2017 My One Word – #mydays – wk6day3

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

This is my prayer for today – seeking wisdom from the Lord, and from my daily writing via 750words

Lord – healing please?
patience…to wait for God’s timing…
it really makes no sense at all to NOT wait for God’s timing, it’s not like I can really rush God’s timing…so the whole issue about patience is CHOOSING to wait on God’s timing patiently – with peace and faith. Imagine, doing something God’s way can bring peace instead of anxiety, faith instead of fear! Stress melts away and joy becomes the key emotion.
Lord Jesus – I ask they to stay, close by me forever and love me I pray.
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
be strong and courageous, don’t tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with you, wherever you go.
I am not alone!
He walks with me and he talks with me along life’s narrow way

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.
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Itty Bitty Bible Study – Joel 3

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

Wikipedia on Joel

Matthew Henry on Joel 3

The great and horrible day of the Lord!
Joel 3

3:1 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

Joel 1 & 2 were so depressing…and convicting…because of MY sins, MY land is suffering. (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.

And, Joel’s prophecy tells us how to humble ourselves!
In IBBS Joel 1, I compared these passages.
Today – the heart cry of the Christians in America is that God heal our land – and God has already told us how to move things to that end.

Eschatology.
Wikipedia is not my theology storehouse, but it gives a good overview of the endtimes points of view.

For me, the book of Revelation is just as important to my faith as the book of Genesis.
God has a plan from the beginning.

Joel3:4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the Lord has spoken.”

God is not the wishy washy God of the tickling ears.
God will rise up…when it’s least expected.

Joel 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations:
Consecrate for war;
stir up the mighty men.
Let all the men of war draw near;
let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords,
and your pruning hooks into spears;
let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”
11 Hasten and come,
all you surrounding nations,
and gather yourselves there.
Bring down your warriors, O Lord.
12 Let the nations stir themselves up
and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit to judge
all the surrounding nations.
13 Put in the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Go in, tread,
for the winepress is full.
The vats overflow,
for their evil is great.

Several times, God talks about the fullness of sin:
Genesis 6 Noah and the flood
Genesis 11 – the Tower of Babel
Micah
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Daniel
Revelation – The great and horrible day of the Lord

When the Lord returns – he will bring with him, his saints…1 Thessalonians 4:13 -5:11
Again – Wikipedia presents the various doctrines on Christ’s second coming.
CBN presents why Christians believe the return of Christ is near.

We have a job to do – we need to be prepared…AND we need to be trained!

For me – this next echoes that the harvest is white…prior to the Lord’s return.

John 4:35-36
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.

THE DAY OF DECISION!!!!

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.

Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve! Joshua 24:15

Even in the midst of destruction for sin – GOD holds his hand out!

Romans 5:6-8
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Here – when Joel’s prophecy is describing the destruction – God still gives a valley of decision!

Joel 3:15 The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
16 The Lord roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth quake.

This is just a taste of what is to be found in John’s Revelation – chapters 5 – 19, among some other passages about the end times.

Joel 3:16 But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel.
The Glorious Future of Judah
17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.
18 “And in that day
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and the hills shall flow with milk,
and all the streambeds of Judah
shall flow with water;
and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
and water the Valley of Shittim.

Once God condemns and removes all sin – He will pour out his blessing upon those that are called according to HIS name, and have humbled themselves and turned from their wicket ways. GOD WILL HEAR THEM, AND HEAL THE LAND!

Joel3:19 “Egypt shall become a desolation
and Edom a desolate wilderness,
for the violence done to the people of Judah,
because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
and Jerusalem to all generations.
21 I will avenge their blood,
blood I have not avenged,
for the Lord dwells in Zion.”

I looked at Galatians 6 in IBBS.

