In a shorter blog, I want to share a couple scriptures with you about what Jesus says about faith and how this spoke to me recently.
Mark 10:13-16
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
What does it mean to receive the kingdom of heaven like a child? In 1 John, we are called children of God. Because of this, we must have a child-like faith. When I was young, my dad could and was my superman. When I got older, I realized more that my Dad wasn't immortal. I wasn't as eager and excited, and I surely wasn't naive anymore. I was more aware of the worries in life as I got older.
Jesus is not telling us to be immature, nor is he telling us to stay naive about the troubles of today. What I feel he is saying is that we need to believe that God is capable of doing anything despite our worries and doubts. My dad could do ANYTHING when I was a child. I got older and "outgrew" that. Jesus never wants us to "outgrow" the possibilities God can do for us. He thrives in situations where it seems hopeless.
In Matthew 9 Jesus heals two blind men, and says that their faith (in his ability and authority) healed them. I want that faith to heal me. I want that faith like a child in her heavenly Father. I want that "anything is possible" attitude. I pray you do too.
I currently have a few things in my heart that I have been earnestly praying for because I know God is promising prosperity and blessings in these areas of my life. He may be telling me that my faith in His ability and authority will grant me my requests. One I will share briefly because it is a huge burden to me.
I work at a nursing home in Cedar Falls. I have been working as an activity planner for a while, and even though I love the job, it isn't providing. God whispered to me one morning a few weeks ago "I am going to do something big. Just you wait and see." Shortly after that, my director announced her resignation. I remember saying "Well, that's awesome God, but I don't see how this really helps me." I took a chance, and being compelled by the Holy Spirit, I put my name in for the job. I didn't get it...but guess who did? The Music Therapist. (Remember what I went to school for?) Right now, I am waiting to see if I get accepted as the full-time Music Therapist at my job site. God has been keeping me at my job for a reason...I felt Him keeping me there. I had also been trying to make other arrangements for roommates and cheaper living, but God has literally put all those on hold by giving me NO response from ANYONE I'd been contacting...He is calling me to "Just wait and see." I really feel like a child in the corner, trusting my Father has this awesome gift to give me...I just can't peak or take it before He is willing to give it. But because He is my Father, I know He will give me what He promises.
Humble yourself and act like a faithful child, your Father wants to bless you today.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Abide With Me
I want to share lyrics to a song that was shared with me. This is called Abide With Me, and it's one of those good old hymns that I personally haven't heard before.
To share something awesome (maybe more for me at the moment), I was helping with my nursing home's Hymn Sing, and heard God whisper this old hymn to me. I tried to flip to the table of contents to check and see if this song was in there, but God answered my request faster than I could and the first flip of pages I made happened to land right on this song...so I requested it and we sang it all together.
The song is so beautiful, but I love to read the lyrics to myself as a prayer. I hope you all find your heart longing to abide with Christ. Pray this prayer today.
To share something awesome (maybe more for me at the moment), I was helping with my nursing home's Hymn Sing, and heard God whisper this old hymn to me. I tried to flip to the table of contents to check and see if this song was in there, but God answered my request faster than I could and the first flip of pages I made happened to land right on this song...so I requested it and we sang it all together.
The song is so beautiful, but I love to read the lyrics to myself as a prayer. I hope you all find your heart longing to abide with Christ. Pray this prayer today.
1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. 2. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me. 3. I need thy presence every passing hour. What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. 4. I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if thou abide with me. 5. Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Ready to Kick Butt
I am mad, passionately angry.
Satan is known as the father of lies...he twists truths to make us believe we are worthless.
I see Satan enabling people, tearing them down, making them feel less than they really are. My heart cries out to them. It burns for the day where Satan will have his moment at Judgement.
The following visual was shown to me tonight, and I want to share it:
We are standing on earth. There is a huge overcast of clouds above us. And behind that, the sun is shining. We can't see the sun with all the clouds in the way, but it is still shining. Some times, it breaks through and we can have a clear day, or a very very cloudy day with little to no sunlight.
Our clouds contain all our troubles, worries, anxieties, negative feelings of doubt and fear...anything that can be used to distract us from the sunshine. God is the sun. He is always on His throne, in control. The sun is always shining. Our worries just get in the way of seeing that.
The trick is to look beyond the clouds. Realize and believe that even though we can't see it, the Son is shining. He is always working. The Father is Sovereign and completely in control at all times.
