Goodbyes

My soul is sad as I sit to write. It was 15 years ago that we tackled legal issues together for our mutual lawyer/boss. She was spunky, only a little more than a year older than me and yet somehow I always felt much her junior. She knew her way around the office and she was good to me. Yet the day came when I moved on to greener pastures and tonight I learned my friend moved to the Golden Shore quite peacefully on April 27. Ramona fought a good fight and she kept the faith. Her family celebrated her life on Thursday (National Day of Prayer). I wish I had known. I miss her – just knowing she no longer shares this terrestrial sod with me makes me sad; but I will see her again. And I will see her again for only one reason – she said YES to JESUS and so have I. Have you?

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

via John 4 NASB;CJB – Jesus Goes to Galilee – Therefore when – Bible Gateway.

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

via Romans 10:9-11 NASB;CJB – that if you confess with your mouth – Bible Gateway.  Romans 10:9-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Ramona is not disappointed.  If you were to slip from this earth today — do you know where you would spend eternity?  You can know. This very day you can know.  I John 5:13 Questions? Click HERE for email address. 

Be Hidden in CHRIST,

Thank You, ABBA, for the sweet assurance of Ramona’s testimony. Thank You that she lives on and I pray her testimony continues to bring others to repentance and salvation in You LORD JESUS alone.

Nonetheless

There comes a time when one verse is enough to chew on for the day. Here. See if you agree.

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

via Col 3 NASB;CJB – Put On the New Self – Therefore if you – Bible Gateway.

Chosen by God before the foundation of the world.
Got that one.

Holy.
Me, Holy? (tough one to get wrapped around me because of a prideful nature BUT positionally in CHRIST JESUS it is nonetheless true this very day and glory be to YESHUA it will one day be true in practice!). You, too?

Beloved.
Another ??? But nonetheless true. We are beloved! In the LORD JESUS we are loved more than we have the will or the mind to comprehend. Perhaps with practice we will learn to relax and rest in being beloved!

Put On.
Chosen. Holy. Beloved – all gifts. Nothing for us to do but receive. But Put On. That’s different. That’s a verb. Requires our will to do for it to be so. And now to see what to Put On.

A Heart of.
You know the heart is the seat of emotions; that place where the real you and me is, don’t you? Actually in the King James heart is rendered bowels. Not a word that 21st Century folks use much outside the medical realm. But let’s think about it. The bowels per my Greek online Lexicon includes the heart, lungs, liver, etc even. You know those essential things that keep us alive. The heart that pumps blood and nutrients through our veins. The lungs that deliver air so we can actually breath. The liver that filters out toxins in the food, water, substances and air that we take so we don’t die prematurely on this sin-cursed planet. Essential stuff! So in order for us to be healthy Christians we have to spiritually put on a HEART that will pump into our beings the BLOOD of CHRIST to keep us cleansed; lungs that will breathe in the HOLY SPIRIT; a liver that will filter out the garbage of this world so it does not contaminate our being.  You get the picture. Right? So what are these heart filters?

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience

Compassion seems to be pity and mercy set into motion. Whatever warm fuzzy we are feeling when we see the sufferings of another, if it does not move us to extend mercy and pity, it falls short of compassion. In plain terms: If the warm fuzzy feeling inside does not move us to take action to alleviate someone’s suffering we have not yet put on compassion.

Kindness. We know what kindness is don’t we? We know what 21st Century kindness is – it’s tactfulness. It means I never hurt your feelings by what I say or do. Right? BUT Biblical kindness is way different! Biblical kindness is integrity and benignity [source]. It means I am honest, speaking the truth with you in such a way as to cause you no eternal harm. It is kind for the surgeon to cut the cancer out but that does not mean it won’t hurt! Reminds me of the TEXT when YESHUA said we should be wise as serpents and harmless as doves [Matthew 10:16]. Oh, ABBA, help me put on kindness and help my brothers and sisters to put on kindness toward me!

Humility. I read a fine description of that the other day. Humility does not mean I think less of myself; it means I think of myself less. Humility knows in CHRIST JESUS I am a child of the MOST HIGH GOD [that’s the cream of the crop]; but in my flesh without Him, there is ZERO, ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING good about me! (See Romans 7:18)

Gentleness. Guess what I found when I clicked a few references for gentleness?  Gentleness comes from GOD. Click HERE and see what I mean.
Notice 2 Samuel 22:36 says THY gentleness.
Notice Psalm 18:35 says THY gentleness.
Notice 2 Corinthians 10:1 says gentleness of CHRIST.
And Galatians 5:22, you know what you will find there.
Gentleness is not something you and I can come up with naturally on our own. It is a GIFT we can choose to open and put on like a lovely cashmere sweater on a cold day!  :)

One more and we will be done.

Patience.
Oh that was cute!  We will be done. Patience.  Get it? :)

And this one is easy. Not easy to do but easy to explain since we just discussed it yesterday in Sunday School. Patience and long-suffering are pretty much interchangeable. And we learned yesterday that long-suffering is to keep on keeping on delivering the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS even when from all appearances it looks sensible to give up. So I would say patience is when we keep on doing what we know is in accordance with Scripture even when it appears the sensible thing to do is give up.

