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Welcome!

On By LindaIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Welcome to Amazing God Stories!  Christian allegories, parables, analogies, fiction short stories as well as creative nonfiction stories that show the variety of amazing ways God has been working in my life. And if He has done all this for me, I can only imagine what He’s been doing for you!

My  goals are simple:

#4.  To brighten your day with a little entertainment, for you to leave feeling a bit better than when you arrived.

#3. To teach, warn, and clarify Biblical issues we face as Christians so we can be all that God calls us to be. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

#2.  To inspire you to keep on keeping on in your own walk with God.  God is working in your life as much as He’s working in mine. Maybe something I’ve learned or experienced will help you get through a rough patch or to grow in your own desire to know God.

And the #1 reason: To glorify God – to acknowledge and thank Him for all the ways He has been faithful to me! From the day I met Him, He has been by my side. He’s been my Friend, Coach, Counselor, Father, Teacher, Comforter, Defender,  Provider, and a million other things.

This blog is my way to shout to the world that GOD IS AMAZING!

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If my stories do what I hope they will do – like, comment, follow, and/or share them!

It would mean a lot to me to to know that they are being read and to hear what you think!

Who Are We Following? Part 3: Which Jesus?

On By LindaIn Who Are We FollowingLeave a comment
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Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” and received a variety of answers. The same holds true today. Everyone who hears about Jesus has to wrestle with this question. Did he exist? Does he exist now? If so, who was/is he? What does it mean to follow him?

People either believe Jesus existed, don’t believe he existed, or don’t care whether he existed. Most modern scholars agree that a man named Jesus did exist. They point to both Christian and non-Christian early writings which make reference of him. Generally they agree that Jesus was a teacher, had a reputation as a miracle worker, had a brother named James, and died a violent death. People that claim Jesus never existed have the right to say that but the facts don’t support their belief.

In this blog, I am going to focus on those who believe that Jesus lived, rose, and is who he said he is. However just believing Jesus is God does not make us a Christian. James 2:19 makes reference to faith in Jesus when he wrote “Even the demons believe – and shudder!”  What makes us a Christian is submitting ourselves to Jesus’ ownership over us. We follow all that he said, even the hard things. You would think that would result in a group of like-minded people, all worshipping and serving the same Savior. But as I talk to people, read social media posts, and listen to podcasts, it’s clear that not everyone sees Jesus the same way. People who call themselves Christians may describe very different Jesus’ – often one that supports their lifestyle or worldview. For example, there’s a social justice Jesus who was mostly concerned with the poor and needy, a religious Jesus who spent his time spiritualizing everything, and a philosopher Jesus who preached wise messages. Which Jesus is the one we are to follow? Does it matter?

  1. The Social Justice Jesus.

Those who follow this Jesus claim that he went around defending the poor and the marginalized. He taught equality and good relationships between all people. He spoke mainly of love, mercy, and peace. He accepted everyone as they were without judgment. This is the Jesus that society is most willing to accept. This Jesus says and does what confirms what society wants to say and do. This Jesus accepts every lifestyle, judges no one, and lives in peace with everyone.

I agree that Jesus defended the victimized and taught good relationships. However, Scripture doesn’t support that he accepted everyone without judgment or was concerned about social programs. He was very critical of hypocrites (Matthew 23, Luke 6:42), his ministry was for the Jews, not the Gentiles (Matthew 15:24), he told people to stop sinning after healing them (John 5:14; 8:11), he said he came to bring division (Luke 12:51), and his main message was to repent (Matthew 4:17).

In a way, people who follow the social justice Jesus seem to be actually following society.

  • The Religious Jesus.

Those who follow this Jesus say that he was holy, never sinned, and spoke about spiritual matters all the time. He was solemn, prayed a lot, and was mostly concerned with people’s relationship with God. He preached about sin and judgment and hell and doing good works.

Jesus was certainly holy and never sinned, and he constantly redirected people’s minds towards the kingdom. But he wasn’t the solemn, hand-folding man that kept his distance from sinners. He actually ate with sinners, attended parties and dinners, and contradicted the religious leaders. He had to have laughed and enjoyed people for children to be attracted to him. In fact, he ran the full range of human emotions from joy to grief.

