Month 7

Month 7

1.

SWEAR NOT…..

James 5:12. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Matthew 5:37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

WHY YOU MAY NOT SWEAR……

Matthew 5:33-36. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thy oaths.

34. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

35. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

YOU HAVE NO REASON TO SWEAR…..

Colossians 3:9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Ephesians 4:25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Colossians 4:6. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

MAKE YOUR HEART A BED OF TRUTH….

Proverbs 4:23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Matthew 15:19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

DO NOT SWEAR WITH GOD’S NAME…..

Exodus 20:7. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

Leviticus 19:12. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely,  neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

IT IS A SIN TO SWEAR….

James 2:10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

UNDERSTAND THESE….

1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God.

MAY YOU BE RAPTURABLE IN JESUS NAME….

Our Prayer…..

1. O Lord my Father, give me grace to honour your name in every thing that I do or say.

2. Holy Spirit of God, help me to speak the truth, everyday and everytime.

3. Power digging pit of death for me, die in your pit.

4. Power struggling to see me injured, to see me wounded, die.

5. Holy Spirit of God, make me relevant beyond my Father’s house.

6. Holy Spirit of God, impress my name in the heart of my helper, so that my help will come quickly.

2.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“No one can serve two masters.

He will either hate one and love the other,

or be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon.

mam·mon

ˈˈmamən

noun

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink,

or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky;

they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,

yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.

Are not you more important than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Why are you anxious about clothes?

Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.

They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor

was clothed like one of them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field,

which grows today and is thrown into the fire tomorrow,

will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’

or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’

All these things the pagans seek.

Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,

and all these things will be added unto you.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Matthew 6:24-34

3.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalm 51:13

Has The Word been placed in my heart? To proclaim that which is to come? How can one made lowly by his-story gain a foothold? Lord, I believe in You, trust You. Father, I need You. Where there are many who come to my support; Lord it is You I want and need.

In looking back, You have made all things come together to this time. Father, I trust you for more in Jesus’ name I pray. Father, You have said with my tongue I So As confess, and it shall be. Father Lord at this time I seek Your face. I give You all praise and thanks for all You have done. My yesterdays were on your hands as ate my tomorrows. Lord, I commit my Life, My heart, my essence into Your holy, capable hands. Father, this time is Yours in Jesus’s name. Father, thank You for my essence in You, You work through me. Father utilize me to do Your will in Jesus’ name. Where I am lost, bring me out and guide me Lord in Jesus’s name. I thank You for this time, in Jesus’ name, Amen

4.

Ok, so music time again 😁: Do we remember the song we sang in service? The more O read The Word, the more it comes alive! You can ‘live the life’s and not be aware of its extents.

As a youth, I sang this, if someone mentioned that it was part of His word, I would have stood shocked, mouth agape. But thinking about it now I think “Where would they come from.” So, me encouragement for the musicians among us, but even if you can’t carry a note, raise your voice in praise of the source of our salvation!

“The LORD reigneth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

5.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2

Rejoice always, for from the heart joy comes, as we are blessed, there is much need to be grateful, pray continually, bringing your requests with joy for the promises apparent in your life. Give thanks in all circumstances both in trial and in grace; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt or disdain, but test them all; hold on to what is good. Reject every kind of evil, and hold on to the blessed promises of our Father in Heaven, Holy is He who sits upon the throne.

2 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Have you prayed today? Offered a word of thanks to our Father. Observe the light of the sun, the gentle breeze and even the strong gales of wind, they are all blessings. For kite flyers, amazing gusts to lift their hobbies up. There are many who might not be as thrilled. But in each and all, there is a reason to give thanks.

In The Kingdom all is with utmost beauty and peace. So as we approach that ‘season’ we have every reason to be glad.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

6.

If we are blessed or I should say “when we are blessed” do we hide it? I think not. Our blessings and advancements in life are a given as believers. The interesting part is that we cannot deny or hide the fact that we receive blessings. Time to throw off the basket. I am not saying ‘be proud’, but in essence bless others because you have been blessed. In thinking on this fact, it touched on what had already been said:

“Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.”

– Mark 4:21

💒So, let your light shine. Jesus’ people come together, let your light shine, share your Love with one another let your light shine. Let it shine, shine, shine; Let your light shine.

