Itty Bitty Bible Study – Obadiah – Introduction

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) The conversation starts Monday, January 29th.

Obadiah

I love J Vernon McGee for his insights into the Bible. He’s entered into his eternal reward, but we are blessed to still have his works of theology and bible Studies.
Blue Letter Bible provides all of his notes, amont many other commentators. For this study, I’m referring to Obadiah. I also like his outline of the book better than any I’ve seen:

I. Edom — destruction, vv. 1-16

A. Charge against Edom, vv. 1-9

B. Crime of Edom, vv. 10-14

C. Catastrophe to Edom, vv. 15, 16

(Poetic justice — lex talionis — law of retaliation)

II. Israel — restoration, vv. 17-21

A. Condition of Israel, v. 17

B. Calling of Israel, v. 18

C. Consummation of all things, vv. 19-21

(“And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.”)

In case these references are not deep enough, I’ve been looking over this introduction to Obadiah by David Malik provided by Bible.org, another great place for Bible research online.

Dr Malik proposes this is the purpose of Obadiah:

A. To proclaim judgment upon Edom for rejoicing over the fall of Jerusalem

B. To proclaim through the judgment of Edom that all of the nations will be judged for their hostility to God’s people

C. To proclaim a message of hope for Judah

Here’s my understanding, and since this is my blog, I guess that’s the understanding you are going to get, hahaha!

Who is Obadiah?
Servant of God.

On Bible Gateway, when I do a search for Obadiah, it gives me the list of all the Obadiahs...including the book.

Obadiah – servant of Yahweh.

J.Vernon McGee – “this name was as common in that day as the name John is today.”

When – when was this written?
The dating has been difficult…even for all those lofty scholars that have access to tons of information and references! They have forgotten more bible knowledge than I will ever have, therefore, if they can’t figure it out, I know I won’t! hahaha!

The one agreed upon timing is that it has to do with the time that Edom laughed and helped to take down Judah.
From the Bible.org introduction,

The Babylonian context matches other exilic scriptures which describe the involvement of Edom in the fall of Jerusalem.

a. Psalm 137:7:
Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem who said, ‘Raze it, raze it, to its very foundation’

b. Lamentations 4:21-22
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who dwells in the land of Uz; but the cup will come around to you as well, you will become drunk, and make yourself naked, the punishment of your iniquity has been completed. O daughter of Zion. He will exile you no longer. But He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.

c. Ezekiel 25:12-14:
Thus says the Lord God, ‘Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grievous guilt, and avenged themselves upon them,’ Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it. And I will lay it waste; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword. An I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of the people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom according to My anger and according to My wrath’ thus they will know My vengeance,’ declares the Lord God (cf. also Ezekiel 35:5, 12-15)

There are a few other options listed in the Bible.org link, as well as any number of others you can find online.
My feeling is this: it was appropriate then, to the enemies of the Lord, and it is appropriate today, as a shadow of what we can know of the Lord’s concern for his children today.

To Whom?
The Edomites.
Who were they? descendants of Esau.
To understand this sibling rivalry, one has to reread Genesis.
Genesis 25:19-34

Poor Rachel, finally having a baby, has twins…and they are fighting inside her womb.
She cries out to God WHY!!! and he says:

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you[b] shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”

Read on and Esau sells his birthright.
Then in Genesis 26, he marries girls that are not of the tribe Abraham…gentile, non believing girls.
Genesis 27 – here’s where Jacob really does in Esau…though he does it at the hands of his mom, Rachel – and steals Esau’s blessing. Any wonder why Esau was angry?

Genesis 27:41
41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

I don’t know God’s thoughts.
I know that there is something here about predestination and election – which I have spoken of in Itty Bitty Bible Study – Ephesians 1:3-6. I love what pastor JD Greer said in his study on Ephesians – understand that we are chosen, but that we choose, and that the ability to comprehend that is a mystery.
From Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible, commentary on Romans:

this is what the summary says:

The wall of the supposed sovereign election of God is a certain portion of the race to salvation, and the divine reprobation of all others. Rom 9:7-18
In the midst of his argument showing the awful situation of the natural man, he points out the doors of divine mercy provided for in the plan of salvation, by which all men can escape the impending judgments of God if they will.
An attempt is made in the drawing given to illustrate the points of the apostle’s arguments by a diagram of the walls and doors of escape.

There is a truth that God knew what Esau was going to be like.
There is also a truth that Esau chose to be the way he was.
And, God knew about Cain and Abel…and Cain chose to turn away from his offering to repent, and killed his brother. But each is responsible for HIS choice.

another Bible verse:

Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

and:

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

For more on Galatians 6 – you may want to look at Itty Bitty Bible Study Galatians 6.

When there are curses, there is a reason. And even then, God sometimes chooses to judge those that are the instruments of the curse, because they are choosing to be violent and ungodly. Oh my, what a difficult thing it is to be the God of heaven and earth! My head is spinning just trying to keep this all straight!

Brotherly rivalry is as old as right outside of the Garden.
Today, we have the Israelites and all the Arab world. This is the very sibling rivalry, passed down from generation to generation.
There are two sides to every story, but, I want to make sure that this conversation does not turn into a current events religion bashing event.

As Christians, we have to remember that we have a history of blaming the Jews for crucifying Jesus, and treating Jews as less than dogs. As well as anyone that does not believe the same as we do – Muslims, all oriental religions, all tribal peoples, even differing denominations of Christianity! I don’t want to start thinking more highly of myself.

The Bible says that the Jewish people were chosen by God to tell his story. I’ve heard from a Jewish Rabbi that Christians have the wrong idea of “chosen ones” from the point of view of the Jew. “We were chosen to be an example, to carry the Word and to obey it. Look at our history, would you want to be that example?”
Jesus was a Jew. He gives promise to everyone.
Jesus went to the gentiles…probably Arabs, if the area I understand is correct.
There is NO people group that is separated from the option of “For God so loved the WORLD that HE GAVE his only begotten son that WHOSOEVER would believe on HIM should have everlasting, eternal, life”. John 3:16

I plan to look at Obadiah in the light of prophecy to US, God’s children.
I choose to recognize that if I have chosen God, HE has chosen me, because no one comes to the Father except the Father draw him. I am saved by grace through faith and that not of my own but it is a gift from God. And that is the truth for every believer and follower of Christ. This is a different view of being chosen, that I’m not chosen by my worth, I’m chosen by HIS promise. I am made worthy because HE loves me. He did not choose me because I am beautiful, I am beautiful because HE chose me.

As His child…we have been given an inheritance, and we are given protection.
Many of us pray Psalm 91 for protection when things are scary…

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say[a] to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

This was written long before Christ.
It’s written to “he who dwells in the secret place of the most High”, or my favorites – “He is my hiding place”, or “those that run into the name of the lord, a strong tower, shall be saved.” THESE are believers.

The other side of the coin is this:

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

This often quoted verse is written to those that are called according to HIS name…and they need to repent. That would include Jews…since it was written to the Jews…but now, it is applicable to anyone that calls upon the name of Jesus Christ! It says clearly that there is some sort of unhealed land that needs healing, and it will only be healed if the people REPENT from their wicked ways!

