 |
 1/16/98 Good morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man. +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Psalm 8:4,5 A little shepherd boy was watching his sheep one Sunday morning. As he heard the bells ringing the faithful to church, and watched the people walking to church along the lane next to the pasture, he began to think that he, too, would like to communicate with God. But what can I say? he thought. He had never learned a prayer. So, on bended knee, he began to recite the alphabet--A, B, C, D, and so on to Z, repeating his "prayer" several times. A man passing by heard the boy's voice and looking through the bushes, he saw the young man kneeling with folded hands, closed eyes, saying, "J, K, L, M...." He interrupted the boy, asking, "What are you doing, my little friend?" The boy replied, "I was praying, sir." The man seemed surprised and said, "But why are you reciting the alphabet?" The boy explained, "I don't know any prayers, sir. But I want God to take care of me and help me to care for the sheep. So, I thought if I said all I knew, He could put the letters together into words and spell all that I want and should say." The man smiled and said, "Bless your heart. You're right. God will!" and went on to church, knowing he had already heard the finest sermon he could possibly hear that day. -=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=- THIS JAR CONTAINS TEN WALNUTS AND ONE CUP OF RICE The walnuts represent the time spent for
God and the rice represents the time spent for the fun
things we want to do. If you pour the rice into the jar
first, the walnuts will never fit. If you put the walnuts
in the jar first, the rice will fill the open spaces and
fit just fine. The lesson is that if we put time with God
before time for other things we want to do, we'll have
plenty of time for both. If instead we put the things we
want to do first, we will never find the time to fit God
into our life. -=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=- He Covers Me Oh, Lord I feel so barren -=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=- Good Morning Sweet Brethren!!!!!! Boy, do I have a goodie for you! Hope your Friday is going well! I'm getting some revelation on a particular issue, and I am convinced...that at least one of you needs to hear this. I will be using a good bit of scripture to line up with this....and I ask that you digest this slowly. Don't scan it...let it go in. It is awesome! Have you ever been purged from a sin, or walked through a temptation in your life...and once you decided to hand it over to God, you felt symptoms, described as...."withdrawals" in your flesh? I remember a fellow Christian that was struggling with alcohol, and as soon as he confessed it: James 5:16 He brought it to the Light....it was exposed...and ready to be dealt with. However...his flesh...screamed in rebellion. He didn't think he was going to make it. The only "cure" seemed to be that next drink. But I see now, through these places in my own life, what he didn't realize, <nor I> was that he was walking through a period called "Endurance". James 1:12 There is a period of "enduring", when we make the choice to walk away from sin...ANY sin. Your temptation may be alcohol, drugs, sexual, food addiction, or anything that causes broken fellowship with God, and tempts you to hide from His Presence....such as Adam and Eve in the garden, when they partook of the forbidden fruit. James 1:14-15 God is not allowing this endurance to "taunt" us! On the contrary, it is to STRENGTHEN us. James 1:13 Ok, now, parallel this analogy...<and stay with me, it gets deeper, tee hee> The flesh would represent "dirt, or soil"....(After all , we are dust) Eccl 3:20 Speaking from the perspective of a born-again Christian, there is a "Seed" in this dust. The Seed is planted in our heart. That Seed is Jesus Christ. (God's Seed) So you have this Seed, (Jesus, His Spirit) in this Soil, (flesh)....and during this time of being purged from a sin...or even a temptation to sin, this is what is happening: The flesh, (soil, dust) is being "pushed" away as the seed comes forth. Think about this: You have confessed a sin, and brought it forth to the Light. This Light represents God, but in the seed analogy, it represents the sun. What is going on in the spiritual realm, is...that Seed is springing forth...toward the Light. Each time you are crying out..."God, help me!!!" , that seed is moving forth...closer and closer. It doesn't seem fast enough for us at times...but as you all know, when a seed is planted, one thing that is used in the growth process is TIME. What we are not realizing at the time..is that the Spirit of God, (Seed) in us is growing stronger....and the flesh...(soil ) is getting weaker. Endurance....takes TIME. If we were easily delivered from strongholds that encompass us, we would never appreciate or learn what God is doing in our lives...and we would not experience true "repentance". We would, in effect, take Him for granted...and not fear Him. Now a cross reference: Women that have birthed children can testify that pain is involved in deliverance. There is a "labor" involved. Brethren, freedom involves a "spiritual labor!" But when the "child" (product of seed) comes forth...there is great joy...and the pain is remembered no more. Isa 26:17 Micah 4:10 Brethren, if you are in this place....let me encourage you. Yes, there is a time of endurance....so please, ENDURE. PRESS IN! Let the SEED come forth! Don't be like the Proverbs dog... Prov 26:11 I remember during my labor, with my sons...there was a place...just before deliverance...when all I wanted to do, was chuck this deal and go back to the house!! "Let me outta here, I don't want to do this anymore!!!" What I guess I didn't think about at the time was the "P.U.S.H. theory". (Pray Until Something Happens) <pun intended> tee hee We can't go back, Brethren. All that's back there is Sodom and Gomorrah (death and destruction). I don't have to remind you of what happened to Lot's wife. <Genesis 19:26> Yes, it IS painful...but, as I said earlier....this growth process involves time. We think, in our minds, that this sin or temptation is as strong as ever, and that God has forsaken us. Far..far from da truth!! Isa 66:9 What we don't always "see" with our minds...is that the Seed is sprouting forth...pushing past the clumps of soil, (flesh)....and growing into a tender young shoot....as we press on....toward Zion! The tender young shoot, in time, becomes a STRONG TREE, rooted and grounded in Almighty God! We "water" this Seed with the Word of God. In other words, while you are in this place, read the Word..ANYWAY.....and I emphasize "anyway" because the enemy would have us think...that it is doing no good. But it is!! It's watering the Seed!! The Seed needs the Water!!! Amen??? <This is so exciting to me!!> Psalm 119:25 The Seed (Spirit) pushes past the soil (flesh), and springs forth toward the sun (God) thus...your deliverance!! Ps 30:5 You suddenly feel the load lifted. Your joy has returned. You once again, have that peace..that passes all understanding! LET THE SEED COME FORTH!! I love you all very much!! God go with you this day! In Christ!! By Your Grace
Graphics, design & hosting by: Free Sites for School Bible Clubs ionanet home | About | Awards | Contents | Rings | Services Author: Carol Skipper. |