Lord Heavenly Father, thank You for this time, bless me, and touch those I Love. Fill me and those close to me with Your Spirit. Where I stood wrong, forgive me, Father much as I ask that You forgive me. Lord thank You for being my example, my guiding light. I Love You Lord, even more than life, I in faith put all these things in Your hands as I move forward. Be with me this day and always I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen

Last week l went to a restaurant. l saw there was a WiFi service, so l asked for the password. The waitress told me eat first, so l placed my order. After eating l asked again for the password, and again, she told me eat first. Feeling frustrated, l ordered black coffee. After coffee, again l asked for the password. They told me eat first. Then angrily, l walked to the restaurant manager and asked for the password. He replied eat first !!! l was about to explode, when I finally saw a sign on the wall indicating “WiFi password…EAT FIRST”.

This shows that most of us are waiting for an answer from God after we have prayed, but we don’t listen to what He is saying to us. Sometimes, the Lord is showing us an open door, but we keep asking for direction, instead of looking at the door He has opened. May the Holy Spirit guide us & open our spiritual eyes to see the answers to our prayers.

7.

I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto Thy word. Accept, I beseech Thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget Thy law.

Psalm 119:10

In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. Psalm 120:1-22

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121:1-8

8.

May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.”

– Numbers 6:26

Amen!

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You,

who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Psalm 89:15

A ‘Praisilicious’ day. New firsts, definitely we are in the presence of The Most High God. Folks; our God reigns. When we step, he steps with us, granting, guarding and guiding. Grateful we are. I will confess that this is the day The Lord has made! Testimony time!

So folks, let us pray after this manner:

Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done here on Earth, as it is in Heaven. The place of Holiness. Father, we are touched that you hear us speak to and with You.

Lord we ask that You give us this day our daily bread and all we need to glorify Your holy And everlasting name.

Lord, where we stand in the wrong,  forgive us our sins and trespasses, as we forgive our debtors as we allow the past to remain in the past, Lord that as I move forward, I can do it in and with You Father. We are weak in the flesh, Lord renew my Spirit each moment as I remain in You in Jesus’ name. Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from every evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever. Amen

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when you fastest, anoint your head, and wash thy face, be bright; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures here upon Earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:9-21

Today’s sharing are words we have heard before. Over and over in all walks of life. It was amazing to see those same words and finally realize where they came from. In the interest of time, let us jump straight in.

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,

    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,

    keeping watch on the wicked and the good. This we must know and hold on to. Our Father’s eyes are everywhere, with him are no secrets? What do you think he does not know?

The soothing tongue is a tree of life,

    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,

    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

    but the prayer of the upright pleases him. We are definitely managed to “Keep paying.” In the New Testament it says “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

A quick recap:

– Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12

– Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6

– But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6

– Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:18

– And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 21:22

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,

    but he loves those who pursue righteousness. (Isaiah 51:1)

Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;

    the one who hates correction will die.

In ‘straying’ off ‘The Path’, there are so many regrets and ‘what if’s’. Thankfully, we learn our lesson and stand a right.

Proverbs 15:1-10

Lord, Your Word says it all, Hallelujah Father, I adore You for this time I spent in Your Word. Lord, give me a hunger and discipline to study and learn it more each moment. Thank You for my day thus far, thank You Father for my tomorrows, Lord may I Live them in your presence, Lord, thank You for Your blessings. Thank You for Your word, thank You for my hunger and desire to know what You have taught since the beginning of time.

9.

A ‘lot’ to learn, this ‘sharing’ took me totally by surprise, it is not a teaching we hear to much in Service. But for some reason, I was directed to it. Let’s read:

One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.

When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan,* the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”

Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked.

“A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse.

Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.

Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven,

but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.”

He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them.

There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers* (much possibly these were the sons of Joseph by another marriage, again we do not know for an absolute fact, But we see just who He considered His mother and brothers-and sisters too) are outside asking for you.”

Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.

Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:20-35

*We have discussed this already: that these brothers and sisters received this designation because of their close association with the nuclear family of Jesus, and are actually either his cousins or children of Joseph from a previous marriage.

In the 3rd century, biological relatives on account of their connection with the nuclear family of Jesus, without explicit reference to brothers or sisters, were called the desposyni, from the Greek δεσπόσυνοι, plural of δεσπόσυνος, meaning “of or belonging to the master or lord”. The term was used by Sextus Julius Africanus, a writer of the early 3rd century.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_of_Jesus

This takes me straight to Acts 19:14,15: Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?

We learn even more in depth:

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Mark 3:24

We on the other hand know that at the cross at Calvary, all the ‘supposed’ siblings (by another extension of the family where not there.) It says: “So Jesus, seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his family. John 19:26-27

I have searched and believe this disciple was John.

