Good Talkin To

Do you ever give yourself a good talkin' to?
No? I do...
I gave myself this one today.
(Or was it the Lord?)
Well, whatever the case,
maybe you need to hear this talk too...

Come on!
Get a grip!
It's just another test.
Yes, it might be a hard one.
In fact, it might be the hardest one yet.
But that doesn't mean you can't pass it.
In fact, YOU WILL pass it!
Don't shake your head, “no."
You will pass it!
It's God's will that you pass it.
You CAN do it.
It is not the end.
You belong to God and you will not give up.
You can't give up.
You've walked with God this long
and you will continue to walk.
Don't think about how you will make it through tomorrow or any other event you might be dreading.
Just live today.
Faith *IS* the victory that overcomes the world.

SO THERE!

Depths Of The Riches

~Oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! ~ (Romans 11:33)

Let the following phrase from scripture minister to your spirit.

~ THE DEPTHS OF THE RICHES. ~

Depths- that means deep! And I guarantee you, it is very deep!

Riches- that means rich! And I'm telling you, that's plenty!

God is abundant in all things- ALL THAT WE NEED!

We can rest assured that because of this depth and because of these riches- God knows. HE KNOWS!

God is rich in knowledge.

He knows each step you take

and the steps you'll take tomorrow.

He also has wisdom. He has deep riches of wisdom!

He has the wisdom for *your* situation.

Sometimes His knowledge and wisdom seems hidden from us and sometimes He shares it with us in *His* time.

Whatever the case, God IS in control.

Free!

I rejoice to say to you today that I have been set free!

By Christ Jesus my Lord, I have been set free from the law of sin and death!
If you find yourself tempted, don't give up.

If you find yourself faltering, don't despair.

*You* have been set free- free indeed!

Don't doubt it.

Believe it and your joy shall be full!

In the presence of the Lord there is joy forever more!
Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord oh, my soul!

Partakers

One quiet morning this week while reading the scriptures I came across something very amazing!

I read that I am able to be a *partaker of His divine nature*.

Wow! Me? Partaker of something divine?
I will admit that there are times that I certainly do not feel divine- rather I feel like a tough, old, battered bird and very much a partaker of the things of this earth.

BUT!

But God has said that through the knowledge of Him,

I am given promises- and that by those promises I might be a *partaker of the divine nature*. (2 Pt. 1:3-4)

So, if I know Him and I know His promises.... I can taste of the heavenlies. I can be holy just as He is holy. Amazing!

I CAN walk in the Spirit and NOT fulfill the lust of the flesh.

I can live a humanly impossible life! And you can too.

Don't fall for the accusations from our enemies.

You can follow wholly after the Lord Jesus Christ just like anyone else!

You *can* be a partaker of His divine nature.

What Is Christianity?

What is Christianity?
What is it?
Is it a belief system?
Is it a Just another religion?
Oh- the world has had their fill of that!

Well, what is Christianity?
It is Christ! It is Christ!
Jesus the Son!
Jesus, the hope of all creation!
Christianity should be- Christ!
All that men should see- is Jesus the Christ.

Christianity is not a *right* way of believing.
It is not a *right* way of being.
It is Christ revealed- in us!

He Has Chosen You

He has CHOSEN you BEFORE the foundation of the world that you should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLAME before HIM. (Eph. 1:4)

What a calling! What a mystery! Me?
Holy and without blame? Yes! Me and you- through HIM.
We should be to the praise and glory of HIM. Whew!
Let's be done with the lower things of selfishness and self– pity, grumbling, complaining, criticizing and judging.
Let's put on the new man and LIVE in HIS glorious truth today. Faith IS the victory that overcomes the world!
And HE will complete the work HE has begun in you.
Amen?!

Do you want to pass this test?

