The Blessing of being Realhttp://youtu.be/hGr8as7pPBE - Give Me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath

“And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34

Doesn't this verse just touch your heart? Our Savior, the Son of God, has great compassion for the hurting and the lost. "He saw many people and was moved with compassion towards them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd". Do I see what Jesus saw when I walk into a room, or when I'm shopping at the mall, when I'm at work or school, or sitting in church? Do I have compassion when I walk among the lost in my community? Or do I walk right past without giving them a second thought?

People are hurting, but they don't trust others enough to open up. We're consumed with looking good on the outside; and we hide who we really are. We put on our masks and only show the world what we think will be "acceptable". And why do we play these games? We do it so that people will like us and respect us, and maybe, just maybe they will be our "friend". How many of us truly let others see who we really are - on the inside?

Being transparent is scary. It means no more secrets. No more lies. No more pretending. That's not easy for most of us. We are afraid that if our friends knew the truth, they wouldn't be our friends anymore.

How truthful are you when you go out into the world?

If you and I aren't always truthful about what's really going on in our lives and the struggles we're facing, don't you think that there are lots of people just like us who look good on the outside but on the inside they are falling apart?

We are isolating ourselves from people who just might surprise us and be more than willing to come along side offering encouragement and understanding. And even worse, when we don't open up and share our struggles, we may miss opportunities to help someone else who is going through the same thing we've already gone through and survived. When we are transparent and real, we open the doors for others to be transparent, too.

Galatians 6:1-3 
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

1. If I see a fellow believer overcome by sin, Jesus says to gently
and humbly to try and help that person find his way back.

2. When I try to help someone who is struggling, I must be on guard less I
fall into the same sin.

3. Jesus wants me to help others who are burdened - to come along side
and help them to get through the struggle.

4. And if God puts someone on my path who needs help, I should never
think I'm too busy or too important to stop and help, however I can.

This is the law of Christ. He taught his disciples to help others, whether it was a physical need or a spiritual need. And we are to be His Hands and Feet.

Don't underestimate the people around you. You may just be surprised at how much they care and how willing they are to help. You might just find out that they need some encouragement, too. And when we help each other, we become the true Body of Christ.

Holy Father, give me Your eyes for the hurting and suffering around me. Help me to really see each person you put in my life every day, whether it's the cashier at the grocery store or man who cut me off in traffic. Let me see those crossings of paths as opportunities to be Jesus to a hurting world. Lord Jesus, You were never too busy to help others. You were never too tired. Please forgive me when I think what I have to do this day is more important than taking a few minutes to encourage a friend who is suffering. Lord, teach me to listen, really listen not just to the words someone says, but to the unspoken words, the body language that clearly shows pain. Lord I realize that I may not be the one to help every friend who is struggling in silence. Not everyone will be able to open up to me, but Lord, help me at least give them the option by letting people know I care.


I've got a long way to go, Lord. I need You to prompt me to put myself out there so that others won't see me as someone who has never struggled. I want people to know that I have struggled and You've gotten me through every time. I will be Your witness. You are so faithful. I love You Lord. May my life reflect Your goodness and kindness and compassion to everyone you put in my life. It's in Your precious Name, Jesus, that I ask these things. Amen.

One more thing.  Be careful with your words.  Not everyone around you is transparent.  When you tell a demeaning joke or make a disparaging comment about someone or some group of people - that's not kind.  And you never know if the person standing right next to you may be offended by your careless words.  
 
Here's the test.  Would you tell the joke or even laugh at a joke that made fun of someone who suffered from a mental illness if you knew that your best friend's brother or sister suffered terribly with mental issues?  Probably not.  Well, just remember, people aren't always transparent.  Your best friend's loved one may be struggling with something you just joked about.  Maybe your best friend even struggles with the challenge you find so funny, and he/she doesn't share his/her pain with you because you make jokes that make you seem unsympathetic and insensitive.   Be kind with your words.  Lift others up.  Don't hurt anyone with careless words.
 
Colossians 4:6, NIV. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, . . . so that you may know how to answer everyone.”


http://youtu.be/0xtiY1M0780 - Stained Glass Masquerade - Casting Crowns

http://youtu.be/O7bD02ZmTqk - All of Creation - Mercy Me

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I confess.

