Author Archives: christartist

100 Spiritual Walking Steps #41 – John 3:16, football and boldness

Tim Tebow - www.timtebow.com

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Tim Tebow – the wonderful young man that is quarterback for the Denver Broncos – threw passes for 316 yards against the Steelers.
They said he couldn’t do it…but God is the one that writes the story of our life.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This young man is an example to all who call themselves by the name of Christ:
Tim has embraced the reality of John 3:16, along with the following passages from John 3:

John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

I have posted my testimony as “Who Is ChristArtist?”

But here’s a question for all that want to ride on Tim Tebow’s coat tails…Do you think you’re going to heaven?

If you are a Christian, why aren’t WE being persecuted in the same manner as Tim Tebow?

Tebow has done what we as Christians are commanded to do – encourage one another while it is still day….Heb 3:13;
and

Heb 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Can we say:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

And do we believe:

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

I wrote about boldness in Step #37 New Beginnings, Again!

I have been challenged to be BOLD this year…BOLD for the LORD…and Tim Tebow has been a beautiful example of that this year.
You can see a ripple of boldness in the other football players, and the teams…being unafraid to share their faith.
I challenge anyone to live like Tim Tebow – imitating him as he imitates Christ.
We could all follow much worse.

Thank you, God, for bringing Tim Tebow into our lives for such a time as this! Bless him and his family, as they have blessed us, in Jesus’ name.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Daniel Fast – Day 2 – Struggles

Today, I woke up with struggles.
I wrote this post – about my Recovery Today – and it’s not very happy.

My focus for this fast has been that I would grow closer to God, more and more like Jesus.
And I think, I’ve just been attacked.

And, If you read that blog, you will know some of my struggles…and right now, I feel very tired, and very worn…
So today, my prayer is that Jesus would support me, lift up my hands, and carry me through today – give me wisdom to know what to pray.

The Bible reading that I am doing with my husband starts with Psalm 5:

Ps 5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord; Consider my groaning.
:2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, My King and my God, for to you do I pray.
:3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
In the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

The next few verses is how God does not like wickedness…and they won’t have a place in His Kingdom…BUT here’s a promise:

Ps 5:7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

King James says it this way: “But as for me, I will come [into] thy house in the multitude of thy mercy:”

I can’t come into the house of the Lord based on MY righteousness – it’s because of the gift He gave…His son.

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

This morning, as Jim was leaving, he mentioned to me that he’d read Psalm 5 – and that the last verse were very full of promise.

Ps 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.

English Standard version says it this way:

Ps 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult you.

Take refuge…

Prov 18:10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
:2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

My recovery struggles are going to be part of my Daniel Fast.
The Daniel Fast is one of those things that I’m sure the enemy is not happy about.
But I don’t have to worry about the enemy, because he can’t do anything without going through God’s hands first.
All I have to ‘worry’ about is ME – and I’m going to be running into the Name of the Lord, and dwelling in the secret place…and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.
HE is my fortress and refuge.

Psalm 32:7 Thou [art] my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 119:114 Thou [art] my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

I am learning how to draw near to Him Who gave His life for me – Jesus.
And, that IS what I wanted to focus on, for this 21 day project.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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100 Spiritual Walking Steps #38 Choose to Move

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

These 100 Spiritual Steps are all about moving from one place to another – in the spiritual realm, which effects the physical realm.

The other day, I wrote about a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.
Today, I’m taking a first step.
Today, I am starting the Daniel Fast – because I can’t fast with no food, and because I need to bring my body under subjection.
This is a first step for this year, to effect change in me.

There are changes that need to be made in me:

Heart
Soul
Mind
Strength

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.

Everything and everyone changes.
Moving is Change and change is moving!

Some change just happens.
Some change is a choice.

Change is scary!
Sometimes change is because of a lack of a choice.
Not choosing is giving up your power to allow someone or something else to choose for you.
SCARY!

