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We Need Patience
“For you have need of endurance (patience) so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”(Hebrews 10:36 ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (patience). And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)
Every promise of God is “yes” and “amen” in Jesus! However, that doesn’t mean every promise is instantly realized.
Every promise RECEIVED is tried and tested. In other words, every time we receive a promise from God, that promise brings with it a test.
Huh?!
It’s like this. Say, for instance, I receive the promise “believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.” Okay, I choose to believe. I follow His word, believe, and now I’m saved. Hallelujah!
But I don’t feel saved, look saved, act saved, talk saved, or even eat saved! But His Word says I AM SAVED, if I’ve received His word, His promise.
So what keeps me, guards me, and gives me strength during such a time of testing? Patience. Endurance. Steadfastness.
Without patience, our faith isn’t strong enough to hold on to the promise. The writer of Hebrews says, “be followers of those, who through faith AND patience, inherit the promises.” As gold is tried by fire, so is our faith. And patience is the spiritual force that keeps us from burning up when the fires of testing begin to blaze.
Recently, I had a situation where my faith was tried by fire. It felt like My faith was burning up! It became so warm in me that I came close to dropping the promise just to cool off a bit.
About a year ago, I sensed the Lord directing me to write books; books to encourage, challenge, and help the Body of Christ mature. I wrote one last year, “The Power of Encouragement” which I self published. Soon after the book was completed, the Lord gave me an idea for another book, which I finished last fall.
I didn’t want to go the self-publishing route this time so I set about looking for publishers, literary agents, and the like; someone to whom I could submit my manuscript.
My, what a process! I couldn’t find anyone who appeared the slightest bit interested in reviewing my work. I became so discouraged I said to my wife one day, “I think I’m going make the manuscript free to the world! All they’ll need to do is write, requesting a free PDF file of the book.
She thought I was wrong!
What?!?! Me wrong?!?!
She told me, in so many words, I needed to trust God. So, I backed off of the idea and kept looking around for a publisher I could connect with.
4 days later I discovered a company who allowed me to submit the manuscript.
Exactly 2 weeks later I received an email from the company stating their love and excitement about my book! They wanted to publish and market it for me!
What’s more, they were a Christian company, operating on Christian principles. Plus they receive 10,000 manuscript submissions each year but only publish 4-5%! And they were interested in me!
After spending a few days talking with the company rep, praying and researching everything, the publishing process began.
I had need of patience. God doesn’t make promises without making a way for them to be fulfilled. But I almost gave up too soon!
Don’t give up on His promises! Don’t give up on God! If you are certain about His direction for you, “let patience have its perfect work in you…”
God’s Word is yes for you. Faith and patience is your yes to Him.
Amen!
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America Needs To Blush
“To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed, and they cannot hear.
They scorn the word of the Lord. They don’t want to listen at all. So now I am filled with the Lord’s fury.
Yes, I am tired of holding it in!“I will pour out my fury on children playing in the streets and on gatherings of young men, on husbands and wives and on those who are old and gray. Their homes will be turned over to their enemies, as will their fields and their wives. For I will raise my powerful fist against the people of this land,” says the Lord.
“From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. From prophets to priests,
they are all frauds. They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered.
They will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 6:10-15 NLT)Isn’t it time to seek the Lord? Isn’t it time to be ashamed of our disgusting actions? Don’t you think it’s time we learn how to blush?
“Oh, brother. Here we go again.”
Yep.
“But, brother, Jeremiah was giving the nation of Israel the “what for”! This is the United States of America, not some nation given over to idolatry.”
Oh, really? Please explain to me the difference between Israel’s love affair with everything but God and this nation’s love affair with everything but God.
No difference.
Okay, you say Israel was held to a higher standard than our nation. Since they were “God’s people” and had been “preached to” for centuries, God required more of them.
Are you sure that’s the case? This nation has been inundated with preaching! Good preaching, bad preaching, false preaching, loud preaching, quiet preaching, dry preaching, and even Godly preaching; we’ve had it all.
To whom much is, or has been, given, much is required.
I believe God is requiring the Church in America to repent of idolatry, repent of ignoring and scorning the Word of God, repent of greed, repent of living a life focused on pleasure, and repent of twisted thinking – calling evil, good, and good, evil. It’s time to stop treating people’s mortal wounds with years of humanistic counseling, and speak God’s truth into their lives.
