By The Word Of Our Testimony

100 entries per blog spot

2009-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello , You can find my current by the word of my testimony by clicking this link. I found that I was only allowed 100 blogs per spot so I moved over there. I am already at number 75 but this time I will stay with the same profile page when I begin by the word of my testimony number two.
I am keeping with this change because of the new format.
Writing by the word of our testimony I found myself saying what I thought your testimony should be. Or our testimony should be. In attempt to be more in line with God's word I now write only the word of my testimony .

Am I Fit Enough To Run This Race?

2008-09-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

As I shared in past posts this is a race that requires humility. Other things are required as well, but I zeroed in on humility because I struggle to have it. The struggle of course becomes futile the minute I decide that I am humble. So rather than gauge myself or giving myself spiritual assessments all the time I now look to the greatest example of all for race running.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

That Second Wind

2008-09-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

2 Chro.13:10 But as for us, the LORD [is] our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, [are] the sons of Aaron, and the Levites [wait] upon [their] business:

Isa.40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Wait is one of those words with various meanings. The words waiter and waitress are words used to describe a people who wait upon others.

Waiting upon the Lord has have a huge promise attached to it.

Running a Race

2008-09-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The race I run requires humility. The old joke is "I thought I was humble once but then I became proud of being humble." More true than not because once I stop to access myself , rather than just keep on running , I fall once again into pride. Running without a gauge might seem mundane but I think it is the only way I will manage to keep from falling. Gracious as my LORD is to always uphold me in His right hand when I fall, I would rather not fall into pride again. I once thought it prudent to stop and access myself but now I see the folly of it . There really is no other better thing to do than to look unto Jesus.

Running the Race

2008-09-27T18:07:00.000-07:00

1 Corth. 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
This scripture exhorts us to fully embrace what he (Paul) had said in the prior scriptures,
1 Corth.9:19-23. The jest of it being here in verse 19 , For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
The humbleness of Lord Jesus has inspired Paul to also lower himself for the gospels sake that he might be a partaker with them . (My paraphrase from verse 23)
So then humility is required to run this race, first and foremost, or I would not be in the race at all.

Without A Care

2008-09-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

1 Cr 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

The delight that fills my heart is that our LORD would want us to be able to attend Him without distraction.

The old man use to look at every text with the idea here were more rules . The new man in Christ Jesus that I now am , realizes every word as a loving gift.

"He wants me to be without distraction ! " I joyfully say to my distractions now. Somehow these seemly undeniable distractions can and will be without their ability to distract.

I take it to be in the same context of " cast all your cares upon Me, for I care for you." and " there is therefore a Sabbath rest." Also "Mary has chosen the good part and it will not be taken from her."

We have been given choices and everyday we must choose this day whom we will serve. Also how we will serve. Joyfully and cheerfully as unto the LORD , without distraction.

I'm Under The Blood of The Lamb

2008-08-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

Rahab the harlot received the same benefits that I believe are available today , for those who live under the blood of the Lamb. She put aside what her community would want her to do and did what she believed to be right. Her whole household was affected by her faith, or those who would abide with her in her house. She might have asked some relative to come and be safe in her house and they refused. Still she had a powerful testimony. She had the promise that if they did come and abide with her they would also be spared from the devastation that was soon to come to Jericho. Can't you hear her now ? As she retells the story (that we can read in Joshua 2) I can imagine their eyes getting wide. "You mean there is an answer to the problem we all know is coming?" Hopefully her dwelling was jam packed with relatives.
I live under the blood of the Lamb!
Life is awesome for me. I am not afraid of losing my salvation. Therefore I have great joy , all the time (except for those times I forget my benefits.) For those brief times when I relapse into thinking maybe I better please God and then really get to studying what that would mean, I lose my joy.
It happens every time. In fact I think I am going to put a poster on my refrigerator.
NO JOY ?
JUST HOW WAS IT THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD TRY TO PLEASE GOD NOW ?
Maybe that would help me remember , there is no joy without the joy of my salvation and I can only mess it up , if I think I am going to earn it by pleasing Him someway.
His Salvation can only be had by believing it exists the Way He says it does.
John 3:16

