Tag Archives: Holman Christian Standard Bible

Christian Living, Guests, KWT Paraphrasing, PDF attached

A Fresh Touch

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At the Beth Moore Simulcast on September 15 I accepted her counsel to daily review with JESUS certain Scriptures related to FEAR. I have some fears. And HE intends for me to come to freedom. By the way if you want this list of Scripture you can click HERE and get your own copy.

I loved yesterday’s TEXT. It was blunt, to the point and delivered with His holy, loving gentleness to my heart. I loved it!! I said that already, didn’t I?  Here’s yesterday’s:

“Say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Don’t be afraid or cowardly because of these two smoldering stubs of firebrands . . . “

Isaiah 7:4 HCSB

I’m telling you I love it! “Calm down and be quiet – that’s nothing! I got this!”

That’s what it said to me. I can hear HIM saying it. I can see the love in His eyes and the loving grin on is Face when He said it to me! He is so AWESOME!!

Today.
Well, today is just as loving, just as kind, just as wonderful and just as blunt and correcting!

Isaiah 35:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

4 Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”

via Is 35:4 HCSB – Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do – Bible Gateway.

Cowardly.
I don’t care much for that word. Not at first blush. Perhaps you don’t like it either. HOWEVER, it does fit. King James translation uses the word fearful. New American Standard uses the word anxious. And I checked a few other versions each uses either fearful or anxious. And we get the meaning, right?

Cowardly is not flattering. But neither is JESUS. He is Truth.

Cowardly does mean fearful. Anxious. Timid. And so on.

However. In the middle of my heart came a sobering message. It bites a bit but it is freeing when applied.

Say to the cowardly – the timid, the fearful, the anxious . . .

What is often the hallmark of anxious, timid, fearfulness? Is it: Negative, complaining words leading to negative, complaining, anxious countenance? Yeah.  I’m Afraid so. :)

So could it be that our complaining, negative, ‘what now!’ words are actually announcing that we are acting in a cowardly way?  Could it be that our complaining, negative, ‘come on now!’ words are actually saying:

“I am afraid, GOD.”
“I am afraid of what is happening right now.”
“I am afraid of what will happen.”
“I am afraid, GOD, that You really don’t have my back here.”

And to the cowardly, The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD says: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your GOD; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”

Now how’s that for a loving correction?!  And in the words of my Pastor: “Get it? Got it! Good!”

Today I am first of all praising and thanking ABBA for this message. And I am here with not new requests but the same. All the same. They are not old – to Him or me – just ready for a fresh touch today.

ABBA, thank You. Thank You for Your Word that is forever fresh, forever alive to give a fresh touch each time we read. Thank You for Your personal touch to every open heart. Thank You for the touch You have for each one who comes here to read and pray today. It is my prayer each will accept and receive what You have for them. Mindful now, of many: Nicole and Matt; Dori, Kerri, Pam, Debbie; others grieving and adjusting to a new kind of normal; hard-willed children, grandchildren and spouses. Israel. America. November’s Election. Arrogant, blindness. And the BODY of CHRIST.  All matters important to our beings. In each of our individual places, we come believing You, loving You and entrusting them and us to You in JESUS Mighty and Holy name.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

Christian Living, Uncategorized

See What I Mean?

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Journey had a lot to say to me today and I have only gotten as far as the opening Scripture. Here is what I mean.

Psalm 101:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

2 I will pay attention to the way of integrity.   . . .  I will live with a heart of integrity in my house.

via Ps 101:2 HCSB – I will pay attention to the way of – Bible Gateway.

In truth, I did not live that way yesterday in my house. Most likely I would have at your house. See what I mean?  Of all the people on the planet, it is our families that would most benefit from our integrity. Glad I was home alone yesterday. :)  Seriously, living unglued – without integrity – is sin. And we need to stop it. And for today we can. Scripture tells us so. 

Philippians 4:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

via Phil 4:13 HCSB – I am able to do all things through Him – Bible Gateway.

And tomorrow? Let’s do today first.  :)

Today I am praying for Tavarie. He has some health issues. Would you join me in praying for him too?

First, I must thank You for mercy and forgiveness and loving correction. Thank You, Father. Thank You for Your strength to live with integrity today. Thank You.  And we come bringing Tavarie today; asking for a remedy and for resolution of these health issues and all matters concerning Tavarie. We are not privy to Tavarie’s life but You are and we are grateful for the privilege of praying for him.  Thank You. And there are others. And so I come this morning with these names filling my mind at this moment, names and situations, conflicts and issues needing attention and I ask for Your Touch in each. And I pray for my dear Friends who come here to faithfully read and pray, thanking You for them and for the strength and help You will give to each one of them this day. 

