Holy Spirit | Moore to Ponder

Re-blogged: A Loving Pursuit: Part 14 (Loving Guidance)

April 14, 2019 at 2:17 pm (A Loving Pursuit, abiding, advocating, Assurance, Blessings, Contentment, Devotional Series I Have Written, Devotional Thoughts., Discernment, Empathy, Evangelism, Faith, Family, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Home Education, Homeschooling, Hope, Joy, kindness, Knowledge, Life, Lighter Burdens., Love, Love, Marriage, Obedience, Our Unchanging God, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Praise, Prayer, Provision, refuge, Rejoicing, Relaxed Homeschooling, Resting, Restoration, Righteousness, Serving, Sharing, shelter, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Thanksgiving, The Greatest Commandment, Trusting, Truth, value, Veteran Homeschoolers, Vigilance, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, Witnessing, worth)

Scripture references;

” ⁸Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

⁹The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

¹⁰All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Psalm 25:8-10 KJV

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” 1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.²And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had,“Put your hand under my thigh, ³that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, ⁴but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” ⁵The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” ⁶Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. ⁷The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. ⁸But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” ⁹So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

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¹⁰Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia^[a] to the city of Nahor. ¹¹And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.

¹²And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. ¹³Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac.By this^[b] I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

¹⁵Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. ¹⁶The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden^[c] whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. ¹⁷Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” ¹⁸She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. ¹⁹When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” ²⁰So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. ²¹The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.

²²When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel,^[d] and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, ²³and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” ²⁴She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” ²⁵She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” ²⁶The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord ²⁷and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” ²⁸Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. Genesis: 24:1-28 ESV

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Today I want to look at Abraham’s servant. He just touches my heart! Did you notice the love? I’m sure he must have had his own moments when he sinned, because the scripture tells us that all people (even people of faith) sin:

^“12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men^[e] because all sinned— ¹³for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. ¹⁴Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” Romans 5:12-14 ESV

However, He knew Abraham, his master, well, and he loved him. It says he was the oldest of his household. That would be pretty old. Just think of all he had witnessed…all of the happy times, all of the sad times..all of his master’s habits, and weaknesses……..and all of his master’s endearing qualities, and his great faith. He also knew his master’s Lord and had faith in Him and Love for Him. Can’t you tell? How else could he speak like that?

Just think about that man.

Wouldn’t you like to spend a day on the job with him, and then sit around the fire with him later on towards bedtime, and listen to the stories he could tell? Just think how privileged you would be if you allowed him to share the wisdom he had gleaned! He is one of my favorite characters in the Bible.

The Lord cared for him, too, and was his guide. He cares for all that he has created, and leads all who trust in Him and in turn, call on Him. He gives them so much cause for rejoicing.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here:
https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here: www.biblegateway.com They have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!

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Re-blogged: A Loving Pursuit: Part 13 (Jehovah-Jireh…’The Lord Will Provide’)

April 13, 2019 at 11:23 pm (A Loving Pursuit, abiding, About Sin, advocating, Assurance, Battling, chastisement, correction, Devotional Series I Have Written, Devotional Thoughts., Discernment, Empathy, Faith, Family, Fear, Glory, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Home Education, Homeschooling, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Lighter Burdens., Love, Love, Mercy, Obedience, Our Unchanging God, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Praise, Prayer, Provision, refuge, Rejoicing, Relaxed Homeschooling, Resting, Restoration, Righteousness, Salvation, shelter, Sins, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Suffering, Thanksgiving, Transformation., Trusting, Truth, value, Veteran Homeschoolers, Vigilance, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, worth)

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Scripture references;

“Love never fails…” Corinthians 13:8a NKJV

“¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^[d] ¹⁸Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:17-18 ESV

“¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

¹³For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 KJV

“²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 KJV

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The Sacrifice of Isaac

22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ²He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” ³So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. ⁵Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy^[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.” ⁶And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. ⁷And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ⁸Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

⁹When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

¹¹But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹²He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ¹³And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”;^[b] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”^[c]

¹⁵And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven ¹⁶and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his^[d] enemies, ¹⁸and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” ¹⁹So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

²⁰Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: ²¹Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, ²²Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” ²³(Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.²⁴Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

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Do I even dare to comment on Genesis 22?

The Lord calls His Children, and they hear Him (He bestows on them the gift of Faith.). When they hear Him calling they not only answer with their lips, but they follow Him. They walk closely with Him. They stumble (sin), the Lord forgives them, chastises (disciplines and corrects) them, and they in turn repent and continue to follow Him. The Lord also protects them and delivers them from all kinds of evil.

