Good Morning!
I Samuel 7:1 "...and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord. And, Samuel said, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of foreign gods...and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only...So, the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only."
Verse 12 "Then Samuel took a stone and set in up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."
It's officially here, SPRING! Across the street I get to enjoy a beautiful forest of dogwoods in my neighbor's yard and her white azaleas. In my backyard is a blanket of pink azaleas. Everything is so beautiful!! I also have in my backyard, a hydrangea bush that is starting to green again and I hope will soon have some beautiful blue blooms. It's not just any hydrangea bush. This hydrangea is my "Ebenezer". This is one of my reminders that "thus far the Lord has helped us." This hydrangea was a gift from my four sisters when we learned that my younger son, Daniel, had a chronic liver disease in 2004. Daniel had Wilson's disease, a condition where your body doesn't get rid of copper. The copper had pretty much eaten up his liver and he had to have a liver transplant. As difficult and horrific as they may sound it was still one of the most awesome times of our lives. We saw firsthand the mighty hand of God and truly felt His presence with us each and every step of the way...from beginning to end. God performed a miracle in Daniel's life and I am so very thankful I got to watch!!!!
So, when I see that hydrangea bush starting to bloom, it's just one of many reminders of God's faithfulness and how He helped us through that difficult time. Just having the privilege of looking at my son everyday is another reminder. Thank you, Lord God, for your goodness to us!!
Here's something to think about today. Do you have an Ebenezer? It doesn't necessarily have to be something tangible. It can be a time you remember God's faithfulness to help you through a difficult situation. The point is to REMEMBER! Maybe you've forgotten and you need a reminder today that God is faithful and that God is good. If you're facing a difficult situation and feel like God is far, far away then you may need to do as the children of God did and mourn your sin and seek His face and repent and ask God to help you through.
"Come, thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise;
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, Mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine EBENEZER; Hither by thy help I'm come;
And, I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home;
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee;
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for thy courts above."
Robert Robinson
1 Samuel 7:12
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Lesson learned from Joshua
Good Morning!
I've finished Joshua!! What an amazing book. There are so many great truths and practical application to learn and apply to my own life right now. I just want to share what I learned from Joshua and the Israelites and how God used what I learned in my own life.
One of the first truths that I read over and over again was "be strong and courageous". Over and over again God reminded His people to be brave. You know you don't tell someone to be brave unless you know that the future is going to be scary. God had promised the Israelites Canaan, the promised land. There was only one small catch....it was already occupied. The people had to go in and fight for the land God promised. They had to fight. That thought keeps coming to my mind even days after I've read it. They had to fight. Do you see the similarity? We, God's children, have been promised eternal life with him. God in Jesus Christ has given us victory over sin and death and promised us a home in heaven with him. BUT, in the meantime, we still have to fight the enemy of this world.
God told the Israelites that if they obeyed Him and keep His commandments that He would go before them and that He would be with them and that they would CONQUER their enemies. God will do the same for us IF we obey Him and do what is right and pleasing to Him. Some battles are going to be harder than others. Some battles are going to leave us feeling every bit of the battle. We're going to know that it was a battle and we'll have the scars to show for it. Last week was such a battle for me. It was a hard battle and an even harder lesson to learn. I knew that during and even after that I had been whipped. I didn't obey and I fell. Humility is a very hard lesson to learn. I asked God for forgiveness, and to give me the strength and wisdom not to make the same mistake twice. I learned that I need to TRUST him and rely on His power to overcome the temptation to do things my way.
Another lesson I learned from Joshua had to do with an Israelite named Achan. When the Israelites conquered Jericho God said that ALL the spoils belong to ME. These were to be the firstfruits given to God for the victory. Achan decided that didn't include him. He took a robe along with some silver and gold and hid them under his tent.
So, in the meantime, Joshua goes into battle with the city of Ai and is chased back and looses 36 men in the process. WHAT? Defeated? Why? First, Joshua didn't ask God what to do. He sent a convoy to spy out the land. They reported to Joshua that he didn't need to send all of his troops just a few thousand would do. Joshua listened to the spies. He didn't ask God what to do. They were chased back. Joshua started to wail against God and said why did you bring us here? Why didn't you just leave us on the other side of the Jordon? God told Joshua, "Israel has sinned, they have violated my covenant which I commanded them to keep." They (Achan) had kept the things devoted for God.
