The families and people here in Tennessee have welcomed us with open arms. For that, we all are very grateful to God, our Father in Heaven!
Even the folks who do not truly 'know' The Lord Yeshua have been very gracious and friendly to us, as we share with them how they can know for sure that, when they die, they will go to Heaven, to be with God, with Yeshua the Messiah and with The Holy Spirit of God, the Ruach ha Chodesh. I have been amazed at how willing to listen most people here are, when we tell them of our Lord and Redeemer, Yeshua!
It can only be that God is making more folks 'more open' to spiritual topics, because they do continue to 'appear' in the newspapers and through other media sources. We get our "news" only from the internet and through emails others write or send to us. So, since we are not hearing all of what those folks (the lost souls, who are not aware of how much God has done for them and how much He dearly Loves them) are hearing or seeing, in what they call 'the news,' we can only figure that God may be using all the disasters in weather, all the war stories, the horrible failure of our government, of companies, of banking systems and of the government educational system in the USA ... to cause them to realize that, if God exists (and He does!), maybe they 'should' begin to be 'willing' to listen to what He wants them to hear.
We miss our beloved, long-time friends we had to move away from, in Texas, and elsewhere!
However ...
The home educating families we have met in person, since we moved, have also welcomed us with open arms!
Just this week, we have counted 5 other families who use the same home education curriculum / program we use! For us, that is a very encouraging answer to prayer! When we first moved here, we were only aware of two families. Then, when we first visited the Bible-believing, soul-winning, prayerful, faith-filled congregation where we are now members, we met one more family.
The lady through whom we met the folks we now rent this property from ... has a son whose family also use the same materials we use, to educate "their" children! We knew of her several months ago. But we only learned a few days ago, that her grown son and his wife educate their children with the same materials we are glad to be using.
And we owe our learning about those materials to some very dear friends whom God let us meet, over 16 years ago, when they invited us to attend our first Basic Seminar (formerly the Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts), in Dallas, TX -- the DelMuls! Thank you, Mary Lou and Daniel! You all have been such a blessing to us, to know!
And now, the Lord has let us learn, through another kind mom who contacted me, who also home educates her children, in a city not far from us, about two more families, who use the same materials we use! wow!
And a group of home-educating families, who meet in the city where we live (just outside of), also care enough to be using some booklets to teach and encourage their young people and children with ... which are part of a program called the Keepers of the Faith. It is a bit like a Biblical alternative to Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Many home-educating families like this program!
So, once again, God has blessed us with one more thing that I had prayed God might, if He wanted us to, allow our younger children to use, to learn some good and fun skills through using the booklets of the Keepers of the Faith, Keepers at Home and the Contenders for the Faith 'clubs.' The link for this ministry is at: http://www.keepersofthefaith.com/
Besides all that, one group of home-educating families allowed several of us to go along, on a field trip, not long after we moved here, to a waterfall, ... actually we saw two waterfalls. They were not far from the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Nestled in among the mountains, they were just there, flowing down from high hills, and then continuing to flow on and on, over larger and smaller rocks ... on down, following gravity's path to the lowest point, a river in the area.
Mini-Geography Lesson:
Am learning more and more about the rivers in this area, since we moved here. They all, on this west side of the Appalachian Mountains, flow into the Tennessee River, at some point. And that flows into the Mississippi River. It surprises me the path that the Tennessee River follows. Would have thought that the creeks, streams, small rivers and larger rivers, would flow south into the Gulf of Mexico. But there are hills far too high, south of this area, to allow for that. So, to the west, the further the Tennessee River carries water and its supply of fish and all else, the elevation continues to go down, until the water reaches the Ohio River, at Paducah, Kentucky, before the Ohio flows further west, for a short distance, and dumps its contents into the wide, old Mississippi! We sure have a lot to learn! Geography is so fun to look at, and think about. God has made this world so very interesting to study about. And He keeps us asking questions, doesn't He?!
Isaiah 57: 15 reminds us
"For thus saith The High and Lofty One (Who) inhabiteth eternity, Whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." !!
