Holy Spirit Make Me New

May we really desire that these words are true in our lives, souls, and hearts.

Unfailing Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first. 1 John 4:18-19

 

Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.

^{1 Peter 4:8}

 Definition: Love, whether used of God or man, is an earnest and anxious desire for and an active and beneficent interest ins the well-being of the one loved.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. 

It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad

 about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, 

hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 

                                                              1 Corinthians 13:4-8

But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

 Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. Romans 12:9-10

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

1 Corinthians 13:1-3, ESV

The love of God is ridiculous in the eyes of men. It does not make sense. It goes outside of human logic and feeling, but it is so good, so amazing, so pure, so unconditional, so deserving of our gratitude and thankfulness. When I get just a taste of God's love, I desire to love in return. It is a compelling force that spurs one on to live for the Lord and love others. I challenge you to dig deep and dive into the love of God. It is intense and amazing. It should change us forever!

Lessons From Exodus

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. (Exodus 14:10, ESV)

I came across this yesterday. This verse struck me in a new and different way. The Israelites had just left Egypt where they had been enslaved, abused, and misused.  They had a terrible life of extremely hard labor forced on them by a cruel Pharaoh. They had been in bondage to a nation who didn't care about their well being. Their right to practice their religious traditions had been taken away. The Lord had just delivered them from this plight. He had shown them His power with 9 terribly powerful plagues, the last taking many lives of the Egyptians first born children. He had spared the lives of those who had obeyed the command to apply the blood of a lamb to their door post. Now He was guiding them through the wilderness with a pillar of smoke by day and one of fire by night. Hear that? A pillar of fire!!! 

After all of these amazing acts of God's power, and midst His presence, the Israelites see mere men as reasons to fear. The sight of the Egyptian army coming gave them reason to complain against Moses and God Himself. As I read this, I asked the question: Why? Why would they so quickly take their eyes off the Lord and His provision of deliverance and promised safety? What could make the people who were in the visual presence of God begin to shake and tremble with fear? How does this happen? But then I took a glance at my own heart. I too have been guilty of this very thing. The Lord has promised to be with us. He is faithful. He has proven it over and over again. I can read the history of Israel and see it for myself. He always provided for them. He was constantly showing His mercy and grace. 

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14, ESV)

So as the people are getting all freaked out about their situation, Moses responds to them. He has his eyes on the Lord no doubt. They just needed to shut their mouths and watch the Lord work. He would deliver them. He had already promised to do so over 400 years ago. Moses obviously knew the Lord and trusted Him at His word. Oh, what a convicted heart I have. I confess to doubting this so often. It is sad to admit that my heart often questions whether the Lord really will do what He says. It isn't an open, rebellious questioning, more of a sub conscious doubting. It comes out in my responses to trials and difficult circumstances. It comes out in discontentment and complaints. These are accompanied with thoughts of worry and fear, instead of trusting the Lord has His reasons and purpose behind what is happening in my life. 

The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” (Exodus 14:15-18, ESV)

I love reading this part. It takes the focus off of me and puts it back on the Lord. Why does He allow such things to happen? The Israelites where backed into a corner. This was it, or so they thought. All they could see was imminent danger and doom. To the people this was an unnecessary end. Why would the Lord have brought them all this way just to die by the Egyptian sword? Clearly God had no intention to let His people die. He did however want their trust. He also wanted the glory. The Lord wants our attention and worship to be on Him. He is not willing to share the spot light. Even the Egyptians would have to acknowledge that the God of the Israelites is Lord. Can you imagine? You are in a situation where there is no way out. It is hopeless and helpless. Or so it seems. Then the impossible happens. The Lord delivers to complete safety. Who gets the glory? Only the Lord can. There is nothing that any one of those people could lay claim to. They had no power, no bragging rights. The Lord received all of the glory. Rightly so! 

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. (Exodus 14:30-31, ESV) 

Oh Father, please help me to take these things to heart.  I desire to trust you in everything. In times of struggle and great trial, help me to turn my eyes to you. Help me to be silent and wait for your deliverance. May I believe you and take you at your word.  Lord help me to see you for who you are. Thank you for drawing us to yourself. Thank you for proving yourself over and over. You are great and greatly to be praised.

