NEWS FLASH LADY GAGA! WE WERE ALL BORN THIS WAY!

Walking after the flesh says, 'That bible teaching is egregious . It is just too hard for me. THAT can't be right! Why, I was BORN THIS WAY.' Remember the story in the bible about the woman caught in the act of adultery? Jesus was most loving and did not condemn her. He told her, "Woman neither do I accuse you. Go And Sin No More. " 

Legalizing sin doesn't make it right. God's right. We are wrong, no matter who is involved. If it were my own earthly family I would most certainly love them but, God is right and we are wrong if we face a contrast to what the WORD says. As a follower of Jesus, You've got to love God more than anyone or anything. Remember what Jesus said some time before the crucifixion as he was teaching a group in someone's home? He was told "Jesus, your mother and brothers are asking for you. Jesus said, Who are my mother and my brother, but those who do the will of the Father?

If you feel your heart is being ripped out because someone you love is living a lifestyle contrary to the truth of the bible just remember, like Jesus, you don't condemn or bring them to be stoned. No. You love them, but don't try and change the truth with science, with feelings, with statutes for their sake. That would be to exchange the truth of God for a lie. Be faithful to God and gentle with His word. Don't lie against the truth. That would do harm. Rather, Speak the truth in love. AND if you can't speak it in love or don't know how yet, just be silent and pray, but DON'T lie against the truth.

Personally, I would rather live in abstinence than walk in something the bible says is sin. That is not because I  so want to be perfect, rather it is because I love God. I believe God. The first commandment states to love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself. 

It is also written, "If you love ME you'll keep my commandments." There are those who say they love God, but as the bible reads if you don't keep His commandments you don't really. That's it! And not just the ones with sexual roots. but all of the teachings. Stand up for the truth in love. How difficult is it to say, "You know, I love you no matter what, but according to God, that's not right."? 

And remember, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies NEVER come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. For the love of God, don't condone sin. Don't call evil good and good evil, even in your private self. Speaking the truth in love can be done. Some may not like it but speak the truth in love.

Yes, we as christians have died to sin. We do not live by the Law we live by the Spirit of Jesus in us. Walk according to the Spirit. Not according to the flesh. The law of Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. (from the wonderful book of Romans chapter 8). Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth and then read it. Always ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and He will.  Remember, the law of love, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets you free from the law of sin and death! There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

We cannot perform the whole law. We break it daily. That is where God's wonderful grace comes in and God's mercy is poured out on us who walk according to the Spirit. If you are not following after the things of God then ask God to help you to walk according to the Spirit! He will do it.

Walking after the flesh says, 'That bible teaching is egregious . It is just too hard for me. THAT can't be right! Why, I was BORN THIS WAY.'

You were born that way alright Lady GaGA. WE WERE ALL BORN THIS WAY! Born with a sin nature and only Jesus on Calvary can give you power over it. WE WERE ALL BORN THIS WAY! That is why God sent us a Savior. We must be born again . Die to self. Live to Christ. Never the less I die to sin and live to Christ. I die daily to sin. Christ lives in me. 

 I pray if you are a christian who walks in acceptance of sin in your life that you confess it to your Father God. Give that over to your heavenly Father and allow Him to help you. Be sincere. Be earnest. Be hot for God! Don't be lukewarm!

I pray if you are not a christian that you give Jesus a chance in your life.Look up and ask God as I did a long time ago, even though I had been born and raised in church and my grandpa a preacher!  
I looked up into a starry sky and called out to Him...

 I said, "God, if you really are there, if you really do exist, if you really did send your son called Jesus to die for all sin, then I ask you to REVEAL yourself to me, that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are God and Jesus is Lord!" GOD DID IT FOR ME! It wasn't in a minute but all I KNOW is that as I went on about my life a couple of months went by and I realized one day that I KNEW! God gave me assurance.

God had answered my prayer! And if you earnestly pray that prayer then God will do that for you! He will. God did it for me. He will do the same for you.

~ ONE STRAW AT A TIME

Dealing With Depression

Amid the songs, the parties, the food, and gift giving of the many holidays we celebrate there are people who have a fight on their hands. They walk among the crowds in the malls and supermarkets and sometimes they look very much like you. The fight I refer to is one with depression. Some have developed skills that mask their battle while others may sadly become debilitated. Then there are others that meet depression head on with a hope that only comes from faith in God. 
     Whichever the case these all have a fight on their hands. Every  celebration becomes a struggle and every difficult thing becomes magnified or another straw on the camels back. Need a gift to give during a holiday? Reach inside yourself and give kindness.  Kindness is an expression of love and love never fails. That's something you can have faith in even if you never see or feel the direct results of it.
     People need a reason to smile and you and I can be that reason. Lighten the load one straw at a time. Be kind to one another. It can make all the difference in the world. 
     
