All posts by Freda Farmer

Powerful break up spells that work immediately https://www.diamondway-buddhism.org/news/break_up_spell_on_those_who_have_to_end_their_relationship.html Spells to break up a couple.

Merry Christmas to you!

Uncategorized

Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones!  May the Lord give us a spirit of gratitude as we reflect on all the wonderful things He has done this past year for us and all the wonderful plans He has for our future.

 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Jeremiah 29:11, AMPC)

And most of all, may we give thanks that He came to earth, fully Divine and fully human in the Person of His beloved Son, to save us from our sins and empower us to live holy lives for His glory and His praise.

Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased} men of goodwill, of His favor].  (Luke 2:13-14, AMPC)

3 men sitting on ground

Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

What do you see? #godindailylife, #thebibleindaily life

ANXIETY, ENCOURAGEMENT, GRATITUDE, TRUSTING GOD

 

What do I see? What do you see in this first picture?

I see a tree that has suffered loss, the sliced off ends of branches silent testimony to many major losses happening at the same time.

 

 

 

 

What do you see in this next picture?

I see that the tree is set next to many of its fellows. They are together fulfilling the purpose for which they were planted: to help mark the boundary of a fence line. The tree that lost many branches is indeed smaller but it fulfills its purpose in the original place where it was planted just as the other trees do. I barely notice the scars of the tree’s past.

 

 

 

And how about this last picture. What do you see? I see that there are many of these boundary marking trees spread along the fence. The fence frames a broad and lush pasture, where cows graze. And beyond that one pasture, and that one farm, lies another farm, then another, and still beyond that I see vast stretches of untouched countryside, with trees, brush and the natural undulations of land unmarred by the hand of man, a countryside filled with sounds of birdsong, squirrel chirrups and the rustlings of many common creatures sheltering there.

What do I choose to see? Especially in the Christmas season, unrealistic expectations so often create disappointment and stir up painful memories and hurts. I can easily be tricked into gazing into the past, focusing on all that went before.

Or, I can choose to focus on something greater my own concerns. If I do, I begin to see the purpose God has for my life and how He has used the trials of the past to shape me more into His image (Romans 8:29). And I see that God’s purpose is good and that others have a similar purpose and similar experiences.

I see what I choose to see. Yes, by God’s great grace,  I can choose to take a broad, high view, like that of an eagle. With an eagle’s eye, I see only beauty.

When I see from an eternal perspective—from God’s perspective–I see only God’s purposes being fulfilled in me and in the place of this life where He has planted me. I do not see the scars of my past. Thus, the enemy cannot steal the joy God has lovingly planted along the path of this day especially for me.

11 Light is sown for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart [the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection].  (Psalm 97:11-12, AMPC).

Oh, open the eyes of my heart, Lord! Oh, Lord! Help me get my eyes off of self and all that is past! Help me “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” (Colossians 3:2, NLT) Help me fix my eyes on things above. Help me expect You and look for You, and hope in You! For so shall You change me and give me a new kind of strength and power.

Oh, Lord! Help me soar with You! As a man mounts a horse, so the eagle mounts the wind. An eagle merely spreads its wings and mounts up upon the wind and is effortlessly carried along. So, Lord, by faith I spread wide the wings of my heart. And I soar, Lord, I soar with You. In Your limitless strength I shall indeed “run and not be weary”. I “shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31, AMPC)

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. (Isaiah 40:28-31, AMPC, emphasis added).

Dearest Father, grant me a willing heart throughout this special season to keep my eyes on You and on letting You love others through me. Thank You for the settled peace that always brings. Amen.

bald eagle flying under forest during daytimePhoto by Kea Mowat on Unsplash

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

GRATITUDE

white candles on round tablePhoto by LIbby Penner on Unsplash

I can find no better words for this special day than Psalm 100.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!

2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

3 Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. (AMPC)

Dear Father in heaven,
We thank You for all You have done, for us individually and for our nation and our world.  Oh, Lord, help us remember every day and every hour to give  You the worship and praise and gratitude You deserve. Help us love You and serve You with an undivided heart. You are our King and our very great delight. Thank You for loving us! Amen.

 

Please pardon the technical error!

Uncategorized

I made a big mistake! The November 2 blog post announced that a new book–“God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security”–was available on the Books, etc. page of this website.  However, I made the link go to a single page of verses the book is based on rather than the actual manuscript.

