Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed
order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea
so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: Jeremiah 31:35
In the verse above and Exodus 15:11, we are reminded of the awesome
power and authority of God. When we understand this, we develop what is
known as "awe" of God. Awe is a reverential fear. This is not fear
that sends us running for a secure place to hide (as if that existed
with God). This is the type of fear that recognizes the power and
majesty of the All Might; the type of fear that produces respect for the
greatest power in the universe that loves us beyond any human
understanding. We see and understand the power of our Creator. This
can be related to the awe we had of our parents when we were young. We
recognized that they had the power to reject, reward, discipline, deny,
give and create the atmosphere of our lives.
Once we reach this
state of "awe", we want to worship and praise in gratitude - just as we
felt about our parents. When young, they controlled our entire world
and we stood in awe of the way they went about the business of work and
providing everything. In Psalm 68:35, we are told of the power of God
that He can give to us. In Isaiah 66:2, we are told of who He favors
among His people.
Our parents were proud of us and bragged on us
when we were respectful. We were rewarded when we obeyed them and did
as we were instructed. I recognized that my mother had all authority
and she demanded respect. We feared what she could do if she did not
get that respect (awe) through our disobedience. At the same time, we
were certain of her love because of the way she commanded right living.
I loved my mother, obeyed her and she returned this with love. I
respected her for her power over me and she loved me for it.
God
bestows good things, blessings, on those who who trust Him. Psalm
31:19. In Luke 1:50, we are told that proper fear of God grants us
mercy from Him. We learn in Psalm 103:11 that God loves those who love
Him. Love comes from respect, a type of awe. Isaiah 33:6 tells us that
through fear/awe of the Lord, we will be given salvation, wisdom and
knowledge as treasure.
The Lord listens to and hears those who
fear Him. Malachi 3:16-17 Proverbs 14:27 tells us we can receive
health and long life through fear of the Lord. Proverbs 19:23 goes
further to add that our life will be content and untouched by trouble
when we fear Him. Finally, we see in Proverbs 22:4 that even riches and
honor are added to our life for fearing the Lord.
How do we
stand in awe and fear the Lord? We accept His unconditional love and
grace imparted to us as a free gift through the sacrifice of His son on
the cross.
We do not have to earn this love from God; His grace is a free gift. Our sins were forgiven on the cross. Hebrews 10:12 Amen
A couple of my closest friends and I have fallen into kidnapping.
On one of our birthdays, the other two plan the day and pay all expenses to something special. (Any shopping, is at our own expense.) Lunch and fees are paid by the other two. If we take the "kidnappee" to a museum or movie, we pay for her part of the expense. We also split the expense of her lunch. We pick out the restaurant(s) and activities so it is all a big surprise to her. It happens three times a year so it does not get boring or become too routine. Since we live in a small rural town, we always go to the city or a larger town.
We have great fun: shop, eat, antique stores, museums, historical places, tourist attractions, specialty stores and movies. We always chose restaurants and activities that the birthday girl would like.
We dress up, do our hair, buy silly birthday cards and look forward to these outings.
I have come to see how important friends are. I did not make many friends when in school. I was from the wrong side of the tracks and Kennedy was "busing" us into a "higher class" neighbor to force integration. As a young adult, I was betrayed by a good friend in a way that changed the course of my life. It took 15 years before I met someone that I could trust to be a friend. I have been half way across the country from her for the past 26 years and 40 years later, we can still pick up the phone and talk as though we live next door.
After high school, I "hit the ground running", as I chased after my career. For 60 years I traveled across this country for work. Sometimes I came home just long enough to unpack, do a little new work and repack for the next show. I never knew my neighbors or made friends. My friends were casual and in various states across this country.
Since I "retired" from all my traveling, I have gradually made friends and learned to value the connection that women have. I can still count friends on one hand. You know, the ones that you trust with a secret; the ones that know the most about you and still like you.
In the later part of our lives, we need this connection. We especially need it when family takes on lives apart from ours and/or we lose a spouse. Downsizing or moving into assisted living has got to be a huge transition and makes us face the end of our story in this life.
GOOD NEWS: It ain't over 'til it's over. And, good friends can help each other weather all the transitions. We can share our stories, pictures of our grandkids, a cup of tea, our childhood, Bible study or a cool breeze on the patio in the evening. We have company to the doctor appointment, a trip to the grocery or someone to call when we need an emotional hug.