Being Ready To Break Out of Ruts

2008-08-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

Being aware of how many times the children of Israel missed their window of opportunity tells me a lot about human nature.
As those who have read the story of their exodus from Egypt know the children of Israel had a problem with freedom. God , who likes order , is also flexible. He promises to be faithful and answer us when we call, but He does not say exactly how He will answer.
Be it out of the whirlwind or whatever means He chooses I sure want to be listening.
Then not only listening but ready to respond to His voice.
I exhort my friends to be ready to do the radical !
Why ? Because I don't want them to miss seeing our answers to prayers.
He will answer. God always answers those who call on Him. He is always there for those who seek Him to find Him. He will always draw nigh unto those who draw nigh unto Him.
He is a living God, the same yesterday, today and forever.
Being alive today is an awesome opportunity.
Our prayers of restoration are being heard by a very loving God.
The trumpets are beginning to blow. Our time to shout is coming up.
I've found my friends who will shout with me. I exhort them to be aware that we not be caught into a rut.
When He says "SHOUT " let's give it all we got ! The joy of the LORD is our strength !
We are not better than Jesus. He also endured His cross by the joy that was set before Him.
Let's look up , for our redemption draweth nigh !
Praise the LORD.

Walls Are Coming Down and Walls Are Going Up

2008-07-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

With God all things are possible ! When I first understood that His ways are different than ours, I understood His ways are higher, that is better so don't sweat it too much.
When I understood that He was willing to move mountains at my request I became concerned. Really, mountains , like the mountain that Zerubbabel spoke "Grace, grace " to ? Or like walls of Jericho falling down ? Or like mountains Paul realized possible to move by faith but said that it would profit him nothing, if he did not have love.
My hope is that soon I am going to connect with another Christian who is believing that God can do anything.
That He would not invite us to pray that the hearts of the fathers be restored to the children and the hearts of the children be restored to the fathers , if He did not intend to answer that prayer.
My hope is that they too will see that there is major renovation going on in the body of Christ .
Walls that once separated people from the power of God's love are coming down. Walls that would house and protect His beloved are going up , as in the mission Nehemiah served in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Forever, I hope that people will begin to understand the harm they inflict on new believers by not giving them Biblical grounds for boundaries. An all to often mis-understood concept of love and be loved has given way to many people the idea that it means to be walked on and taken advantage of. Not so in the Bible. We are to have protection from our enemies and if you are planning on walking on me, you are my enemy. If you are planning on making fun of me, sorry once again you are not my friend.
Jesus has made the way through this fantastic place we are in time.
I am desperately seeking Him for more light . He has a lot of life to give us that I am sure we never ever took the time to consider could be ours. A life filled with renewal and hope of the love of Christ being shed abroad in our hearts. A life fruitful and joyful always abounding with the work the of the LORD .
Our pastor talks about life abundantly being a life full of ups and downs. He has the right idea because to follow Christ means in this world you will have troubles , but be of good cheer because He has overcome the world.
If we commit our way unto the LORD , He will sustain us. Even as Rahab put her trust in a God that she had only heard He had opened wide the Red Sea for the children of Israel to cross. We need only to put our trust in a God who said He is the same yesterday , today and forever. And that He will never leave us or forsake us.
And though the world around us may fall down as it also did for Rahab, we can be sure our God is faithful to protect and defend us. Another wall will come up. We will be protected as those who make their habitation the LORD.

The Slough of Despond

2008-07-08T04:05:00.000-07:00

1 Corth. 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Like Help in Pilgrim's Progress I have tried again and again to help those out of the Slough of Despond. Perhaps my stance should be that of the master who returns to the servant who has hidden his talent under the tree.
It seems hard when others are ridiculing you but again I am reminded of the story in Pilgrim's Progress . Christain also received much ridicule from his acquaintances in the town of destruction.

Psalms 11:2 For, lo, the wicked bend [their] bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you.

