Weekend Getaway #8

What Does God Say About Problems?

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

One time as a younger wife in the ministry, I sat and poured out my heart to an older, much wiser Christian lady who quoted the above verse to me.  When she shared God's promise to me, I clung to It and it became a Rock to me to keep me straying in my thoughts of despair during times of trouble and problems.

You and I are going to face problems.  There is no two ways about it friends, we just are.  So what does God tell us about how to handle them?  Is there a blanket answer for all of us?  Can we really know what to do in every situation?  Let's take a look at the Bible and see.

We can have different types of distresses or problems and there are promises to be claimed for them all.  But no matter which type we are dealing with, we must always begin at the same spot:  Prayer.

Psalm 18:6 "In my distress (trouble, problems, afflictions), I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears." 

Our prayers made in truth to God will always be heard.  Grab hold of that fact and let that be where you begin "dealing" with your troubles.  Pray about them, really truly pray.

Let us ask ourselves what kind of problem are we facing:

Is it a People Problem?

Only you know the answer to the question.  Only you can take steps at resolving this situation. If you have prayed about it, then God will show you what to do. 

If you are in the wrong: Here is Jesus' answer on how to handle it.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

and,

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

and,

Matthew 18:15-20 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Much of what we encounter with day to day people problems can be solved in an instant by following God's plan of forgiveness.  I have seen HUGE people problems resolved by a simple hug and an I'm sorry. 

So my answer to Can God solve my "People Problems" is Yes.  He sure can. 

But, what if we are being manipulated and are totally unaware of another person's plans?  Like, let's say, Uriah in the Bible.  The poor man was just doing his job, fighting for King David, and all along he was being betrayed, humiliated and ultimately killed because of the sinful plotting of another human being.  And David wasn't just anyone, he was God's chosen man for the throne!  So, what then?  Is there a solution?  Yes.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Give it to God.  Let Him deal with it in His PERFECTION and His GREATNESS.  While you wait on Him, claim these verses:

Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Romans 12:17-18 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

Psalms 34:18-19 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Is it a Physical Problem?

Maybe it isn't a people problem.  Maybe your problems are physical?  Is there an answer?  Yes. 

One, God may not remove it or heal you from it if His plans are greater than your physical suffering, so He gives you His promises of how to endure:

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

A preacher friend of ours said it like this:  "When I can't do something for God's kingdom because of some physical, emotional, or financial weakness, it allows God to manifest HIS GREATNESS by doing it anyway.  It allows God to develop in me a reliance upon Him by forcing me to realize I cannot do these things in my own strength.

I suffer daily from arthritis. Not just a little, a lot.  People have made fun of me for acting "old".  I laugh with them, but inside I cry.  They think I am exaggerating or being funny, when in reality it hurts every time I have to stand and walk.  It is not easy to deal with pains people cannot see.  I hurt almost 100% of the time.  I have carried a lot physically in my life due to the extremes of where our ministry has taken us in the world.  And I literally have paid for it in my body.  Sometimes I pray that God would remove it and help me feel better as I try to care correctly for my body.  But, He hasn't removed this from me.  He hasn't delivered me from physical pain, so do I quit trusting in Him?  Do I determine that I must not be important to Him?  Absolutely not.  I trust in His grace.  It can be made perfect in me.  And one day if Alzheimer's completely takes my memory, I hope that someone will read the Word of God to me and comfort me if I have forgotten that His grace is sufficient.

Is it a Spiritual Problem?

Maybe your problems are not people related or physically related.  Maybe they are Spiritual.  Is there an answer?  Yes.

Psalms 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

There is NO SPIRITUAL problem that does not have an answer.  And the answer lies with the LORD.  Period.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (You can NOT be condemned for your past if you are walking after the Spirit in the present!)

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So the spiritual problem has a solution, confession and then faith in God that He will do what He said He would do.


What I am trying to get us to see today is that IN GOD, there is a solution.  He gave us His Word and we ought to use it in order to confront any problem we face.  And in the end, we will have peace, be stronger and be settled.  Isn't that a wonderful promise?  You could just claim that!  Ask Him to allow you to experience what it is to be settled.  He will do it for you every time.  You just have to follow Him and not try and go off in your own direction. 

Are you suffering today?  Then be kind, because the chances are the lady next to you is as well.  Let's help each other instead of making the way harder.

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri

Has God Shut the Door?

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Daddy held my arm and asked me, “Well, kid, are you ready?”

As nervous as I seemed, I was ready to step from the opening doorway to enter the church’s door where Terry and my wedding party awaited my entrance. I could see the burning candles and the glittering array of colors from the Christmas trees and lights. All my bridesmaids wore deep ruby red dresses with matching netted, brim hats. They were so pretty as their dancing eyes stared at me clumsily walking down the aisle.   