This cycle repeats itself over and over in the lives of His children. As a result, their Faith in Him grows. They become increasingly more confident in His power. They suffer loss, too, but each time they witness the Lord fulfill one of His promises they become more fully persuaded that He will keep His word.

This continuously growing Faith is so powerful. It empowers the Lord’s children to become more and more willing……….more and more able to do things that under any other conditions would be impossible. The Bible tells us that without Faith it is impossible to please God.

But where does this Faith come from? Do we muster it up for ourselves? No. The Lord provides it:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 KJV

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Then those times come when we who believe will be tested. We will not fail. Sometimes the tests will be administered in solitary places where few, if any, will be aware of it. At other times there will be many who will witness it and the Lord will be magnified in their eyes. It is a beautiful thing!

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here:
https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

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Re-blogged: A Loving Pursuit: Part 5 (Love Came to Call)

October 10, 2018 at 1:43 am (A Loving Pursuit, Assurance, Devotional Series I Have Written, Devotional Thoughts., Faith, Forgiveness, Glory, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Hope, Lighter Burdens., Love, Our Unchanging God, Peace, Praise, Prayer, Provision, refuge, Repentance, Resting, Restoration, Righteousness, Salvation, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Thanksgiving, The Greatest Commandment, Transformation., Trusting, Truth, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, worth)

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Scripture reference;

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[d] 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:17-18 ESV

“9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9 KJV

“37 All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the willand purpose of Him Who sent Me.

39 And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day.” John 6:37-39 AMP

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“18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methusael, and Methusael the father of Lamech.

19 And Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah and of the other was Zillah.

20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle andpurchase possessions.

21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.

22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all [cutting] instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say; for I have slain a man [merely] for wounding me, and a young man [only] for striking and bruising me.

24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech [will be avenged] seventy-sevenfold.

25 And Adam’s wife again became pregnant, and she bore a son and called his name Seth. For God, she said, has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, for Cain slew him.

26 And to Seth also a son was born, whom he named Enosh. At that time men began to call [upon God] by the name of the Lord.” Genesis 4:18-26 AMP

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It has been said that “time marches on”, and we see that here in Genesis 4:18-26. We can also see that mankind went blundering along with it, and we continue to do so. People are pairing off, having children, and pursuing various career paths, and all the while music is playing in the background helping to set the mood. Each of us is living out a carefully chronicled story:

“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,” Psalm 40:7 KJV

“13 For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricatelyand curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16 AMP

I love the way this 4th chapter of Genesis ends. Mankind was far from perfect, but they had already begun to call upon God, and He heard them calling. People are still calling on God today, and He hears each and every cry….and He cares…He loves you ever so much.

The lord pursues us and calls out to us, too.

Here is a song that expresses the intense power of God’s Loving call.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here: https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here:www.biblegateway.com They have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!

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Don’t Discount Your Potential

August 15, 2018 at 7:52 pm (Assurance, Contentment, Devotional Thoughts., Discernment, Faith, Gifts, Glory, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Hope, Lighter Burdens., Love, Love, Our Unchanging God, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Praise, self-esteem, Serving, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Transformation., treasures, Trusting, Truth, value, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter)

Another Fearless Year

They were a motley collection of misfits. A tiny purple alyssum and a scraggly white alyssum. Two mini daisies. A wee snapdragon with a single bloom. Each had volunteered in various annual pots left on our deck over the winter. As spring sprung, so did these tenacious sprouts.

We wanted to plant new, healthy flowers in the old pots. But I couldn’t bear to toss my little band of misfits. Somehow I knew they held such promise. They were of hearty stock, small though they were. So I replanted them all in what I dubbed my planter of misfits.

Kind of pitiful, isn’t it? Still, this silly planter grew dear to my heart.

Jesus’s Band of Misfits

The disciples that Jesus called to follow him were a lot like the sprouts in this planter. They were a motley collection of misfits. A few fishermen. A tax collector. A zealot and…

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A Beautiful Song

August 6, 2018 at 5:12 pm (abiding, Assurance, Guidance, Healing, Holy Spirit, Hope, Lighter Burdens., Love, Love, Mercy, Our Unchanging God, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Praise, refuge, Restoration, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Suffering, Thanksgiving, Transformation., Trusting, Truth, value, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter)

A couple of songs for a friend who is moved by nature’s solitude and beauty.