When the Israelite were getting a little high minded, this is what God had to say to them:

Deuteronomy 7:6-11
6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10 and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.

Even more to the point:

Deut 9:6
6 “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.

Remember, God was just keeping his promise to the righteous fathers that went before them. He’s faithful to a 1000 generations. Then, remember – this is not written to any specific people group – it’s just true! Cause and Effect!

Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

Even Jesus has something to say about where blessings fall…

Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

…and our responsibility to those we perceive as enemies! Love and prayer…which means then, that we are the sons of our Father…who blesses all.

What’s My Focus?

I’m looking at this tiny book to see what characteristics of Edom do I have?

And, what negative traits of the Israelites/Judeans might I have?

And, what do I do to change this in me?

I also am looking at how long suffering God is with His children. While Edom was art of the exile or destruction, there are plenty of prophecies and such that point that God gave Judah plenty of options to change, repent, and get right or He’d remove His hand of blessing. I know thatGod has been loooooooong suffering with me, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Has God been longsuffering with you?

Are you blessed to know that you were chosen by God?

Can you relate to doing something very UNChristian, and hoping that God would not find out? If so, do you know that HE has provided us with an advocate in Jesus Christ?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-2 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Next – Obadiah, part 1. Please Join me!

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

2018 – My One Word – Be Like Jesus – Jan 23, 2018

Sometimes, I feel all alone.
It feels like there is no one on my side.
If feels like that saying “if you were the only one on earth, Jesus would have come to die on the cross for you” – except for all those people around.

Loneliness.
Alone-ness

For several months, I’ve felt alone. It wasn’t that there aren’t people that care for me, because there are. It was because I was not able to get out because of my physical limitations. My health issues kept me inside.

Christine Miserandino wrote an article about the Spoon Theory that gave all of us with ‘hidden’ disabilities the way to explain our various abilities.

Because some health issues are invisible to others, we, whom suffer invisibly can feel very alone. Trying to explain why we have the want to, but we don’t have the can do becomes exhausting. After years of trying to explain this to others that offer platitudes, the health fad of the day, their uncle’s second cousin twice removed miraculous cure and so on, a person just tries to hide that part of them. It is easier to just pull back into oneself rather than exert the effort to engage another person, and waste the spoons that could otherwise make the day a bit more bearable.

Another analogy – the battery theory.

Christine wrote her theory article in 2003. It went “viral’ amongst those of us with chronic, hidden illnesses. It made a huge difference in the ability to communicate with non-spoonies. Yet, there is a serious problem with these illustrations.
“how many spoons do you have left today?”
“Yesterday, that took 2 spoons, why are you acting so tired today, doing the same thing?”

See, the spoon cost is not the same from day to day. The analogy breaks down when you try to make it a data stream, a statistic point, a menu of energy.

Yes, there are days that I decide that I will not take a shower, because often, that uses up so many of my spoons, that the next option is to go to bed. To prepare my house for Bible Study can be a joy, or a nightmare, depending on the spoon expenditure. That is never the same from one day to the next. I don’t always know how many spoons it will take. Sometimes, it can take a day for me to recover, because I had to borrow spoons from the next day. Don’t get me wrong! I absolutely LOVE having people over to my home, to share something to eat and drink, and to talk about Jesus! It’s not just stressful relationships that can suck the spoons out of me. Laughter, singing, hugging, talking and interacting with people I love to be around can drain me. I have to count the cost daily, so that I can perform my mission to the glory of God.

Be Like Jesus.
WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH HER WORD FOR THE YEAR?

Mark 6:31
And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

Jesus and the disciples were exhausted.
John had been martyred.
The disciples had been sent out on their first missionary trip(hmmm, what did Jesus do while they were out doing the work of the Kingdom? was he resting in the Father?).
Jesus said, come with me…let us rest.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus promises us rest…but often, we forget the second part.
The YOKE.
The BURDEN.
Yes, it is easy and light.
Yes, he is gently and lowly, and will give us rest for our souls.
The reason he says this is that we are wearing a YOKE – we are workers in the KINGDOM – and our souls get weary doing the work.
And HE provides us rest, when we come to HIM.

Psalm 23 – The Lord is MY Shepherd – and sometimes, we have to be led to still water.
Sometimes, we have to be MADE to lie down in GREEN PASTURES so that HE can restore our souls!

I’ve felt broken.
I’ve felt less than.
In fact, because of my limitations, I’ve felt like the unprofitable servant(Matthew 25:14-30) …hiding my talents because I cannot go out and invest it, or buy and sell, or whatever.
I feel slothful, and, sometimes, I feel wicked.
I feel lazy.

Actually, while yes I do feel broken and less than, and I grieve because of the things I cannot do, the reality of feeling slothful, wicked and lazy is that I project that onto what I think others think of me.

Jesus wasn’t born in 2000, with computers, and cable, internet social media to share the gospel. He didn’t come when he could fly around in a jet, and speak to thousands in large coliseums. Did he know what Y2K would provide in the way of spreading the gospel? Of course He did. Still he came, in something BC, and walked from place to place, speaking without a microphone, trusting that His disciples would share what he said with integrity.

Creator God came in the form of a baby – a helpless, dependent baby – to save the world.
Born alone, in a stable, because there was no room for his family in the Inn.
Homeless.
Branded illegitimate.
The Bible says that he had to grow in wisdom…

ETERNAL GOD was disabled by being limited to THE FINITE.
Jesus even said that he had to ask the Father’s guidance, that while here on earth, He didn’t know the hour or the day of things to come.

How do I be like Jesus, when I am limted by the finite of my chronic illnesses?

Recognizing my limitations!
If the son of God needed time apart to recover, then surely I do.
If those walking side-by-side with Jesus needed time apart to rest, then surely I do!
Of course, when the earth was created, on the seventh day REST was created.
Rest was created FOR US, and yet, it says in Genesis 2:

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

God set this up, as an example to us. He told Moses, on Mount Sinai:

Exodus 20:
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

How does this tell me to be like Jesus? REST
1. Recognize my limitations. I am finite. I am NOT GOD-Man!
2. Embrace the YOKE of HIS calling, not MY want to. Make sure I’m doing the Father’s will.
3. Remember that REST is a holy gift from my Father God. It honors God for me to rest.

Then, there is my attitude about myself – accepting that I was fearfully and wonderfully made – wrinkles, warts, scabs and scars. Can I do anything about these limitations? Some, yes. Other’s no.
It’s my responsibility to to whatever the Lord puts into my hand to do, and to do it to the best of my ability, unto HIS glory.
My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost – and I should treat it like a temple. I don’t mean to worship my own body. I do mean, I need to determine the clean and unclean things that I do to my body. Again, clarification – I am not saying that I’m going around living in sin, and performing all manner of wickedness.

Many years ago – when I was just a young girl, my mom shared a story with me about our minister’s wife at a woman’s bible study. People were asking for prayer to help them overcome things that were causing them to stumble. Goldie Marshall asked for prayer to avoid chocolate. I don’t know what her issue was, but what I do remember is how that impacted my mom.

