“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
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him,What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And 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.
28 And he said unto him,Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And 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.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And 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.
35 And 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.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And 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 have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here:www.biblegateway.comThey have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!
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.
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.
“9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If 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?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If 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
“9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And 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
Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here:www.biblegateway.comThey have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!
“If we take the time to consider just how frail each and everyone of us is we are enabled to forgive much and love much and be set free from much, enabled to know a measure of peace and joy that we have never known before…”
I have been a little sick lately. I would appreciate your prayers.
I wrote this blog post a few years ago. I thought I would share it again. I hope it blesses you.
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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Today I am looking at verse 19:
“The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.“
Here is another verse that expresses that:
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 KJV
This verse means a lot to me. It speaks of authority. As we look around it may seem like evil is prevailing, but the Lord will have the last word. He sees everything. Nothing escapes His notice. The causes that truly are just are also the causes the Lord will honor and execute. I pray that the Lord will help us… will help me… to be patient, and to trust Him, and that we…I… would obey Him. Here is a song I like that speaks on this subject:
You know what really comforts me about His authority? He has the authority to cancel sins…to blot them out…to pardon. Oh, this makes me so glad! He is full of pity for us, and convicts us, and we, in turn, cry out to Him, “Father forgive me for I have sinned!” Then he scoops us up in his tender embrace and heals us with His love. I am crying as I type this. I am so thankful.
I wrote a poem a while back that illustrates this:
“Leaning” by Theresa Anne Moore
L aying my cheek upon His Breast I exhaled softly and
E ntered His rest.
A nxious and noxious thoughts that choked me
N o longer held power; no longer provoked me.
I mpressions were formed deep down inside me;
N uances of love to support and to guide me.
G racefully carried by God.
If you would like to read other poems I have written you will find them here:
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!
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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A few weeks ago I came across this series, and felt lead to re-post it. Then I realized that it was incomplete.
I started this series back in 2011. That was an exciting year. I was ending one career, and beginning a new career. I was a veteran homeschooling mother. My oldest child had just finished graduate school, and had begun a career of his own. Both my daughter and I had been accepted for admission for full time enrollment at the university here in our town. My husband was still working at a restaurant where he had begun working in 1997. He had also returned to college in 2010. We were all so proud of him, because he was (and still is) legally blind.
We weren’t the perfect family. We had our own problems like many families do, but at that time I was feeling more confident than I had ever felt in my entire life. I was doing well for the first year or so, but then a number of hardships came.
My husband’s glaucoma worsened bringing eye pain and vision loss. As a result, he broke his foot while on campus, because he misjudged a step. He withdrew from college in 2012. Then he took his first medical leave of absence from his job in 2013, and finally had to quit in 2014.
I ended up withdrawing from college shortly after midterm in the spring of 2013. I remember that I had made good grades, but the stress of it all was just too much for me. By then our daughter had spread her wings and had moved into her first apartment with a college friend a few months earlier.
There were also other problems that came along.
Our income had dropped by about 60%, but our bills hadn’t. We had only about nine years until our mortgage would have been paid off, but they foreclosed. We got a letter informing us that our house was going to be sold at auction, and I was starting to cringe whenever anyone knocked on our front door, fearing that it might be the sheriff telling us it was time to leave the premises. I had sent a prayer request to a handful of facebook friends. One Sunday afternoon our phone rang, and one of my childhood friends who happened to live in another state was on the other end. She told us that the Lord had lead them to purchase our mortgage, and that we could begin making house payments to them whenever we were able! The Lord is so merciful.
There were other heartbreaking experiences that came in 2014, and restoration is still pending. These were also things that broke the Lord’s heart.
All four of us had lead pretty sheltered lives from 1987 until around 2010 I guess. My husband worked outside the home. I worked inside the home. Our socialization beyond that was basically in church, and in our Christian homeschooling community. I knew there would be numerous temptations for the kids to compromise once they entered college. What I hadn’t counted on was that I would be tempted the same way, as I endeavored to remain bonded to my children in this new setting…
I stumbled in a number of ways. To put it in plain words, I sinned. What a tight rope I walked for so long. I should have been more steadfast. I ended up suffering loss anyway. What I had been afraid might happen did happen, and even worse.
