Hey, January is going to be easy to label the day of the year for the first 100 days.
One of the things that I am trying to do to keep me accountable and to have others join me is a live video each day at The WildBerry Patch facebook page. We are doing 5 psalms and 1 proverb each day for a month. Trying to build a habit.
I’m also trying to write something for each of the firsts 100 days.
As I read Psalm 2, it’s all about the angst of the enemies of God against Him. Isn’t that a foreshadowing or an analogy of our hearts raging against God when we have sinned against him?
With that thought in my head, I went on to Psalm 32.
1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! 2 How joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit!
I realized that this Psalm provides the steps to forgiveness:
Realizing the blessings of forgiveness
Psalm 32:1-2
above
The discomfort of unforgiveness
Psalm 32:3-4
3.When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained[a] as in the summer’s heat.Selah
The need for confession
Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You took away the guilt of my sin.Selah
The need to pray
Psalm 32:6
Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You at a time that You may be found.[b] When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
The need to abide
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.Selah
God promises counsel
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
Confession of faith
Psalm 32:10
Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him.
Rejoicing in the Lord
Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
This was a blessing to me today. Asking God to forgive us is letting go of the sinful actions, thoughts or desires. Admitting that you are in need of forgiveness is giving up your own path and choosing to walk on the path that God has chosen for you.
Hi! My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
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.
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.
From BlueLetter Bible, the Outline of the Biblical Usage of this word is this:
life
the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
every living soul
life
of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic “logos” and to Christ in whom the “logos” put on human nature
life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
Websters has these choices:
1a : the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
c : an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism (see METABOLISM sense 1), growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
4 : spiritual existence transcending (see TRANSCEND sense 1c) physical death
5a : the period from birth to death
There are 20 entries!
My summary: Life is being able for growth, reaction to stimuli and reproduction in a human. Life is a spiritual transcendance of a human and the very nature of God
This is my favorite definition:
life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
To discuss how Jesus is LIFE, we need to find out where death came from!
Genesis 1
Genesis 1 King James Version (KJV)
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Before God created man, He created, period!
Light
Firmament of Heaven divided from Earth
Dry land separated from water, plants – first evidence of life
This is the theological position I believe.
and here’s a few verses to back my belief up, though others will have verses that back up their theology.
Hebrews 11:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Why do I believe this?
1. In the Beginning – God.
Out of His creative character, and because only HE can create matter(First Law of Thermodynamics and the Law of Conservation of Mass Energy) God Created. Nothing was made without him is the rephrasing of without him was not anything made that was made.
2. God is eternal, therefore, within Him resides ETERNAL life. Ps 90All About God – Eternal God.
3.All beings with a spirit are Eternal or Immortal, but only God is without beginning or end. Daniel 12:2-3, All About God’s writing about is the Human soul mortal or immortal?
4. The order of Creation sets up the stage for LIFE on earth!
5. Man was not alive until God breathed life into him. Genesis 2:7
6. In the midst of the Garden there was a tree of life.
7. In the midst of the Garden there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9
What happened? SIN
I’ve written about Adam and Eve on many instances, but my favorite is An Inconvenient Truth.
Short story:
Eve listened to the Serpent
Adam listened to Eve
God found out.
animal had to be killed to pay the price so they would not have to die.
At that point, death entered the world.
Cain killing Abel was the first murder.
and it goes down hill from there…
UNTIL
Jesus is born.
Eve had been given a promise.
Genesis 2:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
They did not have to suffer physical death instantly as the judgement of their disobedience demanded, but something had to. A sacrificial animal. The precursor to Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb.
Here’s where you can learn more:
I am that I am – a statement of Life, complete existence in Himself – THIS IS THE FIRST NAME GOD GAVE HIMSELF.
Only HE who HAS can give to he who has not.
John 10:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Back to Genesis –
Genesis 3
22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Because of the disobedience, they were driven out of Paradise.
They were forbidden to eat of the Tree of Life!
We are in the midst of a study called Freedom created by The Church of the Highlands. I highly recommend it, to get a new and fresh look at the Trees from the Garden.
To eat of the Tree of Life would have meant that they would forever live in their sin. God prevented that.
Jesus is the Rod of Jesse – like a tree. Is 11:1-2
Jesus is the Branch – like a tree. Zech 6:12
Jesus is the Vine – a plant. John 15 Hebrews 11:17-24 talks about being grafted into the tree of the family of God. Romans 6 talks about being dead to sin and alive to Christ.
When we are saved, the old man dies – the death payment for our sins, and the new man comes alive – the Life bestowed upon us for being IN CHRIST!
The interesting thing here is that Paul is talking to the people of Athens – and is quoting their own poet, who was speaking of THE UNKNOWN GOD. They knew there was some power that was in everything – and Paul declares Him as the God of Creation, who sent His son so that we could KNOW HIM!
Jesus broke down the walls that separated us from the Tree of Life!
In Jesus, WE HAVE LIFE!
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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.
M. Christine Wildman
“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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
Devotion
The WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.
Yesterday, we looked at THE WAY.
Today, we’re going to look at the TRUTH.
Jesus says he is the TRUTH, but what is truth?
