The dark day in which we live in is not unlike the time when our Savior first came to the earth, a day where darkness and evil prevails.
King Herod who ruled at that time was a cruel and evil man. It was said that he killed his own children because he feared they would take his throne.
That same evil spirit prevails today as thousands of babies are sacrificed because of the self seeking, self gratification of their parents. Not only are they being aborted in their mothers wombs, but we hear on the news every day countless tales of the cruelty of parents abusing and killing their children.
Just as King Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus, that same spirit is seeking out today those who would truly carry Jesus in their heart. That evil spirit wants to abolish any mention of the name of Jesus. His mission is to stop the birth of Jesus in the lives of those in the earth today just as it was then.
In this day just as it was in the day our Savior was born, the Lord is looking for Marys who will be faithful to Him. In Him there is no gender. "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to strengthen those hearts who are fully committed to Him." 2Chron. 16:9
Reading the Magnificant in Luke 1:46, we see that Mary was a lover of God who knew the scriptures, she knew His Word. He is looking for those who are lovers of God just like Mary willing to believe that He can do the impossible by the power of the Holy Sprit in their lives.
"Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!!! " Luke 1:45
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
TRUSTING GOD IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE
Life is continually changing. The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, an illness,and growing older to mention a few. Then there are changes that appear to be good changes, but require adjustments that can sometimes be difficult, such as marriage, the birth of baby, a new job, moving to a new place. What ever it may be life is continually changing. I read a Christian article recently that said we need to "embrace change." Yet we often resist change. It has been said, "that we are creatures of habit" and change requires that we come out of our comfort zone.
Let's face it we just don't like change. We like to stay where things are comfortable and familiar. Yet God taught His people in the Wilderness to depend upon Him and embrace change instead of resisting it.
Paul tells us this picture of "the children of Israel in the Wilderness" is given to us as an "example" to follow.
They camped out in tents on their way to the Promised Land of Blessing. Each day they would get up and look to see if the cloud had lifted over the Tabernacle which housed the presence of God in the center of their camp. He gave them a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them. When the cloud lifted they moved, if it stayed they stayed. They never knew from one day to the next whether or not they would be moving to another location on their way to the Promised Blessing God had for them. They could be in one spot for only one day, or it could be months or even years before they would move.
This way God was teaching them to depend on Him. I am sure there were some places where they got comfortable and thought maybe they would like to stay in this place and make it home. And then they would get up the next day and the cloud had lifted. Then there would be places that were uncomfortable, probably where there were snakes and scorpions and they couldn't wait to leave. And they would end up being there for a long time.
Life is like that. We don't know what tomorrow will bring as we camp out in these "tents" called bodies on our way to the Promised Blessing (God has great and precious promises in His Word ).You may not like where you are camped out right now. You may have just experienced a loss in your life, or it maybe an illness you are having to endure. Something may have happened and you feel like your world is falling apart.
Yet when we have the Lord in the center of wherever we are camped we are going to make it through. We look to Him to lead us and guide us into His great and precious promises. He promised He would not leave nor forsake us. He promised us an "abundant life" (Jn.10 :10). He said "I will make a roadway in the Wilderness and give you streams in the desert." Trust ME!!!Is. 43:19
God tells us in His Word that He has come to gives us an abundant, blessed life. Just like a woman when she finds out she is pregnant and God is going to bless her with a child. At first there is no sign that she is going to have a child. To look at her you would never know. Her body begins to CHANGE and actually life gets worse for awhile. She begins to swell, and right before that child is born she becomes quite miserable experiencing a great amount of pain. But then when that baby is born what a blessing!!!
Some of you look at your circumstances right now and there is no sign of blessing. In fact it looks like things are worse and life is painful. But the Lord says "hang in there! Trust Me! Don't look at your situation as it is. Blessing is coming!!!
The Lord says "Before the birth pains began she gave birth and delivered a child? Whoever heard of such a thing? Would I bring to the time of birth and then not cause delivery?" Is. 66:7
Trust Him that even in the midst of the worst circumstances that He is going to do something great in and through your life. Remember there was a whole generation of people who never entered into His "promised blessing" because they didn't listen to Him, believe Him and obey Him. I believe there will be many people in Heaven who never experienced His blessing on this earth, because they chose to dwell on their circumstances instead of trusting God
Make sure that He is in the center of your "camp (life)". Look to Him to lead you and guide you, not at how bad your circumstances are. We serve a God who never changes. He is the same God today who led His children through the Wilderness thousands of years ago. Embrace the change in your life. Know that He who is faithful will bring you though what ever circumstance you face in life. "I am the Lord and I change not." Mal. 3:6
Let's face it we just don't like change. We like to stay where things are comfortable and familiar. Yet God taught His people in the Wilderness to depend upon Him and embrace change instead of resisting it.
