of us encompass are a
necessary ingredient to the body of believers. Eph 4:11-12, "And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and
teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ," NKJV
Loved one,
step out and begin serving the Lord in the small things, and watch as larger
doors open for you. He is so worthy to be served. Together, we will see God
change lives, starting with our own.
Life
Lesson: We should be willing to serve the Lord in any and all ways.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for equipping me to serve within Your church. I crave opportunities to use these gifts You've given me to serve others. Help me to use these gifts faithfully so that leaders in the church will present me with more opportunities to glorify You in ministry. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank you for equipping me to serve within Your church. I crave opportunities to use these gifts You've given me to serve others. Help me to use these gifts faithfully so that leaders in the church will present me with more opportunities to glorify You in ministry. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to
tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Pastor David McGee
My Comment:
For years before I was saved, yet thought I was a Christian, I took many classes, Bible studies, served as a greeter, taught Children's Bible study and Children's Chapel, served in prison ministries, on committees etc in churches. I am glad I did them and I know the need for people to step up and work in the various ministries. I am sure the people who asked me to work in these ministries felt I was capable and had the gifts to do them yet now I know if any good came out of my doing them it was strictly by the grace of the Holy Spirit working because though I know God can take garbage and make aomething lovely I can only pray I did no damage. Without the true understanding and knowledge of God one cannot lead others through the dangers of life. Only Christ can keep us safe from them and though I knew that intellectually and because of teachings I did not live it. When I was in the cult, Soldiers of the Euchrist, I know I did damage when others would ask if I believed in the teachings there and I said, "Yes". Oh, how my heart is shamed when I think of the people who I led astray from the trueth because I did not have the whole truth and did not have salvation.
In the first passage we see the Apostles raising up godly disciples to work with the people and in the second passage we see God giving each their gifts. I did and do, have gifts to work with children and those suffering because of families in prison. I have a lovely smile given me that others feel joy and comfort from, I have a heart for those who are in pain and are suffering, and I love to pray for others to the One who Loves me so very much and is always with me and in me. When others ask me to serve I know it is God who guides me. When I do serve it is Him who speaks through me and I check with Him to no lead others astray.
When one does not feel the Spirit talking to them, then hopefully they stop and check to see what they are doing, thinking, involved in. He will not accompany one into darkness or wrong endeavors.
How does one know if they are hearing the Holy Spirit? One has only to read the Word of God and if there is not a true match then one is not following or being led by the Holy Spirit. That is why it is very important to read and study and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible which is the true Word of God.
Pray to be His, to know and understand His Word and to be filled with the Holy Spirit and use the gifts He gives to you to work for His glory by serving in the various ministries He shows you to work in. For some it will be praying for others, greeting at church, working in a homeless shelter, handing out blankets on cold winter nights to homeless, sharing their wealth with others, supporting missionaries or missions, being a missionary (even in your own town), opening up your home or your heart to others, caring for a single parents children so they can go to work (even if it is only when the child is sick and cannot be in daycare), making treats for the neighbors and sharing the Word and love of God, taking in foster children or adopting. There is always a place for a true believer to work in the Kingdom, in the Body, in the Church.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
1 Corinthians 5:9-11
1
Corinthians 5:9-11
"I
wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet
I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with
the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out
of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone
named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a
person."
NKJV
NKJV
Seinfeld
made light of the classic break up line, "It's not you, it's me." Maybe you've
been handed that line before, but you know what? There's some truth behind it.
Deep inside, you know it's the sin inside you. Relationships are complicated.
They are complicated even more by the sin in your life. Are there rocky
relationships in your life? Own the problem; look at yourself.
Whether at work, home or church, relationships
are everywhere, and you are to be stewards of them. Relationships can promote
your walk with Jesus or they can derail you - if you allow it. You are called to
love the unlovable, but there are times when you will have to decide which
relationships are healthy and which relationships are not. A relationship that
is promoting you to sin and wander from your walk with Christ is not a good
relationship.
There are
some who think that if they get away from other people they will get away from
the sin that's in the world. Convents, monasteries and the like have all been
built with this mindset. That's not a solution. This only walls them in with
their own sin while denying the world the "salt" in their lives. Jesus told you
to be the salt of the world. You know what salt does? It makes people thirsty.
You are to make this world thirst for a relationship with Jesus. If you withdraw
from the world, this doesn't happen.
You are a
steward of the life God has blessed you with. Whether you participate in wrong
activities or not the decision is yours to make. God has called you, Christian,
to be active in other's lives and a part of that is confronting sin, with a
heart of love. When this fails to happen, everyone gets hurt; feelings get bent,
anger festers, and relationships become whack. Confrontation is uncomfortable.
It's not fun. But love requires us to step beyond the bounds of comfort because
we love others. This, my friend, is the calling of all Christians ... to be
leaders in the world.
Life
Lesson: Our main problem is the sin inside us not the people around us.
Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins. Even though I have done wrong things, You ask me to come to You. It is through Your payment for my sins that I can come to you in repentance. Lord, I am sorry. I ask that You help me to own up to the things I try to hide from You. Empower and equip me with the knowledge of Your will for my life. Lord, give me the power to live for You, and help me to walk in the newness of life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins. Even though I have done wrong things, You ask me to come to You. It is through Your payment for my sins that I can come to you in repentance. Lord, I am sorry. I ask that You help me to own up to the things I try to hide from You. Empower and equip me with the knowledge of Your will for my life. Lord, give me the power to live for You, and help me to walk in the newness of life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to
tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Pastor David McGee
My comment:
Is'nt it amazing or maybe curious is a better word, that when people read this they think it is for them to go out and tell the whole world how bad they are because they are doing such and such when this particular passage clearly is for those of us who have accepted the righteousness of God through the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ our Savior. We are admonished to not do these things that displease God and to help our brothers/sisters who stumble in these areas and to not continue with our walk with them if they continue to purpose in these ways. Why? Because when one says they have accepted the Lord Jesus the Christ as their Savior they put Him on and He is in them and to do these things is to disrespect Him. Yet even more it is to throw mud in His face with the world watching.