ONE man's sin ruined a whole nation. It was so easy for me to jump right in and say, "YES!" That's the problem with our family. That's why we've had so much bad stuff happen lately. This is all so and so's fault. BUT, before I could even get up from the table God knocked me upside the head and said, "NO, it's not someone else's fault, it's your own heart you need to be looking".
You know I do believe that God is capable of taking care of sin. Why do I continually want to help him out? I had to look at my own heart and yes God showed me the unconfessed sin in my own heart. I needed to repent and ask forgiveness and be restored.
Another lesson learned from Achan was what Warren Weirsbe said in his commentary. "If Achan had just WAITED a few more days he could have had ALL the spoils of war he wanted. You see after Achan was called out by God he was stoned and burned to death. The people and Joshua attached Ai again and defeated them and took the spoils of war for themselves.
In our day and time waiting is not often a choice. Decisions need to be made yesterday and everything is due NOW!! Last week while I was discussing a decision that needed to be made with Bruce those words came immediately to my mind, "If Achan had just waited...." So, I decided to wait and not act immediately. Praying that God will honor my decision to wait and bless it. "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him" Warren Weirsbe.
One other lesson that really stood out involved Joshua. Joshua, a faithful, steadfast believer in the One True God. Joshua made a mistake and he didn't ask God about attacking Ai. He was defeated. But, I think Joshua learned a valuable lesson that day. God went on give him the victory over Ai. He actually used his mistake to His advantage. It ALWAYS so encouraging to me that God showed us not only the great strengths of men like Joshua but He also showed us his weaknesses and how he STILL used Joshua to accomplish great things for Him.
The key here is OBEDIENCE and keeping God's commands to LOVE Him with ALL our heart and soul and strength and mind. God wants to bless us and all He wants us to do is to LOVE Him so much that we're willing to pay the cost.
I shared with my son how God used His Word to help me in making a decision. My son is not real clear about how God speaks to us through His word. I showed him that while I was making that decision those words came to mind immediately and it helped make my decision. We NEED desperately to be teaching our children how God works in our lives. We need to share with them these precious moments of revelation. We'll find as we go on to the book of Judges that the next generation of Israelites has forgotten God. They will learn that a life without the Lord on your side is a life of bondage and despair.
"God delights "to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect (wholly devoted) toward Him" 2 Chronicles 16:9
May the grace and peace of God be with you today.
Kelly
I've finished Joshua!! What an amazing book. There are so many great truths and practical application to learn and apply to my own life right now. I just want to share what I learned from Joshua and the Israelites and how God used what I learned in my own life.
One of the first truths that I read over and over again was "be strong and courageous". Over and over again God reminded His people to be brave. You know you don't tell someone to be brave unless you know that the future is going to be scary. God had promised the Israelites Canaan, the promised land. There was only one small catch....it was already occupied. The people had to go in and fight for the land God promised. They had to fight. That thought keeps coming to my mind even days after I've read it. They had to fight. Do you see the similarity? We, God's children, have been promised eternal life with him. God in Jesus Christ has given us victory over sin and death and promised us a home in heaven with him. BUT, in the meantime, we still have to fight the enemy of this world.
God told the Israelites that if they obeyed Him and keep His commandments that He would go before them and that He would be with them and that they would CONQUER their enemies. God will do the same for us IF we obey Him and do what is right and pleasing to Him. Some battles are going to be harder than others. Some battles are going to leave us feeling every bit of the battle. We're going to know that it was a battle and we'll have the scars to show for it. Last week was such a battle for me. It was a hard battle and an even harder lesson to learn. I knew that during and even after that I had been whipped. I didn't obey and I fell. Humility is a very hard lesson to learn. I asked God for forgiveness, and to give me the strength and wisdom not to make the same mistake twice. I learned that I need to TRUST him and rely on His power to overcome the temptation to do things my way.