In a way, people who follow the religious Jesus seem to be actually following religion.

  • The Philosopher Jesus

Those who follow this Jesus say that he had many wise sayings about how the inner self affects behavior. He made suggestions for getting along with others and how to live a peaceful life that would end with entrance into heaven.

There is no doubt that Jesus was full of wise sayings and parables. The Gospels are full of them. They are truthful and helpful in knowing the spiritual world and how to walk as a Christian. But this is not all that Jesus talked about. He said he was God (John 2:25-26; 8:58), warned that those who didn’t obey his words would face the wrath of God (John 3:36), that he came to bring a sword instead of peace (Matthew 10:34), and told us deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him (Luke 9:23). Viewing Jesus as just a wise teacher but dismissing the harder things is contradictory. Either he was wise and everything he said was true – or he was deceived or even crazy to make the claims he did.

In a way, people who follow the philosopher Jesus seem to be actually following themselves.

Other groups include Word of Faith (power, healing), Prosperity (wealth), deliverance ministries (freedom and experiences), hypercharismatic (feelings and experiences) and many more. Each group contains truth, but also error. By picking out some scriptures that support their view and ignoring the rest, their followers only get a Jesus in the image they prefer. This is deceptive, and deception is of the devil. Even worse is using those Scriptures to fight Christians who hold different views. If Satan can divide us and pit us against each other, he’s won a great victory. He has effectively weakened our light, tainted our testimony, and gotten everyone’s eyes on man instead of on God.

One of Jesus’ purposes in becoming man was to restore the relationship between God and man so that man could have eternal life with God (John 3:16-17. The peace the angels sang about is peace between God and man. God created man. Man sinned. Jesus paid the price of that sin. Relationship restored. Along the way he healed people to show who he was (John 36-38), directed people towards the kingdom of God, and spoke with wisdom and authority. He accepted people but spoke out against their sin (Mark 9:42-48; John 8:34). He cared about the poor but never rallied for social programs. Instead he told people not to worry but to trust God for their needs (Matthew 6:25-26). He spent much time with his Father (Luke 5:15-16) but thoroughly enjoyed attending parties and dinners of sinners as part of his ministry (Mark 2:17). He spoke about the kingdom but demanded obedience in order to get there (Matthew 7:21). His final direction to his followers was to call all people to repent and to become disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:45-47).

Jesus is much bigger and more complex than just what we see from our own biases. Christianity is not a cafeteria where we get to pick from the Bible what looks good to us. We follow all that Jesus said, even the hard things whether we understand or agree with them or not.

So… who are we following? The Jesus as he has revealed himself to us or the Jesus we create to support our beliefs and desires, the one that seems right in our own minds?

Scriptures:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:25

How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye.” When you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. Luke 6:42

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. Luke 12:51

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well. Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” John 5:14

She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:11

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36

The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. “Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:25-26

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Luke 9:24

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth, I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not the call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:15-16

Then he ope3ned their minds to understand the Scriptures and said to them, ‘Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:45-47

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. John 8:34

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fires are not quenched. Mark 9:42-48

Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:25-26

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Romans 10:3

Do you day of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me, but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” John 36-38

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

A Prayer for SIL, Day 120 (last one)

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Jesus, there are days like today when SIL is withdrawn and appears sullen (although that may not be accurate), that I don’t want to be around her. But those are the days she probably needs me to be around her the most. God, grant me the grace to do what’s best for SIL regardless the cost to my flesh.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35

God, You loved me when I was at my worst; You died for me before I turned to You. Help me to remember You have done the same for SIL. Tell her that You love her when she’s withdrawn as much as when she’s engaged with the people around her. You died for her regardless of her behavior and attitude. You are kind to her always. Help me to have the same mind set as You.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this in mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8

Lord, help me to do nothing out my own self-centeredness but humbly count SIL more significant than me. Let me look to her interests as well as my own. Even though I was created in Your image, help me to not count being treated as such a thing to be grasped, insisted on, but rather empty myself by obediently serving SIL, even if it kills me.

