THE OLD PATHS

This is a refreshing look at the good 'ole days that it would seem are only memories for those who had the privilege to live and experience them.  Oh, how I miss them.  I suppose to the younger generation, they must sound boring and obsolete; even funny.  To those of us who knew this life, it is precious.  I share for those who may enjoy the journey back in time when life really was good! ~Betty

THE OLD PATHS 

 I liked the old paths, when 

 Moms were at home. 

 Dads were at work. 

 Brothers went into the army. 

 And sisters got married BEFORE having children! 

  

Crime did not pay; 

 Hard work did; 

 And people knew the difference. 

Moms could cook; 

Dads would work; 

Children would behave.. 

Husbands were loving; 

Wives were supportive; 

And children were polite.

 Women wore the jewelry; 

And Men wore the pants. 

Women looked like ladies; 

Men looked like gentlemen; 

And children looked decent. 

People loved the truth, 

And hated a lie; 

They came to church to get IN, 

Not to get OUT! 

  

Hymns sounded Godly; 

Sermons sounded helpful; 

Rejoicing sounded normal; 

And crying sounded sincere. 

  

Cursing was wicked; 

Drinking was evil; 

and divorce was unthinkable. 

  

The flag was honored; 

America was beautiful; 

And God was welcome! 

We read the Bible in public; 

Prayed in school; 

And preached from house to house 

To be called an American was worth dying for; 

To be called a Christian was worth living for; 

To be called a traitor was a shame! 

Sex was a personal word. 

Homosexual was an unheard of word, 

And abortion was an illegal word.

Preachers preached because they had a message; 

And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY! 

Preachers preached from the Bible; 

Singers sang from the heart; 

And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life; 

Salvation meant a changed life; 

Following Christ led to eternal life. 

  

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God; 

Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord; 

Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus; 

And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you! 

  

Laws were based on the Bible; 

Homes read the Bible; 

And churches taught the Bible. 

  

Preachers were more interested in new converts, 

Than new clothes and new cars. 

God was worshiped; 

Christ was exalted; 

and the Holy Spirit was respected. 

Church was where you found Christians 

on the Lord's day, rather than in the garden, 

on the creek bank, on the golf course, 

or being entertained somewhere else. 

  

I still like the old paths the best!  

  "The Old Paths" was written by a retired minister 

who lives in Tennessee. 

ONLY WHAT'S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST

Only One Life

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ‘twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

                                                          ~poem written by C.T. Studd – missionary

Dear Folks, when will we believe this?  
"Only one life, ’twill soon be past, 
Only what’s done for Christ will last."
The clock is ticking....
~Betty

PRIORITY #1

Theological Values

1.       God is Creator, Savior, Sustainer, Lord

2.      The Bible is God’s Word without error, never failing, never changing.

3.      Prayer is seeking His power, seeking His provision, seeking His purpose, giving Him praise.

4.      Evangelism is sharing the Gospel, supporting missions, meeting needs.

5.      Discipleship is teaching, training, mentoring, coaching.

6.      Stewardship is giving time, talents, treasures.

7.      Fellowship is nurturing relationships, encouraging believers, meeting needs, strengthening the church.

Operational Values

    Following Christ’s example, we will:

1.       Seek and follow His direction in our lives.

2.      Preach, teach, and apply the Word to transform lives.

3.      Continually pray and seek His will and purpose in our lives.

4.      Reach the world through missions and evangelism.

5.      Baptize, teach, and nurture believers.

6.      Cheerfully return to God that which He has entrusted to us.

7.      Commit to love one another and nourish our relationships in Christ.

Purpose Statement

   The purpose of First Baptist Church is to exalt the Savior, evangelize the lost and equip the saints.

Vision Statement

   Impacting our world with the Gospel of Christ.

I vote for and stand for ALL the above statements and values; and had they been Priority 1 on the report from our Long Range Committee, I think the discussion would have gone differently; and had the priorities listed under those statements not been listed as priorities but as recommendations or considerations for the future, the discussion would have gone differently. 

The vote last night was “to accept the Report of the Committee.”  My opinion and my vote was against the wording of the priorities of the report.  I have not listed the priorities on purpose.