“She is so dedicated to the Lord that she even would give up chocolate to be more like Him”

My body suffers from some of the things I eat.
My body suffers from lack of movement, because of the consequences of some of the things I eat.
I cannot exercise as much as would be good for my body, because of choices I have made that have caused more co-morbidities to my health issues.
I have not cared for the temple.
The walls are torn down, or fallen down.
While I cannot change the specific illnesses in many ways, I can make choices to mitigate their effects.
Case in point – DM2.
With the help of my service dog, and learning to listen, I no longer have a diagnosis of DM2. It’s been downgraded(upgraded?) to Impaired fasting glucose.
Now, what if I’d been even more determined about my eating? Maybe the IFG would be gone. The weight would be gone, and the issues that being overweight causes. Maybe, I’d be more energetic, and more capable to do the tasks God has for me.

Is this like hiding my talent? For me – yes.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

This chapter talks about building…wood, hay and stubble, or gold silver and precious stone. In the end, I am going to be judged by the materials I used to build this temple.

Jesus made sure that his followers were fed, both spiritually and physically. God miraculously fed the Israelites in the desert. Elijah was fed by ravens. Peter was told to eat what God laid before him. I’m not talking about the levitical legalistic dietary laws. I’m talking about God providing food for His children. I’ve often been taught, and have taught about the need for spiritual food, and how often.
Hunger and thirst after righteousness, and you shall be filled!
Avoid the leaven of the Pharisees.

Too often, I have not applied that to my physical body.

Proverbs 23:1-3
1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
observe carefully what[a] is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are deceptive food.

empty calories
toxic drinks (thinking about diet soda…just to be clear!)
foods that cause inflammation, pain, migraines, and congestion.
POISON
in the temple of the Holy Spirit!
UNCLEAN!

How does this tell me to be like Jesus? FUEL
1. wash my body with clean water, like I wash my spirit with clean water of the Word.
2. Feed my body the best nutrition possible. This body was created to heal itself, if only it is given the proper fuel.
3. Movement. I’m not exactly certain how this fits, I just know it does. Follow the Shepherd. Walk as Jesus walked.

I really did not expect this to be part of MY ONE WORD – Rest and fuel!
Now that the Lord has pointed it out to me, I can see how I have been an unprofitable servant, by not caring for the temple. I can see how I have hidden my talents by not giving my body the best opportunities to be at it’s best. I can see how I have abused my body by pushing it past it’s limitations, and not going to the Lord, and resting in Him. I can’t blame it all on the number of spoons I may have or may not have, though it is my responsibility to make sure that all of my spoons are ready to be used when the Lord calls!

Am I really all alone?
When I am not able to fellowship with other believers, whose fault is it, if I have worn myself out doing other than?
I’m never alone, because of Jesus.
The aloneness I have suffered with lately, is the result of my choices that have exacerbated my limitations and prevented me from fellowshipping with believers face-to-face.
That’s another thing that I need to recognize is part of being like Jesus.
He CHOSE to come down here to be with US!
One of the things for which to save up spoons is fellowship.

Fellowship is very important.

Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Matthew 18:20
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

James 5:14-16
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I must be part of the BODY of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Pretty clear.
1. Rest
2. Fuel
3. Fellowship

It is up to me how I apply my spoons.
I can waste them.
I can hoard them.
Or I can treat them as precious gold to be spent for the Kingdom of God, and invest them wisely so that I can bear much fruit and glorify my Father Who is in Heaven.

Spoons come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes I need a ladle, sometimes a slotted spoon to take things with discernment. Sometimes, all I have is a 1/4 tsp.
The key is – what do I do with it?
And do I hole up in my home, and cry “I’m so alone”, or do I ask for help when my spoons are gone?

As for the aloneness – Jesus felt very alone in the garden, when all of His friends fell asleep. He chose to go to the Father, and then, finish the work that He’d begun.

Is my alone-ness actually me being alone?
Or me choosing to be alone?
Some of both.
My responsibility is to be like Jesus, and give grace when it’s from others, and give myself a reality check when it’s because of my choices.
Accept my limitations,
rest as needed,
fuel for the fire, and
fellowship in and with Christ.

I never thought of these as being like Jesus.
What do YOU think about this?
Do you ever struggle with these areas?

I’m so glad that Jesus knows our form, that we are but dust, and that HE is the one that forms us, and works in us and completes us to the Glory of God! Amen!

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Philippians 1:21-30

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

Philippians 1:21-30

FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN

We’ve all seen this verse…

What does this mean?
Is Paul wanting to die?
Is Paul suicidal, but just deciding to live?
Is he being a living martyr for us?
Is he complaining?

I don’t think so. I think he’s just stating the fact that in this world, we have tribulations(John 16:33) – and the only complete deliverance from them is in the presence of Christ, after earthly death.
I also think he’s talking about how amazing it is to be with Christ, but now, we see through a glass darkly – but then we will see clearly, and know clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12 ).

I had a time when I was close to death and I had a conversation with Jesus. I call it, a glimpse of Jesus.

To confirm this, Ph 1:20

20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

It’s not martyrdom mentality.
We’ve all met them.
“sigh – I would rather be doing this but I am called to be here, suffering for you, and it’s too God’s glory – sigh” followed by the hand swipe of the imagined sweat on the brow.

Paul is explaining what it is to be in Christ – to minister the gospel – to disciple others.
He’s admitting that it ain’t easy!

1 Ph 1:22-24

22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

He calls the work for the Lord IN the flesh as fruitful labor…sounding like a husbandman of a vineyard, that loves the vines, and willing works and toils in order to nurture them to fruitfulness.
He knows his calling.
His calling is to teach.
The shepherd looks after his sheep, and gives his life for his sheep, if necessary. (John 10:11)
Paul is only imitating HIS Shepherd – Jesus, the good Shepherd. (John 10)
He’s doing it for the sheep – he’s living his life for the sheep that Christ has given him!
A servant heart!

Phil 1:25-26
Here is where I had to stop and do some research into the life and ministry of Paul.

25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

I am ashamed to admit that I did not realize that Paul was in Rome twice.
He was released, and he did return to minister to the Philippians.
I love The Blue Letter Bible site! It’s there that I was able to look up the apostle Paul’s timeline!

His ministry at or around this time is explained in Acts 28, in his missionary works after the first Rome experience are indicated in 1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus.

His second trip to Rome was under Nero – and he was imprisoned and martyred.

2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

How did Paul know that he was going to be released the first time, and not the second?

Amos 3:7
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

The Angel of the Lord said a similar thing when meeting with Abraham before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 18:16-21)

Have you ever had a time when you just knew what God was going to do in your life?

You had asked for wisdom, you had asked for guidance – Just like James 1 says to do.

Somehow, in your time of meditating and praying, all of the sudden, you just KNEW what God was going to do in your situation.

As I read through this, I notice Paul, the ever consummate teacher! The Papa to these young Christians – wanting to not waste any time in his letter.
Why is he going to be returned to them?