God is so generous!
He has used other folks He already knew before we came to this place, to live, to want, freely, to share with us their abundance of vegetables, as well as their time!
He has moved the hearts of folks who live in this area, and love The Lord, to gather food and other material things we can use, and pass those things on to us, to use as we are able.
Hallelujah!!!
And The Good Lord Who rules over all has seen fit to allow us, as a family, soon to share about the new ministry called the Life in the Bible Institute!
Please pray that The Almighty, Who orchestrates all the good that goes on, and allows the evil for His good purposes He can bring about, after it occurs, to use our family to do the good, in teaching, and in passing on to others the Knowledge of him and of His Word, that He has been teaching us, to turn the hearts of men ... to their Maker, Redeemer and best Friend!
The Lord YHWH bless you in all you do, as you seek His Face and as you will to do His Will, for His glory, praise and honor!
... more later ....
-- keep in touch!
Showing posts with label Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Update for the Up Hill-ies
We are still here! ;o) (big smile) Thank you for waiting for an update on what we've been doin' ... up on this hill in the mountains of northeastern Tennessee!
Here is a list: (for those who are engineers I've worked for, businessmen I've worked for, doctors I've known, former public school teachers who only wanted to be listened to, and who often were mathematics educators, as well as many who are ... non-artists, non-musicians, and otherwise prefer things to be ordered (which is a good thing!), listed (related to orderliness, and that is good!), not "conversational" (sorry guys, but some of you are that way; other men are the opposite of that way) or ... who like to listen more than they talk, and are known by some as deep thinkers. Yes, I am one who prefers to talk (only when possible and only when it is the preferred mode for relaying very important information!), rather than listen. But that comes because I have just finished reading over 2 hours' worth of information and facts from human sources, plus truths and amazing and miraculous "doings" of God Almighty, from His Word! So, I am "ready to talk!" ... now)
1. visiting congregations of true believers ... who are all quite serious about what they believe, Who they believe in, and how they plan to live out what they believe
2. ... and we found one. But that is not to say that the other choices were not also good. We just chose one, because that one will surely keep us quite busy, as one outlet for serving God and reaching out to the community as well as sharing our life testimonies of how The Lord Yeshua The Messiah brought us to the knowledge of The Truth -- that He bought our Redemption and has made full atonement for our sins, and for our sinful lives (of the past).
3. we've been singing as a family of 8, at times when others have asked us to sing, before a church congregation. We are willing to sing elsewhere. Just need to find time, during a week coming soon to a city near you, ... when one or more of us can contact "other organizations" that might be receptive to us coming to sing. I believe it may be that our dear Lord, Who bought us, and owns us, is awaiting us becoming "more professional" and "more together" as a singing family, ... so that our "sound" (overall) will show we are "ready" for singing for groups other than just churches where we are already members.
4. we've been helping with the bussed-in children's ministry, that Harvest Baptist Church has, for children who live in a nearby city, near where we are, as well as children in the city where we live. There is an outreach program that ministers to at least 30 to 40 families, and several of us have been involved in the Sunday morning "worship and Bible lesson time" with the children who are a part of this program. Our own children are also involved in it.
5. we have helped in door to door, one on one, evangelizing in neighborhoods as well as other areas. We usually pass out Gospel tracts, when we can, during the week. We meet with others, weekly, also, to go out, door to door, to share The Message of how anyone can come to "Peace" and "Reconciliation" with The Lord God and with His Son, Yeshua the Messiah, through knowing "their spiritual condition" before God, and then, through accepting the free gift, through Grace, of "redemption" and "rest" through trusting and believing in the atoning sacrifice made by The true Lamb of God, Yeshua the Messiah, Who voluntarily gave His Life, on the Roman execution stake, for our lives. Now, all we need to do is (after we have accepted His free gift, through Grace) live our lives for Him, Who loved us, when we did not love Him!