Paul tells us this picture of "the children of Israel in the Wilderness" is given to us as an "example" to follow.
They camped out in tents on their way to the Promised Land of Blessing. Each day they would get up and look to see if the cloud had lifted over the Tabernacle which housed the presence of God in the center of their camp. He gave them a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them. When the cloud lifted they moved, if it stayed they stayed. They never knew from one day to the next whether or not they would be moving to another location on their way to the Promised Blessing God had for them. They could be in one spot for only one day, or it could be months or even years before they would move.
This way God was teaching them to depend on Him. I am sure there were some places where they got comfortable and thought maybe they would like to stay in this place and make it home. And then they would get up the next day and the cloud had lifted. Then there would be places that were uncomfortable, probably where there were snakes and scorpions and they couldn't wait to leave. And they would end up being there for a long time.
Life is like that. We don't know what tomorrow will bring as we camp out in these "tents" called bodies on our way to the Promised Blessing (God has great and precious promises in His Word ).You may not like where you are camped out right now. You may have just experienced a loss in your life, or it maybe an illness you are having to endure. Something may have happened and you feel like your world is falling apart.
Yet when we have the Lord in the center of wherever we are camped we are going to make it through. We look to Him to lead us and guide us into His great and precious promises. He promised He would not leave nor forsake us. He promised us an "abundant life" (Jn.10 :10). He said "I will make a roadway in the Wilderness and give you streams in the desert." Trust ME!!!Is. 43:19
God tells us in His Word that He has come to gives us an abundant, blessed life. Just like a woman when she finds out she is pregnant and God is going to bless her with a child. At first there is no sign that she is going to have a child. To look at her you would never know. Her body begins to CHANGE and actually life gets worse for awhile. She begins to swell, and right before that child is born she becomes quite miserable experiencing a great amount of pain. But then when that baby is born what a blessing!!!
Some of you look at your circumstances right now and there is no sign of blessing. In fact it looks like things are worse and life is painful. But the Lord says "hang in there! Trust Me! Don't look at your situation as it is. Blessing is coming!!!
The Lord says "Before the birth pains began she gave birth and delivered a child? Whoever heard of such a thing? Would I bring to the time of birth and then not cause delivery?" Is. 66:7
Trust Him that even in the midst of the worst circumstances that He is going to do something great in and through your life. Remember there was a whole generation of people who never entered into His "promised blessing" because they didn't listen to Him, believe Him and obey Him. I believe there will be many people in Heaven who never experienced His blessing on this earth, because they chose to dwell on their circumstances instead of trusting God
Make sure that He is in the center of your "camp (life)". Look to Him to lead you and guide you, not at how bad your circumstances are. We serve a God who never changes. He is the same God today who led His children through the Wilderness thousands of years ago. Embrace the change in your life. Know that He who is faithful will bring you though what ever circumstance you face in life. "I am the Lord and I change not." Mal. 3:6
Monday, October 12, 2009
TIMES OF PAIN AND SUFFERING
Losses in life can be extremely painful and hard to understand
Whether it is the the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or an illness that keeps us from experiencing life in it's fullness, we struggle to undrstand why. How could our loving Father allow this to happen? While we know we live in a fallen world and we face an enemy, we also know that there is nothing too hard for our God. There is nothing that can happen that doesn't first filter through His hands. So we cry out for insight and understanding.
In this lifetime we may not find the answer. "All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. " 1Cor. 13:12b NLT The best that we can do is trust Him that He has an eternal purpose that we cannot yet see. We give to Him that which we do not understand. We give Him our hurt, our pain our loss to be offered up as a sacrifice, Saying "I don't understand Lord, but I trust You." David said"I will not sacrifice that which cost me nothing."2Sam. 24:24
I think of the woman with the alabaster box. She gave all that she had, the most expensive thing that she could give to anoint His Body. In our brokenness we can do the same thing. There is an anointing that comes with brokenness when we willingly give that which cost us. When we give our hurt our pain, our loss, saying, "Lord I don't understand, but I trust You." There is an anointing that will be used for the glory of God, as we journey toward our Heavenly Home. God uses those who give their all to Him, trusting Him, in the dark painful times in their lives.
