Powerless!

Reading in Hebrews this morning....

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. Hebrews 2:14 NASB

RENDERED POWERLESS!  Jesus has rendered the devil powerless in my life.. in YOUR life (if you are a child of God).  How amazing and ... well, powerful, is that!?

And then it really hit me... when the enemy has power in my life.... it is not because he has the authority to do so but because I am letting him!  WHOA!  So the next time I feel him taking power (me giving him that authority), I must remember this verse and say "No way, satan!  JESUS rendered you powerless through His death and that means you have no power in my life. I am choosing to walk in the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit that is in me!"

How 'bout you? Which power are you going to plug into today?

Persevere!

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:15

I love the parable of the sower, so as I am reading through the book of Luke I was thrilled to be at chapter 8 this morning.  Every time I read this parable, I pray to be the good soil... to hear the Word, retain it and produce a crop.  But there is one part I feel I overlook... in fact, I think most of us overlook it... "by persevering."

Once again I am reminded that the life lived in Christ is not an easy one. From Genesis to Revelation we are called to persevere.  Be courageous... Trust in the Lord... Stand Firm.... these and similar exhortations say the same thing.. PERSEVERE!

It is key to living a life in Christ.

"Therefore... let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." 

Heb. 12:1

Almighty

The Lord.... Almighty

"I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless" Gen. 17:1b

"And God said to him (Abraham), 'I am God Almighty.'" Gen. 35:11a

"The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Job 33:4

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  Ps. 91:1

"Holy, Holy,  Holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory."  Isa. 6:3

Downcast

I was rather glum yesterday -- the weight of the world on my shoulders.  At some point I heard in my spirit... "Why are you downcast, O my soul?"  I knew that came from a Psalm and the point was with God there is no need to be downcast.  I let the day go on and never stopped to look up the actual Psalm.  But this morning I did...

Ps. 42:5 & 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

and then I read on to verse 6...


My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You....

There is the key to not being downcast...

remember WHO God is... WHAT He has done... WHAT He promises

That is the cure! Remember... Focus..... on God.

And it is a choice... we CHOOSE to Focus on Him and not our circumstances.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Heb. 12:2a

Let us -- again, a choice. Something we are told to do (Let us) but not made to do... it is our choice. So when I am downcast, it is my choice to stay there! Whoa!


My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.  Ps. 25:15

Where are your eyes today?

What the Bible says about itself?

I have started a study on Psalm 119... Sweeter than Chocolate by Pam Gillaspie.  I have only done the first few pages and am already loving it and being challenged by it.  

The first thing we are looking at are the claims the Bible makes about itself. The author of the study wrote:

"If God's Word really is what it claims to be; if it really does what it claims to do, and if you choose to align your life with its claims, it could change your life forever. ...  The questions that at the end of the day will make all the difference are these: Is the Bible actually what it claims to be Does the Bible actually do what it claims to do?  If the answers are yes, we are fools if we don't align ourselves according with its truths.  If the answers are no, we are fools if we bother."

She then asks what I, the seeker, know about the claims the Bible makes about itself?  So I did a quick concordance search and found verses that talk about the Word and made a quick list of some of the things the Bible claims about itself.

Here is what I found...

Deut 8:3b Man does not live by bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  

God's Word is as necessary for me to live as food 

Deut 31:26 The Word of Law (specifically the Torah) is a witness against Israel and really against us also. It is a mirror of how we should live that shows our shortcomings and unrighteousness. (Which sounds awful but hang on there is more!)

Joshua 1:8 (one of my favorite verses) Do not let this book of the Law (again at this point the Torah) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Word  = Instructions for me on living

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

2 Sam. 22:31 -- The Word of the Lord is FLAWLESS

Ps 19:7-8 .. the Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant.  It revives my soul, makes me wise, give joy to my heart and gives light to my eyes.

v. 9 says it is Sure and altogether righteous.

v. 10 -- it is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey

Ps 119:9 to keep my way pure, I must lie according to the Word

v 11 It keeps me from sinning WHEN it is a part of me

v 105 -- it guides, illuminates

Prov. 30:5 Every word of God is FLAWLESS

Isa 55:11 -- The Word will not come back void.. it will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

John 1:1 -- the Word has always been and according to v. 14 it became flesh - Jesus!

