Today as I was walking I was reminded of a time a couple of years ago, when God decided to truly show off, as only He can do.
I remembered that a question had been stirring in my mind. What if at least some of the Bible, were in fact mere stories? I mean what if they were not actual events? Some say that most of the Old Testament should not be taken as literal. That they are just fictional stories with a lesson. Kind of like Aesops Fables. It was one of those questions that was tumbling around in my head that week, or maybe even a little longer. This is how it usually works for me. I put a question out there, or in my head even, and in due time, the Lord will find a way to answer me. The Lord speaks, if we are willing and BELIEVE that He will answer.
On a day during this time that I had thrown the questions out there, I was walking at my local park, and reading my Bible. I remember the sun in bright blue sky. It was about a couple of hours before dusk. I distinctly remember seeing a Father and a son in the middle of the half mile track. They were not close enough to hear anything they were saying, but it appeared they were enjoying flying a kite that they had with them. I do not remember how I ended up in the book of Genesis, but that is where my walk took me. As I came upon these verses:
Ge 9:13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Ge 9:14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,
Ge 9:15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
Ge 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Ge 9:17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
No sooner than I had read this, I heard the boy (who was still far enough away from me, that I should not have been able to hear him), say, "LOOK DAD A RAINBOW"!! I remember thinking, as I lifted my eyes from the Book of all Books, Lord did you really...... WOW! I looked up and my eyes beheld one of the most beautiful rainbows that I have ever seen in all of my life! It was the kind that had every single color in it! It had the most brilliant bold colors! I was awe struck. I could not BELIEVE it! You see, I love rainbows. You could call me a rainbow chaser. I know the exact conditions outside that one can possibly catch a glimpse, of these beautiful gifts from God, and I make every effort that I can in order to see one. Typically the sun is shining on one end of the sky, and you need to look at the darker side, and that is where your rainbow will be. Usually, there is a storm that just started, or it is wrapping up, and the rainbow is taking the final bow. But this night the sun was shining, the sky was blue everywhere, it did not have the conditions that are needed for a rainbow.
Some would call this a coincidence, others would say this is just another story, but not I. I know that the Lord was answering the questions that He knew I had been pondering. Not only did He answer them, but He supernaturally provided a beautiful rainbow. While the rainbow is a sign of the covenant of Him not flooding the Earth, I feel He was also giving me a sign of the covenant that He made when His Son died on the Cross for me, and every other person that BELIEVES that He did this for them. Yes this was a sign from God the Bible is for real, and the stories are real, and salvation is real. I did not ask the Lord for a sign, that is why He gave me one.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
Mk 6:23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
Mk 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
Mk 6:25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
This is the story above of the daughter of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of King Herod. She was nursing a grudge against John, because he told King Herod that it was wrong for him to be with her, because she was the wife of his brother. Ouch the truth hurts. It hurt John for being willing to speak up and say when someone is doing something, that is not right in the eyes of the Lord. In this case, it cost him his life. It caused me to pause and ask myself, am I willing to speak God's Truth no matter what the cost, or what enemies I may make?
I feel there are more lessons in this story than this. One is the lesson of obedience, and selflessness. The daughter had a chance to get whatever she wanted from the King. Instead of thinking of her own desires, she ran to ask her Mother what shall I ask for? When her Mother gave her the command, it says AT ONCE the girl HURRIED in to the King with her request. Again I pondered, when God commands me, is my reaction the same as this daughters? Do I even think to ask God, God what shall I do with this decision before me?
Lastly I see a lesson of pride. King Herod offered this girl up to half of his kingdom. Obviously Herodias would have benefited greatly, if she had instructed the daughter to take him up on this offer, rather than putting an innocent man to death for speaking truth to her. She gave up half the kingdom because of a revengeful, pride filled heart. I wonder how many times I have given up access to the Kingdom, for not accepting Truth that is in front of no matter how hard it is to hear. God will send people that will speak His Truth in love to us. We have a choice as to whether we will choose to turn an open ear to this Truth, or allow it to harden our hearts further.
Mk 6:23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
Mk 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
Mk 6:25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
This is the story above of the daughter of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of King Herod. She was nursing a grudge against John, because he told King Herod that it was wrong for him to be with her, because she was the wife of his brother. Ouch the truth hurts. It hurt John for being willing to speak up and say when someone is doing something, that is not right in the eyes of the Lord. In this case, it cost him his life. It caused me to pause and ask myself, am I willing to speak God's Truth no matter what the cost, or what enemies I may make?
I feel there are more lessons in this story than this. One is the lesson of obedience, and selflessness. The daughter had a chance to get whatever she wanted from the King. Instead of thinking of her own desires, she ran to ask her Mother what shall I ask for? When her Mother gave her the command, it says AT ONCE the girl HURRIED in to the King with her request. Again I pondered, when God commands me, is my reaction the same as this daughters? Do I even think to ask God, God what shall I do with this decision before me?