I am a Creationist!   Yep.  One of those ignorant religious nuts
who blindly believes everything written in the Bible.  That's me!

Actually, I am appalled by the number of people who don't believe every single word.  For me it's just so clear that His Word has proven accurate and true time after time, even after such incredible scrutiny by not only the scientific world but also by supposedly "intelligent" men and women whose single purpose seems to be trying to disprove that God is God.

A few years ago I found a great website called "Answers in Genesis" which was created by Ken Hamm.
He has a whole team of Creation Scientists who see science as supportive of the Creation story as told in the Bible.  These scientists have no trouble believing that God created the universe in 6 days.  Yes, that's what I said SIX days!  Not "thousand year days", six 24-hour days.  And they have the science to back up their beliefs.

You see, each of us start with a foundational belief.  For an atheist, that foundational belief is:

"There is no God.  The world came into existence all by accident - no design - it just happened."

For a believer, the foundational belief is:

"Almighty God created the universe with intentional design and purpose.  There is definitely a Designer and the Designer is GOD!"

The foundational belief you begin with will color everything you learn.  For the atheist, every scientific discovery that points to a designer is discredited or tweaked in such a way that the atheist can maintain his foundational belief.  Of course, to be fair, the same is true of a Creationist.

The difference:  Creationists have not had to "change" their original premise. Every scientific discovery points to a Divine Creator!  Every discover points to the validity of God's written Word. Consider these points:

By comparing the manuscript support for the Bible with manuscript support for other ancient documents and books, it becomes overwhelmingly clear that no other ancient piece of literature can stand up to the Bible. Manuscript support for the Bible is unparalleled!


There are more [New Testament] manuscripts copied with greater accuracy and earlier dating than for any secular classic from antiquity. (over 24,000 partial and complete manuscript copies!)

Rene Pache adds, "The historical books of antiquity have a documentation infinitely less solid."


Dr. Benjamin Warfield concludes, "If we compare the present state of the text of the New Testament with that of no matter what other ancient work, we must...declare it marvelously exact."


Norman Geisler makes several key observations for our consideration:

No other book is even a close second to the Bible on either the number or early dating of the copies. The average secular work from antiquity survives on only a handful of manuscripts; the New Testament boasts thousands.

The average gap between the original composition and the earliest copy is over 1,000 years for other books.


The New Testament, however, has a fragment within one generation from its original composition, whole books within about 100 years from the time of the autograph [original manuscript], most of the New Testament in less than 200 years, and the entire New Testament within 250 years from the date of its completion.


The degree of accuracy of the copies is greater for the New Testament than for other books that can be compared. Most books do not survive with enough manuscripts that make comparison possible.


From this documentary evidence, then, it is clear that the New Testament writings are superior to comparable ancient writings. "The records for the New Testament are vastly more abundant, clearly more ancient, and considerably more accurate in their text."

                     (The above information is from "Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries".)


It's interesting to note that of all books of antiquity, the Bible is the most scrutinized and challenged. Forty men over a period of 1500 years tell the same story of an incredible God who created the world and everything in it.  And that great God, that amazing Creator, loves us enough to sacrifice His own Son.  Everything in His Word points to the same God.  The Bible is the inspired Word of God himself.  No one has ever been able to disprove this Truth.  No one ever will be able to do that.

Here's one of the many archaeological discoveries which points to the truth of the Bible.  Read the story in Genesis describing the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Then read the "discovery" below.  If you're a believer, I think you'll see God's hand in the demise of Sodom.  But a sceptic will try to rationalize the findings so that God isn't given the glory.

Remember how beautiful and fertile Sodom and Gomorrah was before it's destruction.  When his uncle Abraham gave Lot the first choice of where to settle his family, Lot chose this valley because it was perfect.

Genesis 13:10

Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)



Genesis 19
12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”


14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.

15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”

16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. 17 When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

18 “Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. 19 “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. 20 See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”


21 “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. 22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)


23 Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon. 24 Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.


27 Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.