If you tried to download the book and found only one page of verses, I am sure you were frustrated. I am so sorry! Please forgive my lack of technical expertise and try again.

Below is a revised description of the book.

“God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security” unfolds nine Bible passages that will anchor your soul in the unshakeable peace and security only God can give the human heart. True-life experiences are woven into explanatory study of the nine Bible passages.

Personal experiences meditating upon and applying these Scriptures demonstrate how to attain not only peace and security but the God-pleasing habit of meditating on the Word day and night.

“ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8, NLT)

Meditating is not as difficult as you may think, and this book shows you how. I pray that you give it your sincere effort. You will not be disappointed. God always, always, always rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

So, dear friend, once again I have proven that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1. KJV). I only discovered my mistake by Divine “accident”. How richly blessed we all are that God watches over us with care! (Genesis 28:15).

Love and prayers,
Freda

How much love is enough? Part Four #godindaily life, #the bible in daily life

ANXIETY, BIBLE STUDY, DAILY LIFE, TRUSTING GOD

Happy father young man and baby girl little daughter having fun on bed in room at homePhoto for Getty Images on Unsplash

But if one loves God truly
[with affectionate reverence,
prompt obedience, and
grateful recognition of His blessing],
he is known by God
[recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love,
and he is owned by Him]. (I Corinthians 8:3, AMPC, emphasis added)

Review of Parts One through Three. In Parts One through Three we studied the first half of 1 Corinthians 8:3, which is the if part of the if/then promise —  If we “love God truly” then we are “known by God.”

We saw that God wants us to be reverent toward Him, but He wants that reverence to be like the same affectionate respect a young child has toward a loving human father. God also wants us to obey Him quickly and to have a sincerely thankful heart for His blessings.

Why we approach God with confidence. We ended Part Three with the well-known passage Hebrews 4:14-16. Did you find the connections between that passage and 1 Corinthians 8:3? The connection I see is that I Corinthians 8:3 gives one of many reasons why I can approach God with confidence.  Here is Hebrews 4:14-16 again.

4 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV, emphasis added)

With these words Our loving Father is urging us to draw near to Him, with confidence, when we need help. Why? Because through what Jesus experienced, He feels what we feel.  He has “a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation”(AMPC).  God has the same fatherly compassion on us as a human father has on his children because God “knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.” (AMPC)

Now consider the second half of 1 Corinthians 8:3. The one who loves God truly “. . .  is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].” Think about a cherished little boy. He runs to his papa for comfort or help or to ask for whatever he needs. He does so with confidence, no hesitation at all, because he knows his papa’s loving character. That child has personal acquaintance and experience with his loving papa. He is like the believer God speaks of in Psalm 91:14

14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].  (AMPC, emphasis added).

God is talking about someone who understands His character, who knows what He is like because that person has personal experience with God’s mercy, love and kindness. That person trusts and relies on God—on the basis of that knowledge of God—and knows God “will never forsake him, no never!” That person approaches God with confidence.

But what if we are not confident about approaching God? Now think about another cherished little boy just adopted into that same family. This little boy had an abusive early childhood and was then in an orphanage where other children told him adoptive parents were cruel and harsh.

Before this hurt and misinformed little boy can approach his new father with confidence, he must hear and believe the truth about his new father. He needs words of love and reassurance from his new father, and he needs actual experience with his new father’s mercy and loving kindnesses. All that happens naturally as that little boy just lives with his new father. His new father adores him, knows what little boys need, and knows that this little boy in particular needs extra love and reassurances and patience and tenderness.

Before we knew the Lord, we were abused by the world and by the enemy of our souls, Satan. Satan lied to us about what God is like. Even after we become acquainted with God, the enemy strives mightily to prevent our having an intimate relationship with God. Satan tells us that God demands perfection and that we can never be good enough. He says that when we err God withholds His love.  Or he hisses in our heart that we are not loving God the right way or that there is only one formal way to talk with God. He says how we worship God is not as good as how other people worship so we should just stop. He says God does not love us as much as He loves others, that He is not really with us all the time, that He really cannot meet all our needs, that we cannot really learn to sense His presence. . .  and on and on! The enemy takes the beautiful truths about God and whispers the exact opposite.

boy leaning on white chairPhoto by Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash

If that is your situation, ask God to reveal His loving nature to you and then diligently study and meditate upon passages in the Bible about His love. We can never earn God’s love, but we can all learn more about His love.