10.

Are we troubled? We can pray:

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. Psalm 59:1-5

O worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness: fear before Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9

11.

Are we troubled? We can pray:

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. Psalm 59:1-5

O worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness: fear before Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9

12.

Folks, not only is our conversation in Heavenly places Phillipians 3:20. We experience the pure grace of God’s presence. Grace, folks GRACE;  we speak of God’s grace, we mean all the good gifts we enjoy freely in life. There are so many. We could spend a lifetime celebrating them: blackberries, buttercups, moonlight, salamanders, etc. A more summary approach is to affirm that life itself is the fundamental gift, with all its delights. For us, the gift of life includes the wondrous gift of being human, finding ourselves plopped down in the midst of the larger gift of creation. That is the bedrock of grace—creation, life, human being. As humans, we are given a unique place in the created order. The creation stories in Genesis are ways of celebrating this original grace. In the stories, God pronounces all creation, including humankind, very good, that is, full of grace.

We also use the word grace to mean the secondary gifts we perceive in the skill and intelligence of creatures. The gospel says the boy Jesus grew in grace and favor, meaning he began to exhibit his unique personality and potential to contribute to his community. We speak of the beauty of a lion or a dancer, saying they exude an animal grace, discerned in the vitality and fluidity of their movement. When we use the word graceful to describe a creature, it’s because the creature is being expressive of its God-given self.

There is another way of speaking about grace that is more about redemption than about creation. Whereas God pronounced original grace, the other side of the story is when we head off on our own, ignoring the Giver. This headstrong straying we have called original sin, meaning our freedom to choose the not so good, to turn aside from original grace. Ironically, this freedom is itself the most unique grace given humankind by God, the capacity to choose our own way, which must necessarily entail the possibility of choosing poorly. Because we have not always chosen the most graceful path, we have ended up in some miserable, blind alleys along the way. When we grasp our predicament and call for the help we had previously spurned, amazing grace comes to the rescue.

💒”Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now I’m found.

Was blind but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.”

13.

The next ‘sharing’ will be why it is important to listen to our Spirit. There may be much ado going on, but that quit voice tells us What we should so. A lot of times in our hearts we may think that “it just doesn’t make sense.” If and when you do it your way, does it result in positivity?

Our verses today are the reason why the closest man to God in history was ‘promised’ to see the ‘promised land’s. It is just not how we expected him to. He saw it from afar. Why?

In Numbers 20:8, the Lord told Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” Numbers 20:9-11 records Moses’ response: “So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as He commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.” The Lord was displeased with Moses’ actions: “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12).

What did Moses do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord? First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses says, “Must we [referring to Moses and Aaron] bring you water out of this rock?” Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses committed this sin in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Fourth, it seems that God had intended to present a type of Christ in this circumstance. The water-giving rock is used as a symbol of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4. The rock was struck once in Exodus 17:6, just like Christ was crucified once (Hebrews 7:27). Moses’ speaking to the rock in Numbers 20 was to be a picture of prayer; instead, Moses angrily struck the rock, in effect, crucifying Christ again. His punishment for disobedience, pride, and the misrepresentation of Christ’s sacrifice was that he was barred from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).

So, in our ways it is important to seek guidance first before setting out on the path. So, before setting out this morning seek and find The Lord in your Life, he is right there. Commit your day unto Him and watch it blossom.

14.

Let us pray:

God I ask You in Jesus’ name bless me with the desires of my heart that is the will of God.  Bless me to prosper, be in excellent health, and cause my soul to prosper consistently in the Word and Ways of God.  Lead, guide, and direct my footsteps.   Give Your angels charge over me to protect and keep me safe from all accidents, evil, hurt, harm, and danger.  Destroy the plans of the enemy of my soul that he has for me.  Let no weapon ever formed against me prosper.  Be with me as a mighty warrior, so my persecutors will stumble, fail, and be thoroughly disgraced.  God all that I have asked of You in this prayer, please do the same for all those I love, care about, and the writer of this prayer.  God honor this prayer over each of our lives today and for always in Jesus’ name.  God Thank You.  Amen.

15.

Today, we glorify The LORD for the promises we live. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalm 92:5,6,8,10-15

16.

