Category Archives: Repentance

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, Forgiveness, Repentance

Big and Bad or New Beginnings

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Oh this is hard.

Got the GRANDS settled in again; they had waited so patiently to do something fun as I worked to complete  this devotion. It was all but finished; only needed to tweak it for presentation.  I clicked all the right buttons for it to be saved, both in Word and on-line. But perhaps the thunderstorm had its way instead of mine – no words survived. Not one. Anywhere.  Other than my mind and what’s there, well that is questionable. So I am here to begin again, getting to practice what I “preached” so well just a little bit ago. :)

Isaiah 59: New International Version (NIV)
10 Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.
via Is 59:10 – Passage Lookup – New International Version – BibleGateway.com.

I wrote earlier that this is a graphic picture for me this morning, depicting life lived by FEELINGS and not FAITH.  Or something like that – I need not insist that this new one be like the old one. Romans 8:28.

And right now I have feelings galore. Feelings vying for top position, and all of them detrimental to FAITH – so I prayed for help. And I’m still here; albeit jumpy.  The greater struggle in this moment is a desperate want to recreate what was. How many of you know that is not going to happen? Romans 8:28. So forgetting what is done, we press on. :)

Hebrews 10: 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
via Hebrews 10:38 – Passage Lookup – 21st Century King James Version – BibleGateway.com.

Blind groping a wall, trying to get somewhere; trying to journey this life with all its decisions and responses and defenses that bumping up against others demands. Feelings scream to rule. FAITH waits quietly to empower.

At midday we stumble as if it were twilight. Feelings do that. They ignore the Ever Present, Voluminous, Abounding (redundant, I know – but you get it) LIGHT we have at our finger tips, as close as breath, that we could call upon by FAITH. But feelings don’t want to, so we don’t.

Even in this land, Strength and Might surround us; but feelings refuse to receive and we are paralyzed. We are like dead men moving about in chains as we push and shove to get to where we think we should be or else we just despair and roll over and play dead.

That’s Feeling Life – it keeps us blind and weak, stumbling, falling, crabby, complaining, negative, pessimistic, and moody.  Trust me, I know whereof I speak.

Just this morning as I sat to write (the first time), feelings came – big and bad.  Big and bad would have won and the first devotional message would not have been written (much less this second one in process now) had not Faith Life rescued me.  More than just breathe out a prayer, I had to write it.  It’s a legacy thing.

“I cannot do this – I cannot let this happen. I am praying now for help to release these adverse emotions that have come upon me to drive me to sin and frustration.”

And so Faith Life prevailed. Faith Life won’t always prevail. Not because it’s too feeble. No it is well able to succeed every time; yet Feeling Life will in all probability deceive us again, catch us off guard and we will plunge in again. But even so we have hope.

Let me share a picture in closing.  We had a gardenia bush (more like a tree) in our side yard. It was diseased to near death.  Black soot disease was choking out the sun, preventing photosynthesis; and you know that is certain death for vegetation. Yes. Had we not waited so long other treatment might have spared drastic measures; but we didn’t. (You are getting the analogy here, aren’t you?) I finally prayed over it.  And the clear word that came was prune to nubs and burn.

Yes. Deep, deep pruning and fire. Is the picture worth a thousand words? Shall we refuse Feeling Life to embrace Faith Life so that deep, deep pruning and fire (refining) be not necessary?

Even so – New Beginnings are possible.

Just one of the LORD’s handmaidens,
Kathie

Please pray. PFT Click HERE for names.

ABBA, I see with this piece there are many avenues You could highlight, many messages You could give to Readers as they come here; even so, ABBA, as You will in JESUS Name.  Amen and amen.

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, Forgiveness, Repentance, Salvation

Jeremiahs, Will You Please Step Forward?

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The sources are varied, as well as the stringing together of the words; but the messages I am hearing are the same ­– hear the Word of the LORD and get serious about your sins – repenting of them, that is.

Jeremiah 7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Message at the Temple Gate

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!’”
3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.
4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
5 For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,
6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin,
7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.
via Jer 7 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Don’t you know Jeremiah was ‘uncomfortable’ giving this message? Don’t know he had a rolling in his stomach as he made his way to the Temple gate? Can’t you imagine his knees knocked together as he stood to proclaim this Word from the LORD?