“he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him.” Websters 1828 online dictionary defines to know as “to perceive with certainty; to understand clearly; to have a clear and certain perception of truth, fact, or anything that actually exists.”

When a husband arrives late to a neighborhood barbeque and sees his wife, he will immediately know who she is. He will in that same instance recognize that it is appropriate to give her a kiss and a hug.  That same man will not, however, hug a woman he does not know. Why? Because he clearly knows, or recognizes, that this second woman is not his wife. She does not belong to him. Therefore, loving, intimate behavior with her is not appropriate – because she is not his.

In I Corinthians 8:3 God tells us that if we truly love Him, He considers us deserving of His closeness and His love, just as a husband or wife recognizes that their spouse is worthy of intimacy and love. “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19, NIV) God knows whether a person has truly believed in Him.

God knows the human heart. He knows right where each of us are in our relationship with Him. He understands our human nature, and He knows that some of us have an especially hard time believing and then feeling that God really does love us, just as we are, with all our imperfections. I think that is one reason the Bible is filled with so many statements about God’s love for us and His merciful, compassionate nature. (The Bible is also filled with truths about the holy and just parts of God’s character, and we must keep those in mind but I am talking about here about God’s compassion.)

“Learn to know God.” We should all be seeking closer closeness with God. Though the world, our human nature and the devil create obstacles we can, through God’s grace, overcome those obstacles.

When David commissioned his son Solomon to build the temple, he summoned all the officers and commanders of Israel. In their presence he charged his son Solomon to obey all the commandments of the Lord. Then King David said:

(9) “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] you will find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever!  (I Chronicles 28:9, emphasis added)

Notice how the AMPC clarifies what David meant by “know the God of your father.” To know God, as David meant it, is to “have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him and to appreciate, heed, and cherish Him.” It also meant to keep your heart blameless and your mind willing. Why? That is the only appropriate human response to God, of course.

Also consider the part of the verse after the word for. David warns Solomon that God understands every thought of the heart, every little wandering thought.  God knows if we are sincerely putting Him first in our life, and if we are, God promises we will find Him.

We must build our relationship with God, a privilege beyond price. Consider verse 10 of 1 Chronicles 28:

(10) Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it! (1 Chronicles 28:8-10, AMPC, emphasis added)

Since New Testament times, believers in Jesus now have God dwelling inside them, rather than in “an earthly tabernacle made with hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1) as in Old Testament days. As God, through David, charged Solomon to build the temple, so God, through His Word, charges us to build our relationship with Him. We hear this message clearly throughout the New Testament. Consider I Corinthians 13:11 and 14:20, Ephesians 4:13 and 6:10-12, Hebrews 5:12, and 1 Peter 2:2, to name only a few of many.

How privileged we are! How carefully we should build up and maintain our relationship with our indwelling, loving, Almighty Heavenly Father! David, whose name means beloved, gathered all the materials necessary for his wise son Solomon to build the temple. Jesus, our Beloved Lord, has through His blood shed on the cross, provided everything we need to build a deep and intimate relationship with God. I must ask myself: Am I consistently doing all that I can?

In conclusion: I Corinthians 8:3 is one of the many Bible passages where God explains how much He loves us and how much He wants to be intimate with us!  He is like a father pulling a little toddler in close, forehead to forehead, saying “I love you, I love you, I love you!” then chuckling as his child squeals with glee.

Happy father young man and baby girl little daughter having fun on bed in at home

Photo for Getty Images on Unsplash

I ask you: If human fathers and mothers delight in being affectionate with the children they own, how much more would God? Remember 1 Corinthians 8:3 tells us that if we love God truly, we are owned by Him. If human fathers and mothers take care of the children they own, how much more does God take care of the children He owns? Does He not supply our every need? Does He not

“do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us?  To Him by glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Beloved, God has done everything needed for us to be close to Him. The rest is up to you and me. Strive to draw closer to God. Feed on His Word day and night (Psalm 1). Nestle in close to Him, under His feathers and thus hide your heart from the storms of the world as you abide in the secret place of His presence (Psalm 91). You are precious in His sight (Psalm 103). He daily carries your burdens (Psalm 68:19) and carries you close to His great heart of love.