Amen

Precious Stone or Rock of Stumbling?

         So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

          As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

and

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1 Peter 2:1-8, ESV)

I was so blessed by this passage that someone shared on Sunday morning. It was like I had never even heard these words before, though I can say I have heard them several if not many times. The idea of Christ being a rock is not foreign to me. It is something often talked about in churches. The problem is that I always saw the rock as a large stone, granite perhaps. It was nothing special, nothing precious, but this passage clearly states that the Lord is a precious stone. 

So I sat there listening to this passage and it was as if the words were jumping off the pages. The Lord is a chosen and precious stone to those who believe in Him. Precious stones are very valuable and rare. They are considered treasure and are sought after. So therefore the Lord is our treasure. He is the most valuable precious stone. That is something to lay a foundation on! It just reminds me of how great our inheritance is in the Lord. He is the only reason we are able to have an inheritance from God. 

Now take a look at what He is to those who reject Him, a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense. So to those who do not believe, it is as if they are building and a huge rock is in the way. It is something they must remove in order to continue building. It takes work, money, and time to remove. The job would be strenuous and tedious. The rock is of no value.

Who is the Lord to you? Is He your greatest treasure and a wonderful foundation that you are building on, or is He a giant stone in the way of what you want to do in life? Is He someone you build on, or someone who you are trying to rid your life of? I am so thankful that the Lord is my precious stone! What a wonderful Savior! 

Camp Life

I have been busy. It is hard to believe that it is almost July already. The summer is passing quickly and I feel like I am not getting to much of my to do list. I spent two weeks in June volunteering at a Teen Bible Camp. It was extremely rewarding, but ridiculously exhausting. I am still trying to catch up from the craziness! It was so apparent that the Lord had a place specifically laid out for me in advance and it was such an honor to be able to serve Him there. I am ever thankful for His leading and faithfulness in all situations. He never leaves us hanging. It was a time in the Word. The messages were amazing. If only to learn what was being taught, then it was worth every minute. I realized in working at the camp that I am much removed from the pressures of teenage life. In all reality, I might just be a little too naive! They face more challenges and temptations than we would like to admit. It deeply saddens me to see how much a typical teen has to face each day. Yet, they are resilient. Unfortunately, I don't forsee things getting a whole lot better in the future. I would be lying if I said it doesn't make me anxious for my own children. It is going to be a challenge to raise them in this world, but thankfully my Lord is faithful and ever present. Whom or what shall I then fear?

Under His Wings

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91
The Psalms are going to become favorite passages of mine. I can already tell as a few days in have lead to great blessings and deeper appreciation for my Heavenly Father. I can relate to David so much in so many of his writings. I am thankful that God worked through David so that we can see that we all struggle and are all weak. I used to think weakness was a bad thing for a christian to be, but in the last year or so the Lord has shown me that it is exactly what he wants me to be. When I am weak, then he can be strong! Paul's writings have been a huge encouragement to me as well because this is the exact thing that he learned.

When I know God's strength and dwell under his wings of protection, then there are many blessings that come. He says he will deliver me from the evil things. He will cover me with his wings and I will have refuge. He will shield me with his faithfulness. I can know that God will be true to his word each and every time. What protection and hope! I will have no reason to fear anything if I cling to this truth. No evil or plague is allowed to come upon those who fear the Lord and take refuge in him! What wonderful words of encouragement.

The next truth in this passage is something I have been clinging to for some time. I have been feeling oppressed and afflicted. I had lost hope and was feeling defeated, but then someone shared this truth with me. God will command his angels concerning me! God, the commander of angel armies will command them to guard me. They will fight on my behalf and be a protection. This is so comforting in times of distress. We will be able to face things that seem impossible because we know that the God of angel armies is on our side! He is so good to his people! I hope you know this. I pray that we will all understand these truths and hold on to them for dear life. May we stand firm because God is on our side, and we have found refuge under his wings!

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

Grumbling about the Weather?

Praise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars;

he gives to all of them their names.

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;

his understanding is beyond measure.

The Lord lifts up the humble;

he casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre!

He covers the heavens with clouds;

he prepares rain for the earth;

he makes grass grow on the hills.

He gives to the beasts their food,

and to the young ravens that cry.