Serenaded Softly

Scripture reference;

^“8The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

⁹The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

¹⁰All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.” Psalm 145:8-10 KJV

“⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV

I was listening to this beautiful song and was moved to share it here.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here:
https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

Do you have a Bible? If you don’t…

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His Precious Word

July 6, 2017 at 6:09 pm (abiding, Assurance, Bible study, Contentment, Devotional Thoughts., Discernment, Faith, Family, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Home Education, Homeschooling, Hope, Life, Lighter Burdens., Love, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Our Unchanging God, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Praise, Relaxed Homeschooling, Resting, Restoration, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Thanksgiving, Transformation., treasures, Truth, value, Veteran Homeschoolers, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, worth)

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Scripture Reference;

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

²The same was in the beginning with God.

³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4 KJV

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

²Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

³Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

⁴Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4 KJV

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV

“⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:9-11 KJV

“⁴⁴No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

⁴⁵It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” John 6:44-45 KJV

“¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:16-19 KJV

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4 KJV

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35 KJV

Lately I have not been spending as much time in Bible study as I should. About an hour ago I paused to think about His Holy Word, and all of these verses surfaced in my mind.

Be of Good Cheer,

Theresa

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here:
https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

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Reflections on the Valley of Vision: Sincerity, Part 2: Commentary on the Prayer

January 19, 2017 at 12:06 am (abiding, Assurance, Devotional Thoughts., Faith, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Life, Lighter Burdens., Our Unchanging God, Patience, Peace, Provision, refuge, Righteousness, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Suffering, Trusting, Truth, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, worth)

I have a friend who is a minister. He also has a blog. I really was blessed by this post.

Late Night Theology

“You desire truth in the inward being;
Therefore teach me wisdom in my secret being.”
– Psalm 51:6, NRSV

(Full prayer may be read here)

In my last post, I shared some thoughts on sincerity and authenticity, and I ranted about Christians who don’t seem to appreciate authentic Christianity. Maybe they only want authenticity when it’s nice, neat, and doesn’t have to do with struggling with the really dirty sins. Regardless of the reason, I’ll probably rant about it later in another blog post or even on the podcast. Right now, I mostly want to talk about the Sincerity prayer found in the Valley of Vision.

The Elector of Saints

“Elector of Saints,”
Notice how the prayer opens up. It addresses God as Elector of Saints. The prayer recognizes the sovereignty of God in the election and predestination of His people. If you read the Bible and believe in…

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Transitions Part 28: “The Good Samaritan”

December 18, 2016 at 12:32 am (advocating, chastisement, correction, Devotional Thoughts., Discernment, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Hope, Judging, Life, Lighter Burdens., Love, Mercy, Obedience, Our Unchanging God, Patience, Provision, Restoration, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Transformation., Transitions ( Where I am, where I have been...the happenings of my life), Trusting, Truth, value, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, worth)

Scripture reference;

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 KJV

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 KJV

²⁵And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

²⁶He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

²⁷And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

²⁸And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

²⁹But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

³⁰And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

³¹And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³²And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

³³But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

³⁴And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁵And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

³⁶Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

³⁷And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Luke 10:25-37 KJV

In spite of the fact that my devotional life has been almost non-existent these past few weeks, I have been actually learning new things. I have learned that there are some things about my own character that still really need improvement.

I still fail to step up to the plate…or at least when I do step up, I step up too slowly…I hesitate.

At other times I rush up to the plate…but with the wrong motive.

I still tend to jump to conclusions…the wrong conclusions.

I am thankful that the Lord loves me enough to bring these things to my attention.

I am thankful that He prevents me from “growing weary in well doing” when I take the time to ask Him to help me.

It’s true. I am a real piece of work…but I am also “His workmanship”.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here:https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

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All Kinds of Weather (Part One: “Flood Watch”)

August 3, 2016 at 5:22 am (abiding, All Kinds of Weather, Armor, Assurance, Battling, Bible study, Devotional Series I Have Written, Devotional Thoughts., Discernment, Faith, Family, Fear, Gifts, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Home Education, Homeschooling, Hope, Judging, Life, Lighter Burdens., Love, Marriage, Mercy, Our Unchanging God, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Provision, refuge, Relaxed Homeschooling, Repentance, Restoration, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Transformation., treasures, Trusting, Truth, value, Vigilance, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, worth)
Tags: Gifts

This picture was taken 6 or 7 years ago while
I was on a trip with my children. There was an
impending storm at the time.