Even to your old age I am He, and even to hair white with age will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry and will save you. (Isaiah 46:4, AMPC)

Let Him gather you in His strong arms like the little lamb you are and carry you close to His heart (Isaiah 40:11).

baby taking selfie

Photo by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash

A new book – God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security

Uncategorized

A new book is available on the Books, etc. page of this website. The title is “God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security”.  This is a full-length book that demonstrates how to use God’s Word to acquire a heart-deep foundation of peace and security. Consisting of blog posts from 2020 through 2024, true-life experiences are woven into explanatory study of nine key Bible passages.

Reading this book will give you solid understanding of nine fundamental truths that show you how to keep your heart in peace and how to feel secure.  Studying these Bible passages phrase by phrase will help you hide them in your heart.

In “God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security”, written by a layperson for lay people, you will find a companion for the trials and triumphs of your daily life with God.

 

NOT wearied out through fear! #godindaily life, #thebibleindailylife

ANXIETY, BIBLE STUDY, CURRENT EVENTS, DAILY LIFE, HOPE, TRUSTING GOD

“ Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, AMPC)

Desperate – again.  For thirty minutes I stayed in bed, eyes closed, listening to “Faith’s Checkbook”, a powerful book of devotions by Charles Spurgeon. Then I got up, dressed fast, and went into the kitchen to feed Lily. Next to the sink was the sheet of paper with Psalm 100 printed on it. After some desperate prayer, I had put it there the night before to remind myself to return, with focus, to my habit of meditating on a fresh portion of Scripture each day.

Not stopping for Lily’s usual brushing and morning playtime, I went directly to the rocker by the window, picked up my AMPC Bible and held it to my chest. I pressed it tight against me, feeling the roughness of its cover with my thumb, looking out into tree branches where sparse autumn leaves reflected the slanting rays of the morning sun. I pressed my eyes closed, shutting out the world, focusing with all my might on God, the Unseen Eternal One.

“. . . I will not, in any degree . . . relax My grip on you. [Assuredly not!] (Hebrews 13:5. AMPC)

“Oh, Father! I am so tired of everything being messed up and so confusing! I don’t know what to do about this latest batch of problems. I am so afraid, about so many things lately. I am just afraid and everything looks so hopeless. I don’t see any way out of all this. . . “

Tears came then, the tears that had not come during the past week or so of car trouble, other bills, and hiatal hernia symptoms that require radical rearranging of how, when and what I eat and how I exercise and sleep, and on and on. I had allowed the multiple problems, all at the same time—the “cares of this life”—to stop my practice of daily meditating on a new Bible verse or passage. Oh, I had still kept repeating the verses I already know but I had not taken time with God to find new verses for meditation each day. Furthermore, I had let His fresh words for me “depart from before my eyes.” I had not kept His fresh manna “In the center of my heart.” (Proverbs 4: 21, AMPC)

But yet, in spite of all that, God had never, no never, no never once “relaxed His hold on me.” And when I got desperate enough, and sought Him with all my heart, He found me.

“29 But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you [truly] seek Him with all your heart [and mind] and soul and life.” (Deuteronomy 4:29, AMPC)

Encouragement for you and for me.  That was this morning. The long shadows of late afternoon now stretch across the grass. The trees outside my east-facing window stand in deep shade. My heart is, once again, blessedly at peace. No, the problems are not all fixed but I am completely confident and trusting that God will keep me in His peace as we walk this path together, and as I keep my mind fixed on His Word and other eternal things, rather than the “light and momentary” troubles of this life on earth.

“10 And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity].” (Psalm 9:10, AMPC)

It has lately been on my heart to write a blog post about encouragement. I know you have your own set of personal troubles. I also believe that you are probably having more than the usual amount of difficulty just living your life. The enemy is desperately trying to destroy our world and, of course, especially those who believe in and live for Jesus.

Let’s look again at the first part of 2 Corinthians 4:16 and take warning.

“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). “(2 Corinthians 4:16a, AMPC, emphasis added).

The reason I grew so discouraged and allowed Satan to drag me out of the good path I was following with God is that fear had “wearied me out”. I had become, in a sense, spiritless, living controlled by fear, not by the Spirit. And that had worn me out. That is Satan’s plan for each of us.

