... it blessed me!
Robin Sampson, of Heart of Wisdom, is sharing a blessing of a message, on audio, that you can learn about, through both links below.
The second link will take you directly to her Homeschool Audio.
The first link will take you to a blog post she wrote that shares a "contest" she is having. As part of that contest, she shares about what she feels is "the most important advice" she "could share with Christian homeschoolers." And that "advice" she shares on the Homeschool Audio, which you can listen to using the second link, below.
It's a blessing! (what is? What you will find at both these links will bless you!)
http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/homeschool-warning-and-blog-contest/
http://www.sendspace.com/pro/1d3ktt
Saturday, February 6, 2010
deception as part of a religious system of belief
For those who may wish to learn some more about 'the Muslim faith' of a man who claims to be qualified to be in a position that most, in America, would say he is in (living in The White House), but whose numerous "wordings" and seeming "mistakes" when speaking in public, give him away as being (definitely) a Muslim (one who is of the Islamic faith), and not truly a Biblical believer (he does "claim" to be a "practicing" Christian), as he wanted voters to think "before" the 2008 election for U.S. President, ... well, the article link, below, should help you learn what you need to know -- the truth.
http://carylmatrisciana.com/x2/content/view/72/108/
As with everything in life, please read it with discernment and spiritual understanding.
I don't hate this man! I pray for him!!
He has been deceived, as we all were, at one time, ... that is, if we are now true, Biblical believers in The One, True (and Only-begotten) Son of The Almighty, The I AM, YHVH (Jehovah) God, The God of Israel, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov).
He needs our prayers!
(He does not even use his legal name! And he will not prove that he legally changed his name to the one he now uses to sign legislation that, when enacted, affects every citizen living in the U.S., as well as those who are living in the U.S. illegally.)
Once again, Caryl Matrisciana has done a thorough job of pulling together many facts! I thank God for this woman! She does not have to share all this information for free. But she does. She just wants other people to know the truth.
When we know The Truth, it will make us free!
But "The Truth" (with capital letters) is a Person -- The Lord Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Those are not just words. They "are" the truth!
(but my readers should know that)
If you do not know that to be true, then please do a search, online, using the word "Bible" (using a capital letter). When Blue Letter Bible comes up, as a site to choose, choose it. Then, go to the "book" of John, and read chapter 14, verse 6. Then, read as much around it as you wish.
The Lord wants everyone to know He loves them and is ready to accept them as His children, His followers, His friends, if they will learn about Him, then respond to His offer of the free gift of deliverance from the penalty and punishment for their sins and iniquities, and from the power of sin ... to a new, free life "in Him."
That new life will lead them into realms of glory and Joy (beyond our imagination) that we can only say we will get to enjoy for eternity! He will share His inheritance with us all! But only with those who will call upon His Name, in faith and in truth (genuinely, sincerely), believing in Him as the True Son of YHVH God, Who was born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, Israel, of the tribe of Yehudah (Judah), and lived and suffered and died a cruel, shameful death (He was innocent of all charges; He never sinned!) on a Roman execution stake.
Yet, He said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," while He was dying on what most call "the cross." Then, He rose again the third day after He died (yes, he was fully dead). He appeared to more than 500 people, at once (one day, at one time).
He met with His 12 disciples and others, over a period of 40 days, after He arose from the dead. Then He ascended into Heaven, into a cloud, from the Mount of Olives, and ... that is where He will return, again, one day.
If you have any questions about what I have shared here, about this Man and His Life He lived on earth, or about His Resurrection from the dead, ... in fulfillment of the prophets' words that are in the Old Covenant (some call the Old Testament), ... please visit http://www.lifeinthebible.org/
You may read what is there, and contact the owner of that site. You should, soon, receive a very helpful reply.
May The Lord Almighty fill your days with His Grace and Peace!
He loves you!
Will you return His Love? His Love is unconditional.
http://carylmatrisciana.com/x2/content/view/72/108/
As with everything in life, please read it with discernment and spiritual understanding.
I don't hate this man! I pray for him!!
He has been deceived, as we all were, at one time, ... that is, if we are now true, Biblical believers in The One, True (and Only-begotten) Son of The Almighty, The I AM, YHVH (Jehovah) God, The God of Israel, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov).
He needs our prayers!
(He does not even use his legal name! And he will not prove that he legally changed his name to the one he now uses to sign legislation that, when enacted, affects every citizen living in the U.S., as well as those who are living in the U.S. illegally.)
Once again, Caryl Matrisciana has done a thorough job of pulling together many facts! I thank God for this woman! She does not have to share all this information for free. But she does. She just wants other people to know the truth.
When we know The Truth, it will make us free!
But "The Truth" (with capital letters) is a Person -- The Lord Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Those are not just words. They "are" the truth!
(but my readers should know that)
If you do not know that to be true, then please do a search, online, using the word "Bible" (using a capital letter). When Blue Letter Bible comes up, as a site to choose, choose it. Then, go to the "book" of John, and read chapter 14, verse 6. Then, read as much around it as you wish.
The Lord wants everyone to know He loves them and is ready to accept them as His children, His followers, His friends, if they will learn about Him, then respond to His offer of the free gift of deliverance from the penalty and punishment for their sins and iniquities, and from the power of sin ... to a new, free life "in Him."
