Monthly Archives: June 2011

Christian Living, Forgiveness

One. Two. Trust Me.

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The hour is late and the morning will come early, even so I want at least a hello on the page for you this (Monday) morning.  And in the interest of time how about a word from my Sunday School study notes for this morning?

Jeremiah.
The Weeping Prophet.
The Prophet who so loved the people of Israel. So loved them he wept over their sins and pending captivity. And in their unrepentant state, they hated Jeremiah; even plotted to kill him for the message he preached.

And we found in chapter 15 that Jeremiah had some serious struggle with their hatred. And I submit to you as I did to my class that it is hard to be hated. When a servant of God comes to a season of life when they perceive they are hated by their peers at least two deep, dark struggles ensue.

One.
A war begins in the soul to hold back from hating the one hating you. And I dare say apart from the inner helping of the HOLY SPIRIT, it can’t be done. It is all too natural to hate back when we are faced with the hatred of others. Only the HOLY SPIRIT can empower us to love those who do not love us. And when we ask He will – perhaps it will take constant communication and practice but in Him we can love those who hate us. And it is in our best interest to do so.

Two.
A war begins in the soul to resist believing what is being said about us. The childhood refrain we heard spoken on the school playground: ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me’ is a lie.
Words hurt.
Words cut deep.
Words leave wounds so deep and ghastly if left to fester into a ‘spiritual cancer’, it may take years of HOLY GHOST Therapy to fully heal. We would do well to seek the healing balm of JESUS immediately. To believe what ABBA has said about us in His Word rather than the words of man.

It is crucial for the Servant of God to lose neither of these battles. It is sad, it is evil, but the Servant who succumbs sooner or later and probably sooner will find himself/herself in rebellion against the GOD they had served.

Listen to Jeremiah. Hear his wail. Hear his accusation and charge against Yahweh. Moreover, let us take heed. If Jeremiah can allow a wound to so fester that he would accuse GOD of evil – we too are capable of the same.

Jeremiah 15: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 You know, LORD; remember me and take note of me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, don’t take me away. Know that I suffer disgrace for Your honor.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I am called by Your name, LORD God of Hosts.
17 I never sat with the band of revelers, and I did not celebrate [with them]. Because Your hand was [on me], I sat alone, for You filled me with indignation.
18 Why has my pain become unending, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You truly have become like a mirage to me—water that is not reliable.
via Jeremiah 15:15-21 – Passage Lookup – Holman Christian Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

And now that we have heard Jeremiah, let us hear ABBA.

Jeremiah 15: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jeremiah Told to Repent
19 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak noble [words], rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman. It is they who must return to you; you must not return to them.
20 Then I will make you a fortified wall of bronze to this people. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you. [This is] the LORD’s declaration.
21 I will deliver you from the power of evil people and redeem you from the control of the ruthless.
via Jeremiah 15:15-21 – Passage Lookup – Holman Christian Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Yes! Accusing God of evil is evil. And if we love Him we will continually strive to mature to the place that we do that less and less.

BUT not all questioning of God is evil. Not all questionings to God makes us a rebel. And it is far, far better for us to take our honest questions to God before they turn into accusations.

The safest thing we can do for ourselves in this life journey is to be honest with God. Hold nothing back, talk it out with Him. Lay all our ugly truths before Him and let Him heal us before we start accusing Him and charging Him with evil.  Don’t let those questions fester – ask, confess. Yes, even complain. But with the complaint, be willing to see and receive His response. Especially if His response is WAIT and TRUST ME.

And after our Sunday School hour, the Preacher (Billy Graham from First Baptist of North Mobile) said in closing when suffering comes we pray, ‘Father, I don’t like this; but I trust You.’

And when we do, we just might hear Him say, ‘I don’t like it either, and no it’s not right or fair, for now — but TRUST ME’.

Amen, Kathie

Click HERE for PFT.   My love to you all.

Christian Living

Milk and Honey

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Jeremiah 11: New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I said, “Amen, O LORD.”
via Jeremiah 11:5 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Flowing with milk and honey.
Ever wonder just what that means?

Flowing.
Flowing denotes abundance to me.
More than enough.
More than enough for me to share.
I like abundance.

Milk.

And to have an abundance of milk there would be an abundance of cattle and for there to be an abundance of cattle that necessitates an abundance of grassy meadows and grain for those abundant cattle to graze upon. And if there is an abundance of grasses and grains that means there is an abundance of rain and proper sunshine to produce those abundant grasses and grains. And if abundant grains there must be able bodies to work and gather those grains.  So we have healthy, thriving people in this land flowing with milk and honey.

Milk.  Who’d a thought it could bring us all that?

Honey.
What about an abundance of honey?
Honey bees!
Honey bees doing their job in abundance would signal an abundance of blossoms – fruits and vegetables come from blossoms.
Again. Harvests and healthy, thriving people.

I like this Land Flowing with Milk and Honey.
No doubt the Hebrews did too. And yet the flowing Milk and Honey dried up at Yahweh’s command.

Why? Why would He command such?

Jeremiah 11:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 The LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me by offering up sacrifices to Baal.
via Jeremiah 11:17 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com. 

So what brings on a famine in our souls?

Exodus 20
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
via Ex 20 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

So when I’m running low on milk and honey, I have to ask myself what little g god has my attention?  Is it the milk and honey rather than the GOD who supplied it?

Moreover.
Yes, ABBA, is the Supplier of the milk and honey — but He does expect me to keep up my inventory with frequent trips to the STORE.

Blessed to be an handmaiden in the LORD,
Kathie

Thank You, ABBA.  In this moment, I get this picture well I think; I ask You, HOLY SPIRIT, to guard me against forgetting it; least I sin against You.

And this morning I am thinking of Larry and praying for You to turn these last two weeks around and give him steady progress again. Above all I pray this whole process will accomplish great and mighty things for Your Glory and his good. Remembering Claudia too for strength and peace. And thinking of babies today, Addison, Ainsley, Emory and Willow Grace, praying for health and growing in grace and favor, ABBA, with You and the Body of Christ Jesus. And as this Summer means no school activities – it’s a different ‘world’ for children and parents, so I pray for peace and rest, quick minds and hearts stayed on doing this Summer Your Way, ABBA. Thank You for today, help us do it well in JESUS Name. Amen and amen.

Click HERE to be reminded of the dear ones counting on us to pray.

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Mirror Reflections

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Philippians 1: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
via Philippians 1:6 – Passage Lookup – Holman Christian Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

So am I?

Are you?

How often have we quoted this verse to a brother or sister with a downcast countenance?  And yet when we look in the mirror what do we believe?

Did your Momma tell you: “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.”?

Well?  Why does that not apply to the one reflected in the mirror?

Perhaps it does.

Ephesians 4: New American Standard Bible (NASB)
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
via Ephesians 4:29 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com

I would do well to practice this today on the woman in the mirror.
How about you?

I pray, ABBA, for the courage and the faith to practice this Word today; for You, for others and for me.  And I pray the same courage and faith for each Dear One who comes to this screen. We continue to remember Misty and Willow Grace, asking for protection, for a safe delivery; a healthy, safe delivery for both Misty and Willow Grace  – even allowing Willow Grace one more week safely inside to grow. And we pray for the others named at PFT.  You see each of their faces, You know their every thought, fear, hope and dream; and You know what is right and good eternally for them and it is for that we pray in JESUS Name. Amen and amen.

Do well today, my Friends.

Honored to be a handmaiden of the LORD,
Kathie

Click HERE for PFT web page.