Phil 1:25
for your progress and joy in the faith,

This would get my attention…that the reason that he is going to be continuing here on the earth, and even returning to see us is for OUR PROGRESS…and OUR JOY in the FAITH!

I’d sit up and take notice! This is for MY joy? MY progress? Woo Hoo!

Phil 1:27
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

ZING! OUCH! THAT’S PERSONAL!

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether I come and see you or am absent,
I may hear of you that you are standing firm
in one spirit,
with one mind
striving side by side
for the faith of the gospel,

I don’t know about you, but, while this seems to be spoken to the church at Philipi…no group of Christians can be bound together in unity without the individuals choosing to live their lives worthy of the gospel of Christ!
A church cannot stand firm, unless the indivduals are choosing to stand firm.
A body cannot be in one spirit, in one mind unless each part chooses to be in unity with the others, or at least harmony, and in unity with Christ.
Only THEN, can they stand side by side!
Because they are focused individually and together on the faith of the gospel!

It’s the living out of the Body of Christ, as he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
At the end of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul points to 1 Corinthians 13 by saying
“And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
That is the way of Love!

Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 2:19-22
Knowing Jesus has a great list of verses about the Body of Christ.

Paul also addresses that something is going on that is causing fear…well, in this time, HE’s in prison for the gospel, Christ has been crucified, Stephen was stoned(this he knew of very well). The culture was not very pro Christian.

Phil 1:28
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Stand fast together side by side…in LOVE.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
14 Do everything in love.

Paul encourages them NOT to be terrified…that the persecution is to their(the enemies) damnation, but will work to salvation in the Christians. Romans 8:28 again, only this time, it’s applying to the believers..not to Paul’s circumstances!

I believe he’s pointing back to Jesus’s great sermon!

Matthew 5:10-12
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

If we walk as Christ walked, we can expect persecution. The keys here are FALSELY and on CHRIST’s account!
Paul started out this section with let your conversation(also translated as life) be as it becomes the gospel of CHRIST!

I’ve been ‘persecuted’ for my attitude – as in BAD.
I’ve been ‘persecuted’ for my rudeness, or inappropriateness, or my lack of respect for someone’s time.
That’s not being persecuted for my life reflecting the gospel or Christ.

I’ve heard of folks that have called their reprimands at work as being persecution. Unfortunately, when I questioned them, they were not doing their job, and were preventing others from getting their work done, and offending customers. That was NOT persecution. Maybe for their naivete, but not for Christ.

Then, again – as if Paul MUST drive this home…after letting us know that he would rather die and be with Jesus, but had chosen to stay here, in order to help us grow…into the fullness of Christ…and that we will have opponents….

Phil 1:29 – 30
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

WAIT!!! HOLD ON!!! I DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR THIS!!!
I thought it was all going to ask and ye shall receive…seek and ye shall find, life more abundantly, my father owns the cattle on a thousand hills…open the windows of heaven and pour out the blessings…Abraham’s blessings are mine!!!!

This type of Christianity just does not line up with the fullness of scripture.
Are those things true?
Of course. They are Bible.
Is this persecution and suffering thing true?
Again, Yes – they are Bible.

The best way I can explain it is to share this:
1 Peter 4
YES, the WHOLE chapter.
But here’s the main poit I want to make:

1 Peter 4:12-17
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

In this section, Phil 1:20-30, I see Paul stating why he is remaining here, and then, going ahead and teaching, challenging, encouraging, and maybe convicting the believers.

For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Do we really have a choice? technically, yes…but, if I want to be like Jesus…I don’t have a choice.
Jesus said it this way:

Matthew 16:24-26
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

A very wise man, who did give his life for Christ, said this:

I’m going to end this chapter with a link to a poem I was given last night, The Pain of Night. I think it goes well with this study.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More Philippians ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~Thank you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

Midnight Musings – the Pain of Night – Jan 22, 2018

The Pain of Night

The pain of night has no Delight
And to the Lord, I set my sights

My heart is filled with joy and fear
Because I know that He is near.
Then why the fear if He is near?
Will He choose to hear my tears?

My heart is sad because of pain
It’s nothing, I look to the blood-soaked stains
Of what He suffered for me on the cross
And I think of my life and count it for loss.

But still my flesh does scream and cry,
I know for me He chose to die,
And by His stripes I’m told I’m Healed.
Why this pain still do I feel?

What lesson in this for me to learn?
I really pray that I discern
I want to learn my lessons well
I want to hear Him to me tell,

“Peace my child and do be still!”
“I will do the work in you until
My fullness in you does dwell
And you are set free from this Earthly hell.

“So tell your story far and wide
How I was ever by your side
When darkness threatened to settle in
And the demons try to do you in.

“But to My face you turned to seek
And in My light you knew we’d meet
The day will come, this flesh will die.
You with me, to be glorified.

“So do the work on Earth for now.
I give you Grace and make a vow.
I’ll be beside you until the end
And you reach heaven with Me, amen.”

What can I say, Lord, when you speak like this?
When your words are gentle like a butterfly kiss.
When I know what you suffered on the cross for me
What else can I do, but to learn to be –

Be still
Be patient
Be loving and kind
I know that my God is in charge of all time

To be more like Jesus is my prayer
And to share His love everywhere.
And if my suffering in faith and peace
Is what the Lord desires of me,

Then I pray that I will suffer well
And that I can go and tell
Others about the Amazing peace
Of knowing that he died for me!

My prayer was that He’d speak to me
My prayer was so that I would see!
If He chooses not to heal
My soul declares Peace, be still.
(c) 2018 MCWildman

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-5
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Philippians 1:18-21

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

Philippians 1

To catch up, the links are at the end of the blog, or all the Itty Bitty Bible Studies are listed on this page.

Philippians 1:18b – 26
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

First, focus on what Paul is saying here:

Yes, and I will rejoice,
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

This sounds very familiar!!!!!
Maybe because Paul wrote ROMANS!!!

He’s in Jail.
He’s chained to a guard. Or possibly on house arrest.
Blue Letter Bible provides a very nice Timeline of Paul’s Life and Ministry
He’s had so many things happen to him…and he’s still looking at these things from the point of view that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to HIS purposes! Romans 8:28
The whole chapter of Romans 8 could be written, and summarized in this thought…that no matter how badly things look, we can know that it is bringing about OUR salvation. Not in the sense that we get saved again and again, but more in the sense that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, that this is a walk, a journey, and the fullness of Christ is to be worked out in us.

In Philippians 1:12 he is pointing out to everyone that is concerned that this is all for the furtherance of the gospel! This is his first and foremost concern.
In Philippians 4, we’ll hear about how it’s not about him having his needs met.
It’s to comfort those that are concerned, and to speak of HIS confidence in Christ.

I started that part with verse 18b – and yes, I will rejoice!
It reminds me of the letter that James wrote:

James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James knew Paul, Paul knew James – James was the head of the church at Jerusalem. Bible Odyssey goes into much more detail.
It makes sense that James and Paul were thinking alike!