If I threw mud in the face of the person I say I love in front of the world would they believe I loved the person I say I loved? Absolutely not. So then why do people who claim to love Jesus do it? Why do they think He would be okay with it (I have heard people who claim to be Christians or followers of Jesus make this claim, "I can do anything I want") when the Word of God plainly says not to do them?
Well, there are many reasons I suppose yet I am talking about the person who purposes them. Makes a conscious choice to do them. Lives in the life style that God says is wrong. They do not agree it is wrong usually and so they go their merry way telling people they are saved and in reality they probably are not. Oh, they might have said the words yet they did not truely accept His sacrifice. It was with conditions in their hearts. Can Christ Jesus use them? You betcha. Can He help them to walk away from those things? Absolutly! If they want to. There in lies the rub. Do they want to really be saved?
As for Christians we are called out ones and that means we should give our lives to Him who gave everything for us. If we put our lives into His hands He will help us to give up those things in our sin nature that seem to grip us. He can overcome anything in us. Trust Him and follow Him and keep in His Word and you my friend will find yourself becomeing more and more like Him. You will become the salt in the lives of many and be the bearer of the waters of life to a thristy world, you will be living water.
When He admonishes us to not continue to walk with someone who continues to listen to their sin nature who has said they are a child of God and bought with Jesus's sacrifice we do not help them to turn away from sin and we give credance to what they do. If you were at a store with a person who you knew was a theif and they stole something and you did not seperate from them and turn tem in you would be a part of the thieft. The same is true in this respect. That is why we are told to go to the brother/sister in Christ Jesus, and loveingly tell them to turn away from what they are doing. Then if that fails take another brother/sister and confront them again. Then they are put out of the church until they repent and are accepted back with love. We hope and pray for them to repent and turn from what they were doing and if they do we accept them with out throwing the sin in their faces. Christ does not do that with us. We are commanded to love and sometimes love is doing the tough thing of walking away from the person until they turn to the Lord.
Now back to the original thought this is not what we are asked to do to those who do not know the Lord and do not profess to know Him. We loveingly try to bring them to the knowledge and understanding of the Lord's Sacrifice for their sin and hopefully lead them to the Cross and redemption. Yet it is their choice. We do not stay and keep offering. Christ did not stay in one place nor should we. There are many. We are to plant the seed, some times we get to water it and even less we get to watch it sprout and grow. It is for some to plant and some to harvest and it is up to God as to who those are. Just be willing brothers/sisters to be used of Him however He chooses to use you.
Lord let me know where you want to use me and help me to be willing to go and do as you desire and have created me to do. Amen
Acts 7:15, (Matthew 12:30 partial NKJV, (Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV
Acts
7:1-15
Stephen's Address: The Call of
Abraham
Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.' Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.' Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs."
The Patriarchs in Egypt
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers."
NKJV
Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.' Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.' Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs."
The Patriarchs in Egypt
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers."
NKJV
These verses
in Acts chapter seven speak of men who were possessors of faith: Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, and Joseph. Many of us have made professions of faith, but our idea of
faith is an interesting one. In order to appear that we are not 'going
overboard' with our faith, many of us try to live under the umbrella of 'safe'
Christianity. We want just enough Christianity that it doesn't make the
neighbors worry about us. We assume that a small dose of religion can give us
the peace and contentment we so desperately need in this crazy world. There is a
problem with this type of thinking. Jesus, the one we are to be following said,
"He who is not with Me is against Me" (Matthew 12:30 partial NKJV). In another
place He says, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could
wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." (Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV)
How would
you describe your faith?
- a radical, on fire, life changing faith
- a reserved, quiet faith that does not interrupt your busy life
- a life unchanged except perhaps for your Sunday mornings
There is
only one true kind of faith, and that is 'a'. Jesus died for us, so that He
could turn our lives radically right side up. So often we try to live a life of
'b' and 'c', but desire the benefits of 'a'. Stop trying to keep God at arms
length. Embrace Him and watch Him change your life. Take those small steps
toward a big radical faith. God will be with you and will enlarge your steps
beneath you.
"Life is not
a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and
well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, and
loudly proclaiming, 'Wow - What a ride!'" ~ I wanted to share this quote with
you.
Life
Lesson: We should be possessors of faith not just professors of faith.
Lord,
You are anything but ordinary and boring. Help me to live a passionate life for You. I have lived for myself and found a life with no meaning. I want to live for You. Help me to step out with boldness to serve You. I know I can trust You to strengthen me and give me the things I need to serve You. When I enter into heaven, I want to hear, 'well done good and faithful servant.' Help me to radically live for You now so that I may hear You say that then. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You are anything but ordinary and boring. Help me to live a passionate life for You. I have lived for myself and found a life with no meaning. I want to live for You. Help me to step out with boldness to serve You. I know I can trust You to strengthen me and give me the things I need to serve You. When I enter into heaven, I want to hear, 'well done good and faithful servant.' Help me to radically live for You now so that I may hear You say that then. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to
tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Pastor David McGee
My comment: I am a radical, what I used to call those who loved the Lord, read the Bible and talked as if they knew the Lord Jesus personnally, prayed etc fanatics. My Aunt Mona, Uncle George and their son Georgie were that "kind". In those days I was one who talked yet did not know the whole truth and had many thing wrong. They actually knew what they were talking about and lived their faith. I did not. I drank, smoked and had even been with men before being married the first time and thought there was nothing wrong with that. There are many professing "Christians" now days who live this life and believe they will go to heaven when the die and they are as wrong as I was!