Scripture reference;

^“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

^“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

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You’re driving along under a sky that “had” been blue until those thick gray clouds you noticed earlier, maybe ten miles to the west, finally made their way overhead. You scan the sky wondering.

Then it happens—that first raindrop makes a hurried descent splashing against your windshield. Two seconds pass, and a few of her companions arrive—splat! Then the clouds can contain themselves no longer—your car, the road, the entire landscape—all is at the mercy of a heavy downpour. You reach for that little switch, and feel the satisfaction that comes once those wipers are set in motion. The song on the radio is interrupted as the station makes the announcement that the “National Weather Service” has issued a “Flash Flood Warning” for your area.

Next you pull into the parking lot of your favorite grocery store. What luck! There’s an empty parking space right by the entrance. You rush inside quickly gathering the items on your list, and make your way to the check out.

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A few moments later you are once again in your car pulling out of the parking lot, and back onto the street; parts of which are already under an inch or two of water, so you gingerly make your way through town, and finally pull into your own driveway—safe and sound.

Do you live in an area that is prone to flooding? If you do, you already have this memorized. I copied and pasted the following from wikipedia.

There are two types of alerts for flash floods which are issued by the National Weather Service. One is a flash flood watch, which means that conditions are favorable for flash flooding, and the other is a flash flood warning, meaning that a flash flood is occurring or one will occur imminently and is usually issued when there are strong weather radar echoes for an area that is prone to flash flooding. Flash floods can also occur because of a dam or levee failure, or because of a sudden release of water held by an ice jam.”

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Today I am once again thinking about words, phrases, and expressions. Let’s look at these:

“rain”, “rain drops”, “weather”, and “flood”.

Each of these words have both literal and figurative (or allegorical) meanings. Figuratively speaking, rain can have both positive and negative meanings. Rain can be that precious resource that nourishes and hydrates the earth and all of its inhabitants. Too much rain can bring destruction along with it.

Flooding often has a negative and obvious meaning. However, it can also have a positive meaning. At daybreak the sun floods the earth with life giving light. Sun loving plants literally reach out to the sun. Our minds can become flooded with thoughts, and our hearts flooded with emotions.

Weather can be equated with circumstances. It also can be equated with the prevailing mood or mindset of a group of people, may they be those who dwell in our homes, those we encounter at work, school, or church, or those whose words we read or listen to by using various types of media.

Now I am once again thinking of the scenario at the beginning of this post, but in a figurative way. I believe we can find some spiritual parallels there if we try.

“⁹And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

¹⁰For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

¹¹If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

¹²Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

¹³If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:9-13

Our minds are like that windshield.

Do we truly understand why we must daily go to the Lord in prayer and in the reading of scripture if we are to have our minds renewed? Do we truly understand that a sound mind is a precious gift that only our Heavenly Father can bestow? Do we understand that He delights in bestowing us with this gift, and will withhold neither the Holy Spirit nor the gift of a renewed mind…(or a sound mind) from a single person who asks for them?

The Bible reveals what the Father desires, what each of us needs, and just how those needs are supplied. It will even help us to pray when words seem to fail us. Do you know the Lord’s prayer? Here it is below.

Love and Blessings,

Theresa

^“9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

¹¹Give us this day our daily bread.

¹²And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

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Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here:https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

Image credit for cars and rain, pixabay.com

8 Comments

All His Benefits (Part 11)

July 1, 2016 at 1:28 am (abiding, About Sin, All His Benefits, Assurance, Devotional Series I Have Written, Devotional Thoughts., Discernment, Faith, Family, Fear, Forgiveness, Grace, Guidance, Holy Spirit, Home Education, Homeschooling, Hope, Lighter Burdens., Love, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Obedience, Our Unchanging God, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Praise, Provision, refuge, Relaxed Homeschooling, Repentance, Resting, Restoration, Righteousness, Salvation, shelter, Sins, Sovereignty of God, strengthening, Transformation., Trusting, Truth, value, Veteran Homeschoolers, Vigilance, When you are afraid, When you feel bitter, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom, worth)

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Scripture Reference;

Psalm 103

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

¹⁸To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

¹⁹The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

²⁰Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

²¹Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

²²Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

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Here are the verses I am considering today:

“ ¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

¹⁸To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” Psalm 103:13-18 KJV

Earthly Fathers vary greatly. There are good fathers and bad fathers. There are movies and television shows that offer examples of what some would estimate to be truly great fathers.

