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
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Do you want to pass this test?
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 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
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!