It is not in just talking about the Lord Jesus and the Bible or doing good works or even trying to live a good life. It is about really accepting the Lord Jesus as Savior and letting Him live in you and letting Him change you and having an intimate walk with Him and because we love Him doing all for Him. It is soooo simple and so fulfilling and Peaceful beyond imagining. The first step is a step of faith and the rest becomes a journey of joy no matter what is happening in ones life whether it is a death of a loved one, loss of a job, thwarted plans or an accident.
I lost my fifth daughter Kariena last March to cancer. It was hard watching her suffer especially the last few months before the Lord took her home. Yet there was great joy knowing the Lord used it for His glory and to bring souls to Him. I know I will be with her someday and I know she wears a beautiful crown and see the Lord face to face. There is unbelieveable joy in that. Yes, I miss hearing her voice and seeing her smile, that is natural yet I trust my Abba who loved her completly and loves me unfailingly.
Yes, I am a fanatic now. One who believes completely in the Word of God, who knows she is God's child and that I am filled with the Holy Spirit and Saved by the blood of the Lamb and if I continue to hold this course I will one day hear as I know Kariena heard, "Well done good and faithful servant."
Everyone can know they are saved by having faith and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ on the Cross. Just ask Him to forgive you your sin and to come in and be one with you. Let Him know you love Him and believe in all He has done for you. He will do the rest.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Amos 4:9, Romans 5:8, Judgments and Love.
Amos
4:9
"I
blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, Your vineyards,
Your fig trees, And your olive trees, The locust devoured them; Yet you have not
returned to Me," Says the LORD."
NKJV
NKJV
Often in the
Hebrew Scriptures, we read of the judgments of God and gasp as we see Israel and
other nations suffering under the Lord's power. While the judgments of God are
difficult, we must understand that all through the Old Testament God is showing
grace and mercy. In the prophets, He calls for people to turn from their wicked
ways and He will forgive them. You see friend, while God's discipline can often
seem extreme, His love is just as potent.
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." NKJV
Extreme love - that is what the God of all
creation has shown towards us. While we were steeped in sin and suffering under
the weight of condemnation, He stepped out of heaven and gave His life for ours.
The punishment that we deserved was placed upon Jesus on the cross. Each strike
of the nails that pierced his hands was done so that we could know forgiveness.
Each cruel word and slash of the whip on Jesus' body happened so that we could
spend eternity with Him. All we have to do is come to Jesus seeking forgiveness
and trusting in Him for salvation. As we do, we take part in the greatest love
anyone could ever know.
Life
Lesson: God goes to extreme measures to reveal His love for us.
Dear God,
I know that I have done wrong. Today, I come to You and ask that You would forgive me of all my sins. I confess that Jesus is Lord and I believe that He died for my sins and was raised from the grave three days later. Lord, make me a new creation and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can live for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I know that I have done wrong. Today, I come to You and ask that You would forgive me of all my sins. I confess that Jesus is Lord and I believe that He died for my sins and was raised from the grave three days later. Lord, make me a new creation and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can live for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to
tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Pastor David McGee
My comment: I think of the times when things happened to me or in my life or even to my loved ones and know because of sin they could have been worse and they weren't because of God's love and mercy. Just like a parent who disciplines a child. Sometimes we feel because of what they have done, that we would like to whip the backside hard we do not because we love them and show that love with some discipline tempered with mercy. He does not let us off scott free because that would not be love because we would just keep doing things and sinning. Yet often I think it appears that way to some.
I think He does things different with each of us as we do things different with each of our children because each is an individual and learns differently.
Yet no matter how He lets us go through the fire of refining we would not be able to continue (at least most would not) with things being as severe as our payment would have to be (it could never be attained). So Christ had to come and take on the punishment before and on the Cross and the separation of the Fathers presence for our sin to be paid in full.
Now that I am paid for and am His I choose to be with Him through it all. I choose to let Him refine me as pure gold and silver and I choose to put myself out there with Him,
He has called, I have answered. I am His and He is mine. I am in Him and He in me. What a glorious, glorious feeling to know I will be with Him always. Such peace, strength. May you all feel His peace as well. Amen
Monday, January 23, 2012
2 corinthians 1:6 (afflicted, consolation and salvation)
2
Corinthians 1:6
I find the questions David McGee asks a very pertinant for todays world as they always have been. I would like to address them if I may.
"If you knew that the pain a friend was facing would lead them to God, would you remove the pain?" If I understood the pain was for their salvation though I would suffer seeing them in pain I would walk with them through it and be praying for their salvation. A butterfly emerging from it's cocoon will die if we open it for them. The struggle to be released from their enclosure is what strenghtens and keeps them alive and allows them to be healthy. If I stop another from going through whatever will bring them to the Lord's salvation then I am not really helping them I am killing them.
I was raped, beaten and molested many times in my life by babysitters, family and even my first husband. I did nothing to cause these things to happen. I was not saved from them yet I always was blessed with God's peace to know He would use them and was with me in them and I would be okay. What I did not know is how He would use them to strengthen me and grow my character, compassion and understanding of others all for His glory.
