But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Matthew 14:27
The disciples were tired from rowing the boat in the rough waters. They looked up and saw Jesus walking to them on the water. They thought He was a ghost and cried out in fear.
Some of us are in rough waters right now. We have big problems, we are afraid, we feel alone and/or don't know what to do! If not now, it may well come your way very soon.
The men in the boat saw Jesus and you would think, that would have been all they needed to calm them. But the Bible says they cried out in fear when they saw Him. But when they heard His voice, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." they no longer had fear.
In my heart I would like to think that when I see Jesus I will be calm and in awe. But, I may well be on my face and in great fear. Like the disciples, when I also hear his voice, "It Is I", I will know He is there with me and all will be well. I have never actually heard the audible voice of my Lord, but in my heart and through His Word, He has calmed me many times. I know Him as my Savior and I know I can recognize His voice. "It Is I".
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
THE WISE MAN
"Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance." ECCLESIASTES 8:1
I do not have an answer for these two questions at this time. Some day maybe, but not now! The statement at the end of this passage is like the two questions. All I can say is Someday! The best part of this is I am excited to know the answers and long to understand what God has in store for me when I do.
I would love to hear from you and know what God has given you to understand about this passage.
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
I do not have an answer for these two questions at this time. Some day maybe, but not now! The statement at the end of this passage is like the two questions. All I can say is Someday! The best part of this is I am excited to know the answers and long to understand what God has in store for me when I do.
I would love to hear from you and know what God has given you to understand about this passage.
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
WISDOM IS A SHELTER
"Wisdom is a shelter, as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this; that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor." ECCLESIASTES 7:12
Other than the touch of God on you, for whatever the reason, there is no better gift to request from God than Wisdom. As mentioned above wisdom is a shelter and it goes on to mention that it preserves the life of its possessor.
I have thought on this matter a great deal and have come to this conclusion. Many people talk about wisdom and they are, I am sure, sincere about it. And I have often prayed through intersessory prayer, that people might receive wisdom in the things they are going through. I am truly wanting God to give the person wisdom to handle matters in their life. What I realized is the person for which I am praying this wisdom to come upon is not of the same mind or seeking the same gift from God. They want certain things to happen or change in their life, but wisdom has little or nothing to do with it.
Wisdom goes much deeper than a request to heal or solve a life problem. Wisdom starts with the intake of the breath we breathe and permeates our body, soul and whole being. To use God's gift of wisdom requires that we give our process of reasoning over to His way of thinking. So when I pray that someone receive wisdom in handling matters, it can and will be done by my heavenly Father. However, the person that is to receive this gift from God must be of the same mind and willingness.
I have decided that a prayer for wisdom to be given to another person is still appropriate. But, that I ask God to give them a true desire and willingness to Know Him also. Many know Him as their Savior and Lord, but still miss out on Knowing Him. It goes back to the difference between the head knowledge and the heart knowledge.
Getting to know Him is an everyday process we all go through once we have accepted Him as Savior. He must turn out to be our everything everyday. Everything we think, are, or ever will be. I want to know and be more like Him today than I was yesterday, but know and be less like Him today than I will be tomorrow.
Putting God first in everything allows us to have our hearts desire in everything else and is the beginning of the wisdom we desire for our life.
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
Other than the touch of God on you, for whatever the reason, there is no better gift to request from God than Wisdom. As mentioned above wisdom is a shelter and it goes on to mention that it preserves the life of its possessor.
I have thought on this matter a great deal and have come to this conclusion. Many people talk about wisdom and they are, I am sure, sincere about it. And I have often prayed through intersessory prayer, that people might receive wisdom in the things they are going through. I am truly wanting God to give the person wisdom to handle matters in their life. What I realized is the person for which I am praying this wisdom to come upon is not of the same mind or seeking the same gift from God. They want certain things to happen or change in their life, but wisdom has little or nothing to do with it.
Wisdom goes much deeper than a request to heal or solve a life problem. Wisdom starts with the intake of the breath we breathe and permeates our body, soul and whole being. To use God's gift of wisdom requires that we give our process of reasoning over to His way of thinking. So when I pray that someone receive wisdom in handling matters, it can and will be done by my heavenly Father. However, the person that is to receive this gift from God must be of the same mind and willingness.
I have decided that a prayer for wisdom to be given to another person is still appropriate. But, that I ask God to give them a true desire and willingness to Know Him also. Many know Him as their Savior and Lord, but still miss out on Knowing Him. It goes back to the difference between the head knowledge and the heart knowledge.
Getting to know Him is an everyday process we all go through once we have accepted Him as Savior. He must turn out to be our everything everyday. Everything we think, are, or ever will be. I want to know and be more like Him today than I was yesterday, but know and be less like Him today than I will be tomorrow.
Putting God first in everything allows us to have our hearts desire in everything else and is the beginning of the wisdom we desire for our life.
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Victory
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." I John 5:4
There is certain mind set going on in various areas of the country that says "everyone will be saved and go to heaven". They say, "there is no real hell". The first part of the scripture above seems plain to me that you must be born of God to overcome the world(be saved)! The second part tells you how to be saved and that is by faith. Faith in Jesus our Savior to forgive us of our sins and to know that He died on the cross for our sins. Salvation is all done by His grace. Please know there is a sin unto death, where God will say "enough" because a person has said "no" once too often to His invitation to be saved. Your VICTORY is set and approved. It can be obtained by FAITH in Jesus.