In Your Loving Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 119

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Lord, SIL used to be so smart, considering all options before making a decision. Now she seems to be guided by impulse, a lack of impulse control – and that ends up with decisions/actions that cost those around her. When I ask about them or point them out, she’s defensive. If she won’t discuss them with someone before she acts, then I ask that you guide her thinking and that you protect her loved ones from her actions.

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 14:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Proverbs 18:15

Lord , I pray that SIL moves away from believing everything she hears and towards giving more thought to her steps. She defends herself, thinks she knows better than everyone around her. I pray that You show her the wisdom in listening to those who would be most affected by her decisions. Lord, she once sought knowledge, and I pray that, with Your help, she will once again seek it.

In Your Wise Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 118

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Thank You, Lord, for the work You are doing in SIL. I get glimpses of it from time to time so I know You are working on the inside of her, and I trust eventually the changes will be increasingly seen on the outside. In the meantime, open her eyes to see how her words and behavior are affecting those around her.

His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. Psalm 10:7

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Jesus, SIL’s mouth may not be full of curses most of the time, but she does use it to attempt to deceive and to force others to agree with her so she can have things her way no matter how it affects them. I pray that she uses her mouth, her words, to bring life and joy to others so that it does not result in the death of relationships – and that the fruit will be sweet interactions – not bitter regret.

In Your Wonder Working Name,

Amen

Who Are We Following? Part 2 Spiritual Beliefs

On By LindaIn Uncategorized, Who Are We FollowingLeave a comment
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With the exception of what some atheists say about themselves, we all have spiritual beliefs. And we all believe that what we believe is the truth. But how often do we consider the origin of what we actually believe? I say actually, because often we say we believe something but our actions prove that we really don’t.

Usually we take on the beliefs of whoever we are following. Whether that be our parents, the religion we grew up in, the education we received, those we esteem as being wiser or better than ourselves, or our own reasoning, we rarely give much thought to why we believe what we believe. We believe because someone in authority told us to believe. We believe because it feels right to us. We believe because it seems logical to our way of thinking. We believe because it makes us feel part of a group.  Or we believe because we had a spiritual encounter. Regardless of how we formed our beliefs, they become part of who we are. They can change over time as we learn and mature – if we think about what we believe – but for most people beliefs become set and are very hard to change. Have you noticed how defensive people can get when talking about them? Almost as much as when talking about politics. In my view, that’s because they are not looking at their beliefs objectively. Their beliefs go very deep in their hearts and they cannot separate who they are from what they believe.

Over the years, especially the last year or two, I have felt God leading me to examine everything I believe. I have been surprised, sometimes even shocked, to find out just how much of what I believe did not come from Him. I imagine the Jews at the time when Jesus walked the earth must have felt the same whenever Jesus spoke against some of what the religious leaders were teaching.  He sometimes began by saying, “You have heard it said,” and then continue with, “but I say.” God had given Moses the laws they were to follow, but over the centuries, religious leaders added to them. Most likely, some had good intentions. Their job was to assist the Jews in their worship and sacrifices to God as well as to model how to live pure lives. They probably added laws that they felt made God’s laws clearer. But others added or enforced laws to increase their own power and prestige.  Such were the Pharisees and the Sadducees that Jesus strongly and clearly spoke out against, especially with all those woes in Matthew 23.

Jesus warned against the danger of wrong beliefs by comparing them to leaven.  “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they (the disciples) understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:11b-12. Mark adds “the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15) so it’s not just what the Jews were learning from religion but also what they were learning from secularism.

So what do you believe? How do you determine what is true?  For Christians, that would be the Bible. Not a religious leader no matter how famous or important or loved. Not your pastor or your family or your own reasoning. They may be preaching truth, but we should be like the Bereans in Acts 17 who examined the Scriptures nightly to see if what Paul was preaching was true.