When we trust Him in times of great trial and hardship He will bring us through and use what we have offered up to Him that He may be glorified."I will deliver you and you will glorify Me." Ps. 50:15
"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt." Mark 9:49 Our sacrifices are seasoned with salt, making the world hungry for God. I believe that one day we will see those in Heaven who are there as a result of those painful things we went through in this life and chose to offer up to our Lord. Trusting Him in our deepest darkest times, that eternal purposes are being achieved.
Meanwhile His grace, mercy and love is sufficient to get through any trial or tribulation this life presents. He has promised He would not leave nor forsake us.
"Trust Him when you don't understand. Trust His heart. Trust His purpose. Trust Him when it is your heart that is broken. Trust His goodness. Trust Him beyond the grave. Trust Him to know best. Trust His plan to be bigger than yours. Trust Him to keep His Word. Trust Him to be on time. Trust Him to be enough. Trust Him to set you free. Trust Him and Him alone. The times when you and I can't trace His hand of purpose, we must trust His heart of love." Anne Graham Lotz
Lord, help us as we lift up to you all our hurts, our pain, our loss as a sacrifice. Strengthen us in you. We pray that You will take all the the enemy has used to cause hurt and pain in our lives, and turn it around for Your glory. Let our sacrifices be seasoned with salt and used for eternal purposes. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2Cor. 4:18
Whether it is the the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or an illness that keeps us from experiencing life in it's fullness, we struggle to undrstand why. How could our loving Father allow this to happen? While we know we live in a fallen world and we face an enemy, we also know that there is nothing too hard for our God. There is nothing that can happen that doesn't first filter through His hands. So we cry out for insight and understanding.
In this lifetime we may not find the answer. "All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. " 1Cor. 13:12b NLT The best that we can do is trust Him that He has an eternal purpose that we cannot yet see. We give to Him that which we do not understand. We give Him our hurt, our pain our loss to be offered up as a sacrifice, Saying "I don't understand Lord, but I trust You." David said"I will not sacrifice that which cost me nothing."2Sam. 24:24
I think of the woman with the alabaster box. She gave all that she had, the most expensive thing that she could give to anoint His Body. In our brokenness we can do the same thing. There is an anointing that comes with brokenness when we willingly give that which cost us. When we give our hurt our pain, our loss, saying, "Lord I don't understand, but I trust You." There is an anointing that will be used for the glory of God, as we journey toward our Heavenly Home. God uses those who give their all to Him, trusting Him, in the dark painful times in their lives.
When we trust Him in times of great trial and hardship He will bring us through and use what we have offered up to Him that He may be glorified."I will deliver you and you will glorify Me." Ps. 50:15
"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt." Mark 9:49 Our sacrifices are seasoned with salt, making the world hungry for God. I believe that one day we will see those in Heaven who are there as a result of those painful things we went through in this life and chose to offer up to our Lord. Trusting Him in our deepest darkest times, that eternal purposes are being achieved.
Meanwhile His grace, mercy and love is sufficient to get through any trial or tribulation this life presents. He has promised He would not leave nor forsake us.
"Trust Him when you don't understand. Trust His heart. Trust His purpose. Trust Him when it is your heart that is broken. Trust His goodness. Trust Him beyond the grave. Trust Him to know best. Trust His plan to be bigger than yours. Trust Him to keep His Word. Trust Him to be on time. Trust Him to be enough. Trust Him to set you free. Trust Him and Him alone. The times when you and I can't trace His hand of purpose, we must trust His heart of love." Anne Graham Lotz
Lord, help us as we lift up to you all our hurts, our pain, our loss as a sacrifice. Strengthen us in you. We pray that You will take all the the enemy has used to cause hurt and pain in our lives, and turn it around for Your glory. Let our sacrifices be seasoned with salt and used for eternal purposes. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2Cor. 4:18
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
IT'S TIME TO FIGHT!!!
