Some of the scariest verses in the Bible...

1 Corinthians 10:1-12 1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Why does this scare me? They were surrounded by God at every corner. He was with them wherever they went, and even with His presence like it was, they were still lusting after evil things, they were still commiting every sin kown to man, if you read the above verses. What happened? They were destroyed of serpents. We know that a serpent respresents satan, so because of their sin, satan destroyed them. There are a lot of christians who think they are standing for Christ, when in reality they are living for themselves People get secure in their sin and sinfulness. If the deathblow doesn't get them right away, or if they seem to get away with something for awhile, they get a false sense of security. It is like the ignorant person living on top of a volcano and thinking all is well. What does scripture tell us? 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. -Matthew 7:21-23

God's Suddenlies...

Read Exodus 3:1-5, John 4:1-30, Acts 3:1-8 Three familiar old stories, Moses and the burning bush, the woman at the well, and the blind man at the gate called beautiful. Familiar scripture with powerful truths hidden in them that we miss because we tend to read through them so fast because they are familiar.
Was Moses thinking on that day, take my father-in-laws flock to the back side of the desert, again. Perhaps the woman at the well was thinking, get my waterpot, go to the well, draw water, same old, same old. Maybe the blind man was thinking, hope I can beg enough to get some bread today, nothing ever changes. Our lives are not much different today. We do the same mundane things day after day. We get in a routine and tend to think, same old, same old, nothing ever changes. What these three didn't know, on those particular days, it wasn't going to be the same old dull day. Suddenly and unexpectedly, as they were going through their same old routine, the Lord shows up and their whole lives were changed.
That's what makes Jesus so exciting. You never know when, where, or how Jesus will show up and your whole life be changed. Today may be that day for you as you are going about your same old dull routine. Today just may be the day you get that long awaited answer to prayer or some other unexpected blessing.

Daily Bread

To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge, to find the will of God is the greatest discovery, and to do the will of God is the greatest achievement.


If any man serve me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour. -John 12:26

Root of Bitterness - Hebrews 12:15

This is one of the best explanations for Hebrews 12:15 that I have found.

What are bitter roots, or bitter root judgements?* They are our sinful reactions to circumstances that occur in our lives.* They are condemning judgements of other people.* They are the inability or refusal to forgive someone.* They are the operations of the unchangeable Laws of God, which cause us to reap in kind what we have sown.
Bitter roots are not:* Hurtful or terrible things that happen to us, nor are they the sins of those who have wronged us. They are OUR sinful responses to those things that have happened to us, planted deeply within us due to our refusal or inability to forgive.
We all have a past that God wants us to acknowledge, understand and responded to in a Biblical manner. Our response determines our happiness, hope and harmony. There are many wounded people walking the streets of our city. They have never been healed from the wounds of their past. Yesterday's hurts affect how we respond to people today.I have become aware that the health of our relationship with God is linked to our earthly relationships. That's why Jesus said, "Don't come and worship me if you have something against your friend. Patch the relationship and then bring your gift to the altar." (Matt. 5:24)Every adult has an incredible story to tell about the things that shaped their lives. The most instructive part of that story is how you are integrating the reality of the past with the cold hard facts of the present. If your stories were told with clarity and candour they would be powerful messages motivating positive change in others. Forgiveness sets you free from the bondage of the negative emotions. It does not set the person who hurt you free. Every one will answer to God for their sins. God is just and fair, and every evil act will be answered for.

Does this describe you?...

