Obedience

“Obedience”

Obedience starts as a child, when our parents ask us to do something and we learn the word NO, it seems to come so easily to us. Our parents strive to teach us right from wrong and how truthfully we don’t get a choice, we are going to do what they say or we are going to get our little bottoms spanked, or even worse we will lose one of our favorite games or have to go to bed early. This is what I remember as a child. We were taught to respect our elders, and most importantly that a child is to be seen not heard.

I wonder if we can even recall the number of times we were told to stop or come here right now growing up. I know now as an adult all this obedience taught me something valuable, as all thru life we have to be obedient to someone. For me it’s the learning process of being obedient to the most important person and that is Jesus Christ. I was blessed growing up to have parents who kept us in church so that we could be taught to love God, or even what stuck to my heart more was that Jesus loves me. As I grew and matured and got to study the bible more with some understanding I ran across a scripture that really speaks of obedience and that is Genesis 22:8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Abraham is a beautiful example of obedience to his Father. He was tested by God to the limit of obedience. God called his name, “Abraham.” Abraham stopped and replied, “Here I am, Lord” Then God instructed Abraham to take his only son to Moriah. There Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering on one of the mountains. I just wonder what Abraham thought. This was a son whom he loved so much, see Isaac was the son of Sarah, who had prayed and ask God for years for a child, and not God is asking Abraham to offer him up. But you know Abraham knew God intimately, he had a personal relationship with God, so he trusted that if this is what God wanted he would have to be obedient. He knew that he and Sarah had experience the love God had for them when he gave them Isaac in their later years of life. And if God now wanted him as a sacrifice, who was he to keep him from God.

Early in the morning after God had spoken to Abraham, He took Isaac, saddled up his donkey, and along with two servants headed up to the mountain in Moriah. After cutting enough wood for the burn offering, they set out as God had told him. “On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants; Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you” (Genesis 22:5, emphasis added).

“We will worship. We will come back.” Abraham believed God, his trust in God was assured and he kept moving ahead in obedience to God. Can you even imagine what was going thru the servants or Isaacs mind at this time. Where was the sacrifice? Neither the servants nor Isaac asked. “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife (verse 6). Isaac obviously wasn’t a small child, he had to of been big enough to carry heavy wood up a mountain, so maybe in his teen years. As father and son walked up the mountain Isaac said to his father, ‘Father? ‘Yes my son, ‘Abraham replied. ‘The fire and the wood are here, ‘Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Verse 7). I can’t even comprehend what Abraham had to be thinking. Where will we ever find a lamb up here in this vast wilderness? Get this, I love it, Abraham’s reply was. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son” (verse 8). The two of them went on together, when they reached the place God had told Abraham about, he went to work, removing the wood from Isaac’s back. He build an altar for worship and then arranged the wood on top. This was the ultimate of worshiping God-an altar built by hand and an offering of obedience.

Then Abraham went on and said, “Come,” to his son Isaac, and he placed him on top of the wood and bound him on the altar. Tears as I write this, I can’t even imagine, and what is so amazing is that Isaac was obedient too. His father Abraham must have taught him about being obedient to him and his heavenly Father. So Isaac came to his own father who he loved and trusted. I didn’t find anything in the Bible where it speaks of anything that Isaac was thinking or saying. I don’t know, however there was Isaac bound on top of the wood that he had carried himself, he was willing to die for God that is obvious by the scripture.

Abraham with knife in had was prepared and ready. “Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” (verse 10). When an animal is being offered up to God as an offer it is bound on the altar of wood and the knife is plunged into the throat and sliced down the middle through the stomach. Abraham had lifted his arm ready to plunge the knife when the Angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven. ‘Abraham! Abraham! (Verse 11). Abraham stopped. “Do not lay a hand on the boy he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son Isaac. (verses 12-13). Can you only imagine what was going thru Isaac’s mind or Abrahams for that matter, I can, Pure Rejoicing. That mountain became known as “The Lord will Provide.” This is the name Abraham gave to it; there was no doubt in Abraham’s heart that God would provide.