Words just cannot express the fullness of The Word. Let us take a brief look to start (or complete) the day in a blessed way:

“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly” Hebrews 12:22

It was been shared that we each have a guardian angel that has been assigned to us by our Father. I was once ‘silly’ enough to try to ‘imagine’ Heaven! Can you believe that!? God created the Universe, placed Earth a certain distance from the sun, God created life. Heaven has no limits! Where we are ‘concerned’ with ‘space’ there is definitely no consideration for such. In reading The Word, there are different ‘levels’ in the spiritual places. To not go back and review; Lucifer wanted his own kingdom outside the bounds and grounds of God’s creation.

Why??? Let us take a close look at just why.

Isaiah 14:12-14

We can go back and review this, but the reason I share again is to make the point that there are no limits. When I visited time did not exist. I think I have to go read accounts of others who had the opportunity to see what is, we may not see it yet; but it is! As shared, I thought I had a dream first of the most horrendous nightmare, followed by the most astonishingly beautiful, tranquil, peaceful, wholesome ‘experience’ that I ever had. Even when I think that it was only a ‘dream’ I am moved to want to be in just as awesome (even more so when I know, not think it is a dream) a location.

To make the point quickly, there was no time. I had no concept of what ‘period’ I had been there. In ‘awaking’, I thought it had possibly been (once again) the worst, most ‘depressing’ dream followed by the ultimate in dreams. But, I tarry. The point in this ‘sharing’ is throughout the ages, there has always been ‘hope’ in where we are headed, where we will be.

In saying this, I am moved to the early church; even things at present. People who suffered, were maligned, tortured, killed, imprisoned for their belief in Christ, their ‘hope’. Let us take a look at ‘hope’, so that we too may build upon it.

Psalm 3: 2-6

And we also read:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

    Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:54-58

This says so much, we can speak on these for hours. But I will let them sit in your spirits and allow The word of God to minister to you. We have received victory. As shared, our victory has been purchased with the blood of Christ. Think on this point: Jesus already went through all we have to deal with, what we are faced with. As shared, a sinless ‘human’ (yes, we might argue that He was sent from God, part of God.) We can say He was perfect. It is a loss to say that, just as we are tempted (and fall for it at times), Jesus was tempted and overcame the temptations. Jesus actually called him what he is in John 14:30 mentioning that he (Lucifer) is the Prince of this world. We can visit this later.

To not ‘tarry’ too long on this point; He in the 3rd temptation at the time of the 3 temptations was told to ‘bow down’ before Satan to recieve what He wanted. This is deep and we have discussed it. It was riddled with ‘possibilities’. He was sent to be King of all. What Lucifer offered was a ‘shortcut’ to that end. Again, Lucifer is the father of all lies and liars. What he offered would most likely ‘not’ come to pass.

In breaking this down, apparently they were here alone. Just more importantly I point out that things in the spiritual realm are to us, not as ‘simple’ to understand if we do not focus prayerfully on them. Let us review a few things that are pointed out clearly in The Word, we might not have seen this clearly prior. In the ‘physical’ Jesus was spent not have eaten or drank for more than a month. Let me ask you “In the ‘physical’, how was he able to mount the ‘temple’?” Prior to being tempted to “jump”. Yes! We are tald exactly what he said and did. Are we tempted to do things to ‘show’ others that God is God? If we have this feeling, we need to bury our pride in prayer. Key thing to keep in spirit is that we have guardian Angels.

Again, some might say: “At the time of your accident, where was your guardian angel?” I can answer that.

So much has happened since the accident. Being a ‘writer’ previously, I am fully able to ‘write’ fluently as I used to. Being schooled in an Ivy league school, there is the advantage of the past. Our histories are pre-spoken. Yes, there are decisions that are made and define to a huge extent what we do, where and who we are. Just one of thousands of reasons that we are to place all in the hands of God.

its development is well marked. These books described God’s angels as his ministers who carried out his behests, and who were at times given special commissions, regarding men and mundane affairs.

We understand in reading that Satan and his ‘hench angel’s’ in The Word have sat in governance of things on Earth. As believers, our Father made it all and owns it all. Yes, He placed some ‘go between’. When Man was created, we were initially given the keys to ‘govern’ and ‘care’ for this Earth. A thing that was taken from our grips by Lucifer. More importantly, Jesus has placed this in our grasp again. Yes, there is a ‘period’ we must go through. We learn, so that in our final position, we may be learned and wise.

Psalm 37:30; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 4:6,7; Colossians 2:2,3; 1 Corinthians 1:30

We can go on, but I pray that the point is made, and for all we both referred to the Old and New Testaments.