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

He makes peace in your borders;

he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

He sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

He gives snow like wool;

he scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;

who can stand before his cold?

He sends out his word, and melts them;

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

He declares his word to Jacob,

his statutes and rules to Israel.

He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his rules.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 147

I have been admonished by the Lord this morning. The weather this year in the North has been incredibly strange, unseasonably cold, and we are getting antsy for change. It has been a hard year with the weather being so harsh. My response? A bit of complaining and grumbling. I am not alone, but still, it is something the Lord chose to deal with today. Do you see, complaining, whether we feel it is justified or not, is still complaining. The real target of my complaint? God himself. Do you see how he is the creator of even the weather every day? He sends the rains, the snow, the frost, the winds, and the springtime thaw. It is he who is over all. Instead of complaining about the weather, I should be praising my almighty God! Attitude check! The power of God should bring worship and praise, not grumbling and questions of his goodness. 

God delights when we are humble before him and fear him. He does not delight in the strength of man physically or mentally. We can be so stubborn and self reliant. God takes joy in a humble heart, a heart that acknowledges who he is and who we are before him. How can I think that any strength I can muster up would bring joy to God almighty? It is ridiculous! Only my heart being humble before the Lord can be pleasing to him. Lord, humble my heart. Create in me a spirit that fears you and you alone. 

God cares so much for us. It blows my mind everytime I get even a glimpse of the love he has for us. He is so good! He heals the brokenhearted and binds the wounded. One thing to realize however is that in order for the healing of my heart to come, I must first be broken. This comes from the realization of who God is and who I really am deep down. Oh when I see his face! It breaks my heart each and every time. It is then that he offers healing and applies ointment to my wounds. What love! The God who named the stars and knows them by name also knows me by name. He cares about me and loves me with a love I can't begin to understand or comprehend. Bless the Lord my soul!!!

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Put not your trust in princes,

in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;

on that very day his plans perish.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord his God,

who made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them,

who keeps faith forever;

who executes justice for the oppressed,

who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;

the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the sojourners;

he upholds the widow and the fatherless,

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,

your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord

Psalm 146

Oh dear one, have you lost your hope? There are times when I struggle to keep my hope fixed on the Lord. There are times when I hope in my own strength or in the strength of others. There are times when I find comfort and security in all the wrong places. I know those are times when the Lord is jealous for me. 

This Psalm spoke to me this morning as I was reading. God is the God of all. He made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything in it. He is the judge of all and feeds the hungry. He sets prisoners free. He opens the eyes of those who cannot see the truth. He lifts up those who are humble and broken. He loves those who love Him. 

The care God has for all of us is astounding. The fact that the God of the universe is taking care of the less fortunate is so encouraging. He is in control of it all, yet He cares about me. Why would I put my hope in something weaker than the all mighty God of the universe? My God is going to reign forever! Praise Him alone and trust in Him alone. My weak heart, trust in God! Open my eyes Lord, set me free. I want to be yours and yours alone! Forgive me for my weakness and lack of trust in you at times. Be my strength Lord! Help me to only hope in you!

Such a Time as This!

"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

 Esther 4:14b

This statement comes from Mordecai, the uncle of Queen Esther. It came at a desperate time in the history of the Jews. An edict had been made by a hateful man against the Jews. They were all to be killed and plundered simply because one man's pride went unchecked. Esther was in a position of great power, yet she feared what the king would do to her if she approached him without being summoned. Death was a likely outcome.

Queen Esther, also known as Hadassah, was of Jewish decent. She was a common girl. Her parents died in her youth, so her uncle Mordecai took her in as his own and raised her. The Jewish people living in Susa, Persia at this time were there because they had been carried away as captives. They were foreigners in the land. Hadassah means myrtle. The myrtle tree was found in Babylon. It was a tree that bore beautifully aromatic flowers used for perfume. She was a beautiful girl and attracted the attention of the king's men.