It's time for God's people to reailze that we are in a battle!!! Yes the enemy has stolen from us, that is his mission. Remember "The thief comes to kill, to steal and to destroy"?? John 10:10
But now it is time for God's people the "Church of Jesus Christ" "the Army of God" to rise up and put on her armor. Be armed with the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit and take back what the enemy has stolen. "I command you .....be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."Jos.1:9
Yes we have got to be strong! The enemy isn't intimidated by our whinning and crying about what is going on in our lives and in this country. And frankly God isn't impressed with it either. It doesn't mean he isn't a compassionate loving God. He loves us and wants us to be blessed. "I have come that they have life and have it abundantly." Jn 10:10b
He has given us all we need to have victory over the enemy. He has given us his Word and His great and precious promises!!!
The enemy has stolen our children our marriages, our homes, and now it looks as though he has taken over this land. The divorce rate in the church is right up there with the secular world. Many church going families have lost their children to drugs and alcohol. But God has given us all we need to have victoy over the enemy. But is going to take getting into the Word and meditating on the Word as the Lord told Joshua. He told Joshua not to be sidetracked by the enemy "don't look to the right or to the left, but meditate on My Word day and night and then you will succeed." Jos1:8
God was telling Joshua how to fight the enemy because Joshua was the one to lead God's people into the Promised Land. Remember a whole generation died under Moses leadership and never entered into all that God had promised them because of disobedience and unbelief. I believe that many people today will die and go to heaven, and never really receive all the promised blessings that God had for them here on this earth.
God wants us to be blessed. He wants our homes, families, and our children blessed. He wants our land blessed. We must rise up and be the church! We must determine to study the Word, not just by ourselves, but in a good Bible Study. We will never arrive at the place where we can't learn from His Word. There is constant revelation in His Word. His Spirit will constantly reveal to us the deep truthes of His Word. We have to know his Word to have success.
"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all it's fullness." John 10:10
"My people are "destroyed" for lack of knowledge." Hos.4:6
But now it is time for God's people the "Church of Jesus Christ" "the Army of God" to rise up and put on her armor. Be armed with the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit and take back what the enemy has stolen. "I command you .....be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."Jos.1:9
Yes we have got to be strong! The enemy isn't intimidated by our whinning and crying about what is going on in our lives and in this country. And frankly God isn't impressed with it either. It doesn't mean he isn't a compassionate loving God. He loves us and wants us to be blessed. "I have come that they have life and have it abundantly." Jn 10:10b
He has given us all we need to have victory over the enemy. He has given us his Word and His great and precious promises!!!
The enemy has stolen our children our marriages, our homes, and now it looks as though he has taken over this land. The divorce rate in the church is right up there with the secular world. Many church going families have lost their children to drugs and alcohol. But God has given us all we need to have victoy over the enemy. But is going to take getting into the Word and meditating on the Word as the Lord told Joshua. He told Joshua not to be sidetracked by the enemy "don't look to the right or to the left, but meditate on My Word day and night and then you will succeed." Jos1:8
God was telling Joshua how to fight the enemy because Joshua was the one to lead God's people into the Promised Land. Remember a whole generation died under Moses leadership and never entered into all that God had promised them because of disobedience and unbelief. I believe that many people today will die and go to heaven, and never really receive all the promised blessings that God had for them here on this earth.
God wants us to be blessed. He wants our homes, families, and our children blessed. He wants our land blessed. We must rise up and be the church! We must determine to study the Word, not just by ourselves, but in a good Bible Study. We will never arrive at the place where we can't learn from His Word. There is constant revelation in His Word. His Spirit will constantly reveal to us the deep truthes of His Word. We have to know his Word to have success.
"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all it's fullness." John 10:10
"My people are "destroyed" for lack of knowledge." Hos.4:6
Thursday, September 24, 2009
THE GOD OF IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS
Crossing over the Jordan River into the Promised Land looked like an impossible situation because the river was at flood stage because it was "harvest time". The Bible tells us that the banks of the Jordan always flooded at harvest time.
God told the priests who were carrying the Ark of The Covenant (which represented the presence of God) to go before the people into the Jordan. As the people followed the priests carrying the Ark the waters parted and God's people walked over on dry ground into the Promised Land. Joshua 3
That is the way it is in our lives today. Many times when God is ready to do something wonderful in our lives or fulfill a promise we have been standing on, the enemy comes in like a flood.
God said, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19
That standard is "His Word". Keep your eyes focused on God and His Word, His promise that He wants to fulfill in your life. "My Word that goes forth from My mouth, shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
God told the priests who were carrying the Ark of The Covenant (which represented the presence of God) to go before the people into the Jordan. As the people followed the priests carrying the Ark the waters parted and God's people walked over on dry ground into the Promised Land. Joshua 3
That is the way it is in our lives today. Many times when God is ready to do something wonderful in our lives or fulfill a promise we have been standing on, the enemy comes in like a flood.