That new life will lead them into realms of glory and Joy (beyond our imagination) that we can only say we will get to enjoy for eternity! He will share His inheritance with us all! But only with those who will call upon His Name, in faith and in truth (genuinely, sincerely), believing in Him as the True Son of YHVH God, Who was born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, Israel, of the tribe of Yehudah (Judah), and lived and suffered and died a cruel, shameful death (He was innocent of all charges; He never sinned!) on a Roman execution stake.
Yet, He said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," while He was dying on what most call "the cross." Then, He rose again the third day after He died (yes, he was fully dead). He appeared to more than 500 people, at once (one day, at one time).
He met with His 12 disciples and others, over a period of 40 days, after He arose from the dead. Then He ascended into Heaven, into a cloud, from the Mount of Olives, and ... that is where He will return, again, one day.
If you have any questions about what I have shared here, about this Man and His Life He lived on earth, or about His Resurrection from the dead, ... in fulfillment of the prophets' words that are in the Old Covenant (some call the Old Testament), ... please visit http://www.lifeinthebible.org/
You may read what is there, and contact the owner of that site. You should, soon, receive a very helpful reply.
May The Lord Almighty fill your days with His Grace and Peace!
He loves you!
Will you return His Love? His Love is unconditional.
please read this & pray for this young lady, now!
This link, below, should take you to a very helpful article about the now-endangered life of a young believer we have all become aware of -- Rifqa Bary. Her life is more in danger than it was before! Her parents lied. CAIR lied.
And if you would please pray for this young lady, for God's special protection on her physical, mental, emotional life, as well as asking God to use whatever He allows to happen to be used to bring the most glory to His Holy Name, I sure would appreciate it.
http://carylmatrisciana.com/x2/content/view/163/1/
I trust this source. Caryl Matrisciana is a trustworthy source of informative and educational information on many topics.
For now, I hope this might direct you in how to pray for this young lady.
I know she will thank you, when we all meet in Heaven, one day.
I trust that for her ... that she will get to meet The Lord in the air,
with the rest of us. (well, me, anyway)
God bless you all !
And if you would please pray for this young lady, for God's special protection on her physical, mental, emotional life, as well as asking God to use whatever He allows to happen to be used to bring the most glory to His Holy Name, I sure would appreciate it.
http://carylmatrisciana.com/x2/content/view/163/1/
I trust this source. Caryl Matrisciana is a trustworthy source of informative and educational information on many topics.
For now, I hope this might direct you in how to pray for this young lady.
I know she will thank you, when we all meet in Heaven, one day.
I trust that for her ... that she will get to meet The Lord in the air,
with the rest of us. (well, me, anyway)
God bless you all !
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Beware! -- a telephone "scam!" Don't call 809 area codes!
The link to the Snopes.com website should take you to their webpage that shares about a "telephone scam" (as I call it) that you need to be aware of!
Please go there and read about it.
Do "not" reply by email or call back any phone messages on your answering machine, or that you answer yourself, to any "809" area code!
Thanks to Snopes, we know this is a scam.
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/809.asp
May God bless the folks at Snopes.com !
Please go there and read about it.
Do "not" reply by email or call back any phone messages on your answering machine, or that you answer yourself, to any "809" area code!
Thanks to Snopes, we know this is a scam.
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/809.asp
May God bless the folks at Snopes.com !
my version of persevering, for now
Below is my post related to Sarah Joy Albrecht's "January Giveaway: Learning Perseverance From Making Tamagoyaki" -- Please go to Sarah's website to enter her January giveaway! You only have one day left! I only just found out about it, today! Hurry! ;o)
http://www.sarahjoyalbrecht.com/2010/01/20/january-giveaway-learning-perseverance-from-making-tamagoyaki/comment-page-1/#comment-3349
The Lord has been teaching me perseverance in many ways. He has allowed our family to be pruned by Him, for good and for God's glory (I trust; whether or not we give glory to God depends on whether or not we choose to show an attitude, and actions, of submission to our Lord's and Redeemer's Will). He has richly and generously blessed us. His riches are not of this world. They last into eternity. Souls last. His riches include wisdom, spiritual understanding, and the knowledge of His Will, and the knowledge of "The Holy."
The Lord has allowed us the opportunities He knows He can enable us to endure and overcome, by challenging situations that most would call "impossible." He likes to show Himself strong on our behalf. So, though I see my response to these "opportunities" as perseverance, He wants me to learn, by them, to trust Him more than my mind may understand how He can deliver me (or us) out of them.
We have had to change some priorities in our lives and, yet, have been learning, for quite a long time, that life is about serving others, and by that, serving The Lord. I was not born to "enjoy" life on earth. It is a journey of mine, as a stranger on earth, ... on The Lord's Way (for me) to Heaven, my true Home. Hallelujah!
We have chosen to walk the narrow-er road some call ministry. Our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), lived a life of serving others, ... teaching, healing, helping, delivering, encouraging, inspiring, leading, ... then, being rejected, despised, hated, ignored, ... then, suffering (horribly; He was innocent!) and a shameful death on a Roman execution stake (for "my" sins!!!! He had nothing worthy of death. I had! He took my sins upon Himself, and took the punishment I deserved!), ... then, He rose again to new life in His spiritual Body. So, I'd suppose that what we do (as a family) could be called following, or serving-while-training. We are learning how to live as our Lord lived. He did without some things, yet was rich in so many ways that could not be counted with a thousand fingers!