29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, December 07, 2011Sodom and Gomorrah Excavated


By far the most interesting session at the recent Society of Biblical Literature Congress in San Francisco was one I wandered into by chance. I am always curious about what is going on in biblical archeology, so one afternoon I decided to skip the dozen or so sessions dedicated to Bakhtinian Decontextualization of Identity Construction in Persian Yehud (I had to tear myself away) and go hear about the excavations at a certain site called "Tall-el-Hammam." I had no idea what I was in for. After about five minutes into the session, I realized that the archeological team assigned to this dig was convinced that they had found the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. After another half-hour, it seemed they had most of the participants convinced as well. The sites fit the geographical and temporal context into which Sodom and Gomorrah are placed in the biblical texts. The cities at the site were suddenly and completely wiped out in the Late Bronze Age, which makes a reasonably good fit with the biblical accounts of Abraham and Lot. The entire presentation was very convincing, but never once did they deal with the "elephant in the room": what caused the sites to be suddenly abandoned? As soon as the session was over, I was the first to raise my hand. "Did you find any arrow heads? Signs of invasion? What happened to them?" The lead archaeologist paused for a moment. "I didn't want to go there," he said. Another pause. "I'm preparing material for publication." Pause. "All I want to say 'on camera' is, they appear to have been wiped out in a 'heat event'."

A "heat event"!? What?!

"If you want to know more, I'll talk after the session off the record."

I wish I could divulge what he said to a small group of us clustered around the podium after the session was over, but it would break confidence. We'll have to wait for the official peer-reviewed publications
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~This article is from www.thesacredpage.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Sacred Page is a blog written by three Catholic Ph.D.s who are professors of Scripture and Theology: Michael Barber, Brant Pitre and John Bergsma. Here you can also find podcasts of "The Sacred Page with Michael Barber."


Why is it so hard for intelligent people to accept that God is the Creator of all things?  Why is it so hard to accept what God has told us through inspired writers? 
 
I choose to believe and accept that His Word is true.  
 
Prove me wrong if you can. 
 
http://youtu.be/vJdWdZv-uRA - Everlasting God - Chris Tomlin

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat."

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
                                                           2 Corinthians 12:9

http://youtu.be/yvgvYFxW_QM - I'll take you back - Jeremy Camp

Luke 22:31-34
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”


Peter was one of Jesus' closest friends while on earth.  He was bold and quick to defend the faith.  But Jesus knew what was coming.  Peter would be tempted, and he would fall.  I read some commentaries about this passage.  I never really paid much attention to that fact that Jesus called Peter by his given name "Simon".  Some think that this was deliberate.  "Peter" means rock, indicating solid and steadfastness.  Jesus knew "Simon" would not stand strong for the temptation that was coming, so He called him by his given name.  But notice that Jesus repeated the name:  "Simon, Simon".  Again, generally, when we see a name repeated, a sincere earnestness and love towards the person being addressed.  We see it in Exodus 3:4 the LORD God calling out to Moses with strong familiarity and affection:  "And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I."
We see the same thing in Genesis 22:11:  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.”

Just like with Abraham and Moses, Jesus wanted to get Peter's attention because what He was about to say was critical.  He wanted Peter to know that HE would take Peter back - even when after his denial that was coming.  Jesus also wanted "Simon" to remember that he was vulnerable to Satan's attack, but the important think to remember was that "Peter" would rise up after that horrible denial to strengthen the others.

I found it interested that many bible translations recognize that the "you" above is plural - not singular.  Which seems to indicate that Jesus was warning Peter that  more than one of the apostles/disciples would be tempted.  And that when Peter turned back to Him, he was to help the others by strengthening their faith.  This plural "you" fits since almost all of the others did turn away, leaving Jesus alone to face the crucifixion.

Why did God allow Satan to "sift them like wheat"?  HE is in control and He has power over the Enemy.  We see here and in Job, that Satan cannot "sift" anyone without God's permission, so why would HE allow this to happen ever?  But especially at this critical time when Jesus needed his friends, didn't HE?

Over the years, I've heard many people testify to the power of enduring through struggles.  Though the struggles are never fun, an amazing thing happens. Those who endure, those who keep their eyes on Christ, trusting in Him, come through those difficult times stronger and more deeply reliant on Jesus.  Their faith is made stronger and that makes them powerful witnesses.  Others see their faith and are drawn to the One who gives them  unexplainable Strength.  That is part of God's purpose and plan for each of us - to be a light that reflects Jesus to the lost so that they can come to know Him. 