Learning To See Without A Log In My Eye

2008-07-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

I see with my eyes but I also see with the eyes of my heart.
These eyes of my heart are the ones referred to in scripture time and time again.
While living life in this world (but not being of this world) I duel vision.
What my fleshly eyes see and what my spiritual eyes see.
Now I changed my reference to my eyes of my heart to "spiritual eyes" because it is my hope and intent that these eyes would watch The Spirit.
However, to give them the name spiritual eyes may be misleading because I do not always see The Spirit .
The Spirit is always leading me and The Spirit is always visible to me , it is I that may have logs in my eyes . (Ref. to believers in Christ being able to follow the Spirit found in Romans 8 and ref. to believers having logs [beams] in their eyes found in Matt.7:3)
Whenever a log is removed from my eye I feel it ! Oh yes, I feel it ! Just like a small tooth being removed from my mouth at the dentist's office. For days I feel as though the Grand Canyon has moved into my mouth.
Same way with a log in my eyes of my heart. Removal may also be painful and getting accustomed to the loss of the log may take some getting use to .
However, JOY, great JOY is added to my life as I can see more clearly now.

Seeing Myself With Value.
Here is a story that helped me recently.

The parable found in Matt.25:14-30 about the servant who hides his talent under the tree seems pretty easy to understand. Don't be lazy , right ? Yes, but here is more .

The servant's excuse for hiding the talent under the tree could be his excuse for laziness . However, it could also be his reason for why he thought that was all that was expected of him. Have I placed my talent where I think my master would want me to place it ? Have I perceived myself to be of less value than others because my master has given more to others ?
In a world of "don't think more highly of yourself than you are" it seems unlikely that a master who gives a servant just one talent , when he has given other servants more, would expect much at all from the one talent.
Yet I know he does because this is a parable about the kingdom of God.
This servant might not be lazy, he might not know the value his master has placed on his choices pertaining to the kingdom of God.
There are preparations to be made for His arrival as well and He is expecting His saints to be doing them. Yet if a servant who has been given a talent and believes that his choices are of no value or out of fear hides what little he has been given, the sin is not laziness but unbelief .
My word of testimony today is that the sin of unbelief is forgiven and cleansed from all who confess this sin to our Father who is in heaven.
(1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.)
Forgiveness is instantaneous but cleansing may take a while. I will not give up until I am certain I have not laid even one talent under the tree. I will believe that the talent He has given me is of value and He does care what I do with it. He not only cares He is expecting me to have something to show for it.

2008-06-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

2 Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I see the spirit of Elias turning hearts. I see the power of the spirit giving a desire for obedience to the wisdom of the just. I see a people being made ready and prepared for the Lord.
How blessed am I that I have been given eyes that see and ears that understand.

For when I asked my Father in heaven to circumcise my eyes and heart , He did not ignore me. He heard me and answered that I might have the preparation for this day. He gave me circumcised eyes and circumcised ears and a soft neck as I asked , because I knew that if the people who stoned Stephen could actually think that they were pleasing God , how easy it would be for some simpleton like me to be misled.

I give this word of testimony , blessed be the name of the LORD !

How It Is

2008-06-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

When someone else sins it is never okay to sin too. Just because they sinned does not give us an excuse. In fact I wonder if being able to discern when another person is sinning might have something to do with the log and speck parable found in the Bible. When another is sinning and I become aware of it, my first thought is , do I have this same kind of sin going on in my life ? If I do, I certainly better take my log (sin) to my heavenly Father and tell Him about it. Then I proceed from there.
How blessed am I that I know that I have a heavenly Father that is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.

What "IT" is Really About

2008-06-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

Some days I seem focused on " being about my Father's business." Other days I struggle doing my Father's business. After I struggle awhile , I remember , flowing with being is so much easier than struggling to do.
The problem seems to be a desire to control.
When I am flowing I really can not say when I will reach a certain destination, only that I am flowing in the Spirit and know that my life will eventually line up with God's Word. I look often at His Word, like a captain of a ship might look at a map daily. However, unlike a captain, I try not to put my hand on the wheel or command the sails to be lowered and angled , unless I feel prompted by the Holy Spirit.
There are a series of successes and failures in my life.

I share this word of testimony with you .

Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Come as a Little Child

2008-06-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

The best part about coming to our heavenly father as a little child is : I don't have to be the boss. I don't have to have the answers . And I don't even have to be smart enough to have some possible answers .
At this point though I have to caution myself to not fall into unbelief !
There are answers beyond what I can comprehend and I must bring myself as a child to my father and just be .
Well, I can't very well do if I don't know what the solution to the problem is .
"There are human doings and human beings ", I once heard a wise person say.
Being able to come into the presence of my Father with only the grace given me from His Son the Lord Jesus Christ is the word of my testimony , for this day.