We do not depend on corporations, any longer, to provide a way for bills to be paid. A believer, who loves us, ... helps us with that. Praise The Lord! Persevering in serving is a lesson I'm learning. If I get my focus off of the serving part, I begin to wonder about some things that God has not commanded me to wonder about. He wants me to trust Him above all!
We have no regular financial support for a teaching ministry we began, over 3 years ago. God has provided a means of support, but I believe God wants us to continue seeking His Will for how He wants His Name glorified through the provision He'd like to bring forth. ;o)
If we're doing God's work in God's way, as Hudson Taylor said, a good while back, it will not lack God's provision. (my wording)
God wants us to continue doing the work He has put before us to do. He continues to give us ideas for many things, some of which He will bring to fruition, if those will bring glory to Him, by drawing others to His Son, Yeshua (Jesus).
That might include serving local folks through a food pantry we've been asked to take charge of. It might include ministering to older folks whose health is not as good as they wish it was.
It might include ministering to folks whose lives have been forever altered, through no fault of their own.
It might include encouraging other believers through singing music, in harmony, without musical accompaniment, as a group of 7 (or 8), ... and we know that if the sound uplifts the hearers, it could only have been accomplished by God Himself, the Master Maker and Glorifier of all music.
(I mean, music was first designed by God, Elohim! He made it to be used to glorify Him and praise His Name! Music that does not do that is worthless.)
Whether we get paid a regular income, or not, for what we do, each day or week, is more important to God, my Father, than it is to us. He is more concerned and busy about us having "enough" than we are! It is His responsibility to provide for His children, so ... I need not worry or fret. (though I forget and do that, at times)
Persevering, while living this way, can be a challenge. My emotions can take turns in the wrong direction. (!) But God's Word, that He has stored in my "heart," steps in and replaces my wrong thoughts, and brings me up out of the low place that the enemy of my soul would like to hold me. Satan cannot hold me. I am The Lord's! He says I am His child! He loves me with an everlasting Love and no power anywhere can overcome His Love for me! (Nothing can separate me from The Love of God, which is in Messiah Yeshua, my Lord! -- from Romans 8:35-39)
God's help, hope, peace and provision never ends!! He supports us as we choose to do what pleases Him! He has unlimited resources! He uses other believers who befriend us and relatives who show their care and love for us in many ways. The Lord has upheld us through many times of "my wondering...." God, alone, has enabled us to continue! He is faithful to remember. We are learning He alone can sustain us. We are still looking for ways to support a ministry such as ours. Doing this on a human level can be quite a challenge! We choose to focus on the serving part, rather than on the support-seeking part. That way, we're not thinking with our fleshly minds, trying to figure out "how to get money to do the next step," but working with our hands and hearts, as we believe God wants us to do. We're trying to live by faith.
Our Father in Heaven has done miracles! He has brought new, Godly friends to help us along, encouraging and praying for us so kindly and faithfully! He has shown us ways to stretch our food provisions as we never had to, before. But this has been good! Now, we can help others to do the same thing. God wanted to improve our health and used what I called "a lack" to do some good work in that direction. ;o) He also helped me learn to be more grateful to Him, for whatever He lets us use or have, to eat and otherwise.
When I wondered how we would get through the coming week or month, in a way that I believed would glorify The Lord's Name, God would come through in a way I had not thought of!
When I was not trusting Him for all things (temporarily) and was letting my emotions get the best of me, He was right there to comfort, and then renew me with His Word, and by His Spirit bringing to my mind verses He had enabled me to store in my mind / heart. He gave me lots of hugs! I need lots of hugs!!
When I was ungrateful for what He was allowing to occur, He reassured me that He still loved me and wanted me to remember that He would bless me as I submitted my will and thoughts to His, and that He would restore what the enemy was trying to destroy.
When I did not keep my focus on Him, and what He had shown me through multiplied evidences of His protection, His care, His deliverance, His healing, His blessings and His provision, He brought my spiritual eyes back to see things from His perspective! How humbling!!
Though we are still unemployed (from the world's perspective), He has enabled me to overlook that, as often as possible, and to look forward to the many ministry duties (to help our pastor) He has us doing, each week, throughout this long period of time, ... while He provides just enough to get us to places where we are sharing His Love, in action. He is faithful! Will I choose to be faithful, also?
We have seen Him provide what's needed to reach out to others who are in situations they also cannot change, medically, physically, financially, and ... He is persevering in showing me mercy, lovingkindness, patience and His faithfulness.
What can I do but thank Him? ... and persevere through the things He allows to happen.
They're all lessons to prepare me for further service! I've seen Him do things that show me I need only "ask" or "cry out to God" for what is (truly) needed. He *does* answer!
And He begins bringing the answer to our "cries" immediately, as we pray. The manifestation of answers to my prayers may take awhile. But He has to send forth His angels to do the battling in the heavenlies, before I see the results, on earth. (see Daniel 10: 9-21)
Praise The Lord, He has done this for me! And I know He is doing it for so many believers, who are crying out to The Lord for deliverance, help and healing! He did it for our childrens' granddad, their aunt and their other aunt! (and more)
His mercy endures all that I've put Him through!
I can let Him enable me to endure all that He will use for His glory, that He lets me go through!
