New Wineskins

^{Lk 5:37} And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

^{Lk 5:38} No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

^{Lk 5:39} And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ "

 Here is what came to my mind, but it is imperative that you run this past God, and see what He wants you to see from this verse.  

I feel like it speaks of the transformation that goes on inside of us, as we seek a deeper relationship with God, through the reading of His Word, and being Obedient to that Word. It is in this way He prepares our hearts to truly Believe and put our Faith in the Blood of Jesus for our salvation and nothing else. The more we seek to understand Him,  and build a true relationship with Him, the more He will trust us enough to reveal Himself to us. The more that we are obedient to His Word, the more our Faith will grow, because we see His Promises that He makes to us through the written Word fulfilled in our lives. There may be a circumcision of the heart , which comes from renewing your thoughts,  before it is made ready for these new revelations that will soon follow. This usually takes time, and maybe even some kicking and screaming to our old ways of thinking for a time. Lk 5:39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ He knows just the right time to give you the bread (His Word) that you need in the time you need it, and when He knows you are most ready to receive it. Too early, and it will just run into us, but maybe not affect us as it could have if we were better prepared. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. ^{Lk 5:38} No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.  

below is a deeper view

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The cup at the last supper was wine, but symbolic of the blood of Christ. 

1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

This covenant of Christ was the new wine of Love and Grace (New Testament) rather than the old wine  (Old Testament) Law of Judgements,laws, and works of salvation. Stuff they had to do on their own in order for salvation. We drink the cup of His new covenant of Grace/love, resting in Peace once we believe His Promise of salvation to us because of what He has done for us on the cross, rather than what we can ever do for ourselves. No one will ever make it into Heaven for any other reason than believing in the Blood of Christ for salvation. When it says

 

Lk 5:39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better

 

It is like we all think we want the old in many situations because it is comfortable to us, even if it is hurting us. It is usually related to our way of thinking that we need to change. Old beliefs that we don't even know why we have ever believed that way. It could be beliefs passed down to us by our family. The group in the Bible called the Pharisees were very much into traditions of men, and upholding the law very strictly which that's all they had ever known. Jesus came preaching love and compassion a new way of believing. They were comfortable with the old way, it was how they made a living. If they could not force the law on people anymore or be a so called light for the blind, what would they do? Why would the people need them any longer to lead them spiritually if they could go to God directly by believing in Christ? This is a Biblically grounded statement that I making. They were sometimes using the laws of God to fear people into giving them money and stuff, and all these people just listened to what they said, because they had been taught to follow their religious leaders, and they did not have access to a New Testament Bible, it had not been written yet. Jesus came as the Word in Flesh form. Most of the Jews hated him for the things He did, because He was in direct violation of all the rules and laws they had ever been taught. It was new wine to them, and they felt more comfortable drinking the old enslaving wine. Christ was trying to show them the way to freedom was through love for God, and others. He knew that through love for others, rather than obligation to a law they would actually uphold the law. However in times where we are weak and break certain spiritual laws, Christ's blood covers that sin. On the Cross He casted our sins from the East to the West, (the position of his arms on the Cross). He will remember them no more. All we have to do is Trust in God and His promise. The rest will naturally come from it. Once we hear the Word of the Lord, the nudge on our hearts to do something, the still small voice we hear saying walk this way, we must be obedient to that Voice. No other voice but His Voice. We hear His Words and voice through reading His Word, the Bible. That is when you will REALLY HEAR HIM SPEAK. It's like your soul's recognition of it's counter part. You know the Truth and that Truth sets you free.

exhorting - are you aware of what this truly means?