If you go back to the beginning you will see that I put the words we in bold, to emphasis that from that point Abraham had no doubt in his heart that both his son and himself would return off of that mountain that day. Friends, that is Faith, and more importantly it is pure obedience. They went that day and they worshipped and they returned as was spoken.

When the angel of the Lord calls upon you, will you be obedient and come? Is your trust in God really as strong as it needs to be today? When called will you stop and trust for the Lord to provide for you, would you come to His altar today and lay down all your problems, worries, sufferings before Him and trust Him with them. Take time today to worship God and trust that being obedient to Him will bring you peace. Obey His word today. If you don’t have

A heart after Christ, it’s not too late, if you are reading this, please take just a few minutes to ask God into your heart, ask for His guidance and let Him know you are ready to be obedient my friends. Read this in the Bible and read the following scriptures as well…Galatians 4:28, Hebrews 11:17-19.

Let Gods strength and wisdom land in your heart today.

Sensitivity

Today, has been such a sad day for me, I have cried my eyes out and don’t know which direction to turn. It has been one disappointment after another. I have been in constant prayer for friends and family, there seems to be so much pain and sickness going around. I want to be a blessing to all and just reach out and touch those that are sick and make it go away. I want the lost to find their way to God. And, today has just been one of those days that I can’t seem to help anyone, including myself. I reach out to God for guidance today, a touch for my spirit and my soul. I am just so sensitive today, and I have let it hurt me. This is why I have chosen to get into God’s word on this subject today. I know I can’t be alone in this world when it comes to being sensitive.


Sensitivity is a wonderful thing as long as it is not misdirected. We should be sensitive to the physical and spiritual needs of others. We should be sensitive to our personal needs. It is a wonderful thing to see Christians sensitive to their problems. This is what I do know, but why can’t I get a grip on it today? Our feelings are like red lights hanging in front of us in life. When we began to become sensitive with jealousy, hurt feelings, and a feeling of rejection these are red lights lighting up telling us that we have not got our lives properly focused

In Matthew chapter 21 verse 21 thru 28 we find a story that I just love. I feel this is the story God would want me to share with you.

21. Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying; Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

If you notice in this story God didn’t answer the woman right away, but she chose to stay and not run away. Would you be able to do that? Most of us would just stick our tail between our legs and run as fast as we could. When Christ did not answer, his disciples struck at her feelings. They said, "Send her away; for she crieth after us." This would have been enough to send most of us away with wounded feelings. But, did she leave? No, her need was too great to let Christ's disciples stand in her way. She would not let them rob her of blessings needed. I have goose bumps as I write this for I know myself I let Satan take hold of me today and steal some joy that didn’t belong to him. Would you stay or leave? If you, like this woman, knew your needs and why you came, you would remain in spite of what they said. If you turned your back because your feelings were hurt, would you not be the one to lose?

Of course you would be and I know that God would not be pleased with the actions of any of us that would try to turn away. Are your soul and the soul of others not more important than your feelings? What did I lose today by letting Satan attack, let me tell you, I lost hours of time that I cannot get back; most importantly I lost time I could have used to help someone else who was hurting today.

We must remember that our souls are in danger, and Christ is our safe place. He is the answer to all of our needs. He is the all sufficient one.

To continue the story, Jesus said to her, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." What would you do if someone should say the blessings of the Lord are not for you? Would you get all ruffled up and leave without them? Not this woman? "Then she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me."

She didn’t back down, she continued to worship the Lord, oh the mighty faith this woman had. She could have just ran home with her feelings hurt, but she came on this day with a purpose and she withstood the attacks, she didn’t let her sensitivity get in the way of her receiving this day. All that know anything about the Bible, know that they would be lost if they couldn’t talk to our Father and get His guidance each day. Is your soul worth losing over someone hurting your feelings?

Then Jesus continues and says, "It is not meet to take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs." this woman simply said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat the crumbs."

