ALL WHO ARE NOT PRESENT SAY HERE

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I've been trying for some time to develop a life style that doesn’t require my presence. So said; G.B.Trudeau.

There have been times when I have felt like that for a few minutes. Especially during some trying times, a moment of embarrassment, or until the pain would go away both physical and mental from a bad moment.

I was reminded of Jonah when he had his experience with the whale and his evangelist tour to Nineveh was contrary to his wishes.

Jonah 1:2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are."

There are so many lessons we can profit from the book of Jonah but let it suffice to say he was in rebellion during the whole process and dissatisfied with the result.

The Prophet Hosea would probably agree with Trudeau for so much of his life was distasteful.

First, Hosea was directed by God to marry a promiscuous woman of ill-repute,

Second, Hosea and his wife, Gomer, have a son. God commands that the son be named Jezreel, “The Valley of death.”

Third, the couples have a daughter. God commands that she be named Lo-Ruhamah; “Unloved or Pitied.”

Fourth, a son is born to Gomer. It is questionable whether this child was Hosea's, for God commands that his name be Lo-ammi or “Not mine.”

While this was a metaphor for the relationship with Yahweh and Israel for it was acted out in the flesh by Hosea on a day by day process.

Then there was the redemption process whereby Christ was required to come and be the lamb of GOD sacrificed for us all. He had to live it out and go through the pain and suffering required to accomplish salvation for all of mankind.

Understanding that life must be lived and at times it will be unpleasant, it behooves one to take advantage of all GOD provides for us, and to reject anything that will rob us of GOD’S provision.

The question “How then should I live?” is foremost and one each of us must answer for them-selves.

A good place to start is; Ephesians 5:15- 20 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

Our fellowship with GOD will produce joy in our hearts and love for one another.

Linked with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays.  Please visit there!

THE WAY MAKER

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The last two lines of the song “God will make a way” With love and strength for each new day He will make a way, He will make a way.

So much of life is lived in- between things of being a success and being a disaster. with all the degrees between the two. It is like getting a bit less than an “A” such as a (B+) and a bit more than an “F” getting a (D-) grade.

The courtship is great but if it comes with some suspicion of there not being a full commitment it may be time to put on the brakes. He wants to go “All the way without going all the way to the altar.”

The job comes with promise, but the advancement that is on the way never arrives.

Many friends are not true friends for they will let you down in the end. The only way to keep them is to compensate for their perfidiousness (fickleness) by overlooking this trait, and accepting them as they are.

When one finds the real thing they should cherish it much more. Treasure the marriage that is committed, and lived without offence or guile, and a trust that is earned, not just bestowed by either party, and not based upon hope alone.

The cross our path to heaven
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We as seekers need to find our stability in an unfailing force. One which we can relate to as an absolute, and yet be able to commiserate with human failure.

The answer can only be found in Jesus Christ the “GODMAN.” Jesus is our direct link to the Father, and always gives us access to Him. Jesus is the reason we can come boldly to the throne of grace and receive our needs met.

Having said this, our experience tells us that we live in an imperfect world and must cope with a world of negativity. Trying to get GOD to smooth out all the bumps is an awesome task and doesn’t always happen as we desire.

Even with GOD’S help we still have to struggle with making a living, raising our kids while maintaining a good testimony for Christ.

“We all have our struggles. Life is not easy for any of us; or if it is — we are not making much of it. It is better that we should not sing of sadness. There are sad notes enough already in the World's air. We should sing of cheer, of joy, of hope. This is what Paul did when he said: Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” J.R. Miller

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

It may not be exactly as we want it, but in the end “He will make a way.”

When you've done all you've known to do, God will make a way for YOU.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSiq_vizsA0

This post has been linked to Laura’s, Brag on God Fridays  

THE SECRET WORLD



Imagination

The Lord has endowed us with the power of imagination.

From early in life it becomes an active force in our lives. It creates a secret world all our own where we can do or have whatever we want.

Little children spend hours with friends they have created with their imagination and share secrets with them. As they grow up the objects may change but it is still the same inner force being used.

Being able to go on trips without ever leaving home or being famous is readily available to us. Boys have love affairs without the object of their affection ever knowing about it. It can be one of the most favored gifts from GOD or it can prove to be a great negative spiritually.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Another way to express it is to say beware of fantasy conversations in your head that Christ won’t approve of. These conversations can dominate your thought life even to the point of making you sick.

You think someone has offended you and you spend your waking hours damning them and justifying yourself. The tragedy is in most cases there is no substance to the issue.

Jamie Lath on her vain imagination; "As a single woman, I did this all the time in the romantic way. I would imagine how this guy or that guy would finally come to his senses and be blown away by me. I finally realized how much of my waking hours were spent on this (and how damaging it was to my psyche). I thought about what it would be like if I never married, was 80, and still doing this in the nursing home. With quite a bit of battle, I was finally able to curb my "vain imaginations" (I love this term)".

Another says; I do this a lot when I'm not walking by the Spirit. I know it doesn't please God... I have found that things rarely if ever work themselves out in the way I imagine in my head.

Vain imaginations can lead to obsession and affect your psyche.

There are many scriptures that are geared to stopping this process; one of the most helpful is found in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

When your tangent starts, stop it in its tracks by using Philippians 4:8 and restore peace to your soul.

Linking with Jennifer at: God Bumps and Incidences:

Also linked to Thought Provoking Thursday

THE CHOOSEN VESSELS

All sizes and shapes of vessels are useful
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There is a story about a ruler who was convinced to keep his fine wine in silver vessels instead of earthen ones. The result being it turned acid and had to be thrown out.