In this context, CHANGES could be replaced with CHOICES.
We have a CHOICE about how we react or respond to CHANGE.

From our birth, things have changed – in us and around us – and for the first years, we had no choice in the matter.
When we started becoming aware, we started to make choices, and our choices brought consequences, whether desirable, or not.
WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR CHOICES.
SOME CHOICES DETERMINED THE DIRECTION OF OUR LIVES.

You can choose to move….

Gen 12: 1 & 4 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram [was] seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Or be moved….by your choices:

Gen 3:23-24 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The key is – the choices have their consequences:
Abraham:

Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Adam and Eve:

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life;
:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

We are asked to make a choice for our heart’s devotion, and that gives us a direction in which to go.

God, through Moses, asked the Israelites to make a choice before moving on towards the promised land:

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

God, through Joshua, asked the Israelites to choose whom they would serve before moving forward:

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Jesus asks us to make a choice, and change our direction, and follow Him.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus asked the rich young ruler to make a choice:

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Jesus lets us know there is a cost:

Matt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I think of that poor rich young ruler. He’d done everything right, EXCEPT give his HEART to Jesus – his heart was tied up in his things.
I also think about the 10 virgins – they were all waiting for the bridegroom to come, they had all fallen asleep – but when it all came down to when it counted – there were five that had paid the price to have enough oil….

Matthew 25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

When the cry went out that the bridegroom was on the way, they all awoke, and five realized they didn’t have enough oil. Five refilled their lamps. The foolish five had to go buy oil – and while they were off doing that, the bridegroom came, the door was opened, the wise five went in…and the door was shut. Not to be opened again. Those that had not paid the price to be prepared, were left out.

The moral of the story?

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Choices have consequences, and determine where we can go.
In our spiritual life – choices have spiritual consequences, and determine where we will spend eternity.

I am suffering the consequences of choices that I made many years past.
Some are visible, some are not.
Some are physical, some are not.

But the first step is to move away from those choices, and to choose to make a change.

Matt 3:2 Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The word repent here, in the Greek, means:

to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

That is also the first step of salvation.
It is also, the first step for change.

In Christ, I am a new creation. (2 Cor 5:17)
In Christ, I have gone from darkness into light. (Eph 5:18)
I have to choose to put off the old man, and put on the new man. (2 Cor 5:17)
But, thank God – I can do it just one step at a time.
This journey, of however many steps, starts with ONE STEP.
I just have to be stepping in the right direction!
I have to CHOOSE to MOVE!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.
Soon, we’ll have email subscription.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Daniel Fast – Beginning the 21 days

Spirit of the Living God, Fall Afresh on Me!

I have chosen to join with the multitude that is praying together for these 21 days, and participate in The Daniel Fast.

Churches are having prayer meetings.
People are giving up things.

You Version OnLine Bible has a 21 day fast Bible Study plan.

And I don’t normally join in with the multitude.
Even in joining in, my focus is personal.

On the Daniel Fast web page, Susan Gregory says this:

“The Daniel Fast teaches us to deny our “selves” and instead put our spirit in control over our flesh. As you plan your meals and eat your food, keep in mind that the definition of a fast is to deny food for a spiritual purpose.”

In my 100 Spiritual Steps blog, I wrote about change.

I want to change…I want this time to change me – rearrange me – I want the potter to mold this clay into the vessel of HIS choice.

I have prayers that I have prayed before for which I would like to see the answers manifested here on earth. But that is NOT my purpose.

I am not fasting to MOVE GOD.
I don’t believe that we CAN MOVE GOD – it just may seem so, because WE HAVE MOVED CLOSER to God, and can understand His point of view better!
I WANT TO MOVE CLOSER TO GOD!!!

So, in my journal, I’m not going to be talking about food, about menus, or about recipes.
It’s all on the website for The Daniel Fast.
I’m not going to be talking about a diet.