From Websters Dictionary
Definition of truth (Entry 1 of 2)
1a(1) : the body of real things, events, and facts : ACTUALITY
(2) : the state of being the case : FACT
(3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality
b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true
truths of thermodynamics
c : the body of true statements and propositions
2a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality
b chiefly British : TRUE sense 2
c : fidelity to an original or to a standard
3a : sincerity in action, character, and utterance
b archaic : FIDELITY, CONSTANCY
Blueletter Bible explains the Biblical usage in this outline
objectively
what is true in any matter under consideration
truly, in truth, according to truth
of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
in the greatest latitude
the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians
Strongs G225 simplified says this:
I. objectively;
1. universally, what is true in any matter under consideration (opposed to what is feigned, fictitious, false):
John 1:14 & 17 says
John 1:14-17 King James Version (KJV)
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Jesus says He is the Truth.
John describes Him as bringing Truth.
The Religious leaders told him that he taught the truth in Mt 22:16, Mk 12:14, and Luke 20:21.
Ephesians 1:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Thing – Part of our Armor! Loins girt about with Truth! Eph 6:14
Person or Character – God is not a liar – therefore God is true: – Titus 1:2, Heb 6:18 and
Numbers 23:19 King James Version (KJV)
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
In fact, Hebrews 6:18 says that it is an immutable thing…God cannot lie! Part of His Character!
Person – Jesus promises a comforter…the Spirit of Truth! John 15:26,
John 14:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Person – The Spirit of Truth is our Teacher.
John 16:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Who is this comforter? The Holy Spirit, the third person in the God head! For more info on the Tri-unity of God, Lent Day 7
Jesus is the Truth
God’s Word is True.
Jesus is the Word.
We are sanctified by the Word.
Jesus is God
God cannot lie.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The Holy Spirit is Truth
The Holy Spirit is the comforter that Jesus sends back to teach us all things of TRUTH!
What are the “doing” parts?
Part One – teachings – The Holy Spirit is guiding us into all truth…because Jesus promised that
So that we can gird our loins with TRUTH.
So that we will not be deceived by the enemy.
So that we will be set free from the lies that surround us.
How can this be a concept, a person, thing and an action at the same time?
By Faith, we Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ – TRUTH as a person.
God’s heart is that all will come to the knowledge of truth – 1 Tim 2:4 – TRUTH as a concept to be taught.
We are told to obey the truth in Galatians – TRUTH as a concept and action.
We are told to gird our loins with TRUTH – TRUTH as a noun
God is only known in spirit and in truth. He is OTHER. This is a whole study unto itself. The thing is, that we believe it because God said it, and we trust His Words. It is because HE is. It is by faith, through grace.
Romans 10:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The opposite of truth is deceit.
I don’t want to list these verses, and fill up this blog, but, for further study, here is a list of scriptures about deceit from Bible Study Tools.
Colossians 3:9-10 King James Version (KJV)
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Deceit is part of the old man – the man without the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in their lives.
Remember, we are known by our fruit!
Jesus is the TRUTH – and by allowing him to enter into our lives, and make us new, set free from the old man, we are back in relationship with the God who Is TRUE, and we can be filled with the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will guide us into all truth!
In that light, we can Psalm 37:3-6 King James Version (KJV)
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
John 14:1-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Way to the Father
14 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.
3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
4 You know the way to where I am going.”
5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jesus was trying to comfort them….”let not your heart be troubled”.
HOW?
“Believe in God, believe also in me.”
In Lent Day Eight, we discussed how he placed the choice before them…that HE cried out, and almost begs them to choose Him!
It is the basis of our salvation – Acts 16:31 – to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!
Dear Thomas, so honest and transparent…”we don’t know where you’re going…how can we know the way!”
In lent Day Seven, we discussed the Tri-unity of God – His unity in plurality. Here, Jesus reminds them that He and the Father are one, as he stated in John 10:30.
This is NEW to the Jewish religion – that God is One in Three.
Here is a quote from Day Seven:
In the beginning God spoke let there be light.(Genesis 1) God’s voice is the source of creation – The Father
In the Beginning – the spirit hovered over the face of the waters – The Holy Spirit.
In the Beginning was the word and the Word was God and the Word was with God – Jesus (John 1) All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.
We know that God’s voice spoke words. We know that the word of God is Jesus Christ. We know that Jesus Christ was part of the creative power in the beginning. We know that God moves upon water as The Holy Spirit, in the beginning. We have a Triune God to manifest himself in Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Three distinct personalities in one complete person. Several times, when God speaks, the fullness of the Godhead is displayed.
The WAY is to believe in the fullness of the Godhead! And, Jesus prepared the way for us, through His death, burial and resurrection! If you have questions on that concept, there are links in my signature!
The next few days will be about the Truth and the Life!
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) I utilize various resources to research and study these Itty Bitty Bible Studies. This time, for Titus, I hooked up with Keith Loy’s Celebrate Titus on RightNow Media. RightNow Media is a subscription for everyone in a church. If you don’t have RightNow Media on your computer or TV streaming channels, the Celebrate Titus dvd is available. I don’t know if it’s more or less information. I am not an Amazon associate, so I don’t get anything out of sharing this! I will let you know that I will be quoting him!
What saying is true?
It’s not a pretty saying.
We’ve just looked at Titus 1:6-9, the qualifications for an ambassador for Christ. It’s not just for Bishops, Elders and such…it’s for everyone who is called by the name of Christ!