Please, please, please meditate on God’s Word!  Although this world is filled with “troubles, trials, distress, and frustration” (John 16:33), God has provided a sure way of escape from all the plans of the enemy. When we obey God with all our heart, and when we meditate day and night on His word, we live continually in the secret place of His presence, and we are safe.

That is what I have been wanting to remind you of, dear friend. No matter how dark the world seems to be getting, no matter how your personal world seems to be crumbling, God is earnestly looking to keep you in hope and comfort and peace and security and aware of His great love.

“ And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!” (Isaiah 30:18, AMPC, emphasis added).

In Proverbs 4:20-22 God urges us to think on His Word constantly. He says:

“. . . attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.22 For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.to keep His Word before our eyes

Four verses that never, ever, no never fail me. What I intended to be a short piece of writing is, as usual, getting longer. But the main thing I wanted to share with you is four verses that I have been meditating on first thing in the morning and throughout the day for months now. It is like putting on a suit of spiritual armor. His Word–my protection and provision—keeps me covered in His peace and guides my steps.

[1] Habakkuk 3:17-19. “17 Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!

19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!”

a grassy field with mountains in the backgroundPhoto by www.dreamstime.com “Endless Landscapes of Iceland”

Briefly, notice that the prophet is saying that even if his whole world falls apart, still he will not only rejoice in God, but he will exult in God. Why? Because God will be his strength, his bravery, and his army that cannot be conquered. God will enable him to keep moving forward and make progress in his spiritual life in the midst of danger troubles, sufferings, and responsibilities. (For more thoughts on this passage, see the blog posts “Yet I will rejoice” on August 15 and 29, 2024.)

[2] Psalm 28:7. “The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.” (emphasis added)

Notice that the psalmist uses his voice to praise God and His loving protection. Then he says because I trust in God, with confidence, I am very happy, and I sing praises to Him.

[3] Psalm 32:10. “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.” (emphasis added).

How many mornings have I sat and looked at these words! How many mornings have I said, “Lord, thank You! This verse promises me that if I trust in You, rely on You and lean on You with confidence that You will completely encircle me with mercy and with lovingkindness. Everything I experience will come through Your mercy and loving kindnesses.”

[4] Psalm 33:18-22. “18 Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, 19 To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.

21 For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.

22 Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.” (emphasis added)

The psalmist reassures himself that God is carefully watching over those who have reverential and worshipful fear of Him, those who depend upon Him and wait for Him and His mercy and lovingkindness. Why is God doing that? To deliver them from death and things associated with death, like discouragement, and to sustain them during times of lack (or famine.)

Though they are hidden in my heart, it is a deep comfort to read these these verses each morning, and pay fresh attention to the words I have underlined in red, words that show me my part in all these priceless promises.

My part is to trust in, rely on, and lean on Him with confident expectation, actively knowing in my mind that He is protecting me and actively trusting He will give all that I need for this day, “in proportion to my waiting and hoping for Him.”

Closing prayer. Dear Father, Your Word is such a comfort and guide! Thank You for it, Lord, and for teaching us how to study it and “rightly divide it,” so that we may run in the path of Your commands, with the strength and joy that Your presence never, no never, no never fails to give.

Help us this day, Lord, as we go about our own personal life to know, perceive and recognize that You are with us, that You are carefully, lovingly watching over us. Oh, have mercy on our flesh, Lord, and help our hearts be undivided toward You. Help us feed on Your Word so that we may be able to trust in You, to lean on You, and to rely on You so that You can help our heart and we can greatly rejoice in You!

Whether our path today be through storm or sunshine, keep our hearts and minds fixed on You and on things above, where Christ is seated at Your right hand, Father, and through Whose shed blood we have forgiveness of sin and the power to live a holy life as we fulfill the plans You made for each of us when we were yet in the womb.