God said, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19
That standard is "His Word". Keep your eyes focused on God and His Word, His promise that He wants to fulfill in your life. "My Word that goes forth from My mouth, shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
Monday, September 21, 2009
LIFE CAN DEAL SOME HARD BLOWS, BUT JESUS SAID
Life can deal some hard blows, but Jesus said,"You will grieve, but your grief will turn to wonderful joy when you see Me again". You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice and no one can rob you of that joy. It will be like a woman experiencing the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives place to joy because she has brought a new person into the world. You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy." John 16:20b-22
As we journey through life on this earth we will experience times of intense pain and suffering. Jesus compared it to that of a woman in labor, but oh the joy when that baby is born. He has promised us that one day when we see Him again there will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more good byes, but only endless joy. Until then God has promised us He would never leave nor forsake us.
These words written by my daughter Janet just before the death of my grandson seem to put life and the grief we experience in this world into perspective.
" We live in a fallen world and sickness and disease are a part of this world. But God has promised us that He would never leave nor forsake us. Ryan may be suffering now, but so much more awaits him in heaven because of his suffering here on earth. Whether that be now or 70 years from now. We waste precious prayer time with our Father by asking "why?" Yes, He allows our anger and our questions, It's okay. But remember that our life here whether it be two days or a hundred years, is very brief when you put it next to eternity, and those of us who call Jesus Lord will spend all of that eternity in bliss.
My son has a wonderful spirit that he has been blessed with. That spirit could carry him through anything. When it's all said and done, that's what's important, that our souls are walking with God. My whole heart aches for my baby, but in my heart of hearts, I know that I know that I know that he is blessed of God and that God is carrying him in His hand every step of the way, that has to be enough for me."
Written by Janet Davis Dickinson 2 weeks before her son Ryan's death.
"What we suffer now will be nothing compared to the glory He will give us later. For all creation is eagerly waiting for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are."Romans 8:18
As we journey through life on this earth we will experience times of intense pain and suffering. Jesus compared it to that of a woman in labor, but oh the joy when that baby is born. He has promised us that one day when we see Him again there will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more good byes, but only endless joy. Until then God has promised us He would never leave nor forsake us.
These words written by my daughter Janet just before the death of my grandson seem to put life and the grief we experience in this world into perspective.
" We live in a fallen world and sickness and disease are a part of this world. But God has promised us that He would never leave nor forsake us. Ryan may be suffering now, but so much more awaits him in heaven because of his suffering here on earth. Whether that be now or 70 years from now. We waste precious prayer time with our Father by asking "why?" Yes, He allows our anger and our questions, It's okay. But remember that our life here whether it be two days or a hundred years, is very brief when you put it next to eternity, and those of us who call Jesus Lord will spend all of that eternity in bliss.
My son has a wonderful spirit that he has been blessed with. That spirit could carry him through anything. When it's all said and done, that's what's important, that our souls are walking with God. My whole heart aches for my baby, but in my heart of hearts, I know that I know that I know that he is blessed of God and that God is carrying him in His hand every step of the way, that has to be enough for me."
Written by Janet Davis Dickinson 2 weeks before her son Ryan's death.
"What we suffer now will be nothing compared to the glory He will give us later. For all creation is eagerly waiting for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are."Romans 8:18
Saturday, September 19, 2009
GOD'S WORD IS SO PROFOUND!!!
God's Word is soooo profound!!! I just came across these words "The life of the flesh is in the blood". Lev 17:11 It just seemed to jump out at me! God isn't just talking about human blood or animal blood, but a much deeper meaning.
The life of our flesh is in the Blood of Jesus Christ. His Blood gives us life! It gives us not only eternal life but the life of Christ in us. Just as our physical body cannot live without blood, we cannot live spiritually without his Blood. Even in our fleshly bodies His Blood makes us alive with His Life!!! Praise The Lord!!!
The life of our flesh is in the Blood of Jesus Christ. His Blood gives us life! It gives us not only eternal life but the life of Christ in us. Just as our physical body cannot live without blood, we cannot live spiritually without his Blood. Even in our fleshly bodies His Blood makes us alive with His Life!!! Praise The Lord!!!
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