Hebrews 10:24-25

King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

I have been reading this word and have always thought that it meant encourage. Spirit prompted me to look this word up. In my 1998 Merriam Webster dictionary, the word is only under Exhort with Exhortation in the same place as a form of that word: 

EXHORT\ig-zi-lerate\  to urge, advise or warn earnestly. __EXHORTATION 

In my online Merriam Webster Dictionary , not sure the date of the software but probably in the last 5 years. They have two different entries for the word now.

ex·hor·ta·tion \"ek-"sȯr-'tā-shən, -sər-; "eg-"zȯr-, -zər-\ n (14c)
1 : an act or instance of exhorting
2 : language intended to incite and encourage  

exhort \ig-'zȯrt\ vb [ME, fr. AF exorter, fr. L exhortari, fr. ex- + hortari to incite — more at yearn]
vt(15c) : to incite by argument or advice : urge strongly ‹~ing voters to do the right thing›
vi: to give warnings or advice : make urgent appeals
— ex·hort·er n  

 

I  do not see the word warning in exhortation above or in encourage below. I am only seeing a part of a truth in today’s definition. A mistake that the word warning was left out or was it? It is no wonder that Spirit would have me look closer at this word. I do see the word urge but that still does not mean warning. Encourage was not a part of the word in 1998 and the word was not split into two different references. Why is it a part of the word now?

en·cour·age \in-'kər-ij, -'kə-rij, en-\ vt, -aged-ag·ing [ME encoragen, fr. AF encorager, fr. en- + curagecourage] (15c)
1 a : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : hearten‹she was encouraged to continue by her early success› b :to attempt to persuade : urge ‹they encouragedhim to go back to school›
2 : to spur on : stimulate ‹warm weather ~s plant growth›
3 : to give help or patronage to : foster ‹government grants designed to ~ conservation

I feel we are called to encourage one another daily; however I do not feel that  this passage was speaking of encouragement at this time in Hebrews. I feel this is a big problem of our society today, encouraging behavior that we should be warning against if we truly want to show love to each other. We must speak truth to each other! We should also encourage daily however there is a time and place for both. (balance)..  

Now see the newer age NIV below and how it has changed the way we may view this verse which is the point I am trying to prove:   where is the part about warning and advising? Yes, everything it says below is good and true, but it has taken a very important part of the message that we so desperately need to hear today in a society where no one wants to look like a bad guy. Who do you think wants us to believe that we will be a bad guy by speaking a hard truth to someone? The father of lies. his thoughts…… lets have them believe that love says what the other person wants to hear thus perpetuating the behavior that is destructive to them and those around them. Love does not mean telling someone you are fine just the way you are in a time when they need to hear, what you are doing is not good for you and will lead to darkness. Sometimes love is quite the opposite but when the Truth is SPOKEN in love, that is Truth that a person can hold onto and change for the better, even if their initial reaction is to not want to talk to you for a while. Even if you never talk to them again. What is Truth? Truth is anything that aligns with the Word of God. There is no other Truth. Truth that comes from the Word of God will never discourage but will convict in a healthy manner and make a foundation for a real change of heart.  God has written love on our hearts. Love encompasses all commandments.  Knowing that someone is leading down a path that is going to hurt them or that God has forbidden and not saying anything or worse encouraging the behavior,  is taking the love that God has put on your heart ( wisdom an inner knowing of the statues of God’s Kingdom) and reacting in a  selfish way , ( selfish because I don’t want to be unpopular in your opinion),  rather than a loving  manner.      An open rebuke is better than hidden love.  Who will love you enough to speak His Truth to you? The answer, someone that loves you enough to look like the bad guy until you come around and realize that they are your biggest fan.   CHOOSE LOVE! CHOOSE TRUTH!

Hebrews 10:24-25

New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,^{(A) 25} not giving up meeting together,^(B) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another^(C)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.^(D)


Do you see how the definition in the NIV has totally watered this message down?

KEEP YOUR OLD DICTIONARIES!! Before we know it, they will have all of our words watered down that are not deemed “politically correct” or popular opinion…

Own the choice, but not the habit or desire

It’s not your habit, it is A habit that you are choosing. Realizing that you are making the choice, allows for more power to be rid of it. A slave state of mind is that you are incapable of making a choice in any area or many areas of  your life ( a victim of circumstance). One thing the devil or anyone cannot ( God could but said HE will not)  interfere with is Free will. So, what he will do is try to make you a slave to whatever the habit is, by making that habit seem appealing in some way or having you believe it is a part of  who you are or what you desire when in reality,  it is nothing but a false desire that you have allowed to be created within your heart because your attention was diverted away from the natural  consequence of the ungodly desire. Spending time with God will shed  light to the darkness that will surely follow a bad choice. Recognizing and drawing close to His Spirit in you illuminates all exposing the desire for what it is, a desire that is not your desire but the desires of the one that would see you fail and in bondage to the very thing that promised freedom to a rebel spirit ( I do what I want to do, not what God has said to do). A true desire that God has laid on your heart,  will always bring peace, joy and happiness. Though it may not always be an easy path to walk towards your heart desires, you will have peace along the way. God loves you dearly, and like every Father that loves His Son or Daughter, knowing that He has created within in you the desire to love above all else, knows that love is what will bring you joy. Receive His love and you will be capable of walking in love which will fulfill His laws naturally. No more I have to, but hear the chains breaking when you say, I WANT TO!  