So here I am. I still have my home, and I have been working steady at a rewarding part-time job for almost a year. I hope it might become full-time some day, but combined with my husband’s disability income we are keeping food on the table. My husband’s eye has his good days and bad days where pain is concerned. He has to use a cane now to get around in town, and runs into doors and door jams here at home, but he stays in pretty good spirits much of the time.
I never got that degree, and I won’t be getting any awards for woman of the year. I am just a simple woman living in her little house here in Arkansas, still sinning a little each day, confessing those sins and attempting to turn from them a lot each day, still praying, and still trusting the Lord with the measure of faith I have been given.
” 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.” Psalm 103: 10-11 KJV
You know what? I don’t think I am going to try to explore those verses here today. I have been exploring them for nearly my entire life, and if you are a Christian you have been, too.
Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just go tohttp://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!
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11 KJV
“8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 KJV
“5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 KJV
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV
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Godly sorrow–what a phrase! Have you known it? Have you caused it?
Have you caused it, then known it, and as a result, felt it? I have.
Once you have experienced it you are enabled to love, and once you are enabled to love you are enabled to have godly sorrow on behalf of someone else. Although its start is sudden, it’s a progressive work, and takes a long time before it is entirely complete, but it will be complete, because it is rooted in love.
Now there is something really fascinating about godly sorrow. It never exists alone. It is also followed by peace, joy, and grace, and these things are so wonderful that they more than compensate for the pain.
Now we have come to Genesis 42. We have already seen godly sorrow at work in Jacob and in Joseph. Now we are about to see it begin to work in his brothers, as well.
“1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
3 And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
11 We are all one man’s sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
26 And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth.
28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,
30 The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
31 And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
33 And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:
34 And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.
35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
36 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
38 And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.” Genesis 42 KJV
Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here:www.biblegateway.comThey have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:16 KJV
Yesterday was such a beautiful day. The day before that we had storms that produced some tornadoes in our state, but a day later it was sunny; a beautiful spring day.
I went for a walk with my husband on the college campus here in our town. It is such a lovely place. We both were enrolled there a few years ago, but my husband’s glaucoma and a few other eye issues began to give him a lot of trouble, so we both ended up dropping out. It was wonderful while it lasted. I remember this day. I was so proud of him, and I still am.
And here is a picture my daughter took of me in a book store. I had just gotten my first pair of glasses, and was trying to look scholarly. 🙂
Both my daughter and I were freshman in college, and my husband was a sophomore. Our son was not officially enrolled, but was at the campus library a good deal of the time studying for the GMAT exam in hopes of getting in on a PhD program. All four of us were living together in our little house that has less than 1,200 square feet, and my husband was also still working part-time at his job at a local restaurant, an amazing feat when you consider his age and physical limitations.
Here are a few more pictures from that chapter of our lives.
In the years that have followed we have experienced some really hard things. Still, the Lord has been so faithful through it all. He loves His children with an unfailing love, and will always be glad when we call on Him.
When I consider just how sinful I can be it amazes me that He has continued to help me, and show me in so many ways that He loves me.
I read a post at a friend’s blog yesterday that inspired me. It said:
“Don’t Judge another’s story by the chapter you walked in on.”
Natalie’s blog is a place where you will find comfort, encouragement, and inspiration. You really should visit there. Here is the link to the post that I read: http://sacredtouches.com/2016/03/14/dont-judge/
The quote was thought provoking. We really should take that advice to heart. We should also be careful to avoid judging our own story that way. I understand that we need to be honest, and confess our sins to the Lord, and acknowledge our own role in our experiences, but I tend to allow past canceled sins to haunt me, and that is not what the Lord wants me or anyone else to do. I need to work on that. We need to learn to let go. We need to see how the Lord sees us, and look at ourselves the same way.
“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” Isaiah 38:17 KJV
“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130 KJV
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:1-7 KJV
I still struggle with bouts of spiritual amnesia where the Lord will show me beautiful things that speak to my situation(s), and also show me who I am in the His eyes, but I am prone to quickly forget. This brings me a huge amount of anguish and stress. Recently I found myself once again in the ER and leaving with the same diagnosis…”Panic Disorder”. I have decided to go for counseling. I wrote an entire series on Psalm 40 back in 2010 (the year before I began college). It was my therapy during that season of panic attacks.