Blessings, Friends +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, KWT Paraphrasing

Beauty! Give Me Some of That!

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1 Peter 3:3-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

3 Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes.
4 Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.
via I peter 3:3-4 HCSB – Your beauty should not consist of – Bible Gateway.

Your beauty should not consist of outward things

I got that far and was stopped.

How many outward things do I do to enhance my appearance? How many changes of clothes do I make some days before I leave out my front door? How often do I linger in front of the mirror wishing the reflection looks different? Those questions I am not going to answer – not here in print anyway.  :)

But I am answering them as I read: Your beauty should not consist of outward things

No way do I believe that ABBA is saying that clothing and hair products and colors and even out those tones foundations are inappropriate.

Yet. I am back to this again: Your beauty should not consist of outward things

Beauty? I have beauty? How often have I worked for beauty and was certain I had failed?
I work for the wrong thing when I overtly busy myself with hair and face and clothes.

In this passage, ABBA says you do well my daughter when you attend the beauty of SPIRIT – a gentle and quiet spirit.

Gentle. We know what that means don’t we? Do we? Look with me at this.

Definition

  1. mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time.

So if I desire to be beautiful I will apply more than fine hair products, more than colors and foundations to my face, more than drape modest classy-looking clothes on my frame, I will consistently refuse to resist the work of the HOLY SPIRIT inside me. I will accept all His dealings with me as good. I will rely on my ABBA when injuries come; whether those injuries, pains, and griefs come at the hands of evil-doing people or just because this world in which I live is hostile to God and me.

But what about quiet? We know what quiet means, right? Look at this from my online Greek Lexicon:

to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to; to be closely joined to a person or a thing

So to be gentle I will not resist the HOLY SPIRIT. To be quiet. I will be closely joined to Him. Not only will I not resist but I will eagerly seek and cling to Him. 

Do this and I will be a woman of beauty, a woman ABBA highly favors and values.
Even when I run to Walmart with NO even-out-the-tones foundation, NO colors or mascara for my eyes, my hair in a ponytail, and my not small enough frame clad in a wrinkled T-shirt and Capri pants with stains.

So next time you see me that way, look for a JESUS smile on my face and His love in my eyes and if that is what you see, I am certain you (and I) will think I’m a woman of beauty.
And you know what?
If you are adorned the same, I will know you are a woman of beauty too!!

Thank You, ABBA, for stopping me short this morning. I pray all my sisters and my brothers will seek this ‘beauty’ that You have for us.  Again, we ask that You heal our sick and afflicted and that You rescue our rebellious and oblivious Ones. I ask, please forgive us, please have mercy, and pour out great conviction and repentance on we the people for JESUS’ sake. Amen and amen.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Christian Living, KWT Paraphrasing

Nothing

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I revealed to my beloved the other day that on any occasion that I might respond, “nothing”, should he ask me, “What’s going on in your mind.”, to just know that ‘nothing’ meant I’m not ready to tell you yet, because at NO Time is there nothing going on inside my head.  :)

I said that to say this. This morning while loading towels into the washing machine tub an account in Scripture came to mind.  This one:

John 5: 8 “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk!”
9 Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk.

Now that day was the Sabbath,

via John 5:7-9 HCSB – “Sir,” the sick man answered, “I – Bible Gateway.

And the message is it’s a GOD thing to pick up after yourself — JESUS said so!  He did not tell the man to get up, walk and leave his mat for someone else to pick up.

So in a general way what is the will of GOD for me and for you today?

Get up, make your bed and walk for JESUS!

ABBA, I find humor in this as I do believe You have the greatest sense of humor in the Universe. I also see avenues of wise counsel in this simple account of what You did, LORD JESUS, for this lame man. And I am thinking, HOLY SPIRIT, that many of us are lame and You are saying to us get up, pick up after yourself, stop waiting on others to do for you what you can do, get up, make your bed and walk with ME today. I want to do that, ABBA. I want to pick up and not leave undone those things You have given me to do. So I pray that for me today and for every soul who will come here to pray in agreement with what You have spoken over us this morning. Thank You for each email subscriber and for each who just happens by; I pray our knowledge of You will mature and grow and our love for You will deepen today. And I am mindful in this moment of many needs, the health and wealth of Ones dear; not a soul who comes here to pray is without concerns, ABBA, for themselves and others. So I pray for Your Kind Attention to our hearts; first and foremost that we will choose to allow You to align our hearts with Yours, particularly about these matters we are bringing to You this morning and as You align our hearts, we wait in confidence to see You work miracles.  Thank You for loving us so much. Amen and

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!