Titus 1:10-16 King James Version (KJV)
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
We can read that in various versions….
Titus 1:10-16 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
10 There are many who don’t respect authority, and they fool others by talking nonsense. This is especially true of some Jewish followers. 11 But you must make them be quiet. They are after money, and they upset whole families by teaching what they should not. 12 It is like one of their own prophets once said,
“The people of Crete
always tell lies.
They are greedy and lazy
like wild animals.”
From the look of this, there is some stereotyping going on…and yet, “it is one of their own prophets that said”…apparently, it was a cultural thing at that time.
Read it in the Amplified or The Message, I dare ya!
Cultural bigotry?
That’s not the point of this passage.
Then, what is?
It’s a statement of a cultural issue, that even the people of CRETE knew about! Yet, that’s not why Paul is writing that. It’s to prepare us for the next part:
Titus 1:10-11 Contemporary English Version
10 There are many who don’t respect authority,
and they fool others by talking nonsense.
This is especially true of some Jewish followers.
11 But you must make them be quiet.
They are after money,
and they upset whole families by teaching what they should not.
The point is that false doctrines cause chaos…and need to be shut down.
Even if it is from the Jewish followers, of whom Paul has had difficulty making sure they don’t bring others back into bondage to the law! Galatians 1:6-9 Hebrews 6:4-6
Using Contemporary English again,
13 That surely is a true saying. And you should be hard on such people, so you can help them grow stronger in their faith.
14 Don’t pay any attention to any of those senseless Jewish stories and human commands.
These are made up by people who won’t obey the truth.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
The reason to rebuke someone in error is to clear up the issue, and help them to grow sound in the faith! Grow stronger in their faith! Not let them slip down the rabbit holes of senseless and foolish Jewish myths, or human commands that pull them away from the freedom of Christ.
This is the purpose of Church Discipline doctrine…which I’m not going to discuss, but rather, put a link here for you to read and discern. Matthew 18, with some examples in the Corinthians letters. An extreme of this is the Amish shunning.
Are there really rabbit holes and Jewish myths mentioned in the Bible? YES!
In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warned them, and us, of false prophets, that they will look good…but we can judge them by their fruit…and we should. Matthew 15 talks about the traditions of the elders verses scriptures. Matthew 23 lists a few the Pharisees were guilty of teaching.
Mark 7 also talks about these things…Jesus is putting the teachers of that time on notice!
Blind guides…Matt 15:14
WARNING WARNING WARNING
1 Timonthy 4:1 KJV
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Peter 3:16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
We have to beware of those teaching false teachings, as well as those that twist scriptures around to their own destruction.
Here is the really ugly, dangerous, scary part to me:
Titus 1:15-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.
I don’t want to be defiled.
I do not want to be unbelieving.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 King James Version (KJV) especially verses 14-16
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
It takes the mind of Christ to understand the things of Christ, and that is only obtained through salvation. Steps are listed at the end of this blog.
This passage is scary, but true!
Romans 1:18-32 King James Version (KJV)
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Go Ahead, read that passage in different versions, if you aren’t clear on the meanings. Romans 1:18 and following in the Bible Hub
God gave them what they wanted. Freewill. Scary.
On the other hand, there is something very precious here…
Titus 1:15 To the pure, everything is pure.
This is freedom!
This is priceless – though Jesus paid an enormous price for us to walk in this freedom!
Again, Paul does talk about us NOT using our liberty in Christ to sin…or to cause others to stumble. Our freedom = rights, but with rights comes responsibility!
What are we free from?
sin
death
slavery
fear
self hatred
purposelessness
the consequences of the law!
earning our way to heaven…
Can you think of any other things that we are free from, by the grace of God, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?
We do have rights, and with those rights come responsibility!
rights —– responsibility
wealth —– giving/generosity
health —– self care
eternity — faithfulness
forgiven — forgive
full life — die to self
Die to self? That’s self sacrifice, taking the flesh to the cross…choosing to walk in the fruit of God’s love.
There are two ways we can sacrifice for God:
Walk in the Spirit… Galatians 5:16-26
present your bodies a living sacrifice – Romans 12:1
Just because we are free and have liberty does not mean that we can go on living in sin…GOD FORBID! Romans 6:1-3
1 Corinthians 6:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
We are crucified to that old life! Romans 8
Remember, we shall know them by their fruits…Matthew 7:20
They shall know us by OUR fruits…
what fruit are we displaying?
Titus 1:16 Common English Bible (CEB)
16 They claim to know God, but they deny God by the things that they do. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified to do anything good.
Titus 1:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
16 They profess to know God [to recognize and be acquainted with Him], but by their actions they deny and disown Him. They are detestable and disobedient and worthless for good work of any kind.
For completeness – here’s the passage in The Message
Titus 1:16 The Message (MSG)
10-16 For there are a lot of rebels out there, full of loose, confusing, and deceiving talk. Those who were brought up religious and ought to know better are the worst.
They’ve got to be shut up.
They’re disrupting entire families with their teaching, and all for the sake of a fast buck.
One of their own prophets said it best:
The Cretans are liars from the womb,
barking dogs, lazy bellies.
He certainly spoke the truth.
Get on them right away.
Stop that diseased talk of Jewish make-believe and made-up rules so they can recover a robust faith.