A Great Diet BREAD and WATER

2008-06-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I heard from a young man I love like a son. He is living in China and with a much grateful heart I read his e-mail yesterday. He said , (of a recent ordeal he has been going through) " after three days the LORD spoke to his heart and let him know what he was doing there. "
How awesome !
He lamented because he had spent the days before frustrated and sure that he was suppose to be somewhere else. When the LORD spoke he knew he was where he was suppose to be . Then joy and peace filled his soul .
Would you like to know what I had been praying for him ?
Bread .
That is right .
"Father , please give him bread ."
I picture myself as the man in the parable who has a friend come in the middle of the night.
He goes next door to his neighbor's house and knocks on the door and says he needs bread for his friend . Only this story has been given to us to ask of the Father. It would be much more difficult to do if Jesus had not told us to do something like this. I boldly go and pound on my Father's door and say , "Bread, my friend needs some bread. Open your door . Give me some bread for my friend. "
I never quit until I find out He has answered. I am always confident that He will answer. Knocking and pounding is not difficult when you know that you are asking for something you will surely be given.
Daily bread and water is a diet the LORD will never deny us.
I may have to knock on the door a while , but that's okay.

Come just as you are.

2008-05-31T05:38:00.000-07:00

The wonderful wonderful truth that I need only come just as I am to receive living water is almost more than I can receive ! That is why , (I suppose) that I don't drink of this living water more often. Being able to receive that He is willing to give me a living water is like, being able to receive that He has taken the punishment for my sins , plus . Didn't He say He came to give us life, and life more abundantly ?
There's a plus there ! More than life. Life abundantly !
There is an abundant life that He wants me to live. I plan to live my life in a way that is ready to receive it !

No Dry Broken Cistern For Me

2008-05-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest parts of being a laborer in the field is knowing when to rest . The fields are ripe unto harvest does not necessarily mean work until you drop . Actually as a harvester my hope is to be watching the Shepherd ever so closely. That way when we go by the still waters and when we lie down in the green pastures , I'll be watching.
It was not a bad thing to have cisterns in the day that this exhortation was given . Even allegorically as the LORD infers . It was just wrong to let them go dry and break .
Perhaps kind of like the 5 foolish virgins who used up their oil and wanted to buy some from the wise virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom .
Balance , balance , balance is so vital to me . I have fallen down so many times . I've learned you better have truth along with the spirit or you are going to find yourself in a ditch. Reason being the blind you are following will end up there to.
That is why I am so blessed to have a church that exhorts us to read the text for ourselves . Seek the LORD for ourselves and hear from the Holy Spirit ourselves.
"Do not just take my word for it", our pastor says and how grateful am I to have found green pastures . Not just green pastures , because we all have that available to us in God's Word . but encouragement from our pastor to really take your time to eat and digest this spiritual food for yourself.

A Broken Cistern or A Fountain of Living Water ?

2008-05-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

Water is something that I physically need. I also need a spiritual water that only the Holy Spirit can give me. A cultivated desire for truth along with an openness to receive the Spirit have been my greatest gifts .
Before me the day desires a word of testimony.

May our joy be increased as you and I learn how to not forsake the fountain of living waters and how to not have broken cisterns but cisterns that can indeed hold water.

Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

May my words of testimony stir up a desire to speak your own words of testimony also.

The Hope of Salvation

2008-01-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

My life is fast paced.
I wake in the morning and trust the Holy Spirit to lead me to read the part of the Bible that will apply to my life today.
Sometimes I get off balance. I pick the scriptures, I think I know what I need to read. There are no bad parts of the Bible but there are ways to take it out of context to fit what I want it to say. However , I can sense when I am starting to quench the Spirit, or grieve the Spirit or deny the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to quit it just as soon as I start doing that. The Lord is my shepherd, He leads me, I do not lead Him.