Queen Vashti had been removed from her throne due to a refusal to obey a request from the king. He then sought to replace her with a more beautiful woman. All the most attractive young virgins of the land were sought and brought to the palace. They were put through an entire year of beautifying. What a spa experience! Hadassah was one of those women. She is said to have been only 14 at the time! Can you imagine what fear must have accompanied a girl of that age? This girl who was an orphan of Jewish decent. She was to go before the king of Persia herself, the king who had just sent away his beautiful Queen Vashti. Hadassah gained favor in everyone's eyes including the king. She was made Queen Esther of the Persian Empire!

So time past and the edict came because of one man's detest for the Jewish people who had been living in the Persian Empire. They were all to be killed. Mordecai makes this known to Esther. She becomes fearful and distraught. Her uncle pleads with her to go to the king, but there is a risk of death to her if she exposes her true identity. She too could be killed. And then he says it, "“Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

What time are you living in? What things are happening in your life? Where are you feeling stressed, pressured, or under tribulation? What is your reaction? Oh, I can tell you what mine is! I want to run, complain, whine, and get out of the pressure. I want to live a peaceful easy life. Truth: this may not be the Lord's will. Look at the life that Esther lived. She was pulled from all security and safety. Everything she knew was gone and she found herself in a life she did not chose. Her life was chosen for her, yet despite her circumstances, she had faith. She fasted and prayed for three full days before going before the king. In the face of death, she turned to the Lord. The outcome was unknown and uncertain, but she chose to act in faith. Perhaps this is what her life was all about. Perhaps she was created for "such a time as this." We can read the rest of the story and see the Lord's hand in it all. She as accepted by the king and given her request. Her obedience and confidence in the Lord saved her people. What a legacy!

As I read through the Book of Esther, this is the verse that jumps off the page. What has the Lord put me on the earth for? For every situation I find myself, in all of those things, to live my life before the Lord with confidence and faith. He knows my life from beginning to end. He knows the trials I am facing. He knows the struggles I am and will have. So despite it all that I would live my life in faith and obedience knowing that He has orchestrated it all, "for such a time as this."

To Be More Like Jesus

1. Compassionate and loving to the point of death.
2. Loving those who hated him.
3. Free if complained and grumbling.
4. Silent before his accusers.
5. Obedient to his Father in all things.
6. Concerned with and guided only by his Father's will.
7. Willing to suffer for the sake of others.
8. A selfless humble servant.
9. Willing to severe for a time the most important relationship he had in order be united forever with us.
10. Willing to be punished and persecuted in the place of others.
11. Always spurred on because of the deep love he had for his Father and for us!

This is a list of things that the Lord brought to my mind this morning while sitting in church. I want to be more like my Savior. He was such an amazing man in his life here on earth. He showed such love and compassion! I can't wrap my mind around who Jesus is or what it really cost him to die for me, but I am every thankful. There are no words to describe what it means. What a beautiful Savior!

Would I be so compassionate for others? Would I see hurt and have it move me to do something? Do I love those who just dislike me? Do I whine and complain about life and circumstance? Would I suffer even just a little for someone who didn't like me? Would I be willing to serve others even if I didn't have to? I could go on, but you see the idea.

 As we were driving to church this morning I was full of complaints. I realized that I would have been one of the grumbling Israelites in the wilderness, probably one of the worst. It was depressing to be so honest, but I am thankful that the Lord revealed this weakness. Then in His wonderfully sweet way, the Father brought my eyes to His Son so that I could see more clearly. It will never cease to surprise me when someone teaches on the exact subject I have been wrestling with just days or even minutes before. Our eyes were turned to Jesus and the events of His life and death. He lived through some of the worst circumstances imaginable to man. I am amazed that he lived through such things and never voiced a complaint or bitter word. The Son of God, the creator, willingly allowed men to taunt, beat, accuse, and humiliate him for my sake. He endured such terrible things at the hands of man. He could have called his angel armies to the rescue and finished us all off, but He chose to endure the suffering for our sake! What love! Lord, make me more like you!

Tell Me About Yourself

I have been seeing alot of visitors on the blog from different countries. I would love to hear from you and get to know who it is that has been able to share in the things the Lord is doing. Please leave a comment or send me a message. I would love to be able to encourage you individually as well as be able to pray for you. God bless.