God’s Will

We prayed for God’s will before discussion and voting, so should we accept the results to be His will?  At first thought, I say “yes” because it is done and “God does work all things together for good…to those who love God and are called according to His purpose...to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (Romans 8:28-29)  Those who love God and are conformed to the image of His Son will put action to that report according to the virtues and statements listed first. 

The problem – We are self-willed at heart!  We are not the church that began at Pentecost with the out pouring of the Holy Spirit of God.  They were ALL in one accord.  There was way too much difference in the voting to say we came anywhere near united.

My prayer and desire is that we make Priority #1 to put into action the virtues and statements listed first and The Holy Spirit will be evident and we will be in unity seeking Jesus, The Head for His will.  We can begin by reading John Chapter 17 again.

Shared prayers of others:

O Lord, the wonder of being one with You as You are one with The Father!  Grant us this oneness for Your glory, and to that end lift up the light of Your countenance upon us and give us peace.

Lord, I know that You have asked The Father to make us all One so I have to believe it’s possible and Your will.  Oh, how I desire it, too.  What am I doing that prevents it?  Cleanse me and fit me for Your holiness.  Protect me from the evil one as You also prayed so that I can be filled only with Your Spirit revealing Your Presence and bringing You glory.

Lord, help us to turn to You; forgive us for turning away.  Amen.

WHEN IT PLEASED GOD...

"But when it pleased God...

to reveal his Son in me..."

Galatians 1:15-16

The above words are from Paul the Apostle giving his testimony about his life and how God revealed Himself and His created plan and purpose for Paul's life.  You might like reading the whole story in chapter 1 of Galatians.  Paul had an amazing life.  He had a unique encounter with meeting Jesus and his life was changed forever.  He did something quite different than most of us do when we meet Jesus; he went on a personal retreat to be alone and get to know God.  It was about 3 years before Paul presented himself to the other Apostles in Jerusalem and began his ministry.

This Scripture has brought me to desiring that same kind of intimacy with God.  I think this is when God has great pleasure in those who come to Him through Jesus and their lives are changed.  He sets us apart to spend time with Him getting to know Him personally.  This has to be a great time of prayer and soaking in God's Words in an uninterrupted atmosphere.

Prayer is the vital connection with God.  John 15:7 tells us that prayer releases the power of God to those who ask.  (I would suggest you read the whole Scripture; "asking" does have conditions.)  For the point of this blog and to lift you up to reach a greater relationship with God, I suggest that prayer should be a delight not a duty.

I have been greatly influenced by the words of a man who has inspired great spiritual minds; his books were written after he died!  He was also a great praying man, and his prayers have inspired me the most.  His name is Oswald Chambers, and you will probably hear me refer to his writings and prayers more than once.

Today I want to share one of his prayers that inspired me in connection with this Scripture:

O Lord, enchain me to Yourself with great bond of adoring love;

enwheel me around with Your Providence for Your purposes;

enlarge me until I am more and more capable of being of use to You.

Breathe on me until my frame is knit to Your thought.

Lift me until I see Your face and trust Your Almightiness

without fear or insidious unbelief.  ~O.C.

This is my prayer as I was inspired for a closer relationship with my God as well:

Lord, as O.C. asked, so do I.

Breathe on me until my life is knit to Your thought.

Lift me until I see Your face and trust Your Almightiness without fear or doubt.

Amaze me for Your glory!

Etch Your image as a permanent identifying visual aid so that I can

reflect Your love and merit Your pleasure.

Thrill me so that I can thrill You... ~b.n.

MIRROR < > MIRROR, GLORY < > GLORY

“…a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord,

the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit,

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,

 are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,

just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:16~18

By being filled with the Spirit we are transformed, and by beholding we become mirrors.  Never allow anything to obscure the concentration on God and abiding in Him.  Glory is the Person, Power and Presence of God ~ WOW!

O Lord, I ask that You would keep me alert to good that robs the best and to the things that interrupt my concentration on You.  I want so much to be filled with Your Spirit and transformed to Your likeness.  I want to behold Your glory and be changed by it. Thank You for living in me, helping me to become all that reveals Your glory.