Did I like what happened? Absolutely not often afterwards I would look back at them and I had been praying during them. Asking God to save me or send someone to rescue me or keep it from happening to me again. I often remembered His Son Jesus the Christ hanging on the Cross and I knew He had called out to the Father and still had to be crucified for my sin. I did not know who I was suffering for yet when I was younger that is what I thought I was doing. Suffering for someone else and I would think to myself, "At least that is one time someone else does not have to go through it." Though they happened I felt protected. I think what happened is He protected my innerself and made me His. Yet I still did not know to accept Him. I thought all that was needed was the acceptance my Godparents had done for me at my 40th day and Babtismal ceremony in the church. You see in the Orthodox Church they believed in infant Baptism on the 40th day as that is usually the time the umbilical cord fell off and one was considered seperate from the Mother and could then be Baptised.
I no longer believe in infant Baptism so a couple of years ago I was Baptised as an adult who understood what was happening and why I was doing it and what it represented. But I digress...
Would I stop someones pain? No yet I would pray on it, pray it would be used to grow them or save them. Now if they were being raped, beat or molested or other atrocities I would turn the perpetrator in and pray for them as well as I have those who did things to me. I forgave them long ago and pray they were/are saved before they pass from this world and go to judgement. When i say I would not stop it I mean the pain it caused can be turned into God's glory if the person turns to God and hopefully I can be of help to them if in no other way than moral support, example or by my stories and life.
Years ago I was privledged to work for the Nurturing Program and others and I worked with children and adults who had gone through pains like mine and I was able to share my story and help them to work through the pain to not just be survivors but Thrivers! That is very important and a great difference. This is the difference in starting out of the cocoon and someone helping the butterfly be released and the butterfly being allowed to make it out themselves and me just keeping the birds away until they can take care of themselves and enjoy all God has given them. He has given me sooooo much and I am so blessed.
And then I go and look at Back to the Bible and it seems to be speaking to the same subject and I felt it would be good to include it here:
Topic: Faith/Trust
Wait on God
And, occasionally, when life is getting really rough; and God doesn't seem to be doing anything at all, some people decide it's time to take matters into their own hands. David, whom we read about in the Bible, certainly had a rough life. Let's see how he handled his difficult times.
Psalm 62 starts out like this:
"For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken" (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV).
If you didn't know any better, you'd think David was in a pretty good place in life. His words sound like the confident assertions of a happy person. The next two verses paint a different picture though.
"How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse" (Psalm 62:3-4, ESV).
Instead of being on easy street, David was surrounded by liars and backstabbers. They were people with no fear of God who only wanted power for themselves. David knew they didn't care about him, and the situation was getting desperate.
So, when in verses 5 and 6, David repeats what he said in verses 1 and 2, we see that they are not the shallow sentiments of a person who has it easy. These words are the foundation of David's faith. David knows that no one besides God can improve his life; no actions of his own can ease the pressures. David is content to wait on God, even in the darkest of hours.
"On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7, ESV).
Waiting silently is hard enough in a trivial traffic jam, but it takes a rock solid faith in God to be tranquil at the eleventh hour. This kind of faith and trust in God's character doesn't come overnight, but it can start today. We'll look into that in the next sections.
As you read the verses for today, think about the following questions:
1. When David repeats himself in verses 5 and 6, there are small differences from his words in verses 1 and 2. What are the differences and what do they tell you about David?
2. What words does David use to describe God's person and character? How does David see God in this time of his life?
No one would expect you to put your trust in someone you don't know--not even God. That's why He's given us His Word, the Bible. That's why He's given us the testimonies of our friends and family members who have put their faith in God. That's why He's given us the testimony of a precisely ordered nature so even the stars reveal His faithfulness. Spend some time today, and every day this week, getting to know God. Start in His Word and go from there.
Well, let me know your thoughts and what you are or have gone through and how the Lord walked with you and guided you and strengthened you. If you feel He did not share and maybe together we can work through your pain. Until next time may you rest in the Lord.
"Now
if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is
effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are
comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."
If you knew
that the pain a friend was facing would lead them to God, would you remove the
pain? If you understood that the heartache of a loved one would result in the
salvation of their soul, would you allow it to happen? If you realized that the
suffering that you are dealing with right now meant that God would use you to
comfort another person, would you refuse to endure it? Friend, these are
difficult questions but they are important ones to ask. If God is good and can
be trusted, doesn't that mean He has a plan and purpose for everything...even
our pain?
I'm sure when I was born a deaf-mute baby;
there were friends and family who saw it as a tragedy. After all, I had to
endure years of surgeries, therapy and difficulties just to be able to talk
correctly. There are those in the world who would have looked at my situation
and asked "how can a good God exist when children have to suffer like this."
There's a problem with that thought...they can't see God's full plan. You see,
because of my story of hardship, I am able to share comfort with those who have
endured similar things. Also, as people hear the amazing story of what God has
done in my life, He gets the glory. In the end, my past sufferings have been
used to draw men and women into a relationship with God. That, my friend, is
worth every moment of pain endured.
Life
Lesson: Every pain in life can find meaning by learning to comfort
others.
Dear God,
Thank You for the trials You have allowed in my life. Help me to patiently endure those hard times so that I can be used to comfort and minister to others in their times of need. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank You for the trials You have allowed in my life. Help me to patiently endure those hard times so that I can be used to comfort and minister to others in their times of need. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to
tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Pastor David McGee
I find the questions David McGee asks a very pertinant for todays world as they always have been. I would like to address them if I may.
"If you knew that the pain a friend was facing would lead them to God, would you remove the pain?" If I understood the pain was for their salvation though I would suffer seeing them in pain I would walk with them through it and be praying for their salvation. A butterfly emerging from it's cocoon will die if we open it for them. The struggle to be released from their enclosure is what strenghtens and keeps them alive and allows them to be healthy. If I stop another from going through whatever will bring them to the Lord's salvation then I am not really helping them I am killing them.