And there we have one verse to ponder and practice today.

Be Hidden in CHRIST,

 

Thank You, ABBA, for one verse; plenty to guide us this day. Compassion, I need. To be moved to help alleviate suffering. Kindness; integrity that does no eternal harm; I so want to put this on, YESHUA. HOLY SPIRIT, thank You. I trust You to help me be clothed in kindness. Gentleness, patience, humility; all of these YOU are well able to grow and weave into us. So we present ourselves to You today to put on these gifts and bless the world in Your Holy Name LORD JESUS.
We are mindful of many in these moments and we bring them now; all need healing of a kind so we ask You LORD JESUS to heal them of their diseases; cancer, paralysis, and other medical maladies, unbelief, blindness, apathy, un-forgiveness; whatever You find in the hearts of those whose names we bring individually and collectively. Amen and amen.

 

2013 National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer!

I cannot think of anything that America needs more than prayer – the prayer of repentance.

14 if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

via 2 Chronicles 7 KJ21;CJB – Now when Solomon had made an end of – Bible Gateway.

I have many concerns for America. She has many sins. These are grievous and dark days. BUT JESUS is STILL the LIGHT of the WORLD.

5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth.
7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
10 If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.

via I john 1 KJ21;CJB – That which was from the beginning, – Bible Gateway.

19 We know that we are from God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment, so that we may know who is genuine; moreover, we are united with the One who is genuine, united with his Son Yeshua the Messiah. He is the genuine God and eternal life.
21 Children, guard yourselves against false gods!

via 1 John 5:19-21 KJV;CJB – And we know that we are of God, and the – Bible Gateway. 1 John 5:19-21 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

via Revelation 1:7 NASB;CJB – BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, – Bible Gateway.  Revelation 1:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

via Revelation 22:19-21 NASB;CJB – and if anyone takes away from the words – Bible Gateway.

Be Hidden in CHRIST,

ABBA, forgive America for She does not know; her eyes have been blinded; the scales upon her eyes are thick and heavy;  I pray, HOLY SPIRIT, that You will help all of us to be willing to take off the blinders and see the TRUTH.  I pray for mercy. I pray for grace and space to repent. I know it is not Your will that any person die lost. Thank You that You are willing to save. Forgive us, ABBA, and please save America. HOLY SPIRIT, please convince we the people of sin, righteousness and judgment to come in the Mighty name of JESUS. I know You are have enough mercy to go around; I know You have enough love and forgiveness for even those we deem the worst of us; I pray You will send revival to the CHURCH and repentance to the Nation. Amen and amen.

Love ’em & Leave ’em!

If you noticed in yesterday’s prayer I thanked Father for light and that light was from Isaiah 61.
Just a few words from the TEXT rocked my world, loosened some chains and I am believing freedom is coming!

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; . . .  source

The TEXT is speaking of YESHUA.
It is just one of the prophesies heralding His Mission here on planet earth.
However, that is not the ‘new’ light I’m talking about.

I am confident, it is not news to you that as JESUS returned to Heaven in His flesh and bone body after His resurrection that He through HOLY SPIRIT has anointed us with this same calling.
Albeit, we will never be perfect in this calling; we with HOLY SPIRIT can strive to be.

And with that let me share with you some good news!

because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek   source

Do you see it?

We have not been called, anointed, or sent to preach the good tidings to people who do not want to hear it!!

As we are traversing this planet and we interact with people and the conversation makes it clear we are speaking with a ‘meek’ soul; one whose heart  HOLY SPIRIT has already tendered; it is that dear and precious soul to whom we ‘preach’, share, discuss, demonstrate, whatever the holy means given to us, the GOOD TIDINGS of GREAT JOY: that YESHUA, JESUS the CHRIST died and arose to give them Eternal Life!
But there is a condition: they MUST repent. That is they must agree they NEED a Savior.
And my Friend ONLY one who has already been tendered by HOLY SPIRIT will be willing to listen to this GOOD NEWS.

So am I saying to hell with those unwilling to listen?
NO!
I’m just saying, don’t debate it.
Don’t argue with them.
Don’t beat them over the head with your Bible or your ‘righteousness’.
Love them and leave them!
Love them and LEAVE them (and pray for them!) to HOLY SPIRIT until they are ready to be LED to JESUS.

Say what you will but that’s LIGHT and FREEDOM to this Little JESUS Girl!

Be Hidden in CHRIST,

Father, Your little JESUS girl here thanks You! And I pray HOLY SPIRIT other Little JESUS Girls and Boys will get Your Revelation to them and will agree to be willing to carry Your LIGHT into this Dark World one voice at a time to one You have already prepared to hear. Thank You, LORD JESUS, for this most holy calling, this most wonderful privilege in all the world. Thank You. Tune our hearts, Father, to sing Your praise. Amen and amen.