Category Archives: Ephesians

2020, Ephesians, Gospel of Matthew, Holy Soap Box, It's a Bonus Post, Political awareness

Words. Words. Words.

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Words. I like words. Words are vehicles of communication; they inform. However, problems arise with using Words. They can be perceived differently than intended. They can be spoken or written hastily. They can be used to edify the hearers. They can be used to wound the hearers (or readers). The speaker is responsible for his or her words. The hearer is responsible too; responsible to do his or her best to listen for understanding and to ask in a spirit of learning, did you mean what I have perceived? This is communication. It’s limited it seems to me these days.

These days we have Word Police. We get warnings or ticketed when we use words others do not like. Now, depending upon the intent of our hearts, that might not put us in such bad company. Here, let me give you an example.

Yeshua.
Some know Him as Jesus. If He were walking the earth today in His GODMAN body He would get warned and ticketed often.
Yeshua said what He meant and meant what He said.
And it was NEVER to hurt; it was ALWAYS to heal. I suspect often, though, it did sting and smart some of the hearers.  (It has me!)
Would you like an example? Matthew 23. Take a look.

And let us do likewise. Let our words be chosen for the purpose of healing, even when they hurt.
I know, it’s easier said than done; but, we can practice!

Ephesians 4:29  (AMP) 29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. source

2020, Ephesians, Gospel of Matthew

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Husband

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Would we not say it is well established at least among JESUS Believers that GOD acted First to procure our salvation? He made the First step. He didn’t wait for us to do right, to do what was needed to make us right.

So. Let us take that precedent and apply it to our relationships, particularly marriage.

What do we know about JESUS? 

Matthew 20:28  (NIV) 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” source

And do we also not know our salvation relationship (Bride of Christ) with JESUS is a picture of marriage? Therefore, could it be anything but ungodly for us to respond in any way other than a servant one to another in marriage? Is not marriage a covenant of service? Did we enter that marriage thinking we would be served or that we would serve? 

Back to the top. Can we honestly say to ourselves I’ll do right when he/she does right? Is that what GOD did? 

So, how ungodly is it to say I’ll do right when he/she does right?

Probing questions keep coming in the quiet of this isolation.

Ephesians 5:22-32 – is it old fashioned or is it the Word of GOD?
Be very careful how you answer that.

2 Timothy, 2020, COVID 19, Ephesians, Jude, Questions

The Wise Ones

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COVID 19.

It was brewing, this COVID 19, but had not become all the rage when I was hospitalized from a Thursday to Saturday with pneumonia. So, when I came home I stayed home until I finished the take home antibiotics the doctor prescribed and then carefully, on the following Friday, I accompanied my hubby to a local chicken place for a meal. I was using disinfecting wipes on the door handle and our table before it was the tending thing to do.  :)

And from there to the grocery and home again. I’ve been here since with the exceptions of walks in our neighborhood and truck rides with my hubby while he braved the store for needed items.

I do not have even an educated guess as to how many Americans are practicing social distancing but I am thinking a lot of us are. Is it necessary? Is it helping? Is it saving health and lives? Time will tell.

Is what’s happening unprecedented? I’d say yes. It’s the first in my life and I’m old. :)

Who brought this virus to be? That I do not know. I know Who didn’t. And here we are. At home.

So, how are we weathering this at home storm? Thankfully, I am actually good with it. I didn’t say happy with it, I said good with it. And I owe that to JESUS. Actually, I owe every good in me and my life to JESUS.  And, yes, I’m glad about it.

So, why? Why are we in this crisis? I’ve said it more than a few times: what its developer meant for evil, GOD means for good. I stand by it; more than standing by it, I am experiencing His goodness – I am experiencing Him and He is good. He is always good and we are always loved. I heard someone say that several years ago. I keep it close.

This morning one of my Facebook posts went like this:

What if churches are closed because GOD is saying that churches have become places about US instead of HIM? The book of Acts gives a true account of what the Church was and was birthed to be.