In my journal, I’m going to be talking about my change – and it may run parallel with my 100 Spiritual Walking Steps blog.

Heavenly Father,

I come before you on this day, January 8, 2012, and give you my food for my body to be fed in my spirit and soul.
I give you the comfort of contentment in my stomach in order to hunger and thirst for righteousness in my heart and spirit.
I give you my mind, that it would not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewing, through the washing of the water of the Word.

Lord, take me in your hands, as the potter, and break me, and mold me into that vessel for YOUR glory, not mine.
Lord, I give you the talents that YOU have given me, and I confess my sin in keeping them hidden, ans I pray that my light would be set on the top of the hill – and that YOU would be able to use the gifts you placed in me, in order that I would be able to walk in the good works that YOU ordained for me from before I was born.

I am YOUR workmanship, created in Christ for good works.
I am YOUR vessel, YOUR handmaiden, and as Mary said –

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

Today, the first day of this fast, I lift up me – to be changed.
In the name of Jesus Christ, in Whom all things are possible,
Amen

Spirit of the Living God, Fall Afresh on Me!
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.
Soon, we’ll have email subscription.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Daniel Fast – Day 3-6 – Finding the purpose

Isaiah 58 -THE FAST

Isaiah 58
:6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
:7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

This chapter goes back and forth with If this, THEN that….

:9b If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
:a 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

THEN

9a: Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
10b :10b then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

And such a promise!

Is 58:11 And the LORD will guide you continually
and
satisfy your desire in scorched places
and
make your bones strong;
and
you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
:12 And
your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
(and)
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
(and)
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
(and)
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

I am not taking this fast seriously…I’ve been treating it like a ‘NEW WAY TO EAT’
I ‘say’ I want to set the captives free – but do I do what it takes to be heard and taken seriously as an intercessor before the Lord?
I ‘say’ I want to stand in the gap – but do I do what it takes to do so?

I see the key in Is 58:3:
‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.

A Daniel fast is pretty easy, as far as fasting goes.
You can eat all the fruits and veggies and nuts you want!
No hunger pains….”not to hide yourself from your own flesh”

Matt 5:6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Do I HUNGER AND THRIST after righteousness? Can I even suffer a little discomfort in my flesh for my spirit to grow? With what do I want to be filled?
In the next chapter of Isaiah – the prophet says this:

Is 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

What is the filling that I desire?
What is the comfort that I desire?
God promises this:

Is 49:8Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee:
and
I will preserve thee,
and
give thee for a covenant of the people,
(and)
to establish the earth,
(and)
to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Shew yourselves.
They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures [shall be] in all high places.

Is 49:13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth;
and
break forth into singing, O mountains:
for the LORD hath comforted his people,
and
will have mercy upon his afflicted.

Committing to a Daniel fast is more than just changing my eating habits.
Committing to a Daniel fast is to be taken seriously.

Am I willing to give up pleasures to focus on the oppressed, those in bondage, those in need?
Am I willing to have a fasting mentality – focusing my whole life on the Lord God and HIS will and concerns?
Do I care enough about those in need, any need, to give up something that will cause me to look at MY FLESH and say “lay down and humble yourself before the mighty God”?

I am convicted – cut to the quick –
and
I pray that my heart, mind, and spirit will be prepared to join those participating in THE Daniel Fast – and Fasting for Food this year.
AND
I pray that I will have a heart that is so burdened with the causes of the oppressed – that it won’t be my diet that changes – but rather MY LIFE!
I love this Hymn – though it’s very hard to find it in an upbeat version!

FYI – I am not broadcasting this fast in order to obtain praise of men – I am sharing my journal to help others that may be participating in this fast.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

100 Spiritual Steps #40 – “A Word on Fire Extinguishers”

I stared this morning with my through the Bible readings.

I started this morning with several blogs that I have to write.

I started this morning with some concerns for my focus with my life.

I started this morning with my facebook to check up on a few of my prayer concerns(as in, people that I pray for).