The story of Peter denying Jesus is hard to read.  It hurts me for Peter.  It hurts me for Jesus. I think for Peter, nothing would have been worse than turning his back on His Friend.  The guilt and shame of that moment could have destroyed him.  I'm certain that Satan used that moment in time to attack Peter throughout his life.  Nothing else would have discouraged him and made him feel more worthless that that denial.  But Jesus gave him something to hold to.  He threw Peter a life line of hope and love.  "When you have repented and turn to me again" - that one sentence had such purpose.  Jesus is saying "Simon, Simon, I know how you're going to feel but do not let Satan win this battle.  You will get through this.  And when you do, you must help the others to be strong.  Don't let them give up!"

After Peter denied Jesus, after the crucifixion and resurrection, Peter goes back to fishing.  I can just imagine how depressed and discouraged he must have felt.  He had been the leader of the apostles - strong in his faith, willing to die with Jesus if he had to, but then...

Now, Jesus has shown Himself to the disciples.  They know without a doubt He is the Messiah.  But they go fishing!  Jesus has some serious work for them to do, and so He appears once again.  Watch how he turns to Simon Peter.

John 21
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.  Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.


Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.  The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

Three times Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Do you love me?"   Three times. 

Three denials followed by three strong professions of love.  How perfect.

Jesus used Peter to spread the Good News to the Jews and some Gentiles.  He used Peter to encourage and teach and admonish the other apostles and followers.  Peter was a strong, steadfast rock.  He understood where his strength came from, and it wasn't form "Simon".  It was from His Savior, Jesus the Christ.  Without that time of struggle, without the temptation, Peter may have never known where the source of his strength. 
The denials humbled him and caused him to rely completely on Jesus from that day forward. 

LORD God, I don't like the struggles, but I do want a faith like Peter's.  I want to be a rock for Jesus, steadfast, unmovable in my faith.  I want to be Your witness to others.  You've give me the most wonderful gift of all, Salvation in Jesus' Name.  I want everyone I know to have that Gift, to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Help me to see the struggles as  a Divine refining process that You will use to strengthen me, a tool You can use to help me keep my eyes on Jesus.  I don't like to suffer or hurt, or watch family and friends hurt, and I know as much as I hate it, You hate it even more, because You love them even more than I do.  So I put all my trust in You and Your perfect plan.  Use me, mold me into the person I need to be so that You, Lord, will be lifted up in my life.  In the precious Name of Jesus I pray these things. Amen.


http://youtu.be/t6awdZ1cekk - Refiner's Fire - Hillsong

God is the answer... always.

I guess the busyness of the season is getting to me. I didn't feel so great today and rather than go to church, I decided my best plan was to stay home and "fellowship" with God alone. Sometimes, I just really feel the need to do that and it always makes me feel better.

http://youtu.be/gkLh-D-esxQ - All I need is You - Hillsong United
My regular bible was in the other room so I picked up another one I had handy by the bed.  As I opened up the cover, I found a sheet I had folded and saved.  The heading was The Answer is God.   That caught my attention so I read the page.  This is from Streams in the Desert:

The Answer is God

"For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" (Rom. 3:3).

" I think that I can trace every scrap of sorrow in my life to simple unbelief. How could I be anything but quite happy if I believed always that all the past is forgiven, and all the present furnished with power, and all the future bright with hope because of the same abiding facts which do not change with my mood, do not stumble because I totter and stagger at the promise through unbelief, but stand firm and clear with their peaks of pearl cleaving the air of Eternity, and the bases of their hills rooted unfathomably in the Rock of God. Mont Blanc does not become a phantom or a mist because a climber grows dizzy on its side." --James Smetham


Is it any wonder that, when we stagger at any promise of God through unbelief, we do not receive it? Not that faith merits an answer, or in any way earns it, or works it out; but God has made believing a condition of receiving, and the Giver has a sovereign right to choose His own terms of gift.
--Rev. Samuel Hart


Unbelief says, "How can such and such things be?" It is full of "hows"; but faith has one great answer to the ten thousand "hows," and that answer is GOD ! --C. H. M.

No praying man or woman accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time as when he or she is praying.


If there should arise, it has been said--and the words are surely true to the thought of our Lord Jesus Christ in all His teaching on prayer--if there should arise ONE UTTERLY BELIEVING MAN, the history of the world might be changed.