Luke 21:33 Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my Words will never pass away.

Eph 6:17 -- Sword of the Spirit (our only offensive weapon in the armor of God) is the Word of God.

Phil 2:16 -- It is the Word of Life

Col 3:16 -- It should dwell richly in me.  Col. 3:16 starts with the word LET so it is a choice I make to let it dwell richly in me. How? bu choosing to be in the Word and to have the Word in me!

2 Tim 3:16 - 17 ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. SO that the man (woman) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

Heb. 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword.  It penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I believe every one of those claims.. but I have to ask myself if I live like I believe them? Do I live like I believe God and what He says?

Do you?

I would encourage you to take a bit of time and look up what the Bible says about itself.  And then stop and think of each point you find and decide 1) Do you believe it and 2) Do you live like you do

Barb

Emmanuel at Easter

I am reading through Walter Wangerin's Lenten devotional book, Revive the Passion.  (I recommend it highly, along with his Advent devotional, Preparing for Jesus.) A recent day's reading started with Mark 14:53-65.  In this powerful passage of Scripture, we see Jesus at the home of the high priest. "They all condemned Him as deserving death.  And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to strike Him, saying to Him, 'Prophesy!' And the guards received Him with blows."  It is gruesome and should be overwhelming as we read how our Lord was treated because of our sin.

As I finished reading these verses, a song started playing in my mind... It is a Christmas song on Casting Crowns' "Peace on Earth" CD. It was my favorite song this past Christmas season. The part resonating in my mind goes "Love is raining down on the world tonight, there's a presence here I can tell. God is with us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel.  He's the Savior we have been waiting for. In our humble hearts, He will dwell. God is with us. God is for us. God is with us, Emmanuel."

It seems odd to be singing a Christmas song as Easter is approaching... as the focus is on the Cross not the Manger.. and yet...

At Christmas those words are wrapped up like swaddling clothes around a tiny baby in a manger -- hope personified -- all pretty and sweet and real.

As I look towards Easter.. towards Calvary and the Crucifixion of that sweet babe grown to manhood, those words are still true. They are now nailed to a cross with a battered and bleeding Savior. In fact, in some ways I believe they fit at Easter more than at Christmas.

As Jesus hung on the cross, God's wrath rained down on Him and yet love... true love... God's love.. rained down on the world. On me... on you... on all who ever has been and ever will be...No doubt the presence of God was there.. No doubt He was still Emmanuel on that Cross... "God with us" was crucified -- willingly for our sins.  That is a gut wrenching thought for me.. and it should be for you.

He was at that moment beaten and bare.. bruised... abused... dying and yet still the Savior the world was waiting for... He is still that Savior today.  THE Only Savior and many in the world continue to wait for Him... some who don't realize He has come and those of us who await His final triumphant return.  God does now dwell in our hearts through the Holy Spirit -- Emmanuel is real today -- He is God with us and He lives in those who choose to Believe!

Word of the Year: Choice

I am woefully behind on this blog!  I realized that I haven't even posted my word for the year. I started this tradition with myself in 2008. My word then was Gratitude. 2009: Peace. 2010: Change (I was not thrilled about that one, but it was perfect for that year!) My 2011 word did not come quickly as the others had. In fact, I really wondered if I would have a word. I kept trying to make words fit instead of waiting on the Lord to show me. I am a bit surprised my word isn't patience!  But He did show me late in January... Choice.

Life really is all about Choices.

I choose to sleep a bit longer or get up and have time with God

I choose to respond to someone in love or anger

I choose to exercise or sit on the couch

I choose to eat healthy or not

I choose what goes into my mind, my mouth, my heart etc.

I choose ow I spend my time, where I spend it, who I spend it with etc.

I choose to obey or disobey the Lord

I choose to take Him at His Word -- BELIEVE Him... have FAITH in Him... or not to

I choose to Walk in Faith or stumble around on my own

I choose to wait patiently on His timing or to try to make something happen on my own or to grumble as I wait

The list goes on and on and on and on.. and almost daily He shows me how CHOICE affects my life.

I pray that I will be like Mary and choose the Better thing!

Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42