His longsuffering and patience with me has been used by The Lord to teach me good lessons He has wanted me to learn for a good while! Thanks be to God! His patient Love for me will continue forever! Hallelujah!!
Persevering? Is He the only One persevering? Or will I persevere, ... for the glory that is due to His Blessed Name? Baruch haShem Adonai Elohenu! Baruch ha Shem Adonai Yeshua, Melech ha Olam! (Blessed be The Name of The Lord God! Blessed be The Name of The Lord Jesus, King eternal, The King of the universe!)
The Lord is Mighty, indeed!
I will persevere! He is re-making me into the image of His Dear Son! He cannot fail!
(see Romans 8:29)
Colossians 1:12-23a is a blessed passage that God has used to help me get through some trying times, while He's teaching me perseverance.
Ephesians 1:5 and Galatians 4:4-7 shares that we are sons (children) of God, also, by adoption. Hallelujah! What a great reason to persevere! (for Him only!)
http://www.sarahjoyalbrecht.com/2010/01/20/january-giveaway-learning-perseverance-from-making-tamagoyaki/comment-page-1/#comment-3349
The Lord has been teaching me perseverance in many ways. He has allowed our family to be pruned by Him, for good and for God's glory (I trust; whether or not we give glory to God depends on whether or not we choose to show an attitude, and actions, of submission to our Lord's and Redeemer's Will). He has richly and generously blessed us. His riches are not of this world. They last into eternity. Souls last. His riches include wisdom, spiritual understanding, and the knowledge of His Will, and the knowledge of "The Holy."
The Lord has allowed us the opportunities He knows He can enable us to endure and overcome, by challenging situations that most would call "impossible." He likes to show Himself strong on our behalf. So, though I see my response to these "opportunities" as perseverance, He wants me to learn, by them, to trust Him more than my mind may understand how He can deliver me (or us) out of them.
We have had to change some priorities in our lives and, yet, have been learning, for quite a long time, that life is about serving others, and by that, serving The Lord. I was not born to "enjoy" life on earth. It is a journey of mine, as a stranger on earth, ... on The Lord's Way (for me) to Heaven, my true Home. Hallelujah!
We have chosen to walk the narrow-er road some call ministry. Our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), lived a life of serving others, ... teaching, healing, helping, delivering, encouraging, inspiring, leading, ... then, being rejected, despised, hated, ignored, ... then, suffering (horribly; He was innocent!) and a shameful death on a Roman execution stake (for "my" sins!!!! He had nothing worthy of death. I had! He took my sins upon Himself, and took the punishment I deserved!), ... then, He rose again to new life in His spiritual Body. So, I'd suppose that what we do (as a family) could be called following, or serving-while-training. We are learning how to live as our Lord lived. He did without some things, yet was rich in so many ways that could not be counted with a thousand fingers!
We do not depend on corporations, any longer, to provide a way for bills to be paid. A believer, who loves us, ... helps us with that. Praise The Lord! Persevering in serving is a lesson I'm learning. If I get my focus off of the serving part, I begin to wonder about some things that God has not commanded me to wonder about. He wants me to trust Him above all!
We have no regular financial support for a teaching ministry we began, over 3 years ago. God has provided a means of support, but I believe God wants us to continue seeking His Will for how He wants His Name glorified through the provision He'd like to bring forth. ;o)
If we're doing God's work in God's way, as Hudson Taylor said, a good while back, it will not lack God's provision. (my wording)
God wants us to continue doing the work He has put before us to do. He continues to give us ideas for many things, some of which He will bring to fruition, if those will bring glory to Him, by drawing others to His Son, Yeshua (Jesus).
That might include serving local folks through a food pantry we've been asked to take charge of. It might include ministering to older folks whose health is not as good as they wish it was.
It might include ministering to folks whose lives have been forever altered, through no fault of their own.
It might include encouraging other believers through singing music, in harmony, without musical accompaniment, as a group of 7 (or 8), ... and we know that if the sound uplifts the hearers, it could only have been accomplished by God Himself, the Master Maker and Glorifier of all music.
(I mean, music was first designed by God, Elohim! He made it to be used to glorify Him and praise His Name! Music that does not do that is worthless.)
Whether we get paid a regular income, or not, for what we do, each day or week, is more important to God, my Father, than it is to us. He is more concerned and busy about us having "enough" than we are! It is His responsibility to provide for His children, so ... I need not worry or fret. (though I forget and do that, at times)
Persevering, while living this way, can be a challenge. My emotions can take turns in the wrong direction. (!) But God's Word, that He has stored in my "heart," steps in and replaces my wrong thoughts, and brings me up out of the low place that the enemy of my soul would like to hold me. Satan cannot hold me. I am The Lord's! He says I am His child! He loves me with an everlasting Love and no power anywhere can overcome His Love for me! (Nothing can separate me from The Love of God, which is in Messiah Yeshua, my Lord! -- from Romans 8:35-39)
God's help, hope, peace and provision never ends!! He supports us as we choose to do what pleases Him! He has unlimited resources! He uses other believers who befriend us and relatives who show their care and love for us in many ways. The Lord has upheld us through many times of "my wondering...." God, alone, has enabled us to continue! He is faithful to remember. We are learning He alone can sustain us. We are still looking for ways to support a ministry such as ours. Doing this on a human level can be quite a challenge! We choose to focus on the serving part, rather than on the support-seeking part. That way, we're not thinking with our fleshly minds, trying to figure out "how to get money to do the next step," but working with our hands and hearts, as we believe God wants us to do. We're trying to live by faith.