Redeemingmoments@gmail.com

The Good Commander

Like it or not, we are in a daily battle. There is a war ever raging, and our hearts and minds are the target. It is important to acknowledge this as a fact. Hiding from or ignoring it does not take you out of the battle. It simply leaves you uninformed and vulnerable. You can be sure the battle still rages on. When in battle, a soldier must know whose orders to follow. Who is it that commands? Who has the oversight and intelligence needed to defeat the enemy? Our commander is amazing. He is powerful. He cares about each one of us. He has equipped us with everything we need. We are never abandoned at the post. He gave His life for each one of us. Trust me, you will be blessed to know Him better. In knowing Him better, you will get to know yourself better.

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an

inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works 

all things according to the counsel of his will, 

(Ephesians 1:4-11, ESV)

When I think about a military leader, it usually doesn't conjure up pictures of a very kind welcoming man. But notice what things are stated about our Commander. He does things in love. He is full of grace. He lavishes it on us. He has adopted us as His children and given us an inheritance. I love knowing that God is my Father and that He deals with me as a Father would.

God is always fulfilling His will. His will was to unite all things to Christ. God has a very clear will, one that will not be thwarted. He is in command and His plan will come to pass. It is so amazing to know that my Commander knows the outcome of everything. When He gives an order, it comes with full knowledge of the enemy, of God's will, and of me! 

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 

and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the 

guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:12-14, ESV)

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
(Ephesians 1:16-23 ESV)

Our God is powerful. He has immeasurable great power and might. We are not talking about a little bit of strength. The God who created all things. This is a God who has the power over life and death. I don't know about you, but that is pretty amazing. He raised Jesus from the dead. He can raise us from the dead. When your Commander can raise the dead, then the battle doesn't seem so scary or intimidating anymore.

So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

(Hebrews 13:6 ESV)

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 

Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

(Matthew 10:28 ESV)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV)

We have a merciful Father. The Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines mercy as: compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power, lenient or compassionate treatment, a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion, and compassionate treatment of those in distress. I am thankful that God is merciful. He gives us everything. We deserve none of it. He is compassionate towards those in distress. Feeling distressed? I have been struggling lately, but the Lord has blessed me even now as I type these words with the knowledge of His compassion and mercy. 

Our God is one of great love. Not just brotherly love, but the unconditional, unchanging, unfading love of God. And He gives it to us freely. My Commander loves me. He loved me even when I was completely without reason to love. Everything He does comes out of that great love. There isn't anything He would ask of me that would not be rooted and grounded in love. Sigh...so good.

He is kind. See that? Immeasurable riches of grace in kindness toward you and I. Does it make you ask why? I know I have been asking that a lot lately. His answer always stays the same, "Because I love you.". These kinds of truths leave me nearly speechless. I am thankful, oh so thankful that my God loves me and is kind toward me. He is so good. It is hard to understand and wrap my little mind around. For now, I choose to bask in His goodness. I really need to spend more time just soaking it up. 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

(Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV)

Our commander is strong. He is above all, all powerful, all knowing, and always present. This is the God who can strengthen us. He is the one who is behind the "plan". So I ask, why do we seem so weak? I see in myself a lack of faith. I know that I didn't really see God for who He really is. A faulty weak view of God leads to a weak faith and a weak walk.Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." And again to the Thessalonians he writes, "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." Who does our strength come from? The Lord of course. That seems like the obvious answer, but do we really get that the God of the universe that is strengthening and establishing us? Nothing we will ever face is a surprise to Him. There is nothing too difficult for our Father to handle. Big truths lead to big changes. That is if they are grasped and applied. Don't let the enemy snatch these away! 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

(1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV)

and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of 

God in true righteousness and holiness.

(Ephesians 4:24 ESV)

This is a command to us, but it comes with some great information about our Commander. He is righteous and holy. He is a Commander who only does what is good, right, and just. There is nothing evil in Him. His commands will never be marred by biased opinions, personal flaws, sin, or any evil intent. We know that anything He does or asks us to do is based on His righteousness and holiness.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

(Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

This just might be one of my favorite things about my Commander. He is forgiving! He has forgiven me. He continues to forgive me. The meaning of forgiveness has been tainted by our human understanding. Too often we say we have forgiven, but in reality we have only paid lip service. The Webster's Dictionary gave this statement: The original and proper phrase is to forgive the offense, to send it away, to reject it, that is, not to impute it to the offender. This is God's version of forgiveness. He removes the offense from us as far as the east is from the west to remember it no longer. I love knowing that the wrongs I have done in my life will not be brought back up by God. He will not bring up past offenses. He constantly provides a clean slate so to speak. Lord, please help me forgive others with your forgiveness.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 