Sometimes, we need a very soft and gentle word.
But then again, there are times when a firm word is what helps us walk.
If you are needing an encouraging, yet straight forward word today, this post is for you:


Alright, we have a decision to make here.
Do you *want* to pass the test?
You know, the test or trial you're facing right now.
Do you want to go forward or go back? Rise or fall?
I know, I'm no different.
I've been in tough places too.
I'm in the same school as you are.
It can be hard.
It can be really hard!
But- dear comrades, you CAN pass this test.
You can come forth as gold! You can!
That's what God wants.
God wants us to be broken- but whole,
weak -but strong,
helpless yet empowered- with His divine help.

Just make the decision.
Do you *want* to pass this test?
This trial and test did not come upon you
without God knowing about it AND allowing it.
He knows exactly why all this is happening AND when it will end.
Just make the decision.
Say, "yes, I want to pass this test" and the victory has begun.
Lift your heart to God and thank Him for this trial.
I know! It's hard- yet easy when we surrender.
Ask the Lord to teach you.
Ask Him to help you to trust Him.
Ask Him to help you to love Him more and above all - worship Him.

Just make the decision.
Do you *want* to pass this test?
Do you?
Of course you do!
Giving up is NOT an option for one of Father's children.
You *must* go on.
Giving up will NOT stop the trial.
You'll just lose.

Come on, child.
Let me take your hand...
There is courage for the fearful,
clarity for the confused,
relief for the heavy,
healing for pain,
beauty for ashes.
God has not given up on you.
Let's not give up on Him either.
Let Him take you by the hand and lift you up and strengthen you.
Let Him lead you on.

Someone who loves you,

Holly

His Temple

We are His New Temple.

We don't have to look up when we pray.

We don't have to gaze off into some far away land to look for Him!

He has already come!

He is already here- in you and in me- if we have received Him.

May the reality of His indwelling presence fill our hearts and the minds of all of God's people!

Following are some verses from scripture that I found concerning His present habitation. Can you find more? If so, please share them with me!

~
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it doth not behold him, nor know him, and ye know him, because he doth remain with you, and shall be *in you*. (John 14:17)

In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I *in you*; (John 14:20)

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I *in them*. (John 17:26)

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. (Rev 3:20)

Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is *in you*, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; (1Co 6:19)

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell *in them*, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2Co 6:16)

...to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ *in you*, the hope of glory: (Col 1:27)

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he *in us*, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (1Jo 4:13)

...one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and *in you* all. (Eph 4:6)

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is *in you* of a truth. (1Co 14:25)

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell *in you*. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be *in you*, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell *in you*, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth *in you*. (Rom 8:9-11)

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is *in you*, except ye be reprobates?
(2Co 13:5)

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son *in me*, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
(Gal. 1:15-16)

Hurting?

Are you hurting?

Are you being persecuted without cause?

I'm so sorry if you are hurting.

May our Father pour in the oil and the wine into your aching heart and bind up all your wounds.

You are loved.

Hear the words of our Lord...


~Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the son of man's sake.


~Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.


~Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you! ....


~But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. ~



If praying for your persecutors proves difficult, ask the Lord to love through you. Stephen's ability to pray for his persecutors at his stoning did not come through some virtue of his own. It came because of his being full of God's Spirit. We can forgive those who have hurt us too if we let Him love through us.

Jesus also asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him.
And the Father answered that prayer.

Be healed in Jesus' name!

Do You Know Who You Are?

Do you know who you are?

Here are some reminders of who you can enjoy being if you are in Christ!
~

You are a born again believer and you are bought with a price.

You are crucified with Christ and yet you live.

You are dead to sin and alive unto righteousness.

The helmet of salvation is for you and you are risen to a new life.

Old things have passed away and behold all things are become new.

You are a new creation and you can put off the old man and put on the new.

The blood of Jesus Christ, the holy One, has set you free from the law of sin and death.

You are able to walk in holiness, godliness purity and faith.

You are able through Christ, to walk in the light even as He is in the light.

You are able to abide in the vine and walk in the Spirit.

The breastplate of righteousness is yours.

You have believed the truth, you know the truth and are able to be ready with the truth, as you gird your loins with it.

He is able to keep you, lead you and comfort you.