I was raped, beaten and molested many times in my life by babysitters, family and even my first husband. I did nothing to cause these things to happen. I was not saved from them yet I always was blessed with God's peace to know He would use them and was with me in them and I would be okay. What I did not know is how He would use them to strengthen me and grow my character, compassion and understanding of others all for His glory.
Did I like what happened? Absolutely not often afterwards I would look back at them and I had been praying during them. Asking God to save me or send someone to rescue me or keep it from happening to me again. I often remembered His Son Jesus the Christ hanging on the Cross and I knew He had called out to the Father and still had to be crucified for my sin. I did not know who I was suffering for yet when I was younger that is what I thought I was doing. Suffering for someone else and I would think to myself, "At least that is one time someone else does not have to go through it." Though they happened I felt protected. I think what happened is He protected my innerself and made me His. Yet I still did not know to accept Him. I thought all that was needed was the acceptance my Godparents had done for me at my 40th day and Babtismal ceremony in the church. You see in the Orthodox Church they believed in infant Baptism on the 40th day as that is usually the time the umbilical cord fell off and one was considered seperate from the Mother and could then be Baptised.
I no longer believe in infant Baptism so a couple of years ago I was Baptised as an adult who understood what was happening and why I was doing it and what it represented. But I digress...
Would I stop someones pain? No yet I would pray on it, pray it would be used to grow them or save them. Now if they were being raped, beat or molested or other atrocities I would turn the perpetrator in and pray for them as well as I have those who did things to me. I forgave them long ago and pray they were/are saved before they pass from this world and go to judgement. When i say I would not stop it I mean the pain it caused can be turned into God's glory if the person turns to God and hopefully I can be of help to them if in no other way than moral support, example or by my stories and life.
Years ago I was privledged to work for the Nurturing Program and others and I worked with children and adults who had gone through pains like mine and I was able to share my story and help them to work through the pain to not just be survivors but Thrivers! That is very important and a great difference. This is the difference in starting out of the cocoon and someone helping the butterfly be released and the butterfly being allowed to make it out themselves and me just keeping the birds away until they can take care of themselves and enjoy all God has given them. He has given me sooooo much and I am so blessed.
And then I go and look at Back to the Bible and it seems to be speaking to the same subject and I felt it would be good to include it here:
Topic: Faith/Trust
Wait on God
Have you ever noticed that one of the
hardest things to do is to do nothing? We get frustrated when traffic
is stopped. When the line at the supermarket isn't moving, we start fidgeting
and look for a line that's moving faster.
And, occasionally, when life is getting really rough; and God doesn't seem to be doing anything at all, some people decide it's time to take matters into their own hands. David, whom we read about in the Bible, certainly had a rough life. Let's see how he handled his difficult times.
Receive
Psalm 62 starts out like this:
"For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken" (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV).
If you didn't know any better, you'd think David was in a pretty good place in life. His words sound like the confident assertions of a happy person. The next two verses paint a different picture though.
"How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse" (Psalm 62:3-4, ESV).
Instead of being on easy street, David was surrounded by liars and backstabbers. They were people with no fear of God who only wanted power for themselves. David knew they didn't care about him, and the situation was getting desperate.
So, when in verses 5 and 6, David repeats what he said in verses 1 and 2, we see that they are not the shallow sentiments of a person who has it easy. These words are the foundation of David's faith. David knows that no one besides God can improve his life; no actions of his own can ease the pressures. David is content to wait on God, even in the darkest of hours.
"On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7, ESV).
Waiting silently is hard enough in a trivial traffic jam, but it takes a rock solid faith in God to be tranquil at the eleventh hour. This kind of faith and trust in God's character doesn't come overnight, but it can start today. We'll look into that in the next sections.
Reflect
As you read the verses for today, think about the following questions:
1. When David repeats himself in verses 5 and 6, there are small differences from his words in verses 1 and 2. What are the differences and what do they tell you about David?
2. What words does David use to describe God's person and character? How does David see God in this time of his life?
Respond
No one would expect you to put your trust in someone you don't know--not even God. That's why He's given us His Word, the Bible. That's why He's given us the testimonies of our friends and family members who have put their faith in God. That's why He's given us the testimony of a precisely ordered nature so even the stars reveal His faithfulness. Spend some time today, and every day this week, getting to know God. Start in His Word and go from there.
Well, let me know your thoughts and what you are or have gone through and how the Lord walked with you and guided you and strengthened you. If you feel He did not share and maybe together we can work through your pain. Until next time may you rest in the Lord.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
"One Body"
1
Corinthians 12:21
"And
the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to
the feet, "I have no need of you."
NKJV
NKJV
My Comments: We are all in this life together and those of us who have accepted the free gift of Jesus are part of the body of Christ. If Christ is the head than how can any of us even say we are more important than any other part of the body?
Did you know you need your toes to stand and walk properly? You need your ears to hear even the part that sticks way out is needed as it funnels the sound into the ear.
Without the eyelid the eye would become dry and get infections. Without the lips and teeth would would not speak as well. I could go on and on but you know what I mean so why do we talk like we are more important than someone else in the body? Yes, we do when we say things about someone else (gossip). At that moment we say we are more important than the other person by the way we talk. Gossip tears the other person down and builds us up in our mind. This is the same as saying my part of the body is more important. And it just is not true.
We have need as a body of the whole body and it is important to take care of the whole body so it is healthy. Not just our part of the body but all of the body needs to loved and nurtured and fed. We humans tend to stick to groups. Sort of feet sticking to feet and eyes to eyes yet have you ever seen a body with too many feet or other body parts? Does it work well. No, of course not. We need to reach out to the parts of the body that we are not like and come together working as one to be a healthy body.
