Monday, December 27, 2010

Adorning One Self

The world that we know of is becoming smaller and smaller. The principal in which our government was once founded is fading away. The comforts of life we have grown accustomed to and take for granted are becoming scarce. The American dream is evaporating and becoming a dream of essentials-food, shelter, and water.

There is only one thing that is for certain and that is God the Father and His begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. Without a relationship with Jesus Christ and God our Father, and guidance of the Holy Spirit we will be lost forever. He alone will provide for us. He alone is Lord over our lives, our families, and our lost world. Trust in Him-Believe upon Jesus and you will find eternal life!

1 John 2:17
This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

And one might ask what does please God? It is the working out of our faith. In short, "Faith Pleases God!"

James 1:25
But the man who looks intently into perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.

This perfect law we have are the Promises God has set before us in His word. The perfect law is living within the constraints of His abiding love. He gives us a love without measure and in return we cannot help but to love Him back.

Faith is not emotional nor is it deductive reasoning. Faith is not belief in this world or the flesh. Faith is believing in the One who created flesh and the world in which we live. Faith is stepping into position to receive the divine promises of God. It is expecting the truth of the living Word to come to pass in our lifetime.

Where is your faith? Can you look past the facts of sickness and reports of death? Dare to believe that this mere existence is just a fraction of our reality! We must put our trust and faith in God. And not only the written Word, but by the Spirit of His Word also.

Stop-Just stop for one minute, give Him thanks give Him praise.

Stop trying so hard to be Godly. Stop doing out of the sweat of your brow! Just surrender to His divine presence and in His presence, in your face to face communication, He will bring about His nature within!

I want us all to get a reality check and realize the Lord Almighty dwells within us. Our personality and character becomes sanctified in His righteousness and we become a new creation in spirit and in the natural. As we humble ourselves and release ourselves from our human nature "self" we will come into our birthright He has ordained for us.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Are You Ready?

At one time I believed living ready meant to be prepared for disaster! Live on the defensive and keep your guard up and at all times and be ready to quarrel with the opposition with the harshest words you can muster up. Be ready to undermine blows of the opposite force.

Be ready for a storm by having extra food on hand-canned goods, dry foods, powered milk, extra water and of course if at all possible have a generator ready to go. Be ready for disaster! Get the medicine cabinet packed with aspirin, bandages, peroxide, alcohol antibacterial cream! On an on it goes. In years past I have lived that way--on the defensive. Living this way can take a toll on our mental and physical well-being.

I have learned to relax and trust all is well with my soul. Not that I do not have some of those things in place today; but my mind is not on alert. It is not on the defensive. I have ceased to live in worry waiting for the next shoe to drop-so to speak. It is not I who can save the day. It is the Lord who works His hand in all things. For that I am at rest and at peace.

Ladies and gents, these days ahead of us are those of trials and tribulations. I am sure of it! The Word clearly states do not fear for I will never leave or forsake you. I am the great I am. The first and the last. The alpha the omega! Get your head wrapped around that!

He is who He says He is and He will fulfill every promise He has promised. Live at peace knowing all is well with your soul. Live knowing you are ready to reach out in His love, to pray without ceasing, and to love one another like you have never loved before.

Hard Pressed

I am hard pressed and remain in His wine press. It is with the Love of Christ I write to encourage and uplift the body of Christ Jesus. To be steadfast in Christ Jesus, who so totally loved us with his death and knowing that through His death that we all may live.

It is with great concern I address the adorning glory that is lacking within our hearts. For I know very well that we take much thought and preparation choosing how we dress ourselves. We realize it is important. Those things we choose bring the acceptance and approval of others. So in that I believe we do well. However it is the adornment of Christ within that expresses itself through our thoughts and our words and ultimately is how we act out our faith.

Here lie the questions. Are we willing to abandon our self worth and reputation to be crazy in love with Jesus? Do we speak forth the good news from our life experiences? Do we dare set forth in unchartered territories touching the hearts for Christ sake? Do we dare allow the Holy Spirit to lead us? Do we let the Hope of Glory that resides within shine forth in thoughts that transform us with words that encourage and create those things not yet seen with the naked eye with acts of kindness wrapped in the arms of our heavenly Father's love to others?

So let us be hard pressed as we remain in His wine press becoming more like Him. In Christ let us reside so we will be a witness that carries and demonstrates His glorious power and authority here on earth through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Tis the Season

This is the season for decorating, thinking of jovial things, and above all being happy and enjoying the holiday festivities. Well I am filled to the brim with turkey all its trimmings and of course I cannot forget the cheesecake, various pumpkin sweets, and homemade apple pie to boot. Our dinner table was arranged with love and care and the company we kept was one of family and friends. Thanksgiving for me is a happy time reminiscing about all the wonderful people and times we have had over the years.

Now we are preparing for another festive time, that of the Lord Jesus' birth and all the people and presents (or presence) we get to share! We prepare our homes once again, selecting our outfits and decorating our lawns for the upcoming event. There is much pride and precious time spent planning for that day. Do you agree?

Ephesians 6:11, 15-17
Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith. Put on salvation as your helmet

Notice all the "put on's". For us to put something on we must make a decision on what that is to be. We also have a choice in the manner in which we think and the thoughts we choose to think and meditate upon!

I am thinking about the time we spend on adorning our thoughts with right thinking and thinking on heavenly things to come. And even thinking about whom we shall bless! I am saying we should spend the time to select our thoughts like we select our clothing or how we prepare our homes for this holiday. We should stop trying so hard to have things just so. Instead shouldn't we try serenading the lover of our souls and let it be His way.

Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (NLT)


Romans 13:12
Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. (NLT)

When we clothe ourselves, we make choices as to what to wear; as is also true with our thinking and living.

Tis the season to remain in His presence until we can relax, forgive our self and the God that dwells within us will abound to us all good