Did you notice Jeremiah was standing at the gate of the ‘Church’ proclaiming this Word? He was out there where everyone could hear him.  Hmmm. What are we told over and over these days? Keep your faith and your JESUS to yourself; be quiet about Him.  Well, who are we going to obey? Them or HIM?

Luke 14: 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
23 And the lord said unto the servant, `Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
via Luke 14:23 – Passage Lookup – 21st Century King James Version – BibleGateway.com.

Is there anything that makes us more unpopular than naming sin? I mean think about it. Say it these days and what do folks say to you and in anger no less?

You have no right to judge me!

And what would my response be? Hopefully, in love and humility, I would say: “You’re right I don’t and I’m not, your deeds have already condemned you; see it’s right here. This is what God says: Your sin He hates because it will destroy you; you He loves and He will rescue you and deliver you if you will allow Him. Will you?”

Do I dare?
Jeremiah dared.
Would you say we could use some Jeremiahs around here now?
Where are they?
Jeremiahs, will you please step forward?

Again I am asking you to remember Specific Unspokens, Salvation lists, Israel, Revival, all listed at PFT.  I am still remembering Misty and Willow Grace, Nichole, Lance, Ann and her family (Barnes) and others. Please do so as well.  Click HERE to see the list.

A handmaiden to the KING of kings,
Kathie

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, Forgiveness, Repentance, Salvation

Oh Blessed Truth

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Oh blessed truth!

John 6: New American Standard Bible (NASB)

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. via John 6:37 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

And the one who comes to Me I will CERTAINLY not cast out.

For sure, for sure in the King James vernacular, EVERY soul who comes to JESUS in confession and repentance WILL BE received!!

NO ONE excluded!

Is there any better news than that?!!

John 6:40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”  via John 6 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Oh, ABBA, bless Your Holy Name for this truth, for this reality in each of us who have believed. HOLY SPIRIT, bring others to this Truth in JESUS Name.

And we come remembering Ann and her Dad and all the family this week as they adjust to this separation from Martha. It was her testimony of her love and faith in You that brings comfort and we thank You for the faith she received from You.  And others, Melinda, Betty, Misty, Willow Grace, LaJuanna, and well You know, LORD, the others listed there; those specific unspoken, that list of yet unbelieving souls, this Nation and Your beloved Israel, our IDOK Troops; all these we present now to You for help, for healing, for provisions, for gifts of faith, for every possible need they have; we are dependent upon You and You alone to help them.  Thank You for this confidence found in CHRIST JESUS alone. Amen and amen.

Praying for These – click HERE.

Just one of the KING’s Handmaidens,
Kathie

Assurance - Promise, Forgiveness, Repentance, Salvation

Pick One

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Warning! A tough one but I’m bound to post it.

The amazing Grace of God.

Why do humans reject His grace?

Two reasons I think.

One.
Unbelief.
Not willing to believe it’s true.

Two.
Pride.
Not willing to change.

For you see to ACCEPT the Grace of God we must admit we NEED the grace of God and we can only NEED the grace of God if we have SINNED against GOD.

And even the vilest of practicing sinners when confronted with the Grace of God know to ACCEPT this gift of grace requires CHANGE.  And in some that required CHANGE is more than they are willing to do.

How sad is that?!

So I am convinced that ALL refusals to stop practicing behavior that violates Scripture is because we either do not believe the Scripture or we don’t care what God says – we are hell-bent to do it our own way.

Are you familiar with ‘thumbing your nose’ at someone?  Well, that’s what refusing the Grace of God is in the FACE of GOD. In truth that is a mild illustration — refusing Him is much more vile than that gesture.

Know anybody like that?

Oh may it not be the reflection in the mirror.

Exodus 20

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Ten Commandments

1 Then God spoke all these words:

2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

3 Do not have other gods besides Me.

4 Do not make an idol  for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.

5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me,

6 but showing faithful love to a thousand [generations] of those who love Me and keep My commands.

7 Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will punish anyone who misuses His name.

8 Remember to dedicate the Sabbath day: 

9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 

10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. 

11 For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

13 Do not murder.

14 Do not commit adultery.

15 Do not steal.

16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.   via Ex 20 – Passage Lookup – Holman Christian Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Broken – bent  any of these lately?

Then HIS GRACE is need.

1 John 1: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. via I john 1:9 – Passage Lookup – Holman Christian Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

ACCEPT OR REJECT – pick one.

Only a Handmaiden of the KING,
Kathie