Will YOU not be that one in the providence and guidance of God our Father? --A. E. McAdam


Prayer without faith degenerates into objectless routine, or soulless hypocrisy. Prayer with faith brings Omnipotence to back our petitions. Better not pray unless and until your whole being responds to the efficacy of your supplication. When the true prayer is breathed, earth and heaven, the past and the future, say Amen. And Christ prayed such prayers. --P. C. M.

Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except

that which lies outside the will of God.

"Had we the faith to see God in everything as it meets us day by day, every chapter of life’s history would be a new story of the romance of heavenly love in its magical power to transform darkness into light, difficulty into triumph, sorrow into joy, and the earthly into the heavenly."  A. B. Simpson

These quotes really lifted me up.  I was reminded of God's omnipotence and the fact that His Spirit lives in me giving me great power if I'm willing to give Him control.  If when I stagger in disbelief, His Spirit does not falter nor fall.  But do I really believe?

I was reading my bible and my eyes were getting blurry - I just couldn't seem to read because the letters were melting into one another.  I was reading about the power of the Holy Spirit.  He was there in the beginning - Genesis 1:2 - "the Spirit of God" hovered over the face of the waters".   The Spirit of God has been with Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, ... Peter, Paul and all the apostles.  When the Spirit of God was with these people, nothing was impossible.  Do I believe that?

I read the story of when the king of Aram was coming to kill Elisha.  He and his army had infiltrated Dothan where Elisha and his servant were staying.  Elisha's servant was terribly afraid and didn't see any way out of the mess. He knew they were surrounded by the enemy.  Then Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant so that he could see the unseen warriors sent by God.

Seeing the unseen


2 Kings 6

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.



“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”


And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.


Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

After they entered the city, Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.

When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”

“Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.”  So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

The servant's eyes were opened and then he could see that those with him and Elisha were greater than those with the Enemy. Can't you just imagine?  The servant looked out the window and all of a sudden, he sees thousands of warrior angels ready to protect them.   God does that for me, too.  I may not be able to see the hedge of protection that God provides, but I know it's there always!  If I could just hold on to that thought.  With the Power of God on my side, what can man do to me?  What then shall I fear?

As I continued to read about how God gave Elisha victory over his enemy, I realized that there I sat, struggling to read the blurry words on the page - wanting desperately to see so that I could put those powerful words in my heart, was I not believing that God could help me?  Why in the world was I not asking God to help me see the words clearly?

So...  I stopped and I prayed.  Please Lord, You know how precious Your Word is to me.  I want to be able to read this passage clearly so that I can soak up the great truths of Your protection, Your provision and Your faithfulness.  I love this story of Elisha and the servant.  I can almost see the mountain side covered with Your mighty warriors!  I believe You sent Your warrior angels to protect Elisha.  And I believe You do that for me every day, too.  So I'm asking that You help me see the words on this page clearly, no more blurry lines, no more tired eyes from straining to make out a word.  Lord, I believe You want me to read Your word and I believe You have the power to help me see clearly so that I can read what You have provided for me.

I raised my head, afraid to look at the page of my bible.  Honestly, I guess I didn't believe that God would help me see the page better.  Finally, I got up my courage and looked down.  It wasn't drastic, but the words weren't so blurry any more.  Okay.  It's better.  I think it really is.  Maybe a little...

But then my eye was drawn to the back inside flap of my bible cover.  I saw a plastic sheet.  I looked closer and then remembering what it was, I reached for it and drew it out.  Then I laughed out loud.

God does have a sense of humor.  It was a plastic magnifying sheet that I had forgotten was even in my bible.  God answered my prayer!  I put the sheet over the page I was reading and the words were magnified.  I was able to read every word clearly.  Thank You, Father!  You are the greatest!

Maybe I shouldn't have prayed just for clear words.
Maybe I should have prayed for my vision to be 20/20! 

The answer might not have been exactly what I expected.  But God answered and He made it possible for me to read His Word easily - no more blurs.

