Offensive battles
This is from a devotional that I receive -Christian “Cyber” Ministries 10-30-09
and I consider it good enough to share with my friends on face book, Billie (Ellis) King
Scripture: Ephesians 1:19
”I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him” NLT
World War II was a time that tested the resolve of many throughout the world. England was faced with extinction after France and all of Continental Europe crumbled before Germany. Day after day and night after night Germany hammered away at England.
The British did all they could to withstand the assault. Winston Churchill met during those dark hours with all his top advisors and gave them a directive. He told his military leaders to never talk about defense in their strategy meetings. Only talk about offense and take the offensive!
From that time on attitudes changed! No longer was England on the defensive but they started planning strategy for attack. They were not going to take it any longer and it was time to turn the tide and bring the fight back against the Germans. The Brits began planning attacks, preparing for the next assault and stood confident where they were.
This scenario of defense sounds like every day in the kingdom for many Christians. We think it is noble and good to just take a beating from the demons of hell.
Churchill was right in the 1940's when he said to go on the offensive and the same principle applies more than 60 years later as a Christian. Plan your attack. Prepare for what is coming and know where you stand.
Take thirty minutes some day and read the book of Ephesians. The battle is all there and Paul details how to take the offensive as a Christian. When things get tough as you stand your ground you'll be glad you took the time to read and apply Ephesians.
Prayer: Father thank you for giving me offensive power over the enemy. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Sharing personal Bible studies and receiving input from readers. Hoping to bless others through these shared blogs.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Boast in the Lord
Boast in the Lord
2 Corinthians 10:17-18
17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD
18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
All through the Bible we are taught not to lift ourselves up; not to think of our self more highly than we ought to think. Pride is something that will keep us separated from God.
Isaiah 54:14
14 In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
2cor.5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Christ Our Cornerstone
Eph2:19-22
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
God has established us in righteousness and nothing or no one can move us.
He even promised us that we don’t have to take up for ourselves; He says; “Vengence is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay.
We do not have to fight for rights, He fights the battles for us.
James 4:9-11; Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up.
Luke 14:7-11 (New King James Version)
Take the Lowly Place
lk 14:7-11; So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This is the true rest of God:
2 Corinthians 10:17-18
17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD
18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
All through the Bible we are taught not to lift ourselves up; not to think of our self more highly than we ought to think. Pride is something that will keep us separated from God.
Isaiah 54:14
14 In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
2cor.5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Christ Our Cornerstone
Eph2:19-22
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
God has established us in righteousness and nothing or no one can move us.
He even promised us that we don’t have to take up for ourselves; He says; “Vengence is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay.
We do not have to fight for rights, He fights the battles for us.
James 4:9-11; Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up.
Luke 14:7-11 (New King James Version)
Take the Lowly Place
lk 14:7-11; So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This is the true rest of God:
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
2cor.5:20-2cor. 6:2 “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God…..
We then as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the Grace of God in vain;
For a while now God has been teaching me about what Grace, His grace means in our life. And also how that we cannot do one thing to earn anything in this life from God.
Sometimes it is scary and other times it is so relaxing and worry free. In today’s scripture the Apostle Paul is preaching and teaching about being brought back to God by the “on behalf of Christ” It will be nothing we do that brings us to God but rather, what Christ has already done.” It’s that way in all our life and we learn that little by little; “We can do nothing of ourselves.” to earn something from God.
In chapter 6 He says “now is the acceptable time” so it’s also all done on His timeline and not ours.
When we can learn these truths and facts of our life we can rest in God’s grace and let Him.
If we can truly learn to live by these principles we will be at peace in every situation; As the Apostle Paul said in Php.4:11, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” [to let what I have and where I am, be enough]
Our first lesson needs to be, “Let go and let God” Doesn’t that sound soothing….?
and easy,..? Well it's one of the hardest things I ever tried to do; We are so used to doing it ourself, I mean, that's what we were taught..
I even heard that it was in the Bible, "God only helps them who help themselves."