Another lesson I learned from Joshua had to do with an Israelite named Achan. When the Israelites conquered Jericho God said that ALL the spoils belong to ME. These were to be the firstfruits given to God for the victory. Achan decided that didn't include him. He took a robe along with some silver and gold and hid them under his tent.
So, in the meantime, Joshua goes into battle with the city of Ai and is chased back and looses 36 men in the process. WHAT? Defeated? Why? First, Joshua didn't ask God what to do. He sent a convoy to spy out the land. They reported to Joshua that he didn't need to send all of his troops just a few thousand would do. Joshua listened to the spies. He didn't ask God what to do. They were chased back. Joshua started to wail against God and said why did you bring us here? Why didn't you just leave us on the other side of the Jordon? God told Joshua, "Israel has sinned, they have violated my covenant which I commanded them to keep." They (Achan) had kept the things devoted for God.
ONE man's sin ruined a whole nation. It was so easy for me to jump right in and say, "YES!" That's the problem with our family. That's why we've had so much bad stuff happen lately. This is all so and so's fault. BUT, before I could even get up from the table God knocked me upside the head and said, "NO, it's not someone else's fault, it's your own heart you need to be looking".
You know I do believe that God is capable of taking care of sin. Why do I continually want to help him out? I had to look at my own heart and yes God showed me the unconfessed sin in my own heart. I needed to repent and ask forgiveness and be restored.
Another lesson learned from Achan was what Warren Weirsbe said in his commentary. "If Achan had just WAITED a few more days he could have had ALL the spoils of war he wanted. You see after Achan was called out by God he was stoned and burned to death. The people and Joshua attached Ai again and defeated them and took the spoils of war for themselves.
In our day and time waiting is not often a choice. Decisions need to be made yesterday and everything is due NOW!! Last week while I was discussing a decision that needed to be made with Bruce those words came immediately to my mind, "If Achan had just waited...." So, I decided to wait and not act immediately. Praying that God will honor my decision to wait and bless it. "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him" Warren Weirsbe.
One other lesson that really stood out involved Joshua. Joshua, a faithful, steadfast believer in the One True God. Joshua made a mistake and he didn't ask God about attacking Ai. He was defeated. But, I think Joshua learned a valuable lesson that day. God went on give him the victory over Ai. He actually used his mistake to His advantage. It ALWAYS so encouraging to me that God showed us not only the great strengths of men like Joshua but He also showed us his weaknesses and how he STILL used Joshua to accomplish great things for Him.
The key here is OBEDIENCE and keeping God's commands to LOVE Him with ALL our heart and soul and strength and mind. God wants to bless us and all He wants us to do is to LOVE Him so much that we're willing to pay the cost.
I shared with my son how God used His Word to help me in making a decision. My son is not real clear about how God speaks to us through His word. I showed him that while I was making that decision those words came to mind immediately and it helped make my decision. We NEED desperately to be teaching our children how God works in our lives. We need to share with them these precious moments of revelation. We'll find as we go on to the book of Judges that the next generation of Israelites has forgotten God. They will learn that a life without the Lord on your side is a life of bondage and despair.
"God delights "to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect (wholly devoted) toward Him" 2 Chronicles 16:9
May the grace and peace of God be with you today.
Kelly
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Victory is Yours
Good Morning!
"You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict." - John Chrysostom.
In Joshua Chapter 6 we read about the fall of Jericho. God tells Joshua and the people what they must do to take Jericho. God had promised the Israelites the land but they still had to fight to take it. They probably thought it was pretty silly to walk around the city once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day. God's plan may have seemed foolish but God's wisdom is far greater than ours.
The Christian life is not an easy life and I'm learning that truth more and more everyday. Becoming more like Christ and being santified is a battle. It's a hard battle! It's a battle against the enemies in the spiritual relm (Eph. 6:10-18) We are going to face challenges. We are going to face situations that we wish we didn't have to face. Our faith is going to be tested because God wants to know our heart. He wants to know and He wants us to see that we trust Him even when we don't understand what He's doing.