LORD God, Creator of the Universe, All Powerful, All Knowing and Loving Father, I am thrilled at how You answer even my prayers spoken with little faith!  Thank You for showing Yourself to me in little and big ways.  I try to be strong in my faith, but sometimes I forget You move mountains!  You created with great intricacy and detailed design the whole Universe.  Why do I doubt that You will make a way for me to read Your Word?  Once again, You've given me just what I asked for.  Wow!  What if I really believed Your promises?  I love You and I'm so thankful that You loved me enough to send Your Son to save me.  Thank You so much!  And Father, please help my unbelief. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

It's NOT about me

http://youtu.be/cjhxOv9YDag - Who am I?  Casting Crowns

As I was in the car yesterday going here and there, I heard a lesson on the radio that really made me think.  I can't remember who was teaching but he laid down a challenge.  Just for a week, take the words "I" and "me" out of your conversations.

Ouch!

Here's a test question:  When you have a random conversation with someone and then walk away, from your conversation, do they know more about you?  Or do you know more about them? 

That hits home a little too much.

The name of this blog is "It's not about me" but does that really reflect the blog?  Most days, the writings posted here are pretty much "me" stuff.  Maybe it's different if those "I" and "me" words are used as illustrations and examples of what not to do.  = (  But the challenge definitely is worth checking out.

The devotional will be short today, because of this challenge.  It won't be easy,
but today these words will not be in this blog. 

http://youtu.be/J63YE-QEWIg -  It's all about You - Sarah Kim


1 Corinthians 13 is the best description of living as if "It's not about me".   Read the passage below and
see if it describes how you live.  See if it doesn't describe Jesus completely. 

If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.



Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

Just for today, the focus will be on others.  Maybe it's not so much about not using "I" and "me" but rather
not thinking about "I" or "me", but thinking and caring about "him and her".  Today will be about others and their needs and feelings.  Less of self... more of Jesus.
 

Holy Father, today it's all about You and Your children.  Please take control.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen
 
http://youtu.be/Gnf1xczuOrA - Lifesong - Casting Crowns



Run with Endurance...
photo by Kristi Rhines Stevens


Running the Race

http://youtu.be/Yz05WW8abX0 - Derek Redmond

1992 DEREK REDMOND THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT. He is best remembered for his performance at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where he tore his hamstring in the 400 metres semi-final but fought through the pain and, with assistance from his father, managed to complete a full lap of the track as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The incident has become a well-remembered moment in Olympic history, having been the subject of one of the International Olympic Committee's 'Celebrate Humanity' videos and been used in advertisements by Visa as an illustration of the Olympic spirit and featured in Nike's "Courage" commercials in 2008.  When Derek couldn't go on, his father rushed to his side, supporting him - helping Derek to keep going... his father gave him the strength to run with endurance the race set before him.

Our Father does the same thing for us.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Run with endurance...

Tyler runs Cross Country.  He loves running. Sometimes, there are unexpected obstacles that can slow him down.  If the obstacle comes at a time in the race when he's exhausted and his muscles are burning, it would be so easy to just stop running and say, "I can't go on."  But a runner pushes through those  obstacles so that he or she can cross the finish line.  That's what Paul tells us to do when we hit obstacle in the race of live.  Keep running, even when you feel like you can't go on another step.  Run with endurance.  Christ will give you the strength and courage you need to finish strong. 

Philippians 1: 20-23
"And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Honestly, this life is full of disappointments. Marriages break up, friends let us down, financial struggles humble us and take away all our security, children get sick, friends die, and on and on. What can we depend on?

One day, life is great and the next, everything is taken away and we feel like Job - stripped of all those things we thought were so important.

If we could just grasp that Christ is the only thing we truly need, and that HE's the one thing that can never be taken from us, can you imagine the peace we'd have? What could man do to us, if we really understood that HE is all we need?

Almighty God calls me His child. He loved me so much that He sent His Son to die for me. I'm going to spend Eternity in heaven - no more tears, no more fears, no betrayals, no more disappointments, no more pain or suffering. For all eternity! Do we even come close to understanding how short our time is on earth compared to Eternity? I think if we did, our earthly lives would take on a whole different perspective. So much that we fret about just wouldn't matter any more. We'd be full of joy, longing for that Day when we get to wake up in Heaven.