Everything is clean to the clean-minded; nothing is clean to dirty-minded unbelievers.
They leave their dirty fingerprints on every thought and act.
They say they know God,
but their actions speak louder than their words.
They’re real creeps,
disobedient
good-for-nothings.
If we are honest, we can all point our fingers to someone that is dirty minded…seeing something dirty in anything that is said.
If we are honest, we can think of someone that says they know God, but their lives and actions and choices say they do not.
If we are honest, we can point all those fingers back to ourselves…
Do we laugh at off color jokes?
Do we giggle at psuedo off color jokes?
Do we snicker at something that is totally innocent, and yet, we see it with a less than pure concept?
I have.
Do I do things that might speak to someone watching that I am an unbeliever?
Does my character, choices, and conversation glorify God or would Jesus be embarrassed to be by my side sometimes?
Yes, I have…and yes, things have been iffy at times.
There are times that my behavior and choices could cause others to question my loyalty to Christ.
Am I supposed to be concerned with other’s opinions?
For those in the church, in order to move up in the church, to gain accolades or to obtain position…if those are my motives for my character and choices…they are wrong. I am a manpleaser. My reasons are for my own benefit.
On the other hand…if my character and choices causes others that are watching to see how a Christ-follower behaves, then I am to be concerned about how my behavior effects their opinion of God and His Kingdom. I am an ambassador. My reasons are for Christ’s and seekers’ benefit.
On another hand(yes, that’s three), if I choose to do things that the world does so that I do not have to speak up for Christ, or potentially suffer persecution, my reasons are for self preservation, not others, nor Christ’s.
Here’s the catch.
The Holy Spirit is ALWAYS WITH ME, because I am the temple of the Holy Spirit!
That means, when I choose to do things that are less than Godly, I expose the Holy Spirit to things that are less than Godly…or ungodly.
Someone is ALWAYS watching me.
I’ve been writing up a post on bitterness, including anger, and frustration and irritation at others. Do people see this in me?
Maybe.
But even deeper than whether others see this is that there are verses that say these very things prevent me from being forgiven if I don’t forgive, my prayers being hindered if I hold onto anger, and that a root of bitterness can grow and poison everything in my life. The thing is, I see these in me, and therefore, Jesus sees these in me, and is talking to me about them. I have a choice.
Our choices, our character tells others how committed we are to Christ.
Our choices, our character tells God how committed we are to Christ.
Our choices, our character tells US how committed we are to Christ.
I do not want to face Christ and here him say that I was good for nothing!
Oh my, just read the list in Revelation about who goes into the lake of fire!
Revelation 21:8 King 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.
Go ahead, read Rev 21:8 on Bible Hub, in various versions!
On the Bible Hub website, you can look at the cross references…so many things that talk about what will NOT have it’s place in Kingdom…like:
1 Cor 6:9-10 KJV
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
The beauty is that we have a choice.
We have a choice because we were bought with a price.
1 Corinthians 6:11 King James Version (KJV)
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
We are not our own…we are a new type of slave…but also called friend, by Jesus Christ!
John 15:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
We will still be judged, and this is what I want to hear:
Matthew 25:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
When you think of all that He has done for us, is it too much to ask us to live according to His principles and His standards?
When he’s saved us out of darkness, and brought us into His Kingdom of light…saved us from eternal death, which we deserved…how much is too much to give back to Him?
An oldie:
A new one for me:
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
Wow, January, Now February.
What has happened to my post on Bitterness?
Um, I’m getting schooled!
Psalm 19:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Let me explain.
When I write up anything that I share, or when I share something face to face with someone, my prayer is that I am not a hypocrite.
Last year, January 15th to be exact, I wrote about My One Word 2018, Be Like Jesus – Jesus is not a hypocrite.
That blog post does go into the depths of my being…who I am…what makes me tick, or not tick, as in, what might make me give up.
It touches on hypocrisy, and various ways we sweep the ‘little’ sins under the rug and point the fingers at those that have ‘bigger’ sins.
I’m a bit touchy about hypocrisy, because it’s a lie.
Here’s a blurb from that post:
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.
So, to be honest about the bitterness post,
I could say that I have a drawing/illustration that needs to be done on the white board but my husband hasn’t been available to video that for me. He does videos of himself presenting to send in for work all the time, so, I do want his help. On the other hand, I can set up a camera, I can turn on video, I could make it work without him if I was really pushing to get it done.
I could say that I haven’t had time to finish it…because I was working on this, that and the other, had PT, had a bout with sickness, and blah blah blah, but the truth is that I have found time to watch TV, and to just sleep in sometimes! ( I lie in bed and pray…some people call it snoring in tongues)
Even there…I want to let folks know that there are times that I’m burdened to pray and I lie in bed to pray…as if I’m some great prayer warrior. I do, sometimes, do this. But, there are at least as many times, if not more, that I roll over and fall back to sleep.
Now – I could say that I’ve slept in because of nightmares and night terrors, and that would be true…sometimes. Others, I got carried away with solitaire on my phone, or watching shows on TV over and over….
Even there…I want to let folks know that I am cleaning up my choices of shows…I’ve never gotten into the purely occult shows…like witches, but, I have liked sci fi, and other types along those lines. I’ve become ‘addicted’ to the ability to binge watch with netflix or prime. It’s the same reason that I cannot read a fiction book before bed…I never go to sleep! Just one more chapter. Just one more episode.