I wrote about the Oil of Joy

To understand a little bit more of verse 20, we have to read it with verse 19.

Phil 1:19-20
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

I will not be at all ashamed,
but that with full courage now
as always
Christ will be honored
in my body,
whether by life
or by death.

He’s not talking about him being ashamed of the gospel. To confirm this, read

Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

He’s talking about being ashamed of himself – because his first love is Christ Jesus, and he wants to glorify Him in all that he does, whether by living, or by dying.

Philippians 1:21English Standard Version (ESV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

And, with that, we will stop here. There’s too much to consider with the next 5 verses!
I pray that this will bless you.

Have you ever had to choose joy in the face of a “prison” surrounding you?

Have you every been “trapped” because of your faith?

Have you ever been concerned about YOUR behavior – ashamed of Your behavior as an ambassador of Christ?

Do you know that we have an advocate with the Father?

1 John 2:1-2
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Please share your thoughts with me in comments!

It is Well With My Soul
Worship Video
and
Chris Rice with a beautiful video

One of my rivers:

Philippians Itty Bitty Bible Study

Glimpses of Heaven – a Glimpse of Jesus

A Glimpse of Jesus

disclaimer –
I’m not saying that I WENT to heaven.
I’m not saying that THIS is what heaven looks like.
This is MY experience in response to a situation for which I was seeking God.
My intent is to offer comfort.

Back in the 1980’s, when we had five children, and didn’t know what we were doing. One night, our oldest son got sick. The ugly, throw up down the side of the bed, kind of sick. I’m not sure what happened to me, but I was having difficulties breathing, and I was lying down in my bed, on the other side of the house. I couldn’t move to help Jim with our son. Things kept coming into and out of view.
All of the sudden, I realized that I was walking on this beautiful green hill, with a beautiful blue sky above my head. The grass was the greenest green I’d ever seen. The river below me was babbling along, with that sweet sound of water just lazily flowing over round rocks, a musical sound that nothing can replicate. In the far distance were purple mountains rising up to meet the blue sky, with bits of white on the tops, mixing in with the white clouds so that it wasn’t obvious where the mountains ended and the clouds began.

“Hello, Christi” a warm, friendly voice spoke. The voice sounded familiar, but it almost didn’t sound at all. It was if everything, including me, resonated with this voice. I turned around.
“Jesus!” I exclaimed! “Where am I?”
“With me, child”

We seemed to take a walk, though we seemed to stay in one place. I thought I was moving, and yet, there was no effort, just a flowing, being, kind of movement. As we walked, I told Him of my concerns for my children, and them growing up to serve him. I told Him of my concerns about being good enough to be their mom. I told Him how I felt worthless as a woman, a wife, a mom and a child of God. I told Him how I felt I was failing Jim and Him.
He listened to all I said, and would interject loving words that seemed to wash away all of my concerns.

“Jesus – I have a question, please.”
“Yes…” He replied, looking me in the eyes, with more love that any mother ever had for her child.
“Am I dead? Is this heaven?”
“Almost, my dear. You are almost dead, but this is just outside of heaven.”
I started asking him questions, and I wasn’t bothered at all that I was mostly dead. I just loved hearing his voice, and feeling that love roll over me like a wave of the ocean on a warm summer day. I wanted to lie down in that green grass, feel the breeze flow over me, and enjoy the musical melody of the water. I don’t remember all that He told me, but for that period of time, nothing matter, except that I was with Jesus. I knew everything I needed to know, I feared nothing, and I was so full of love and joy that I thought I was going to burst!

As I was listening to Jesus, there came a buzz in my ear…like a mosquito that just won’t let you fall asleep. I started waving it off, and it got louder and louder. I didn’t even stop to grasp, why are there mosquitoes in heaven? I just kept swatting it away. I was getting annoyed!
I looked up at Jesus, about to ask why, and saw that He had this interesting, understanding grin on his face.
“christi” – I heard, as if it was far away, as if it were from someone on those mountains…someone yelling my name. The voice was pulling me away from standing there with Jesus. The voice was taking my attention away from focusing on Jesus and this beautiful place. It was if a pull that I could not control were trying to drag me away. I just wanted to be right there, in the sweet green grass, beside the still waters, and enjoy the restoring of my soul!
“Go away”
“Christi”
“Be Quiet!” I said…trying to wave off that pesky voice.
“Christi” – I heard it again, even louder. NOOOOOOooooooooo!

“Jesus, it’s Jim’s voice…why is he interrupting us? Doesn’t he know I’m with you? How dare he interrupt my time with You!”
“Yes, dear, he does. But he’s calling you back.”
“Jesus, NO – I don’t want to go back there…it’s beautiful here, YOU are here,” and I fell on my knees and begged him…tears falling down my cheeks.
“We agreed a long ago that if you called one of us home, we would not demand that they come back…doesn’t he remember that?”
Jesus took my hands in his, and smiled into my face. I could feel the warmth of His glory fall upon me.
“I haven’t call you home yet, my dear.”
As he wiped away my tears, He said,
“My child, you have to go back, he can’t raise the five children without you. He can’t make it without you.”
“Oh, Jesus – sure he can…he’s got the Bible, family and You…just let me stay here. They’ll be fine!”
“CHRistiiiii” – Jim’s voice was getting louder. I turned to see if he was walking up the hill to meet us.
“Lord – I want to stay here with you…please”
“I’m sorry, my child – it’s not your time to come here yet. You have work to do”

As Jim’s voice pulled me closer and closer…I realized that I was being pulled away from the presence of Jesus. It was like one of those sci-fi vortex things from which you cannot escape – crossing dimensions. I reached out for Jesus’ hands, but he was far, far away now, and was disappearing into the vision. The hills were just faded green, I could not smell the grass anymore. I couldn’t make out the mountains from the clouds anymore. The water was so distant, and so soft now that I could barely hear it. I was being pulled back, back to…..

“CHRISTIIII – COME BACK!”
I jerked, and looked up, and a female EMT was on top of me with her hands on my sternum. Her face was white, but a glimmer came across her face and she exclaimed
“We got her!”
I looked to my left, and Jim’s mouth was right at my ear – he’d been shouting in my ear the whole time.
I looked to my right, and saw another EMT, just as white as the first one, taking deep breaths.
“Good – “ and started rattling off those things EMT’s rattle off in emergencies.

I closed my eyes and tried to see the hills, the meadows, the mountains, the river…and Jesus.
They were gone.
The colors had faded.
The touch was gone.
The warmth of His glory was gone.
The peace of that quiet hillside was crashed with the noise of people, children, instructions, machines…and I don’t know what else. It was just loud.

“We thought we’d lost you” Jim said.
I don’t remember right now if I told him, or if I was even able to speak.
All I remember is that I had met with Jesus, seen a glimpse of heaven, and knew that heaven was my home.
All I knew was that I wanted to get back there.
And I knew that Jesus had told me that I was supposed to finish raising my five children.

But He left me with a memory:

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

Phil 3:20
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

My heart was filled with a song that my husband, Jim, taught me:
This World is not My Home, three ways.