Paul knew this life was full of meaningless junk. "Garbage", he called it. Don't we all have "garbage" that weighs us down and steals our joy?  Dumb little things that make us feel unloved, inadequate, discouraged? sometimes they're bigger bumps, but so many times, they are just little insignificant bumps in the road, yet we let those bumps drag us down.  All that truly matters is belonging to Christ. If we could just understand that, we'd be shouting the good news to everyone we meet so that they, too, have Eternity in heaven. We'd love everyone, unconditionally, because of the prize set before us! Nothing could get us down. Nothing could still our joy!

If anyone could ever been "good enough" by his own power to have righteousness, Paul says it was him. He had it all. He had honor, respect, knowledge, power, influence - all the things we humans think are so important. But Paul found something worth more than all those things. He found Jesus.

Paul left it all so that he might be one with Christ. Listen to his words: "everything else is worthless", "all garbage" when compared to the INFINITE VALUE of knowing CHRIST! Paul walked away from fame, fortune, prestige, everything!!! That should tell us something about the treasure we have in Christ.

Those days when you just feel like nothing is ever going to be okay again; when you feel like you've lost everything that gives your life meaning, remember Paul's words. It's all garbage compared to the value - the unmatchable, immeasurably great, having no boundaries Value - of knowing Christ as LORD.

If all you have left is Christ, you are rich beyond measure.

HE is the One you can always depend on no matter what comes. Depend on Him. He'll never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you more than we comprehend.

Psalm 139:7-10
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.

Philippians 3:3-11
For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,  though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!


I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.



I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death,  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Honor Christ with your life. When we die, and we all will some day, the only thing we can take with us into Eternity is our inheritance that Christ has given us. His love, His Salvation, His Redemption and on yes, He gave us HIS Father. We are children of the Creator of the Universe.

What more could we ever want?

http://youtu.be/0vdLi8h-xdI - Dependence - Jamie Slocum

lyrics ~

This is the life I’ve always wanted
To know the prince of peace
To feel my faith restored
As your grace surrounds me

This is the day of new beginnings
This is where my freedom starts
And now death has lost its sting
And Jesus how can I thank you?

Just to know, just to know that you love me
Gives me hope to carry on
What can this world do to me? No, no

Just to know, just to know that you’re with me
On all these roads I traveled on
When all I have is gone
I confess my dependence on you

There is a lightness in my laughter
There is a joy inside my soul
My heart is overwhelmed
And Jesus how can I thank you?

Just to know, just to know that you love me
Gives me hope to carry on
What can this world do to me? No, no

Just to know, just to know that you’re with me
On all these roads I traveled on
When all I have is gone
I confess my dependence on you
Dependence on you

Just to know, just to know that you love me
It gives me hope to carry on
You’re the one thing that I can turn to
Just to know, just to know that you’re with me
On all these roads I traveled on
You’re the one thing that I can turn to


Thank You Jesus! You're all I need. Your love gives me hope to carry on. You are the One I can always turn to. No matter what this world throws at me, Lord, I know You're all I need. Help me to turn every negative, discouraging, defeating thought over to You so that You can squelch it! What ever You allow, Father, in my life, help me to keep my eyes on Jesus so that my response to the circumstance will bring You glory. Today, Lord, help me to live in the victory that You have given me.  There's nothing in this world that compares to the love I have in You. I love You, Jesus.


 

The Family of God



My son, Michael, caught this sweet "sister" moment and when I saw it, it made  me smile.  Brooklyn and 

Presley are so young, and they already understand the bond of sisterhood. God meant for us to share this bond of love with our earthly family.  But He tells us in His Word that we have another Family - the Family of God.  As a believer, I have many brothers and sisters - in Christ. 

http://youtu.be/E3ANMNNn86o  - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - The Hollies


As I read the prayer in John 17, I see the yearning of Jesus for his disciples to be one, to be united, just as He and His Father were one. How sad we must make Him when we bicker and argue over meaningless things! He wanted so much for us to love each other just as He loved us. He wanted us to be a true family - the Family of God.

When we see our brother struggling with a heavy burden, our first thought should be "how can I lighten his load? How can I make things easier? How can I reach out in love?" 

Matthew 25
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’


“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’


“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

This is what unity in Christ is all about. Sharing one another's troubles, lending a helping hand, showing the love of Christ to those who need to know HE has not forgotten them. We become the hands and feet of Jesus when we reach out to others. We are the Family of God and families help each other.

John 17
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.


I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!