While the choices I’ve made may not be considered bad by many, of the Christian mindset, even if they were beautiful representations of Christian Life and Biblical teaching, the point is…I’ve wasted time watching them.
See – even confessing I try to clean up the confession!
August 15, 2017, I wrote How Long Bitter? based on the Lord teaching me to number my days,
Psalm 90:12 – teach me to number my days so that I might apply my heart to WISDOM!
Or, officially: Psalm 90:12
12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
I had asked the Lord to teach me to number my days…and to apply my heart to wisdom.
Less than 2 years ago…he was teaching me about bitterness.
Also, just 2 years ago, He was having me look into my time management.
And my confession here is that I have not done well with it.
What has happened in the last month? A. I’ve gone to the ER for unknown vomiting and excruciating pain. I was afraid it was going to turn into the horrible episode of dizziness with vomiting that I had in Florida last November, and was hospitalized.
What did I learn? That crying out to Jesus is just as powerful as any long winded prayer or quoting volumes of scriptures. I couldn’t do anything more than just say Jesus, Jesus…oh the blood of Jesus.
I could barely text to ask family for help.
I couldn’t text to ask for prayer partners.
I was solely reliant on my faith in Jesus, and my daughter Faith, and my husband’s prayers in Florida( I was in Ohio).
B. I’ve gone through a very emotional attack on facebook about sharing an article about a boy that committed suicide at 8 years old because he was bullied by a gang at school. The issue the others had was that this was a white boy and the gang were listed as an Asian gang. seriously…can we not just realize that no nationality has the corner on gang like groups, or bullying, or suicide and depression? Can’t we just say that no matter the color of the skin, sexual orientation, race or creed, faith or not, bullying is wrong, suicide is tragic and we need a real solution for EVERYONE? This hit me…I have an 11 year old and an 8 year old grandson…among others…and I want to protect them from this mentality!
This triggered some very difficult issues with me, as to who has the right to be declared needing help…because of my childhood.
C. Another thing that I’ve gone through is finding out that a family of young children, specifically an older girl with a brother 3 years younger have a mother that is a nurse, that is addicted to drugs and is taking the drugs from patients. This put me in a funk for a week…this is my childhood. My mom was an RN, and she took the PRNs from her patients to self medicate for bipolar. You know, that statement is so enabling! I’m still giving her an excuse. She was sick. She needed help. But so did my brother and I, from the age of 13 and 11, to when I came home from the Navy to get my brother’s guardianship moved from my mom to my dad for his care. I dropped out of school for various times to work hours to provide money for the bills. I stopped going to a full day of school the second half of my senior year in order to work full time so that I could provide for my brother, me and my mom. I also drove my mom to and from work(yes, she continued to work for senior homes, even though the community knew she had a problem) so that 1, I could have a car available, and 2, so that she was not driving under the influence. Honestly, we couldn’t tell when she was hypoglycemic and when she was drugged…but the amount of drugs that we found, and the repeated suicide attempts were pretty clear that it was mostly drugs. So, yes, the current events triggered unresolved issues from my past.
D. During the medical issue with the vomiting…my daughter brought over her dog to help calm me…
and, he was so concerned about me, but couldn’t stay with me for the night, because he is so bound to his babies at his house…the three boys, and watching over mama!
He reminded me of Gabriel.
Here’s an album on my page Service Dogs
Why is this something that has delayed me? Gabriel alerted to my blood sugars, my heart rate, and was a stabilizing force so that I could walk without fear of falling. Those are just three of the things he did for me.
He saved my life.
He attended mental health hospitals with me.
He did everything with me.
And, in October, 2017, I had to let him go, because of cancer and other illnesses.
I had decided I didn’t need or want another dog.
I was grieving.
Enter Paxton, and the obvious way he was able to calm me, even though he was NOT my dog!
So I started researching service dogs.
I started dealing with the fact that I would probably have to train mine, for financial reasons, again.
This was so emotional, because
1. I miss Gabriel
2. I never really felt confident in my training of Gabriel, though he behaved better than most of the police, fire, and service dogs that we met! I have issues with never feeling like anything I do is good enough, so, it just filtered over here.
3. Did I want to take on a puppy? or Did I want to take on a possible explosion of a rescue dog?
4. finances.
I found a wonderful site, Psychiatric Service Dog partners, and they had a great article on why, for psych dogs, you’d be better off with a puppy.
So much fantastic information on this site.
And, since 2008, there is an amazing amount of information now online. Not so much in 2008!
So, through various research, prayerful nights, and discussions with those that know me best, I will be going to meet a female German shepherd puppy, well, four of them, on February 19th.
I am researching the information now online for training, the requirements again, and having just created that album about Gabriel, I was able to see the fun I had in training him. I’ve also restarted the Service Dog page in order to get actual legal information, not false sales tactics out to the public, as well as encouragement.
The grief of Gabriel, the concerns for my ability, no matter the prior evidence to the contrary, and the stress of finding the ‘right’ puppy has triggered several issues in my mental health, and emotional health at this time.
E. Another thing that just started is that I’ve joined a group for Christian women who have suffered sexual abuse.
If it’s not obvious how that could be triggering, you might be new to my website!
My word for the year is to guard my heart…for out of it flow springs of living water.