Satan wants to keep you cloudy. He wants you to forget the sun is there. This is what angers me. All that I have gotten today while talking with a dear friend was verses about how Jesus is our shepherd and he tends to his flocks, he heals the brokenhearted and carries us. If we are called to be like Jesus, I am called to do these very things...which is exactly what was placed before me.
I heard a quote, that may become my new personal motto: "Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says...'Oh shoot...she's awake!!'" He has made me so angry, I want him to shudder. He has no grip on me. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world!
My friends, I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to spoil Satan's plans on your life. God reigns higher than what you are seeing before you!
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:20
When you have a cloudy day, rejoice! Acknowledge the Son behind those clouds.
"But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:13
Romans 5:1-5
We are in a constant war between ourselves, the enemy, and God. Thank God today that He won the war, but pray for strength and endurance throughout your various battles you still face. I don't know about you, but I refuse to sit back while the enemy continues to put a cloudy day over the day that the Lord has made. I encourage you to join me.
Satan is known as the father of lies...he twists truths to make us believe we are worthless.
I see Satan enabling people, tearing them down, making them feel less than they really are. My heart cries out to them. It burns for the day where Satan will have his moment at Judgement.
The following visual was shown to me tonight, and I want to share it:
We are standing on earth. There is a huge overcast of clouds above us. And behind that, the sun is shining. We can't see the sun with all the clouds in the way, but it is still shining. Some times, it breaks through and we can have a clear day, or a very very cloudy day with little to no sunlight.
Our clouds contain all our troubles, worries, anxieties, negative feelings of doubt and fear...anything that can be used to distract us from the sunshine. God is the sun. He is always on His throne, in control. The sun is always shining. Our worries just get in the way of seeing that.
The trick is to look beyond the clouds. Realize and believe that even though we can't see it, the Son is shining. He is always working. The Father is Sovereign and completely in control at all times.
Satan wants to keep you cloudy. He wants you to forget the sun is there. This is what angers me. All that I have gotten today while talking with a dear friend was verses about how Jesus is our shepherd and he tends to his flocks, he heals the brokenhearted and carries us. If we are called to be like Jesus, I am called to do these very things...which is exactly what was placed before me.
I heard a quote, that may become my new personal motto: "Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says...'Oh shoot...she's awake!!'" He has made me so angry, I want him to shudder. He has no grip on me. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world!
My friends, I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to spoil Satan's plans on your life. God reigns higher than what you are seeing before you!
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:20
When you have a cloudy day, rejoice! Acknowledge the Son behind those clouds.
"But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:13
Romans 5:1-5
We are in a constant war between ourselves, the enemy, and God. Thank God today that He won the war, but pray for strength and endurance throughout your various battles you still face. I don't know about you, but I refuse to sit back while the enemy continues to put a cloudy day over the day that the Lord has made. I encourage you to join me.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Spiritual Fruit
While Bible studying with a few amazing girls tonight, I came across a concern that I wanted to dig at more with them. We are going through Matthew, and tonight we were on Matthew 7. Let me highlight the section we were digging deeper into:
Verses 15-20
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (my emphasis added)
By their fruit...what does good fruit look like? How is bad fruit different? What should we be looking for in a true teacher or prophet in our day today?
Galatians 5:22 Lists the fruits of the Spirit.
If you see the following as a result of some sort (or a nourishment to produce more fruit) then you can be pretty safe that you are following a fellow Follower: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Also, John 15 says that Jesus is the true vine. He needs to be our source in order to make fruit. Instead of going to the thorn bushes for grapes, we have the True Vine to provide the nourishment and energy we need to make fruit.
Some of you may be out of home already, some of you reading this may still be living at home and getting ready to start life away from home. I encourage you right now to ask God for discernment. Ask Him to show you what false teachers are around you. Who is producing bad fruit? How can you produce good fruit? Chances are, you have resources living around you. Use them now while you have them. When you live on your own, you may find yourself stumped because you didn't build a foundation strong enough for you to make your faith your own. It's harder to build your foundation outside of your trusted resources. Build it now.
I would love to share personal examples with anyone if they want that to better understand what good fruit can look like, but I won't take up the space to put that here unless God really places it hard on my heart. Right now I want to speak His words. My life is pretty much an open book, ask me whatever you want and I would love to share it with you.