Make sure you have a friend to relate to and share time. Friendship is a precious thing that I ignored for many years.
The Bible says:
Lk 7:6 A friend will do you a service
Acts 10:24 Peter had many friends
Acts 19:31 Paul had friends who warned him
Acts 27:3 A friend can provide for you in time of need
Pro 17:17 Solomon tells us a friend can be more reliable than family
Pro 27:6 A friend will always tell you the truth
Pro 27: 9 A friend give sincere advice
Pro 27:17 Friends benefit each other
Jesus' disciples were His "inner circle", close friends. They shared food, wine, experiences, stories, difficult times and He loved them and prayed for them.
Prov 18:24 This friend is the Holy Spirit and is a great source of comfort
Lk 12:14 Jesus calls us "friend"; you cannot have a better friend
Since my husband and I will be relocating from this area we presently live in it is going to be a major adjustment to leave my friends. This has never been an issue before and it will be a major life change. Of course, we say we will visit and call but the truth is that Facebook will most likely be the main contact. My friends will find other friends and spend time with grandkids and life will take them ahead on their journey. I will find other friends, hopefully. It's just the way life is.
An old saying comes to mine: "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." This can apply to friends. The friends will be distant but the memories will loom closer than ever. And every time I remember how we laughed when we realized I had kept one footie on after leaving a shoe store and didn't discover it for hours later, I will smile to myself and say a prayer for everyone of the friends I have made on my journey.
Amen !
"My God" has made Himself personal to me:
I called on Him when I prayed "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" during my parents divorce. I was seven years old and He made His presence known to me.
He put His wings around me during the abuse I endured at the hands of a stepfather, and sent me a savior; my grandfather.
He advised me when I was molested by three teen boys at a bus stop. I was 16.
When there was disappointment over missing high school graduation, due to minor surgery, He was there holding my hand.
I held fast to Him through the loss of two children at birth.
During marriage to an alcoholic, He advised me through His spirit.
He was there to console me after the death of Grandfather, the only earthly father I have known.
An angel, in the form of a police officer, was sent when my brakes failed early one morning on busy city streets.
I prayed "Our Father" in an ambulance after a car accident. It left me with 44 stitches to my face, a broken foot and crushed vertebra, but He chose to spare my life.
Late one evening, in New York, He sent an angel to perform a miracle and save me from an assault in a public parking lot.
Again, He held my hand during surgery for malignant tumors, consoled me when I learned that I would never have children and held my hand during the hysterectomy ten years later.
I had traveled across this country for forty-five years to sell my art work. I remember dangerous driving conditions, storms in the mountains, icey roads and being lost - a lot. My God was sitting next to me in the passenger seat every inch of the way.
In Alabama, He sent an angel with yet another miracle to keep me from an auto accident with two little girls in my car.
During a time of great depression, from many wrong choices through the years, He spoke and saved me from suicide.
He has loved me from my conception, with a plan for my life. Thirty-five years ago, my God placed me in His church, changed my life and my way of thinking and, twenty-six years ago gave me my greatest earthy treasure, a husband who truly loves me.
My God bandaged emotional wounds and started the healing. He has always made Himself personal to my needs.
He sent me a healer and holds my hand every time I take a treatment for liver failure.
He stepped in to fill a huge void when my mother died and consoles a great loss, again, when my brother died young.
A compound fracture in my ankle was set without anesthetic by a strange doctor in a strange hospital in a city far from home. I was alone for surgery - except for my God.
Throughout my life, and even now, my God has been with me every minute to make sure I did not suffer more than I could bare. He has been there watching, teaching, protecting; keeping my heart, my body and my soul in His ever gentle arms.
My God took hate, fear and guilt and replaced them with joy, compassion and peace.
My God is the magnificent "I Am" who made time and space and lives on the sides of the north in the third heaven. Every existence exists in His thought. He knows every inch of every star in the universe, every grain of sand on every beach and cares enough about me to know how many hairs are on my head - He is the keeper of my soul.
My God loves, protects, blesses, teaches, comforts, heals and answers my prayers. Getting to know Him is a lifetime of joy and amazement.
The Christian life is not easy but the rewards are great.
Amen
At a recent Bible study - I won't say where (My point is not to condemn or point fingers at anyone person or church.), we were on the topic, "mystery kept hidden for ages" in Col 1:26.
