Be ready…

 Be ready…

Life changes with one cancer diagnosis, one doctor visit, one car crash, one heart attack, one hit and run, one bullet, one visit to the ER, etc., etc….we don’t know what tomorrow holds or even today or the next moment…only God holds that information…this has become more of a reality this year for me personally…it really became that as well when my husband was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2011…our lives changed in an instant…

I don’t want this to be just hard changes….life changes at a wedding, at the birth of a child, family, new friendships, etc. as well…

 We still need to be ready…

I have been pondering this concept for a time…anticipation of Christ’s return…heaven, changes in the world, what comes next…we love our daily lives, day to day…do we have a heart for His return or our home going?  Am I ready?

One of my favorite verses, 1 Corinthians 2:9…says, God has prepared something we can’t imagine…and then continues…it was my salvation assurance verse years ago…but, it talks to so much more over the years…He has prepared so, so very much….

“ But, as it is written,“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,nor the heart of man imagined,what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. 

For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-13

Thank YOU….

Our pastor spoke of this on Sunday …so good…confirming…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0oUzOhP3M4

 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

Mark.13.23

 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. 

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Rom.13.11-14

 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.

Eph.6.18

 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

1Pet.1.13

 The end of all things is near. 

Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Be sober-minded; be watchful. 

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1Pet.4.7,1Pet.5.8

 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Rev.3.3

Yet not I but through Christ in me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PAxx84XnKg

Why the door posts….

 Why the door posts???

 

I always thought it was interesting about the Passover lamb , the door posts…

If you look it up, there are a multitude of commentaries both Jewish and Christian…

One comment that caught me was that blood was not spread on the thresholds lest it was trampled underfoot… the blood was/is valuable, not something to be taken lightly…

Jesus is our deliverer….

 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. 

This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Rom.3.25-26

 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Heb.9.11-12

 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. 

Even so. 

Amen. 

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Rev.1.4-8

Thank YOU….

Nothing but the blood….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYgmMwAxBS8

https://www.nothingwavering.org/2014/04/23/49705-why-lambs-blood-on-the-doorposts-passover-symbolism.html

https://biblecentral.info/library/chapter/striking-blood-on-the-doorposts-the-passover-anticipates-jesus-christ/

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/exodus/12-7.htm

Healing lane…

 Healing lane….

 I live on a small paved lane with three other family houses…so the lane is four small houses long…I have started calling it my “healing lane”… two years ago I walked all over my area, wrote blogs about “gardens along the way” in 2020 as the exercise places were closed, I walked and saw and appreciated so much outside my little lane.

Last year and this year, with hip surgery, cancer treatments and colon surgery, I have stayed closer to home and walked my “healing lane” back and forth, counting the laps…first using a walker, then a cane, gradually working to walking sticks and finally without extra help. Sometimes my neighbors would walk with me a bit, but mostly my little dog and I trekked back and forth…

I am so thankful for this little lane, it has has afforded me walking space, something I hadn’t planned on when I built here…but God knew…and he supplied before I knew it…he gave me neighbors whom I have become more friends with because of it and well as thinking, praying time and a safe place…

When the time is right, and I have more strength, Lord willing, I will walk beyond this healing lane to other spaces…

I know it seems like a little thing, but there are so many little things that God supplies us with that we take little note of.  He cares…

 ….for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matt.6.8b

 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Phil.4.19-20

 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Jas.1.2-4

 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him. 

Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1Pet.1.6-9

Thank YOU…

My God shall supply all your needs…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5S6ymDgCxs

Plagues…

 Plagues….

 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

Exod.20.2-3

Chapters 7-12 give us a description of the plagues that God brought against the Pharaoh and his people which ultimately brought about the freedom of the Israelites from their slavery…

God had repeatedly called himself, “I am the LORD, God Almighty, I will be your God, I am the LORD your God”, when speaking to Moses. Making it clear that He was the LORD…and no other gods were as He.

I’m thought about this through our elections and through the final tallies…the response of people on both sides…no candidate is the ultimate savior from all the ills of the society or has all the answers to make everyone happy….