That is saying, "I know how unworthy I am; I do not ask for anything but the crumbs." This woman obtained the mercy she sought." I can see so many crying when Jesus says this and running for the high mountain. Earlier today, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have run myself, for Satan tested me to my limits. But I knew I had to stop in my tracks and start talking to God, for I want what this woman wanted, to keep my soul intact and receive all the blessings God has to offer. It would have been so easy to let her feelings rob her and her daughter of the healing God had for her, but she didn’t’.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

Are you a quitter because you have had your feelings hurt? Are you walking by faith, even though your feelings have been hurt? Most importantly are you missing out on a healing because you are too sensitive today? Friends I hope you will do as I did today and get into God’s word when this happens to you, for in His Word I found peace and comfort today. I am not a quitter, I am God’s daughter, made in the resemblance of Him, and I give Him all the Praise and Glory.

Take a walk of faith today and give your issues including sensitivity to God. God bless each of you. I ask for a healing hand on each of you as you have read this today. May you be like this woman in Matthew and find that waiting for God is so worth the wait. Patience pays off.

Lost in a World of Pain and Suffering

Hear their cry Father! There are so many Precious Father that are lost today, homeless, hungry, sick, and they just don’t know you. They have heard about you, but they don’t know how to reach out, they are scared of the unknown.

This is a cry that I hear as I pass by people, lifeless forms just getting by, struggling to hold their heads up high. The breath that comes from within is all that is keeping them alive.

Each day just brings another disappointment to them, the cold runs through their veins as they withstand the cold temperatures and the thoughts of warm meal just angers their souls. My spouse or loved one is very ill and no one helps them, who is this one that everyone says can help us. Why hasn’t he shown his face? Why does he let this happen if he is so good?

I am worthless, , useless human garbage that has been thrown out. I do little or nothing to get by anymore. I was kicked out by family, I have been disowned. I opened the door and in came sin, it looked so good, I haven’t been able to let it go.

If this is you or you know someone who is going thru this scenario? There is an old saying that goes, "What you don’t know can’t hurt you."

What you don’t know can hurt you. Ignorance is not always bliss. This is the case in many areas of life but it is especially true when referring to the things of God. What you don’t know about God can hurt you!

Yet it seems these days that less and less is known about God and His word and people care less and less about each other. It is so much easier to just keep walking than to stop and lend a helping hand.

Solomon said in Proverbs 8:10 that one should take instruction in wisdom and knowledge even before he seeks silver and gold. In the next chapter of Proverbs, chapter 9, verse 10 he said that "knowledge of the Holy One is the beginning of understanding." Thus, we conclude from his words that one who doesn’t know about God hasn’t even begun to understand what life is about.

My precious Brothers and Sisters, please allow me to introduce you to my best friend, JESUS CHRIST! GOD LOVES YOU AND IS SEEKING TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to remove the barrier of sin." (1 John 4:10)

God loves you and planned a wonderful, full life for you. He wants to enter a personal and intimate relationship with you that will include inner peace, happiness, guidance in your life and power to fulfill His special plan He has for your life.

SIN HAS CREATED A BARRIER BETWEEN MAN AND GOD, this happened in the beginning with Adam and Eve, but my friend, God didn’t stop loving us.

“All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

JESUS CHRIST came to remove the barrier between God and us.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)



You see, God so loved us that He stepped out of eternity into time and became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life as a man and thus qualified to die for the sins of the world. He then willingly died in our place to purchase a pardon for sins and satisfy the demands of His own perfect justice. When He did, He tore down the barrier of sin that separated us. See my friends this is TRUE love. He is always thinking about you and me. He wants the best, He wants you, and it’s so easy my friends. Jesus Christ has removed every barrier that stood between you and God except one; you must receive the pardon He purchased for you by an act of your will. You see, a pardon is not a pardon until it is received. There is a pardon with your name on it in heaven, but you must receive it to make it valid.

It is not a matter of how good you are, or even how bad you are. The issue is, will you talk to God and tell him you receive the pardon he purchased for you. He wants you to come just as you are and confess your sins.

It’s up to you my friends; YOU can change your eternal destiny right now. Wherever you are, just bow your head and tell God you receive His pardon for your sins. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your life and begin to give you a new heart with new desires. He will come into your life and bring a new power and motivation for living you never dreamed possible.