This mystery being about Jesus Christ made known through the prophetic writings Ro 16:26. These prophetic writings would be Psalms and Isaiah, among other prophets.
It's all about Jesus; the Old Testament and the New. The Old Testament leads to and points at His coming. The New Testament is about that life and death and the second coming. Yes! Jesus. All Christians know this much. No problem in the Bible study group. So why is it called a mystery?
Let me back up by saying that this revelation is a bit new to me. I never could understand the writings of Paul until I understood this "mystery", which has been made clear to me in the recent couple years. Then, Paul's writings took on so much meaning. I have been in church for many (many) years. A couple years back, I really stuck my nose into "the book". I purchased a Hebrew Bible with translation and have learned more in the past two years than in my other sixty-nine. I am so thrilled with what I am seeing that I want to study 24/7.
The "mystery" is the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. Again, something all Christians understand: Jesus took our sins upon Himself so we might be free of sin. Let's pause and think about that statement for a minute. Jesus took our sins on Himself. All of them; past, present and future. After all, He is the beginning and the end. We are free of sin. FREE of sin; past, present and future. How does that work?
This plan of redemption is: grace trumps the 10 commandments. There, I said it. I said it in that Bible study and really opened a can of worms. People were demanding I show a verse that states this fact. Well, there is none. No one verse that specifically states "the ten commandments are done away with through Jesus". You have to read and search out answers; we are told to "seek and find", "knock and the door will be opened". I went home in shock. Shouldn't have because, until two years ago, this was new to me. I had come to believe that I was the odd man out for years - the only one who did not understand grace over the 10 commandments, the "law". I thought every believer knew. Now I am thinking there are more people out there walking a fine line of me or God, self centered or God centered, I do or God gives, law of stone or grace of God.
I always thought "the law" meant the temple laws, the sacrificial laws. Not so. Bible refers to the 10 commandments as "the law written on stone". Ex 24:12, Ex 31:18, Ex 34:4 Paul constantly refers to law versus grace.
There is nothing wrong with the Ten Commandments. They are perfect; perfect law of God. Only a God can keep them. They were broken before they were given on Sinai and through to the end of the Old Testament. They are still broken today by good Christians everywhere. God knew when He gave these laws that they could not be kept by mortals. (Satan himself, as a high ranking spirit being, could not keep them.) God had the plan of redemption (the great mystery) in mind when He gave the laws.
You cannot go through life and keep the letter of the law. Example, stealing: ever cheat on income taxes? Ever keep the wrong change from a store clerk? Example, false witness (lying): Ever stretch the truth to save the feelings of a friend? Lie! Ever exaggerate a story? Lie! Ever wish someone dead in your mind? Murder! Ever admire a friend's spouse in a lustful way? Adultery! Do you go to church on Sunday? Sabbath! Do you value your children over God? Idolatry! Jesus explained in the Beatitudes that even thinking against the law is breaking it. The "law" can't be kept. We all break the law on a daily basis in thought and/or deed.
Here's the Good News (gospel means "good news"): We don't have to keep the law "written on stone". Jesus brought new law: "Love your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself". Then, Jesus took all our sins (past, present and future) on Himself, once and for all. (Ro 6:10) It is over, done, finished, ended. Jesus took ALL our sins upon Himself and nailed them to that cross. We are free and do not have to put the stress upon ourselves to abide in a law that cannot be kept. This is what grace is.
Oh, great, that means we can all go do any evil we want. Of course not! As believers in Jesus and what He has done, we don't want to. That would be tantamount to slapping our Savior in the face. What a wonderful thing He did for us. As understanding believers who are grateful for His sacrifice, we want only to please Him. That is all we have to do - believe, turn our back on a wayward life and try. Easy - peasy! God and The Son have made it easy for us - out of perfect love. No one wants to knowingly defy such love.
This plan of redemption, this great mystery is the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus that covers us with the blood of the perfect sacrifice to be seen as pure in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. We have been redeemed from all our past, present and future wrong doings.
It's all about Jesus, the Great "I Am"
Amen
We do not need great faith.