When we face the battles we must be prepared. First, we must remember that we already have victory. We are fighting from victory, not just for victory. Joshua was victorious because he feared the Lord. Warren Weirsbe says, "The Christian soldier stands in a position of guaranteed victory because Jesus Christ has already defeated every spiritual enemy. Jesus defeated Satan not only in the wilderness but also during His earthly ministry, on the cross, and in His resurrection and ascension."
Joshua also had victory because he had the promises of the Lord. Victorious Christians know the promises of God. We can know God's promises by reading the Bible, memorizing scriptures and then burning the truths of these promises to our hearts. We should think about them all day long.
We are going to have hard times in our life. There will be times when we don't understand why this is happening to us. We'll be unsure of our future. It's times like these that God is saying I want you to trust me and I want you to know that I can take care of you.
When the battle is over and it will be. It may be a long, hard battle but when it's over and you've praise God for His faithfulness and His goodness, you'll see how he changed you to be more like Him. And, that dear friends, is what this journey is all about....becoming more like Christ.
To God Be the Glory forever and forever.
The victory is yours today. Rejoice and be glad.
Kelly
"You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict." - John Chrysostom.
In Joshua Chapter 6 we read about the fall of Jericho. God tells Joshua and the people what they must do to take Jericho. God had promised the Israelites the land but they still had to fight to take it. They probably thought it was pretty silly to walk around the city once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day. God's plan may have seemed foolish but God's wisdom is far greater than ours.
The Christian life is not an easy life and I'm learning that truth more and more everyday. Becoming more like Christ and being santified is a battle. It's a hard battle! It's a battle against the enemies in the spiritual relm (Eph. 6:10-18) We are going to face challenges. We are going to face situations that we wish we didn't have to face. Our faith is going to be tested because God wants to know our heart. He wants to know and He wants us to see that we trust Him even when we don't understand what He's doing.
When we face the battles we must be prepared. First, we must remember that we already have victory. We are fighting from victory, not just for victory. Joshua was victorious because he feared the Lord. Warren Weirsbe says, "The Christian soldier stands in a position of guaranteed victory because Jesus Christ has already defeated every spiritual enemy. Jesus defeated Satan not only in the wilderness but also during His earthly ministry, on the cross, and in His resurrection and ascension."
Joshua also had victory because he had the promises of the Lord. Victorious Christians know the promises of God. We can know God's promises by reading the Bible, memorizing scriptures and then burning the truths of these promises to our hearts. We should think about them all day long.
We are going to have hard times in our life. There will be times when we don't understand why this is happening to us. We'll be unsure of our future. It's times like these that God is saying I want you to trust me and I want you to know that I can take care of you.
When the battle is over and it will be. It may be a long, hard battle but when it's over and you've praise God for His faithfulness and His goodness, you'll see how he changed you to be more like Him. And, that dear friends, is what this journey is all about....becoming more like Christ.
To God Be the Glory forever and forever.
The victory is yours today. Rejoice and be glad.
Kelly
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Be Strong and Courageous
Good Morning!
Yeah!! I'm so excited! I've started the book of Joshua. It was long getting through Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy but interesting. Brother Allan read scripture from Romans this past Sunday that I had just read in Deuteronomy. I love how God does that; how he gets my attention to notice His word.
I started Genesis in July so I'm hoping that now the pace will pick up as I start the history of the Jewish nation. So far, it's great and I'm looking forward to all God wants to show me.
The theme of Joshua 1 is "Be Strong and Courageous". God tells Joshua to be strong, be courageous in verses 6, 7, 8 and 18. In verse seven God says, be strong and very courageous. In verse eight God says, "be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
How reassuring is that? Joshua is taking the Israelites into a new place. This is a place, a land where he hasn't been before. He doesn't know what to expect, what challenges are ahead, how the people will react and how this will all end. God knows that. God knows Joshua's heart. He knows Joshua's fears, his doubts. So, God tells him over and over "be strong and courageous".
As I read that yesterday, and I came to the part that said, "do not be terrified", it resonnated with my own heart and I could hear God speak to my heart and say, "do not be terrified". Don't be afraid, Kelly. You can trust Me with this.