When God told me to have a Scripture for each thing I told people in my blogs or other writings, I was amazed at what I found. Or rather, what I didn’t’ find. I was raised in a strict denomination with many rules and traditions. I was part of the early Charismatic movement with its heavy emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit. I got into the Enneagram when it was first introduced into my group of Christian friends. I followed the Word of Faith and the Prosperity Gospel teachings, again in its earlier days. I attended the services of varying denominations. I read multiple books on different religions and on the history of Christianity. I immersed myself in science fiction through books, TV shows, and movies. My faith – the things I believed – was knowingly and unknowingly influenced by all of these areas. As I began to examine what I believed by searching for it in the Scriptures, it turns out some of it was true, but a lot of it was not found in the Bible. In fact, some of it bordered on the occult and new thought (Christianized occult practices and beliefs) and was actually condemned in the Bible. I then had a choice: continue to believe what I wanted to believe, or repent and change to line up with God’s Word.

It’s hard to accept that something we hold near and dear to our hearts could be partially or completely untrue. Some that come to mind are…

God helps those who help themselves.

God wants everyone healthy and wealthy.

If I am good enough, I will get into heaven.

Being sick is caused by sinning.

Disasters in our lives are caused by Satan attacking us.

Jesus died for my past sins, but I have to pay for my current and future sins.

We are all children of God.

I used to believe each of those at some point in my life, but have since found Scriptures that reveal the fallacy of such beliefs. Let me know if you want me to send you some of the Scriptures I found.

Stay tuned. Next, I plan to start examining specific beliefs.

Note about the Bible, it’s important to read the context of whatever verse is being referenced. Biblical verses taken out of context can be made to say or support anything. John 6:27 is a good example.

John 6:27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.

If we pulled this Scripture by itself without considering it in the context of the rest of the Bible, we might use it to believe that we shouldn’t have jobs. We might think that we should only do spiritual things and that our food will come directly from Jesus. However, reading through the other books in the Bible, we know that we are supposed to live in the world (have jobs, support our families) but not be of it (with the same world views, morality, ambitions). Our focus should be on the kingdom of heaven – spiritual matters – without expecting others to take care of us (see the last Scriptures listed below).

Scriptures:

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi[b] by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.[c] 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[d] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell[e] as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[f] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

“You have heard it that was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43-44

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10-11

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own lands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Ephesians 4:28

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, Colossians 3:23

Nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:8

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly, and to earn their own living. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

A Prayer for SIL, Day 117

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Lord Jesus, You healed so many people who came looking for it. You freed many people who asked for Your mercy and power to intervene in their lives. I pray tonight that SIL comes looking for healing so that You may heal her. And that she asks for Your mercy and power to break through strongholds. She doesn’t need to know all the details; she just needs to acknowledge her need for you.

But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2b

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:2b-3

Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit he has made to dwell in us? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:5-6

Jesus I ask that You bring SIL to the place where she can see herself in this. I pray that she humbles herself, puts down her desires to serve herself and to do things her way, and seeks to serve You in Your ways. I pray that she asks for Your healing and grace to be healed and set free in order to walk as the woman of God You made her to be – a woman after Your own heart.

In Your Merciful Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 116

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Lord, heal SIL’s body as You work in her heart. I don’t know what those sounds she’s making are, but they are not normal. If she’s in pain, soothe her with Your healing touch. If it’s just a self-soothing habit, reveal that to her and help her to get to the place where she doesn’t need them anymore. Hold her gently in Your arms Whisper words of love, encouragement, and correction – and open her ears to hear them. Lord, she still believes she can’t hear You. Can You speak louder until she recognizes Your voice?

He goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:4b

You said Your sheep know Your voice. So I believe SIL does know Your voice – she just doesn’t know that she knows it. Speak to her clearly and often until she can’t help but hear it and recognize that it is Your voice. May she get excited when she makes this connection.

In Your Soothing Name,

Amen

Who Are We Following? Part 1 The Kingdom of Heaven

On By LindaIn Who Are We Following3 Comments
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We choose who to follow based on who we think will best get us to where we want to go. This is true with both earthly aspirations and spiritual destinations. Christians usually have both, but the ultimate destination would be heaven.

I used to think that the kingdom of heaven was just another way of saying heaven. Or it’s the time when Jesus reigns for a thousand years on earth or when the New Jerusalem comes down to a new earth. There are scriptures that can support each of those ideas. They are all in the future making the kingdom of God something we could look forward to but didn’t impact us in our day to day lives here and now. But Jesus also talked about the kingdom of heaven as being here now.