What I got was a dear friend, Vicki Small’s status saying this:

“I wish I didn’t understand this post so well, that I had always “walked the walk” and spoken, as Dave says, when the Holy Spirit gave me the opportunity. Too often have I quenched the Spirit out of fear of rejection or ridicule. Not since the 9th grade, the end of my “zeal without knowledge,” have I been one to push my faith on those who weren’t interested. Ugh. In my 20’s, there were times when I tried, in fear and in trembling, to pull of some evangelistic strategy promoted by my church. The last time was such a bomb that I swore, “Never again.” The result has been most of a lifetime of NOT speaking up; on the other hand, if you’re not walking the walk, it’s best not to talk, isn’t it?
Sorry. That is not the direction of Dave’s post, and I encourage my friends who love and follow Christ Jesus to read it. It’s good for chills up your spine.

Her status shocked me.

Her words unnerved me.

Vicki is one of the ones that inspires me to be better, to be more compassionate, to be more Christ like…and she’s confessing that she doesn’t think she quenches the Holy Spirit? This blog sent chills up her spine? What does this guy say?

A Word on Fire Extinguishers

This not only sent chills up my spine, it set a fire under my bum.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

100 Spiritual Steps #36 consistency

A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. ~Lao-tzu

The quotation page suggests this quote be translated more like this:

Although this is the popular form of this quotation, a more correct translation from the original Chinese would be

“The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet.” Rather than emphasizing the first step, Lau Tzu regarded action as something that arises naturally from stillness. Another potential phrasing would be “Even the longest journey must begin where you stand.” [note by Michael Moncur, September 01, 2004]

This saying is so enlightened, so ethereal, and so useless! Every year I take the first steps to do something new! Yea! I’ve started a journey of a thousand miles…but I never get out my front door! Starting is great..but it doesn’t amount to much unless each day, each morning, I get up, and take that next step.

Elisabeth Elliott Gren often said “When you don’t know what to do, just do the next right thing.”
AA uses this quote.

What steps are there? What would be the next right step?

Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Press on….
International Standard Version says it this way:

I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly call in the Messiah Jesus.

Many translate it run towards.

Later, I’m going to write about taking steps…but right now, I am dealing with my difficulty with being consistent in taking steps, no matter how small or how large.

Philipians 3:14 is a forward moving, active concept. It is NOT static. It is NOT waiting for the next step, it is MOVING toward that next step…even if there is a question.

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
The next right thing.

WHAT IS THE NEXT RIGHT THING?
That which would glorify God at this time.

WHAT WOULD GLORIFY GOD AT THIS TIME?
For that answer, one needs to spend time with the Lord, hearing HIS voice, and following HIM.

For me – right now it is writing, and I believe that soon, it will be painting again.
For me – it is praying.
For me – it is reading my Bible through and through.

WHEN CAN I NOT DO THOSE THINGS?
With an Android phone – I can always read my Bible – no excuses.
With the tablet Jim provided by God’s grace – I can always write.
With my easel, and my supplies, soon, I can always do some art.
WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN ME – I CAN ALWAYS PRAY!!!

I want to consistently decide to do the NEXT RIGHT THING.

So, this year, I am combating procrastination, distraction, and even laziness.

Prov 6:10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
:11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.(Pr 24:33-34)

Psalm 90 is the song of Moses – and he is talking about the brevity of life. We are but dust – and days of our lives are nothing in comparison to the eternity of God. Our years are filled with trouble, and they end with a sigh. But, Moses prays:

Ps 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Dear Lord – TEACH US TO MAKE OUR DAYS COUNT!!! FOR ETERNITY!!!

WISDOM?

Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

BECAUSE

Eccl 12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

AND SOLOMON SAYS:

Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.
:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.

After my 51st birthday, I started sensing an urgency of time. I am past 1/2 way to 100. As Moses said:

Psalm 90:10The length of our days is seventy years–or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span [fn] is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

75 is between the two – and is only 24 years away.