So, our ‘sharing’ is pretty in-depth at this point. Be blessed. And thank you for reading patiently.

Prayer groups are important; let me encourage that. Important to focus on this for so many reasons. I should actually call them ‘thanksgiving’ groups. For we, for so many reasons are to give God thanks in all things.

17.

Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in my going Out and coming in (my life.)

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes (at times, we might be ‘hasty’ in our conclusion. But the word underlies that we should wait on The Lord. In plain terms, we need to wait and be patient in Love. The reason I say this is God is Love. I just took the liberty of saying what he is.) nevertheless thou heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer of His will. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 31:21-24

18.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to Face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

The Word is full of promises, but this is not a promise, it is a prayer and a knowledge in The Spirit of what shall be. It speaks of many truisms; now we know in part of The Glory in our God. The mysteries we know of in no way compare to the actuality of the experience.

Moreso, this tells exactly how it is; we are known fully. In God’s Kingdom there are no secrets. Our lives are a continued “film-roll’; seconds become minutes, minutes hours, hours days and day years. Our years become a life span. To us, we may feel things are ‘hid’, but then if they came out; would we be proud?

Time to sharpen the blade of our weapons of defense, bear the breastplate of righteousness, Don the belt of faith. To stand fast in and on the field of battle, we should be ready to fight for what we know to be the truth. I was going to say to “fight for what we believe.” But, belief is a light word in our fight, it is the ‘knowledge’ of what is and what is to come.

by them.

If the ax is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed,

but skill will bring success.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

“It is given to be polished, that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Ezekiel 21:11

A thing we cannot forget, but are driven to remember: “My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget Thy law.”

Psalm 119:109

So many times and so much we are reminded of this. Give it back. At least I can say gently, a somewhat complex diatribe ensues:

A.”It wasn’t yours to start with.”

B.”But it was given to me.”

A:”I see where you are coming from, you can say it was ‘loaned’ to you…”

A:”But, it is mine…”

B:”Sorry to interrupt, but what is yours?”

A:”My life, and I can do with it just what I want. Let me give you an example- If I want to be an astronaut, pilot, engineer or doctor, its my choice.”

B:”True that! But when it’s all over, then what?”

A.”Over? What do you mean by over?”

B:”Let me be ‘whistle clean’ clear. If you earned every penny that you dream of; live in a fancy house, have as many cars as you wish, even marry the person of Your dreams…”

A:”Let me stop you there. Can she have a ‘banging no…”

B:”You are getting ‘too into’ this….”

A:”You started it!”

B:”Ok, I’ll give you all that and more. A woman with a ’10’, kids that winbawards in sports, music, academics, theater…”

A:”Mmmhmm! This is getting good!”

19.

Just wrote this. Awesomely, this is something I am now able to do in and with the time I have been ‘granted’. Good Morning (almost afternoon) Sis. Things are blessed. Just patiently wait on Him. Your path has been determined. Each day O am shown more and more that all is in God’s hands. Keep praying, keep faithing, keep trusting. I am going to do a study of people who did AND kept their faith. Just for starters: Joseph had dreams that he shared. The dreams were null and voided when he was sold to the ‘slavers’, Portifar in Egypt, he was sent to prison (not killed) for lies that were told on/of him, in prison he was placed with the low of the lowly-but kept his faith; Even in prison he was amped up secondary to his practice. Two of the prisoners came to him and jevinterpreted their dreams-they came true. Yet the bearer of the wine for the pharoah ‘forgot’ about him till the pariah had dreams that could not be interpreted by the ‘finest’ minds in the kingdom (I am want to say ‘ the world ‘). Only then was Joseph ‘remembered’ and brought forth. Still, he humbly interpreted what was shown him. Only then was he recommended for the job he had “dreamt” of LONG before. We see just what he went through to get there. In fact, I do not think he was still at that point relying or even thinking the dream was more than a passing ‘dream’. But God had plans for him. If and when he kept the path that he was placed on. Praying, reflecting, meditating (the didn’t have Scripture then) God brought his “dream” to be. Do you have dreams? A dream? Keep it ALWAYS before you with prayer and thanksgiving.

I for one had EVERYTHING that could be desired-position, wealth, skills, training and more. Ever so slowly that ebbed. I was not ‘wise’ enough to place it 100% in the hands of God, but felt that I would be ‘justified’. By doing what??? If you ask me now, I would have to say-absolutely NOTHING! Money and time spent. I should have been saying “time spent in prayer”. Yes, there was prayer. Not as much as there should have been. In truth my heart was not in the right place by any means. It goes on.