I hope my transparency won’t let any of my readers down. I just want to be honest and hopefully help anyone out there who might have similar struggles.
Here is a link to a post I wrote that I try to remember:
So here I am doing the best that I can. I work part-time one-on-one with adults who have developmental disabilities in a supportive living situation. It is a rewarding job. I still see myself as a student of “higher learning”, though, and am eager to watch as the Lord fills in the pages of my story.
“1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 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 12:1-2 KJV
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“For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” Hebrews 7:14 KJV
“23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-31 KJV
Have you ever read the 38th chapter of Genesis? If this is the first time you are in for a surprise. There is so much that is surprising to first-time readers of the Bible. Well, it was surprising to me. We have a holy God, and He has made it perfectly clear in His word what is sinful, and that He hates sin. However, so much about His ways of dealing with people is past our understanding. Here is where I left off in my last post:
“6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.
11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
14 And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.
21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.” Genesis 38:6-30 KJV
Fornication is a sin. Had Judah forgotten that? Did he not realize that “both” Tamar and he himself had committed the same sin when he requested that she be brought forth to be punished? What do you think he might have been thinking?
Have you ever been disgusted at the moment you witnessed someones sinful behavior, and then moments later recalled something shameful that you yourself thought said or did…something that you hoped would never be revealed, or even worse…it was revealed? I have. Did it make you cringe? I did. Aren’t you glad that the Lord has promised to forgive us if we confess our sins…if we confess that we are sinners, and receive Jesus as our Savior?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 KJV
“8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 KJV
Now here is something remarkable:
“1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:1-16 KJV
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“6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”Isaiah 55:6-9 KJV
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“41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;
45 Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?”Genesis 27:41-45 KJV
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“1And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.
2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3 And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5 And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.
9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.
20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
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22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
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24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.
36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
49 And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:
52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.”Genesis 31 KJV
For about a year now I have thought off and on about the life stories of a number of people that I have read about in the Book of Genesis. The Lord spoke giving commands and making promises. The Lord fulfilled His promises, still fulfills them, and will continue to fulfill them.
Unfortunately, His children sometimes read into His promises, and see things that really don’t exist. We so easily set our hearts on earthly things such as material possessions, relationships, and roles. Our hearts cause us to map out a course, and set time tables. We set ourselves up for a world of hurt when we do that. Let’s pause and consider the last words Rebekah, one of the great matriarchs of Israel, spoke to her son Jacob:
“43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;”
She had no idea that the Lord’s plan would require Jacob to be away for two decades, rather than days, and that she would not be seeing him again during her earthly life. It saddens my heart to think of that, but when I pause and reflect on the fact that the Lord grants eternal life to His children, and that He also grants them with an eternal relationship with Him, and that sweet fellowship and comfort accompany that relationship it cheers me up considerably. I like to meditate on this Bible verse:
“The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Psalm 145:9 KJV
I often fail to remember that; fail to truly appreciate it. Then the Lord causes me to remember it, and on really special occasions I even catch glimpses of it in action in my very own life. Those are blessed moments indeed! I don’t have a pile of rocks to commemorate them, but do have lips that can thank Him and praise Him. I have my testimony, and a blog.
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“1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:1-8 KJV
“1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
3 Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.” Psalm 131 KJV
“22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath ‘raised him from the dead.'” Acts 17:22-31 KJV
“Be, is, am, are, was, were, being, and been”—they are The Eight Forms of Be. I memorized them when I was in school, so that I could use them correctly, and hopefully write sentences containing subjects and verbs that would agree. I mess up from time to time, but I try.
Have I fully comprehended their significance as I read the Bible? No, I haven’t comprehended; have not fully apprehended it.
I am learning to grasp that I am in Christ, that I am hid in Him, and am a joint-heir with Him, yet I must also grasp that if I would be conformed into His image I, too, must endeavor to be made of “no reputation”. My flesh is firmly set on resisting that. Contending with my flesh (my pride and my ego) is an exhausting battle. At times I find myself wondering why I even try.
However, I’m not without hope. I understand my helping verbs, and I have His promises in my heart:
“16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise 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.
27 And 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.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For 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.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:16-31 KJV
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!