For a brief moment fear seized me as I was afraid some officer of the law would run before me, slap some handcuffs on Terry and haul him out of Anthony Baptist Church with me wailing away!   The reception couldn’t come quickly enough. My Daddy had only spanked me once in my life, but I knew if he found out that Terry literally dug a Christmas tree from Bill Fish’s Tree Farm (without permission), and placed it on the stage of the church right before the ceremony, I would get the beating of my life!  Although Terry told me that the Ag class had planted those trees and his name was on the one tree, I knew deep down, it WAS NOT but it was too late! Surely, no one would tell Daddy until later on, AFTER we had left.

We made it, and off we went to our new life!

In reality and putting all kidding aside, I had walked through a major door to another life with Terry Jackson Loyd. It seems we are always entering one door to go to another to get to another, doesn’t it? One day my life with Terry will end either by my death or his, but for sure, life ends. Fifty years with my husband seems very short and that episode of the “borrowed” tree was just yesterday, it seems. What next? Where do we go after these bodies give up and become dust? Praise the Lord for the opened door of heaven ahead……that is……IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN.

Joh 10:1 & 2 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

If you are a Christian, a born again believer, you have the hope of glory. This opened door awaits those who have already taken care of this business of salvation. Sheri and I have worked hard to share with you how to get to know our Savior better today than you did yesterday, but God forbid that we haven’t made sure you are His and He is yours! You can learn all about Him and miss heaven. The world is full of knowledgeable, bright and educated people who think they are going to heaven, but are not.

Man and religion keep this world stirred up by offering all kinds of doors with attachments to salvation when there is only one way, my friend. Getting to know God better each day gives you and gives me the opportunity to see just what an awesome God we serve! Be careful who and what you read as you try to feed those desires to know Him. When in doubt, always go back to the Book, the Holy Bible. When we start adding to God’s Word and His way, we get into trouble. Man has always wanted to “fix” things for the most part and solve the mysteries of the universe. It is our nature to constantly want answers to questions that sometimes we just don’t need to ask because it is already answered!

Joh 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Nothing like knowing…. “truth” and being free from the sin of bondage! Are you tied down by something? You can be free!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  Only through Jesus is there freedom in this stinkin’ world. Walk in the newness of life. Jesus will take care of everything else….EVERYTHING…..He stands at the door and knock, knock knocks. Take hold of His Hand and let Him in. It is time to open the door!

Can you remember a time when you confessed that you are indeed a sinner and cannot save yourself from a place called Hell?  Can you remember asking God through His Son, Jesus Christ to forgive you and to come and live in your heart? After salvation, did you made your decision public? Have you been baptized by immersion? If not, friend, today is the day of your salvation and the rest of your life. Everything from this point on is decided by YOUR decision to receive Him or to reject Him.  Just as he closed the door to the ark and none of those crying, screaming people could get in, God will do the same when He calls for the trumpet sound!

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Once the door is opened to Christ, it closes to eternal damnation. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit! Praise the Lord, friend, we can rest in this troubled world. We can work, be happy in Christ and have a fulfilled life in Him because of WHO He is not because of some “thing” we have added to Jesus. Jesus alone is all YOU need. Contact Sheri and me if you are now making this decision. God would not have me make this detour on our road trip, had it not been for a purpose, YOU. He loves YOU that much!

Until next time, Lord willing

Sharon

Our God is Great

Job 36:26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

I am going to join my voice with Job’s friend Elihu and say, “God is great”.  God is Excellent, Mighty and Perfect.

Sometimes we are made to doubt those clear facts about God.  Many things cause us to question, fear and deny Who God really is.  But if we will just stop up our ears to everything that is contrary to the Word of God, we would find ourselves focusing in on what is real truth.  God is Great.

Maybe you have come under the illusion that you are great.  You may have natural talents that make you believe in yourself more than you do God.  This could be why you become so depressed when something doesn’t go your way during the day.  You have removed your focus from an infallible God, to yourself, a fallible human being.   

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 

Any strength or talent you may have is given to you from the Lord, our GREAT God.  We are nothing in ourselves without His help and strength.  When we get to know Him better, we find that we are much better as a Christian sister or brother because we take our hands off of our lives and surrender to HIS PERFECT will for our lives. 