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will t hey say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20-21

When the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, part of Jesus’ response was “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28

So the kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future promise. It can be described as “already, but not yet” – active right now in the hearts of believers but will achieve its full manifestation in the future.

Believers can be likened to athletes. Everyone acknowledges and appreciates athletes as they compete, but few consider that the same people are athletes outside their competitions. They live in the now the same way they will at the time of their competitions. They practice the same skills. They have the same mind set. They live with the same self-control. Their eyes are focused on the future, yet they live in the present as if it were the future. No serious athlete would live a life of self-gratification, conform to the lifestyle of those around them, and follow what sounds reasonable and good to them. They don’t wait until their competition to get in shape. They find a professional trainer and follow what they are told to do, trusting in their expertise.

Believers have their eyes set on the future kingdom in which they will reign with Christ, but they live as if they are living in the kingdom now. Same rules, same mind set, same self-control. They find and follow a professional trainer – the Word – and do what it says, trusting God to know what He’s talking about. So the kingdom of God is already here, in our hearts and lives, but not yet because the full manifestation has not happened yet.

Knowing this, we can begin to discern who we are following. Are we following the Trainer who demands what is best for us no matter how hard? Do we follow someone who says things we want to hear? Do we follow our own ideas of how things should be? Or do we follow the suggestions of the devil who wants nothing more than to destroy us?

(to be continued)

The Bible speaks a lot about the kingdom of heaven; here are a few facts.

Christians know a little about the kingdom of heaven because He reveals secrets about His kingdom to His people, not to the whole world. The world as a whole cannot understand spiritual things so they are not going to understand our behavior, beliefs, and decisions at times.

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Matthew 13:10-11

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

Not everyone who appears to be part of God’s kingdom are children of the kingdom. Many are there for reasons other than belonging to God. Some who call themselves Christians do so because they were born into families that attended church and so they attend church. Some think that believing that Jesus existed is enough to belong. Some are truly deceived into believing their ideas are as much truth as the words of God. Some really do love God, but choose to be their own king instead of accepting the kingship of Jesus. Some make up their own versions of the Jesus they want to follow. And some use the label ‘Christian’ to further their selfish goals – they do Christian things to feel good, make money, or gain prestige. They love healing but not holiness; they love power but not purity; they love wonders but not the will of God.

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds[c] among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants[d] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Matthew 13:24-30

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23

We must be born of the Spirit to see and enter the kingdom of heaven. We can’t enter on the backs of other people.  We can’t earn our way in. We can’t buy our way in. We can’t bully our way in. We can’t deceive our way in. We can’t even pray our way in. We must be born again, which means we must accept Jesus as both Savior and King. We pledge ourselves to Him. We obey His commands over what we want and over what others say. We no longer exist for ourselves but we exist to love and serve Him.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 1 John 3:23

God’s kingdom will overcome all other kingdoms and will never be destroyed.

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. Daniel 2:44

Other Scriptures:

Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in my suffering as a good soldier in Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 1-5

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13

A Prayer for SIL, Day 115

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Thank You, Lord, for these instances where I can see SIL step up and take responsibility. They may not last but they seem to be happening more frequently which I attribute to the work You are doing in her, and in her cooperation with the Spirit.

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

Father, open SIL’s ears so that she can hear in the morning of Your steadfast love for her. May she lift up her soul to You every day and as she puts her trust in You more and more, make her know the way she should go.

In Your Loving Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 114

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, what a complex mixture of problems SIL has, as do we all. I pray that You clarify them, and that she responds to the ones you choose to work on first.

In the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood: may grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1 Peter 1:2b

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

Jesus, I pray that as the Spirit sanctifies SIL, that she walks in obedience to you. Sprinkle her with Your blood as often as she needs it. Increase the grace You give to her so that she will be able to walk by the Spirit – focusing on the spiritual and not on her flesh. As she submits to you, multiply the peace she feels. Let it be a rewarding and motivating factor to keep walking with You.

In Your Sanctifying Name,

Amen