What prompts this, " following of my flesh " is this oh so huge desire : to see my flesh stop responding to life situations the way it does.
I want to reform my flesh and push the word of God down it's throat.
Somehow I think I am missing the point of being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

At the same time , I know there is a battle going on. I really don't want to pay attention to it.
That my friends is exactly the problem.

I want to think that I am going to wake up in the morning and read the word the Holy Spirit leads me to . Follow my Shepherd and there are no lions or wolves in this land. There are no cute bunny rabbits to chase either. I think I may have a problem of paying attention.

What is it I need to do ? Besides learn to bring all my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ ?
I Thess. 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Now I am of the day, because I have been exposed to the light of Jesus Christ my Savior the Son of God .
I wonder if I am sober ? Would that indicate paying attention ?
The breastplate of faith and love, I think are gifts that we as Christ's followers are able to have if we are willing to receive.
And for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
It may seem like a small thing but it is exactly what I throw off when I try to fix myself.
Salvation is our gift . It is attainable by receiving the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Not by our works but by receiving His sacrifice that He made for us.

Peggy's Testimony

2007-12-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

The "W" in Christmas
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas. My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas
Love." The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence....humbled by His love.

Give Us Our Daily Bread

2007-12-10T05:13:00.000-08:00

Real Life Testimony: When I am invited to go to parties I really do not know what to expect or what is expected of me. I try to ask as many questions ahead of time as I dare, (people do weary of my questions.) So I went to a party yesterday and I felt oh so grateful for the gift of faith. Once I could not enjoy going to a party if I didn't feel sure that I would know to bring the right gift or do the right things. After the food and the group sharing time we began to visit with our neighbor standing or sitting close to us. I was able to share with a woman how at one time in my life I had thought doing all the right things would bring me closer to Jesus. When I found out it didn't , I decided to start over. Now I am closer to Him and enjoy life so much more.

A few years back my pastor (Calvary Chapel) was teaching through the book of 2 Kings. When he was describing how the people of Isreal actually thought they were pleasing God by worshiping a golden calf it so resonated in my heart. Over and over I had found myself reverting back to a formula type of relationship with God. I wanted to quit it. I started asking God to help me quit. My human nature wants to just know the rules , follow them and then rest easy. But my spirit wants to know of His love . Letting Him love me no matter what I find myself doing seems to be the key. Just a while ago I received a letter from the IRS saying I owed money. I was unhappy until I told my heavenly Father, I don't like this news and I don't like it that I don't like this news. Telling Him I don't like me but realizing He still loved me regardless removed my unhappiness and filled me once more with joy.

Go Forth

2007-12-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

Real Life Testimony : There are things ( like filling out paper work for insurance ) that I just have a hard time doing. During these years of walking with my Lord, I have discovered some of the reasons why it is hard for me. However, it still has not changed the fact that I really struggle with making phone calls and anything of that nature.
I would try and tell myself on this day you will fill out the insurance form and if you have a problem answering the questions you will call.
Finally I asked for prayer from the Christian community. I just said simply ,"I have trouble filling out paper work, please pray for me." One person suggested that I actually go to the office of the insurance company so I could ask for help filling out the form . Later I realized what a help that little suggestion was. Did you catch it ? I would not have to call and ask a question.
Still I had to go there. Finding the time and the courage all at once.
As I was working Wednesday and thinking of my new plan I kept thinking , it is to bad you have to work Friday. Friday would be a good day to go and do this. What a strange thought to go on in my mind. However, it was there. What a relief to hear that my employer would actually love for me to come Monday and not Friday this week !
Once again, courage and time. Time was here now courage.
I always pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me where I am in His Holy Word. That is to say, what kind of Bible Story best fits my life today.
Friday morning I was reviewing the story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. The enemy was being held at bay by a pillar of fire but who knew just how long that pillar fire was going to last. Just as Moses knew , I also knew, I needed to get out of there. But how ?
Moses asked the same question and I guess it didn't really upset the whole world system or anything.
Ex 14:15 & 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.
Well, the people in the insurance office were not polite about helping me.
Nor were they willing to help me by telling me things that would save me time and trouble. But I finally made it to the end of filling out all the questions and I even thought to ask them if there was one other bit of information they might require. "Yes," was the answer, and I said, " I thought you might need it, here I have it in my purse."
To be quite honest with you my journey yesterday was more like the pillar of fire coming and keeping my enemies at bay while I and the Lord confer about crossing the Red Sea. However, I have confidence in my heart that at just the right time it will occur to me what act of faith might be required , such as holding a rod over the Red Sea.
And I will go forth, oh yes, I will go forth !