(Ephesians 6:10-21 ESV)

Our Commander does not leave us unarmed and vulnerable. I love this passage and the deep meaning that comes from it. There is so much information in these 12 verses! I had no idea how rich this passage was until I dove in and started learning about each piece of equipment, the way the Roman guards used it, and what the deeper spiritual meaning is. We will get there, but for now just know that the Lord has provided you with every weapon and defense necessary. Our choice is whether or not to put them on. God is the best commander. He provides for our every need. He gives us every provision. He offers training and equipment. He gives us the Word so that we can know the plan and the final outcome of the battle! We do not need to be unaware or unprepared. Talk about empowerment!

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.,

(2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)

Pray Before Battle

Does the world around you seem all too dark and hopeless? Are you worried about your future? Everywhere we turn it seems we are bombarded by images of grief, violence, and corruption. It can be so easy to be bogged down by the darkness in this world. It is easy to look around and feel hopeless and defeated. At first glance it appears that we are alone. It may seem like God is no where to be found. It may seem like the attack is coming from every angle and there is no way out.  Don't lose hope, there is much more to what is going on then we can see on the surface. We have a hope offered to us that can conquer all. The truth we are about to delve into is so exciting. Hold on! It just might change you life! I know it is changing mine! Praise the Lord.

Are you ready? Let's embark on a journey into life changing truth. This is nothing new. It is simply the Word of God that is active and sharper than any sword. Let it cut deeply. Let it strip away false thinking and skewed perspectives. Let the Lord work on your heart and draw you close! There is change on the way. That is something to get excited about.

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Read this passage every day for a week and see what the Lord will do with the truth found here. It is amazing! I have been so encouraged by my studies in Ephesians. I have learned some things about God and myself that change how I view the struggles in this life. I am no longer fearful of the enemy, and I know that the possibility of living a victorious life is very real. I know there is hope in the Lord and the place I have in Him. 

I first want to go all the way to the end of this passage and focus on something very important. Do you notice a word that is repeated? Pray. Prayer must be important! Paul repeats the command three times. I think it would be best to note this in our minds. First we are told to pray at all times in the Spirit. My prayers should always be prayed in light of God's will and in the Spirit. So my thoughts should be those that are in unity with God and the Holy Spirit. I am still working this out in my own life. Application is the hard part! I am so thankful that the Spirit is able to intercede on my behalf when I don't have words to say (Romans 6:26). 

How often should we pray? Paul tells us to pray at all times. This reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 where we are told to pray without ceasing. It is great to have set times to pray. Some of us need those times set so that we stay diligent and consistent, but God desires so much more. He wants our hearts and minds fixed on Him at all times. He wants constant communication with us. I love knowing that the God of the universe desires to speak with me all the time. Amazing! There are no words to express what this means to me. I have tried and end up speechless and tears every time.

So we are to pray in the Spirit all the time, but what are we to pray about? We are to make requests of God on behalf of other believers. Notice that we are also to be alert and persevere. It is obvious that we can be taken off guard and fail to do what is being asked. And apparently other believers need prayer too! This should not be a surprise. Unfortunately, I have believed the lie that everyone else has it together but me. This verse is an encouragement to those of us who struggle because we realize that we all struggle! Just read James 5:13-18. Apparently prayer is needed and is given by God as a gift to be exercised. Paul was a man who was always praying for the saints. Just read a few of his letters and you will see for yourself. His heart was in prayer.  Read I Thessalonians 3: 9-10; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, 1:11-12; Colossians 1:9-1; and 2 Corinthians 13:9. Why was he always praying for the believers? Paul knew we would struggle. He knew life as a believer was not going to be perfect or free from hardship. In fact there are times when we are told the exact opposite. Read 1 Peter 1:6-8 and 4:12-19. There are many other places where we are told that there will be trials and struggles in our life as a christian.
We are not guaranteed a life free from struggle. In fact it is in the struggle that we grow. Romans 5:3-5 says that we should rejoice in our sufferings. They are what bring endurance, build character, and build our hope. All one must do to see that we will face difficulties is to do a word search for suffer in the Bible. There is much written on the topic. What I have found so encouraging is not that we will struggle, but that the struggles don't have to beat us. God has provided a way to overcome. He will not give us more than we can handle. Hallelujah! Keep that in mind always. 