6. we have helped with the Vacation (summertime) Bible School (learning time and craft time and enjoyment time) that Harvest Baptist Church organized, during June of this year. We volunteered to:
a. plan for, and offer a list for food donations among members of the congregation, and ... then buy and prepare food for the children (and some for workers) at the VBS.
b. teach (two of us) classes of children, from age 4-5 up to age 11-12, about The Six Days of Creation ... and about Dinosaurs living at the same time as man, and being created by God Almighty on the same day as man was created (day 6) ... and about The worldwide Flood during Noah's lifetime. At least 20 children accepted Yeshua's free gift of salvation! (out of almost 60, who came) We pray God will give each one a desire to know Him better, in the days to come. And we pray their parents will allow these children to attend a Bible-believing church in this area, or ours, so they can continue to grow in their spiritual life in The Lord, each child.
c. help decorate (be in charge of decorating, as much as was desired) the classrooms, as needed, and ... to decorate any other areas used for VBS
d. help with sound during the song singing time, in the sanctuary, during VBS, as well as passing out refreshments, during class time, and to help with game time on Saturday afternoon
... more later. Time to go "share the Gospel." (out in the community)
... stay tuned !
We have, so far, been made aware of 5 other home educating families who live in this same nearby area of His world, who ... have basically the same standards as our family has become convicted of, by The Lord. We rejoice in this news! God likes His children to be encouraged! And strengthened in Him and in His Word ! And He likes His children to know all they can, that will enable their "spiritual battling" to be done effectively, through His Holy Spirit and through His mighty dunamis Power! Hallelujah!
Here is a list: (for those who are engineers I've worked for, businessmen I've worked for, doctors I've known, former public school teachers who only wanted to be listened to, and who often were mathematics educators, as well as many who are ... non-artists, non-musicians, and otherwise prefer things to be ordered (which is a good thing!), listed (related to orderliness, and that is good!), not "conversational" (sorry guys, but some of you are that way; other men are the opposite of that way) or ... who like to listen more than they talk, and are known by some as deep thinkers. Yes, I am one who prefers to talk (only when possible and only when it is the preferred mode for relaying very important information!), rather than listen. But that comes because I have just finished reading over 2 hours' worth of information and facts from human sources, plus truths and amazing and miraculous "doings" of God Almighty, from His Word! So, I am "ready to talk!" ... now)
1. visiting congregations of true believers ... who are all quite serious about what they believe, Who they believe in, and how they plan to live out what they believe
2. ... and we found one. But that is not to say that the other choices were not also good. We just chose one, because that one will surely keep us quite busy, as one outlet for serving God and reaching out to the community as well as sharing our life testimonies of how The Lord Yeshua The Messiah brought us to the knowledge of The Truth -- that He bought our Redemption and has made full atonement for our sins, and for our sinful lives (of the past).
3. we've been singing as a family of 8, at times when others have asked us to sing, before a church congregation. We are willing to sing elsewhere. Just need to find time, during a week coming soon to a city near you, ... when one or more of us can contact "other organizations" that might be receptive to us coming to sing. I believe it may be that our dear Lord, Who bought us, and owns us, is awaiting us becoming "more professional" and "more together" as a singing family, ... so that our "sound" (overall) will show we are "ready" for singing for groups other than just churches where we are already members.
4. we've been helping with the bussed-in children's ministry, that Harvest Baptist Church has, for children who live in a nearby city, near where we are, as well as children in the city where we live. There is an outreach program that ministers to at least 30 to 40 families, and several of us have been involved in the Sunday morning "worship and Bible lesson time" with the children who are a part of this program. Our own children are also involved in it.
5. we have helped in door to door, one on one, evangelizing in neighborhoods as well as other areas. We usually pass out Gospel tracts, when we can, during the week. We meet with others, weekly, also, to go out, door to door, to share The Message of how anyone can come to "Peace" and "Reconciliation" with The Lord God and with His Son, Yeshua the Messiah, through knowing "their spiritual condition" before God, and then, through accepting the free gift, through Grace, of "redemption" and "rest" through trusting and believing in the atoning sacrifice made by The true Lamb of God, Yeshua the Messiah, Who voluntarily gave His Life, on the Roman execution stake, for our lives. Now, all we need to do is (after we have accepted His free gift, through Grace) live our lives for Him, Who loved us, when we did not love Him!