He is able to empower you to live righteously and victoriously as you shod your feet with the gospel of peace.

He will guide your steps and keep you safe from your enemies as you trust in Him and make yourself ready for war.

You do have a measure of faith given you by the Father.

He has answered your prayers before and He will answer your prayers again as you lift up His shield.

You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you and if God be for you who can be against you?

Who can separate you from the love of God? No one!

The choice is yours and you have chosen to stand.
Stand therefore in the power and presence and armour of God.

Misunderstood?

Have you ever made the following statement?

"I just CAN'T understand why they are doing that!"

I've said that and I've thought that too...

And do you know what?

The answer is found in the first half of the sentence;

"I just can't understand..."

The time will come, if it hasn't already,

that you will be misunderstood.

People will not understand you and what you are doing

and you will not understand them.

That's okay.

We do not have to know and understand everything
and we are not to judge with our own judgment if we don't understand.

I like to know and understand everything

but that doesn't mean that I should.

Let's be lowly in mind.

If you are confused about why someone is behaving a certain way- don't condemn them as wrong.

Seek the Lord and ask Him what *He* thinks about the situation and then love that person.

If we can do this, we will eliminate a lot of frustration.

Let's walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh.

Good Times Come and Bad Times Go

Good times come and bad times go, my friends!

If you're having one of those bad times... don't despair!

It will pass!

Good times will come again.

They always do!

Just hold on and wait.

God knows what we need.

You are loved!

Chirst Reflected In You.

The great mystery- that which the prophets of old, yearned to know and understand has been revealed to us today...

Christ in you- is the hope of glory. It is Christ *in you* not Christ in some far off place- that is God's plan.

He wants to live in and through all mankind.

It is His will to be seen in you and through you.

He wants to be reflected in you.

The purposes and plans of God are high and very successful!

He wants all the earth to be filled with His glory!

He wants all the earth to be full of Him!

*That* is a high goal!

And His goals are accomplished!

You are loved

This note is for all of you who are having these type of thoughts:

I feel as though God has forgotten me.

I feel like God isn't there for me any more.

I feel so all alone.

Nobody loves me.

What am I doing here anyway?

Why am I even alive?

I wish I could just die.

~

Dear precious child, you are not alone.

You are not forsaken or forgotten.

He will never leave you or forsake you.

He is with you always.

His eye is ever upon you.

God loves you with an everlasting love.

He sent His Son to die- for you.

And do you know what?

I love you too;

I really do.

Even though I may not know you and may never see you,

I love you.

God has a plan for your life.

Your life does count;

it counts immensely!

We need you here on this earth.

That's why you're here.

Your life has made a difference.

You are important to me and most of all to God.

You are a special, unique creation of God.

Your life is not an accident.

Be blessed and rest in His love today.

Somebody who loves you,

Holly

How do we grow?

How is a disciple of Jesus Christ supposed to grow spiritually?

Is the right Bible translation the answer?

How about good teaching?

Does a perfect environment promote growth?

Well, the correct answer is: a perfect environment.

But I'm not referring to a Christian community or full time ministry.

I'm speaking of being tapped into The Perfect One.

Jesus said:

I am the Vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit;
Apart from Me, you can do nothing. (John 15:5)


We don't have to try and grow.

We don't have to try and be a branch.

We don't even have to try and be a better branch!

We can simply just BE a branch!

Glory!

The Perfect One, the Perfect Vine does the growing!

He feeds us.

He digs around us.

He prunes us.

And yes He even fertilizes us!

We are able to sit in the sunshine of His indwelling presence and GROW!

We are then able to produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness;

luscious, life giving fruit to feed the nations!

That my dear friends is the abundant LIFE!

That is the easy yoke that He told us about.

That is the yoke we've been looking for;

the yoke that we knew must exist

but has seemed so hard to find!

That is the mystery of mysteries revealed.

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ in you and you in Him is your hope of growth.

Apart from Him, you can do nothing.