 

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

2 Corinthians 3:17

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

 

 

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Be careful telling yourself YOU CANNOT DO THIS THING in respect to something you want to stop doing. It will create a false desire to do it. Instead change the wording to,  I choose not to do this thing because if I choose to do something that I do not want to do, I am in bondage to whatever that thing is and I know that this thing is not healthy for me and I want to live a healthier happier life. I choose happiness. Say those words and watch the devil shriek away from you, oh no! This one has got it! I cannot pull my mind games on this person any longer (but I will attempt again later that is what I do).  

 

Thought to Ponder:

A habit is no different from someone telling us we have to do something. So, how come we do not rebel against bad habits? We all know when someone tells us that we cannot do something, it creates this ungodly desire to do it. When they tried telling me not to laugh in church when I was little, wouldn’t you know that was always the place that everything was oh so funny? Why is it different in the way of something that we know if we do it will not bring happiness, so in doing it we are doing something we do not want to do.

Paul said:

 Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

   Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ ...

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires

Everything in life that we do or do not do, stems from a choice that we have made whether conscious or subconsciously. We are free in Christ to make our own choices. CHOOSE WISELY.

Meditation for fear

It is a Peaceful day. The sun is shining and a cool breeze begins to blow ever so softly against your skin. You are walking hand in hand with Jesus on the path to your heart garden. The aroma in the air is that of lavender and the dirt road that you are traveling, has captivating flowers lining a white picket fence line. You come upon a gate and enter through with Jesus at your side. Now in the garden of your heart, He kneels down with you and allows you to search and find the fear weed that is trying to strangle your beautiful heart flower.  Jesus hands you a small shovel and tells you that it cannot be picked at surface level,  it will only grow back if not fully exposed and removed. As you shovel up the soil around it,  memories flood your mind of times past. Every layer of soil representing one thing that happened or a belief that you are holding,  that has watered this weed called fear. As you dig through the layers, keep in mind that  just as we have our beautiful Father sowing Heavenly seed for us, there is another that is trying to sow tares. The seed that began this weed was sown by the evil one who has NO POWER OVER YOUR GARDEN other than what you have allowed. Only Jesus and you have dominion over your garden.  So, take some time to.. really get to the bottom of where it started and what things watered it to make it grow. Ask Jesus to please show you like a picture screen movie what has taken place. Once you feel that you have exposed the root with the help of Jesus, thank Him for the opportunity of growth through your trials. As you pull you see that Jesus's hands are pulling also.  My how they bear a strong resemblance to yours.  You notice that Jesus has an opened golden box in his hand and is making a gesture for you to put the fear weed in this box. What a beautiful white light that is beaming from within it! As you place the weed into the box, it is transformed in the light before your eyes into a beautiful rainbow colored butterfly, that is flying away into Heaven as you hear these Words: When you give our struggles to Me, I will turn them into treasures stored up for you in Heaven as well as on Earth………