6. we have helped with the Vacation (summertime) Bible School (learning time and craft time and enjoyment time) that Harvest Baptist Church organized, during June of this year. We volunteered to:
a. plan for, and offer a list for food donations among members of the congregation, and ... then buy and prepare food for the children (and some for workers) at the VBS.
b. teach (two of us) classes of children, from age 4-5 up to age 11-12, about The Six Days of Creation ... and about Dinosaurs living at the same time as man, and being created by God Almighty on the same day as man was created (day 6) ... and about The worldwide Flood during Noah's lifetime. At least 20 children accepted Yeshua's free gift of salvation! (out of almost 60, who came) We pray God will give each one a desire to know Him better, in the days to come. And we pray their parents will allow these children to attend a Bible-believing church in this area, or ours, so they can continue to grow in their spiritual life in The Lord, each child.
c. help decorate (be in charge of decorating, as much as was desired) the classrooms, as needed, and ... to decorate any other areas used for VBS
d. help with sound during the song singing time, in the sanctuary, during VBS, as well as passing out refreshments, during class time, and to help with game time on Saturday afternoon
... more later. Time to go "share the Gospel." (out in the community)
... stay tuned !
We have, so far, been made aware of 5 other home educating families who live in this same nearby area of His world, who ... have basically the same standards as our family has become convicted of, by The Lord. We rejoice in this news! God likes His children to be encouraged! And strengthened in Him and in His Word ! And He likes His children to know all they can, that will enable their "spiritual battling" to be done effectively, through His Holy Spirit and through His mighty dunamis Power! Hallelujah!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
new location for ministry and home ed
from a message on April 13, 2008
We have arrived in northeastern Tennessee !Friends,
The good Lord has allowed us to arrive all safely and well. We drove four vehicles here, and only in one was there an extra driver. Yet, God in His Mercy, enabled us all to drive all the way, with brief breaks, and even allowing us enough time to pick up Aaron's belongings he already had at No Greater Joy's ministry (where he has served and worked for the year before our move). We arrived just after midnight, on Thursday, April 4. That night, we drove all 4 vehicles up a very wet gravel-covered dirt driveway, from the heavy rains on April 3 and 4. The hillside driveway is an incline at about 30 to 35 degrees ... rather steep, for two medium- to large-size rental moving trucks. hee hee! We prayed all the way up. And we were quite concerned, when we could not direct the larger truck, especially, to a place that was very level, for the unloading the next day. But we trusted the Lord our Heavenly Father, Who reigns over and directs all things, would take care of it through the night, and would help us move it just a bit on Friday. So, we went to sleep in the living room area, on the floor, with our sleeping bags, quilts and blankets, and pillows. The water and electricity was on, so that was a wonderful answer to prayer. (the landlords had told us about that, so we had all we needed, that night) Oh, the heating and cooling is off, and was off when we moved in, due to the landlord needing to install new heat pumps. They would have been in, when we arrived, but the folks he ordered them from sent the wrong size ones, so we're waiting until the new ones arrive. In the meantime, the landlords provided us with space heaters, which we use only when it's below about 60 degrees in here, at night. During the day, it's pleasantly cool, up on this hill, so we just open the windows, turn on the ceiling fans, and we're fine.