Beloved, Do Not Be Surprised

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing as though some strange thing were happening to you; (1Pe 4:12)

I thank God for this verse.

I think of it often.

Fiery ordeals, pressures, afflictions, trials and tribulations are not strange.

I need them and so do you.

My first reaction may sometimes be, “Stop! Go away!”

But then I remember that I must be refined.

I must not shrink back but rather lean into troubles as one leans into a strong wind.

We must let problems and tests do their purifying work.

We must let them blow the chaff away.

~

Many verses speak of being pressed by troubles and tribulation.

Here are a few:

…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

(Act 14:22)

In the world you have tribulation: but take courage; I have overcome the world. (Joh 16:33)

For indeed, when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; so it came to pass, as you know. (1Th 3:4)

~

Lies and doubts often come and try to tell us that if God ‘really” loved us then He wouldn't allow all these "bad" things to happen.

Don't believe the lies.

God knows exactly what we need and when we need it.

He knows the best way to bring about His glory in our lives.

Don't put up a fight- God will have His way.

I will leave you with a poem I came across this week by Louise S. Pridgeon:

Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length,
Pressed so intensely it seems beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressed from foes, and a pressure from friends,
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.
Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life for the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ -life out poured!

Living water!

~ He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (Joh 7:38) ~

Come! Receive of the Water of Life without cost!

When we believe on Him, we can be filled with His Spirit.

When something is full, it can overflow!

Watch out! You might get wet!

I WANT to get wet! Do you?

I want you to be so filled with God that when I'm hearing you speak and watching your life, I'll have the refreshing water of Life splash all over me!

Will you pray for me today?

Will you pray that I might be filled to overflowing with Him?

I'll pray for you too.

Ho! If you're thirsty- come to the water!

Are you willing to come?

"You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to me that you may have life." (John 5:39-40)

The Pharisees of Jesus day spent much time studying the scriptures. They thought they had everything all figured out! But they didn't recognize Jesus when He appeared. How sad! They didn't recognize Him because they didn't know the Father. They thought they knew the scriptures. But knowing the scriptures was not enough for them and it's not enough for us. We cannot have a relationship with the scriptures. Are we willing to go to Jesus that we might have life? that we might have a relationship with the Author of the scriptures?

Jesus said and did only what he saw the Father doing. He was one with Him, He knew Him and we can be one with Him and know Him too! Let's not seek after head knowledge only lest we also miss His appearing.

Life!

New life!
New life!
That's what He's given me!

LIFE!

I am filled with thoughts of His life this morning!

His written word is filled with words about life...

The Good Shepherd gave His life for me!

And because of that I have passed from death unto life!

I have life everlasting- that's eternal life!

I have rivers of life flowing out of me!

He is the Bread of life!

He came that I might have life and life more abundantly!

Because I follow Him, I have the light of life!

That means I can shine!

He has made known to me the ways of life!

Me!? Yes, me- and you!

I shall be saved by His life and reign in life!

I have the newness of life! (We’re not talkin’ old!)

I can hold forth the word of life and speak words of life!

And if you know Him, you can too.

Receive of His life today! There's NOTHING better than Him!

Being built up together

Wherefore comfort yourselves together
and edify one another, even as also ye do. (1Th 5:11)


The Father's desire is to see you built up and edified.
As I walk with the Lord and feel Him making me yield to Him,
I also feel Him wanting to build you up through me.
How can I let Him do that?
Is it through practice, skill or training?
Is there a class we can take to learn how to edify one another?
No.
The only way we can edify one another is through knowing God and having the Holy Spirit of God within us!
His Spirit in you- Christ in you- is the hope of glory and it is our hope of edifying one another too.
It's part of being His temple and His body.

Does edification come through what I say?
Maybe.
Does edification come from what I do?
Maybe.
It all depends on what the Father is doing.
It's so good.
It's so simple.
He fills us.
We live life to the fullest.
He lives through us.
We become edified.

Be built up my brethren!
We are being built up together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit! (Eph. 2:22)