Oh what a joyous feeling that comes over you to witness such a beautiful thing!  You can feel the smile on your face and the warm feeling of love that has covered over you like a blanket. This blanket is His protection of love that is always over you; however your increased Faith has made it easier to feel. See yourself turning to your Daddy and praising and thanking Him for helping you through this. He gazes at you and whispers, “Go in Peace for your Faith has healed you”.  I love you very much.  I have been here all along just waiting for you to ask me to heal you. Thank you for trusting Me with your heart child. Remember that we will need to tend to your garden. Read My Word daily and store up my Words  up in your heart. Each Word is a new seed planted and watered that will grow in love. Your heart garden will be so full of my Words of Truth, that the evil one will have no room to plant his wicked seed. Remember above all things that you can do ALL THINGS THROUGH ME WHO GIVES YOU STRENGTH. All you have to do is BELIEVE WHAT I SAY rather than what he says.  TRUST ME CHILD AND FIND PEACE FOR YOUR SOUL. Please take time to speak with Me every day, for I love to hear your beautiful voice.  I am here with you waiting as always child, longing for you to ask Me for My help and to sit still long enough to listen to the healing Words that I have for you.  Now that I have your attention, there is a special gift that I would like to give you today. He hands you a golden box of your very own. You open it, and three sentences flow out of it. The first two "feel" familiar but you are unable to read them. Finally, the last line you are able to read:

God has given you a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God has given you a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God has given you a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

You have heard these words over and over again in regards to this matter, but this time it cuts you to your very core, because you have been made aware that they are truly are a personal gift to you from your savior, as well as the first new seed planted in your beautiful garden of your heart. There is now an even greater feeling of warmth over your body and bigger smile on your face. There is a joyous feeling in your heart! You turn to Him, give Him a HUGE HUG and say, “ I receive your Gift Father and I know that you have made me worthy”!!!!  THANK YOU SO MUCH, I LOVE YOU! He tells you how much He loves you, you both giggle as you walk out of the garden together holding hands, and onto your next journey with Him by your side.

The above is a version of a meditation that was given to me by our Lord for His daughter my dear sweet Sister. I hope that it is able to help on your journey, as she has so graciously allowed me to share her gift with you.

 

 

One of the greatest love stories of all time

Let's say that you made your living as farmer and a horrible draught had swept across the land, causing you to close shop and move to another town.  What do you feel your initial thoughts would be regarding this news?

I have been re-visiting the story of Ruth lately. Naomi and Ruth, WOW what an incredible duo of women! If you have time, I urge you to read the story for yourselves. It is in the Old Testament of the Bible.

As with all of the Lord's perfectly painted stories, this one will not let you down in the way of teaching you valuable life lessons and insights. A story of pain, hope and deliverance and mostly love.

In the beginning scene we learn that there was a famine in Bethlehem where Naomi is from. It is for this reason that  she, her husband Elimilech and their two sons embark on a journey to Moab. In that time Moabites were known to worship a God they named chemosh. A blood thirsty God who required human sacrifice. It is surprising to think that there was not another place for them to travel to in their time of need; however it is quite obvious that God used the situation of the drought to usher them to the place, that He had prepared for them at that specific moment in time. A place on the way to greatness. A stepping stone in life. Not the end of the journey but a stop along the way. They took up residence there and it does not say how long after they arrived that Elimilech had died. Wow, can you imagine being driven from your homeland, and then losing your husband on top of that?!  Next, she loses not one but both of her sons!  This is where Ruth steps onto the canvas in the story of our Savior. She was married to Mahlon, one of Naomi's two sons. You can surely see, these women had known much pain in their lives up to this point. Naomi was still living with both of her daughter- in- laws when she heard that the famine was over in Bethlehem. Knowing that she was of old in age, and unable to provide a husband for her daughters, she bid them to please stay in Moab where there true families were and find another man so that they could know the pleasure of having a family of their own. Orpah wanted to go with Naomi but then decided to stay in Moab. Ruth clung to Naomi despite her blessing for her to find a new husband. Nothing was going to stop her from going to Bethlehem with Naomi. She even went as far as denouncing her childhood deity of  chemosh and calling Jehovah her God! Where you go, I will go and your God will be my God, and your people my people. Have you ever had someone that was not only willing to share your pain, but to really and truly bear your burden with you? As far as a pair of natural eyes could see, walking with Naomi meant that she was basically to become the care giver of this women in the place of a husband. On top of that, it also meant the possibility of children was out. For a young lady to make a decision like this, only one thing could compel her to do so..... LOVE..  Naomi was so bitter before they arrive in her hometown, she had asked that Ruth call her Mara, (meaning bitter water) feeling as if the Lord's hand was against her.