Unloading Day: Arriving late Thursday night gave us Friday to unload the first, big truck. We gave ourselves the morning to rest up a bit, taking a break to enjoy a "slow morning," before all the "lifting and moving uphill" began. We only had phone numbers to use to contact those who had said to call them, once we arrived. I called. One was available. Another family had plans for Friday. So, one family was able to come help us unload quite a few boxes, and ... we were enabled by the Lord, "El," The Strong One, Who is our Strength and Buckler and Shield, to unload things such as washers, dryers, our oven / stove, our furniture and our ... piano. Yes! We laid it on its side, on our metal cart, and rolled it up the hill, guarded on all sides by all of us, ... up about 4 steps or so, and then into the house, through what seemed like narrow doorways, and in through the kitchen into the living room area, which is like a great room. God did it! We even got the large refrigerator we brought out of one truck and outside, covered it, from rain that was falling very lightly, all evening, ... and the next day, we moved it onto our smaller truck, to be taken to the storage place we rented, nearby.
Will have to continue this later. The sun won't wait. We're going to our second church to visit, in a short while. ... see you later ! ....
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Shalom ! Hoping this day will bring you true Peace ! ...
I John 3: 1-2
Behold, what manner of Love The Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall se Him as He is.
As you go through your day, today, my prayer for you is this: that God our Creator and Redeemer, The Lord YHWH, The Most High -- El Elyon -- will impart to you His True Knowledge, so that by His Grace, you may be enabled by Him and empowered by Him, through His Holy Spirit -- Ruach ha Kodesh -- to accomplish all the good He has ordained for you to do. May The Lord fill you afresh with His Spirit's filling, so that you overflow with His Peace-filled-ness, to all with whom you come into contact, especially those who would seek to harm or distract or destroy you.
May the protective Right Hand of The Lord YHWH, His Hand of victory He uses in battle to completely disarm, confuse, defeat, and overcome His enemies, defend you against the enemy of The Lord God, who seeks to steal, to kill and to destroy.
But God, Who is rich in Mercy and Lovingkindness, has already accomplished the complete destruction of every plan of the enemy, through the finished work of willing, whole-hearted, true sacrifice, done by His only begotten Son, Yeshua our Messiah, the Anointed One of God our Father, on the Roman execution stake, on Golgotha, just outside the walls of the city of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
He is The Man of Peace. He made Peace between God and men (women included!). Hallelujah!
II Corinthians 5: 18-19 teaches "And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Yeshua the Messiah, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: To wit, that God was in Christ (Messiah Yeshua), reconciling the world (all people who would believe) unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses (transgressions committed against His law, teaching) unto them (not condemning them as guilty); and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
He has defeated death, sin, the devil (satan), and the power of fear, of sin, of the flesh, and of death, that were over us. In II Timothy 1: 7 God says to us "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of Love, and of a sound mind." But now we are in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)! ... "in" Him! He is our Life! He is able to deliver us from every form of trouble, suffering, deceit, affliction, guilt, and the effects of both iniquity and willful disobedience (sin). And He daily delivers us from much more than we realize. That is why we can, each day, thank Him for numerous blessings and ways He has protected us, provided for our needs, and even kept us alive. Many of us are only alive today because He has decided that that is what He wants. There may be no other reason to explain why we are still on earth. He has something "else" for us to do for Him. :o)
II Corinthians 5: 20-21 reminds us "Now then we (who believe on Messiah Yeshua as the Son of God and as the propitiation for our sins) are ambassadors for Christ (Messiah), as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's (Messiah's) stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin (to carry our sin on His body) for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
All we need to do is:
cry out to Him for mercy,
agree with what His Word says we have done that transgresses God's law (His teaching and commands), admitting "I was wrong," and
asking Him if He would forgive us.
If I have broken one of God's commands, I have broken them all.
James 2: 10 shows us "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God;" as it says in Romans 3: 23 (Shaul's / Paul's letter to the Roman believers)
I John 1: 9 shows us "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just (does the right thing) to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
His Mercy does endure for ever ! And Yeshua promised, while on earth, He will never forsake us ... ever !
Psalm 66: 18 shows us "If I regard (like, approve of) iniquity in my heart, The Lord Adonai will not hear me (my prayer request):" So, I must be sure I speak sincerely as I confess to God my Father what I have done wrong, choosing in my will to see it from His perspective. Then He will cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
My desire to please and honor Him is higher, as a believer in Yeshua (Jesus Christ), than my desire to do what I want. I cannot be my own boss. I do not know all things. He does! So I choose to agree with Him, because He knows all things, and is able only to do what is right and true and good (best). And God only chastises (corrects, punishes in order to bring back into line with His righteousness and with His holy standard of living) those He loves as His own children.