BORN AGAIN…ONE WITH GOD!

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3

Jesus said:  “…that they all may be one, even as we are one…”

John 17:21-22

             

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest states:  “Being born again from above is a perennial, perpetual and eternal beginning; a freshness all the time in thinking and in talking and in living, the continual surprise of the life of God…Are you drawing your life from any other source than God Himself?  If you are depending upon anything but Him, you will never know when He is gone.  Being born of the Spirit means much more than we generally take it to mean.  It gives us a new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything by the perennial supply of the life of God.”

 O.Chambers Prayer:

O Lord, breathe on me till I am one with You in the temper of mind and heart and disposition.  Unto You do I turn.  Again, how completely I realize my lostness without You.

My Prayer added to O.C. ~

Fresh!  New!  One with God!  It all sounds like a fantasy and yet that’s what You say, Lord.  Oh, make it so in me – make it real.  Holy Spirit freshen my mind and heart to be new and in tune with You – fill me with Your life so that we can be one – make me fit to be Yours only.

Are we freshly born this minute or are we stale, raking in our minds for something of our own to do?  We become one with God when His Holy Spirit comes to live within us at the moment of being born again by faith…it is not by anything we can do!

Born Again ~ A new breathe of being!

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME?

I have come to learn that for me the most important thing is to give my very best…

Good-Better-Best never let it rest;

until the Good is Better,

and the Better is the Best!

Those words were given to me when I was in elementary school by one of my teachers; I have never forgotten them.

I was a good kid.  I didn’t like the consequences.  I only had two spankings in my entire life, but they left an impression that made them sufficient.  I was content with good and moments of better and best.  When I became a Christian in 1959 my desire was to be the best Christian I could be.  It wasn’t long before good was enough when compared to others. 

Twenty years later a personal and spiritual crisis brought me to examining my life.  Along the way, my goodness met temptations I was not strong enough to resist, and I fell.  My good was not enough; it never is!  I began to see that being content with doing good had kept me from the best that God had planned and created me for; and they are lost, I can’t get them back.  As I confessed my sins, I desired a new life and prayed:  “LORD, I WANT TO BE THE BEST ME FOR YOU THAT I CAN BE.”  I emphasized every word because I no longer wanted to be better than anyone, I just want to know that I can be the best “me…for God” fulfilling my purpose as He created “me.”

What I didn’t know when I prayed that prayer was that God would take me seriously and started the wheels turning to bring me what I had asked.  I had expected Him to just zap me into this wonderful person.   To my shock and disappointment, He began to remove EVERYTHING in my life that wasn’t my best for Him! 

After two years of living in a depression and wanting to die every day, I realized that I was tired of being miserable and asked God to make me bloom in the place where He had planted me.   He began to work EVERYTHING into my life that I needed to be my best for Him.

Twenty years of breaking, guiding, teaching, training, and working EVERYTHING in my life together for Him, I know Romans 8:28 is more than a promise God fulfills, it is a lifestyle to those who love God.

Don’t get the wrong idea by that statement.  I know that God is in control of EVERYTHING and He is working it all together for good, but I also struggled with His ways.  The last thing to let go of is SELF!  We like to do our own good, better, best expecting Him to bless our efforts.  Our best for Him will always bring HIM glory!  New examination:  Am I doing my best…for Him or for me?

About 5 or 6 years ago, I watched Facing the Giants movie and it had a life-changing effect on me.

The main revelation was that I realized I had never given God my best; I have never given until I could give no more!  The characters in this movie demonstrated and emphasized so beautifully that doing your very best until you can do no more was doing it to honor God, whether you win or lose; whether He gives you what you want or not!

My best for Him has become my very best for His glory!  “Whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(I Corinthians 10:31)

I can only give my very best by the power of The Holy Spirit.  When I have done all that I can and I need help, then if I ask Him, He will help me to give my very best.  He expects me to do all that I can, and He will do what I can’t!  It will ALWAYS give Him glory, and I am always to praise Him by acknowledging that my best was because He is my Helper!  (Hebrews 13:5-6)

I recently watched another movie that reinforced giving your very best also.   Christmas Cottage is about Thomas Kinkade’s beginning with painting.  His teacher told him to never paint a picture that was not his very best!  His best was showing light and love with love as the brightest light of all.