Our Father in Heaven has done miracles! He has brought new, Godly friends to help us along, encouraging and praying for us so kindly and faithfully! He has shown us ways to stretch our food provisions as we never had to, before. But this has been good! Now, we can help others to do the same thing. God wanted to improve our health and used what I called "a lack" to do some good work in that direction. ;o) He also helped me learn to be more grateful to Him, for whatever He lets us use or have, to eat and otherwise.
When I wondered how we would get through the coming week or month, in a way that I believed would glorify The Lord's Name, God would come through in a way I had not thought of!
When I was not trusting Him for all things (temporarily) and was letting my emotions get the best of me, He was right there to comfort, and then renew me with His Word, and by His Spirit bringing to my mind verses He had enabled me to store in my mind / heart. He gave me lots of hugs! I need lots of hugs!!
When I was ungrateful for what He was allowing to occur, He reassured me that He still loved me and wanted me to remember that He would bless me as I submitted my will and thoughts to His, and that He would restore what the enemy was trying to destroy.
When I did not keep my focus on Him, and what He had shown me through multiplied evidences of His protection, His care, His deliverance, His healing, His blessings and His provision, He brought my spiritual eyes back to see things from His perspective! How humbling!!
Though we are still unemployed (from the world's perspective), He has enabled me to overlook that, as often as possible, and to look forward to the many ministry duties (to help our pastor) He has us doing, each week, throughout this long period of time, ... while He provides just enough to get us to places where we are sharing His Love, in action. He is faithful! Will I choose to be faithful, also?
We have seen Him provide what's needed to reach out to others who are in situations they also cannot change, medically, physically, financially, and ... He is persevering in showing me mercy, lovingkindness, patience and His faithfulness.
What can I do but thank Him? ... and persevere through the things He allows to happen.
They're all lessons to prepare me for further service! I've seen Him do things that show me I need only "ask" or "cry out to God" for what is (truly) needed. He *does* answer!
And He begins bringing the answer to our "cries" immediately, as we pray. The manifestation of answers to my prayers may take awhile. But He has to send forth His angels to do the battling in the heavenlies, before I see the results, on earth. (see Daniel 10: 9-21)
Praise The Lord, He has done this for me! And I know He is doing it for so many believers, who are crying out to The Lord for deliverance, help and healing! He did it for our childrens' granddad, their aunt and their other aunt! (and more)
His mercy endures all that I've put Him through!
I can let Him enable me to endure all that He will use for His glory, that He lets me go through!
His longsuffering and patience with me has been used by The Lord to teach me good lessons He has wanted me to learn for a good while! Thanks be to God! His patient Love for me will continue forever! Hallelujah!!
Persevering? Is He the only One persevering? Or will I persevere, ... for the glory that is due to His Blessed Name? Baruch haShem Adonai Elohenu! Baruch ha Shem Adonai Yeshua, Melech ha Olam! (Blessed be The Name of The Lord God! Blessed be The Name of The Lord Jesus, King eternal, The King of the universe!)
The Lord is Mighty, indeed!
I will persevere! He is re-making me into the image of His Dear Son! He cannot fail!
(see Romans 8:29)
Colossians 1:12-23a is a blessed passage that God has used to help me get through some trying times, while He's teaching me perseverance.
Ephesians 1:5 and Galatians 4:4-7 shares that we are sons (children) of God, also, by adoption. Hallelujah! What a great reason to persevere! (for Him only!)
from the heart (my "right" heart, my renewed mind, my humbled soul)
The Lord has really been "working" on my heart! -- By the word "heart," I am referring to my "right" heart (my terminology, again), that He has renewed and is delivering, daily, from its old ways of thinking (my soul: which includes my mind, my will and my emotions). Realizing my terminology contains errors, if you're still with me, you may read on at your own risk. (Maybe, Noah Webster would not have appreciated a dictionary I might have put together, had I lived, as he did, in the 1700 to 1800s -- 1758 - 1843; he worked as an educator, who had studied law at Yale University, first. And he is known also as America's first lexicographer, as well as a journalist, textbook author and spelling reformer. Do you know what was the year in which Mr. Webster published his first dictionary of the English language? I didn't. But you can do an online search and learn this!)
To explain a bit, ... using the word "heart" to mean, in my case, more than just what motivates me to accomplish a task or speak a thought, ... I would say my use of this word would include the concepts of the believer's mind. I'd consider my will to be my "choose-r." And I'd consider my emotions to be my feelings, my impulses, my passions, my affections, ... though I'd consider my attitude to come from my spirit, but it being affected by my heart and what it is motivated to "compel" me to do.
If you're still with me, let's move on to the next thought from my "heart." My "right" heart, motivating me to learn more, and grow closer, to my Lord I love and am drawn toward, to obey and serve Him, ... urges me to focus, as I begin my day, to praise Him, in both song and prayer. It also urges me to think thoughts that are about things which are "true, ... honest, ... just, ... pure, ... lovely, ... of good report," and which are virtuous and worthy of praise. (taken from Philippians 4:8) Right away, as my day begins, I become aware that wrong thoughts and wrong motives try to sidetrack me from reaching God's best for the day. As soon as I am aware of those derailing engines, as God has taught me to do, I'm (learning to be) choosing to speak a verse that my Lord brings to my mind, to resist the wrong thought and replace it with a thought that pleases my Lord. It works! Hallelujah! (spoken with an enthusiastic shout!)