Of course, if my heart is full of ugly, ugliness will flow out.
The thing is, I do not want to be hypocritical, talk about bitterness, when I’m having several areas brought to my attention about the need to forgive…not hold bitterness…not go to sleep harboring anger because it gives place to the enemy, and so many more.
I am guilty.
I am human.
The word of God is a two edged sword…sometimes it comforts me, then the other side will attempt to cut away the ugly parts of me and help me to heal from ashes to beauty by His grace.
Please forgive me for the delay, but I hope that you also can extend me grace for being human.
If you ask God to make you more Christ-like, He will take you up on that request.
The Old must pass away, and the NEW must be born!
I am a New Creation, learning and relearning to put off those things of the flesh that so easily distract me!
Here’s one of the worship songs that has been ministering to me the last few weeks.
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
This is the Hope…that we who were dead in our sins were loved while we were yet sinners and Christ came down from his glorious heaven, took on our form, dealt with our pains and sufferings, and died a horrible death on our behalf, then rose from the grave and now sits at the right hand of God to intercede for us day and night!
Why did I post all of those previous blog post links? Because, if you do not know the hope of eternal life…they are there to guide you and explain!
If you think you are getting into heaven just because you are good enough…let me burst that bubble right now. So you think you are going to heaven? is something I wrote years ago, and it’s because I want you to have the TRUE hope of eternal life!
2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie,promised before the beginning of time,
The hope of eternal life…salvation.
God, who does not lie…I think we can agree with this…God is TRUTH.
Here’s a bunch of verses about truth…from BibleStudytools.com
None really say God is Truth…but, when you take all of verses together…you get:
Romans 3:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Another collection of God is true verses comes from Bible Knowing Jesus.
Again, only a few specifically say that God is true…but you get the picture…God cannot lie and still be truth.
He promised eternal life…He promised salvation…He promised a solution to our sin situation!
James 1:17 KJV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
2 Timothy 1:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me[a] until that day.
The end is coming, and our hope is in this eternal life…
1 Thes 4:14-18
18 Therefore encourage[e] one another with these words.
Hebrews 6:13-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Inheriting the Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself:
14 I will indeed bless you,
and I will greatly multiply you.[a]
15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham[b] obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. 17 Because God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
So, this goes back to Abraham….
What about Noah? Genesis 9
God promises not to destroy the world again with a flood – but Noah and his family were a type of salvation…
Hebrews 11:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
7 By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
For that matter, Hebrews 11talks a lot about the promise not seen in the heroes of the Faith.
Heb 11:10 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Heb 11:16 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Heb 11:39-40 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Now, going back before Noah…
Hebrews 11:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Heroes of Faith
11 Now faith is the reality[a] of what is hoped for, the proof[b] of what is not seen. 2 For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was[c] created by God’s command,[d] so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.
Titus 1:2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
How did God promise this gift of eternal life before time began?
What happened before creation?
Luke 10:18 KJV
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Isaiah 14:12-15 King James Version (KJV)
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
One thing that Got Questions says that I’m not sure I agree with is that the fall was AFTER creation.
Let me put forth what I believe I’ve just gotten, and you be the judge as to the WHEN of the thing!
Based upon the promise before time began, when did time begin?
Genesis 1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Creation
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.[a]
2 Now the earth was[b] formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and He called the darkness “night.” Evening came and then morning: the first day.
As far as I’m concerned – time was created when God created the light, separated the day and night, and declared “the first day” was good!
Time began.
As I read Titus 1:2, I take it that he had the plan for our salvation BEFORE day ONE.
WHY?
To choose good, there must be something else to choose from.
The lack of good.
Otherwise known as not good, or evil.
The angels were created with choice – but, what choice did they have? Hmmm. Lucifer wanted to be like God! And he was already prepared to tempt Eve with the same thing!
God knows the end from the beginning, right? Isaiah 46:10
God wants us to love him freely, not out of requirement or slavery, right?
So, God gave us a choice…freewill…and, it didn’t take very long, as far as we know, for humans to mess up.
Knowing that we would mess up, and choose ‘not good’, God still put the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil in the midst of the garden.
It’s the ONLY thing that they could not touch. THE ONLY THING!
They could have eaten from the tree of life!
AND EVERY OTHER TREE, SO BEAUTIFUL, SO FRUITFUL, SOME THAT WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE! Paradise! with ONE restriction.
The devil was there in the garden…
The devil used words to tempt Eve to question God.
Adam didn’t stand up to Eve…which may have changed everything! He just ate.
Their gods were their bellies, their eyes and their pride. Phil 3:18-20
The sin was idolotry…they put their own desires above God. They wanted to be LIKE God!
This is the first death, and it was on behalf of Adam and Eve’s sins…their futile attempts to hide their sins with fig leaves failed. The wages of sin is death…something had to die…and Adam and Eve had to wear the skins of the animals that they had named and cared for…to remind them of the cost of sin.
Hebrews 9:22 Amplified Bible (AMP)
22 In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].
The shedding of animal blood was the foreshadowing of Christ being the lamb that takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29
Isaiah prophesied of this lamb in Isaiah 53 – long before he came.
Here’s what has blown my mind.
As I read it, God had already experienced the angels falling….and they had lived in perfection.
Still he chose to create us.