I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.

“My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed,

but that now as ever I may do honour to Christ in my own person by fearless courage.”

(Philippians 1:20 Moffat)

Lord, thank You for Your Spirit living in me.  Make it a reality in my life that I can be absolutely and entirely for You and You alone.  I want nothing to keep me from doing exactly what You have planned.  My absolute very best is Your Spirit living in me accomplishing my purpose as You created and gifted me.  May we breathe together for Your Glory.

WHO WILL GO?

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?

Then said I, Here am I, send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah was in the presence of God and he overheard God speaking and realized that there was nothing else for him but to say, in conscious freedom, “Here am I, send me.”  It seems to me that when we “draw near to God and He draws near to us…be still and know that I am God,” that our hearing becomes more sensitive and we spontaneously desire God’s will.

My Prayer:

Lord, I want to be among the few called that hear You asking for volunteers to Your service.  I want my relationship to be so intimate that I hear Your whispers.  Here I am, send me according to Your plans.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ALONE WITH GOD?

“When He(Jesus) was alone the twelve…asked of Him…”

“When they were alone, He(Jesus) expounded all things to His disciples.”

Mark 4:10; 34 [emphasis mine]

When I get alone with God, I usually want something from Him!

I have come to realize that Jesus does not take us alone and expound things to us all the time; He expounds things to us when we are ready to understand them.  Why we aren’t ready on any given day is because we have too much of “us” in the way.  We usually come to him when our little world has been upset and we begin to fuss to God about our woes.  We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves – we are so conceited, and it is usually the last thing we let go of!  The only One Who understands us is God.  If we ever get a glimpse of what we look like in His sight, we will never say “I am so unworthy!”  Reality of God and myself brings a revelation of what is humble and what is pride.  We can pridefully say “I am unworthy,”  but when I get alone with God and see myself truthfully, I know I am unworthy without expressing it.  Pride or conceit will keep us from being intimately alone with God.  He will bring us to facing the painful truth of ourselves so that we can truly be alone with Him.

When God gets me alone with Him, I want more of HIM!

I have come to realize that God surprises me with mountaintop retreats filled with revelation when I least expect it.  It is usually after He has broken my heart; after he has brought me to seeking Him about some affliction, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, broken friendship or rejection; after I have stopped questioning “why” and put all my affections (everything that takes my focus off Him; things I don’t want to let go of; idols) on the altar of sacrifice and letting go.  After we put “self” to death in our life then the questions stop and all we want is more of Him.  He is delighted with us and His Spirit can now take us into intimacy where He expounds His Love and reveals Himself so that I now understand with an understanding that cannot be expressed.

Getting alone with God can only be a delight when we only want to delight in Him!

My prayer:  Thank You, Lord, for knowing me and Your timing for when I am ready to be made fit for Your purpose.  It takes so long because we are so self-focused.  Breaking of “self” is so hard but I want to be made new; refined and recreated into Your purposed life.  What do I need to see today; how do I need to offer myself – here I am.  Make my “I” into “HIM!”

Oh how I love it when You make our alone time, Lord.  I just don’t want it to end; I want to sit in Your Presence and talk, and learn and soak in Your Love.  Life stops and Heaven becomes real.  These moments are so cherished they cannot be shared – and yet anyone can know it.  Thank You for loving me.

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ that liveth in me.”  

Galatians 2:20

THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING...

Today I'd like to just share some Scripture that speaks so well without comment.  Read and be blessed.

         

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil?

I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the human heart; 

yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

"God will bring into judgment

both the righteous and the wicked,

for there will be a time for every activity,

a time to judge every deed."