Lastly I see a lesson of pride. King Herod offered this girl up to half of his kingdom. Obviously Herodias would have benefited greatly, if she had instructed the daughter to take him up on this offer, rather than putting an innocent man to death for speaking truth to her. She gave up half the kingdom because of a revengeful, pride filled heart. I wonder how many times I have given up access to the Kingdom, for not accepting Truth that is in front of no matter how hard it is to hear. God will send people that will speak His Truth in love to us. We have a choice as to whether we will choose to turn an open ear to this Truth, or allow it to harden our hearts further.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
BE HEALED!
Mk 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.
Mk 5:22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet
Mk 5:23 and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
Mk 5:24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.
Mk 5:25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.
Mk 5:26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
Mk 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,
Mk 5:28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
Mk 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Mk 5:30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Mk 5:31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
Mk 5:32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.
Mk 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
Mk 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
It is interesting to me that this woman had spent all that she had on Dr's and her condition only worsened. Twelve years is a very long time to suffer from anything. Can you imagined how discouraged she must have felt? She had tried EVERYTHING there was to try to no avail. Yet she still sprinted out to try this. I have been sick many times. Some of the same issues over and over again. I have been to Dr's, and it is true that my condition only worsened. This coupled with the frustration of having to pay for a healing that was not happening was very dishearting. Because I have been there, I feel as if I know exactly what she felt when she grabbed onto His cloak. It is funny what desperate measures can do for a person. I feel as if sometimes some of us need to be pushed to a point of being sick and tired of where we are, that we will be willing to step out and do something drastic in order to be healed. All of the other people were crowded in close to Jesus. I imagine that many of them came to see him, as they had heard of His healing power as well. All of them were pressed against Jesus, yet only one was able to draw the power from Him, and receive the healing she so longed for. She had nothing to lose, because she had already lost it all, including her sanity.
Take note of the following verses:
Mk 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Mk 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering
The first verse states that she felt the healing in her body. He is speaking of the physical nature of her healing. In the second verse, He is telling her now receive this healing (and me) in your heart, so that you can grow to become totally healed. Let go of pain that you felt for so long. Do not replay the suffering in your mind over and over. Forgive the others that have shunned you, or were not there for you when you needed them the most. Instead praise God and let Him move forward with the good work that He has begun in you. Think of the phrase, be good. Just as it is a choice for us to be good, He is telling her that being healed is a choice she can make. Don't look back, MOVE FORWARD AND BE HEALED!
Mk 5:22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet
Mk 5:23 and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
Mk 5:24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.
Mk 5:25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.
Mk 5:26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
Mk 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,
Mk 5:28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
Mk 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Mk 5:30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Mk 5:31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
Mk 5:32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.
Mk 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
Mk 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
It is interesting to me that this woman had spent all that she had on Dr's and her condition only worsened. Twelve years is a very long time to suffer from anything. Can you imagined how discouraged she must have felt? She had tried EVERYTHING there was to try to no avail. Yet she still sprinted out to try this. I have been sick many times. Some of the same issues over and over again. I have been to Dr's, and it is true that my condition only worsened. This coupled with the frustration of having to pay for a healing that was not happening was very dishearting. Because I have been there, I feel as if I know exactly what she felt when she grabbed onto His cloak. It is funny what desperate measures can do for a person. I feel as if sometimes some of us need to be pushed to a point of being sick and tired of where we are, that we will be willing to step out and do something drastic in order to be healed. All of the other people were crowded in close to Jesus. I imagine that many of them came to see him, as they had heard of His healing power as well. All of them were pressed against Jesus, yet only one was able to draw the power from Him, and receive the healing she so longed for. She had nothing to lose, because she had already lost it all, including her sanity.
Take note of the following verses:
Mk 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Mk 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering
The first verse states that she felt the healing in her body. He is speaking of the physical nature of her healing. In the second verse, He is telling her now receive this healing (and me) in your heart, so that you can grow to become totally healed. Let go of pain that you felt for so long. Do not replay the suffering in your mind over and over. Forgive the others that have shunned you, or were not there for you when you needed them the most. Instead praise God and let Him move forward with the good work that He has begun in you. Think of the phrase, be good. Just as it is a choice for us to be good, He is telling her that being healed is a choice she can make. Don't look back, MOVE FORWARD AND BE HEALED!
Monday, December 13, 2010
SALVATION
But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing." Andrew Jackson
Christ secured our blessing of salvation when He died on the cross for us. He payed the ultimate price so that we would not have to. We do however need to remain vigilant for the devil prowls around, waiting to destroy us. The devil will do anything that he can to make you disbelieve the promise of your salvation. He knows that BELIEF in the promise is what seals the seals the deal.
Christ secured our blessing of salvation when He died on the cross for us. He payed the ultimate price so that we would not have to. We do however need to remain vigilant for the devil prowls around, waiting to destroy us. The devil will do anything that he can to make you disbelieve the promise of your salvation. He knows that BELIEF in the promise is what seals the seals the deal.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
I was recently given a very old Bible from a friend of mine. I love the treasures that are sometimes pressed in the pages, or the notes that someone from long ago left for us to find.
I have always had a thing for Abraham Lincoln. As I was turning the pages, I discovered a yellowed newspaper clipping. It was cut to the size of the article perfectly. The Title of the article is, Lest Union Forget! It's Been Four Score..And Seven Years Today Since Lincoln Made His Address.