O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

God's plan from the beginning has been that His children would be one - united in Christ with a common love and purpose. Fellowship is a very important part of being in the family of God. His instructions for life are all about relationships, fellowship, and about coming together with encouragement and support, helping each other to carry the heavy burdens of life.

I did a quick word search on Biblegateway.com and these are a few passages about our relationship with others:

John 13:34
 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.


John 13:35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”


Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.


Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.


2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.


Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love.


Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Thessalonians 4:9
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.


2 Thessalonians 1:3
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.


Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,


1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.


1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.


1 John 3:11
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.


1 John 3:23
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.


1 John 4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.


1 John 4:11
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.


1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.


1 John 4:21
And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love one another.


2 John 1:5
And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

I think it's safe to say that God wants us to love each other, and to care for each other. He knows the beauty and blessings of relationships built on unity and love. The Godhead - Father/Son/Holy Spirit are a perfect example of perfect love and unity of purpose and plan. They are united together in perfect harmony and They support one another with unselfish love and devotion. Wouldn't this world be amazing if we believers could be united in our love and purpose? What if everyone really started looking for ways to help others?

Philippians 2
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.


3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.


In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had:


Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Again in this passage, we see the focus on loving each other, looking out for one another, being united, and not divided. Verse 3 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition, value others above yourselves?" That's a hard thing to do. But if we learn how to love each other and how to come along side our brothers and sisters who are struggling, then we become more like Jesus.

And when one brother hurts, we all hurt.

1 Corinthians 12
Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”


In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

I've had the blessing of seeing God's Family reach out to brothers and sisters who are carrying a heavy load. They've come along side and lifted the load with prayers and hands-on support. I've watched our Family be the Hands and Feet of Jesus. This is exactly what Jesus told us to do. 

It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping and preparing for our big Christmas gatherings.  I always worry about getting that "just right" gift for each family member.  "Is it enough? Will they like it?" Some how, the gifts I give never seem to be enough to suit me.  To me, the gifts I give always seem lacking in some way.  Because of that feeling, I don't enjoy all the unwrapping of gifts very much.  I'm so afraid that my little grandchildren will be disappointed somehow. I don't want to disappoint them ever. So in the middle of what should be fun and excitement, I'm worried about disappointing someone with a "not so perfect" gift.   I know, it's dumb.  I'm sure I'm the only person in the world who ever feels this, right?  = P

Sometimes we focus so much on making everything perfect that we don't remember the true spirit of Christmas.  Our gift giving can never compare to God's gift to us all, the Gift of Christ.  Earthly speaking, Jesus didn't have anything to give.  There were no big boxes wrapped in paper of red and green with huge bows on top.  No, Jesus gave us a gift that could never be "wrapped" in a box.  He gave us the Gift of Salvation, the Gift of Himself, the Gift of Love.  That was indeed the perfect gift.

So this year as I try once again to find the "perfect" gifts for my family, more than anything I want them to know the greatest gift that I can give is Love.  Love is the one gift I can give to everyone.  I want my children and grandchildren to remember that Nana cared about others, and even if she didn't always give the "perfect" presents, I want them to know that I gave something more precious than the right doll or truck.  I want them to see me giving love and support to those in need. I want my grandchildren to know that they are loved unconditionally by me, but more importantly, by God. That's how I can best share the true spirit of Christmas with my family, with God's family.

Holy Father, sometimes Christmas is just overwhelming. I spend more than I have to spend, but it never feels like enough.  Father, this Christmas help me to focus on what's most important. Help me to remember the best present I ever got was my sweet Savior and Lord, Jesus.

This season, help me to be gentle and patient, and loving and kind,
and please help me to keep my priorities straight.
The gifts of the Spirit, the gifts of the heart are the ones I want to celebrate.
Help me to reach out in love to those I see struggling or suffering.  Show me how to help.
Show me how to be Your Hands and Feet.  Let me focus this season and always be sharing
Christ's wonderful Gift with others.

LORD, please take away the anxiety and stress, and help me to feel more at peace,
as  I prepare my home for Christmas. This year, please help me to do everything I can to
make Christmas a time of pure joy and delight, sharing the love of Christ every moment
of this season with everyone I meet.

http://youtu.be/WD7Gqkg6igQ - We are the Reason - Avalon