It’s at the point in time when America the Beautiful must look into the mirror once again at her abhorrent image. How can we say we’re a Christian Nation, in God we trust, when it just isn’t so?
It’s time we let our nakedness, our lack of God’s covering and protection, be as embarrassing to us as it is to the Lord!
It’s time we learn how to blush.
Agree? Disagree? Please comment.
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The Spirit Within and Upon Me
The Spirit of God is in me to dream and upon me to do.He anoints my head with oil and my hands with fire. He establishes my words and my walk.
He enables me to run through a troop and leap over a wall. His power not only sustains me, but also makes me jealous for Him as He is for me.
By His Spirit within me, I have the wisdom to do His will on earth. With His Spirit upon me, I have supernatural, miracle working, life giving love for those around me.
His Word is like a fire, shut up in my bones. His Spirit is the fire, igniting the Word within, so when spoken it penetrates hearts, burns away sin and complacency, and unites God and His creation once again.
His Spirit restores me, transforms me, pours through me, and even “floors” me. He adores me, and I Him.
I have no fear, for His Spirit leads me. He leads me into all truth, freedom, and unity with His plans and purposes. Even though I may find myself in the valley of the shadow of death, there is nothing to fear. The Spirit of God is with me, and no weapon formed against me shall prosper.
He that is in me is greater than he who is in the world, namely, the adversary. The Spirit of Jesus has equipped me with all things pertaining to life and godliness. He didn’t leave me alone to walk this walk or talk this talk. He is an ever present God!
The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me completely free from the law of sin and death. Inside me, the Spirit is recreating me into the image of the Son. On the outside, He is giving me the strength to complete His purpose for my life. He will perfect that which concerns me.
He Who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it.
The Lord’s Kingdom IS coming! His will IS being done on earth as it is in Heaven. The Spirit of God IS moving upon the face of the deep, and deep in the souls of man.
He will not relent until all have an opportunity to know Him. He will not relent until all the earth is filled with the Glory of God.
And when my life on earth is finished, there will be others to carry on; because of the Spirit of God in me and upon me.
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The Crowd
“On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd…” (Luke 5:17 – 5:19 ESV)“Because of the crowd.” Isn’t that an interesting statement? The crowd wouldn’t, or couldn’t, get out of the way for someone to get to Jesus.
Think about the crowds you’ve heard of or been in. Crowds aren’t just some faceless blob of people blocking a doorway, screaming chants of protest. They are more than a maniacal group of caffeine drugged Black Friday shoppers running through a store at 4 a.m.
Crowds are real individuals, with hopes and dreams similar to yours. They have fears and struggles, and make good and bad decisions as they journey through life.
And sometimes they get in the way.
Although I applaud the friends of the paralytic, I can’t help but wonder something. Who was helping the crowd? See, the paralytic wasn’t the only one having difficulty reaching Jesus that day. The crowd was in the same situation! Why? They kept getting in each other’s way! Maybe they were all desperate. Perhaps they just wanted to see a miracle. Not sure…
But I do know this: someone needs to help the individuals who make up “the crowd.” Someone needs to help THEM finally make their way to Jesus. Just visiting His house every week isn’t the same thing. They need a close encounter of the best kind!
You and I are the “someone” they need.
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38 ESV)
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Sour Saints
It’s no wonder the world has the idea Christians are stupid; real losers. Christians have lived up to the world’s expectations!
I mean, they hear the “saints of God” tell people to “get saved” and get “the joy of the Lord” and “God’s peace that passes all understanding”. Yet when the world listens to the “redeemed” talk throughout everyday living, they hear them worrying, gossiping, complaining about the government, and maybe even tell a little bit of off color “jokes”. But the “holy one” will make sure they quote scripture, pray before they eat their meal, swell up in the chest as they drop their tithe check into the offering plate, and be the first to sign a petition against the neighborhood girly bar.
These “Sour Saints” can’t see what harm they’re doing. After telling their co-workers about a raunchy movie they went to see, they’ll turn right around and tell those “heathens” to get saved or go to hell (which, by the way, IS true).