Have you had a talk with Jesus?

Have you felt His presence in YOUR life in times of struggle, or times of joy?

Have you been near death, and known that Jesus was with you?

please share your comments with me!

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

Glimpses of Heaven – Stairway to Heaven

A glimpse of Heaven.

disclaimer –
I’m not saying that I WENT to heaven.
I’m not saying that THIS is what heaven looks like.
This is MY experience in response to a situation for which I was seeking God.
My intent is to offer comfort.

Many years ago while I was struggling with various things, I was having a conversation with the Lord. It seems like I was climbing up the stairway and just as I would get to the top stair of what I could see, that step would fall down and before me would be even more steps that I needed to climb. Each step seemed to start out way over my head where I could just barely reach with my hands, and then as I struggled my way up I could get to where I could see a little bit over and eventually I could pull myself up and be on that next step. Before there was much time to rest or relax, the step I was on would seemingly drop from beneath my feet, and I would be facing another step, reaching up above me, almost higher than I could reach. For each step, I had to claw, pull, and drag myself up and over that step. Today it seems a little like American Ninja Warrior and that curved wall thing.

I told the Lord that I was getting a little bit discouraged about how whenever I made it to the top of a step, the step I was on would fall or that next step would fall suddenly down and the step before me would be so overwhelmingly tall. As I was praying for encouragement the Lord said look over the next step and as I did I got a glimpse of Heaven.

There was a wall before me, but in the center of the wall, I saw the throne, at least what looked to be the throne. The wall was made out of stones that seemed to breathe, they were unlike any stones I’ve seen on earth. The thrown was made of a white material that glistened. Out of the foot of the throne flowed water that was crystal clear and pure. It looked like molten silver that had no impurities, and you could see right through it.

The water flowed down and into a basin flowing out from the foot of the throne. The basin had a fountain like the Fountain of Youth. As the water sprayed up in the fountain it was as if there were diamonds and pearls mixed in with the water spray. As the water was sprayed up, or spashed down, the glistening and gleaming and sparkling water drops danced with joy.

On either side of this water basin were roads that were paved in Gold. This gold shown with such intensity that our own sun was darkness in comparison. The gleam seemed to eb and flow as if undulating with life. I could not comprehend walking on those streets!

As I gazed upon the beauty that I could barely comprehend, I heard the Lord’s voice say, in a way that seemed to emanate from the gold, the stones, the water…

“this is the joy that is set before you.
This is the table that is set on the other side of the Valley of the shadow of death,
this is the blessing that comes from enduring to the end.”

Hebrews 12:2
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 23
Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all on account of My name; but the one having endured to the end, he will be saved.
Matthew 24:13
Revelation 2:10

Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I pray that I am always reminded that by enduring the trials of today, we can see the joy of tomorrow.
James 1:2-4 says to

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

When I do see Jesus face to face…on that final day…I want to hear him say “well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Have you ever wondered what heaven looked like?

If so, can you describe it?

Are you going to heaven? If you think so, here is a little quiz that can help you confirm it.

Is Jesus your Shepherd? Whether the answer is yes or no, here are some thoughts based on Psalm 23.

Please share your thoughts with me in the comments!

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

Christi’s Shorts – Jan 16, 2018

Christi’s shorts, or Christi’s God winks
This is day 17/100 for 2018

1.
This morning, I had fasting labs and therefore had not eaten breakfast. I had no intention of eating breakfast and was actually going to not eat for whatever the reason. After my labs, I was driving 45 minutes to the veterinarian to drop off my cat, Gideon. On the way out of the veterinarian parking lot, I heard the still small voice saying eat breakfast.
I didn’t want to eat breakfast;
I had no appetite and the only breakfast that I could come up with between the veterinarian’s and my way home was a McDonald’s breakfast burrito.
I was trying to eat better.
Therefore, as is my norm, I argued with that voice.

As I turned off the road the veterinarian office was on, I had to take a right turn to head home. As I looked ahead, I saw on the left side a brand new Chick-fil-A restaurant that I had not known was there nor had I seen it on my way in to drop off my cat.
One of my favorite breakfasts in the fast food rule world is the Chick-fil-A sausage egg cheese bagel. They also have a nice little fruit cup or a Greek yogurt cup instead of the hash browns and
I like their unsweet iced tea.
I just giggled to myself and looked up to the Lord and said
“of course there’s a Chick-fil-A!”
“Of course I’m supposed to eat breakfast!”
God was looking out for me and looking for way to bless me.

2.
For several years I have had some issues with my eyes. One of the issues has made it difficult, if not impossible, for me to drive at night. On top of not being able to drive at night, I don’t drive at night on country roads because they are not lit. Tonight, because of the timing to go and pick up my cat from the veterinarian’s office after my doctor’s appointment, I was not going to make it to the veterinarian until after 6 p.m. This is January in Florida, and the sun goes down around 6:30. I picked up the cat, went to Chick-fil-A for supper to get the grilled chicken and the Amazing Power Foods salad and more wonderful unsweet iced tea, and headed north towards my home.

As I was getting closer there were a couple routes that I could take and the first one I chose not to take because it goes out in the country and it’s very desolate. But mainly I didn’t go that way because there would be no lights.
There was a secondary way called Lake Louisa Road, which kind of cuts the hypotenuse of a triangle to get towards the road that goes around the lake to get to my house. The thing is it’s a country road. There are no lights.
I heard that still small voice say “take Lake Louisa”
As is my norm, I argued and said “there are no lights, I’m going Hammock Ridge!”

As I came up to the turn I saw a truck going into the left turn lane with a trailer behind it was turning onto Lake Louisa.
Again, I just looked up to the Lord, and laughed and said “so you’re going to provide the light!”

As we turned onto the road I realized that all the way down the road were the white lines on the side that reflected, but not only that, this very a;most desolate dark road had those reflectors embedded into the center line.

As I giggled at how God had arranged for me to take the shorter route home, I looked up and said “so now I can slow down to the speed limit because I don’t have to keep up with the truck in the trailer!” Shortly after I realized that I was able to see to drive, the truck with the trailer turned off.

Again, God had found a special way to let me know that I was hearing his voice and as I obeyed, I was blessed.

I almost missed these blessings by arguing with God’s still small voice – but when I obeyed, I was able to see His hand just wanting to bless me.

Isaiah 30 is titled in one version “God deals with an Obstinate nation”. Sometimes, it’s titled Rebellious.
My arguing was my being obstinate.

Here are some of the promises he makes to his rebellious children:

Is 30:15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Is 30:18-19 18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

And one of my favorites:

Is 30:21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

It is my prayer that God would open my ears and eyes to hear and see Him, and to recognize His loving hand as He holds me in His palm.
I pray that I recognize this still small voice, and stop arguing! Please Lord, continue to help me, and don’t give up on me!
In Jesus’ name!
Amen

Do you ever hear God’s still small voice telling you which way to go?

Has God blessed you in a special way today?

Please share with me in the comments!