This past week my daughter was asked by a young man from another Bible College if she believed that there is a perfect will of God for her life.  She responded affirmatively and was immediately subjected to a barrage of lengthy retorts on why she was wrong.  Mark helped her understand why she said yes and what the difference was between perfect and revealed will of God.  I thought on it and read what the Scripture says, I think that if a Christian is fully submitted to God and His will, then yes, there is a perfect will of God in our lives.  Semantics would cause us to parse this down to “Is it God’s will for me to make chicken salad today for lunch or spaghetti?”  I think that would be silly to make that the basis of my argument.  Why? Because my God is Great.  I believe He is so excellent, that as He orders my steps (Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.) He is delighted by the choices I make in that I make them while being submitted to HIS will and His will can be NOTHING BUT Perfect.  Why?  Because He is Great. 

For me to rely on Sheri would be an awful thing.  And yet, knowing this, I find myself doing just that quite often.  Why?  Because I am NOT great.  I have the flesh to contend with, so therefore I need to contend with my flesh the way my GREAT God instructs me to.  And how is that? 

1.       Make NO ROOM for the flesh.

Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

That means don’t set aside a spot for the flesh.  It means we shouldn't harbor anything that can only be used by the flesh and is contrary to the Spirit of a Perfect and Great God.  That means purifying your thought life to the extent you will reject any thought about that teacher you don’t like, that preacher you can’t stand, that annoying person at church, work or school.  You hold those thoughts up against Philippians 4:8 and if they are contrary then you reject them.  I’m not saying it is easy, but it is right.

2.       Submit yourself to God.

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Every single day we have to look at God, recognize HE is GREAT and then purposefully mortify our flesh.  Our desires.  Our pride.  Our talents.  If we are saved, we belong to Him and we ought to want to do His will.  Why?  Because He is Great. 

Down here where I live in Brazil there must be a trillion spiders.  They vary in size, but they plague me with their webs.  If I clean one corner of the kitchen window today, you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be a replacement tomorrow.  This morning I watched a little red spider furiously weaving an intricate web by a wall outlet.  That spider was so concerned with the task at hand that he didn’t notice my large frame standing there with a flip flop in my hand ready to end it’s little eight legged life.  Immediately upon standing there, I thought to myself, this stupid spider is exactly like us.  We can get so busy working away and depending on our own selves that we forget that it all could be taken away and cleaned up in a heartbeat by our Great God.  We don’t stand in awe of Him any more as a people or even as a nation.  We forget that God is really God.  He really is able and will complete His perfect will in our lives.  He doesn’t rely on our abilities at all, because He is Great.  He is Excellent and He is Mighty enough to do whatever He needs doing.   

Bring yourself into check.  If you have been flitting around thinking you are “all that”, maybe you need to realize that tomorrow you could be in an accident that could take away your beauty, your so called talent, and abilities.  Then what?  God will still be Great because He doesn’t change. And He could bring your focus back onto Him very quickly!  

If we will realize that He is the Ultimate of the Ultimate and the Powerful Great God, then we will submit with ease.   

There is no spin on this post today, it is cold hard facts.  Either we believe our God is Great or we are believing and living the contrary.   Choose Greatness today.  Submit to His Spirit and do Great things for our Great God. 

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri

Are You Sealed Unto Life Everlasting?

“Mrs. Loyd, I need you to FAX my transcript to Stetson University.”

“I’ve already mailed it, Trevor.”

“I know, but they said they haven’t gotten it and all they need right now is the information on the transcript to begin the process. I have sent my application.”

“Ok, I will do that but remember, your entrance to Stetson requires an official transcript.”

“What is the difference? The grades don’t change. It has your signature.”

“I know, but it must be secured by our seal in order for it to be ‘official’ Trevor.  Anybody, anywhere can send a FAX to anyone they choose, but to be official, it must bare our seal. Understand?”

“Yes mam!” 

I smiled and thought, “I love these seniors. I hope I never lead them astray!”

Eph 1:13 & 14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

2Co 1:21 & 22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

From that conversation with Trevor, I began to think of the school and church seal compared to God’s seal, the Holy Spirit. I’m so glad I have God’s seal of the Holy Spirit, aren’t you? What an opportunity to share God’s Word with students. Sometimes, God just drops these occasions in my lap but I wonder how many opportunities we have in a day’s time when God can’t depend on us to speak for Him.

SE'ALED, pp. Furnished with a seal; fastened with a seal; confirmed; closed.

I like that definition. CLOSED!  But before something can be closed, it must be opened. I did a study on the word “door” and if you want a different perspective on such a powerful word, go and read every verse that contains “door” and I believe you will walk away with an uplifted spirit that may drive you from your comfort zone to a territory of unopened doors for others.