Galatians 6:7-10
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

We can be sure that our sin will find us out! Numbers 32:23

But, praise God –

1 John 1:7-10
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2:1-2
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Genesis to Revelation is an unfolding story of how God created us, we sinned, He made a way, we receive, we sin, he forgives, and we become part of his army, and spend eternity with him.
Joel, to me, is a small microcosm of that story.
ISSB Joel 1
ISSB Joel 2

Thank you for joining me.

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

“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.

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

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Joel 2

Joel 2

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

Wikipedia on Joel

Matthew Henry on Joel 2

Joel 2

1 Blow a trumpet in Zion;
sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
2 a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful people;
their like has never been before,
nor will be again after them
through the years of all generations.
3 Fire devours before them,
and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
but behind them a desolate wilderness,
and nothing escapes them.
4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,
and like war horses they run.
5 As with the rumbling of chariots,
they leap on the tops of the mountains,
like the crackling of a flame of fire
devouring the stubble,
like a powerful army
drawn up for battle.
6 Before them peoples are in anguish;
all faces grow pale.
7 Like warriors they charge;
like soldiers they scale the wall.
They march each on his way;
they do not swerve from their paths.
8 They do not jostle one another;
each marches in his path;
they burst through the weapons
and are not halted.
9 They leap upon the city,
they run upon the walls,
they climb up into the houses,
they enter through the windows like a thief.
10 The earth quakes before them;
the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 The Lord utters his voice
before his army,
for his camp is exceedingly great;
he who executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;
who can endure it?

Oh My goodness…this sounds so much like the news in the USA for the last two weeks!
I almost don’t want to go look at the sky!
Judgement!
Deuteronomy 28 gives us clear instructions that our sins can bring judgement(consequences) upon our land – our country!

Return to the Lord title by ESV

2 Chronicles 7:14

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.

Joel 2
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

God wants us to turn back to him…he allows us to reap what we have sown, but he still wants us to turn to him so that he can bless us. Just like a parent, with a child that needs to be discplined.

The Lord Had Pity title by ESV

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land
and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations.
20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard[b] into the eastern sea,
and his rear guard[c] into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.
21 “Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.
24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore[d] to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit
28 [e] “And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

In this time of our country’s distress – we as followers of Christ need to call upon God…but first, rather than pointing the finger outside – we are held to a higher standard.
Have we done what we’ve been tasked to do?
have we prayed for our country?
have we prayed for our leaders?
have we separated ourselves from the evils of the world, being in the world but not of it, so that our lights shine in the darkness?
have we been salt to this rotting world?

These are my challenges from Joel 2!