My sister, Stephanie, posted yesterday that "God is attracted to weakness. He cannot resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him.
It's in our weakness that we are the most afraid. We scream "Lord, I can't do this". And, He says, no, you can't do this in your own strength you need Me to help you." God doesn't want those that can do it on their own without His help and direction. God wants those of us who are afraid so that we will totally depend on Him and trust Him to do all things through us for His glory and not our own.
Yes, sometimes, a lot of the time, the things that God wants me to do scare me to death. Thousands of excuses come to mind quickly as to why I cannot do them. But, I hear the words He spoke to Joshua, "be strong and courageous" and I am reminded today that it is my God, the One True God, who goes before me and prepares the way if I just ask. He will go with me and stay by my side teaching me to follow Him and obey. Just like he told Joshua, "do not turn from it (the law) to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go."
Don't turn away from following God and His teachings. The blessings are in obedience. Go and don't be afraid.
"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
May the grace of God be with you all!
Kelly
Yeah!! I'm so excited! I've started the book of Joshua. It was long getting through Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy but interesting. Brother Allan read scripture from Romans this past Sunday that I had just read in Deuteronomy. I love how God does that; how he gets my attention to notice His word.
I started Genesis in July so I'm hoping that now the pace will pick up as I start the history of the Jewish nation. So far, it's great and I'm looking forward to all God wants to show me.
The theme of Joshua 1 is "Be Strong and Courageous". God tells Joshua to be strong, be courageous in verses 6, 7, 8 and 18. In verse seven God says, be strong and very courageous. In verse eight God says, "be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
How reassuring is that? Joshua is taking the Israelites into a new place. This is a place, a land where he hasn't been before. He doesn't know what to expect, what challenges are ahead, how the people will react and how this will all end. God knows that. God knows Joshua's heart. He knows Joshua's fears, his doubts. So, God tells him over and over "be strong and courageous".
As I read that yesterday, and I came to the part that said, "do not be terrified", it resonnated with my own heart and I could hear God speak to my heart and say, "do not be terrified". Don't be afraid, Kelly. You can trust Me with this.
My sister, Stephanie, posted yesterday that "God is attracted to weakness. He cannot resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him.
It's in our weakness that we are the most afraid. We scream "Lord, I can't do this". And, He says, no, you can't do this in your own strength you need Me to help you." God doesn't want those that can do it on their own without His help and direction. God wants those of us who are afraid so that we will totally depend on Him and trust Him to do all things through us for His glory and not our own.
Yes, sometimes, a lot of the time, the things that God wants me to do scare me to death. Thousands of excuses come to mind quickly as to why I cannot do them. But, I hear the words He spoke to Joshua, "be strong and courageous" and I am reminded today that it is my God, the One True God, who goes before me and prepares the way if I just ask. He will go with me and stay by my side teaching me to follow Him and obey. Just like he told Joshua, "do not turn from it (the law) to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go."
Don't turn away from following God and His teachings. The blessings are in obedience. Go and don't be afraid.
"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
May the grace of God be with you all!
Kelly
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Good Morning!
"I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." Deuteronomy 32:3-4
These verses are from the Song of Moses. God knew the Israelites would turn away from Him and break their covenant with Him. So, he, told Moses to write down this song so that it could be a witness against them when they did turn away. The Israelites were to learn this song.
I think they are good words for us to learn today as well. I challenge you to write them down and carry them with you today, read them often and just praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord because He is GREAT! He is PERFECT. He is FAITHFUL. He does NO WRONG. Think on these things today and be blessed.
"I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." Deuteronomy 32:3-4
These verses are from the Song of Moses. God knew the Israelites would turn away from Him and break their covenant with Him. So, he, told Moses to write down this song so that it could be a witness against them when they did turn away. The Israelites were to learn this song.
I think they are good words for us to learn today as well. I challenge you to write them down and carry them with you today, read them often and just praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord because He is GREAT! He is PERFECT. He is FAITHFUL. He does NO WRONG. Think on these things today and be blessed.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Blessings or Curses?
Good Morning!
Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
God is giving the children of Israel a choice; life or death? blessing or curse? God is giving them a choice, they get to pick! You would think that it would be an easy choice for them; blessing? curse? Really, who would choose to be cursed? But, we know that they did choose to be cursed. They chose to follow the ways of the other gods and they turned away from the One True God. The God of blessings and life.
God has always given his children a choice. Even in the very beginning Adam and Eve had a choice; to choose to obey God or listen to the serpent. They had the choice to enjoy all the good things God had for them right there before them. Or, they could listen to the lies of the devil and choose death. We all know how that story ended. Why? Why is it so easy to turn away from God and His blessings? We know that His ways are so much better than anything we can imagine yet, we still want to go our own way. We want to live our own lives the way we want to.
The children of Israel had a choice. It was very clear and simple; obey God, follow His commands and be blessed or worship the foreign gods, live like you want and be cursed. God said I will not bless you if you go into Canaan and worship the foreign gods and live like you want and forget all about me and my commands. God told them that they would be cursed. He said that they would dry up like the dust of desert and be scattered.
This weekend my sisters and I, along with our mom, got together. We try to do this once a month. I have one sister that lives close by but the others live an hour and half away. It's sometimes hard with our busy schedules but I hope they feel like I do that it's worth the effort.
Saturday, for some unknown reason I can't remember, we watched my wedding video. I can't remember how that came up but we thought we get some good laughs out of it. This February Bruce and I will have been married 26 years. So, seeing the dresses and hairstyles alone was enough to give us a few laughs. On the other hand, it was sad to see those that have already gone on to heaven and are no longer with us. Yet, it ignited some very sweet memories. For me, one of the sweetest was seeing and hearing my former pastor, Paul W. Martin, who is now preaching in heaven, prayer over Bruce and me. When I listened to his prayer I was so moved at the "prophecy" in it.
Bro. Paul very clearly prayed that God would bless us, bless our home, watch over us, keep us, give us health, give us a full measure of this world's blessings in the unseen road of life. He prayed that the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ would always be in our hearts and home and that we would know that having Him in our home would be a blessing. But, if we didn't have Him in our hearts that He was under no obligation to bless us or our home.
Those words have come to fruition. God has indeed blessed my home. He has blessed our life with good health, our marriage, and our children. Bruce and I had a choice 26 years ago. We chose life. We chose to commit our hearts and home to Him and to try to follow Him and obey Him. It hasn't been easy. It's been very hard at times. We listen to His voice and we hold fast to Him. Never, ever has God failed us or let us down. He is our Faithful God.
We are still a work in progress and learning more and more everyday about how to obey Him and follow Him wherever He leads.
You have a choice, too. Will you choose life or death? Blessings or curses?
May God's grace be with you all.
Kelly
Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
God is giving the children of Israel a choice; life or death? blessing or curse? God is giving them a choice, they get to pick! You would think that it would be an easy choice for them; blessing? curse? Really, who would choose to be cursed? But, we know that they did choose to be cursed. They chose to follow the ways of the other gods and they turned away from the One True God. The God of blessings and life.
God has always given his children a choice. Even in the very beginning Adam and Eve had a choice; to choose to obey God or listen to the serpent. They had the choice to enjoy all the good things God had for them right there before them. Or, they could listen to the lies of the devil and choose death. We all know how that story ended. Why? Why is it so easy to turn away from God and His blessings? We know that His ways are so much better than anything we can imagine yet, we still want to go our own way. We want to live our own lives the way we want to.
The children of Israel had a choice. It was very clear and simple; obey God, follow His commands and be blessed or worship the foreign gods, live like you want and be cursed. God said I will not bless you if you go into Canaan and worship the foreign gods and live like you want and forget all about me and my commands. God told them that they would be cursed. He said that they would dry up like the dust of desert and be scattered.
This weekend my sisters and I, along with our mom, got together. We try to do this once a month. I have one sister that lives close by but the others live an hour and half away. It's sometimes hard with our busy schedules but I hope they feel like I do that it's worth the effort.
Saturday, for some unknown reason I can't remember, we watched my wedding video. I can't remember how that came up but we thought we get some good laughs out of it. This February Bruce and I will have been married 26 years. So, seeing the dresses and hairstyles alone was enough to give us a few laughs. On the other hand, it was sad to see those that have already gone on to heaven and are no longer with us. Yet, it ignited some very sweet memories. For me, one of the sweetest was seeing and hearing my former pastor, Paul W. Martin, who is now preaching in heaven, prayer over Bruce and me. When I listened to his prayer I was so moved at the "prophecy" in it.
Bro. Paul very clearly prayed that God would bless us, bless our home, watch over us, keep us, give us health, give us a full measure of this world's blessings in the unseen road of life. He prayed that the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ would always be in our hearts and home and that we would know that having Him in our home would be a blessing. But, if we didn't have Him in our hearts that He was under no obligation to bless us or our home.
Those words have come to fruition. God has indeed blessed my home. He has blessed our life with good health, our marriage, and our children. Bruce and I had a choice 26 years ago. We chose life. We chose to commit our hearts and home to Him and to try to follow Him and obey Him. It hasn't been easy. It's been very hard at times. We listen to His voice and we hold fast to Him. Never, ever has God failed us or let us down. He is our Faithful God.
We are still a work in progress and learning more and more everyday about how to obey Him and follow Him wherever He leads.
You have a choice, too. Will you choose life or death? Blessings or curses?
May God's grace be with you all.
Kelly
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Do You Remember
Good Morning!
In Deutronomy 26 Moses tells the people, the Israelites, that when they go in and take possession of the land that God is giving them they are to take some of the first fruits and give as a sacrifice before the Lord. When they go in before the Lord they are to recount to the Lord their journey from slavery to freedom; all that the Lord God had done for them to bring them to this place He promised. They are to rejoice in all the good things the Lord has given to them. They are to celebrate!
The Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. They were oppressed and beaten down. We, too, are slaves to sin. Sin can oppress us and beat us down till we think that death would be better than living. God heard the cries of the Israelite people. He freed them from the bondage of slavery and set them free to live in a beautiful land with all that they needed. Now they were to come before him and celebrate!
God has provided a way out of the oppression of slavery for us, too. We do not have to be a slave to sin bound under the enemies control. God sent His only loved Son to die for us that we would be free. All we have to do is follow Christ to be free.
Do you remember when Jesus set you free? Every year the Jewish community celebrates Passover. They remember very reverently what God did for them; how he freed them from Egyptian slavery and brought them to the land He promised.
Do you remember the day Jesus saved you from slavery? Do you remember how he came into your life to give you freedom? Do you remember how Jesus changed your life? I know He has blessed you. How are you celebrating your freedom? Share what Jesus has done for you with someone today.
"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy" Psalm 126:3
Be filled with JOY today!
May God's grace be with you all.
Kelly
In Deutronomy 26 Moses tells the people, the Israelites, that when they go in and take possession of the land that God is giving them they are to take some of the first fruits and give as a sacrifice before the Lord. When they go in before the Lord they are to recount to the Lord their journey from slavery to freedom; all that the Lord God had done for them to bring them to this place He promised. They are to rejoice in all the good things the Lord has given to them. They are to celebrate!
The Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. They were oppressed and beaten down. We, too, are slaves to sin. Sin can oppress us and beat us down till we think that death would be better than living. God heard the cries of the Israelite people. He freed them from the bondage of slavery and set them free to live in a beautiful land with all that they needed. Now they were to come before him and celebrate!
God has provided a way out of the oppression of slavery for us, too. We do not have to be a slave to sin bound under the enemies control. God sent His only loved Son to die for us that we would be free. All we have to do is follow Christ to be free.
Do you remember when Jesus set you free? Every year the Jewish community celebrates Passover. They remember very reverently what God did for them; how he freed them from Egyptian slavery and brought them to the land He promised.
Do you remember the day Jesus saved you from slavery? Do you remember how he came into your life to give you freedom? Do you remember how Jesus changed your life? I know He has blessed you. How are you celebrating your freedom? Share what Jesus has done for you with someone today.
"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy" Psalm 126:3
Be filled with JOY today!
May God's grace be with you all.
Kelly
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