But God says that He will protect them who have no one to protect them. (2) That he will supply all our needs..etc. (3) Be a husband to the widows; sounds like He only helps those who {"can't"} help themselves!! It's called Trust, we give our life to Him, and He takes care of everything concerning us.
Sounds good to me!
We then as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the Grace of God in vain;
For a while now God has been teaching me about what Grace, His grace means in our life. And also how that we cannot do one thing to earn anything in this life from God.
Sometimes it is scary and other times it is so relaxing and worry free. In today’s scripture the Apostle Paul is preaching and teaching about being brought back to God by the “on behalf of Christ” It will be nothing we do that brings us to God but rather, what Christ has already done.” It’s that way in all our life and we learn that little by little; “We can do nothing of ourselves.” to earn something from God.
In chapter 6 He says “now is the acceptable time” so it’s also all done on His timeline and not ours.
When we can learn these truths and facts of our life we can rest in God’s grace and let Him.
If we can truly learn to live by these principles we will be at peace in every situation; As the Apostle Paul said in Php.4:11, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” [to let what I have and where I am, be enough]
Our first lesson needs to be, “Let go and let God” Doesn’t that sound soothing….?
and easy,..? Well it's one of the hardest things I ever tried to do; We are so used to doing it ourself, I mean, that's what we were taught..
I even heard that it was in the Bible, "God only helps them who help themselves."
But God says that He will protect them who have no one to protect them. (2) That he will supply all our needs..etc. (3) Be a husband to the widows; sounds like He only helps those who {"can't"} help themselves!! It's called Trust, we give our life to Him, and He takes care of everything concerning us.
Sounds good to me!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Never Fail
.2 Cor. 4:7; “We have this treasure in earthern vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not us.”
I want to share some thoughts that came to me as I meditated on this verse this morning;
When I look at the Apostle Paul and some of his comments I realize he had a handle on this: When he said, “When “I” am weak “He” is my strength.” He knew that the strength that lay within him was not his own, but God’s.
My first thought was WOW!!! With this kind of power and strength right inside us why would we ever cringe when a problem comes our way?
This scripture brings to my memory other scripture, like, “Greater is He that is in me than he who is in the world.” (1Jn.4:4) “No weapon that is formed against us will prosper.”(Is.54:17) “ “ I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and, nothing shall by any means hurt you.”(Lk.10:19) “Who can separate us from the love of Christ,? Shall tribulation or trouble of any kind or people of any kind?
No! nothing can separate us and nothing can overcome us because He is “inside” us.
I mean, how can we lose?? The greatest power that ever was or ever will be lives in us! There is no one or no-thing that can win over us. The devil is a blow hard, but just remember, he is a liar and the father of lies.
God did all this for us so we could always live victorious even when we are down; My thought here is, Hallelujah!
Sure we will have tribulations here on earth, but the power doesn’t stop when a trial comes, if we will stand on His power it will be bigger than the problem.
Billie
.2 Cor. 4:7; “We have this treasure in earthern vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not us.”
I want to share some thoughts that came to me as I meditated on this verse this morning;
When I look at the Apostle Paul and some of his comments I realize he had a handle on this: When he said, “When “I” am weak “He” is my strength.” He knew that the strength that lay within him was not his own, but God’s.
My first thought was WOW!!! With this kind of power and strength right inside us why would we ever cringe when a problem comes our way?
This scripture brings to my memory other scripture, like, “Greater is He that is in me than he who is in the world.” (1Jn.4:4) “No weapon that is formed against us will prosper.”(Is.54:17) “ “ I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and, nothing shall by any means hurt you.”(Lk.10:19) “Who can separate us from the love of Christ,? Shall tribulation or trouble of any kind or people of any kind?
No! nothing can separate us and nothing can overcome us because He is “inside” us.
I mean, how can we lose?? The greatest power that ever was or ever will be lives in us! There is no one or no-thing that can win over us. The devil is a blow hard, but just remember, he is a liar and the father of lies.