As God works on my "heart," He keeps tugging at the part of my heart that still wants to motivate me to worry, or become anxious, regarding meeting the demands of a world system of thinking that proposes that women are the ones who tend to worry, or get upset, or anxious, ... or fearful. But as a true believer in my Lord, Who made heaven and earth, and controls and maintains all things in His creation (which includes the entire universe and all that is required to keep it going, enable the wind to blow properly, the rocks to hold together and not suddenly burst apart, and continues to provide water to come from springs under the ground layers, and ... provide water that flows down brooks, into streams, from creeks, into rivers, and then into larger rivers, and then, in the ocean. Do we run out of water? No! He renews it, and brings it forth, again, so that those He loves will have access to water they need to water crops, give to their children, and give to their animals, besides its other, many uses), ... as a believer, ... my Father in Heaven has given me all (I need) to live for Him, with Him and "in" Him.
Ephesians 1:3 shares this: "Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah), Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ (Messiah):"
(verse 4) "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love:"
II Peter 1:3 shares this: "According as His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness, through the Knowledge of Him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue:"
Though there are many good verses related to us noticing things like worry, anxiety or fear trying to "creep in" to our thoughts, or attitudes, each day, I'm citing these for now.
What I may be tempted to overlook, in those is this: The verse, just before Ephesians 1:3 and II Peter 1:3 shares this -- (Ephesians 1:2) "Grace be to you, and Peace, from God our Father, and from The Lord Jesus Christ." (Yeshua the Messiah) -- (II Peter 1:2) "Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through The Knowledge of God, and of Jesus (Yeshua) our Lord."
What blessedness, to read these verses, altogether!
I don't mean I always skip through the Bible, not usually reading verses "in order." But if we read Eph. 1:3 or II Peter 1:3 without first reading the "verse 2's," we've missed the Power God is ready to give us, each moment of each day, if only we will submit our "hearts" to His Holy Spirit's leading and promptings. He is ever with us! He "is" Emmanuel! He promised to ever remain with us, to enable us and help us "not" to worry, become anxious or fearful.
II Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of Power (dunamis), and of Love (agape), and of a sound mind." ("mind," here, in the Greek, means discipline, self-control)
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yes, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with The Right Hand of My Righteousness."
The verse just before this shares: "Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art My servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away."
(also, please read & pray, asking God to bless you with what is in Ephesians 3:16 and any verses around that one!)
Seeing that verses we seem to remember are preceded by verses that remind us of more thoughts God thinks toward us (as He mentions in Psalm 139) for our good, He seems to be reminding us that we need not worry, or wonder what next week, or next year, might bring. We need only to rest in Him. (it's a great study to read through the verses, in God's Word, that contain the word rest, when used in regard to people needing to rest in God, our El Shaddai).
He may be putting those preceding verses there to remind us He has chosen us and called us to be His, because of His Love for us, ....
Or He might have put those preceding verses there to remind us He has gone before us, to make the way He is asking us to walk in, or travel along. Since He has "made the way" for us to "walk in," He surely has worked out things so that our "walk," along that pathway, be filled with an attitude, a "heart," resting (as fully as we are able, by receiving His enablement, that I call "grace") in The One Who loves us more than we truly understand.
If He truly has not given us a spirit of fear, ... then do we realize why we are "feeling" fearful? (at times) Have we let ourselves, in the thinking we've allowed ourselves to embrace, or to ponder for awhile, slip into a trap that the enemy of our souls (satan) set for us to fall into? Have we let ourselves choose "not" to receive what God has been holding out toward us, in His Gentle, Loving Hand? It's His Grace and Peace.
Have I begun my day without stopping to thank The One Who made me and to Whom I belong for His Grace and Peace I'm receiving, at that moment, ... simply because He has offered it to me, to help me to get through that day's responsibilities (duties) ... which will include challenges, mess-ups, interruptions, distractions, and struggles? Have I "heard" His Voice? (as I begin my day)
Have I remembered that He is not the one who is trying to get me to think anxious thoughts? or to worry? My Lord has given me His rest! I must simply accept it! He smiles, I imagine, whenever I just reach forth the hands of my heart toward His open Hands, to receive the Grace and Peace He is ready to give to me.
He rejoices! (when we obey and receive the blessings and the help He offers us, each moment)
I leave you with these two verses that are separated by at least one chapter, but they have blessed me, and do seem to have a strong connection in the ideas they share:
Isaiah 30:15 "For thus saith The Lord God, The Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:...."
Isaiah 32:17 "And the work of Righteousness shall be Peace, and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."
The Joy of The Lord truly "can be" our strength. (from Nehemiah 8:10c) But will we allow it to be? My "will" is my "choose-r." "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is Mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with Joy; He will rest in His Love, He will Joy over thee with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)
I close this post with this truth that also inspires me and brings me back to the thinking my Lord wants me to think like: Isaiah 26:3-4 "Thou (O Lord) wilt keep him in perfect Peace, whose mind is stayed (focused) on Thee : because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in The Lord for ever: for in The Lord JEHOVAH (YHVH) is everlasting Strength:"
(by the way, please also read through the verses just before and just after these two!)