Thanks for joining me.

~~~~~

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

“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.

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

2017 My One Word – #mydays – wk5day3

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

This is today’s 750words. It’s about #mydays.

Warning – it is NOT a theological discussion! It does contain potential triggering information.

It is my heart cry to understand.

deep breath
i wish that i had a whole lot more experience with good doctors.
doctors that cared about their patients, and cared about the outcome and that were more concerned about their healthy recovery than their money.
why would someone go into medicine and not be concerned about their patients?
really, do so many go in just to have a profitable career?
Lord you brought S and M into our lives at a very difficult time, and for them, the time has gotten very difficult.
it’s negligence and a man’s life is in danger.
this make me furious.

thank you, lord for the senior tech that did my eyes yesterday.
thank you, lord that she and i were able to come up with a possible cause. sugar!
ok, another reason for me to stop sugar! sigh.
i’m supposed to be taking care of this temple.
and I eat sugar when i am frustrated, angry, sad, glad, afraid!
i eat sugar to comfort and to celebrate.
why?
my emotions are not allowed!
it’s more acceptable for someone to eat their emotions than to show their emotions.
it feels better to scream that i am angry about a doctor not caring for my friend well.
but, with a quiet man as my husband – and it’s not his fault – i tend to try to be more quiet for him. he’d laugh at that! but lord, you know it’s true.
it’s more acceptable to go to a party and sit and eat cake and drink alcohol than it is to jump up and down and hug and high five…unless of course you are watching a football game and at a football party/bar.
i’m really a very demonstrative person – at least I used to be.
as a child – i loved to do things and give things and make things for people, and i remember the time i was surprised with my first bike for my birthday. i ran and jumped up on my dad to give him a hug, i probably screamed! I was so happy.
i wonder what happened.

i don’t have to wonder too hard – sex happened.
if i made him mad – sex
if i made him happy – sex
if he gave me something – sex
it was always sex
and then i would hurt
of course, a child would hurt from the sex of an adult –
13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
EIGHTEEN MONTHS
sex done to a child would hurt –
it’s why the ob/gyns in the navy saw such damage to my vagina and cervix –
it’s why they said i could never have children
my insides were such a mess the stoic navy guy doc gasped when doing the exam.
“it’s a mess in here! What happened?” actually – wth happened here?
He actually jumped.
I didn’t know – so I asked “what are you talking about.”
he quickly composed himself – “oh, just some scarring.”
12 years later the memories returned.
but it took years for me to put the pieces together, the things that happened in the present(at that time) while i did not remember, and put them together with the memories.
timelines – i want timelines!
but my memories are fading…i only have my journals.
and, the book. I’m supposed to write this book about my past, how i got to my present and my goals for my future.
and, i wonder if that doctor had told me what he’d seen, would i have started to remember? of course, they were not allowed to ‘lead’ a victim…they were not allowed to plant ideas into the head of a victim.
so I went along through life, wondering what was wrong with me…not knowing that it was something done to me.
what about doctors?
what about the family doctor that cared for me…shouldn’t he have known?
except there was nothing they could do back then, unless the child said something.
thank GOD that my mom apparently found out when I was 12 – sent me away to Florida, and separated from, then divorced my dad.
family called me the whore, the hussy, the tramp, slut – but i had no idea what had happened to me.
such horrors cause the brain to break into little pieces. thing were locked away.

but that trip to Florida set me up to meet Jerry the evangelist – and find out how to be a christian – to find out how to read the bible(didn’t know that was part of being a christian) – found out that I love love love the bible.
The memories almost ruined our marriage.
The memories still haunt our marriage.
The memories still hinder our marriage.
the memories, well, the act, has left scars in my body, my mind, my heart – and even in my spirit and whether i can trust my father God.
But I have learned grace.
I have learned forgiveness.
I’m still learning grace and forgiveness – daily.
but, mostly, it’s learning to give myself grace and mercy, extend forgiveness to myself – and then, to allow God to fill me with His Spirit – and to believe what I’ve written – that I have been chosen since before the foundation of the world.
I am loved by the creator of the universe!
I have worth, because THE GOD says so!
And who am I to argue with God?
I love you Lord Jesus – I ask you to stay
close by me forever and love me I pray
keep all your dear children in your tender care