What if one of the purposes of COVID 19 is to give us opportunities to find out if we really have a relationship with Yeshua (Jesus) or just with the place we gathered from time to time?

What if COVID 19 is here to wake us up to the reality of Scripture?
Like we have now experienced how EASY it will be for The Lawless One, the Man of Sin, a/k/a the Antichrist to come to world power. Right now a virus has commandeered the market, the economy, and distanced us in our homes – for the common good.
And people think the book of Revelation won’t be fulfilled?
One would have to be spiritually blind to not believe now.
The title of this album reads Morning Routine Thought Drops, don’t be fooled, I have them in the afternoons too. 😍

The Book of Acts and the Book of Revelation; perhaps some of us will wipe off the dust and read them.

This COVID 19 will pass. This particular virus will subside and people will cease to die from COVID 19 – however, people will continue to die – there is much in our world to bring on death.

The non-essential stores will open again, restaurants (the ones that survive this season) will open again, and businesses of every kind will open again. Churches will open again. But, who will be the people who return to those church buildings? Will we be the same people we were when the doors closed? That’s a decision each and every one of us is now making – today!

I’ve heard this time referred to as a Divine Pause.  I can see that. My Facebook post probably told you I could concur with that.

I’d like it to be more. I’d like it to be a Shabbat. An extended time of coming away to unhindered, unrivaled, non-competitive communion with the Messiah. Those of us who are wise WILL not let this opportunity slip from us. And it is going to go quicker than we think. The clock is ticking –  I can hear it right here as I sit before this screen.

The wise ones, will settle down and immerse themselves in Thus Saith the LORD.
This divine pause is preparatory. Again, this season will pass.
The world will come calling. I want to have answers for them.

Ephesians 5:15  (NLT) 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

2 Timothy 3:15-16 (TLV) 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise, leading to salvation through trusting in Messiah Yeshua. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness,

Jude 25  (KJV) 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.   SOURCE

1 Thessalonians, 2020, Deuteronomy, Ephesians, Galatians, James, Proverbs

Cleaning

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I posted this to Facebook today and if I may, I’d like to expound:
Have we considered this crisis among other things to be an imperative opportunity for learning what GOD is offering us like going forward to live CLEANER lives: physically, emotionally, AND SPIRITUALLY?

Let me begin with emotions. Would not GOD want us to live cleaner emotionally? Would He not want us to clean out all the negative junk we are nursing inside? You know like unholy anger, bitterness, unforgiveness – all that stuff that makes us emotionally ill. What does Scripture say?

Proverbs 17:22  (AMP)22 A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.  source

Spiritually. Oh, that one is easy to see! Of course, He wants us to live cleaner spiritually – crucify that old putrid flesh and live in the Spirit.

James 4:8  (NLT) 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. source

Galatians 5:16  (AMP) 16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. source

Galatians 5:24  (AMP) 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.  source

Physically. No, you will not find in the Scriptures what you have heard all your life: that cleanliness is next to godliness. But I am confident and certain from the whole counsel of Scripture that GOD sees the benefit of clean bodies. Look, GOD was so concerned about hygiene that He gave the Hebrews instructions on what to do with the product of their morning constitutionals. You don’t believe me?  Check out Deuteronomy 23. Click HERE. My point is this if GOD gives instructions on how to cover your poo, do you really think He would have us overlook our BO?

Look, we live in a dirty world. We have dirtied it up with viruses, infections, excrements, expletives, lust, greed, germs, nasties of every sort and kind, and mostly our sins.

Who of us could not live CLEANER?  Even our mouths – what we put in and what we let out!

Ephesians 4:29  (AMP) 29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].  source

And this one:

1 Thessalonians 5:22  (KJV) 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. source

That’ll get us clean!

A note: If you click the word source following 
each verse of Scripture given in any of my 
posts a new window will open at (Biblegateway) 
to at least three and possibly four different
Translations of the given Text.