Oh, Father! Give us a hunger for Your Word. Help us keep it before our eyes and in the center of our heart. Help us guard our hearts, for we know that out of our heart, flow the issues of our life (Proverbs 4). Let rivers of living water flow from our inmost being so that we may share with others that eternal life that only You can give. Amen and so be it!

aerial photography of sea cloudsPhoto by Emmanuel Appiah on Unsplash

How much love is enough? Part Three, #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

ANXIETY, BIBLE STUDY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, TRUSTING GOD

But if one loves God truly
[with affectionate reverence,
prompt obedience, and
grateful recognition of His blessing],
he is known by God
[recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love,
and he is owned by Him]. (I Corinthians 8:3, AMPC)

Review of Part One and Two: In Parts One and Two we pondered the meaning of the first two phrases of 1 Corinthians 8:3 in the Amplified Classic Bible. We learned that God wants us to be reverent toward Him. We also learned that He wants that reverence to be affectionate. Jesus actually told us when He ate the Last Supper with His disciples to “call Him affectionately to remembrance” whenever we take the Lord’s Supper.

Part Three: I usually try to balance how much space I give to each part of a topic. So, when the phrase “affectionate reverence” took so many words, I got a bit concerned. I did not have that many ideas in mind to talk about “prompt obedience and grateful recognition of His blessing.”  Then I realized that prompt obedience and grateful recognition of God’s blessing both flow naturally from affectionate reverence.

assorted-color interlocking blocks on floorPhoto by Mark Spiske on Unsplash

Prompt obedience.  “Come on Ben. You need to get dressed so we can go to the park.”

“In a minute, Nana. I’ve got to finish this!”

I looked at my grandson, digging through a bucket of Leggos for just the right piece. His attention was focused on his immediate goal not my long-term one of giving him and his brother exercise and fresh air for the good of their bodies. He was focusing on what was giving him pleasure right now, not on the greater good I had in store for him and his brother.

How many times, I must ask myself, has God told me to do something (which is always, always, always for my good) and I have put off obeying Him? How many times have I said I should do this or I should stop doing that and failed to follow through, though I had good intentions. And, how many times have I intended to obey God about something and then forgot, until I heard it again?

You have likely heard that “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” James 4:17 warns us “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (NLT). If I read the Scriptures about tithing, and put it off, I am disobeying until I obey. If I read 2 Timothy 2:15 and still my only time with the Bible is a quick, superficial reading, I am not obeying God’s command to study the Word.

How do our good intentions get side-tracked so easily? Consider James 1:22.   “ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (NIV)

Pay attention here! The Word says I deceive myself if I hear something in the Bible that I am supposed to do and I do not do it. How does that work? I may feel I am doing well if I listen to preaching and read the Bible a little. And certainly, I think, I am doing well if I actually study the Word. Yes, that is good. However, if I stop there I am deceiving myself. I must actually do what the verses I have read and studied tell me to do! I am to obey God and obey Him promptly!

Consider the next three verses in James 1.

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,  and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV, emphasis added)

When a child learns the ABCs, that child is urged to keep looking at the correct way to write an a. Each line of the worksheet begins with a properly written a.  When a carpenter needs ten 12-inch pieces of wood, he does not cut one piece and then use it to measure the next nine pieces. No! He uses the ruler and measures each piece carefully. He keeps going back to and using an accurate measurement.

If I do not keep looking intently into God’s Word, which, like a mirror, reveals my imperfections, I will go on my way and think I am doing well. If I rub my hand over my cheek, I may think I have removed a smudge, but a mirror will reveal it is still there.

person holding yellow pencil on white table

Friend, we need to be constantly looking hard and long – intently – into the mirror of God’s Word so that we can see and keep in our conscious minds what He says to do. If we do not do that, the world, our flesh and the devil will draw us out of the path of obedience.

And what about being prompt in our obedience? If I feel affection for someone, I am quick to do whatever I can to help them and to please them. My heart is open toward them. Work on drawing closer to God and you will naturally be quicker to obey Him. Spiritual growth is progressive. God does not expect mature behavior from new believers. However, He tells us clearly to press in and seek to grow into maturity. Maturity includes obeying promptly.

Grateful recognition of His blessing. Notice the text says “grateful recognition.”  If I recognize, or accurately identify, that something is a blessing, how much does it mean if I do not do so with gratitude?  When I admonish one grandson to tell his brother thank you for voluntarily taking his turn feeding the cats so he can finish a project, I might hear an absent-minded “Thank you.” His tone of voice says he does not really mean it. However, a spontaneous, sincere “Thank you!” rings out when his brother shares the last unclaimed cookie on the plate.