Since Yeshua purchased me with His Blood He shed in my place on the Roman execution stake, I belong to God, the Father Almighty. And Yeshua is my Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, and best Friend, even my Advocate before The Father. He intercedes for me continually in Heaven, right now. He made me. He knows me better than anyone else could. And He loves me more than anyone else ever could. And He will always allow only what will do me good, or what He can turn to produce good, in my life, as long as I work with Him, and let Him work out His Will, His way in me.
My part is to respond to what He allows with the kind of humble, meek (yielding my rights to having things my way), and loving attitude of my spirit and soul that He will enable me to have, by His Grace (confident in His faithfulness and generosity that He has already demonstrated while on earth). It is only possible to do this if I am already born again, of His Spirit, by Grace, through believing trust (some call it faith). He helps me respond in the right way, then, in bad situations, if I am willing to allow Him to live His Life through me.
Galatians 2: 20 reminds me "I am crucified with Christ (Messiah Yeshua): nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ (Messiah) liveth in me: and the Life which I now live in the flesh (in this body, on earth) I live by the Faith of The Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
Life can get really hurtful, very painful, full of what seems to be unfair suffering, or mistreatment, or worse -- as our brothers and sisters in Christ in other areas of the world have found is happening to them, for their belief and trusting faith in Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) -- being persecuted for choosing to be aligned with Yeshua, God's Son.
But all evil in the world is a result of sin, and most people will reject God and His beloved Son, Yeshua, in truth. Therefore, I must realize that God will do whatever it takes to turn mens' hearts to Himself, and He will draw them to His Heart, by any means that He knows will get their attention and work (succeed). He knows best.
If my suffering will cause someone else to see The Truth, then God will use it for good. If I am blameless (having confessed all my sins, thus far), and am choosing each day to live with a heart that understands what He wants me to do, to the best of my ability, and if I am choosing to do that (be a doer of The Word, and not a hearer only -- from James 1: 22), then my life will produce the most fruit for His Kingdom.
Fruit, for a follower of Yeshua (Jesus Christ), is the souls I have let Him win into His Kingdom. Good fruit is produced as a result of my right actions, done with a right attitude, at the right time and directed (led) by the Right Person -- Yeshua the Messiah. Good works are a result of believing what God has taught me, and doing it, also. But though I may do many good works, for the right reasons, all I can bring with me into God's eternal Kingdom, when I die or Yeshua calls me up into the clouds, one day, is "fruit." (souls)
He will bring souls into His Kingdom as I humble myself, and see myself as He sees me, completely dependent upon Him for everything. And when I line up my life with His plans for my life, I show I am His. In John 15: 14 and 15, Yeshua says "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ... I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you."
And in John 15: 9 and 10, Yeshua says "As The Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My Love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My Love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His Love."
John 13: 17 shows us Yeshua saying "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
Am I following Yeshua's example of how to live? Am I forgiving those who trespass against me (and by that, against Him) before they ask me to? Am I asking God to forgive them, because they did not realize what they were doing wrong, by what they did to me? Am I taking account of what I have done wrong to others, today? Am I examining my own conscience each night, before lying down to sleep? Am I excusing my own sinful attitude, while accusing others of doing wrong to me? Am I willing to look at my life situation through the eyes of (using The Word of) God? If so, then God can work with me, and mold me into the vessel of honor He designed me to become, for His glory. This will bring me Joy.