From My Empty Nest:

http://windowofheaven.blogspot.com/2013/01/find-good-thing-to-do-and-do-it_21.html

LESSON OF ANCIENT KINGS

 ~ Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah ~

In 2 Chronicles chapters 32, 33, & 34 the life and fate of several kings is told. It is of great interest how God interacted with these kings and they with God. 
   Hezekiah was king in the 32nd chapter. Much could be written about him and has been in the book of Isaiah. It is written that this great king did that which was right in the sight of God. As a result he became a great King who had God's help on every side. Hezekiah called on God for help. God was exalted and the people honored God and they honored Hezekiah as well. Hear that which I do not say in these verses 32:23 And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight  of all  nations thereafter. :24 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign :25 But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.  :26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
   This is a great thing for any great nation of people to do as well as its governing body. You can read on to hear how great a king this man was. However, his greatness could have easily been lost had he not come to his senses when his heart did become lifted up and humble himself before God!. Many interesting things can be learned in reading how God interacted with king Hezekiah and how the man Hezekiah interacted with God. 
  Now, after the reign of Hezekiah and  in chapter 33 his son Manasseh became king at the age of 12 years and reigned for 55 years in Jerusalem. It is written of him that 'He did that which was evil in the sight of God ' . He even seduced the people to evil far greater than all the nations God had destroyed before the children of Israel.  
   You can read about him and how he fell before a powerful enemy that God raised up against him. An enemy that captured him with hooks and took him away in bronze fetters to Babylon!
   In 33:12 it is written of this king in captivity : Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He (God) received his ( Manasseh's) entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. The chapter goes on to tell how Manasseh served God for the rest of his life and of all the ways he served God from that time on.
    Then upon his death his son Amon became king at the age of 22. The king Amon did that which was evil in the site of God to a greater degree than his father had ever done in his short lived 2 year reign. We can learn what to stay away from by reading about this king. 
By some provocation his servants killed him. The people of the land executed these for conspiring against the king. And then came my favorite of the kings in these 3 chapters. Josiah the son of Amon who was only 8 years old was made king by the people. It says a beautiful thing 34:2 - And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David: he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. And also 34:3 - For in the 8th year of his reign, while he was still young (age 16) he began to seek the God of his father David.
   This remarkable story continues on to tell of how he went throughout the land and broke down the idols and the altars in the high places and all the images and carvings were demolished to dust which was strewn on the graves of those who had worshipped them. As we continue into his 18th year of reign as king (age 26), when he had purged the land and  the temple, he appointed men to repair the house of the Lord his God. 
    In the processes of these faithful men in their work to restore the temple one named Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given to Moses. Hilkiah brought it to Shaphan the scribe who in turn took the book to their king Josiah and read it to him.   
    It does not say how long it had been before this book had been discovered but hear in 34:19 - Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 
   There is more for you to read for yourself about this but, the last beautiful thing I will tell you of today from this book is this, which is what the Lord God said to the king Josiah, king of Judah in verse 34:26 -- But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: "Concerning the words which you have heard--"because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the Lord.
   How beautiful is that? Because you heard Me..you harkened unto my word when you heard it...because you heard Me with a tender heart, I also have heard you! 
  Why do tears well up in my eyes? Because, we as christians have not heard all that God wants us to hear. Here a bit, there a bit. And when we do give ear to the wants and the heart of God to do them as we hear them,  can you see the mercy of His tender heart to us as well?  We need always to humble ourselves before God!

  What have the three kings taught us?
  Like the ancient king Josiah, we discover the truth of God through out our lives. With each new word discovered we either humble ourselves to His word or reject it. 
   Like the mighty king Hezekiah, if our hearts become lifted up we do well to recognize, come to our senses, check ourselves and humble ourselves before God.
   Like the self-willed king Manasseh if, due to our own sin we are cut to the ground, still in our greatest hour of need, humble ourselves to God and beseech Him to help. And once seeing the mighty hand of God in our behalf realize that He is God and leave a life of pleasing ourselves to live a life that is pleasing to God. 

We know that the Lord is God!

 

 

WHAT COLOR IS LOVE?

What color is love? 

Powerful Red? Royalty Purple? Purity White? 

Everlasting Green! 

 Love can be all those colors. The most creative thought about love would be a Rainbow Of Love with a Pot of Gold treasure for those who find Love.

LOVE IS THE TREASURE !

 Love comes in all colors and for many things. 

We love our dogs, our cats,
and every kind of pet.

rrrrrrrrrrr-RUFF !

We love our brothers,  

 our babies, our dads, aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, sons, moms,

  daughters, in-laws, step-families, friends, neighbors ...

and sweethearts! 