;o)
hee hee!
Let's rejoice in our Lord, to Whom nothing gets in the way, nor upsets Him in a way of causing Him to become anxious or worried, ... nor slows Him down from reaching His goals, nor makes Him wonder if He will be able to help us when we seem to be in an impossible situation, on earth.
If He is The One Who is re-making us in the image of His dear Son, then we are becoming more and more confident (in Him alone), "keeping a quiet heart," instead of a worried one, and trusting (in Him) more, and less and less in ourselves or anyone else on earth.
He is able! He can deliver you! (from anything evil) Evil cannot touch you. (your truest self -- your spirit where God's Holy Spirit indwells your spirit; it is not the same as your soul, in my understanding) (from I John 5:18)
He has all power in heaven and in earth! Nothing is too hard for Him. (Jeremiah 32: 17, 27) He holds all things together, and in Him all things consist. (from Colossians 1:16-17) Since this is true, He is able to alter any circumstance, if it will bring glory to His Holy Name. If He chooses not to do what we think or hope He will do, then He has a greater reason and a higher purpose for that suffering, or that delay, or that lack of something we thought we had to have, .... He knows.
He is listening to our cries! He is hearing our yearnings! He's been teaching me that He works when I can't see "that" with my human eyes, on bringing about the good He has intended, from the beginning, to use to bless His children, to deliver them from evil, to accomplish the salvation of all those who He knows will "love" Him back, willingly, and to heal those whose healing will bring Him glory and praise.
He has given us all the reasons we need to fully trust Him. He has proved Himself to be trustworthy.
Then, why don't I trust Him at all times? Have I received His Grace and Peace, today?
He offered them to me. (ouch!)
My Lord, and Redeemer, thank You for offering me your gifts, your blessings, your enabling power and your Loving Might! Help me, today, to receive all that You are giving me, freely! Show me what I have, in my soul, in my thoughts, in my motives, that is blocking me off from receiving Your Grace and Peace, my Father in Heaven! Thank You for hearing my prayer! You are awesome and generous! Help me keep my mind on Your Truth! Hallelujah! In Yeshua's Mighty Name. Amen.
To explain a bit, ... using the word "heart" to mean, in my case, more than just what motivates me to accomplish a task or speak a thought, ... I would say my use of this word would include the concepts of the believer's mind. I'd consider my will to be my "choose-r." And I'd consider my emotions to be my feelings, my impulses, my passions, my affections, ... though I'd consider my attitude to come from my spirit, but it being affected by my heart and what it is motivated to "compel" me to do.
If you're still with me, let's move on to the next thought from my "heart." My "right" heart, motivating me to learn more, and grow closer, to my Lord I love and am drawn toward, to obey and serve Him, ... urges me to focus, as I begin my day, to praise Him, in both song and prayer. It also urges me to think thoughts that are about things which are "true, ... honest, ... just, ... pure, ... lovely, ... of good report," and which are virtuous and worthy of praise. (taken from Philippians 4:8) Right away, as my day begins, I become aware that wrong thoughts and wrong motives try to sidetrack me from reaching God's best for the day. As soon as I am aware of those derailing engines, as God has taught me to do, I'm (learning to be) choosing to speak a verse that my Lord brings to my mind, to resist the wrong thought and replace it with a thought that pleases my Lord. It works! Hallelujah! (spoken with an enthusiastic shout!)
As God works on my "heart," He keeps tugging at the part of my heart that still wants to motivate me to worry, or become anxious, regarding meeting the demands of a world system of thinking that proposes that women are the ones who tend to worry, or get upset, or anxious, ... or fearful. But as a true believer in my Lord, Who made heaven and earth, and controls and maintains all things in His creation (which includes the entire universe and all that is required to keep it going, enable the wind to blow properly, the rocks to hold together and not suddenly burst apart, and continues to provide water to come from springs under the ground layers, and ... provide water that flows down brooks, into streams, from creeks, into rivers, and then into larger rivers, and then, in the ocean. Do we run out of water? No! He renews it, and brings it forth, again, so that those He loves will have access to water they need to water crops, give to their children, and give to their animals, besides its other, many uses), ... as a believer, ... my Father in Heaven has given me all (I need) to live for Him, with Him and "in" Him.
Ephesians 1:3 shares this: "Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah), Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ (Messiah):"
(verse 4) "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love:"
II Peter 1:3 shares this: "According as His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness, through the Knowledge of Him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue:"
Though there are many good verses related to us noticing things like worry, anxiety or fear trying to "creep in" to our thoughts, or attitudes, each day, I'm citing these for now.
What I may be tempted to overlook, in those is this: The verse, just before Ephesians 1:3 and II Peter 1:3 shares this -- (Ephesians 1:2) "Grace be to you, and Peace, from God our Father, and from The Lord Jesus Christ." (Yeshua the Messiah) -- (II Peter 1:2) "Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through The Knowledge of God, and of Jesus (Yeshua) our Lord."
What blessedness, to read these verses, altogether!
I don't mean I always skip through the Bible, not usually reading verses "in order." But if we read Eph. 1:3 or II Peter 1:3 without first reading the "verse 2's," we've missed the Power God is ready to give us, each moment of each day, if only we will submit our "hearts" to His Holy Spirit's leading and promptings. He is ever with us! He "is" Emmanuel! He promised to ever remain with us, to enable us and help us "not" to worry, become anxious or fearful.
II Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of Power (dunamis), and of Love (agape), and of a sound mind." ("mind," here, in the Greek, means discipline, self-control)
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yes, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with The Right Hand of My Righteousness."
The verse just before this shares: "Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art My servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away."
(also, please read & pray, asking God to bless you with what is in Ephesians 3:16 and any verses around that one!)
Seeing that verses we seem to remember are preceded by verses that remind us of more thoughts God thinks toward us (as He mentions in Psalm 139) for our good, He seems to be reminding us that we need not worry, or wonder what next week, or next year, might bring. We need only to rest in Him. (it's a great study to read through the verses, in God's Word, that contain the word rest, when used in regard to people needing to rest in God, our El Shaddai).
He may be putting those preceding verses there to remind us He has chosen us and called us to be His, because of His Love for us, ....
Or He might have put those preceding verses there to remind us He has gone before us, to make the way He is asking us to walk in, or travel along. Since He has "made the way" for us to "walk in," He surely has worked out things so that our "walk," along that pathway, be filled with an attitude, a "heart," resting (as fully as we are able, by receiving His enablement, that I call "grace") in The One Who loves us more than we truly understand.
If He truly has not given us a spirit of fear, ... then do we realize why we are "feeling" fearful? (at times) Have we let ourselves, in the thinking we've allowed ourselves to embrace, or to ponder for awhile, slip into a trap that the enemy of our souls (satan) set for us to fall into? Have we let ourselves choose "not" to receive what God has been holding out toward us, in His Gentle, Loving Hand? It's His Grace and Peace.
Have I begun my day without stopping to thank The One Who made me and to Whom I belong for His Grace and Peace I'm receiving, at that moment, ... simply because He has offered it to me, to help me to get through that day's responsibilities (duties) ... which will include challenges, mess-ups, interruptions, distractions, and struggles? Have I "heard" His Voice? (as I begin my day)
Have I remembered that He is not the one who is trying to get me to think anxious thoughts? or to worry? My Lord has given me His rest! I must simply accept it! He smiles, I imagine, whenever I just reach forth the hands of my heart toward His open Hands, to receive the Grace and Peace He is ready to give to me.
He rejoices! (when we obey and receive the blessings and the help He offers us, each moment)
I leave you with these two verses that are separated by at least one chapter, but they have blessed me, and do seem to have a strong connection in the ideas they share:
Isaiah 30:15 "For thus saith The Lord God, The Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:...."
Isaiah 32:17 "And the work of Righteousness shall be Peace, and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."
The Joy of The Lord truly "can be" our strength. (from Nehemiah 8:10c) But will we allow it to be? My "will" is my "choose-r." "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is Mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with Joy; He will rest in His Love, He will Joy over thee with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)
I close this post with this truth that also inspires me and brings me back to the thinking my Lord wants me to think like: Isaiah 26:3-4 "Thou (O Lord) wilt keep him in perfect Peace, whose mind is stayed (focused) on Thee : because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in The Lord for ever: for in The Lord JEHOVAH (YHVH) is everlasting Strength:"
(by the way, please also read through the verses just before and just after these two!)
;o)
hee hee!
Let's rejoice in our Lord, to Whom nothing gets in the way, nor upsets Him in a way of causing Him to become anxious or worried, ... nor slows Him down from reaching His goals, nor makes Him wonder if He will be able to help us when we seem to be in an impossible situation, on earth.
If He is The One Who is re-making us in the image of His dear Son, then we are becoming more and more confident (in Him alone), "keeping a quiet heart," instead of a worried one, and trusting (in Him) more, and less and less in ourselves or anyone else on earth.
He is able! He can deliver you! (from anything evil) Evil cannot touch you. (your truest self -- your spirit where God's Holy Spirit indwells your spirit; it is not the same as your soul, in my understanding) (from I John 5:18)
He has all power in heaven and in earth! Nothing is too hard for Him. (Jeremiah 32: 17, 27) He holds all things together, and in Him all things consist. (from Colossians 1:16-17) Since this is true, He is able to alter any circumstance, if it will bring glory to His Holy Name. If He chooses not to do what we think or hope He will do, then He has a greater reason and a higher purpose for that suffering, or that delay, or that lack of something we thought we had to have, .... He knows.
He is listening to our cries! He is hearing our yearnings! He's been teaching me that He works when I can't see "that" with my human eyes, on bringing about the good He has intended, from the beginning, to use to bless His children, to deliver them from evil, to accomplish the salvation of all those who He knows will "love" Him back, willingly, and to heal those whose healing will bring Him glory and praise.
He has given us all the reasons we need to fully trust Him. He has proved Himself to be trustworthy.
Then, why don't I trust Him at all times? Have I received His Grace and Peace, today?
He offered them to me. (ouch!)
My Lord, and Redeemer, thank You for offering me your gifts, your blessings, your enabling power and your Loving Might! Help me, today, to receive all that You are giving me, freely! Show me what I have, in my soul, in my thoughts, in my motives, that is blocking me off from receiving Your Grace and Peace, my Father in Heaven! Thank You for hearing my prayer! You are awesome and generous! Help me keep my mind on Your Truth! Hallelujah! In Yeshua's Mighty Name. Amen.
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