The second individual would have to be Moses who became a ‘friend’ to our God! Let us review his activities. We have to be 100% honest; he had a ‘temper’. We are slow to realize this but let me point out three occasions and you will agree with me. 1st when he killed the ‘guard’ that interfered with the two ‘slaves’ that had differences; for which he ran away from Egypt before he was killed. Then he was a ‘shepherd’ for years before he saw the ‘burning’ bush. Second, when he went up the mountain to receive the 10 commandments that we still follow today; the Isrealites had made molten images and worshipped other things that had NOT brought them out or been with them in their period of escape from Egypt. Moses “dashed” the stones in his temper at what they had done. I habe a few things to point out. He had ‘carried’ them down from the mountain. They had been carved on STONE by the hand of God! He ended up dashing them to PIECES in his fiery temper just as He had when he killed the Egyptian over seer so many years before.

Now, the 3rd example is when the Isrealites suffered thirst for lack of water and he was asked by God to “touch” the stone while giving thanks. Once again, he allowed his “temper” to flare and STRUCK the stone rather than TOUCH it as asked.

There are many things he suffered for his temper. For example, he did not set foot in the promised land. That alone was punishment enough. He knew what The LORD had promised. It was his acts that made that an impossibly when it came to his life.

It goes on. God knew that his temper/emotions were ‘ratty’. But, still He Loved him. Imagine, no living person had EVER seen God’s face and lived. We are told that the Heavenly beings were gathered in the presence of God in the book of Job, when God spoke with such pride of Job. Lucifer had been there and had requested God lift His hand of blessing from Job’s house and home.

To move right into this next topic. God had ‘ordered’ that his life not be taken from Job and He lifted his hand. Now, we see just what happened. Belongings, children, wealth, family, health…all taken. Yet, Job remained faithful. ‘Without raiment I came, without raiment I shall return.’ Even his remaining support had asked him to ‘refute’ God and die. But, he remained true to God. As God knew he would and was blessed even more when God blessed him again. Once again placing His borders about Job.

The awesome thing is that was “a mere ‘eye blink’ ago. I learned so much when I was given a peek into the ‘ after life’s. Time does NOT exist. When there with all the positive, just a ‘blink’ goes by in MONTHS on earth. As shared, I was allowed back in what I though was a few ‘seconds’, while in actuality it had been weeks to months.

But, it goes on. If we look at all the people spoken about in the Bible. There is always a period of testing. It actually dawned on me that the words testing and testimony are extremely similar. My prayer is that our testing become testimonies to God’s glory.

20.

And we pray: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones (my essence, my support) which thou hast broken may rejoice (my Spirit is lifted in You Father). Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities (in Hos eyes, our Spirit is without fault).

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. We pray in The mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Psalm 51:7-12

And we learn: Hyssopus officinalis or hyssop is a(n) herbaceous plant of the genus Hyssopus native to Southern Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea. Due to its properties as an antiseptic, cough reliever, and expectorant, it is commonly used as a medicinal plant.

There are words to many a song and by God’s grace many more in these verses that we shared. Today’s challenge is to find them and write even more. Be blessed (fulfilled, peaceful and content in His presence and walking engulfed in His rays of everlasting joy and contentment.)

21.

New York is 3 hours ahead of California but it does not mean that California is slow, or that New York is fast. Both are  working based on their own “Time Zone.”

Some one is still single. Someone got married and ‘waited’ 10 years before having a child. There is another who had a baby within a year of marriage.

Someone graduated at the age of 22, yet waited 5 years before securing a good job; and there is another who graduated at 27 and secured employment immediately !

Someone became CEO at 25 and died at 50 while another became a CEO at 50 and lived to 90 years.

Everyone works based on their ‘Time Zone’,

People can have things worked out only according to their pace.

Work in your “time zone”.

Your Colleagues, friends, younger ones might “seem” to go ahead of you.

May be some might “seem” behind you.

Everyone is in this world running their own race on their own lane in their own time. God has a different plan for everybody.Time is the difference. Obama retires at 55, Trump resumes at 70

Don’t envy them or mock them, it’s their ‘Time Zone.’

You are in yours!

Hold on, be strong, remain positive and prayerful, whilst staying focused on your dreams/purpose and stay true to yourself. All things shall work together for your good.

You’re not late… you’re very much On time! Stay blessed.

22.

Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”

23.