and take us to heaven to live with thee there.
Amen!

No wonder I’ve struggled with suicide and depression all of my life.
No wonder I am an advocate for mental health awareness and rights.
No wonder I feel for those that cannot speak for themselves, that do not understand what is going on, that are bullied, abused, baited and attacked.
My past experiences have made me who I am.
My faith in Jesus Christ has kept me alive.
My heart is filled with emotion, and I feel so much.
I pray that I am a light, a source of grace and love to everyone.
In Jesus’ name.

I need to write this book – That is what today’s 750words has opened up for me.
I am able to write about this, without falling apart for weeks, or ending up in the hospital.
I am able to be ridiculed and called names without falling apart.
I have grown – and for that I thank Jehovah – Yhwh – G_d – through Jesus Christ, and by His Holy Spirit.
If it’s not clear which God I serve…it’s because someone isn’t listening!

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 hear what you think – please leave a comment!

Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!

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 is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Joel 1

Joel 1

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

Wikipedia – the Book of Joel
Matthew Henry Commentary on Joel 1

Joel
1:1The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:
2 Hear this, you elders;
give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
Has such a thing happened in your days,
or in the days of your fathers?
3 Tell your children of it,
and let your children tell their children,
and their children to another generation.
4 What the cutting locust left,
the swarming locust has eaten.
What the swarming locust left,
the hopping locust has eaten,
and what the hopping locust left,
the destroying locust has eaten.
5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep,
and wail, all you drinkers of wine,
because of the sweet wine,
for it is cut off from your mouth.
6 For a nation has come up against my land,
powerful and beyond number;
its teeth are lions’ teeth,
and it has the fangs of a lioness.
7 It has laid waste my vine
and splintered my fig tree;
it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;
their branches are made white.

The judgement of the Lord – serious, intense, destructive!
Or is this just the destruction of choosing sin?
Not necessarily CAUSED by God, but allowed – as a cause and effect?
Deuteronomy 28 contrasts and compares those that are walking in obedience, and those that are not. This sounds very similar to the warning to those that are not.
Trials come – temptations come – but we are given a choice. Always a choice.
Out of His great Love, God has warned us what would happen if we don’t follow.
I’m not talking about walking according to the Law – I wrote a lot about that in IBBS Galatians 3:10-20 and IBBS Galatians 3:21-29.
Many of the things that God warned His people about were to protect them.
This looks like a really bad, bad set of consequences.
And, then, The Word of the Lord comes to JOEL to tell the people to REPENT!
AWAKE ye drunkards.
WEEP AND WAIL
These words mean exactly what we’d think they mean…

8 Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth
for the bridegroom of her youth.
9 The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off
from the house of the Lord.
The priests mourn,
the ministers of the Lord.
10 The fields are destroyed,
the ground mourns,
because the grain is destroyed,
the wine dries up,
the oil languishes.

LAMENT
MOURN
These two mean exactly what we’d think they mean…

11 Be ashamed, O tillers of the soil;
wail, O vinedressers,
for the wheat and the barley,
because the harvest of the field has perished.
12 The vine dries up;
the fig tree languishes.
Pomegranate, palm, and apple,
all the trees of the field are dried up,
and gladness dries up
from the children of man.

BE ASHAMED –
This one also reads – be dried up, confounded, withered, wither away.
The grief is so unbearable, that the life within just dries up.

Here, we are given insight into how we should repent, when we realize we have messed up!

13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
wail, O ministers of the altar.
Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,
O ministers of my God!
Because grain offering and drink offering
are withheld from the house of your God.
14 Consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.
15 Alas for the day!
For the day of the Lord is near,
and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
16 Is not the food cut off
before our eyes,
joy and gladness
from the house of our God?
17 The seed shrivels under the clods;
the storehouses are desolate;
the granaries are torn down
because the grain has dried up.
18 How the beasts groan!
The herds of cattle are perplexed
because there is no pasture for them;
even the flocks of sheep suffer.

I know that right here I am tempted to talk about how we have a advocate with he Father who is Jesus Christ the son.
1 John 1 & 2 are very very comforting…and yet, sometimes, they may be too comforting, and I don’t actually grieve the condition of my heart, I don’t actually grieve my sinful actions. Maybe, in this current age of grace, i miss the danger and destructive nature of sin. Lord, please, give me eyes to see and ears to hear!