Yes, we can still get put out, upset, and have our emotions run a muck!

BUT!   That all encompassing rainbow of love will encircle those who have a mind to pursue it and weather any storm to fulfill its' promise to LOVE!

Humble yourself to love and it will rule in your life. 

GOD IS LOVE

 The greatest commandment is love and the greatest deed is to love.  

For this month of love before us let's feel and share its' encircling power. 

It is there for the asking.

GOD IS LOVE. 

1st John 4: 7-9

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Psalm 86:5 NIV

1. Psalm 57:3
   He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me— God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
   Psalm 57:2-4 (in Context) Psalm 57 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Proverbs 15:9
   The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
   Proverbs 15:8-10 (in Context) Proverbs 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3. Proverbs 21:21
   Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
   Proverbs 21:20-22 (in Context) Proverbs 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
4. 1 Timothy 6:11
   [ Final Charge to Timothy ] But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
   1 Timothy 6:10-12 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
5. 2 Timothy 2:22
   Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
   2 Timothy 2:21-23 (in Context) 2 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

WHEN LOVE SEES YOU

A few days ago an old familiar passage caught my eye again. But this time it was different. It lit up in my heart.The words had life and I knew with certainty that as I did the things it stated that the Lord would direct my path. Often I had pondered those scriptures but this time faith arose.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Lean not to your own understanding

Acknowledge Him in all your ways

And He will direct your path! 

I seem to slip into an automatic pilot mode rather than following the directives in this scripture. I know I make God a spectator, rather than my guide, my Shepherd. Faithful and always a gentleman the Holy Spirit waits on the sidelines of my life.  Waiting for me to come to my senses. I waste so much time directing my own path. All the while this familiar passage is tucked into Proverbs 3 and even in my heart.
     My Father God is trying to help me, us. He loves us very much. I want my Lord to be my Shepherd so I stepped into the truth of those words to live and move in them.
   It is not an easy thing for me. I have to daily meditate on each step it directs me to take. If I don't do the things it tells me then there I go slipping into automatic pilot and pushing my Shepherd to the sidelines. I don't mean to. Cares seem to come in. Cares I need to continually give to Him. 
    Meditating daily is a serious matter. I do well for a while and then I get off my routine and there I go, off into my day, distant from God. He has left a message for me, for us, "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you."  It is true. He does.

   He wants us set free and to walk in that life that is free of the feelings that weigh us down so. Feelings and emotions of loneliness, sadness, feelings of missing family, or the worry that financial need brings, the heaviness of every kind of lack. How does a life burdened down glorify Him?

    He tells me I am to cast these things on to Him. At times I literally grab at my chest as though taking hold of the invisible negative thing that causes me heartache or torments. WHATEVER burden that causes heaviness of spirit and I toss it, cast it to Him! 
    Sometimes I earnestly say, "Here, I don't want this!" or  with all sincerity, "Take this!" And as I have the Creator of the Universe takes it and with it every heavy, negative effect of each thing I cast that weighed me down.  I even cast the worry of how God will take care of needs right on to Him. Needs I had entrusted to Him so silly I am. And when I do, He takes them all. All my cares. And I experience His faithfulness. 

    GOD takes our heavy yoke and gives us His easy yoke! How difficult is joy and peace to carry? Confidence in Him and for our future because of Him. We give Him junk and He gives us good things in return. He wants it that way. He loves us.

   I recall to myself promises in the Word. God is not a human that He would lie. He means them all. We must apply faith to them and own them as our heritage as followers of Christ Jesus. 

 Remember just as it is written, God means good and positive things for us. This is not only in the material realm but most wonderfully in the unseen realm of spiritual things, of thoughts, feelings, and emotions . God is so awesome in that He doesn't want us to remain in sadness, loneliness, disparaging, depressed, discouraged, worried, foresaken. Cast all these and more on to Him. 

All the heavy baggage of life is truly wearisome. The cares of life just wear me, us out sometimes. Let them serve as a reminder to take His, our Father God's easy yoke up again trading our negativity for His positivity. I am so truly tired of carrying the baggage. I say it again, God is so very Awesome! And like the good Word says, Trust God. I can trust God. I Let the baggage go again!  Let go! All of it. Let it go! Let it go!Let it go! I can let go and let God. I'm not God.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Lean not to your own understanding

Acknowledge Him in all your ways

And He will direct your path!

DO WE REALLY WANT TO BE GUIDED BY GOD?

Do you really want to be guided by God?   I DO! 

This is such an exciting passage from the bible to me!  I hope you chew on it for a while then post your thoughts in the comment box below.  =)

 

New International Bible: Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

Footnotes:  Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths 

This version gives every way the words can be said:
Amplified Bible:  Proverbs 3:5-6   

1. ⁵ Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
   
   
   ⁶ In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
   
   http://www.biblegateway.com/usage/
    

TAKE THIS!!!