Christ Jesus did not just reach out and work with all heads. He was with all kinds of people and He loved them and worked with them all. He didn't say go away all you who are not leaders because I only want to talk to the (you insert a part of the body). He talked to large groups and He talked to His Disciples or anyone who wanted to learn and be with Him.
When you are with others are you there for them or for you? Do you think of your needs before others needs? Do you take care to include others who are not "like" you? Teens in school are a prime example of this mentality of exclusion of others who are not the same as themselves. It breaks God's heart to see it happen in His body where people say they believe what He has to say yet their actions do not show His love for everyone.
Read the word, study it, digest it ask the Holy Spirit to open it to you and live a life within the body loving and serving the whole body and you will be equipped to reach out to the world as the Lord Jesus asks you to do.
Are you the feet, toes, hair on the skin? Whatever you are God has given you special abilities He has equipped you to do what He wants you to do. The whole body is needed to help a sick world and when you do maybe you will see another part of the body being born again.
Abba Father create in us a tender and caring heat for those in the body and those who You would have us reach out to. Guide us with You Holy Spirit and give us Your love for the whole body and the lost of the world. Jesus let us not think of ourselves first. Help us to put others before ourselves as You did. Thank You Abba for the part of the body You have made of us. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen
Rebishka
Did you know you need your toes to stand and walk properly? You need your ears to hear even the part that sticks way out is needed as it funnels the sound into the ear.
Without the eyelid the eye would become dry and get infections. Without the lips and teeth would would not speak as well. I could go on and on but you know what I mean so why do we talk like we are more important than someone else in the body? Yes, we do when we say things about someone else (gossip). At that moment we say we are more important than the other person by the way we talk. Gossip tears the other person down and builds us up in our mind. This is the same as saying my part of the body is more important. And it just is not true.
We have need as a body of the whole body and it is important to take care of the whole body so it is healthy. Not just our part of the body but all of the body needs to loved and nurtured and fed. We humans tend to stick to groups. Sort of feet sticking to feet and eyes to eyes yet have you ever seen a body with too many feet or other body parts? Does it work well. No, of course not. We need to reach out to the parts of the body that we are not like and come together working as one to be a healthy body.
Christ Jesus did not just reach out and work with all heads. He was with all kinds of people and He loved them and worked with them all. He didn't say go away all you who are not leaders because I only want to talk to the (you insert a part of the body). He talked to large groups and He talked to His Disciples or anyone who wanted to learn and be with Him.
When you are with others are you there for them or for you? Do you think of your needs before others needs? Do you take care to include others who are not "like" you? Teens in school are a prime example of this mentality of exclusion of others who are not the same as themselves. It breaks God's heart to see it happen in His body where people say they believe what He has to say yet their actions do not show His love for everyone.
Read the word, study it, digest it ask the Holy Spirit to open it to you and live a life within the body loving and serving the whole body and you will be equipped to reach out to the world as the Lord Jesus asks you to do.
Are you the feet, toes, hair on the skin? Whatever you are God has given you special abilities He has equipped you to do what He wants you to do. The whole body is needed to help a sick world and when you do maybe you will see another part of the body being born again.
Abba Father create in us a tender and caring heat for those in the body and those who You would have us reach out to. Guide us with You Holy Spirit and give us Your love for the whole body and the lost of the world. Jesus let us not think of ourselves first. Help us to put others before ourselves as You did. Thank You Abba for the part of the body You have made of us. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen
Rebishka
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Acts 7:9
This is one of my favorite Pastors posts which I use often for study. He is David McGee of Cross the Bridge Ministry and can be heard on CSN:
Acts 7:9
Acts 7:9
"And
the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with
him
NKJV
Gen
50:20 (Joseph speaking to his brothers)
NKJV
But
as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to
bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
In the seventh chapter of Acts, we see Stephen
reminding the Jewish leaders of their spiritual heritage. He recounts the life
of Joseph. The most incredible and amazing thing about Joseph's story was that
in many hard and difficult circumstances, God was with Joseph to bring him to
just the right place at just the right time. God worked this way in the life of
Joseph, Moses, and in the life of David. As a matter of fact, almost everyone in
the Bible went through difficult times, and yet we see God use these trials to
bless them and others. If God, Who has interacted with people for so long, can
craft a plan for Joseph, He can certainly craft a plan for your life. Even as
God was able to figure out how to give Abraham a son and land, place Joseph in
prominence and power in Egypt, and turn Moses into the deliverer of Israel, God
can and will lead you in your life. Trust Him through those hard times. Let me
encourage you to learn about Him and follow Him. See the amazing things He will
do to a life surrendered to Him and His will.
Life
Lesson: God is leading us in our lives.
Dear Lord,
My life is Yours. Use me for Your good things; to glorify You and bless others. I've had trials and You have seen me through them. I know there will be more and I know that You will deliver me through them into better things. Thank You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
My life is Yours. Use me for Your good things; to glorify You and bless others. I've had trials and You have seen me through them. I know there will be more and I know that You will deliver me through them into better things. Thank You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Living to
tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
My Comments: When the hurtful things happened to me as a child and after being married, from parents, babysitters, husbands and even children I trusted God yet even though I knew they would be for my good and the glory of God, until I was "Born Again" there were still questions in me. I felt often unloved by those around me, separate from them. Yet ironically I still felt loved by my Father God.
Pastor David McGee
My Comments: When the hurtful things happened to me as a child and after being married, from parents, babysitters, husbands and even children I trusted God yet even though I knew they would be for my good and the glory of God, until I was "Born Again" there were still questions in me. I felt often unloved by those around me, separate from them. Yet ironically I still felt loved by my Father God.