Psalm 109:22 - For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

That described me and unfortunately it describes the majority of the people walking the earth today. We are a needy bunch and our hearts are wounded from various things that went on in our past. For me I have just recently found out that a lot of things going on inside of my spirit is a result of a bitter spirit I had toward my mother. It was there all of my life, I just didn't or I should say refused to recognize it. Looking back I knew it was there, I just stuffed it away somewhere in the recesses of my spirit. I can also say "had" against my mother because I have completely forgiven her. For others it may not have been an abusive or neglectful parent, it could have been any number of things, from a sibling, a school teacher, a spouse, a friend, a boss, many things can leave us bitter and resentful. Some people are angry at God. Angry because of their "lot" in life. They're angry at things God let happen, etc. They won't admit it, but it's true. Instead of denying we need to confront the thing that is causing us the problem. If it is God you are angry at, tell Him. He can take it, He knows it anyway. First we have to admit we have a problem. I compare it to the alcoholic or drug addict that denies they even have a problem. That was me, I always knew something wasn't quite right, but never would come to terms with it.The next thing, and it is the biggest thing, is forgiveness. You HAVE to forgive, regardless of the wrong done to you. You have to make the choice to forgive just as Christ has forgiven you. It is not a feeling, it is a decision you make. My mother passed away 10 yrs ago, so I couldn't go to her personally and forgive her. Instead, I bought flowers and took them to her grave, and there I made peace with my mother. It was really odd to me because while my mother was living angd going thru cancer I grieved for her. I cried over her illness and her suffering. After she passed away, it was as if I had no emotion. I never understood it. I didn't cry at her funeral, never visited her grave. It was all very strange. Now that the Lord has opened my eyes to some things that was previously hidden to me, it all makes perfect sense. Your heart is a deceitful place the Bible says. No one can understand their own heart, much less be able to judge someone else's heart.Are you the needy person the above verse speaks about? Are you looking to any number of things to fill that need? Christ alone can heal your broken heart. That wound that is on your heart for whatever reason, let Jesus heal you from the inside out. It will take a deep look inside your soul. Ask God to reveal to you anyone you may be bitter toward, and and make the choice to forgive that person. Get rid of the bitterness and resentment and find a new freedom you didn't know was possible.

Recommended reading - "Total Forgiveness" by R.T. Kendall. Also a book by Dr. Larry Crab titled "Inside Out."

My Emotional Healing.... Pt 1

The Lord has really been showing me some things in my life that were previously hidden to me. Since my son Abram has been on his death bed God has been speaking to me more and healing me more than ever in my christian walk. It is as if part of me is dying (Abe) yet another part of me is coming to newness of life.The Lord has revealed to me about a bitter and resentful spirit against my mother I had no idea I had. My mother was always my very best friend, we had a good relationship, she lived with me when she passed away from cancer. When my mother died it was as if I had no emotion, I didn't cry at her funeral. She has been dead 10 yrs, and in those years I have not visited her grave, didn't take flowers at Mother's Day, etc. I always wondered why. My family was in complete shock that I was not devastated over her death, because we were so close. I was shocked as well. Never knew why I had these feelings until recently. I was praying about that, asking God why I reacted that way, why I had no desire to visit her grave, why I didn't cry, etc. I never told anyone that, but it was something that has bothered me over the years. I listened to Charles Stanley speak about bitterness and unforgivness, I have been studying about bitter roots, etc. I googled the word bitterness and unforgiveness and it blew me away what I was led to. It read:Who in your life should be important, but to whom you are totally indifferent? The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference. If you are completely emotionally detached from a parent, you probably have not forgiven them, and your indifference is a sign of that.I loved my mother VERY much all of my life, so how could I be bitter? After my parents divorce when I was just 11 yrs old I had no discipline in my life. My brother and sister and myself, raised ourselves. My parents were married for 25 yrs, it was fighting, yelling, no peace for even one day in our household. After the divorce my mother went down the wrong road, drinking, staying out, leaving me home alone. I was the baby, my older brother and sister were out doing their thing. How does a child grow that is left to themself? Smoking, Drugs, Sex, you name it. Yep, all alone, and the devil was right there to accomodate me. I was 17 yrs old when Abe was born. I am thankful I was saved at 24yrs old and all of that is gone. But the scars of that wasn't gone. I never dealt with it, I "stuffed" it I guess you could say. That "root" of rejection and bitterness was planted in me at an early age, being left to myself. With all of that I had no idea I was bitter at my mom for it. I had no idea in the recesses of my spirit I blamed my mother for Abe. I always loved my mom very much, so how could I be bitter? You can, as I am finding out. The Lord is revealing more and more to me everyday. It hasn't come around full circle yet, and I am sure it won't be easy or quick, but I have a new life of freedom now. I can talk about things I have never told anyone. I was sharing with my friend Laurie at church this morning, and it is amazing to me that I can do that now. I never could before. If someone would have told me I was bitter against my mother I would have told them they were crazy. I am puzzled why all of this revelation while Abe is laying on his death bed. I am sure God has a reason I don't know or understand. His ways are past finding out. I am thankful for it though, it is changing me and I desperately need that. We all do. You just have to let go and let God do His thing as they say.Psalm 19:12 - Who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults.