19 To you, O Lord, I call.
For fire has devoured
the pastures of the wilderness,
and flame has burned
all the trees of the field.
20 Even the beasts of the field pant for you
because the water brooks are dried up,
and fire has devoured
the pastures of the wilderness.

My sin – my sin choices – do not only affect me.
Adam and Eve’s sinful choice affected the WHOLE WORLD – all of creation.
I need to see sin for what sin is – and I’m not talking about mistakes.
I’m talking about the sin that John is talking about in 1 John.
The continual sinning in the same way over and over.
I also think this is about sinning, with a high hand – not the sinning that occurs when one is trying to grow, or break bad habits.

Romans talks a lot about sin, and turning from it.
Repentance: Miriam Webster:

intransitive verb
1
: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life
2
a : to feel regret or contrition
b : to change one’s mind
transitive verb
1
: to cause to feel regret or contrition
2
: to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for

Do I truly feel regret and sorrow for the things that I know the Lord wants me to work on?
I have physical issues because of things that I know God has asked me not to do – and I do them anyway.
He has shown me nutrition I need, and foods that cause me problems.
It’s not the Jewish dietary laws – it’s His granting me understanding about how my body, in this fallen world, reacts and responds to things.

That is so sad.
I only have to obey what he has shown me, and I can reap the benefits of that blessing.

Thank you Lord that I have an advocate in Jesus Christ!

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.

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

2017 My One Word – #mydays wk5day1 – why why why?

Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

This is today’s 750words. It’s about #mydays.
Warning – it is NOT a theological discussion!
It is my heart cry to understand.

today.
today is monday
I have cleaned the house for the ccarpet cleaners.
I may have upset a friend who was coming this weekend
my foot hurts
i forget what I was going to write about when I first woke up, then went back to sleep.

why why why why
these are my words that come up often.

why why why why
i don’t ask why me, I jsut ask why
if God is faithful – why am I hurting
oh that horrible connundrum of christianity
maybe of any faith – but christianity has that promise that by christ’s stripes we are healed, that he sent his word and healed them.
i know that in his life, he healed physically
he has healed me physically
so I know, KNOW that he is able, and sometimes willing
I guess, while the question to God is why – it’s not why me, though, it is why me, what am i supposed to be learning?

oh, i’m learning about the lack of patience~!
I’m learning about the irritability!
i’m learning about asking for help – oh i hate this one with a passion!
I’m learning about leeting go of perfectionism
i’m learning about timing – oh yea, counting my days – numbering my days –
i’m learning about choosing each and every step
the steps of a good man are ordered by the lord – and he delights in his way
though he fall though he fall he shall not be cast down for the lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23)
i’ve asked that the lord teach me to number my days that i might apply my heart to wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
hmmmm, i think i just wrote that this trial is providing that very thing!

count it all joy brethren when you encounter trials…for the trying of your faith worketh – PATIENCE – ENDURANCE!(James 1:3-4)

oh my –

the fruit of the spirit is lLOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE – GOODNESS…..SELF CONTROL(Galatians 5:22-23)

Love is patient. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

i asked why…and it would appear that i am getting my answer.
how does one go about learning patience quickly?
um, i think that is the problem!
i want patience and i want it now!
old joke.
how does one obtain patience…

the working of your faith produces patience…I’m going to have to look that one up. (James 1)

why why why – i don’t think this is a bad question…
as long as my heart is open to the answer.
why me?
well, that could also give an insight into my heart
what about my heart?
what about the anxiety?
fear?
dread?
they call it high functioning anxiety.
I call it a pain!
the thing is – i could say that the bible calls it sin!
that which is not faith is sin….(Romans 14:23)
lack of faith is doubt
doubt and fear go hand in hand.
how many times does the bible tell me do not fear?(I don’t know – a bunch)

be strong and courageous…don’t tremble or be afraid….for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go!(Joshua 1:9)
tremble – that’s anxiety!
naturally, i’m wired for anxiety.
but, i’m going to go out on a limb and say that naturally, we are all wired for anxiety!
that which is not faith is sin.
faith is not fear
fear not – (Isaiah 41:10)
the guys on the boat…in the storm….(Mark 4:35-41)
PEACE BE STILL
oh ye of little faith.

again – asking why brings me to these lessons from my past