A while back I began thanking God for (seemingly) little things–food to eat, the clothes on my back, the little flock of brown sparrows flitting out of the bushes as I walk by, the serendipity of hearing a praise song on the radio at just the right moment.  Gratitude for “little” things has become a habit but sometimes I realize my mind is not on the thing I am giving thanks for and that I am not consciously speaking to God. That always stops me. I stop and ask God’s forgiveness, then continue with a sincere heart. That is when true gratitude bubbles up from within and brings that peace that is beyond what we can understand or explain.

The longer I know God, the more I get frustrated with my own ingratitude and complaining. If I have eyes to see, I perceive, every single day, showers of blessings on my life and the lives of those around me. This truth holds for everyone in every circumstance. “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. (Psalm 145:9, AMPC) And God’s mercies “begin afresh every morning.” (Lamentations 3:23, NLT)

Gratitude brings us nearer to God. Another reason God tells us to have grateful hearts is that we come into His presence when we offer Him our thanks. Consider Psalm 100:4-5.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. (NIV)

When you give sincere thanks to God, you step into the outer part of His sanctuary. Then when you start thinking about His wonderful qualities, you begin praising Him, putting into words how very, very good He is. You are drawing nearer to the mercy seat. And how does God want us to approach Him? Timidly? Like a dog slinking forward? No!

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV, emphasis added)

In Part Four, we will explore how the last phrase of 1 Corinthians 8:3 fits with Hebrews 4:14-16. Until then, ponder these two passages of God’s Word. Ask Him to show you the connections between them.

two brown birds on green grass during daytimePhoto by Andrian Rubinskiy on Unsplash

 

How much love is enough? Part Two, #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

ANXIETY, BIBLE STUDY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT

carrots on brown wooden chopping boardPhoto by Simona Sergi on Unsplash

Part Two: In Part One, we began pondering the meaning of 1 Corinthians 8:3:

But if one loves God truly
[with affectionate reverence,
prompt obedience, and
grateful recognition of His blessing],
he is known by God
[recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love,
and he is owned by Him]. (I Corinthians 8:3, AMPC)

We learned that God wants us to be affectionate with Him.  For example, when Jesus was sharing a meal with His disciples for the last time, He asked them to remember Him with affection whenever they ate the bread and drank the wine.

Becoming more affectionate. In Part One, I shared that being affectionate with God did not come naturally to me at first because I had an overly formal attitude toward God. However, as I kept trying God kept helping. One big help was the little book “The Practice of the Presence of God”, written in the 17th century by a friar called Brother Lawrence. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It helped me overcome the last remnants of over-formality with God.

In this dynamo of a book, Brother Lawrence talks about chatting with the Lord while he worked in the monastery’s kitchen, for example. He said,

“. . . during any daily duty, lift your heart to Him (God), because even the least little remembrance will please Him. You don’t have to pray out loud; He’s nearer than you can imagine. . . We can make our hearts personal chapels where we can enter anytime to talk to God privately. These conversations can be so loving and gentle, and anyone can have them” (page 36).

Slowly, I began talking to God more and more during the day, finding that as I drew near to God, He drew near to me (James 4:8) and that He was with me when I was with Him (2 Chronicles 15:2). I also found my feelings of affection for the Lord growing.

It works! It took a long time, with countless failures and trying again. However, continually seeking His moment-by-moment presence as Brother Lawrence suggested has brought deep settled peace and the confidence that my loving Heavenly Father will always, always, always help me find His presence and regain my peace, no matter what I do or what happens around me.

We can be confident He will come closer to us as we try to come closer to Him. He reassures us in I John 5:14-15 that:

 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (NIV).

If there is any doubt in your mind about this, it is from the enemy and is designed to keep you from your rightful place with God. Lift up the shield of faith and take the sword of truth in hand. Keep pressing on and pressing in until you reach the promised land of delighting yourself in His presence!

God is affectionate with us. Beloved, God says He “. . . cares for us affectionately and cares about us watchfully.” I Peter 5:7 says, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and He cares about you watchfully.”(emphasis added)

This is not the only place in the Bible where God clearly shows His affection and the depth of His love for us. As you pursue your daily personal Bible study, make note of these places and imprint them on your heart, i.e., memorize them! Some of my favorites include particular verses in Psalm 139, Psalm 136, John 3, John 14, Joshua 1, Isaiah 26, 2 Chronicles 14, and Ephesians 3. The Bible overflows with God’s love. It is, indeed, God’s love letter to us, as someone once said.