Jesus has faith in Himself; enough for all of us. Mk. 9:23. In this verse Jesus questions the man's faith in Him (Jesus) and replies that everything is possible for Him (Jesus). (Original Greek text leaves off the first word "believe" in v. 23 and shows a question mark: "If you can?" (Jesus acknowledges the man's doubt.) Jesus further states "Everything is possible for HIM who believes." (meaning Jesus). We only need to know that our Savior has enough faith for all of us. We can borrow from Him by just asking of Him for the faith we need.
We only need enough faith to believe HE can move our mountains and HIS faith will do it for us. We merely ask. After all, we have no ability to heal, yet we pray for others and miracles happen - through the faith of Jesus.
Amen
Do not stress; just ask. I like to say, "If you are worried, pray. If you pray, why are you worried?" Think about it.
Let go and let God. What makes you think that all your worry can do even an ounce of what God can do?
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Jesus worked on Sabbath to show us we should rest in Him. In all His parables sitting down refers to Him sitting down because we are so busy trying to fix our problems. When we sit (rest in Him), He will get up and do it for us.
There is strength in the calm. Listen for God's quiet voice to comfort, instruct, advise and direct. Jesus "sat Down" at the right hand of God after the resurrection; He is now our advocate to God the Father.
In the NT, there is no talk of "waiting on the Lord God" because He has already come.
He works through the meek and the weak just to show He is doing it for us. David was a boy when he killed Goliath, Daniel and Joseph were young boys when they were taken and promoted to high ranking offices that helped their people.
Christians are amazing people. Just the belief of a mustard seed is needed - the belief to ask. Not your faith; the faith of Jesus. I have the belief of a mustard seed but never moved a mountain until I showed belief in the ability of Jesus to change things. Mountains (problems) move.
Money problems? Jesus does not need money; He has the riches of the universe. He waits for you to show your belief in Him enough to ask. He says "believe in me". Like grace - You don't have to do anything. You cant' earn it. It's a gift. It's free. The grace of God/Jesus provides love, protection, generosity, understanding, tolerance and so much more.
We get so caught up in doing and pushing what WE feel He wants that WE forget Jesus can and will do it for us. WE want people to do good; WE want our family to believe; WE want what is best for our kids; WE know that the old hymns are the best; WE want the Pastor's wife to dress different; WE want the girls to stop dying their hair blue; WE want, WE want. We want because WE know what God wants and WE are sure WE are told to do this. Oh, come on. How dare WE presume to know the mind of The Supreme Being Himself ? Or His timing, or His goals? Or His unfathomable love and grace.
STOP IT !
Let go; relax. Jesus can do it all for you and . . . He wants to.
Amen
Yeah, my story has a great ending.
Looking back over my life, I can see how blessed I am. All the trials have made me who I am today. Perfect? No! But, I have learned, matured, grown spiritually, come into a personal relationship with God and am so grateful for all of it.
God did not do any of the bad things. People were given free choice from the time of Adam and Eve. My parents made choices and I made my choices in response to their actions. It is obvious that I made poor choices - one after another for many years. And, look how it just spiraled to that turning point with the loaded gun.
God does not do bad God is total, complete love. As a good father, He created us and knows what we need and want better than we do. It's not easy to trust a spiritual being when everything we relate to is physical. Faith and belief are not easy in this world. It takes a desire and a lot of practice - a lot of trial and error. Not to worry, the blood of Jesus covers the believer's mistakes. You get a "do over" - every time! Keep doing it over until you get it right. It starts with your first step. Jesus does not push; He waits. You have to take the first step in faith and practice belief. Here is another easy part: if you need faith, just ask for it. That first step is submission by getting on you knees and asking for everything you lack. The father's love makes it easy.
The enemy knows where we are most vulnerable. He knows every weak spot. He prowls the earth like a hungry lion searching for who he can devour. Constantly in our head whispering everything negative and telling us we are not worthy; prodding us to do and be everything Jesus is not.
God turns bad to good:
Because my father left, I got to know an amazing grandfather.
Because of the sexual abuse, I learned to cherish physical relationship as the ultimate expression of love within the privacy of marriage.
Because I was betrayed by a close friend, I know how to be a friend.
Because of the molestings, I am cautious and aware of my surroundings.
Because of poor choices in husbands, I learned to let God have His way.
Because I lost children, I have a passion for them.
Because of many trials, I was blessed with amazing friendships for support.
Because of a restless spirit, I have traveled all over this country, been places, seen things and met all sorts of people.