For prayerful reflection ;
Open My Eyes by Maranatha Singers

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

2018 My One Word/phrase – be like Jesus

My 2018 One Word/Phrase – Be Like Jesus

Character is what you are when no one is watching.
Hypocrisy is what you are when ONLY someone is watching.

Christ is NOT a hypocrite.

Can someone be a hypocrite without realizing it?
Yes, by lying to themselves.

The rich young ruler was certain that he had done all that he needed to do to enter into the Kingdom…until Jesus said “go, sell all that you have and come follow me” and he went away sad.
His heart was mixed up with those things!
He didn’t realize that he was bound by greed. THIS WAS HUGE!

Giants are huge. I wrote a few of my giants down in some blogs, which can be found at “there are Giants in My land”
The first three for me are

Fear
Depression
Unforgiveness

These giants make us do things that we would rather not do…like Paul saying that he doesn’t understand his own actions.
Romans 7:15-20

Like someone sabotaging themselves for a promotion.
Someone not writing a book they have been called to write.
Like someone messing things up so that they cannot get a medical procedure.
Like someone refusing to go to the doctor because they are so afraid of what might be found.

When you get below the excuses, you usually come up with four basic reasons:

Mad
Sad
Glad
or Afraid.

These are the most basic human emotions.
From these, all others eminate.

FEAR or Afraid.
Afraid of something.
and, the giant wants to take control.
The giant wants you to believe that you are in control of the situation…by using fear to talk you out of something.
While the person sabotaging themselves against a promotion, or not writing the book would have obvious consequences, does the person refusing to see the doctor, or refusing a scan really have any control over what is going on in their body? Of course not…they are lying to themselves.

The sad thing about this giant is that not only does it keep one in the state of fear…it brings along it’s brother – Liar.
You see, the giant liar can weave a story around in your head (because that’s where they dwell) with all your thoughts, dreams, and fears, and make the excuses make sense to you. He’s a master manipulator!

“He didn’t call me, so I won’t call him.”
“I can’t do this right, and they know it, they’re just trying to humiliate me.”
“I’m not good enough for that scholarship, God knows that, so I’m not going to take it. It’s his fault”
“I can’t prepare if I don’t have total control of my appointment time, so it’s their fault.”
“They won’t give me a job, so why even show up for the interview, they lied to me.”

The rich young ruler said “all of these I have kept from my youth”…as in, I’ve walked in the law perfectly. Mark 10:17-22
He thought that Jesus would welcome him in!
Jesus saw his heart.
Jesus said – wait…there’s a bit more to this!
The Consequences are HUGE…possibly eternal!

There is the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector.

Luke 18:10-14
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Pharisee knows all the ways and ins and outs of the law.
The Pharisee is revered by people, as he walks through the street as a holy man.
The Pharisee does what he does when others are watching, so as to be seen.

Jesus goes into even more detail about his thoughts about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:17-33

The Tax collector is honored, BY JESUS HIMSELF! I think that Jesus was talking about a REAL occurrence! I even wonder if this man was standing in the back of the crowd while Jesus was talking, and thought “he saw ME!”

There are so many promises given to those that humble themselves….here are a few:

1 Peter 5:6-7English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Chronicles 7:14King James Version (KJV)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

James 4:6-10English Standard Version (ESV)
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

With humility comes peace, forgiveness, grace, and joy. What’s to be afraid of there?
Oddly enough – peace counteracts fear, forgiveness counteracts unforgiveness, joy counteracts depression…and grace…well, that will address another giant in my land…condemnation.

The Pharisee was deceived – he was lying to himself.
The Rich Young Ruler was deceived – he was lying to himself.
Lying is a serious sin.
It’s one of the 10 – Ex 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
So, does this mean it’s ok to lie to ourselves?

That line of reasoning would also go like this:
Ex 20: 13 “You shall not murder.
But that means only other people, so it’s ok to commit suicide.

You probably would disagree with that, wouldn’t you?

King James

Revelation 21:8King James Version (KJV)
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

ESV

Revelation 21:8English Standard Version (ESV)
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

If there was any question as to what God thinks of lying…or the rest of these, here’s His answer.

This is the final judgement.
These are giants that have taken over folks, and folks did not deal with them.
They may not have even recognized them.
They have been manipulated BY the giants.
They may have been blindsided by them, like David almost was, and his mighty men had to kill one for him.

Fear and Lying….
cowardly and faithless…
and idolatry.

Yep, idolatry is in that set of 10! the first four deal with our relationship with GOD!

I put this quote at the end of every blog and email:

“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

For me, this is the simplest definition of idolatry I’ve ever found.
I allow something between ME and HIM.
So, when I wrote there are giants in my land, I was taking down the rights of those giants to get between me and Jesus. I also confessed that I will not put ME between me and Jesus! My definition of LORD is that HE is given control(as if he needed me to give him permission) over my life, and I will yield to MY LORD.

Lying to myself gets between me and my God…and peace, forgiveness, grace and joy.

Lies...that is how the abuse in my life continued.
I suppose that folks that knew lied to themselves, as well as others.
Those lies almost destroyed me.

John 8:30-32King James Version (KJV)
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The truth of sexual abuse is not an easy truth to accept.
but by allowing the truth to open my eyes, so many things started to fall in place that had been chaotic, and confusing. Things that had never made sense were now making sense, in the face of this ugly truth. And the bigger TRUTH??? Jesus was in control. Not me. Not my abuser. Not those that knew and allowed it.

Even Satan has to get permission to mess with God’s Saints…Job 1 … and God puts limitations upon his efforts.

We cannot allow the enemy to rule in our bodies…Romans 6:12

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

THIS IS OUR CHOICE! But if we remain afraid…if we continue lying…we will not know this freedom.

So, fear, brings in lying, which brings in other things…for some of us, suicide and depression. Giving up.
Quitting.
Anger because things aren’t working out the way we want it to.
Because we think we are in control.
If God is not in control of our lives and our decisions, then the enemy is, and he doesn’t ask permission to mess with our heads…not from us.
The only way that we are protected from the enemy is when we are choosing to walk in faith and truth.
Will we stumble? yes.
Will we fall? yes.
Will be revert back to the old fearful, lying ways? Absolutely.

But every time we stand up to the giant, we are stronger for the exercise, and he is weakened because of the presence of God in our lives.

And by the power of the Holy Spirit within us…

Romans 6:11
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:6-7
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 2:3-6
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

We’re supposed to BE LIKE JESUS!

Here are some prayerful songs for humbling myself:

To be like you – Hillsong

Humble thyself in the Sight of the Lord
Heal Our Land
No Higher Calling

Here is a printable for more verses:
from the four step Bible Study

Here is a video of the service preached by Pastor David Uth, on Letting Go

I’d like to recommend this booklet by Syvia Gunter of The Father’s Business. I have no affiliation with her other than my respect for the things she has written.

We are called by HIS name – Christians – Christ followers – therefore, let’s
humble ourselves
pray
seek his face
turn from OUR wicked ways(they are ours, even if giants manipulate us)
AND HE WILL HEAR US
AND HE WILL HEAL OUR LAND.