God did all this for us so we could always live victorious even when we are down; My thought here is, Hallelujah!
Sure we will have tribulations here on earth, but the power doesn’t stop when a trial comes, if we will stand on His power it will be bigger than the problem.
Billie
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Whatever It Takes
Lk13:1-9, Then Jesus told a story. "A man had a fig tree," he said. "It had been planted in his vineyard. When he went to look for fruit on it, he didn't find any. 7 So he went to the man who took care of the vineyard. He said, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree. But I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8 " 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year. I'll dig around it and feed it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "
Most of us who have, (or have had) children want to see them become something productive, even if it means taking something away from them or threatening them with punishment if they don’t work toward that goal. When God made us He made us, “in His likeness”, and He wants us, as His children, to be productive and prosperous in this life.
I believe that the reason that God called David, “A man after God’s own heart” was because David, deep down inside wanted to please God at all costs. David was quick to repent and return to God when he did wrong. Today’s scripture shows us that God ‘s threats toward us are because He wants us to be the very best.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
New King James Version
God says and does things because He, (like us) wants the very best for us.
Sometimes, we wonder why does God allow something to happen in our life? Look down deep inside and you may find the answer.
I know about this because in the last five years I have had to walk that road and learn some very hard lessons. The end result has been, “God knows what’s best for us and will do whatever it takes to get us there.”
Proverbs 3:12
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Lk13:1-9, Then Jesus told a story. "A man had a fig tree," he said. "It had been planted in his vineyard. When he went to look for fruit on it, he didn't find any. 7 So he went to the man who took care of the vineyard. He said, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree. But I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8 " 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year. I'll dig around it and feed it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "
Most of us who have, (or have had) children want to see them become something productive, even if it means taking something away from them or threatening them with punishment if they don’t work toward that goal. When God made us He made us, “in His likeness”, and He wants us, as His children, to be productive and prosperous in this life.
I believe that the reason that God called David, “A man after God’s own heart” was because David, deep down inside wanted to please God at all costs. David was quick to repent and return to God when he did wrong. Today’s scripture shows us that God ‘s threats toward us are because He wants us to be the very best.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
New King James Version
God says and does things because He, (like us) wants the very best for us.
Sometimes, we wonder why does God allow something to happen in our life? Look down deep inside and you may find the answer.
I know about this because in the last five years I have had to walk that road and learn some very hard lessons. The end result has been, “God knows what’s best for us and will do whatever it takes to get us there.”
Proverbs 3:12
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Come boldly to the throne
Hebrews 4:16-18 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
In the church devotional is this scripture which has spoken a truth to me;
“Come boldly, (with confidence, fearlessly) to the throne of grace, [so that we ] may obtain grace in time of need..”
I had never stopped to think that lack of confidence when we come to God could actually hinder our prayers, and stop us from receiving our answer.
Then I asked myself, “ what could give me the confidence that I might lack when I come to God asking?
The answer came to me immediately, “Christ in us is our confidence!”
We actually have it made in this way, we don’t have to work at this stuff we just have to “BELIEVE IT!
Sooo, step up to the throne any time with confidence knowing that you will be welcomed because God doesn’t see just you but His Son too. According to the word, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption
Thank God we don't have to work at this or earn it, The way has already been prepared by our Lord.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
In the church devotional is this scripture which has spoken a truth to me;
“Come boldly, (with confidence, fearlessly) to the throne of grace, [so that we ] may obtain grace in time of need..”
I had never stopped to think that lack of confidence when we come to God could actually hinder our prayers, and stop us from receiving our answer.
Then I asked myself, “ what could give me the confidence that I might lack when I come to God asking?
The answer came to me immediately, “Christ in us is our confidence!”
We actually have it made in this way, we don’t have to work at this stuff we just have to “BELIEVE IT!