Ecclesiastes 3:1~17

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, 

to those who are the called according to His purpose...

to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Romans 8:28-29

Gracious Lord,

Consume me with Your Spirit and Your Word and keep me thrilled to continually fellowship in Your Presence.  I want to stay soaked in the joy of Your plans for me and to be satisfied.  I praise You for my life as You have it planned – protect me from anything that would interfere in giving You my very best.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for giving me true Security.  Thank You for always being with me.  Thank You for the teaching tools of the Past; the joy of the Present, and the glorious hope of the Future.  Thank You for helping me to know the Reality of Your constant Presence.  You are always Emmanuel!

ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE SAVED?

I am not saved by believing!  ~ I am already saved by Jesus’ Atonement on the cross; when I realize that (get that message) and believe it – I am saved!

I am saved by receiving!  (John 1:12)

If the emphasis is on “believing,” I will put my faith in faith not in Jesus!  We can believe anything; but what it’s based on is the importance.

Salvation is a done thing!  Jesus died for the SIN of the world  (2 Cor. 5:21)

I am saved when I realize that (learn that Jesus came and died for my sin) and believe it.

SIN has been paid for and all sinners have been issued a pardon and are free from paying for their sin!  Many haven’t got the message yet – so they are still in prison (the bondage of sin).  When they receive the message and believe it, then they can go free. (So many get the message and don’t believe it!)

Repentance is the act of leaving the prison never to return.  Even though you can sin again, you never go back to prison for it because it’s already paid for!! – but you do have to confess to receive forgiveness for that sin since you were saved (I John 1:9); however, some sins have consequences that can’t be undone even though they can be forgiven…ex. murder or fornication or adultery that produces a baby.  (Of course, I realize that today abortion has been made an option, but that’s an option that produces some other consequences that one must bear!)

But the righteousness that is by faith says...“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.   For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Believe...receive...celebrate Life!

IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!

While listening to the radio one morning, I heard Woodrow Kroll say this:  "Every election year we hear the cries of change. And it's true, our nation needs to make some changes. But not the kind the political leaders provide.  I'm talking about life change. The kind of change that happens as a result of people engaging God by reading the Bible.  Here at Back to the Bible, we exist to promote Bible reading. And we have a real urgency about our ministry plans because studies show that if things keep going the way they are, within the lifetime of your children and grandchildren, the United States will be a post-Christian society.

Did you catch that?  A post-Christian society.  That means a God-less society.

The Bible is under attack in this country. Now's the time for some real change." 

After I heard those words, I was 'awakened' with an alarming sense that I must do something!  But what?  I began to pray and ask The Lord to speak to me.  He started pouring out His words.  The first thing I heard Him say was:  "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  The NIV says "at hand" is "near!"  (Matthew 4:17)   He continually sent prophets to His people telling them to "repent and turn from their wicked ways" in the Old Testament.  He told us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:10, 23; Psalm 14:3)   Don't think of others; think of yourself and examine these Scriptures...and then repent.  Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30-31; John 13:34-35; I Corinthians 12. 

Many have been referring to 2 Chronicles 7:14 of late in conjunction with the USA. I would like to point out that the FIRST prayer we need to pray is:  (Psalm 51)

Lord, forgive us for turning from You and Your Word; forgive us for becoming self-centered.  Cleanse us and create in us clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us - Your Holy Spirit to empower us and unite us together; restore unto us the joy of Your salvation by obeying Your words and teaching transgressors and sinners so that they can be converted." 

Then, we need to seek His face and humbly pray...for His will to be done.  Take a good look at the Scripture before and after;  remember that this is referring to the other country that claims His Name:   13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land...  19 "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.' " 

We must repent.  Our whole nation is going to be judged because of God's people not repenting!!  We can't pray for our nation until we repent- sin separates us from God hearing! 

After fulfilling His purpose for coming and dying (giving His blood as offering for our sins) and rising from the dead, He returned to Heaven where He is preparing a Heavenly Home for all those who have become children of God.  He told us this in John 14.  At His ascension, he said:  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (Acts 1:8)

One of the reasons for the Holy Spirit is empowering us to be His witnesses everywhere we go!  Our bodies are His Temple (His dwelling place) - He works through us!  I might add that He never forces us to do His Word, He just gives us His very own power to do it!                          