It wasn't until I was saved that I understood with a deeper understanding what had been going on.
I knew God had used those things especially the rapes to help others. I taught and facilitated classes where those things that happened in my life helped others to open up and share the pain and humiliation and guilt so they could heal. And their stories gave me greater understanding and compassion.
For many years I worked in the Nurturing Program, Parenting Plus, The Puyallup Tribes Parenting Program (done in conjunction with Parenting Plus) and various others parenting programs. I was often able to share my story to help children who had been down similar paths. I was able to use the abuse in my first marriage and from my Dad and Mom to help adults as well. Yet I still did not know it was to bring God glory that He had brought me through those pains. I used to say I was a survivor and one can only be a survivor if they do not truly know God. After my salvation I became a thriver.
I would not wish any of these things I have gone through on another yet I know He kept me and went through all of them with me, and it is for His glory that I continue to thrive and share my stories.
God has blessed me and others through these times. I surrendered my life to Him and have the greatest blessing, His love! May you be blessed as well.
Abba Father give peace and strength to those who need Your comfort and solace. Be with all as they go through the hardships of life so they will come out the other side strengthened and better able to help others and glorify You even in the midst of pain and sorrow, shame and humiliation. Your Son suffered worse than anything we can go through and because of Him we, too may be a part of Your family. Thank You and I pray You call all to know and accept Your saving grace. In Jesus name. Amen.
Rebishka
Abba Father give peace and strength to those who need Your comfort and solace. Be with all as they go through the hardships of life so they will come out the other side strengthened and better able to help others and glorify You even in the midst of pain and sorrow, shame and humiliation. Your Son suffered worse than anything we can go through and because of Him we, too may be a part of Your family. Thank You and I pray You call all to know and accept Your saving grace. In Jesus name. Amen.
Rebishka
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Acts 3:1-11, Acts 4:8-14 (ESV)
Acts 3:1-11 tells how Peter and John, right in front of the crowd going into
the Jerusalem temple, miraculously healed a forty-year-old man who had been born
lame. He was a beggar known to almost everyone in Jerusalem. When the people saw
the man leaping about and praising God, they were astounded.
Peter seized the opportunity to preach a powerful sermon, resulting in his and John's immediate arrest (Acts 3:12-4:7). They then stood before the Jewish authorities. Acts 4:8-14, ESV, tells you what happened:
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition."
For many years like those people I thought I knew the truth and it took loosing everything I thought important in my life to bring me to the truth of the Gospel. I saw and had many miracles in my life yet did not truly see.
I had an Aunt and a cousin who prayed over my 2nd child (a daughter) when the Dr.'s said she had a deformed kidney. They laid hands on her and by the time I came from AK to a good hospital she was already recovering so well the Dr.'s there thought she must have only had pneumonia. Dr.'s do not mistake a deformed kidney for pneumonia. Still I did not hear the true Word of God. I am sure my Aunt would have been willing to tell it to me if she had thought I had ears to hear with. She was a wonderful lady of God.
I know she prayed for me all of her life until she passed on. Her memory stays with me as a guiding light on faith and trusting in the Lord Jesus. Her son was the same as was my Uncle. I pray for my family as they did for me and others in our family. I pray for all of you as well and your families, may you all know or come to know the saving grace of Jesus the Christ. In Jesus name. Amen
Rebishka
Peter seized the opportunity to preach a powerful sermon, resulting in his and John's immediate arrest (Acts 3:12-4:7). They then stood before the Jewish authorities. Acts 4:8-14, ESV, tells you what happened:
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,
said to them, 'Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today
concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been
healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from
the dead--by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone
that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And
there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved.'
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition."
For many years like those people I thought I knew the truth and it took loosing everything I thought important in my life to bring me to the truth of the Gospel. I saw and had many miracles in my life yet did not truly see.
I had an Aunt and a cousin who prayed over my 2nd child (a daughter) when the Dr.'s said she had a deformed kidney. They laid hands on her and by the time I came from AK to a good hospital she was already recovering so well the Dr.'s there thought she must have only had pneumonia. Dr.'s do not mistake a deformed kidney for pneumonia. Still I did not hear the true Word of God. I am sure my Aunt would have been willing to tell it to me if she had thought I had ears to hear with. She was a wonderful lady of God.
I know she prayed for me all of her life until she passed on. Her memory stays with me as a guiding light on faith and trusting in the Lord Jesus. Her son was the same as was my Uncle. I pray for my family as they did for me and others in our family. I pray for all of you as well and your families, may you all know or come to know the saving grace of Jesus the Christ. In Jesus name. Amen
Rebishka
A bit about me
I thought maybe before reading my blog people might like to know a bit about my walk through life. I find knowing where people have come from helps me to understand things about them.
I was born on an island in Alaska and am of Alaskan Native and Caucasian heritages. I was born into a Greek Russian Orthodox family with Priests on my Dad's side from his GrandFather on back.
I married the first time when 18 and the second time at age 29. I had 16 pregnancies from age 19 to 42 and 12 of them lived. One passed on at three and a half months and one at 39 years of age.
My first husband left with a teenager while our 6th child was a premie in the hospital and I waited 5 years for him to come back while I raised our 5 girls (We had lost our first son to SIDS when he was 3 and a half months, he was our 3rd child).
By this time I was in a Catholic Cult called the Soldiers of the Euchrist. I eventually divorced my first husband. Then I met and married my present husband of 35 years and we had 6 more children.