He knew the end from the beginning…so when Eve was rebuked, He knew that Jesus was going to come and die on our behalf…seed of Eve, destroying the seed of the enemy.
When HE covered them with those bloody animal skins, the first death, HE KNEW that one day, Jesus would be that bloody mess, paying the price for sin on our behalf.
And still – God chose to create us.
He created us in His image…so that we could be like him.
He gave us free will and choice…so that we could choose to be like him…or not.
And, He gave us His son, that we might be saved from the dead heart that chooses evil.
AND – HE GAVE US THE GIFT OF FAITH SO THAT WE COULD BELIEVE!
Ephesians 2:8-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
But even before that!
Before time began!
He created us with a plan!
He knew we would choose to fail,
And that we would slip into hell
But when we listen to his voice
He calls us to a better choice
Come unto me my little dears
I will love and draw you near
I have loved you since before time began
And I have set in motion the perfect plan.
Choose Jesus and the blood you see
And I’ll give you life that is so free
The life I planned, that you destroyed
Is still here waiting with love untold.
Just turn to me, and let me show
The love I planned to help you grow.
Eternal life is mine to give,
Just turn to me, and live, live, live.
(c)MCWildman2019
Forgive me for this long passage of scripture at the end, but, it is God’s words to us…He has set before us life and death…we must make a choice!
16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
I hope you worship with me:
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
2 Lord, I have heard the report about You;
Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds.
Revive Your work in these years;
make it known in these years.
In Your wrath remember mercy!
Please read all of Habakkuk 3 – but for now, I want to continue some thoughts from the previous posts.
To review:
In IBBS Habakkuk 1, we discussed that sometimes bad things happen to discipline us. that is not always the case.
Sometimes, it’s to test us…(though we are told not to blame God for our temptations!
James 1:12-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
12 A man who endures trials[a] is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God[b] has promised to those who love Him.
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil,[c] and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
There are those that fall because of their own lusts…and they need Psalm 38
The truth is, that there are those that are refined by the fire, and that refining has a higher purpose!
I discussed those who experienced a higher purpose with the refining fire. The question is, do we realize that God uses EVERYTHING to cause us to grow into the fullness of Christ?
Does God discipline his children?
I believe the answer is yes.
Job 5:17-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 See how happy the man is God corrects;
so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For He crushes but also binds up;
He strikes, but His hands also heal.
Proverbs 3:11-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;
12 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.
Psalm 94 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
12 Lord, happy is the man You discipline
and teach from Your law
13 to give him relief from troubled times
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
1 Corinthians 11:28-32 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
28 So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,[a] eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. 31 If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged, 32 but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world.
2 Chronicles 6:27 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 may You hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of Your servants
and Your people Israel,
so that You may teach them the good way
they should walk in.
May You send rain on Your land
that You gave Your people for
an inheritance.
Hebrews 12:5-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or faint when you are reproved by Him,
6 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves
and punishes every son He receives.[a]
Jeremiah 31:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 I have heard Ephraim moaning,
“You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined
like an untrained calf.
Restore me, and I will return,
for you, Lord, are my God.
2 Chronicles 7:14 King 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.
There’s a difference designated…those who are God’s people,and those who are not.
Job 27:8 For what hope does the godless man have when he is cut off,
when God takes away his life?
None…because those that Love the Lord have the hope of living out eternity with God in His Kingdom.
Eccl 8:12-14
12 Although a sinner commits crime a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before Him. 13 However, it will not go well with the wicked,and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God.14 There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
As I said above, Psalm 38 is a cry for repentance. Those that Love God, and are wanting to please Him, know when they have sinned, and they cry out. There is now no condemnation…but there is conviction!
Romans 8 King James Version (KJV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Read the rest of Roman’s 8 to find our what the child of God’s position of sin ought to be.
The question IS who is righteous and who is unrighteous in God’s eyes.
To point that out we just need to list a bunch of scriptures about righteousness versus unrighteous. Google gives options. I’ve linked and posted a few above.
It is only in Christ Jesus that we are considered righteous. There is no room for pride or elitism.
And since sacrifices in the Old Testament were the foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, trying to live your life according to all the rules of the Old Testament, and then confessing your sins and having faith in the sacrifices, that was what was considered righteous back then.
The thing is, the concept of grace and mercy is far misunderstood today.
Grace is getting that which you do not deserve and
mercy is not getting that which you do deserve.
Got Answers has a great explanation of the difference.
We all deserve the wages of sin which are death.
We all can embrace the gift of God which is eternal life by falling upon The Mercy Seat that had the final sacrifice of Christ’s blood applied.
I’m often disturbed by how many Christians look at God as a Santa God. Only providing good things and never asking us for anything in return.
Jesus himself gave some very clear commands!
Mark 12:30-31 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.[a][b] 31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself.[c] There is no other command greater than these.”
That doesn’t sound like he wiped out the Ten Commandments, or any of the other laws and Prophets as guides for how we should live!
What He wiped out is that we will not have to answer for being Human and failing.
We will have to answer for a lack of faith,
for lack of enduring to the end,
for a lack of holding on,
for a lack of continuing in well-doing,
for not walking in those works for which we were created.
Now, salvation is based on Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and having him being the Lord and Master Of Our Lives.
There are plenty of verses that say that there are rewards for those who have their heads chopped off for the kingdom.