A new year rings in and seems it is time to get rid of things. We clean closets and drawers and get rid of excess stuff! Some of us even get rid of stuff like extra pounds.  It just so happens that this artsie sister is getting rid of a LOT more than the average pile of clothes!       

 We have all heard how we can help others by prayer, but have you ever considered how very powerful it is to pray for yourself ? While praying over the needs and trials of others realize,YOU, Can pray YOU!

If you happen to be a lone empty nest single parent, there may be terrible bouts of  sadness, missing, and loneliness, especially if the distance of family is hours away.

    Well this single parent, empty Nestor had a seasonal crash!

All the visits were over, the ornaments put away and with haste 

I moved onward into New Year's January! As I sat at my desk, working with new determination the New Year often brings, I looked at that old clock on the wall to see how soon I would be free to leave! 

    Well, fate would have that it was the time I used to pick up my sons from school, back in what I now call my other life.

 A rush of all the years of that busy-ness and involvement in their lives flooded out from my thinking. Such a feeling of missing, of loneliness, of sadness visited me. 

 Believe me, those are NOT the kind of visitors we want to entertain! 

   Tears just rolled from my eyes, from my soul. I dabbed my face with Kleenex and fought the miserable attack. Hold it in, don't cry! What on earth? Earthly. Very earthly and very real. I had dealt with these visitors for quite some time and suddenly I said in myself;

"I DON'T WANT THIS"

   I KNOW THAT I CAN GIVE THIS TO GOD!! 

I clinched my fists and said in quiet desperation, to God. 

"Lord, I DON'T WANT this! Here, I give it to you. 

I give this loneliness, this missing, this sadness to you. All to you."

     In that moment. That very moment, He took it. 

JUST LIKE THAT! 

And I know HE will take every sorrow, every addiction, 

our EVERY discomfort and our every sinful habit. 

EVEN THE HORRIFIC!

    I do know that when you are left to the unlovely, ugly, maladies of life and of yourself, and when you accept there is no way to get away from it, and you begin to have to suffer it, that in time as a child of the most High God, you will tire of the pig pen it presents to you and call out in desperation for Your Daddy God to take it! 

     God's original intention was not for mankind to suffer. 

He did not want the ugliness of life to land in our laps the way it has by sickness, war, pain, misery, and sin. Or for people to maim or murder and to destroy one another. His intentions toward us are for  love to go with us all of our days. 

For good things and not bad.

He intends for goodness and 
mercy to follow us all the days 
of our lives, AND He intends for 
us to dwell with Him, 
in the house of the Lord forever!  


    Good is ours to experience, but if you have never had a break, if your life has been painfully poured out most of the days of your remembering then it will be more difficult to fathom that there ARE good things for you. But that is what God has for you now.

 

You can have JOY in place of SADNESS, 

DANCING in place of MOURNING. 

You can have the highest quality of life, NOW! 

Look forward in HOPE! 

Have FAITH in GOD. 

God is not mankind that He should lie. 

Let God be true and every man a liar.

This is the litmus test, and the sum of the law of God; 

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

   

To be guided, directed by God is the ultimate goal for a lover of Christ Jesus. You can be and will be as you learn to do what this passage of scripture says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 

Lean not on your own understanding. 

Acknowledge Him in ALL your ways, and 

He WILL direct your path. 

Seek the Lord with all your heart. These things take time to learn, but learn them we must!

     Trust in the Lord God, 

 no matter what! 

At first it may be that you trust Him with little pieces of your heart.

 I would say give all your heart to Him that He direct it in love.

  Do we know how to love?
Not till the God who IS love 
becomes our love.

    
 Be careful of your own thinking. We as humans are prone to vain, dark thoughts. Even to the point of thinking we are able to read the thoughts of others. We are deceived in this. We must break free from believing we know the motives of others. Only God has the whole picture. You do not. 

That's where 

TRUSTING IN THE LORD 

comes in 

RATHER THAN

 leaning to your 

OWN UNDERSTANDING
                                                 tainted with VAIN IMAGINATIONS 

of  what we think others are ALL about. 

     IF YOU ARE TRUSTING IN GOD IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT OTHERS ARE ALL ABOUT!

 Leave what others think, do, and say to Almighty God who judges hearts! 

God is AWESOME. 

He WILL NOT FAIL YOU!

   And when it comes to 

ACKNOWLEDGING HIM IN ALL YOUR WAYS, 

Guess what? 

Even those ways of ours that 

are less than stellar! 

Talk with Him about those things. He is the best and most trustworthy friend you can possibly find or have! 
He does not chide us for our mistakes and weaknesses.

GOD IS OUR HELP!