Wow! If you made it through this, and are still "with me," you are a "keeper." Sorry -- speaking as a former fisher-woman. Grew up fishing pretty regularly, on lakes in Texas, as well as mountain streams in both New Mexico and southern Colorado. My daddy grew up on a farm, so he was familiar with fishing. My mom knew how to fish, living on a farm while growing up, also. So, we had fun, while we learned how to "keep" only the ones big enough to eat (the good ones). Life seems to be about fishing for the ones God wants us to help Him catch. But He wants to reward them, not us, by sharing the inheritance He gave His Son ... with the ones He has "delivered" from the lake (of fire). He sure paints some graphic paintings, with His words!
... stay tuned..., more later ...
Behold, what manner of Love The Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall se Him as He is.
As you go through your day, today, my prayer for you is this: that God our Creator and Redeemer, The Lord YHWH, The Most High -- El Elyon -- will impart to you His True Knowledge, so that by His Grace, you may be enabled by Him and empowered by Him, through His Holy Spirit -- Ruach ha Kodesh -- to accomplish all the good He has ordained for you to do. May The Lord fill you afresh with His Spirit's filling, so that you overflow with His Peace-filled-ness, to all with whom you come into contact, especially those who would seek to harm or distract or destroy you.
May the protective Right Hand of The Lord YHWH, His Hand of victory He uses in battle to completely disarm, confuse, defeat, and overcome His enemies, defend you against the enemy of The Lord God, who seeks to steal, to kill and to destroy.
But God, Who is rich in Mercy and Lovingkindness, has already accomplished the complete destruction of every plan of the enemy, through the finished work of willing, whole-hearted, true sacrifice, done by His only begotten Son, Yeshua our Messiah, the Anointed One of God our Father, on the Roman execution stake, on Golgotha, just outside the walls of the city of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
He is The Man of Peace. He made Peace between God and men (women included!). Hallelujah!
II Corinthians 5: 18-19 teaches "And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Yeshua the Messiah, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: To wit, that God was in Christ (Messiah Yeshua), reconciling the world (all people who would believe) unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses (transgressions committed against His law, teaching) unto them (not condemning them as guilty); and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
He has defeated death, sin, the devil (satan), and the power of fear, of sin, of the flesh, and of death, that were over us. In II Timothy 1: 7 God says to us "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of Love, and of a sound mind." But now we are in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)! ... "in" Him! He is our Life! He is able to deliver us from every form of trouble, suffering, deceit, affliction, guilt, and the effects of both iniquity and willful disobedience (sin). And He daily delivers us from much more than we realize. That is why we can, each day, thank Him for numerous blessings and ways He has protected us, provided for our needs, and even kept us alive. Many of us are only alive today because He has decided that that is what He wants. There may be no other reason to explain why we are still on earth. He has something "else" for us to do for Him. :o)
II Corinthians 5: 20-21 reminds us "Now then we (who believe on Messiah Yeshua as the Son of God and as the propitiation for our sins) are ambassadors for Christ (Messiah), as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's (Messiah's) stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin (to carry our sin on His body) for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
All we need to do is:
cry out to Him for mercy,
agree with what His Word says we have done that transgresses God's law (His teaching and commands), admitting "I was wrong," and
asking Him if He would forgive us.
If I have broken one of God's commands, I have broken them all.
James 2: 10 shows us "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God;" as it says in Romans 3: 23 (Shaul's / Paul's letter to the Roman believers)
I John 1: 9 shows us "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just (does the right thing) to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
His Mercy does endure for ever ! And Yeshua promised, while on earth, He will never forsake us ... ever !
Psalm 66: 18 shows us "If I regard (like, approve of) iniquity in my heart, The Lord Adonai will not hear me (my prayer request):" So, I must be sure I speak sincerely as I confess to God my Father what I have done wrong, choosing in my will to see it from His perspective. Then He will cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
My desire to please and honor Him is higher, as a believer in Yeshua (Jesus Christ), than my desire to do what I want. I cannot be my own boss. I do not know all things. He does! So I choose to agree with Him, because He knows all things, and is able only to do what is right and true and good (best). And God only chastises (corrects, punishes in order to bring back into line with His righteousness and with His holy standard of living) those He loves as His own children.