After 20 plus years we left the cult and joined the Episcopalian Church where with his Catholic upbringing and my Orthodox traditional background we were comfortable until 10 years later when they started allowing things as same sex marriages and priests who lived that life style. We also, did not have much Bible reading in a good Bible translation nor did we in the Cult either.
By this time the Lord had put His call on my life and just before 911 in the midst of great tribulation in our family the Lord called me to be His and I said "Yes Lord, Yes". We were bankrupt, we lost our home, new van and moved to the ocean to live in a shack with black mold. Yet the Lord had us in His hands and sent us to college, he brought us to Calvary Chapel where we finally heard the truth of the Lord and the full word of God as He set down in the Bible, and David came to the Lord's saving grace. Now we live to serve our awesome God (this was written before the passing on of my husband and best friend of 36 years).
I have been though many trials in my life and learned many lessons. From a young age I was raped, molested, beaten and abused yet though I did not know the Lord Jesus as my personnal Savior I did know God loved me and that He took care of me through all of the things the world sent my way. He sustained me even when friends, family, babysitter did these things and even my first husband. Even though him bringing in a teen to be a second wife and telling our children she was their mom as well. Even though miscarrages and a cheating husband and a cheating dad He was there for me. I believed my self to be a Christian through it all. I didn't have any one in my life to tell me God's truth so the Lord upheld me as I went through many things until one day watching TV, I learned what "Born Again" was and learned the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and asked Him to come in and dwell in me. My life is His and He is mine and I pray He is or will be for you as well.
After accepting Jesus my life did not become a bed of rose petals. My parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, friends, cousins, Grandson Sons-in-Laws and others passed on and left my life. My wonderful second husband suffered with illness for years and did not get the medical help he should have received passing from cancer in 2012. I have been beaten and degraded by family members. When my Son passed my Dad accused me of harming him and when my Step Dad passed my Son accused me of harming him. They were hurting yet they inflicted pain on me at a time I was very vulnerable. Yet through it all and more God was there and carried me through, comforted me as I turned to Him. He never refused to hold me tight. He never promised to stop pain or suffering yet He said he would be there with me in the midst of it and He always has been.
I pray my prattling will somehow help and give solace. My story is not meant to harm anyone nor point fingers but to show how God in His infinite mercy can and will be there for us even when we and maybe especially when we go through horrendous things and times. Take heart beloved as Jesus loves you and calls you to Him. "I pray you say, Yes, here I am Lord, I am yours."
In Jesus, Holy Name, Amen
Rebishka
I was born on an island in Alaska and am of Alaskan Native and Caucasian heritages. I was born into a Greek Russian Orthodox family with Priests on my Dad's side from his GrandFather on back.
I married the first time when 18 and the second time at age 29. I had 16 pregnancies from age 19 to 42 and 12 of them lived. One passed on at three and a half months and one at 39 years of age.
My first husband left with a teenager while our 6th child was a premie in the hospital and I waited 5 years for him to come back while I raised our 5 girls (We had lost our first son to SIDS when he was 3 and a half months, he was our 3rd child).
By this time I was in a Catholic Cult called the Soldiers of the Euchrist. I eventually divorced my first husband. Then I met and married my present husband of 35 years and we had 6 more children.
After 20 plus years we left the cult and joined the Episcopalian Church where with his Catholic upbringing and my Orthodox traditional background we were comfortable until 10 years later when they started allowing things as same sex marriages and priests who lived that life style. We also, did not have much Bible reading in a good Bible translation nor did we in the Cult either.
By this time the Lord had put His call on my life and just before 911 in the midst of great tribulation in our family the Lord called me to be His and I said "Yes Lord, Yes". We were bankrupt, we lost our home, new van and moved to the ocean to live in a shack with black mold. Yet the Lord had us in His hands and sent us to college, he brought us to Calvary Chapel where we finally heard the truth of the Lord and the full word of God as He set down in the Bible, and David came to the Lord's saving grace. Now we live to serve our awesome God (this was written before the passing on of my husband and best friend of 36 years).
I have been though many trials in my life and learned many lessons. From a young age I was raped, molested, beaten and abused yet though I did not know the Lord Jesus as my personnal Savior I did know God loved me and that He took care of me through all of the things the world sent my way. He sustained me even when friends, family, babysitter did these things and even my first husband. Even though him bringing in a teen to be a second wife and telling our children she was their mom as well. Even though miscarrages and a cheating husband and a cheating dad He was there for me. I believed my self to be a Christian through it all. I didn't have any one in my life to tell me God's truth so the Lord upheld me as I went through many things until one day watching TV, I learned what "Born Again" was and learned the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and asked Him to come in and dwell in me. My life is His and He is mine and I pray He is or will be for you as well.
After accepting Jesus my life did not become a bed of rose petals. My parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, friends, cousins, Grandson Sons-in-Laws and others passed on and left my life. My wonderful second husband suffered with illness for years and did not get the medical help he should have received passing from cancer in 2012. I have been beaten and degraded by family members. When my Son passed my Dad accused me of harming him and when my Step Dad passed my Son accused me of harming him. They were hurting yet they inflicted pain on me at a time I was very vulnerable. Yet through it all and more God was there and carried me through, comforted me as I turned to Him. He never refused to hold me tight. He never promised to stop pain or suffering yet He said he would be there with me in the midst of it and He always has been.
I pray my prattling will somehow help and give solace. My story is not meant to harm anyone nor point fingers but to show how God in His infinite mercy can and will be there for us even when we and maybe especially when we go through horrendous things and times. Take heart beloved as Jesus loves you and calls you to Him. "I pray you say, Yes, here I am Lord, I am yours."
In Jesus, Holy Name, Amen
Rebishka
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