Tag Archives: Christian

Under Siege

I haven’t done this in a while.
Today I am.
A KWT paraphrase. I hope it lights up your Spirit Man.
It has mine.

In a city under siege, it says.

img_3618-1America is under siege—it may not be visible to the natural eye, but a siege is upon us. Western North Carolina is under siege. Florida has siege barreling toward it—yes, we can say we are under siege. All of us are under siege of some nature and kind.

But hear this today.
Psalm 31, beginning with verse 21— He has shown me His loving devotion.

Okay. Here goes. KWT Paraphrase.

How has HE shown me His loving devotion? 
When I was under siege and I was alarmed and thinking the wrong way, by His Grace, even while under siege I called out to HIM. And He heard me. And He helped me.
And now I can say to you all.  
Love the LORD, all His saints.
He preserves the faithful. But oh the arrogant, He will fully repay you. (While I can,  I must plead with you, Please repent while you can.)
To those whose hope is in The LORD, He says, Be strong and courageous. 

While under siege we must think right.
We must not succumb to the voice that says: “I am cut off from Your sight!”
No! We will say: “The LORD preserves the faithful”.
And in CHRIST JESUS we have been made faithful and we have been given Father’s loving devotion to enable us to remain faithful even under siege.  Be strong and courageous.

Never stop praying for one another.
We all need prayer and we all need the practice.

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Until Next Time, Holy Hugs, Kathie

Fresh Again

Surely I knew this. Surely I have seen it before. But today it is fresh again.

16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you.
17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other!
via John 15 KJV;CJB – I am the true vine, and my Father is – Bible Gateway.

It’s a popular doctrine in Christendom: when two of us agree and ask (pray)  in JESUS’ name then we get what we prayed for.  Right? I mean we like that doctrine and we readily accept it but are we right to believe it as I just stated?  Based on today’s fresh again, I think not necessarily. I think there is a condition to the ask what you will in HIS name and we will receive. And I think if we do not meet that condition we can agree all we want, but we do not have a guarantee that we will receive.

So what is the condition?
I’m glad you asked. Read again the Text.
What has He commissioned us to do?
Bear Fruit. Fruit that lasts.
What kind of fruit lasts?
The kind that receives an eternal reward. (I Corinthians 3:14-16)

Am I bearing such fruit? Perhaps reading verse 17 will clarify.
What does it say?
Do I love people? (John 13:34-36).
If I am not loving people, especially my brothers and sisters with me in the Christian Faith, then I can be sure that I am not bearing fruit that lasts. I can be sure if I am not loving others I am not demonstrating Galatians 5:21-23.

Yikes! All this could be depressing; a real downer! Because I can tell you right now I DO NOT LOVE PEOPLE PERFECTLY ALL THE TIME! I do not always bear good fruit that will last! There are some days, I am a REAL STINKER by anyone’s standards, especially mine!

But today I have hope! Today I am encouraged! Why? Because He has again shown me this Scripture. He has again reminded me what He requires of me. This means He is NOT done with me and today I have the opportunity to do well in His name!! That is good news! Today I am assured there is hope for me that I can bear good fruit that will last and I can be trained by the HOLY SPIRIT to love as He has commissioned and the day will come when I can be assured that when I ask in His name I will receive!

Please, please take this little nugget with you today: If the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD is still speaking to you, if a little light has come on in your heart today as you have read His Word, that is a SURE PROMISE that HE is NOT finished with you. Today you can lift your will to HIM and start again!!

Blessing Friends on this 6th day of 2014.

Kathie

KEEPER of the WIND

It is a lovely Monday in lower Alabama. The temps are comfortable, the sun is bright and cheery; added to all that there’s a gentle breeze dancing a waltz with the trees just outside my window – makes a girl glad to be alive.

Earlier in this happy day, I took a ride – Cedar Cove style – on my bicycle :). That same wind that dances so pleasingly with the trees can make a woman’s ride home a real muscle worker. The Wind.  Is surely our Teacher if we dare to be taught.

Winds cannot always blow our way; headwinds are meant to build muscle – spiritual character. So when we encounter a wind opposite our chosen course, let us realize that wind has one of two purposes: to build us some spiritual muscle or to alert us that we need to change our direction. And the KEEPER of the WIND knows that purpose; let us not hesitate to ask Him. 

The Winds of our Country have been blowing contrary to our roots, contrary to the Book upon which it was founded for not less than 5 decades now. But I do not want us to continue to be afraid or feel hopeless. There are wise, intelligent Americans with practical knowledge to lead us out of financial chaos; there are wise, intelligent Americans with skills and compassion to help us begin to alleviate our social sufferings; there are wise, intelligent Americans with a solid connection to the One and Only GOD who, I believe, is yet willing to help us and restore us again. 

This is my question: Who is willing to surrender to daily prayer, individually and/or corporately, for the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD to reveal who these people are and to position them and labor through them to save America?  Two more question: Am I one of those people? Are you one of those people?

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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If you are surrendered to this praying, tell someone – get yourself an accountability partner and pray often with her/him.

HOLY SPIRIT, I pray You will call and Your People will answer and millions of Christians will not fail to pray daily for You to save us.

Kathie