Jesus gave us this invitation, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

It is this simple, just invite Jesus into your heart today and start your new journey.

What can you do to make God smile?

Have you ever just sat and wondered if God smiles at things you do in your life? David in Psalms was one who always wanted to make God smile; He was always looking at ways to make God smile. When was the last time you tried to make God smile for something you have done? David was a man who was after Gods own heart. Psalm119: 135 make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.



David was one who felt Gods smile upon Him. What can you and I do to have God smile down on us?


God smiles when we love Him with all our heart and put him first in our lives.


Making God Number 1 in our life is not necessarily an easy thing to do because many things come to crowd out our commitment to Him. We have to choose to follow Jesus. We have to choose to not allow the cares of our life to crowd Him out. Satan will work hard against this, he will tell you that you don’t need church, that you don’t need to be around other Christians. Satan will play with your mind. God sees this and will work for you if you are putting Him first and making wise decisions. You do need church, Bible, Christians to surround you. God gives each of us special abilities and expects us to be faithful in using what we’ve been given. If we use these to the best of our ability and follow Him, He will surely smile down on us.


Knowing that Our Lord’s coming gives me a real reason to smile; the joy He brings lasts forever, it’s not temporary like the things Satan will throw at you. God smiles when we love Him wholeheartedly, He smiles when we put Him first, God smiles when we trust Him fully, God smiles when we praise Him and lift Him up, God smiles when we receive His joy and spread it to others.


Will you make pleasing God a bigger part of your life and find that making Him smile will in turn make your heart soar with happiness. We glorify God by loving him, by obeying him, by trusting him and walking with him. We honor God when we have faith and trust in him, when we love him, and when we truly desire to know him, obey him and please him in all that we do. We were created to glorify God, enjoy him and walk with Him. When we glorify God and honor God, we get closer to him and enjoy him immensely. God is really pleased and rejoices over us when we glorify him and live for him. This is what makes God smile…


Keep smiling my friends and give God all the Glory so He in turn smiles back at you.

Jesus loves His Children

Gods Comfort at the time of Sadness

As of lately I have found so many people who are sad, broken hearted or just tired. Life has thrown them so many curve balls and the sadness is overwhelming them. Each day as I try to reach out to those that are sad and sick I have found difficulty in doing so in the manner in which I want to. It took some stiff looking at myself to realize why I haven’t been my best, I had to let go of issues that I knew God wasn’t happy with me for, and in one case I had to let a friend go, because I knew this friendship wasn’t what I needed to stay in a relationship with God and do work for Him. Sometimes our own sadness comes from our inner soul and the thoughts that we have when we are sinning and we know it.

This afternoon I took a walk around my house, it was a beautiful winter day, with the sun shining and a mild wind blowing. As I was reflecting on a sermon I had heard from Joel Osteen this morning I realized what I had been doing to myself and why I wasn’t finding a peace that I needed. As I walked I was asking God for forgiveness for my sins and thanking Him for all that He has blessed me with. His presence was with me today, my head was turned up quickly as I heard His voice, it was simple, do you see the wind my daughter? I responded no Lord I don’t, do you feel the wind my daughter? Yes Lord I surely do, then know my daughter that I am like the wind, you don’t see me, but I am always there with you, seek me and you will feel my presence just as you feel the wind. Tears as I write this down on paper, for I have known sadness and I have fault off making changes in my life and giving up what I know was wrong, but today I knew I had to ask God to deliver me from this sadness before I let Satan take over my heart. Yes sadness will do that. God showed me today again, just how much He loves me.

There are so many people that for one reason or the other, are sad, alone, and are in need of comfort. We tend to ignore the sad, thinking to ourselves who wants to be bothered with their depression, let’s find someone who is happy. When a person is in a desperate need of comfort we should reassure them to keep hope and faith in their hearts and let them know they aren’t alone, that maybe we don’t have the comfort they need but we surely know someone who does, and then tell them about Jesus. You don’t have to guilt them for being sad, we all have been at one time or another, but we do need to let them know that Jesus loves them and is there for them.


Jeremiah 29 :( 11-13)11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.


Psalm 34:17-20 (KJV) 17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.