Bottom line, isn’t that better than living with giants?

Jim & Christi 2017

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 want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

TV Show Review – Star Trek Discovery(from my one word 2018)

I admit it, I’m a treky. I have been since the original series. Yes, in the 60’s.
I’ll also admit it – Star Trek does NOT coincide with Christian beliefs.
It was never meant to.
Gene Roddenberry

For me, as an artist and writer, I have enjoyed the cinematic evolution that is Star Trek.
The artistic aspects of the sets, the clothing, the scenes…all of that.
The humanistic study of humans…from a psychological and sociological point of view.

This is my review of the new series, Star Trek, Discovery, currently only available on CBS All-Access.
I utilized the free 7 day trial.

While all of the Star Trek episodes are/were meant to push the social envelope(Kirk kissing Uhura – first mixed race kiss on TV) – I’m feeling a bit pushed over the edge.

What I’m going to write next is NOT politically correct. This is MY review, this is MY opinion. Everyone has one!

Pros:
I love the strong women!
I love the reality of their back stories!
In only 10 episodes, I love their growth.
I love the dealing of PTSD in the life of Tyler, after being tortured by Klingons.
I love the character development.
I love the equality of the story line – mixed skin-color couple, mixed race couple(Klingon and Human) and the same sex couple. Since this is NOT a Christian statement show…I appreciate the balance from a humanistic point of view).

Cons:
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith.(sometimes, non Christian shows do give me food for thought)
This is a much more RAW Star Trek – while there are good parts…it feels much more savage and violent.
This series has been promoted as the series to push the women’s movement, and the LGBT movement into mainstream.
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith. (yes, I said that before…I’ll explain the reasoning behind this CON later)

PROS:
As a survivor of abuse, and having PTSD and anxiety issues, and to some extent, having been ‘brain washed’, the little bit of Tyler’s story, having been a POW in the Klingon camp, and having been tortured in ways we do not understand at this time, I am intrigued by his character development. In one episode, he has horrible flash backs and goes almost catatonic, and the other character talks him through the flash back. The words she says to him are the very words needed when PTSD flashbacks come.

Focus on the sound of my voice.
These are not happening, these are memories.
They didn’t defeat you then, they won’t defeat you now.
breathe.

MY Views:

My comfort when going through PTSD flashbacks sometimes needs to be from a human voice outside of my raging head filled with memories and negative self talk. Sometimes, I just need a human to keep me grounded to the present. I believe the Bible has the answer to this. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

1 Corinthians 12
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

As an abuse survivor that has suffered from every cognitive distortion, I have struggled with not being good enough – and with suicidal thoughts. For a few of my thoughts, I submit:

Like I said above, the episode where Tyler is crashing from the flashbacks of his torture, the Admiral, a Psychiatrist, gave him simple, exact support to pull him back to reality.
A human voice on which to focus, can break through the (enormously loud chaotic) noise in my head.
As a mental healt awareness advocate, this is great exposure to how someone feels going through an episode.
In case someone needs this, here are 21 Anxiety Grounding Techniques.

As a Christian, my healing is based on my faith, my relationship with Jesus and with the Word of God speaking into my life. That is evident in my blogs above. And, prayer, Bible Verse recital, and Worship songs, and the like are VERY important safety/grounding techniques for MY healing. I believe the Bible has the source of healing that is eternal. I do not want my heart and mind divided. I’ve added some Bible verses at the end, but not about mental health at this time.

Powerful women…wow. What a change from the damsel in distress women in the original Star Trek.
Over coming mistakes.
Overcoming abuse.
Overcoming life long ridicule.
and rising up, taking back your power, and using the past to empower your future.

MY views…….
While they are encouraging and inspirational – they do not fill me with the love of Jesus that is MY healing power.

1 Peter 2:9English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You see, I need to remember that I belong to another…Another…and HIS light is a light that I desire…not the light of this world. Or any light that star trek can offer.

Luke 11:34-36English Standard Version (ESV)
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

I’ve written many blogs about how to overcome the above issues with scripture, prayer and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some are listed above. I believe that the Bible supports women rising up, taking back their power, and using the past to empower their future. I am one of them. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

Tolerance – all are one blood – no color seen by God. Acts 17:26
From a humanist point of view – the equality is refreshing. Including the very “normal” treatment of the prominent gay couple.

MY Views….
From a legal, and humanist point of view – this is great. From an American point of view, all are equal – We the People.
From MY Christian point of view –
all are equal before God, before salvation.
all human life is valuable to God – because he sent his son to die for the WHOLE WORLD.
all have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
all have the opportunity to be members of the Kingdom of God.
And the method I believe in is through the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

As with all countries – I believe every sovereign country has the right to choose who may enter their borders.
God(Jehovah, Yaweh, Yeshua, Jesus, Messiah, Emmanuel – the God that created the world, and created man, and gave His son, wholly God and wholly man to be the sacrifice for our sins, and indwells the believer with the Holy Spirit, also wholly God) – has given his requirements for entry…and that is to be a citizen.
To be a citizen, one has to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, renounce their sins, receive Him as Lord and Savior of their life, and live their life to glorify God until we meet him face to face.
I have followed the citizenship steps, and I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Phillipians 3
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

I believe the Bible, and I do not want my heart and mind divided.

CONS
The violence…period.
the deceit being rewarded.
The gay couple.
The embracing of a very over the top women’s movement.

MY views.
So, basically, my cons are pretty much that this show does not promote my beliefs.
I didn’t expect it to.
But I do need to make a choice…or be divided.

James 1:8King James Version (KJV)
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

1 Kings 18:21
Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Isaiah 29:13
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

James 4:8 gives me the solotion:

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Isaiah 55:7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 5:20
“How terrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute what is bitter for what is sweet and what is sweet for what is bitter!”

For the Christian, it is not as easy as just turning off the tvs how.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Peter 2:
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Psalm 106:35English Standard Version (ESV)
35 but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.

Hosea 7

Those chapters are convicting, but here is the verse that really settles things in my heart:

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

Yes, those words are in red, because they are the words of Jesus.
So, while I like some of the ways that this show is going, and I do not like the raw ness of it with the violence and such, I will discontinue my All-Access membership before I am charged, and choose not to watch this.

This will have an affect on my other watching habits, as well.
You see – the impression I’ve been given for this year is
“the end is near,
the time short…be like Jesus.”

There are so many more eternally profitable things I can be doing with my time.
There are so many more things that could help me to grow into Jesus’s likeness.
Star Trek is not one of them.
many of the things I’ve watched are not.

Why do you watch what you watch?
Does it further you toward your passions?
Does it help you to fulfill your calling?
If not…what do you choose?

Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24:14-15

I admitted at the beginning that I was a trekky – that is my confession, and I am not going to stop being a trekky.
I’m a child of God – and I have a job to do – and being a trekky keeps my heart divided and distracted.
Several things I’ve allowed into my life are causing division and distraction.
The time is short, the end is near…I need to get about the job at hand, the purpose for which I was saved.

Jim & Christi 2017

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

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Compassion