My first 50 years has so many starts without finishes that, even if I tried to get everything I started done, I would NOT finish them by the time I was 75!

Starting, without finishing is the lack of consistency.

For me, I think my lack of consistency has always been about “I will have time later” or “I’ll do it tomorrow.” or distraction.

Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.

2008 – Jim and I participated in The Biggest Loser Million Pound Matchup – and I lost almost 40 pounds in 4 months, and completed many 5k’s. I didn’t keep it up.
2009 – after Physical Therapy, I completed a modified mini triathlon. I had lost the weight, again. I didn’t keep it up.
2010 – many surgeries…but I didn’t keep up the eating plan.
AND NOT ONCE DID I READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE!
NOT ONCE DID I KEEP MY PRAYER JOURNAL!

I still have many unfinished projects – though I did donate many of them to worthy causes. Does that count? Of course not! I didn’t finish those projects! I want to be fit for the Kingdom of Heaven!

So – why did I fail?

Lack of consistency…I didn’t do the next right step moving towards a goal…I stood still. I stood still so long that time moved past me, and those projects became impossible to complete.
Lack of diligence…I got distracted by other projects, people and events.
Laziness…no sense of urgency. I didn’t number my days.

In 2012 – I have some goals to press on towards.

Bible Reading –
Prayer
Writing
Painting

In that order.

While doing this – I feel that I have some responsibilities.

Health
Relationships
Home

What is my responsibility, really?

To fear God, and keep His commandments. ~Solomon

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

It’s simple really:

John 10: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Just listen and follow! It only costs everything!
Just be consistent!
Day By Day!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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100 Spiritual Steps #37 – New Beginnings – Again

My word for 2012 – boldness.

BOLDNESS

Based on Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

and

Heb 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Peter and John – UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT
with the help of the online parallel bible
NLT says this:

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

ESV says uneducated, common
NIV says unschooled, ordinary
many versions agree with KJV, NIV, NLT and ESV
– these guys were NOT the elite members of society.
But, they were BOLD!

Bold is also translated COURAGE in the NIV:

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

NASB translates it as confidence.

I’m going to have to deal with that word later – courage.
Confidence is another good word!
Right now, I’m dealing with boldness – HOW DID THEY GET IT?

The key is in the last part of the verse….

They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

KJV says

and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

ISV says

they were amazed and realized that they had been with Jesus.

I have learned the circle of joy –
I have learned the circle of peace –

Here is a circle of boldness –
be with Jesus = boldness -> come boldly before the throne of God = be with Jesus -> obtain mercy and grace in time of need = face time of need with boldness!

I know there are many other verses that will come up…and this circle may get wider… but, God provides a way for us to be bold because HE is the one that gives us the ability to have courage in HIM. This is just the beginning of my journey toward boldness, courage and confidence.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Each one of us is given a gift – and each one of us needs to boldly walk in that gift…

1 Tim 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

… and not let the enemy deny us the fruit of that gift by filling us with negative thoughts.

2 Cor 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

My leading for this year is to BOLDLY practice the GIFTS THAT ARE WITHIN ME! This is my NEW beginnings for this year!

I wrote about Boldness in Step #9 – Where do we stand?
and
Step #31 – With what Shall I go?

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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DF – day 2 – Fair?

I am disabled right now, because I cannot get up and move around and make my own food for the Daniel Fast.

Most folks that are doing the fast are starting this coming Sunday – and are preparing this week. I didn’t get preparations made, because I was preparing for surgery. So, if I am ‘sacrificing’ food, shouldn’t I be the one sacrificing the time to prepare this special allowed food? Is it really a fair fast if I CAN’T choose to eat anything other than what I’m given?

I don’t know about that, but what I do know is that I am sitting here craving ice cream, wanting to make excuses for Jim to buy me some Wendy’s burgers so my leg will heal, and saying I’ve been through so much, I really should treat myself.

