Category Archives: 2 Peter

2 Peter, 2020, KWT Paraphrasing, Psalms

My No Fret Chapter

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Psalm 37.
It’s my No Fret chapter. GOD tells me (and you) to Fret Not. And there is much these days to Not Fret about.

Also in the Psalm, I found the words (verse 10): “yet a little while“. If you are like me, you have surely heard or said: “little while, my foot, it’s been years!” And it was then I was reminded and gratefully so! 2 Peter 3:8.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 NKJV source

So Fret Not that folks are still lying; that folks are still plotting and carrying out unspeakable evil. GOD knows. In the scheme of it all, it has only been a couple of days.
He has not looked away.
He has not forgotten.
He has not winked.

2 Peter 3:8-9  (NKJV) 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. source

As Psalm 37 tells us: 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. source

And one more counsel from Psalm 37 (verse 3 and verse 27) for this post.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. source

So, that is His counsel to me today.
Fret Not about ______________ and what she/he is doing; the lies they are telling. It won’t be long as HE counts long (and His timing is NEVER wrong). For now, you (that would be me) TRUST ME (that would be HIM) and DO GOOD. Dwell where you are and feed on MY Faithfulness . . . not that other stuff.
And how do I do good?
Verse 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. source
Let’s see depart from evil.
Take no part in it.
Pray against it.
Stand against it but love the people who are doing it.
Pray earnestly for them and wait for GOD, and take action as He provides.
Dwell. Abide. Occupy.
Till I (that would be HIM) come.

Abba, I offer this post for You to do with as You will; for You to bring those who need it, and when they come please speak and love on them so they KNOW You and trust You. Amen and amen in Yeshua’s name.

1 Corinthians, 2 Peter, 2019, Ephesians, Questions, Repentance, Salvation

The Response!

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17 So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls],  18 for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart. source

Please see the brackets in the third line around unbelieving. It is really important for us to grasp Paul is penning about not just any Gentiles, but the unbelieving, as there were many Gentiles in the Community (Church, Body) at Ephesus. Another clue for us that when a Gentile became a follower of the Jewish Messiah, they became family. Yeshua (Jesus as you may address Him) has One Family, One community.

But what of these unbelieving Gentiles? It was a term his readers understood; well understood. Outcasts. Banished from the Commonwealth of Israel.

BUT look it’s self-banishment! It’s not GOD’s will that any be banished! (See 2 Peter3:9)

Self-banished. What a word! What does it mean? Banished means sent away as an official punishment.

A few questions.
How often do we send ourselves away from fellowship with GOD because we have deemed ourselves unworthy?
How many of us see the bottom layer of that thinking?
When we self-banish ourselves, who’s the judge, the jury and the executioner?
Who alone has that Office and Responsibility?
So what are we doing when we self-banish?
What would cause us to do that?
(Subtle Pride.)
But it’s still damnable pride, is it not?

But wait! Does not the Scriptures tell us to judge ourselves so that we will not be judged?
Absolutely! It does! See 1 Corinthians 11:31. So what’s the factor here? The Response!

Pride sends us away!
Repentance draws us close!

1 Corinthians 11:31 Amplified Bible (AMP) 31 But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged. source

Please see it!  And correcting our behavior! That’s what repentance does. It corrects our behavior. Pride, even subtle pride, keeps us banished.

Repentance. Oh, what a beautiful, loving, holy gift!  Let us unwrap it as often as necessary!

Oh, Father, thank You, thank You for the gift of repentance! Pour out Your holy gift of conviction with repentance again and again that we may fellowship with You continually.  Amen and amen in JESUS name. 

1 Timothy, 2 Peter, Gospel of John, Guests, Psalms

My Two Cents

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From time to time I read Sean of the South. Today was one of those times.

Here’s a link to his January 4, 2017 post. It’s entitled: Ladies and Girls.

As I read his post Scripture came to mind.

1 Timothy 6:10  (NKJV) 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, . . .  source 

If you read his post and if you think like me you probably know where I am going with this and if not, may I share? :)

Actually, you really do need to read his post. Here’s a link. Go read it and meet me back here. Please.  Click. 

Okay. Got all that? Yeah. Me too.  So let me add my two cents. :)

MONEY!

Nothing creates a money-making environment like dissatisfaction.  Similar to Sean‘s description, every Ad we see tells us we are in serious need of this or that – but Wait! THIS product will fix that!  Sound familiar? Yeah. To me too. Ever bought into that? Yeah. Me too.

By and large advertisers main aim is to convince us that we are incomplete, unfulfilled, lacking, not enough, deprived and entitled – for a price that is – to their product.
It is estimated in 2017 U.S. advertisers will spend 209.69 Billion dollars to convince us we are not enough and do not have enough.
209.69 BILLION DOLLARS! source
And just think, if they SPEND that much to get us to spend our money on their products — just how much are we buying?!
Will the product even work? And for how long?

Now for the good news!
There is a Fix for all our ailments, our inadequacies, our not enough(s) and even our too much(es). No. Really there is!
Now put your money away! Your money won’t buy this Fix and I have yet to see an infomercial featuring this everlasting Fix. Yes. I did say everlasting. Interested?

This everlasting Fix actually is a Person, not a product. 
How many of you know that?
How many of you have made His acquaintance?
How many of you are beyond just acquainted with Him?
My understanding is it is His desire to make all humanity whole and satisfied. And it’s a gift! 
Yes. Really!

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.  source

I mean what could be more satisfying, more for making content a soul than that? How about this?

John 10:10  (NKJV) 10 . . . I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  source 

And this?

2 Peter 3:8 But don’t forget this one thing, loved ones, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.  source 

So here’s the bottom line.
The product maker/product handler wants our money.
The King of the Universe wants our trust.
Which one do you think will really make us whole and satisfied for the longest time?

Salt and Light,
Kathie

Matthew 5:13-16