Mrs. Carpenter, one of our second grade teachers, came to me and said that she had a student wanting to come to my office and talk about her salvation. I immediately sent for the seven year old and asked this question, “What is going on? Why are you here?” She very boldly said, “I need Jesus to come into my heart and save me. He will forgive my sins and I can go to heaven.”

Ps 119:130 ¶ The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Ummmmm……wonder how she knew so much already? Her teacher had diligently prepared the ground, plowed it under with the seed and turned the sprinklers on. “Go get THE BOOK,” I told her. She walked over and picked up the big black Bible and brought it to the conference table. As we opened the Holy Scriptures, she read each one out loud and began to see exactly what she needed to do. I really didn’t have to do that much. The door to her heart had already been knocked on and she was ready to allow Him entrance. When she read Romans 10:9-13 her eyes lit up and she smiled at me. The most beautiful words flowed from this precious young girl.  The entrance of God’s Holy Spirit was simple, easy, and very comforting as she obeyed the call from Him to be born-again.  

After giving her more scripture to read, we walked over to the church, up the stairs to our baptistery and I explained that she needed to obey the scriptures now that she was saved and this meant, baptism. I pretended to be Pastor Andy (that’s a joke!) and dipped her down into the make believe water. She understood, completely, and will remember that day forever. It is important to create a visual for children and for that reason we returned to the Bible and she marked in the Holy Scriptures, Galatians 2:20 writing her name beside the verse and the date 2/20/15, the day of her salvation. In her own Bible in the classroom, she did the same.

Dr. Jesse Bloom told us more than once that many people get saved before they actually walk down the aisle to the Preacher because of their faith in Jesus Christ, not necessarily in the words we lead them through at that moment, BUT, that it is so very important for them to follow through reading the scriptures, marking them, and then actually calling on Jesus to forgive them as a sinner and come into their heart. I agree. Praise the Lord for the door offered to them to walk through and for the sealing of God’s Holy Spirit once they enter and the door is shut! I would like to expound on this in the next blog. 

May I ask you this question? Has the ground been tilled for you? Turned over and over and the seed planted ready to finish the process? Is He still knocking at your heart’s door? One day, the door will be shut, not by me, or by others, but by God Himself either to seal you to your destiny of an everlasting kingdom with Him or to an everlasting Hell. Once the door is shut, it cannot be opened, ever again. Don't wait and take that chance! God loves you and desires that "whosoever" calls on Him shall be saved.

Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Until next time, Lord willing

Sharon

Look Up

Exodus 15:1-3 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.


Sometimes you need to stop everything you are doing, turn off your phone, walk outside and look up.
If it is raining or snowing, go to a window.  Your sky may be blue and cloudless, or it may be gray and heavy with a storm, but the One who made them is neither.  He is God.  Your God.  Once you look up, speak to Him.  Tell Him just how wonderful you think He really is.  Even if your heart feels broken, He is nigh to those with a broken and crushed spirit.  He is listening.

I read through some of the recorded praises in the Bible to see what others said to God.  I thought on Miriam, Moses' sister getting that timbrel out and praising and singing to God.  I thought of the Psalmist proclaiming that God was his God, even unto death.  I read of Mary in Luke 1 saying her soul magnified the Lord.  I imagined the multitudes singing after God saved them from the Egyptians and what their collective voice must have sounded like.  It brought a stirring to my soul, so I went and sat on the front stoop of my house and looked up.  I saw a gray sky, but I said, "Hey God!"  I started to praise Him, but do you know what happened?  I immediately turned the attention back to myself and thought, "Who am I to be praising God?  I am nothing."  A tug of war began happening inside my spirit that I really can't explain, but I imagine anyone reading this knows the exact feeling.  The feeling of ineptness, unworthiness, uselessness.  They all began cascading down on me like a powerful waterfall, burying my words of praise.  Before I knew it I was ready to stand back up and quit praying.  So, I raised my eyes again, somewhat timidly and smiled towards the Heavens.  I told God He was Wonderful.  I began recounting things to Him that He had done in my life.  And before long I was lifting my hands and my voice towards MY GOD.  I was looking up.

The battles are hard.  The deep weary trenches of the trials are dark and seemingly lonely places. You can choose to look down and weep at the mud and mire where you kneel, or you can look up and see Who it is that is protecting you there while you go through these times.  Look up.

The children of Israel had been treated horribly in those years in Egypt, but God had just brought them out.  God and God alone had done it.  Everyone was singing and praising at the right time and in the right place and in the right direction!  They shouted their thanks to Him.  They were looking up.