Below is a video that I have used in another post that was devoted to the subject of both earthly fathers and our Heavenly Father. I think it is perfect for this post, because it depicts tenderness and compassion. Little Zuzu had caught a cold, and was sent upstairs to bed. George goes up there to check on her. The look on his face at the very end always touches my heart.

Both verse 13 and 17 mention fear.

I have spoken about fear many times in my blog posts over the years. There is a type of fear that is of God, and a type of fear that is of the enemy. The fear that is of God is the fear that comes from the knowledge that God the Father is both righteous and holy. It is a fear that has its root in love, and is actually initiated by the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) who dwells inside all Born Again Christians. When people are born again there is a longing in their hearts to be like Him, and to hear Him say, “Well done”. This fear motivates them to learn what pleases Him, and to put forth the effort to do just that. That is why they study the Bible. These verses below illustrate that.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11 KJV

“²⁴For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

²⁵Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

²⁷And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

²⁸And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. ” Ezekiel 36:24-38 KJV

“¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

¹³For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 KJV

As you read here about fear, covenant keeping, and keeping His commandments to do them, you might find yourself wondering, “To what extent Christians actually do this?”. This is a tricky subject that has been discussed among Christians with varying answers.

I can tell you this much—they “will” put forth an effort, but they “won’t” carry it out perfectly. Each and every day the most devoted Christian will fall short of that (will sin) to some extent.

There are so many passages I could quote from both the old and new testaments which teach us that, but in order to keep this post from becoming too long I think I will share just two.

One of them happens to be right here in Psalm 103. Look here:

^“¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

¹⁸To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.”

D0 you know what mercy and grace are? Here is the meaning of those two words put into the simplest terms:

mercy– God’s decision not to punish us as we deserve.

grace– God’s decision to give us something good that we do “not” deserve

Now look at verse 17 again. Those who fear and keep (do) His commandments are also recipients of mercy. They would not be recipients of mercy if they did not require mercy. They would not require mercy if they had feared and obeyed perfectly.

Here are a couple of passages from the New Testament:

“¹²Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 KJV

“⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:7-10 KJV

I spoke earlier of the fear that is of God. Now I want to explain the fear that is “not” of God, but of the enemy. The enemy wants our minds to believe lies. He wants to rob Christians of peace , joy and hope. He wants us to doubt that we are the children of God and heirs to all of God’s promises that are found in scripture. He wants to convince us that it is a waste of time to pray, to study the Bible, and to trust that the Father loves us. Sometimes he succeeds for awhile. The result is a horrible, sickening fear “That Torments”. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin, and draws us to return to the Father and confess our sins (He initiates repentance), but NEVER torments:

“¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:17-19 KJV

I want to conclude this post with these verses:

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“ ¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

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Oh yes, the Father knows our frames! He has searched us and known us through and through, and knows how short our earthly lives are and just how frail and needy we really are. Below is something to consider.

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“²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

²⁷And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:26-31 KJV
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Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Please click here:https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/category/about-salvation-very-important-words/ and make sure.

Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just go to http://www.biblegateway.com. They have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!

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Scripture references;

“Love never fails…” Corinthians 13:8a NKJV

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The Sacrifice of Isaac

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photo credit: pixabay.com

Re-blogged: A Loving Pursuit: Part 5 (Love Came to Call)

Scripture reference;

photo credit: pixabay.com

Don’t Discount Your Potential

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Scripture Reference;

Reflections on the Valley of Vision: Sincerity, Part 2: Commentary on the Prayer

Transitions Part 28: “The Good Samaritan”

Scripture reference;

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 KJV

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 KJV

All Kinds of Weather (Part One: “Flood Watch”)

This picture was taken 6 or 7 years ago while
I was on a trip with my children. There was an
impending storm at the time.

Scripture reference;

^“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

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All His Benefits (Part 11)

Scripture Reference;

Psalm 103

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Scripture references;

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photo credit: pixabay.com

Scripture references;

“Love never fails…” Corinthians 13:8a NKJV

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The Sacrifice of Isaac

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photo credit: pixabay.com

Scripture reference;

photo credit: pixabay.com

Scripture Reference;

Scripture reference;

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 KJV

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 KJV

This picture was taken 6 or 7 years ago while I was on a trip with my children. There was an impending storm at the time.

Scripture reference;

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

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Scripture Reference;

Psalm 103

Search

Pages

Archives

Categories

Meta

This picture was taken 6 or 7 years ago while
I was on a trip with my children. There was an
impending storm at the time.

^“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7