stirs up the words that have been hidden in my heart

and the question reminds me that I have a Father that loves me, and cares for me, and looks after me, and is interested in teaching me his ways, and bringing me about to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)

I can wrestle – like Jesus did in the garden(Matthew 26:36-46)
I can wrestle – like Jacob did and his thigh was touched.(Genesis 32:22-32)
walked with a limp the rest of his life.
well, my hip issues come from the disobedience of God – going into the Navy instead of the college for music and art.
and he touched me on the third day.

I guess I need to be thankful that He allows there to be medical ways to relieve the pain.
I need to use this pain to remind me every day that I am here for a purpose – and that I have made wrong choices, and in those choices, I have caused myself pain, in more ways than one.

teach me to number my days…that I may apply my heart to wisdom.(Psalm 90:12)
sigh
the answer to why is that I asked for this!
I gave the Lord Jesus, and the Father the permission to do whatever it takes to bring me into the fullness of Christ.
Do I trust my Father?
you bet I do!

I edited this in only two ways –
one, to add the scripture links
two, to correct spelling.

750words is part of my teaching me to number my days for 2017.
I am being able to face anxiety better.
I am being able to face uncertainty better.
Because, I am bringing these things to the Lord in prayer, and meditating upon HIM giving me the guidance needed.
I believe I am healing.
And it’s still January!

It’s all about choice.
And I choose Jesus!

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.

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

2017 My One Word – #mydays wk4day6

Today – my writing turned out a prayer, of sorts.
Maybe, this will help anyone else that might read it.
As I write with the 750words, I’m seeing the Lord’s focus in my heart.

Psalm 90:12

Lord, I need eyes to see.
oh my – that’s a story in and of itself.
a lesson.
i am a life lesson.
my life is full of lessons to be shared.

Lord,
i want to shine my light,
i want to share my lessons,
i need your guidance, and yes,
i need support from Jim.
i don’t know how i’m going to do this.
i need you to provide for the cleaning,
and some of the other things that suck the energy out of and cause pain in my body,
and then, to help me to energize and support my own body so that
i can positively affect the body of Christ.

Christi’s body supporting Christ’s body.
That’s an interesting concept.

Oh, i want to go to school…
i want to go to college – bible college!
That’s probably never going to happen,
but I wanted you, Lord to know.
i want to study your word under teachers that you have anointed.

You have anointed me?
well, I guess I’m in the same mess as several of those in the bible that felt that they did not have what it took to do what you wanted them to do.
Thank you for not asking me to lay down, naked, playing with toy soldiers.
I’ll try to listen before you have to talk to me via the donkey!

Thy will be done.
you are my God – and i yield to you, even as I complain.
i know that You are,
You will be, and
You have it all under control
i know that You have my story written, and
if i just follow the steps you put before me,
i will never be lost.
i love You.
~me

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

“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.

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

2017 My One Word – #mydays week three – Get a Grip

I know that I need to get a grip on what I’m doing.
I need to figure out what I need to do every day.
I need to set a schedule – which would work well if I could actually fall asleep when I’m supposed to go to bed!

Sleep – bed time – that’s when the schedule should start!
evening and morning the first day.
I need to get my bedtime routine set, and then, with this in the morning, maybe things will start to fall into place.

Maybe I can even start some sort of exercise routine!
I can write 750words, and then move over to the itty bitty bible study and write those…

meditation,
prayer,
seeking God and then
bible study

Then maybe my body…sounds like I just got my #mydays word for the day.
I do have an armor of God workout that I’ve created and should put into practice again!

Father God, please guide me – teach me your ways that I may number my days and seek wisdom – your wisdom!

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Today, I’m praying for

a friend’s sisters, and for her own peace
a friend having hernia surgery today
a friend who’s twin infant is hospitalized with breathing difficulties
a friend that is going through some trying times financially
a friend whose son will be deploying soon – as well as military moms I know
tonight’s group connect and the preparation for the home group in our home
my family
my friends
my country
my husband
my marriage
my walk with the Lord.

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.

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

2009 IBBS Gal 6

Itty Bitty Book 2 – Galatians, Chapter 6, June 12

Galatians 6 reads like a chapter in Proverbs to me.
I’s just going to keep this short and sweet, because we have a long distance to travel today.