When they arrived, it was the beginning of the Barley Harvest. It is then that Ruth declares that she will glean in the field of the one whom she will find favor with the owner. Mind you she did not have a plan in front of her, or know what field she would end up in; however in the midst of such a seemingly rotten set of past circumstances, she still used her will to express blessings onto the situation. Hope was not lost. That is Faith my friends!

It says that her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging to Boaz. In English, or I suppose I should say Anglo Saxton, it means... Hap (a Saxon word for "luck, chance").  In other words, God's blessings.  The question is why does it say it was a blessing? Well, let me tell you! It turns out that Boaz is a brother of Naomi's late husband and very wealthy. This made him what they called a Kinsman. This is someone who is able to marry their brother's widow in order to protect the family line. However, Boaz had an older brother (nearer kinsman) who was entitled to redeem before his younger brother if he chose to.

Ruth unaware of this worked every day from sun up to sun down taking little breaks and winning the hearts of those around her with her kind loving nature, including the heart of Boaz. True to what Ruth had declared earlier (as a man believes so is he), Boaz had taken notice of her and had begun to show her great favor. One night when Ruth had brought home enough wheat that Naomi must have known it was more than she could have gleaned in a day, Naomi asked her what field have you been gleaning and she blessed the man that would show her such favor. When Ruth revealed to her the place, Naomi cried, " blessed be Jehovah who has not left off His kindness to the living and to the dead"! That man is kin to us!!

She then thoroughly explained to Ruth how to go about making Boaz realize who Ruth and how to ask that he redeem her. It was a strange ritual really but in the end Boaz would have had a chance to fully take advantage of Ruth in the wee hours of the night but he was a total gentleman and very protective of her honor. He agreed that he should redeem her but had to make sure that it was ok by his older brother. When Ruth came home to tell Naomi how it went, Naomi said something that all women need to hear. She said sit still for the man will not rest until he has finished this thing this day. Hear that ladies? A man with true intentions towards you and commitment to you will not rest until he finds a way to win your heart.
The only thing standing between Boaz and Ruth was his being second to his brother in the redeeming order. Boaz went up to the gate that he knew his brother would come to that same day. It doesn't say how long he waited there but the fact that he was willing to sit and wait is a shocking thought in today's day and age especially. His brother (name unmentioned), happened by as he thought he would and he began to plead his case for Ruth. Boaz explained to him that he could redeem the land that Naomi was selling because she was the wife of their brother. Initially he agrees to do it. Can you imagine the pit that Boaz, Ruth and Naomi must have had in their stomachs upon hearing those words, I will redeem it!?  Boaz however did not stop there. He reminded his brother that the day he was to buy the field of Naomi, he would also have to buy it from Ruth in order to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance. How quickly this changed his brother's mind! One woman, was costly enough but two, oh it just wasn't worth it.. to him anyway. He said, "I cannot redeem it or I will mar my own inheritance". Buy it for yourself if you wish. You bet he did! You see Boaz knew what a treasure that he was getting with Ruth and he was willing to also be the provider for Naomi. When is the last time someone went the extra mile for you? How treasured she must have felt!

The story ends with baby Obed laying in the bosom of Naomi.  A woman that not so long before wept bitterly having no hope. Oh wait just another small detail! Obed later became the Father of Jesse who was the Father of none other than King David.

If you had asked someone earlier in the story including Ruth, do you think God will create in your womb, a Father of the future generations of  Kings? I am certain she would have raised a brow.

WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE AND EVERYONE IS EQUALLY TREASURED WARTS AND ALL..

I had asked at the beginning of the story, how you would feel if you had to leave your hometown due to seemingly bad circumstances?  Perhaps this story has given you a different perspective. God can use any situation and it seems to me it is usually the worst of times, that turn a happy ending into a joyous one.

-Selah-

Faith like Tulips

In the summer of 2012 my friend and I went to the Cincinnati Zoo to purchase some of the tulips that they sell at the end of the Tunes and Blooms spring season.  This is an awesome event that they have at the Zoo everything Thursday in April. The Zoo comes to life with these beautiful tulips from all around the world and it is quite the backdrop to the already awesome animal exhibits. I remember we sat there for over an hour waiting for the sales to begin. My friend had her eye on the biggest bunch of tulips in crates that they had for sale that day. They were a beautiful red color and everyone there would look at them as they walked by. We had the edge, we were the first ones there. Finally, the sales began and she purchased the coveted bunch of tulips. As we were walking through the Zoo to the exit carrying the double sized crate, I remember feeling as if we were walking with our prize. As if we were proud hunters that were walking out with the 15 point buck of the day. I had promised her that I would help her to plant them sometime that week. The only problem was that neither of knew how to plant tulips.