Know your fruits of the Spirit, and be on your guard against ferocious wolves trying to lead you astray.
Verses 15-20
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (my emphasis added)
By their fruit...what does good fruit look like? How is bad fruit different? What should we be looking for in a true teacher or prophet in our day today?
Galatians 5:22 Lists the fruits of the Spirit.
If you see the following as a result of some sort (or a nourishment to produce more fruit) then you can be pretty safe that you are following a fellow Follower: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Also, John 15 says that Jesus is the true vine. He needs to be our source in order to make fruit. Instead of going to the thorn bushes for grapes, we have the True Vine to provide the nourishment and energy we need to make fruit.
Some of you may be out of home already, some of you reading this may still be living at home and getting ready to start life away from home. I encourage you right now to ask God for discernment. Ask Him to show you what false teachers are around you. Who is producing bad fruit? How can you produce good fruit? Chances are, you have resources living around you. Use them now while you have them. When you live on your own, you may find yourself stumped because you didn't build a foundation strong enough for you to make your faith your own. It's harder to build your foundation outside of your trusted resources. Build it now.
I would love to share personal examples with anyone if they want that to better understand what good fruit can look like, but I won't take up the space to put that here unless God really places it hard on my heart. Right now I want to speak His words. My life is pretty much an open book, ask me whatever you want and I would love to share it with you.
Know your fruits of the Spirit, and be on your guard against ferocious wolves trying to lead you astray.
Friday, March 9, 2012
2 Timothy 3:16
If you look in your nifty study Bibles, you can see at the beginning of each book it has a section for "author." Usually here, it lists the name of an individual who physically wrote that book.
I want to put something into perspective for us today, using the following passage as my main focal point:
2 Timothy 3:16-"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
Another way to say God-breathed could be "inspired by God." So, let's connect the dots here...
Matthew was written by Matthew according to our study-Bible layouts. However, it was inspired by God. Matthew didn't just write a story...he wrote the very words of God. God spoke these words to His "instruments" and they proclaimed it with full confidence.
"But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man [Saul] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.'" Acts 9:15 (emphasis added by me)
Saul (soon to be Paul) was a normal human without any special abilities...he was like you and me. He only had more earthly powers, but nothing supernatural that you and I don't possess already. It is not our own power that makes us stand out. The only thing that makes us "special" is that the Holy Spirit inside of us stirs within us and speaks truth that we may be called to proclaim...if we are willing to hear it and respond:
Jeremiah 31:10-"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands..."
2 Timothy 4:2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
In case you didn't see anything from this, I want to put these two 2 Timothy verses one after the other for your visual convenience:
2 Timothy 4:2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
2 Timothy 3:16-"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
It says the same thing, but it doesn't: 4:2 says to preach the Word (Word of God...not limited to scripture alone). 3:16 focuses on the scriptures alone and how they are all inspired by God. My point, God still speaks to us today. We serve a God who was and is and will always be the same God. He never changes. I am not saying to add a "Totally New Testament" to the Bible...but God chooses some of us to speak and proclaim His spoken words and visions to others around us. Our God sits on the throne and reigns, but He wants to be personal with you. He wants to converse with you and show you amazing things.
Christ is a treasure worth more than anything we can receive on earth. If we don't understand that, we won't want to give it all. If we don't want to give it all, we can't follow Him. If we can't follow Him, we can't be intimate with Him.
(Phil 3:8, Luke 14:33, Matt. 10:37, Matt. 13:44)
God calls all of you to a different task. He has given you special gifts to produce fruit and bring glory to Him alone. However, I believe we can have more than one gift from the Spirit, and I feel we can all pursue the same ones.
1 Corinthians 12-14
(14:1-3 "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.")
You're Heavenly Father is calling you and showing you your task...are you listening?
I want to put something into perspective for us today, using the following passage as my main focal point:
2 Timothy 3:16-"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
Another way to say God-breathed could be "inspired by God." So, let's connect the dots here...
Matthew was written by Matthew according to our study-Bible layouts. However, it was inspired by God. Matthew didn't just write a story...he wrote the very words of God. God spoke these words to His "instruments" and they proclaimed it with full confidence.
"But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man [Saul] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.'" Acts 9:15 (emphasis added by me)
Saul (soon to be Paul) was a normal human without any special abilities...he was like you and me. He only had more earthly powers, but nothing supernatural that you and I don't possess already. It is not our own power that makes us stand out. The only thing that makes us "special" is that the Holy Spirit inside of us stirs within us and speaks truth that we may be called to proclaim...if we are willing to hear it and respond:
Jeremiah 31:10-"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands..."