What about you?  When is the last time you praised Him for just simply being your God?  Not just an off the shoulder comment of Praise the Lord, but praising with all your heart?  As I sat out on my stoop I saw my oldest daughter's shoe that the dogs had found, so I thanked Him for paying her bill these last two years in college.  I thanked Him for sparing her life in the Amazon when she was just a little girl and sick unto death.  I saw a Kit-Kat wrapper and thought of my friend, Lonella, in West Virginia who sent my children a big box of candy for Christmas so I thanked God for her and her family who have often been a blessing to me and the children.  Then I looked over towards the garage and thanked God for the car He provided us 4 years ago because of some other friends in West Virginia.  Then I saw a bird house that used to hang at my yellow house up on Redhouse hill that the church bought so Mark and I could have a house to live in and I started bawling.  God has provided over and over and over again for me, so my praises became more fervent.  I couldn't have run out of things to thank Him for if I had wanted.  The very fact my fingers are moving across the keyboard typing this is proof of His miracle in saving my life in 2001 when the doctors had given up ever finding out what was wrong.  And Oh, Praise the Lord for all the moments here in Brazil when I have felt down and alone and sensed His Sweet Holy Spirit come up and sit beside me and tell me He was listening. 

I suppose the purpose of this post is to get you to take time and look up today.  Just let your thoughts linger on Him for a bit.  If the enemy comes along and tells you that you aren't allowed, you tell him that Jesus crushed his head once and you are about to crush it again with your Praise to the Lord Almighty!  Then get to praising our God.  For He is Worthy.  Look up!

Isaiah 40:25 26  To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.  Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri

Weekend Getaway # 7

Fervent Charity

Ro 15:2-3 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

1Co 13:4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have enjoyed studying II Peter 1 especially the seven spiritual traits emphasized in verses 4-8. Peter teaches us that God’s actual divine nature can be ours simply by taking heed to these precious promises. We can have fellowship with God, partaking in His divine nature. Did you get that? Our sorry selves can sit down with the Creator of ALL and enjoy His company! I have tried to share with you my thoughts and I have given examples of real people in my own life for which I am thankful unto God! We all have these witnesses. Just look about you. Don’t avoid them but embrace them. Remember them and tell your children and your grandchildren. Keep them alive!

Isn’t it strange how God brings it all down where the rubber meets the road? Verse 8 of II Peter 1 states, “For if these things be in you and abound” or live….….some of you may need to be resurrected!.....”they MAKE you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge”….there it is again, that word ‘knowledge’…..”of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Verse 9, “BUT he that lacketh these things is blind.” Ever have anyone say to you, “I just don’t see it that way?” They cannot see “afar off” because they are short sighted. Everything is only as it appears right in front of them. There is no vision ahead because the One who gives us the vision to focus upon is not active, alive if you please, in their lives.  They have forgotten, that means it was once there to remember? Hmmmmnnnnn! Where did it go? What did they forget? They were purged, eradicated, pardoned of their old sins!!!! Makes me want to shout friend! Bless God, we have been forgiven and offered the very nature of our living God THROUGH Jesus Christ!

Charity:  Love, the fulfilling of the law. Ro 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Uncle George became a walking Bible but he struggled with his disability as the arthritis began to take over elbow and knee joints. One operation after another kept him close to home. Not only was his face crooked, but now his body was becoming twisted as well. This debilitating disease was not enough though, to shut my uncle’s mouth and wallowing tongue. He would roll his tongue back and forth forming the words the best he could and all the while smiling at anyone and everyone that would listen. Every now and then, he would slip in a tease or two to make us all laugh. 

While sitting on a park bench in Jacksonville, Florida, Uncle George observed an elderly lady struggle to cross the intersection. He told me she had arthritis worse than he did.  Watching her labor to move one step in front of another, he prayed for her to have relief. He was able to relate to her pain, somewhat, and knew his days were numbered, but she looked younger than him and he felt she needed more time to live. His request unto His God was that the Lord would just transfer her arthritis to him and he would bare it for her. When he told me this, I couldn’t believe it! What love Uncle George had for the sickly, the down and out; the ones who couldn’t do for themselves. Oh such great agape love, CHARITY! It wasn’t but a few days that we witnessed Uncle George becoming worse and worse as the arthritis literally took over his entire body. I wonder if a loving Father heard my Uncle’s prayer, not to pain him more but to offer him the ultimate opportunity to lay down his life for someone he did not even know! Now, you can judge this story and frankly folks, I probably would too, if you told me such an account, but it is as he said. My goodness, how selfish we are at times when a small irritation may keep us from the bountiful blessings of being partakers of His DIVINE NATURE! 

2Pe 1:13-15 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Please go back and read the scriptures ONE MORE TIME. My words are nothing. His Words are life and death and offer to us great gain in Christ!

Until next time, Lord willing!

Sharon