The day came when it was time for me to make good on my promise and we were in her flower bed planting away. Besides some tips that we grabbed from various Internet sites ( most of which seemed to contradict the information that we had read the site before), we just started planting them with wreckless abandon. We must have planted over 100 bulbs. I prayed over the garden and dedicated it to God. I remember when I finished wondering will they come up? What will they look like? You really cannot see the full picture until flowers bloom. Yeah, you have a picture in your head, but until you see it with your eyes, it's all just your imagination. I remember thinking man, this is going to take forever before we see what we have created together!

The other day my friend mentioned the tulips to me and I was thinking  of how planting those tulips and waiting for them to bloom is a lot like a picture of  Faith. It's something that is in the ground and you cannot really see the changes that are taking place beneath the surface of the ground, but you wait in expectation that in the spring, you will see the show of pure beauty that God will put on for you as the tulips start to take the stage. We planted the seeds knowing that , God will make them grow. He gave nature it's capability to know what to do and when to do it. However if my friend and I didn't truly believe that they grow, we would not have purchased them, or took the time to plant them in her garden. We would have just said, oh well we don't know if they will grow, so why plant?

Faith is a lot like this in the way that we cannot see the things that we hope for and we usually have to wait for some period of time before we see whatever it is that we are anticipating. In the Bible there are quotes from Jesus.. "Your Faith has healed you"  and  "Let it be done for you according to your Faith !".. It's clear to me that  our Faith in whatever we are wishing for, is the main active factor that God is able to work with in order to have it come to fruition.  Faith is will based and necessary for any miracle. God can do anything that He wants and is not limited in any way however; I feel  it is a our Faith that moves Him to co-create with us. It's no fun when all parties are not participating in anything in life. It's not all about work on our part but mostly about belief. When James said that, "Faith without works is dead", I really feel he meant more of the stepping out that happens when a heart truly believes. Do your actions match what your mouth is saying? If we told everyone that we believed we could make a garden of tulips that would come up in the Spring but then when someone gave us the opportunity to do this, said ehhh we are really not sure that will happen, that is a lack of Faith in what we have professed. True in this scenario we did have to physically work with some elbow grease, ( it was not easy planting all of those bulbs)..  Sometimes it can be as simple as the action of speaking after we have asked for something or profess to believe in something in our lives. If I ask God to use me to change the world, but then make comments such as " I am just one simple person, how could God ever use me"?  The action of your mouth speaking disbelief is showing what is truly in your heart on the matter. "Let it be done for you according to your Faith !"..  Individual reality is nothing more than individual perception of reality. Two people can  attend same event and each individual person can walk away from the event with a different opinion of what happened while they were there than the other person will have. What happened while they were there is their individual perception of what happened and for that moment in time was their individual reality. What is real to us? What do we see with our eyes?

When I take pictures, sometimes I focus the lens on one subject and I take several different shots from several different angles. It amazes me every time how different the same thing can appear when I change my position around the same subject. It creates a new frame. We truly can do this in life with our circumstances. Move, change your position ( re-frame). Choose to see it differently. It's true that all sides of that subject remained the same but it was I that had to move around,  to see the different angles that made a completely different picture and it  gave me a totally new perspective of that same subject. We will see whatever we choose to see with the lens of our eyes.

Matthew 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith..

The Word Became Flesh

Every story has characters/scenes,backgrounds. The authors job is to  depict these things in such a way that the reader will feel as if they know the Characters and he will paint a picture in thier mind as to the setttings to a point where the reader feels that he is there.

In His Book God is described and His laws/Words. The character of Jesus, Jesus was the character of God sent in physical form to relay those Words and show us the nature of our Father.

Through the Character of Jesus (who is the character of God in flesh form) is how the WORD BECAME FLESH in our world.


ACTS 3:15
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Timothy 1:10: “And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.”