These same “God fearing saints” spend their Sundays and Wednesdays collecting their “Special Humility Honors For Holy Living and Church Attendance” but can’t build a genuine relationship with a “lost person” to save their soul (or anyone else’s, for that matter). After all, one must be very cautious about who they rub shoulders with, because the Bible says to “not be unequally yoked (whatever that means) with unbelievers”, and, “don’t cast your pearls before the swine”.
I wonder if these “Sour Saints” ever considered the true impact of their “testimony”. Have they ever read Peter’s admonition: “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15 NLT)
Of course, who’s going to ask anyone to explain their joy if all the “sainted one” ever chews on is “New and Improved Sour Scriptural Candy”, purchased at the local “Christian” Book Store?
It would make me want to steer clear of those puckered up, pious prophets who haven’t any idea just how repulsive they really are!
How about you?
In case you’re a little concerned about the tone of this blog, please express your concerns in the comment section below. I’d love to dialogue with you!
God bless you!
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What Do We Really Expect?
Why do we, as Jesus followers, act so surprised, and even mad, when the world doesn’t treat us like their own?
What do we really expect? What do we really want?
Have we forgotten something Jesus said?
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my Father.” (John 15:18-23 NLT)
No one likes to be hated. No one enjoys being rejected or persecuted.
But what can we really expect?
We can’t win their love or appreciation by acting like them; not and stay connected to the Spirit who sets us apart!
We cannot divide our allegiance between the two kingdoms. We belong to one or the other.
Friendship with the world is equal to war with God.
God so loved this world He gave His best for it. But He didn’t compromise with it. His love could change the world, but not if His love was compromised.
God’s love is for others first and foremost. The world’s love is for themselves, first and always!
God hates things because of their destructive, hellish affect on others. The world hates things that inconvenience, embarrass, or somehow affect their own lives.
So why are we surprised to find the world doesn’t really appreciate our input, much less our presence?
Tell you what I’m going to do…I’m going to love the world as God does. I’m going pray for them like Jesus does. I’m going to speak truth like The Spirit of truth does.
And I won’t be surprised when they don’t throw a party in my honor.
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All Sales Are Final
My wife and I were browsing in a second hand shop the other day when I spotted a sign by the cash register which read, “Due to the nature of our business, all sales are final.”I just had to take a picture!
Life is that way, when it comes down to it. Sure, there are many times we get second and third chances. Do overs.
But there is a time in EVERYONE’S life when the “do overs” are all used up. Finished. No more chances. No more opportunities. The end of the sale, and the beginning of living with what we purchased. The sale is final.
I’m not attempting to scare anyone into “giving your heart to Jesus”! I’ll not try and coerce anyone to do anything they don’t want to do!
I’m “pro-choice”, in that regard.
What I’m simply stating is everyone “decides” how they will spend eternity. WHERE they will spend eternity. With WHOM they will spend eternity!
Our decision constitutes a sale between our Creator and us.
“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27 NLT)
“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” (John 3:36 NLT)
“For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:40 NLT)
A sale – a choice – where ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
Choose wisely!
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Where’s the Joy?
There sure are a lot of sad people in the world! It’s only 4 months after Christmas! What happened to “Joy To The World”; what happened to the joy? Even among believers, Christians, there isn’t a lot of joy. There are times when laughter is prevalent, but typically that’s when everything is going their way.
Where’s the joy of the Lord?
People sing, shout, and clap their hands at church. But when they’re alone; what a wreck! Dejected, depressed, cast down, blue, down trodden, heavy hearted…get the picture? Know what I mean?
No joy! Alive, but no joy! Maybe “saved”, but joyless!
And weak (Nehemiah 8:10).
I’ve noticed, what I believe to be, a direct correlation between having His joy and Loving God with all our heart. If we love the Lord with our whole heart, we will do what He commands. When we do what He commands, there’s an unmistakeable joy. In other words, joy comes from doing the will of God,
“Well done, good and faithful servant” isn’t just something reserved in Heaven for the faithful soul. No, the Lord has a way of letting each obedient son and daughter know He’s proud and pleased.
It’s called joy. The joy of the Lord.
It’s living under the shadow of His smile!
It’s a sure cure for blues. It demolishes depression! It gives supernatural strength to the faint hearted and worrisome.