Check out the last few verses of the Ephesians passage. What is Paul asking? Why did he say he needed them to pray? One thing that I am learning to appreciate about the Apostle Paul is that he was a man. He was human just like me. He struggled with the same things we face. He was humble and weak in his own flesh. Read through 2 Corinthians and see just how weak he admits to being. He knew that it was in his weakness that the Lord could be strong. It was in his struggles that the Lord's power would be seen. Ooh, so good! Read Colossians 4:3-4; Hebrews 13:18; Ephesians 6:19-20;  and Romans 15:31. These are just a few of the many places that prayer was requested from other believers. Notice the reasons why they were asked to pray.  Even Paul needed prayer to stay strong in his ministry. Why then would we ever think that we are exempt from needing prayer? How much more should we see that all believers need to have requests made known to God on their behalf? 

We are in a heated battle and prayer is a powerful tool. Take a look at what Jesus said about prayer. 

"And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask 

whatever you want, 

and it will be done for you." 

1 John 15:7

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may 

be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."

John 14:13-14

"For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, 

and it will be yours. Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,

 forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”

 Mark 11:24-25

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."

John 15:16

“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven,

 and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. Again, I tell 

you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven

 will do it for you. For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:18-20

Precious, precious words from our Savior. Read them, meditate on them, rest in them, and then believe them! Be in prayer and get ready to put on the Armor of God. It is going to be good! Are you ready to be equipped to handle the struggles of life and the enemies attacks? Spend some time praying. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart and mind. Ask him to show you where you have not been trusting Him. It is crucial to be in prayer about these things. I know too well. Prayer is our number one defense. It is what keeps us in communication with our leader. We are able to get our orders and battle plan from the General. As we gear up with the Armor of God, we should be looking to Him for our commands. Be blessed by the simple truth that you can enter into that place of communication with God! He is there at any moment ready to hear us. Go dear one. Speak to your heavenly Father. Enjoy your ability to come into His presence. 

Feeling Defeated?

Ever feel completely vulnerable and too easily tossed here and there by depression, anxiety, or mood swings? Do you feel unable to deal with the pressures of life? Oh how we all struggle with life and the pressures that surmount against us daily. The burden in my life was getting too large to bear. I was beginning to feel like I would crack and be crushed under all the pressure. That was until my eyes were open to a wonderful scripture. It is one of those empowering passages. One of those segments of scripture that we can turn to in time of need. Let me tell you, I was blessed so much by my studies of these verses that I am even considering writing a book for children on them.

Ok, so I bet you are wondering what part of the Bible was so amazing? Ephesians 6. I simply studied the age old passage of the Armor of God. If you have been a christian for years, you have probably been taught this passage a number of times. Most of us learn it at a young age. It should be precious to us and one of our "go to" passages, but for some reason it was not one of mine. I now believe that might be part of the reason why I have been living such a defeated life. How are we to have victory in our spiritual life if we aren't even engaged in the battle? 

I took a crash course in Spiritual Warfare this last week. It is far too information to share, but one of the key subjects was being equipped with the Armor of God. I am going to take a few weeks or so to really delve into this subject. My interest has been sparked and I want more! I tell you, I believe this is the key to deliverance from all of those things that weigh us down in life. I have already taken steps into freedom from those things that have been so heavy. I can't wait to share what the Lord has shown me through the last week. For now begin by reading through the book of Ephesians. The background is important and the book is amazing! Ask God to show you something new that you didn't know while you read. I tell you...you just might have your socks knocked off! I know I did! Happy reading!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

No, the blog is not under construction, it is I who am being worked on. The Lord is doing some amazing things in my heart, soul, and mind. It is a bit of a refining process and I am so thankful for it. Because it is so intense, I simply do not have the time to share. I will leave you with one of the most impactful thoughts that The Lord has impressed on my heart as of late.