I decided to read the Gettysburg Address. I have come to realize, that God knows that I enjoy history, and uses it as a way to reveal things to me. Here is the address:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
In reading the italicized part of this speech above, I realized that Christ died for the same reason that these men gave their life. Just as God has raised up an earthly army to fight for our physical freedom, He also sent us Christ, who has paved The Way for our spiritual freedom. In the same manner that Lincoln had urged us to take increased devotion towards their cause, I feel that Christ compels us to continue on with His cause of freeing the spiritual prisoners of this Earth. Let us lose our lives as Christ did, by dying to ourselves, and reaching out to a hurting world. If you want to become a hero, save a life. Save them by teaching them of the Lord our God and Savior. In this Way, we will show the world that our Lord did not die in vain.
Father, give us eyes to see, and ears to hear those around us that need our help.
I have always had a thing for Abraham Lincoln. As I was turning the pages, I discovered a yellowed newspaper clipping. It was cut to the size of the article perfectly. The Title of the article is, Lest Union Forget! It's Been Four Score..And Seven Years Today Since Lincoln Made His Address.
I decided to read the Gettysburg Address. I have come to realize, that God knows that I enjoy history, and uses it as a way to reveal things to me. Here is the address:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
In reading the italicized part of this speech above, I realized that Christ died for the same reason that these men gave their life. Just as God has raised up an earthly army to fight for our physical freedom, He also sent us Christ, who has paved The Way for our spiritual freedom. In the same manner that Lincoln had urged us to take increased devotion towards their cause, I feel that Christ compels us to continue on with His cause of freeing the spiritual prisoners of this Earth. Let us lose our lives as Christ did, by dying to ourselves, and reaching out to a hurting world. If you want to become a hero, save a life. Save them by teaching them of the Lord our God and Savior. In this Way, we will show the world that our Lord did not die in vain.
Father, give us eyes to see, and ears to hear those around us that need our help.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
DECOLORIS!!
I was enabled to embark on the journey of a lifetime. My walk to Emmaus, #32 St. Annes Convent, Melbourne, KY, TABLE OF ESTHER (I should have known)! I have never felt so loved in all of my life. I want to thank God for Jerry a man that after knowing a girl for only 15 minutes on a bus to New Orleans, would follow his inner Spirit voice, and refer me to two fellow servants Lori & George who would sponsor me for this walk. My heart has been touched in so many ways, my cup overflows with love. I am blessed to become a part of this community of BELIEVERS! Thank you also for my friends who so dearly expressed their love for me, through their agape letters, and for the people that knew me not, yet showed me more love than a heart can contain. Lord, you always know where to put me, and when to put me there. The experiences I am unable to speak of, as the surprises must be left as such, should you become a pilgrim. I will say that I know what Heaven will look like, if only at a glance. I have been inspired in so many ways to take this love inside of me, and pay it forward. Thank you Lord for my new friends, my new experiences and where this road is leading on my Fourth Day! I know you are counting on me and I am counting on you.
Jesus, I adore thee, lay my life before ye, how I love thee!
I ask you Papa, what is next? I am willing to wait for that answer,and BELIEVE with all my heart it will be revealed in your perfect time.
Love me, your daughter art!
Jesus, I adore thee, lay my life before ye, how I love thee!
I ask you Papa, what is next? I am willing to wait for that answer,and BELIEVE with all my heart it will be revealed in your perfect time.
Love me, your daughter art!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
A SABBATH DAY OF REST
Heb 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
Heb 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
____________________________________________
Most when they hear The Sabbath and rest, think of taking time off from our work to play, and I do feel this is an important part of the Sabbath that God speaks of. I also BELIEVE there is another kind of rest. One of sitting back, and not letting the storms of life bother you. To fully and totally TRUST our Father to handle any situations that arise. To have a peace about you in the midst of everything, that can only come from clinging onto the only constant, with full assurance that He that knows all, will see you through. If you are going through something today that has you stressed, you are not putting your full Faith in our Father to take care of your every need. I have a son. If I knew that he was constantly worrying that I may not be able to take care of him, and provide for him, it would break my heart and I would feel that he does not trust me. I feel that God hurts the same when we don't keep our eyes on Him as our provider, with an inner knowing that all will be well.
Heb 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
____________________________________________
Most when they hear The Sabbath and rest, think of taking time off from our work to play, and I do feel this is an important part of the Sabbath that God speaks of. I also BELIEVE there is another kind of rest. One of sitting back, and not letting the storms of life bother you. To fully and totally TRUST our Father to handle any situations that arise. To have a peace about you in the midst of everything, that can only come from clinging onto the only constant, with full assurance that He that knows all, will see you through. If you are going through something today that has you stressed, you are not putting your full Faith in our Father to take care of your every need. I have a son. If I knew that he was constantly worrying that I may not be able to take care of him, and provide for him, it would break my heart and I would feel that he does not trust me. I feel that God hurts the same when we don't keep our eyes on Him as our provider, with an inner knowing that all will be well.
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