The joy of the Lord will turn darkness to light, and sorrow to delight.
The joy of the Lord will affect the world, our world in a positive way!
Are you without joy? When’s the last time you simply got alone and talked to God? Maybe you’re not used to praying, that’s okay. The Lord can handle the imperfect prayers of someone who really wants His joy.
Allow Him an opportunity to speak to your heart. Maybe you need to repent of something you have done, or something you didn’t do. Maybe you could ask Him to come into your heart as your only Lord and Savior.
Weeping only endures at nighttime, when life is dark. Joy comes with the morning, when God faithfully brings His light to your new day!
Be joyful in the Lord. Again, I say, be joyful.
As you do what He says.
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.” (Psalm 119:1-3 NLT)
“Praise the Lord ! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.” (Psalm 112:1 NLT)
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:1-3 NLT)“When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.” (John 15:10-11 NLT)
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.” (Psalm 32:1-2 NLT)
“Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.” (Proverbs 16:20 NLT)
“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NLT)
“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-16 NLT)
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How Would You Change The World?
“How would you change the world?” Quite a question, isn’t it? Well, do you have any ideas?Here are some:
1. Make the world economy stronger
2. Eliminate hunger
3. Have all nations destroy their weapons
4. End pollution
5. Unite around one world leaderIf you were suddenly given the keys to the world, and had the name plate on your office door proving to everyone you are top dog of the world, what would you do? How would you change the world?
Now, don’t be scared. There’re only 7 billion people living in this world of yours. One great idea just might turn everything around!
Okay, maybe you’ll never get the position or have the name plate on your office door. Does that mean you can’t change YOUR world?
Does YOUR world need changed? Are things really fine the way they are? If you could change one thing in your world, what would it be? How would you begin?
Just imagine.
If each of the 7 billion people all asked themselves that question.
And what if we all really listened to, and united around, one world Leader?
Is this too much to ask? Too much to believe?
What do you think?
I know of a world Leader Who is up to the task of changing the world. He’s the Only One Who has really demonstrated His true love for the world!
He’s changed MY world. He’s changed ME!
What are your ideas? How would you change the world?
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A Spiritual Garbage Disposal
A spiritual “garbage disposal” is how many view the scripture:“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”(Romans 8:28 ESV)
If THEY can’t explain what is happening, or what just happened, the experience is filed in the “Romans 8:28” folder.
Never to be opened again.
Maybe there’s another interpretation? Maybe there’s a different way to view this revelation from God? I believe there is.
Maybe it could be explained in light of another passage: “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13 ESV)
God told Abraham to take his only son and offer him as a sacrifice to God. Abraham was moments away from the blow that would end Isaac’s life. But while Abraham was demonstrating his love and obedience to God, God was working all things together for Abraham’s good! God was doing things Abraham couldn’t see, but could believe (Hebrews 11:17-19). The ram caught in the thicket was God working all things…
Can you dare to imagine what God may be doing in and around your life? WILL you dare to believe God is PRESENTLY working on your behalf? He knows what He has called you to do. He knows the impact your life has, and even CAN have, on those around you AND those you haven’t yet met.
The Spirit of God helps us in our weakness because we don’t always know how to pray (see Romans 8:26,27). One reason we don’t know how to pray is because we don’t see everything! But God helps us, because He sees, He knows, so He can work!
He’s not our cleanup guy, our garbage collector. He’s not attempting to sneak something past us! He IS working. And WE are workers together (1 Corinthians 3). We work AND He works…(Philippians 2:12,13)
…for our good and the good of the Kingdom of God!
Abraham didn’t act surprised to see the ram in the thicket. He KNEW God was working. We need to know it, as well.
It’s time to use the garbage disposal for garbage ONLY. Bad things are bad things. Call them bad. And don’t blame God. He isn’t the only spiritual force at work. The devil is the one who steals, kills, and destroys! But in spite of the bad, God still has a way of turning bad things around. THAT’S God working all things for good.
We’ve all gone through bad things. We may be in a bad situation now. But God is good, working good. And good overcomes bad (Romans 12:21).
Next time you use the garbage disposal remind yourself God is working FOR you, FOR your good, FOR all eternity. And keep His works out of your disposal.
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