WAIT!!!
That is how I got to be 250 pounds…with weight bearing damage to my malformed ankles and knees.
That is how this temple of the Lord became inefficient in doing things FOR the Lord.
That is how my energy levels dropped, and diabetes took over, and blood work messed up.

Maybe the first part of this fast is to NOT mention my cravings…but to REALLY take them down, alone, me and GOD.
Maybe the first part of this fast is to SET THIS PERSON FREE from the bondage of all the cravings, so that I can be focused to pray for the freedom of others.

It’s worth thinking about!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

People of the Bible – Joseph

The story of Joseph takes up a rather large part of Geneses.
If you include the whole story about how his father ended up with the wrong wife…and had to work for 7 more years to get to marry Rachel, Joseph’s story is HUGE!

Sister Wives – the original series! Rachel and Leah used their children to win favors with Israel/Jacob. Trading mandrakes from one’s son to win time in Israel’s tent just seems wrong.
Israel loved Rachel more than Leah, and loved Joseph more than the other sons. To prove it, he set Joseph up with a very colorful coat. One that could be seen a long way off! Distance that enabled a bun ch of jealous boys to plan a way to rid themselves from this favoritism!

Everyone assumes that Joseph shared his dreams in an arrogant fashion. I don’t read it that way in the Bible. I think that is an added, personal projection by the reader upon Joseph’s actions.
“what do these dreams mean?”
Apparently, his brothers and his father KNEW what those dreams meant…and they reprimanded him FOR HAVING THOSE DREAMS! The poor boy, he’s lost his mom, he’s got funky dreams going on, and no one to share them.

With all that going on, and actually listening to your brothers discuss whether they are going to kill you or sell you, I’m thinking that those dreams didn’t seem very real right then.

Did Joseph lose hope? He was raised up in Potipher’s house, in the Jail, and eventually in Pharoah’s house. The dreams indicated that his family would be bowing down…and his family is no where to be around.

I have dreams and visions that I believe that God has given me. When they haven’t come to pass as I think they should, I start to second guess myself…”did I hear that right? ” “did I make that up?” “did I just want something bigger to happen?”
And, then, “who do I think I am that God could use me?”

Joseph went to jail – falsely accused. Everything, except this woman’s lies, acknowledged that Joseph was an outstanding slave. This powerful person’s lies ‘destroys’ Joseph’s life.

I’ve been falsely accused by people that know the truth. The lies are so interwoven into the fabric of our lives that without God’s divine intervention, there is no way to clean up the mess. The lies can, and probably will effect some effectiveness of God’s ability to use me. Then again, God put Joseph in the prison for a time, and in order to get him set up for the real placement – at Pharoah’s right hand.

The last two years of foot and ankle and elbow surgeries have left me feeling like I’ve been in jail. I have not handled myself like Joseph – and I have not been put in charge of my ‘prison’, but that will end today. Is 58 talks about a fast that God can get behind…and part of the reason for that fast is to set the captives free.

Many people that were in concentration camps, death camps, held captive for one reason or another have said that the victory came when they realized that no one can jail their spirits! I have allowed the physical ailments to jail my spirit – to hold me back – to hold me down. I am allowing these things to keep me in a box, and I am not someone that fits into a preconceived box!

When Joseph settled in to his new life, married, two kids, then God brought about the fulfillment of the dreams. Then his brothers came and bowed down before him – like bundles of grain bowing to the one that would prevent their starvation.

I don’t know what will come about with the dreams and visions that I have had, but I know that I have to keep my eyes on the prize.
Ultimately, God used Joseph, and a famine, to bring the Israelites into the land of Goshen…setting them up for a prison of slavery…so that HE could set them free in a mighty way.

I can’t see
what God is doing with me.
I can only choose to be
everything God created in me
flowing, growing and yeildedly free.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest