We Must Give Thanks

 

      

 

For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.            Psalm 33:4-5 (NKJV)

 

The psalmist tells us some wonderful thoughts about our LORD. He writes that His word is always correct; when we follow what he tells us, we will never go astray.

 

He continues by reminding that God works in truth; the Lord will not steer us in the wrong direction. It is up to us to listen to and obey what He tells us.

 

God delights in His children when He sees them living righteously for Him. He also delights in them when they seek justice for others and themselves.

 

The Lord showers goodness down on the earth. He gives us beauty in nature. He provides fresh fruit and vegetables during the summer. He allows us to have people in our lives who are good to us. These people display His goodness to us.

 

For every way the LORD displays His goodness to us, we must give thanks.

 

 

A New Heart

 

bible-daily.org

Then, I will give them one heart, and put a NEW spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19 (NKJV)

 

The prophet Ezekiel heard from God. Part of what He said states a very basic belief. God gives new hearts to those who believe in Him.

 

When a believer truly lives for Jesus, his or her life changes. Nothing is viewed in the same way. This does not mean that all is easy for the believer. God will bring His children through very difficult times. The Israelites were being hauled into exile when God spoke to his prophet Ezekiel.

 

In our present world, God speaks to each of His children, as He has need. A man and his wife at our church are praying for their son’s soul. He was hurt in an accident in March of 2021. He can’t go back to his job until he is completely healed physically, it could be another year. When you pray, please remember this couple and their adult son.

“The Lord will cleanse His people from sin as they repent. He will transform their hearts and minds and place His Spirit within them to empower them to be obedient. They will repopulate the desolate land and enjoy His rich covenantal blessings”. ⁽¹⁾

(1)   Jeremiah Study Bible© 2013 Worthy, Hachette Book Group, New York, NY. Page 1064 (FYI) Sidebar.

Put On the New Man

 

Family Radio 316

 

if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24 (NKJV)

 

Paul wrote these words to the believers at Ephesus.

 

He points out that believers should not dabble in the ways they pursued before they came to Christ. The decision to NOT partake in the ways of the ‘old man’ must be a daily decision. ⁽¹⁾

 

The decision to allow the ‘new man’ to be seen in our lives is ultimately up to God. ⁽²⁾

 

Certain times, our attitudes might not reflect God. When this happens, we must ask God to forgive us. It isn’t always easy for me to keep a reign on my attitude and even sometimes my mouth. But God is always there to hear my pleas.

 

God can help us put off the old man in our make ups. He desires us to put on the new man for us to reflect Him to those around us.

   (1,2 Jeremiah Study Bible, © 2013, Worthy, Hachette Book Group, New York, NY. Page 1645, Study Notes.

 

Praise God, our Source

 

livinggracecatalog.com

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him, all creatures here below

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Lyrics ~ Thomas Ken, 1637 - 1711

 

Music ~ Louis Bourgeois, c.1510 - c.1561

 

in the Grenevan Psalter, 1551

Praise God from who all blessings flow,

God is the source of ALL our blessings. Every good thing that happens in our lives has its beginning with Him. Our Father leads us through tough times to the outcome He has for us.

 

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

In Psalm 150:6 we read that all who have breath are to praise Him. As I initially wrote this, I saw the evidence of sunshine peeking through the clouds. The temperature had dropped overnight but I could still praise the LORD for the partly sunny sky.

 

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

The psalmist tells the angels to praise God. Should we not also praise Him?

 

Praise Him, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

This thought gives us pause as we consider the three forms of the Godhead. God the Father is our creator. God the Son is our Savior. God the Holy Ghost (Spirit) is our sustainer.

 

We must praise God for all He does for us, for all He will do for us, and for all He has done for us. When we praise God, we thank Him.

Interview with Simon Peter

redefinedandlivingdivine.files.wordpress.com

Quiet Spirit: Hello, today we have as a special guest Simon Peter. He has some interesting bits of information to share with us. Thank you for stopping in and visiting with us today.

Simon Peter: Thank you for inviting me to join you and your readers.

Q.S.: Peter, what can you tell us about your family and your background?

S.P.: My family came from Bethsaida. I lived in Capernaum. My father John was a fisherman. My brother Andrew and I followed our father into the fishing industry.

Q.S.: Did your meeting Jesus change you as a person? If it did could you share with us how?

S.P.: Yes, meeting Him changed who I was. Before I met Him, my life was focused on our trade. If I had a bad catch of fish, I didn’t handle it well. Because of this bad attitude, Andrew and I had rocky times. I even took out my frustrations on my wife and family. Knowing Him also changed how I looked at other people. However, I have to say, I never became ‘perfect’.

Q.S.: Why did Jesus give you a new name?

S.P.: I have often wondered about that. He must have seen something in me that I didn’t know was there. The name He gave me meant “Rock”; I was not a strong person. In fact, I could have been considered shallow and impulsive by those who knew me. I’m sorry to say that all that impulsiveness took over when Jesus was arrested and tried.

Q.S.: Are there things about yourself that you wish had been different about who you were?

S.P.: Yes, there are a few things. I wish I would not have spoken without thinking as much as I did. The Master really tried to set me straight when I almost argued with him when he told us he would be leaving us. Then, when I denied knowing Him those three times. I instantly felt regret for doing it. However, He forgave me. I can’t forget that.

Q.S.: How did you feel when Jesus forgave you?

S.P.: At first, I didn’t understand the reasoning behind his asking me the same question three times. Then I realized that he was forgiving me for each time I denied Him. Once I realized what He did, I felt very thankful for His choosing that way. Because He forgave me, I could forgive others.

Q.S.: Simon Peter, thank you for stopping in and sharing with us.

S.P.: Thank you for inviting me.

Because of Obedience

https://www.kcisradio.com/2016/01/28/romans-122

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. I Peter 1:14-15 (ESV)

The Apostle Peter echoes the instructions of Paul. Paul told the believers at Rome do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

Peter gives those in exile and us a reason for our changing our demeanor and our behavior. He tells us to not be conformed because of our obedience.

He further writes that we are to be holy (complete) as Jesus is holy.  As born-again believers, we are to reflect Him in all we say and do.

How we react to the world events can tell others about our beliefs and about the LORD. Several years ago, I heard an admonition “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.” ^(1.)

When we obey Christ, people notice. They might not say anything but they do watch how we act and react to events that go on around us.

Dear Father:

As we walk with Your Son through this world, please let us keep in mind that we belong to You and that we are to follow You and You alone. We are Your feet and Your hands as we live in this world. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

                       

1     1.)  William J. Toms (1803-1885) An Australian and a Methodist.

Complete Obedience

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6(ESV)

Paul wrote these words to the believers at Corinth. Paul had concerns about the Corinthian Christians. “False teachers were a constant threat to the gospel and the early church.” ^(1.)

He had to repeatedly warn and correct the thinking of these new believers. 

“The church at Corinth was weak. Surrounded by idolatry and immorality, they struggled with their Christian faith and lifestyle.” ^(2.)

I see a parallel between the Corinthian church and the Christian church of our day. Paul ministered to a weak church while the modern Christian churches seem weakened.

By weakened, I mean the church may have fallen under the influence of the world. We have churches in other parts of the world who face persecution and continue to grow in strength and in number. However, we have churches in my nation that struggle because they have allowed the ways of the world to penetrate into their way of thinking.

Paul tells the Corinthian believers to take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

The Message Bible states this passage like this: We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. ^(3.)

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are directed to filter whatever we see, hear, or think through God’s word in our obedience to Him.

In my devotional reading, I found that when learn and practice obedience, we are in the experience of sanctification.     

1.      Life Application Bible, (NIV) Tyndale House Publishers Wheaton, Ill. And Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. © 1988-1991 p.2091

2.      2. IBID

3.      The Message, Navpress © 1993-1996, 2000-2002 p.1596

Walk in God’s Command

missionventureministries.wordpress.com

And now I ask you, dear lady-not as though I were writing you a new commandment but the one we had from the beginning-that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so you should walk in it. 2 John 5-6 (ESV)

The Apostle John penned these words to “the elect lady and her children”. He emphasizes the importance of the commandment that we love one another. He stresses our need to live it out before others.

The Life Application Bible gives a good explanation of John’s message. “The statement that Christians should love one another is a recurrent New Testament theme. Yet love for one’s neighbor is an old command, first appearing in the first book of Moses (Leviticus 19:18) We can show love in many ways by avoiding prejudice and discrimination, by accepting people, by listening, helping, giving, serving and refusing to judge. Knowing God’s command is not enough. We must put it into practice, walking in obedience to his commands.” ^(1.) (Emphasis is mine.)

In my prayer group, we recently had a discussion about displaying God’s love to others, especially those who struggle with difficulties that stem from traumatic events in their lives. We thought on loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

We realized that when we love our neighbors, our Christian brothers and sisters, and even our family members, we are not to judge them. Loving them involves serving them, giving them an ear when they need to talk, and hugging them when they need reassurance.

John reminds us that we should truly love one another, obey God’s commands, and walk the Christian walk with Him beside us.

( (1.) Life Application Bible, New International Version © 1973, 1978, 1991 Tyndale House Publishers Inc. Page 2286 (Notes) 

Let Us Endure

bigriverracing.com

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

Who makes up that cloud of witnesses? The writer of Hebrews has listed the persons in the “Faith Hall of Fame” in chapter 11. Also, those saintly people, living in heaven, with whom you have worshipped comprise a section of our cloud of witnesses.

let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

 What does this mean to us as children of God? It could mean that we have to give over to God the heartache and the heaviness we feel about our sin and the sin done to us. Sometimes the heartache is intense and we feel as if we will crumble under just because it happened.

let us run with endurance the race that is before us

Have you watched some running? We used to have a neighbor who took up running. Every night, He would sprint down our street and around the corner. A few minutes later, he would return. Anyone watching him knew he was concentrating on what he was doing. I admire runners, they have to stay with the program in order to excel.  

looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith,

As children of God, we have to look to the LORD in order to gain ground when we an issue vexes us. When we look to those around us to solve the problem or try to fix it ourselves, we don’t allow Jesus to work in the circumstance.

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,

Jesus looked beyond the cross, enduring its agony for you and for me. He knew He would return to His home in Heaven.

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our Savior resides in heaven, assisting His Father. He intercedes for us when we sin and seek God’s forgiveness.

As we walk through our Christian lives, Jesus walks with us. The witnesses in heaven, those who have gone before us, as well as those saints Paul mentions in Hebrews 11 all watch as we make decisions and learn how to overcome the bad issues we face.

I am taking a break from blogging. I will be back on Monday, May 14.

Freedom vs Control

 

“I have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful.

 I have the freedom to do anything, but I won’t be controlled by anything.”

1 Corinthians 6:12 (CEB)

The apostle Paul brings out an important point with these words. He speaks about himself but applies the message to all who belong to God.

We belong to Jesus. When we realize we have this relationship with Him, we hear that we need to obey Him. When we act in obedience to Christ, we glorify (or honor) Him.

As children of God, we should think of the best way to represent Him in our world. There are people around us who have not accepted Jesus but they know what we are to do about things with which we deal. They watch us and, when we slip, they are right there to tell us, “If that’s Christianity, I don’t want it.”

Yes, I could go to the horse race track, I hear it has a lot of neat things there—celebrities appear there, I understand they have good food in their restaurant.  But I know I have an addictive personality. That constrains me from going.  The local horse track tries to do a lot of public relations work in order to draw more people in their doors. But I remember the fact that I have seen lives ruined by their own vices and people hurt because of another person’s addictive behavior.

 I have to exercise restraint when I hear of people going out there to see a show, or to eat a meal. Because God has dealt with me about both my own need to stay away and the fact that others can do this.

  graphic: faithful4him.wordpress.com

Making Everything New

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’

Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ 

Rev 21:5 (NIV)

”He who was seated on the throne. . . ” God almighty sits on the throne in heaven.

“‘I am making everything new!’” When we enter heaven we will have new bodies. The infirmities we have developed here on this earth will not be with us. Several of my Friends, wheelchair bound on earth, will be able to walk, run, and dance when they get there. Those who suffer from intense pain will no longer have to deal with it.

”Then he said, ‘Write this down. . .’” When I was a child, my earthly father sometimes said, “Mark my words. . .” when he felt something was important and he didn’t want me to forget them. I believe God wants us to remember what He will say.

“’. . . for these words are trustworthy and true.’” God puts his seal on these words. He tells John that the words to follow are reliable and genuine. His words are believable; they have stood the test of time.

We can trust God when He tells us something through His Word. On the morning I transcribed this, I had to change my order of things and go to the grocery store early. We returned home and I later started my devotional reading. The passage in Zephaniah 3:17 caught me by surprise.

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you in his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (NIV) I pray that each of you will find some passage that speaks to you today.

________

Graphic: choiceindying.com

Called to be Free

“You, my brothers, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

Once again, Paul reminds his readers that they were called by Jesus to be free from sin. He points out that we, as his readers, should not use our state of being free as a cover-up of the sinful spot in our hearts. When we read our Bibles, we should allow the Word to penetrate our hearts and minds to mold our personas to what God teaches us. His words should become a pattern for our behavior.

Paul tells his readers, then and now, to serve one another in love. We should not become haughty or proud because we are free. Our behavior, speech and mannerisms all reflects our stance with the LORD.

The Apostle also reminds us not to indulge in sinful behavior “because Jesus forgave my (our) sins.” Not only did Christ forgive our sins, He shed His blood and died for us, so we might join Him and His father in heaven. He paved the way for us to be worthy for this privilege.

________

graphic from warnersallman.com

Abound More and More

 

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more

 and more in knowledge and depth of insight. . . .

 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through

Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9, 11 (NIV)

“And this is my prayer. . .” Paul demonstrated that he cared about the Philippian believers. He desired certain things for the people. He expressed that desire as a matter of prayer. I wonder how many TV ‘evangelists’ can say this about their followers and it be true?

“. . . that your love may abound more and more. . .” Paul’s prayer request is simple. He asks that the love of the believers at Philippi, and those who come later-us, to grow to overflowing in order for those they meet to feel the love of Jesus.

“. . . in knowledge and depth of insight. . . .” This is interesting. Paul’s request is for growth of their (and our) knowledge and insight. We live in what is called the Age of Information. On the floor of my high school at the top of the steps in the main entry was the phrase, “Knowledge is Power.” Taken in a human context, this is true. Paul didn’t say he requested the Philippian Christians to have power or riches. He asked God to give them understanding and discernment.

“. . . filled with the fruit of righteousness. . .” The Apostle asks Jehovah that those believers be sated with the fruit of living holy before God.

“ . . that comes through Jesus Christ. . .” Paul knows that the best traits only come through Jesus. Those of us who face extreme situations caused by others as a way of life have learned this fact.

“ . . to the glory and praise of God.” Paul and all devout believers attempt to live their lives for the Lord God. Have I always done this, No, I have to be sincere, I haven’t. However, God is teaching me every day how to live for Him.

The Lord, High and Exalted

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord

seated on a throne, high and exalted, and

the train of His robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1 (NIV)

Isaiah visited the temple. He saw God, Himself, lifted above the scene, raised up by the prayers of His people. God’s majesty was so great the train of His robe lay everywhere, engulfing all things in it’s path, and protecting whoever was present in His house.

This was a holy moment for Isaiah. He saw God, the creator of the universe. We all know what happened next. Isaiah felt unworthy to witness the scene of seraphim expressing God’s holiness. He expressed his state. One of the seraphs placed a hot coal on Isaiah’s lips, taking away his unclean state, forgiving his sin, another holy time.

God needed someone to go for Him, to work for His cause. Isaiah heard the call. This was a third holy time in this story.

Today, Christians have similar times when God speaks to us, when He answers a prayer, when we see His hand leading us or a loved one through uncertain times or protects us from danger. As 21st Century believers, we have to learn to recognize the holy times God gives us.

