Words

Psalm 119:15-16  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I WILL FORGET NOT THY WORD. 

I will forget not Thy Word....

It is so human of us to become hurt, especially emotionally, when we think on the mis-guided thoughts, sayings, and actions that others have made toward us. This is why we must carefully, and OFTEN, bring to remembrance the scripture passage of Philippians 4:8 that tells us:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things 

We can not help the thoughts and actions of others, but we can do everything we can to preserve our own thoughts and actions.  Always choose to be enamored with and armored in the Armour of God, (Ephesians 6:10-18). The Armour of God is what it is going to take to survive the onslaught of the enemy and his devices.

Don't kid yourself, the enemy of your soul DOES use people.  He doesn't care the tactic as long as the result is what he wants.

Apostle Paul also went on to tell us in Philippians 4 that we should live moderately, have joy in the Lord (and to re-apply and apply that joy always), not to be anxious, and to pray pray pray.  If we do all these, then the peace of God floods our mind.  When we do this there is no room for the negativity of other's words and/or actions to take root within our heart.  

Mediate on God and the power HE has, rather than allowing power to be put into the hands of others and the devil.  

I've had relatives and friends who have gotten a little perturbed at me when they have made a comment and my response back was, "Whatever".  But it's the simple truth.  

Having a Whatever Attitude, channeled right, has, for me, helped so very much.  When channeled in the right direction, it can lift potential spiritual-life threatening burdens off one's shoulders.  This kind of perspective is not meant to make one live carelessly, No, not at all, for we all should walk circumspectly, however, it can be the channel which frees our mind from a spiritual pitfall.

Psalm 73:2 the Psalmist, Asaph, writes: As for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold (on my relationship with God) because I envied the arrogant...when I seen the prosperity of those which do wrongfully, talk about me, make trouble for me and for the church, don't do right by God or man-kind, etc, etc, etc.

I paraphrased here, but it applies.  

I suppose this is so prevalent upon my mind because in recent happenings within my own personal life and in lives of several I love dearly, there have been several occasions, no, daily occasions, when the WORD OF GOD was the only thing I could trust in and point my loved ones toward.  More recently, I have gotten word of one individual (who is very close to me) who is leaning more and more toward the "steps of backsliding". It breaks my heart!!!  His reasoning?  He says, "I won't go to a church where everybody talks about everybody".  This make me want to scratch my head in a confusion and say, "WHAT?!", for this very person will stop at nothing to sometimes do the same.  Yet, instead of remind him of this fact, (for how would that help the matter?), I imploring want to impart this question: "So...you won't attend church, but you will give up on your faithfulness to a loving, faithful, forgiving GOD, you will backslide, and you will choose to infiltrate your life and the life of your wife and your babies back into the sinful, hurtful World without God, which WILL Do the very same?!".  

I'm sorry, not sorry, folks.  People are people everywhere.  People.  

I don't get it, I just don't.  Don't waste your time trying to define it to me.  And whilst I grief, I also can't help but say within my heart, "Whatever".  For it's time, as NEVER BEFORE, to grow up!!  I think there is scripture for this mandate too.  There should be more eating meat than drinking milk.  It is high time to put on the Armour of God, to stand against the wiles of the devil, to woman-up, to man-up, and be an over-comer!

Most importantly, There should NEVER be a green light for gossiping and backbiting Nor should one EVER give themselves a greenlight to go-ahead and assimilate themselves with the world by becoming in fellowship and aligning themselves with it.  Rather we should, meditate a little more into the WORD OF GOD, and align our life to passages which fanatically teach us to be a Christian, spend a lot more time on that than the words of others.  

Passages such like we read in the book of James....

James 2:1-13 (English Standard Version)  
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ...

And passages like this one...

Hebrews 10:25 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.

There are many more WORDS OF GOD that can be imparted into this thought and into this short writing, yet I will refrain.  

But, let me suffice it to impart a couple more. 

Psalm 19:14 Let the WORDS of MY mouth, and the MEDITATION of MY heart, be acceptable in THY sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

I Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but GOD IS FAITHFUL, who will NOT suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.    

There will always be tongues that will wag wrongfully.  There will always be those who choose to do wrong.  There will always be hurts in life.  What is most important is this: Take thought of your own actions and words and weigh them against the Word of God, Never Despair so much that you think you're a waste of God's time or that God's church is a waste of your time, and always remember GOD WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE YOU GRACE TO BEAR ALL THINGS. You must tap into it...that saving, amazing grace.     

Now, that's good words..and a faithful promise...to mediate upon!  

Happy Weekend :) 

Rescue

Isaiah 41:10 

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Cleaning out a filing cabinet today and I came across a little card from a dear friend.  It was still enclosed within its envelope.  I pulled the card out of its little "home" and opened it up.  It was a blank one, the kind that only a personal message could be written to the reader.  The beautiful cursive handwritten words told me that I was missed and then the scripture reference, Isaiah 41:10, was written at the bottom.  Just the reference, not the passage.  Of course I had to look it up...again.  

Just moments before, I had been listening to a Jason Crabb song, (it's no secret...he is my #1 favorite artist), and the song I heard was a new one of his, "He won't leave you there".  Great song! 

Taking this all in I realized that I truly was having yet another one of those, what I like to call, "God Moments".  

You see, two weeks ago I had another "change" come into my little world.  Totally unexpected, yet God was NOT surprised.  He knew it was coming before it happened.  And, today, when I woke up this morning only GOD knew what my day would be like.  He directs our steps (whether we truly believe that or not).  I had no clue, really, that I would choose to go through more paperwork again today.  Yet He knew what I would need, so that thought of "cleaning out another folder" was put in my thought process of "List of Things to Do Today".  He always knows what is needed. 

Although notorious for keeping every card that has ever been given to me, (I hardly ever throw any away), I had no clue that this little thing was still hanging out somewhere around here in this little home of mine.  But there it was.  A timely reminder, for sure.  

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~Rescue~

One simple little word, yet so full of weighted merit.  It is a word that should speak volumes to us all.  A word of HOPE, a word of GRACE, a word of MERCY. 

Has there ever been a timeline in your life when you desired Rescue?  We all have had those moment(s) I think.  

A cancer diagnosis...That phone call that changes everything...Job loss...Death of a loved one...Divorce...Your beloved pet dies...The bills outweigh the money...

You fill in the blanks.  For each and every one of us there is something in life that we wish weren't there, or at the least we desire to be much better.  

Aren't you so thankful for the promises, the encouragement, of the Word of God?  I sure am.  

But take heart, my friend.  No matter what the moment feels like, take heart!  Give yourself that gift...the hope that it won't always be like this.  But, since you have this moment, What can you learn from it?  

Choose to grow while you're enduring the stretching.  God isn't going to leave you.  You are NOT alone.  He is in every moment of what you feel like is despair.  He is with you.  No matter the darkness, He is with you.  Do not fear.  Do not be anxious.  

Grow...Shine.  The Rescue is coming! And what a RESCUE it's gonna be!!! God's got a plan, my friend, and it's much bigger than you, that's why you feel the intense stretching right now.  He's building your faith, making you stronger, so you can accomplish His will.  

:) Blessings to you and Happy Weekend!