Philippians 4:19 (KJV) 19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.


Those are all scriptures from the Bible that are to comfort us when we are sad, to let us know that we are loved and are never alone.


Did you know sadness was first seen in the very beginning of the bible, fall of mankind (Genesis 3), when Eve ate of the fruit that she wasn’t supposed to, and then Adam followed? The serpent had told her it was ok, they both disobeyed God which would bring sadness to us all for our lives, because now women would suffer during childbirth and men would suffer thru the thorns and thickets to provide food. So my friend know that sadness started early, but thru it all Jesus never left Adam and Eve just as He hasn’t left us. He loved them and He loves us. It is up to you if you want to turn your sadness upside down. Choose God and you will find that the sadness will dissipate. God is so happy to love you and get you through the difficult times; I hope you will allow Him too.

I will be a friend who will not run away when you are sad, but will try to give you words of encouragement, so my friends, know that I too am here if you need me, for I will pray and give your problems to God and encourage you to do so too.






Choose Gods (Son) shine over Satan’s sadness and tears!

"Purity"

I think of the White Robe of Christ when I see these beautiful flowers; they say purity to me. 

There is no purity like that of God.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;

These flowers are grown under special care of people who specialize in their growth under the right temperatures and nurturing, just as we grow under the one who specializes in our growth and He has been nurturing us since before we were born as He created us in His likeness. In the beginning we had hearts that were pure and snow white as these flowers, however as you see in the second picture some stain evolved when colors were mixed, just as we became stained when Adam and Eve were mixed, as they sinned, we became stained.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul says, ". . . Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit. . . "

Genesis 34 teaches us about the need to maintain spiritual purity, how to maintain spiritual purity and how not to respond to spiritual impurity. Our beliefs and thoughts have to remain pure if we are to be with Jesus one day.

(Psalm 18:26) With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Ezekiel 36:25-27(KJV) 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you and heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Jesus stands for purity, He is there to cleanse your soul, spirit and heart if you only ask and give your life to Him. He is so worthy my friends. The next time you look into the puffy white clouds or see a beautiful white flower, or a new born baby, think of what God stands for, and what He wants for you. It is His beauty that stands before us. Jesus is amazing, let Him in.

“God is the Answer, It’s never too late”

If you want results, do not ask God to deal with the devil for you. Just as God told Moses to drive out the inhabitants of the land (Numbers 33:52), He instructs you to drive out the demons or evil spirits (Mark 16:17). "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).



Are you having difficulty getting Satan off your back? Is he jumping at you every which way you turn, if so, say this simple prayer?


Satan, in the Name of Jesus By the blood of Jesus and through the power of the cross, I bind you and command you to get out of my life. Get out of my home Get out of my family Get out of my body Get out of my mind Get out of my spirit, out of my finances. Forgiveness is mine, Joy is mine, Peace is mine Salvation is mine, Health is mine Prosperity is mine. It's all mine. In the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus Christ Lord, I repent and curse you Satan, in Jesus Name and Blood, Amen!


Mark 16:17-18 (KJV) Mark 16:17-18 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.


There are all kinds of things that tempt us, hurt us, and confuse us. The devil loves nothing more than using these things to keep us down so he can have the upper hand! Yet God has given us everything we need to keep the devil in his place, beginning with the Word of God. To win over the enemy and live in victory, we must do more than know His Word - we must put it into action and live it daily! You are in control of who controls you, not Satan; it’s up to you to walk a life for God, God wants to bless you.


It is a time in all of our life’s to put Satan in His place, to use spiritual warfare on Him, and praise our heavenly Father and get back to the basics of studying the real word of God, the King James version of the Bible, Where God’s word is still in red. Like I said before Satan will attack us, but we have to put a stop to this wrestling around with him and trust in God’s word as it states in Ephesians 6:12-13(KJV) 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.


It’s never too late to serve God……Get Satan off your back today, don’t wait another second.


God bless you my friends.

This flower reminds me of God’s Beauty and yet the washed out stains of His blood that He shed for us.  Picture taken by Brenda Redmond at the Van Wingerden Nursery in Mills River NC