Ask and You Shall Receive

2007-12-07T05:14:00.000-08:00

Have Your Door Open
Next in my series of real life testimonies : Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
My daughter and I watch to much TV. Just like my attempts to eat healthy all the time, I am also aware that what I feed my mind has a direct connection to my spiritual health.
Rather than take TV completely out the house my daughter and I have discussed the need for balance. One of the ways to achieve this balance , we decided to see each program we watched, as an ice breaker into a conversation. Meaning that if either of us are prompted by the story to talk, we push the pause button and we begin by saying something like ,"You know that made me think of something I'd like to talk about."
Now I've learned that this is not as well received by her if this is a DVD or VHS we are watching for the first time but in our home we have volumes of re-runs .
I asked God to help my daughter to become less dependent on using the TV for an escape of life.
Last night in an episode of Christy she stopped it and said this particular scene made her feel uncomfortable. I suggested that the absence of a parent can sometimes cause a child to feel abandoned and if they do not know how to process their feelings they may become bitter or hard.
My daughter recalled a time when I had left her with a babysitter who was very uncaring. She remembered when I left, she had cried and the sitter had just looked at her as though she was waiting for it to get over. Then she stuck her in front of the TV. That was all she ever did , was sit her in front of the TV.
Then Isa 61:1 came to my mind and I suggested to her that perhaps this memory had come at this time because Jesus now wanted to bind up her broken heart and heal that feeling of abandonment she had felt so many years ago. We prayed together acknowledging that she was ready to receive healing for this wound inflicted so many years ago.
Ask believing you will receive ! How marvelous Our Lord is to come to meet our every need.

2 Corth 1: 3-4 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Real Life Testimony

2007-12-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

Living a testimony has only one requirement, Living. Giving that testimony by word requires so much more. Fortunately all that I need comes from my God .
Because I live, I breathe in and I breathe out. I give and I receive. Should I stop doing one or the other , life would stop.
Recently I found some other bloggers who share their life testimonies . By their willingness to obey God and share their experiences , it has fueled the fire within me to share again. Thank-you Jeff Running To The Promise and Chris Show Them Through Me-Let Me Be A Light So They Can See. Click there names to take a peek.
The Lord is always faithful to supply all our needs. If you need it to do His will , I believe He will supply it, no matter what "it" is.
The allegorical street I have previously blogged about could take on so many meanings. I liked naming it His Purpose because it reminds me , what I am here to do is His Purpose .
To be more specific I want to be able to do His will powered by the Holy Spirit within me. As I recognize my other counterfeit helpers that my flesh has come up with to do His will, I am tempted to try to rid myself of these things myself. However the more I work to put off the old man the harder the old man wants to stay. This putting off must also be powered by the Holy Spirit . When I meditate on God's Holy Word my mind is renewed and the Holy Spirit is unleashed in my life to take over what my flesh would do. That way , it is not I that managed to get that old man off but Christ within me , and Him crucified.
The old street I referred to in my blogs has to do with addiction. I do not have many uplifting conversations about addiction. Most at best are glad for the grace to just better their addictions to something less harmful to themselves or others. There are so many who need that message right there. Receiving grace is the answer ! Talking about grace is being able to know about grace . Being able to receive grace requires knowing about it and this is why so much time is spent talking about it.
To actually start walking in grace one must receive and then give grace.
Now this is not as easy as it sounds.
First you have to have a repentant . Someone who actually wants to receive grace . However hard as it is, I must not give up looking for repentants of grace. Just lately I have learned to pray grace on people. This way their spirits are receiving and their flesh is not there to fight it off, I hope. Anyway it seems to have opened up the give and receive cycle I've needed to go on further in my walk of grace.
This is how I came upon this idea. I Corinthians chapter one begins with Paul's word of testimony. This is how he lived !
I quote him from verses 3 & 4 . Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.