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
There is certain mind set going on in various areas of the country that says "everyone will be saved and go to heaven". They say, "there is no real hell". The first part of the scripture above seems plain to me that you must be born of God to overcome the world(be saved)! The second part tells you how to be saved and that is by faith. Faith in Jesus our Savior to forgive us of our sins and to know that He died on the cross for our sins. Salvation is all done by His grace. Please know there is a sin unto death, where God will say "enough" because a person has said "no" once too often to His invitation to be saved. Your VICTORY is set and approved. It can be obtained by FAITH in Jesus.
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Upward Call of God
"Brethern, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
The emphasis here is Heaven and Jesus. Our prize, our reward is "The Upward Call of God", through or in Christ Jesus. You are either in Christ Jesus or in the world.
There is oh so much more in these two verses! They are rich with how we should feel about ourselves, where we have been and where we are going while here on earth. It also focuses on how we are to carry out God's plan for our lives here on earth.
I Know I am not worthy of what He has done for me, but I also Know I was on His mind when He did it for me. I cannot explain how that took place, I just have faith that it has happened. "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God" I John 5:5
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
The emphasis here is Heaven and Jesus. Our prize, our reward is "The Upward Call of God", through or in Christ Jesus. You are either in Christ Jesus or in the world.
There is oh so much more in these two verses! They are rich with how we should feel about ourselves, where we have been and where we are going while here on earth. It also focuses on how we are to carry out God's plan for our lives here on earth.
I Know I am not worthy of what He has done for me, but I also Know I was on His mind when He did it for me. I cannot explain how that took place, I just have faith that it has happened. "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God" I John 5:5
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Our Refuge
"As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is flawless; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." 2 Samuel 22:31
When I have the privilege to counsel or witness to someone about Christ's saving grace, one of the first things I ask is do they believe God's Word to be the truth. I ask this because I use the Bible to lead them in understanding what God would have them to know and accept about His son Jesus. What I have found is that my words and thinking can be misunderstood and or misleading. I want them to know what God says and not me. I have never had anyone tell me they did not believe God's Word to be the truth during these times of counseling and witnessing. I also believe God's way is perfect and His Word flawless in every way.
In so many ways Satan tries to attack us and weaken us when we are hurting, down physically or mentally and these are the times when we need Him as our shield. We can, as it says, take refuge in Him. I know, that I know, this to be true, but I am weak and I need to be reminded from time to time. I don't have to know the root word and/or the Greek understanding of the word refuge. What I know is my refuge in Him starts with faith and ends with faith. It has the same feeling that my salvation has within me. I do not deserve refuge but I know I have it and I will never loose it. My refuge cannot be taken from me nor be denied me. It is a constant and ever present source of peace for me, no matter what takes place around me. My refuge follows Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
When I have the privilege to counsel or witness to someone about Christ's saving grace, one of the first things I ask is do they believe God's Word to be the truth. I ask this because I use the Bible to lead them in understanding what God would have them to know and accept about His son Jesus. What I have found is that my words and thinking can be misunderstood and or misleading. I want them to know what God says and not me. I have never had anyone tell me they did not believe God's Word to be the truth during these times of counseling and witnessing. I also believe God's way is perfect and His Word flawless in every way.
In so many ways Satan tries to attack us and weaken us when we are hurting, down physically or mentally and these are the times when we need Him as our shield. We can, as it says, take refuge in Him. I know, that I know, this to be true, but I am weak and I need to be reminded from time to time. I don't have to know the root word and/or the Greek understanding of the word refuge. What I know is my refuge in Him starts with faith and ends with faith. It has the same feeling that my salvation has within me. I do not deserve refuge but I know I have it and I will never loose it. My refuge cannot be taken from me nor be denied me. It is a constant and ever present source of peace for me, no matter what takes place around me. My refuge follows Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
Leave a comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The Gospel
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel." Philippines 1:12
In my previous posting I gave you a glimpse into my recent past and discussed my grandson's bout, as well as my own, with cancer. I am convinced now, as much as I have been in the past, that the verse above answers all my questions as to what and why this happened to Jude and I. As to Jude, he has a long life ahead of him where he will be able to witness to and share the Gospel with many many people. His time is still to come. At that appointed time and date God will start his journey of discovery and blessings for reaching the lost for Christ. I know Jude will use his time wisely. As for me, it is a daily vigil, to become aware of those sent my way that have a need or a burden that I can speak to. I pray now that my eyes, ears and the Holy Spirit within me, keep me attuned to those sent my way, and that I will know what to say and or do at the proper time.
Leave a ,comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
In my previous posting I gave you a glimpse into my recent past and discussed my grandson's bout, as well as my own, with cancer. I am convinced now, as much as I have been in the past, that the verse above answers all my questions as to what and why this happened to Jude and I. As to Jude, he has a long life ahead of him where he will be able to witness to and share the Gospel with many many people. His time is still to come. At that appointed time and date God will start his journey of discovery and blessings for reaching the lost for Christ. I know Jude will use his time wisely. As for me, it is a daily vigil, to become aware of those sent my way that have a need or a burden that I can speak to. I pray now that my eyes, ears and the Holy Spirit within me, keep me attuned to those sent my way, and that I will know what to say and or do at the proper time.
Leave a ,comment on what God has placed on your heart about this verse.
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