Because . . . because . . . because . . . get it?
My husband and I are not wealthy but we have everything we need; what a great blessing. Sometimes, I feel downright rich.
Note: We have learned that any time we get a financial windfall (like a bonus at work or I sell art I was not offering), to hold on to it for awhile before we spend it. Many times, a reason for the money comes shortly after we receive it. So many times, God has provided BEFORE the need. What a blessing to be able to ask our Heavenly Father for advice in every part of our daily lives. When the answer is immediate or obvious, our faith gets a boost. Fear fades and confidence grows.
As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we have learned how to be grateful and show daily praise. We are making Him the center of our married lives. He shows us His amazing love and understanding time and again. Our lives have become miracles.
Amen
"Tithe"
This is not a popular practice for many of us. We can always use that tenth for another bill, shoes or car repair. Fact: It actually belongs to God in the first place..
Tithing is a 10th of what we have already been given. Nu 18:26 We receive it first, then we give part of it. A 10th is a very small part of the whole, which is everything we have: health, home, job, friends, family, clothing and food. People tend to forget that God freely gives us all these things. They are not ours to begin with. He gives us and ask that we reserve 10% of that to hand back to Him. This is what He asks us to do to acknowledge that He is provider; the one we should come to for everything. He wants to give and bless. He wants us to acknowledge Him as the source.
What the Bible says about tithing: Gen 14:20, Gen 28:22, Lev 27:32, Pro 3:9, Heb 7:2 & 4
Our children are a blessing from Him. How do we give a tenth of our children? Caring for them as though we will give them back - like the parable of the talents; or, Samuel's mother, Hannah.
The tithe is not only on the physical items we have but also peace, health, the air we breathe, life itself and on and on and on. We do not have any of these things if God does not first give them to us. What about our calling? We are called by God to an understanding of Him; to be His children He wants to love and care for. How do we give a tenth of these things? By showing appreciation; by serving others.
Another gift from God is Jesus; our greatest blessing. How do we give a tenth of that ! ? Ans: Jms 1:27
The 10th is so little. The suggested tip for a waitress today is more. It is a mere token to show God we acknowledge Him and appreciate all He has done, is doing and will do for us.
Giving to others: Giving is a wonderful thing. You cannot give a gift and tell the receiver what to do with it. I see this happen so often. You give something to a friend who gives it to her daughter. You meant the gift for your friend. She gave it away. That makes us feel our gift was unappreciated.
It is the act of giving that is our reward. We are blessed when we give. After that, we have no more connection with the gift. Anything, anytime we give, we are blessed for the act of giving. Why would you want to deny your friend that same blessing?
God never lets us do without. If I give food to a food drive or take half my supper to a sick neighbor, I never notice a bare spot in my pantry. I have never done without because I gave. As matter of fact, I have more because I give. This makes it easier to give more food. The more I give, the more I have to give. God works this way to allow us to share His blessings. Mal 3:10
The blessings of giving are not always tangible just as all of God's blessings are not tangible: mercy, grace, forgiveness, righteousness, eternal life.
Discerning where to give is important. ("Do not cast your pearls before swine.") I try not to give to someone just because I like them. They may not need as much as someone I don't socially see eye to eye with. I try not to give to a person who does not make effort to help their self. Giving to that person who is making an honest effort to work and do better for their family, is discernment. The issue is: If I give to a person who is a chronic taker, the truly needy will do without my help. After all, my ability to give has a limit.
We tithe to the church (the bride of Christ). Here is a different issue: We are NOT to discern giving to the church (as long as the church teaches Jesus from the Bible). All too often people are too concerned with how the church operates and distributes it's funds. We are told to give - NOT to tell the church how to operate. The church is set up, according to Biblical instruction, on how to perform. Let's stop all the voting and have faith in our church leaders to "run the show". That's why they are there. The pastor is a pastor because God allows him to be the pastor - no matter what you think of his ability as a speaker, or the music, during worship service.
HEAVEN WILL NOT BE A DEMOCRACY !
What we are giving is not ours. It is first given to us from God.
Immeasurable blessings will come to you by being grateful. God appreciates a cheerful giver. We are reminded of the rich man who would not give up what he had to gain heaven and the widow who gave the last of all she had.
May you share your blessings and reap the rich rewards from your loving Heavenly Father.
Amen