Sooo, step up to the throne any time with confidence knowing that you will be welcomed because God doesn’t see just you but His Son too. According to the word, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption
Thank God we don't have to work at this or earn it, The way has already been prepared by our Lord.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Get Ready-Get Ready-Get Ready
Lk12:39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Since Jesus’ return will astonish everyone, we might suppose there is no way to really prepare for it.
The best way to get ready for Jesus’ return is to let Him make His home in your heart.
If we regularly go to Jesus when everything is light and lovely, we will automatically go to Him when it’s dark and we can’t see our path. Always keep an open pathway to Him.
Ready; “prepared” the word ready here denotes, prepared. To be prepared is to be in readiness, looking forward to.
In Bible times when a man and woman became betrothed (engaged) there was no set time for the marriage; The man began immediately getting the bridal chamber ready, [usually this was in the grooms, fathers home] so he could come for his bride. His father was the one who decided when it was “ready” it was then and only then that the groom started the journey to pick up his bride.
When he was seen coming someone called out, Behold, the bridegroom is coming!
The bride who was prepared would arise if it was in the middle of the night or middle of the day, trim her lamp and get the clothes that she had prepared for the marriage.
For a booklet of this information, send $2.00 plus postage (up to $6,
add $1; $6-$16 add $2) to Return to God, P.O. Box 159, Carnation, WA
98014-0159; (206)333-4177; email: glenna@halcyon.com.
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Jesus said no one knows the time that He will come, only the Father knows the time.(Mt.24:36)
We are to stay busy getting ready as we wait for the coming which is imminent.
Since Jesus’ return will astonish everyone, we might suppose there is no way to really prepare for it.
The best way to get ready for Jesus’ return is to let Him make His home in your heart.
If we regularly go to Jesus when everything is light and lovely, we will automatically go to Him when it’s dark and we can’t see our path. Always keep an open pathway to Him.
Ready; “prepared” the word ready here denotes, prepared. To be prepared is to be in readiness, looking forward to.
In Bible times when a man and woman became betrothed (engaged) there was no set time for the marriage; The man began immediately getting the bridal chamber ready, [usually this was in the grooms, fathers home] so he could come for his bride. His father was the one who decided when it was “ready” it was then and only then that the groom started the journey to pick up his bride.
When he was seen coming someone called out, Behold, the bridegroom is coming!
The bride who was prepared would arise if it was in the middle of the night or middle of the day, trim her lamp and get the clothes that she had prepared for the marriage.
For a booklet of this information, send $2.00 plus postage (up to $6,
add $1; $6-$16 add $2) to Return to God, P.O. Box 159, Carnation, WA
98014-0159; (206)333-4177; email: glenna@halcyon.com.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jesus said no one knows the time that He will come, only the Father knows the time.(Mt.24:36)
We are to stay busy getting ready as we wait for the coming which is imminent.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
God can use anything for good
Gen 41:51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh:[a] “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”
52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim:[a] “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
This scripture was in one of my devotions, and as I read it God began to speak to me about the way we handle difficulties when we are faced with them.
Anyone who has been a Christian for any length of time knows what I am talking about.
Joseph's life is such a good teacher; He was thirty years old when he became governor of Egypt. He was seventeen when he was sold into slavery. Thirteen years he was tempted, slandered and imprisoned, still he kept his commitment to God and, his character never changed.
What a testimony! He didn't let trials and hurts change him.he used them for stepping stones not stumbling blocks. Your aim must always be to please God regardless. What he named his sons shows how he looked at trials.
He told his brothers, "You meant it for harm, but God meant it for good; God is the one who sent me down to Egypt to preserve my family." His life was dedicated to God at an early age therefore he considered no matter what came, God was in control.
I consider his life worthy of being a measuring stick for my life, how about you?
God bless
52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim:[a] “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
This scripture was in one of my devotions, and as I read it God began to speak to me about the way we handle difficulties when we are faced with them.
Anyone who has been a Christian for any length of time knows what I am talking about.