Since Yeshua purchased me with His Blood He shed in my place on the Roman execution stake, I belong to God, the Father Almighty. And Yeshua is my Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, and best Friend, even my Advocate before The Father. He intercedes for me continually in Heaven, right now. He made me. He knows me better than anyone else could. And He loves me more than anyone else ever could. And He will always allow only what will do me good, or what He can turn to produce good, in my life, as long as I work with Him, and let Him work out His Will, His way in me.
My part is to respond to what He allows with the kind of humble, meek (yielding my rights to having things my way), and loving attitude of my spirit and soul that He will enable me to have, by His Grace (confident in His faithfulness and generosity that He has already demonstrated while on earth). It is only possible to do this if I am already born again, of His Spirit, by Grace, through believing trust (some call it faith). He helps me respond in the right way, then, in bad situations, if I am willing to allow Him to live His Life through me.
Galatians 2: 20 reminds me "I am crucified with Christ (Messiah Yeshua): nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ (Messiah) liveth in me: and the Life which I now live in the flesh (in this body, on earth) I live by the Faith of The Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
Life can get really hurtful, very painful, full of what seems to be unfair suffering, or mistreatment, or worse -- as our brothers and sisters in Christ in other areas of the world have found is happening to them, for their belief and trusting faith in Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) -- being persecuted for choosing to be aligned with Yeshua, God's Son.
But all evil in the world is a result of sin, and most people will reject God and His beloved Son, Yeshua, in truth. Therefore, I must realize that God will do whatever it takes to turn mens' hearts to Himself, and He will draw them to His Heart, by any means that He knows will get their attention and work (succeed). He knows best.
If my suffering will cause someone else to see The Truth, then God will use it for good. If I am blameless (having confessed all my sins, thus far), and am choosing each day to live with a heart that understands what He wants me to do, to the best of my ability, and if I am choosing to do that (be a doer of The Word, and not a hearer only -- from James 1: 22), then my life will produce the most fruit for His Kingdom.
Fruit, for a follower of Yeshua (Jesus Christ), is the souls I have let Him win into His Kingdom. Good fruit is produced as a result of my right actions, done with a right attitude, at the right time and directed (led) by the Right Person -- Yeshua the Messiah. Good works are a result of believing what God has taught me, and doing it, also. But though I may do many good works, for the right reasons, all I can bring with me into God's eternal Kingdom, when I die or Yeshua calls me up into the clouds, one day, is "fruit." (souls)
He will bring souls into His Kingdom as I humble myself, and see myself as He sees me, completely dependent upon Him for everything. And when I line up my life with His plans for my life, I show I am His. In John 15: 14 and 15, Yeshua says "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ... I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you."
And in John 15: 9 and 10, Yeshua says "As The Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My Love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My Love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His Love."
John 13: 17 shows us Yeshua saying "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
Am I following Yeshua's example of how to live? Am I forgiving those who trespass against me (and by that, against Him) before they ask me to? Am I asking God to forgive them, because they did not realize what they were doing wrong, by what they did to me? Am I taking account of what I have done wrong to others, today? Am I examining my own conscience each night, before lying down to sleep? Am I excusing my own sinful attitude, while accusing others of doing wrong to me? Am I willing to look at my life situation through the eyes of (using The Word of) God? If so, then God can work with me, and mold me into the vessel of honor He designed me to become, for His glory. This will bring me Joy.
Wow! If you made it through this, and are still "with me," you are a "keeper." Sorry -- speaking as a former fisher-woman. Grew up fishing pretty regularly, on lakes in Texas, as well as mountain streams in both New Mexico and southern Colorado. My daddy grew up on a farm, so he was familiar with fishing. My mom knew how to fish, living on a farm while growing up, also. So, we had fun, while we learned how to "keep" only the ones big enough to eat (the good ones). Life seems to be about fishing for the ones God wants us to help Him catch. But He wants to reward them, not us, by sharing the inheritance He gave His Son ... with the ones He has "delivered" from the lake (of fire). He sure paints some graphic paintings, with His words!
... stay tuned..., more later ...
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