Or for those who have lost all things in this world for Christ, or for those who…???
Yet, that isn’t always the requirement. AND they are NOT the REQUIREMENT for salvation. They are the EVIDENCE!
The Bible says that those who teach are held to a higher standard than those who are ignorant. Something for which I am very aware.
I find it hard dealing with the physical and mental issues the God has allowed to continue in my life.
I find it hard to be joyful in the face of discouragement,
to be patient in the face of an ongoing trial, or
to be gracious to someone who has hurt me over and over and over possibly more than 70 times 7.
What I’m saying is, sometimes, when I get a little too comfortable in my life, I need the Lord to get my attention and if that is his disciplining hand to remind me that I am his child, I will say thank you for that!
What does this have to do with Habakkuk?
In Habakkuk’s day, being taken to Babylon was God’s disappointing hand to a people who had become too comfortable and we’re turning their backs on the one who gives them life.
God was promising Habakkuk that there would come a day that there would be judgment and that the joy of the people would be restored.
I’m going to answer that question, and discuss Habakkuk 3 in IBBS Habakkuk 3b.
I know there is a lot of scripture in this blog.
I know there is a lot of reference to additional blog posts.
The thing is, in my world, there is only one truth…ONE TRUTH…and that is the Word of God.
Nothing I say can set you free…only the SON can set you free!
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
My prayer for you is that through Habakkuk, and all studies of the Word of God, you will be set free, and know The Prince of Peace!
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
This year, 2016, I’ve been doing a study on Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd.
I plan to have a study done about the shepherd before the end of the year.
The point of this blog is that Jesus came as a lamb – the perfect spotless lamb that was slain for our sins.
Jesus came as a baby and was laying in a manger. A manger is a feeding trough for farm animals. The fact that Jesus came and was so meek and mild caused much difficulty for the rulers of the Church of his day. First, Jesus came as a lamb.
Lamb
Lamb
The stories in the Old Testament about sacrifices force us to talk about the meaning of blood sacrifice. That sacrifice needed to be a perfect, no scars, no warts, no wrinkles, but perfect ram or lamb. In the New Testament we are told about Jesus going to the cross as a lamb going to sacrifice. This is one of the key differences in the Christian faith, that we have a Savior that chose to pay the price for our sins.
John 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
1 Cor 15:20-22
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
(Gen 22:8; Ex 12:5; Is 53:4-7; 1 Pet 1:18-21)
Rev 5:12
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
~~~~~
nativity
The reason that we see Nativities up at Christmas was because Jesus was born in a manger – like an animal. Like a lamb.
He came – humbled himself from heaven, and came – to die for us. To be the lamb that was slain.
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi (with Jim, 1959-2020) 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
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.
In 1987, I proposed to my husband that I wanted to start celebrating Christmas. This was smack in the face of our position to not celebrate holidays. Period.
The previous decision really caused a huge rift in our families.
Jim told me that I had to do it in such a way that it totally focused upon Jesus, and not Santa Claus. I’m not sure he believed that I could do so. I had been given a ‘vision’ from God, and I’m remembering that first Christmas.
First – the colors. Why Red and Green? Red – the blood of Jesus that was shed for us Green – the new life that we receive when we embrace his gift.
But, what about the other colors?
we started with Red and Green – and then added the other colors for our children: Yellow – for the glory that shines from Christ’s face. Blue – for the water that washes us clean Purple – for the royalty of God, and that in Christ we are priests and kings.
At one time, we created bracelets that were witnessing tools, with colored beads that stood for the way of salvation.
Power Bracelet
Eventually, The Wordless Book showed up in our churches, and because of this part of the story of Christ, we embraced it.
Wearing something, like the bracelet above, reminds me of the path to heaven.
I confess, there are many times that I forget that I am focusing, or at least, I desire to focus upon, the path to Christ – likeness. I want to be like Christ.
The colors remind me of my God and Savior.
but they also remind me of when we started taking 25 days to talk about Jesus with our Children.
The four of us
Our first Nativity
Stars with the story of Christ’s Birth
We did our first Advent with the paper ring garland. If we were going to participate in Christmas, it was Jesus all the way. (though, to be honest, stockings have to do with Santa, not Jesus – not sure how I’ve missed that for so many years!)
2016 edit – this year, I am painting ornaments – and I have chosen to put the colors of Christmas on them. This one is not complete, but it shows how I have incorporated the colors of Christmas.
Thank you Lord, for all the colors that you created.
Thank you, Lord, for giving Noah the rainbow, the symbol of your promise, there will be an end to trials, storms, and waiting!
Thank you, Lord, for giving us our five children, and helping us to teach them about Christ.
Please, Lord, help our children with children to pass on the truths of God’s word to their children.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
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
Copyrights and Legal-eze
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.
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.
Hey, January is going to be easy to label the day of the year for the first 100 days.
This was a blessing to me today. Asking God to forgive us is letting go of the sinful actions, thoughts or desires. Admitting that you are in need of forgiveness is giving up your own path and choosing to walk on the path that God has chosen for you.“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 look at Jesus IS THE LIFE.
Jesus is the Rod of Jesse – like a tree. 
The WAY is to believe in the fullness of the Godhead! And, Jesus prepared the way for us, through His death, burial and resurrection! If you have questions on that concept, there are links in my signature!