Earthern Vessel
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2Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.

One might ask, “What is this treasure?” The answer being “The Gospel.”

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

By the same token GOD has chosen plain people to bear his gospel to the world. The Apostles were men of no repute - - just transformed into mighty men by the Spirit of GOD.

1 Corinthians 1:26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

While the scriptures don’t say there were no men who were upper class who were saved, only that there were few of them.

We the chosen ones sometimes forget who we are in Christ and act in a way that isn't consistent with our new nature much to the discredit of Christ.

EPHESIANS 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

2 TIMOTHY 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

You were not saved by accident it was part of GOD’S plan and while it was by grace it wasn’t a happenstance. If GOD spoke to you directly today HE would probably say “Don’t you understand what I have done to and for you?”

Your answer should be “I am a magnificent creature a vessel fit for His service.”

I believe you will enjoy this poem:  http://www.momof9splace.com/vessel.html

Linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday
And with Lori’s Wednesday  Internet Cafe Devotions 

RESPONSE TO RESPONSIBILITY

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Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


Every child of GOD sooner or later comes face to face to the fact that we are to be servants of GOD. JESUS spoke of those who are reborn as friends but at the same time we are friends that serve.

Not only are we to commit ourselves to his service but we are to find our field of service. Romans 12 and 1Corinthians 12, lay out various areas of service.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

The question comes before each one of us where have I been set in the body. There are many ways to locate your position, and oft times it will be in line with your natural talent. At other times it will require a real work of the Spirit to make you effectual in the kingdom.

Probably no one would have chosen some of the Apostles for the task set before them but Paul was fully prepared for the ministry he was sent to do. The Holy Spirit just had to clear up some of his thinking and empower him.

There is another thing that happens and that is this. A desire will be born within you and it stays with you night and day. Sometimes, time has to pass before it is possible to go forward. The one thing that is needful before embarking in a certain area and that is a validation of the call by GOD. It is possible to get caught up by the glamour of ministry and try to move into an area where you have not been sent.

An old saying is “Some were sent and others just went.” Being one of the “went” crowd can lead to disappointment and at times do more harm than good.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation (the enablement) of the Spirit for the common good.

One thing is certain if you can find out what your enablement is, you are then very close to discovering your place in the body of Christ and will be able to fulfill your ministry as unto the Lord.

What if you haven’t found your place yet? Then you need to study Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 until GOD speaks to your heart. Then watch for doors of opportunity to open up to you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGcz0AOxLSc

This post has been Linked to Play Dates with God   Please visit there!

WHAT DOES GOD SEE

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I shudder to think what GOD sees when HE looks at me.

Even as almighty as HE is, seeing me only works for HIM when HE is seeing me in HIS SON.

In any other case my weaknesses and failures would reveal one who is truly unworthy. It is almost enough to give me the worm complex. On the other hand it illuminates the stark reality of what Christ really accomplished through the salvation process.

Being grateful for Christ’s work isn't enough, even an attitude of gratitude twenty four-seven is the least I can offer up to HIM.

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This is more than a duty response it must be a response wrapped in love like unto the Father’s love for me. The redemption story is the greatest letter of love ever written. One that is all inclusive, all encompassing and all mine if I so desire it to be.

Check out some of the Father’s thoughts in the following web page.
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text

This post is linked to Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem 
And to Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday

PRAYER MEMO

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Paul in his introduction greets the brethren with encouraging words but I want to emphasize the words “Your faith is growing abundantly or exceedingly.” Faith is all there is for the believer.

By faith we are saved, and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, if your denomination allows it. By faith we approach GOD in every way whether in worship or in prayer. We use our faith to accomplish great things for God, and stand when victory is slow in coming.

I don’t know exactly know how to say what I’m going to say. and that is one of the hardest things to get by, is when we pray and then miraculously the answer comes. Then at another time, we pray and it seems like the heavens are closed. The door to answered prayer is shut tight and our exercise of faith can't get the door to budge. Confusion attacks us with questions, and we mull over without a conclusion.

Having had to deal with this phoneme many times I have learned a few things, and there are still a few questions I am working on. If one is not careful they can get lost and spiritually weakened when this happens; but when properly understood this is the time for faith to flourish. This is the time to continue to give substance to our requests.

Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

There are many things that hinder answered prayer, one of which is praying prayers we shouldn't pray. Some prayers involve other people, and we forget that GOD deals with each of us individually, and it is not our place to control other people. There are myriads of reasons for seemingly unanswered prayer, and one of the most difficult one is time, waiting until the time is right in GOD’S eyes and not ours.

It is good to have a scripture in mind with a promise of answered prayer before I pray, and yet the answer is not always apparent. When this happens I never allow this to affect my relationship with the Father for faith in HIM comes far ahead of faith for things. Learn this secret when praying whether successful or not, allow your faith to grow exceedingly in GOD for this is what James 1:3 was talking about “You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance” and that is truly important.

I have heard of mothers who prayed for their children for many years and some have died before their prayer was answered. It would have seemed to have been an ineffective prayer effort but in reality it was victory.

Always keep in mind we are at war with the forces of evil and must always be armored up as in Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand and having prayed, stand until GOD answers or says otherwise.

I believe in GOD!  I believe GOD!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNsjRcASI0I

Linked today with Soaking on Son Day 

              And Shanda’s Pause on the Path