Word of Wisdom

I don't know why I am blogging this, maybe it will help someone. Many years ago a Sunday School teacher of mine was teaching about enemies and forgiveness. He said think of 5 people that you don't like for whatever reason. It may be someone who wronged you in some way, or hurt you deeply, someone you don't like their personality. It may be someone you have held a grudge against for years, you are jealous of, or you just don't like them and don't know why. Now write those 5 names on a piece of paper and fold it up and keep it with you. Everyday call their names out in prayer and next Sunday I want to know if you feel differently about the people whose names you wrote down. I did that little exercise and it worked. You can't hold a grudge, or dislike someone you pray for regularly, it is impossible. Try it. I don't care if it is your most bitter enemy. Pray daily for God to bless them and see how differently you feel about them after just one week.

Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:27,28

Contentment pt2

If you are like the average American, you own twice as much stuff as your parents did. You probably earn more money than your mother could. You are surrounded by luxuries. You eat out three times more often, own more cars, and travel more. You possess more rights and freedoms as a woman. But do you experience contentment, that is, the sense that "I have everything I need?" Or are you constantly looking to the future thinking, "If I can just do this or have that, I'll be happy?"
All kinds of pressures keep you from being content-because you don't possess this thing or you don't look like that person or you lack a certain ability. Refusing to dwell on comparison, developing a generous spirit toward the attributes of others, provides greed controls. Otherwise, you'll only tolerate what you have until you get more.
J Burroughs said, Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.
CONTENTMENT - Do you have it?

Contentment

Contentment - 1. ease of mind. 2.. pleased with things as they are. 3. a comfortable geniality. 4. Biblical: the knowledge of the presence and grace of the Lord. 5. Personal: complete acceptance of what God is doing and providing for you.
The Hebrew word for contentment is sabea, which means "to have one's fill of," "to have desires satisfied," even "to have in excess."
Contentment is to be comfortable with your lot in life. The poor can have it; the rich might not.
How many of us are content? Something to think about as you go through your day. If I were to be honest, I am not "content" in every area of my life. There are some things I would like to change. But as far as having everything I need, the basics in life, food, shelter, and clothing, yes, I have more than enough. The Bible says that is all you need to be content because contentment centers on your relationship with God, how close you are to Him, how well you know Him.
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hugry, both to abound and suffer need. Philippians 4:12
Taken from: Words to live by for women

Daily Bread

Satan wants to destroy your faith. Once that is weakened or gone altogether, you are powerless against him. Your faith is constantly under attack. Some battles you will win; some you will lose. But regardless of the shape your faith is in, your salvation is always intact. For whereas your faith is often tuned in to your changing circumstances, your salvation is anchored in the unchanging nature and grace of God.God remains faithful, even to the faithless. -Charles Stanley :The Power of the Cross"

Daily Bread

You will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings. God gives us His promises in a quiet hour, seals our covenants with great and gracious words, and then steps back, waiting to see how much we believe. He then allows the tempter to come, and the ensuing test seems to contradict all He has spoken. This is when faith wins its crown. This is the time to look up through the storm, and among the trembling, frighten sailors declare, "I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me" (Acts 27:25) ~Selected


And Jesus saith unto them, Have faith in God. -Mark 11:22

LORD, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill. -Thomas Ken


Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. -Proverbs 16:3