Don't listen to the devil - there is nothing to fear when honoring and giving Him glory and bringing others into the Kingdom.

Finally, I challenge each of us to get fit for His coming.  We are to be found "blameless." 

Genesis 17:1; 22:18 ~  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said:  "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless...and be blessed."

Ephesians 1:4 ~ For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.

"And may the very God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 

I Thessalonians 4:23 Amplified Bible

What can we do?  PRAY and  Repent.  PRAY and Turn to God and His Word.  PRAY and  Release the Holy Spirit.  PRAY and  Love one another. (This really is the fulfilling of the whole Law because when we love one another we are loving Him - we are His Body!)  PRAY and Witness (tell everyone you can what you know about Him and His words.)

It's time for God's people to wake up!  

In HIS Love I send you His blessings,

Betty Nunes

*I shared these thoughts on June 12, 2008!  Sadly, we have gone through another election, and I personally don't see that we, God's people, have awakened to the truth of where we really are and how accountable we are for the condition of our nation.  When will we repent and take a stand for The Only One Who Counts - and He counts for Eternity!

LIVING LIKE JESUS IN 2013

(This is a very good suggestion, so I thought I would share this devotional by Roy Lessin at DaySpring.)
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 NLT

How did Jesus live each day? Is it really possible for us to live as He lived?

Here are five things to consider:

The first is His dependency.

So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way. John 5:19 AMP

Jesus lived each day dependent upon His Father. He did not live independently, think independently, or act independently of His Father. He spoke what His Father wanted Him to say and He did what His Father wanted Him to do. He received from His Father all He needed for each day.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5 AMP

We can also live each day in complete dependency upon the Lord. He is our strength, our life, our sufficiency, and He is the source of all we need.

The second is His faithfulness.

Think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.  For He was faithful to God, who appointed Him. Hebrews 3:1-2 NLT

Jesus lived each day in faithfulness to what His Father called Him to do. Jesus stayed true to His Father’s plan and will for His life. He didn’t drift away from it or follow it half-heartedly.

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23 NKJV

As followers of Jesus Christ we can be faithful to what God has called us to do and do His will whole-heartedly.

The third is His obedience.

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 NKJV

Jesus lived each day in obedience to His Father’s will. Jesus not only obeyed His Father, but He obeyed Him without delay. He obeyed willingly and joyfully.

So you must live as God’s obedient children. 1 Peter 1:14 NLT

Obedience to God’s will in our lives is a choice we can make each day. As God’s children, He trains us to be obedient because He knows what is best for us. It is through our obedience that we know the meaning of a joy-filled heart and a meaningful life.

The fourth thing is His motivation.

And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. John 8:29 NKJV

The reason Jesus lived the way He did was because He wanted to fully glorify and please His Father. He lived to please only His Father and have His approval.

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

The motivation of our hearts should be to please Him. There is nothing higher than that. When we live to do what is well pleasing in His sight we will know His smile of approval upon our lives.

The fifth thing is His empowering.

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.” Luke 4:14, 18 NLT

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.   Jesus lived each day in the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. All that He did in His public ministry was under the anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Ezekiel 36:27 NKJV

Be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 KJV

Since His ascension to the right hand of the Father, Jesus has made it possible for each of us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to have His power in our lives. It is by the Holy Spirit’s presence, fullness, and power that we can walk as Jesus walked and live as Jesus lived. Ask Him now to fill you, empower you, and lead you step by step into His plan and purpose for you in 2013.  ~Roy Lessin, Dayspring

GOD WANTS RELATIONSHIP

Redemption is God putting the world back the way He designed it – in relationship with Him!

He took on flesh to have blood to offer for sin so that we wouldn’t be separated.  In the beginning, sin entered and man chose to have a relationship with it!

Jesus took sin so that we could have a new relationship with God and receive righteousness. 

When redemption was completed, Jesus went back to God the Father to prepare a new dwelling place for His Bride and a new relationship with Him.

Now, our relationship is with His earthly Body – His Bride – The Church (all who have believed and received salvation from sin.)  We are His “Together Forever Family”!  We need to be loving each other because of who we are in Him.  It is clearer why Jesus said “Love God…love one another”…it is the same!  Reference Matthew 22:37-39.