2 Timothy 4:2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
In case you didn't see anything from this, I want to put these two 2 Timothy verses one after the other for your visual convenience:
2 Timothy 4:2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
2 Timothy 3:16-"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
It says the same thing, but it doesn't: 4:2 says to preach the Word (Word of God...not limited to scripture alone). 3:16 focuses on the scriptures alone and how they are all inspired by God. My point, God still speaks to us today. We serve a God who was and is and will always be the same God. He never changes. I am not saying to add a "Totally New Testament" to the Bible...but God chooses some of us to speak and proclaim His spoken words and visions to others around us. Our God sits on the throne and reigns, but He wants to be personal with you. He wants to converse with you and show you amazing things.
Christ is a treasure worth more than anything we can receive on earth. If we don't understand that, we won't want to give it all. If we don't want to give it all, we can't follow Him. If we can't follow Him, we can't be intimate with Him.
(Phil 3:8, Luke 14:33, Matt. 10:37, Matt. 13:44)
God calls all of you to a different task. He has given you special gifts to produce fruit and bring glory to Him alone. However, I believe we can have more than one gift from the Spirit, and I feel we can all pursue the same ones.
1 Corinthians 12-14
(14:1-3 "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.")
You're Heavenly Father is calling you and showing you your task...are you listening?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I Am Calling You
This is another blog post where I felt weighed to write about something, but I wasn't sure what. So, I wrote down passages that came to me from this week and tonight and listed them below. Let's see what God says to you all through me:
(Mark 3:16; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:2-3a; Acts 20:23-24; John 10:10)
"I call you all my own. You have been chosen and appointed for this time right now. I am the Good Shepherd in your lives. I have called you my own, and I will protect you. Don't argue with the name I have given you. Don't deny my abilities in your life. It seems hopeless...but I will make it happen. I am always working. Peter didn't argue when I changed his name from Simon to Peter (the Rock)...and I know he wasn't the most stable rock...but I made him one. Are you willing to let me make you what you were called to be?
I will lead you through the "impossible." I will hold you with my righteous right hand. I will lift you up when you fall down many times, but I will be smiling and encouraging you each time I have to do so. I love you. You are honored and precious to me. You are my chosen. I have called you to step out in faith, against the rivers, fires, waters of life. I have told you over and over again your tasks. Why don't you listen? Do you know that the devil comes like a thief, stealing and destroying all that I try to give you? He can't snatch you from my hand, but all my words and joys are being stolen from you if you continue to let the evil one lie to you. My Voice is being drawn out by his deceits. My sheep know my voice. I called you to follow me.
Will you finish the task I appointed you? Will you step up to it? I prepared you for this. I will never leave you, I will be with you. I promise. Trust me. I want you to soar."
(Mark 3:16; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:2-3a; Acts 20:23-24; John 10:10)
(Mark 3:16; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:2-3a; Acts 20:23-24; John 10:10)
"I call you all my own. You have been chosen and appointed for this time right now. I am the Good Shepherd in your lives. I have called you my own, and I will protect you. Don't argue with the name I have given you. Don't deny my abilities in your life. It seems hopeless...but I will make it happen. I am always working. Peter didn't argue when I changed his name from Simon to Peter (the Rock)...and I know he wasn't the most stable rock...but I made him one. Are you willing to let me make you what you were called to be?
I will lead you through the "impossible." I will hold you with my righteous right hand. I will lift you up when you fall down many times, but I will be smiling and encouraging you each time I have to do so. I love you. You are honored and precious to me. You are my chosen. I have called you to step out in faith, against the rivers, fires, waters of life. I have told you over and over again your tasks. Why don't you listen? Do you know that the devil comes like a thief, stealing and destroying all that I try to give you? He can't snatch you from my hand, but all my words and joys are being stolen from you if you continue to let the evil one lie to you. My Voice is being drawn out by his deceits. My sheep know my voice. I called you to follow me.
Will you finish the task I appointed you? Will you step up to it? I prepared you for this. I will never leave you, I will be with you. I promise. Trust me. I want you to soar."
(Mark 3:16; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:2-3a; Acts 20:23-24; John 10:10)
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