Read Ephesians 1. Look at what The Lord has done for us.

Now read Ephesians 2 and let The Lord bless your socks off! Where are you in regards to The Lord and the powers of the earth? I have so been blessed by this truth. There is so much power behind it...and oh the conifidence that comes with the understanding!

I hope The Lord is blessing you in your own studies. If you are not in the Word...get in it! Be under construction. Let The Lord work in your life.

Great Message

Something to Chew On

“But there is another truth at work here as well, something else that you must face up to: it is not an accident that you are right here, right now. God has chosen and arranged for you to live precisely where and when you are living. It can be hard to grasp, but the God who is the ultimate source of wisdom, power, and love has exercised  all three of these limitless attributes to place you where you are today. In Acts 17 Paul says of God that “he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else ... and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” (vv. 25–26). God chose for me to be alive in this period of history. He alone determines the day of my death. And he decided exactly where I would live!”


“It is admittedly difficult to greet hardships as a testimony to God’s wisdom, power, and love, but that is exactly what they are. The only reason we find it hard is because the “good” we seek and hope for is different from the good that God is accomplishing through the difficulties that come our way.”


Excerpt From: Paul David Tripp. “Broken-Down House.” iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/broken-down-house/id449938677?mt=11

Praise Him!

What an awesome thing to be reminded each and every day! I love the truth that I am forgiven and washed clean! Wonderful...no words to express!

Forgiven and Forgiving

How wonderful to hear that from Jesus Himself. This is what the Lord himself said to the paralytic. This was a man who could not go to Jesus himself. His friends carried him on a stretcher to the Lord. When no entrance was found, they cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down in front of the Lord. These are the first words the Lord spoke to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

I love the reminder of how much I am forgiven by the Lord. It is something I hope I never get sick of hearing. It fills my heart with joy and gratitude to my wonderful Savior. I want everyone to experience the forgiveness He alone can offer. It is pure, holy, and without defect. There is nothing the Lord hangs onto. He does not bring things up from the past and rub my face in them. Once forgiven...then forgotten. I love this. 

What is hard for me to comprehend is that His forgiveness is what mine should be. He has called me to have this same kind of forgiveness towards others. That is much more difficult to say than it is to put into practice. However, He so wonderfully provides the way for it to become a reality. Just read what He says in the scriptures about it...

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a 

heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one

 another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint 

against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. 

Colossians 3:12-13

Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate,forgiving one another, 

just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

If I can constantly remember His forgiveness for me, then there is no way I can keep it from anyone else. I have been forgiven so much. I am reflecting His love when I am able to forgive what seems to the world as unforgivable. I am even called to forgive those who repeatedly wrong me.

Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. 

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to 

you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 

Luke 17:3-4

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be 

condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: 

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into 

your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”

Luke 6:37-38

This is not something I can brush aside and pretend like it is not for me. This is important to my God. He cares about this! In fact the way that I approach forgiveness is going to affect my own walk with Him.

For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins. 

Matthew 6:14-15

“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted 

to settle accounts 

with his slaves. As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents 

was brought to him. Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be 

sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made.Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, 

and I will repay you everything.’ The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, 

and forgave him the debt. After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow 

slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and 

started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ Then his fellow slave threw 

himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ But he 

refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. When 

his fellow  slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their 

lord everything that had taken place. Then his lord called the first slave and said to him

‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! Should you not have 

shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ And in anger his lord turned 

him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. So also my 

heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18: 23-35

This is a huge call. A call to not hold grudges, not be angry with those who wrong us, not keep accounts, and to constantly have an attitude of forgiveness. 

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, 

so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.” 

Mark 11:25

I have to be honest with myself, there are times when I have not been right with a brother or sister. There have been situation where I have been hurt by another and my flesh rears up in anger. I have been bitter and without any sense of forgiveness. God used this verse in one of those moments to convict me of those things in my heart. I was humbled and thankful for His guidance. That day I was able to have restoration in a relationship very dear to me. I listened to His voice and obeyed. I tell you, His way is so much better than ours! It was a wonderful testimony of His will being so much better than my own.

If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have 

forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, 

so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). 

2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Let this speak for itself and sink in...