My favorite verses:
:2 Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
With
:5 For each one shall bear his own load.
This does not mean, only, carrying someone’s luggage, book bag, purse….or helping them move by carrying boxes or beds. LOL. Nor does it mean that each man should carry his own bed to the third floor apartment all by himself!
I believe that burdens are those things above and beyond carrying your own weight(and I have a lot more to carry than most of you on this list!). Each person should bear their own load….do the good works that God intended. But when the trials and tribulations, the burdens that threaten breakdown come – brothers and sisters are to surround such a person and lift up their hands and bear their burden with them – as Aaron and Hur did for Moses.
:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Wooo Hooo – good slam, Paul!
Oh wait I’m supposed to be loving, joyful, peaceful……..
I think this could be used to describe the braggarts that are insecure of themselves, and try to make themselves be something they aren’t, but if they would just embrace who they are , they would be happy.
Enough sermons have been preached about :7-8 – and I love “but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Sowing to the Spirit – doing good works for which we were created – loving our neighbor…….
:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
And that does NOT mean that we are to do good so that we will reap, get a crown, become a pillar, or have the bread we’ve tossed out on the water come back again to us.
We reap what we sow – and we reap HOW we sow….and remember that Christ said that we should give to others with NO expectation of getting anything back. The point here is that we are not to grow weary. For me, that means if I don’t worry about the bread coming back again….I just give, and go to Jesus to get more to give! When I wait for the blessing, well, obviously I’m not going to Jesus….therefore I run dry – and get weary! Gotta go to the throne to get you joy filled back up!
:10 – do good, especially to those of the house of faith.
I’ve heard that I should be as nice to my family as I am to those outside my family. I do let loose at home. But how much more should we honor those who are our family in God – and love them in deed and word as well.
:18 Brethren(and Sisteren), the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
So much for short and sweet!
Have a great weekend – Ephesians next week.
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

Itty Bitty Bible Study Galatians 6

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Galatians 6

I’m going to just throw this out there today – it’s late – and I’m sure those that have been following this can look up the verses on their own!

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

Galatians 6

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Matthew 18
2 thes 3:15
2 Tim 2:25
1 John 5:16
James 5:19
Nathan with David – 2 Samuel 12

In my IBBS thoughts on Galatians 5, I talked about WHY we are to judge righteous judgement.
Paul talks about his confronting Peter in Galatians 2:11-14.
WHY???
To RESTORE our brethren!

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

5 For each will have to bear his own load.

Responsibility to oursevles and each other!

Romans 15:1, 14:1
Matthew 9:13
Isaiah 35:3-4
2 Thess 3:15

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

If we know anything – we are to teach…old women teach the younger, older Christians teach the newer.

Deut 6:7
Mat 28:19
Psalm 25:4, 27:11
Acts 1:1, 15:35
1 Tim 1:3, 3:2
2 Tim 2:24

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
8 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.

Cause and effect

Eccl 11:1-6
Luke 8:5-15

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Endure to the end!

Mt 24:13
James 1:12
1 Cor 13:7
James 1:22
1 Peter 3:11
Amos 5:14
Luke 6:27

Paul is stating that this is HIS writing…hand in hand with his declaring that he is an apostle.

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

Again – Paul repeats that those that want the Galatians to be circumsized are not able to keep the law themselves.

12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Interesting note here – several times he mentions being persecuted – and it’s always about refusing to apply the Jewish laws…and for teaching saved by faith through grace. He is saying that those others do not want to be persecuted, as Paul is, for the cross of Jesus.

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Paul is referring back to his explanation of his position and calling…basically saying, leave me alone! It’s settled!

He ends with a simple prayer, though, grace is nothing simple!

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Amen – and I pray this for those that are joining me in this journey!

I’ve shared my thoughts on

2009 IBBS Galatians 6
My focus for this week will be to write up a summary of my thoughts – and starting next week, Itty Bitty Bible Study will be looking at Joel.

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.

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

The Wildberry Patch

Be Engrafted into the VINE to produce Eternal Fruit