Joseph's life is such a good teacher; He was thirty years old when he became governor of Egypt. He was seventeen when he was sold into slavery. Thirteen years he was tempted, slandered and imprisoned, still he kept his commitment to God and, his character never changed.
What a testimony! He didn't let trials and hurts change him.he used them for stepping stones not stumbling blocks. Your aim must always be to please God regardless. What he named his sons shows how he looked at trials.
He told his brothers, "You meant it for harm, but God meant it for good; God is the one who sent me down to Egypt to preserve my family." His life was dedicated to God at an early age therefore he considered no matter what came, God was in control.
I consider his life worthy of being a measuring stick for my life, how about you?
God bless
Friday, October 16, 2009
I CAN’T DO IT ON MY OWN
One of the greatest truths I have ever learned and am learning is, I CAN’T DO THIS BY MYSELF!!
How many of us, and how many times have we got caught up in trying and trying only to find out when we run out of steam that, WE CAN’T DO THIS ON OUR OWN??
It’s one of the hardest lessons to learn, yet one of the greatest!
That’s because it applies to nearly every part of our lives.
We just love to DO it ourselves, because then WE can take the credit for it!!
God talks about “THE REST OF GOD” and hardly any of us have any idea what HIS rest is that He says we can enter. [Heb. 4:1-11]
It’s when we began to learn to trust in Him instead of ourselves; to learn that He knows best and is only waiting for us to turn it over to Him that’s when we can enter His rest:
There are some things that God can’t do and one of them is, “going against our will”; however He can allow things to come to us that will “change our will”
Isn’t that great?? He loves us enough to wait for our mind to change so He can help us!! I don’t think I have that kind of patience;
{I pulled this out of a devotional I get daily by Purpose Driven}
by Jon Walker Devotional for Wed. Feb. 6,2008 Purpose driven life
“Hi! I got your note saying you didn’t think you could do what God is telling you to do.
You may be surprised to hear me say this, but I agree! If God called you to do it, then you shouldn’t be able to do it without him. In fact, if you could do it without him, then it’s really not a God-thing.
I know you’re feeling others could do it better, but what we think doesn’t really matter, does it? God’s mind on the matter – what he thinks – that’s the reality, the Gospel truth we live by. (Colossians 3:3)”
The fact is, God didn’t call other people to this task. He called you!
And he called you in spite of your weaknesses, doubts, and insecurities. In truth, your weaknesses are no surprise to God. You may try to hide them from others, but you can’t hide them from God. He created you; he created you with weaknesses (do you think he made a mistake with you?); he created you with weaknesses in order to keep you on your knees before him.
With you on your knees, dependent upon God, you are able to do all things through him who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13-14)
Besides, if you’re like me, without these weaknesses to push you back to God, you’ll just get prideful. Wasn’t it our big brother Paul who said, “Now I take limitations in stride …. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 MSG)
This is why God won’t allow you to use your weaknesses as an excuse for avoiding your mission or ignoring your purpose. Like the preachers say, “Where God guides, he provides.” If God is calling you to a monumental task, then he’ll equip you to complete the task –and that equipping includes the Holy Spirit working from inside you.
Be confident in this, “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NIV)
What does this mean?
God’s strength flows into your weaknesses – Where you are weak, you become God-strong. “My strength comes into its own in your weakness ….” (2 Cor. 12:9 MSG)
· God’s strength is your focus – Don’t think about how incapable you are for the task. See how immensely capable God is to work through you. As the Veggie Tales character Junior Asparagus sings, “God is bigger than the bogeyman.” He’s bigger than anything you face, no matter how overwhelming it may appear to you. “It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness … and so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10 MSG)
· God created you to do good works – “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
God bless, Sister Billie
One of the greatest truths I have ever learned and am learning is, I CAN’T DO THIS BY MYSELF!!
How many of us, and how many times have we got caught up in trying and trying only to find out when we run out of steam that, WE CAN’T DO THIS ON OUR OWN??
It’s one of the hardest lessons to learn, yet one of the greatest!