Even today, we can still learn of Him by spending time in prayer, by reading and meditating on His Word, and applying His message to our hearts.

Epiphany

Just then there appeared before them

Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Mt17:3

Sometimes, believers have moments when they read something in God’s Word that answers a question they have or opens up a new way of thinking about Him.

We can call these times spiritual breakthroughs. Some call them sanctifying moments.

God speaks to us through the beauty of nature, through other people, and His Word. As we pray for revival, we should expect to have these spiritual epiphanies. But, even if they surprise us, we should give thanks for them. if they don’t they are just as special.

Some of these special mountaintop experiences can change how we view our relationship between our heavenly Father and us. Others may call us to action or cause us to work or spend our time differently.

As we are still in the beginning of a new year, may I suggest we all keep our mind’s eye focused on God’s Word and be open to what message or messages He gives us? When I had an epiphany moment in midDecember, it energized me. I pray one will do something similar for you.

God’s Grace

Grace comes to us in many forms. Among them is prevenient, saving, and sanctifying grace. Prevenient grace is the call of Jesus extended to each of those seeking Him.

A young woman and her husband attend a church service at the invitation of her uncle and aunt. During the service the Holy Spirit speaks to her heart. She asks Jesus to forgive her of her sins. A little later in the service the pastor issue a invitation to any one who wished to be baptized to come to the front of the sanctuary. A mother and a daughter make their way down to join him.

The young woman decides to find her uncle, an associate pastor of the church, and asks him to escort her down to the platform to receive baptism.

The saving grace entered this young woman's heart when she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Sanctifying grace sets us apart for Kingdom work. By sanctifying His people, Jesus bestows on them certain traits and talents to be used to expand His realm. These gifts are to be used for His glory.

And yet grace–His undeserved love–keeps us safe and comforts us as we walk through this life. We can give grace to one another and we can receive it as well. How can we do this for others–a kind word, a hug, a smile, a note of cheer. We receive God's grace when another person goes out of his or her way to inquire how things are going and gives a hug or other show of concern when they aren’t going as well as we would like. We receive God's grace when we receive a card in the mail or a phone call when we are having a hard time.
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I am a guest blogger on another website I frequent. I am sharing the link with all my friends. http://invisibleillnessweek.com/?cat=214

You Anoint my Head with Oil,

. . . My Cup Overflows.


God, the Shepherd, makes us holy -sets us apart-so that we reflect Him in our daily lives. When God anoints us, He equips us to do work for the Kingdom. He softens our hearts, gives us discernment, guides us in our days, and gives the right words to say.

We spend time each November listing things we are thankful for. Might these items be results of God’s act of making us holy? The answer here could be some but not all.

We see persons who never seem to exhibit spiritual growth in their lives. Do some of God’s children receive more of God than others? The answer here could be God chooses the Spiritual gifts He wants each of us to have but it is up to us to develop them. Is it because God loves them any less than He loves the missionary or the evangelist? No, God loves us all the same.

God’s Focus/Our Focus

There are times in our lives where we experience events that don’t turn out as we believe they should. When these happen, we can be devastated. We didn’t get the promotion or the job we thought we deserved. We wanted something nicer than what we received for our birthday.

We tell someone about the bad feeling we have. “I should have gotten that. . . because. . . .” What we don’t always realize is that God may have other plans for us. Maybe that promotion could bring more stress into our lives. That job you want might not be what He has in mind for you.

We might even argue with God. “But, God. . . I would be perfect for that position.” “God. . . I could do that job better than the one who’s doing it now.” When we debate with God we show selfish pride. We also disrespect God.

Those around us suffer physical or emotional hurts and we react. We say things purely from our point of view. Like the friends of Job, we open more wounds for the victims. They become more confused due to our misguiding them. There again, we are operating from what we want to say.

But when we follow the Lord, we belong to Him. We view all events and happenings through His eyes. He becomes our guide in how to think. We learn to react to stimulus as He desires.

The process of changing our focus is a part of sanctification. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, sets us apart from our past habits and points of view to allow us to reflect Him. It is our job to yield to the workings of the Holy Spirit. It is His to change us into who we are to become.