God is still the LORD, even today…he raises up and takes down whom  he will and His purposes still stand…just as he did in Mose’s time…

Each of the plagues had a particular reason and outcome…

1. Water turned to blood…too show that God was more powerful than the Egyptians’ god of the Nile…

2. Frogs…against the frog-headed goddess of birth..

3. Gnats…against Set, god of the desert…

4. Flies…judgment on the fly god…

5. Death of livestock…judgement on the goddess and god which looked like cattle..

6. Boils…against their gods of health and disease….

7. Hail… against their sky goddess…

8. Locust…no harvest…

9. Darkness…judgment of their sun god, Re, who was symbolized by Pharaoh…

10. Death of first born males…judgement of Isis, the protector of children.

And these judgements were on the Egyptians and not the Israelites…so when it was dark in Egypt, is was light for the Israelites and so on…

We still have to put our trust in the right God…His paths, His decisions, His power, His love…man’s gods have no power over Him…

So, important as the elections have been, the winners are still accountable to God whomever they may be, and whether they believe or not…

God is the LORD Almighty no matter what…

Thank YOU….

Pharaoh, let my people go…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12R6y-xjjZw

Current song for hostages to be set free in Israel…Isaiah 41 set to music…

Isaiah 41..setting captives free…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7I77RcmHfA

https://www.gotquestions.org/ten-plagues-Egypt.html

 

This seemed worthy of sharing….

I know there are other organizations who have and are helping out as well…

In times of turmoil, it is refreshing to see the love and care that is also going on…comforting to know ….

Thank YOU….

 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

1Thess.5.14

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/franklin-graham/november24/?utm_source=FY24FGNewsletterNovemberEmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=m_YFGN-24EB&utm_content=button

No straw…

 No straw….

 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” 

They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” 

Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Exod.5.10,Exod.5.11,Exod.5.20,Exod.5.21,Exod.5.22,Exod.5.23

Years ago, in some Sunday school class, or sermon, there was an illustration of a circle…the concept was that we are convicted/encouraged to do something by the Holy Spirit, we do it or we don’t - the test-  obedience in some area of our lives…some change we should make….I can say that I wasn’t always immediately obedient…but it laid on my heart until I finally followed through…

Back to the circle…conviction, test, obedience or not, and round in round the learning process would go…there were outside forces that could make it harder and harder to follow through…

God was going to deliver these people from their oppressors…but there were some other lessons to be had first…some hard…and the blame game starts…no straw…more hard work, more oppression…and no delivery!

Don’t we still want things to be easy? With no hard lessons?

Reading Colossians 1….this is the goal…but, even Paul acknowledged endurance and patience…through the “no straw” times….

 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking …

*that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 

*so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 

*fully pleasing to him: 

*bearing fruit in every good work and 

*increasing in the knowledge of God; 

*being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, 

*for all endurance and patience with joy;

Col.1.9-11

Thank YOU….

God help me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pgGgHVxPg

Speaking….

 Speaking….

 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

Exod.4.12

 I am not an “upfront” speaker at all…one on one, thinking through my words is my best way to talk to people…so reading about poor Moses and his excuses resonates…he had already run away from this nation and lived in the desert as a shepherd, talking to the sheep…that was his style…plus he probably knew this man he was being sent to …and his people  didn’t trust him…

But God….had other plans…He wanted him to speak and would give him the words to speak…then He gave him his brother to speak…

This passage is such a reminder of the New Testament words as well…the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say when called to speak in places we may be afraid…and there are definitely times when He is the only one speaking…He has the truth…it is just as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago…

How often do I speak, not letting the Holy Spirit have free rein to the words I say? How often do I hold back with excuses to not speak when the Holy Spirit yearns to speak?

 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matt.10.16-20

 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Luke.12.11-12

Thank YOU….

 I am the Lord your God,who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

“But my people did not listen to my voice;Israel would not submit to me. 

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me,that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 

Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,and their fate would last forever. 

But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Ps.81.10-16

 For the Lord gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. 

Then you will understand righteousness and justiceand equity, every good path; 

for wisdom will come into your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 

discretion will watch over you,understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil,from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked,and who are devious in their ways.

Prov.2.6-15

 Hear, for I will speak noble things,and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth;wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 

All the words of my mouth are righteous;there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 

They are all straight to him who understands,and right to those who find knowledge. 

Take my instruction instead of silver,and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels,and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Prov.8.6-11

 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart-be acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Ps.19.14

Let the words of my mouth…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr8QoQKmXfk