That’s because it applies to nearly every part of our lives.
We just love to DO it ourselves, because then WE can take the credit for it!!
God talks about “THE REST OF GOD” and hardly any of us have any idea what HIS rest is that He says we can enter. [Heb. 4:1-11]
It’s when we began to learn to trust in Him instead of ourselves; to learn that He knows best and is only waiting for us to turn it over to Him that’s when we can enter His rest:
There are some things that God can’t do and one of them is, “going against our will”; however He can allow things to come to us that will “change our will”
Isn’t that great?? He loves us enough to wait for our mind to change so He can help us!! I don’t think I have that kind of patience;
{I pulled this out of a devotional I get daily by Purpose Driven}
by Jon Walker Devotional for Wed. Feb. 6,2008 Purpose driven life
“Hi! I got your note saying you didn’t think you could do what God is telling you to do.
You may be surprised to hear me say this, but I agree! If God called you to do it, then you shouldn’t be able to do it without him. In fact, if you could do it without him, then it’s really not a God-thing.
I know you’re feeling others could do it better, but what we think doesn’t really matter, does it? God’s mind on the matter – what he thinks – that’s the reality, the Gospel truth we live by. (Colossians 3:3)”
The fact is, God didn’t call other people to this task. He called you!
And he called you in spite of your weaknesses, doubts, and insecurities. In truth, your weaknesses are no surprise to God. You may try to hide them from others, but you can’t hide them from God. He created you; he created you with weaknesses (do you think he made a mistake with you?); he created you with weaknesses in order to keep you on your knees before him.
With you on your knees, dependent upon God, you are able to do all things through him who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13-14)
Besides, if you’re like me, without these weaknesses to push you back to God, you’ll just get prideful. Wasn’t it our big brother Paul who said, “Now I take limitations in stride …. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 MSG)
This is why God won’t allow you to use your weaknesses as an excuse for avoiding your mission or ignoring your purpose. Like the preachers say, “Where God guides, he provides.” If God is calling you to a monumental task, then he’ll equip you to complete the task –and that equipping includes the Holy Spirit working from inside you.
Be confident in this, “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NIV)
What does this mean?
God’s strength flows into your weaknesses – Where you are weak, you become God-strong. “My strength comes into its own in your weakness ….” (2 Cor. 12:9 MSG)
· God’s strength is your focus – Don’t think about how incapable you are for the task. See how immensely capable God is to work through you. As the Veggie Tales character Junior Asparagus sings, “God is bigger than the bogeyman.” He’s bigger than anything you face, no matter how overwhelming it may appear to you. “It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness … and so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10 MSG)
· God created you to do good works – “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
God bless, Sister Billie
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Examples of Christ; by Billie
1 Peter 2
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
This scripture reading was in a devotional I was reading this morning and the thought that God gave me was that we are stones of “God’s” building and we represent Christ. When one of these stones gives others a bad impression it causes them to look at the whole building as bad. No wonder some people say I don’t want anything to do with the church! They think the whole church is like that one stone. It is so important that we, as living stones be a good example; the first verse here says, “laying aside ALL malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all evil speaking ; When we start to do or say something we should first of all, think, how will this look on the body of Christ. {John 13:35} (New International Version)
(35) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
{Prayer} Father I pray that we as your body will live and talk a good example of the body of Christ, in Jesus name, Amen
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
This scripture reading was in a devotional I was reading this morning and the thought that God gave me was that we are stones of “God’s” building and we represent Christ. When one of these stones gives others a bad impression it causes them to look at the whole building as bad. No wonder some people say I don’t want anything to do with the church! They think the whole church is like that one stone. It is so important that we, as living stones be a good example; the first verse here says, “laying aside ALL malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all evil speaking ; When we start to do or say something we should first of all, think, how will this look on the body of Christ. {John 13:35} (New International Version)
(35) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
{Prayer} Father I pray that we as your body will live and talk a good example of the body of Christ, in Jesus name, Amen