O God, forgive me for knowing Your Word but not possessing it. Please change me; fill me with Your Spirit so that I can love as You love…

…with ALL my heart (with passion; my very best)

…with ALL my soul (worship and praise in all situations)

…with ALL my strength (actions and disciplines)

…my neighbor (sharing and fellowship in Your Spirit everywhere).

Teach me how to love Your Body because that is loving You!

Teach me how to praise You as an act of my Love!

Teach me how to give you my very best as an act of my Love!

Teach me how to help Your Body be a healthy Body – a healthy Body is a Loving Body!

Help us, Lord, to love one another and see that we are Loving You.

~October 7, 2013

THE DEVIL & DEMONS*

*They are not happy about this post, but I am.  I love making them miserable!

The opponents of God are angels.  Lucifer/The Devil/Satan and demons are all ANGELS.  Angels that turned against GOD!  They were created by GOD.  Imagine that!  How stupid can that plan be?  Knowing God and being spirit like God, but created by HIM, they had to know their limits and that they could not overpower THE CREATOR!

Because they are angels, they are limited in number.  They are NOT omnipresent.  They are only one spirit that can be in one place at a time.  GOD IS OMNIPRESENT and is present EVERYWHERE at ALL TIME.  Therefore, what is our problem?  We think Satan is as powerful as God; equal to God!  He, Satan, created that LIE…and all earthly creations have believed it!  It is time we heard the TRUTH and started to LIVE LIFE the way our Creator GOD intended.  We have the chance to begin with any breath!  Why do we live like we can’t defeat the devil and his demons, and ignore The Spirit of God that lives within us and has promised us He will NEVER leave us?  Why do we not believe The Truth and embrace it?

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-19

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.   Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes;   For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,  against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  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.   Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.   In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying  for all the Lord’s people.

A note about my emphasis.  This is how we battle the demons of darkness.

~Only those who have the Lord…His Holy Spirit, can stand against the devil & his angels.

~Put on the whole uniform.  Notice it never says anything about taking it off.  It should be a once for all time putting on.

~Interesting insight is that to follow these guidelines you don’t really fight!  You STAND and STAND FIRM!  It says that four times.  You stand confidently because you have the power of God with you…in you!

~WHEN, meaning it will happen so be prepared.  Be battle ready like a good soldier.

~Notice there is no armor protecting the back…you didn’t listen did you?  You are to STAND FIRM; your back is only exposed to the enemy when you turn to run!  Don’t do it!  Only those who do, allow him to “get on their back.”  It should never happen to one who has all the power of God within them!  Are you listening?

~Check your uniform and equipment.  All these are a must:  Truth, Righteousness, Good News of Peace, Faith, Salvation, The Bible, and Prayer.  Two of them are your weapons:  The Word of God which is your sword, and Prayer which is staying in touch with your Commander – The Spirit of God.  Hebrews 13:5-6 says He is with us to be our Helper and to keep us from fear.  Usually you have to ask for help…that’s what praying in the Spirit is.  As long as we don’t ask for help, He won’t interfere with our efforts; and John 15:5 says "apart from Him we can do nothing"...but fail!

You are now prepared NOT to fight…but you sure are equipped to defeat the enemy without fighting…HALLELUJAH!

MY PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

I was born.

I lived and was happy.

Death became a reality.

I questioned, why be born if only to die?

I learned the Creator had not planned it so.

His plan was for life evermore.

It was sin that caused the change.

Death became the penalty.

I read a book that gave the facts.

God loves me and He paid the price!

I chose to believe He died for my sin,

and He rose from the dead!

I am born again!

I have joy unspeakable!

Death has become an open door -

For life evermore!

~Betty Nunes

    May 6, 2001

My Precious Lord,

Oh, how I praise You for bringing me to the battlefield of my will and for the gracious liberty and security.  The battle was so long and hard and victory is so sweet.  May my life become more and more ablaze for Your glory – my absolute best for You, wrapped in Your Spirit!