Ask, seek, and knock. If you ask, God will show you how to love Him more affectionately. It will be as individual as your fingerprints.

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. (Matthew 8:7-8, AMPC)

What about reverence? Let’s turn our attention to the word reverence.   God tells us in numerous places in the Bible that we are to revere, or fear, Him. One of the best known verses is Deuteronomy 10:12:

12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (NASB)

Reverence means “fear, mingled with respect or esteem” (Webster’s 1828 online dictionary). Fear is a strong emotion caused by awareness that something can hurt you. We are to be aware of Who God is and treat Him with respect and admiration. And we are to do that with affection.

As I ponder this, I think of how my grandsons rough housed with their papa when they were very little. They would launch themselves at him as he sat on the couch, squealing with delight when he gently pinned them down, crowing with victory when they escaped his strong arms, then turning around and jumping on him again.

Obviously, as humans and animals alike do, they would have felt that instinctive caution upon being near a larger, manifestly stronger being. But my grandsons knew their papa as gentle, loving, and tender as well as strong and protective. They had a personal knowledge of their papa’s love and kindness.

man in blue long sleeve shirt carrying baby in white onesiePhoto by Natasha Ivanchikhina on Unsplash

Although my grandsons knew their papa was much stronger and bigger and that they had to do what he said, they also had experience and acquaintance with his mercy and they confidently played with him because he had always done good for them. Psalm 9:10 says something similar about the believer who understands God’s nature.

10 And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity (Psalm 9:10, AMPC, emphasis added).

How to get acquainted with Gods’ mercy, love and kindness. So, how do we get to know God well enough to be affectionately reverent? How do we acquire that experience and acquaintance with His mercy, love, and kindness? The Word tells us that God is with us when we are with Him. (2 Chronicles 15:2). The Word also promises that “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11-b, AMP).

If you ask, God will show you how being affectionate with Him looks in your life. Perhaps you could start by thinking of the person whom you most cherish and are most comfortable being with. How do you talk with them? How do you approach them? How often do you think about them during the day?

I strongly recommend reading the psalms out loud with the Lord. Read them slowly, thinking about each phrase. Read them with love in your voice. Read them realizing that God is right there with you, listening to you. Some psalms that especially address intimacy with the Lord are: Psalm 25, 63, 139, 18 and 71.

Read these and other psalms, consciously knowing that God loves you dearly, and He longs for your close fellowship with Him day by day, hour by hour. You are His treasure, and He delights in you, yes you, exactly as you are at this moment. He has written your name in the palms of His hands. He can no more forget you than a nursing mother can forget her infant. Your voice is pleasant to Him. He wants to share each moment of your life with you.

Would a mother turn away from her toddler who wants to sit in her lap and just be cuddled? Does a lover turn his face away when his beloved smiles at him?

Jesus will never, no never, reject one who comes to Him. Consider now the words of Jesus in John 6:37.

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] (AMPC)

Do you see how God emphasizes that He will never, no never, reject anyone who comes to Him? He says He will “most certainly no cast out” such a person. That includes you. Do you want to be closer to God? All you have to do is ask.

silhouette photo of man on cliff during sunsetPhoto by Zac Durant on Unsplash

In Part Three, we will continue exploring 1 Corinthians 8:3, beginning  with the phrase “prompt obedience.”

 

You can help turn out the vote . . . from your living room! #godindailylife

CURRENT EVENTS

A pole with a sign that says polling stationPhoto by Phil Hearing on Unsplash

Do you want to help get more Christians to vote, from your living room? You and I have an opportunity to reach out directly to believers who do not usually vote. All we have to do is add a few hand-written words to an already-written letter, address the envelope, and provide postage and prayer.

Please, please go to about minute 18 on the September 20 Flashpoint podcast and listen to the information about Writenow2024.org. Here is a link.

FlashPoint: (September 19th 2024) – FlashPoint (govictory.com)

Writenow2024.org supplies a letter, which you print. You handwrite one of the short pre-approved messages they provide. Then you mail the letter to the person on the list they provide. These are Christians in a swing state who are registered to vote, and are pro-life and pro traditional family but have a poor track record for voting. They ask that you pray for every person to whom you send a letter. More than 30,000 people are involved currently.

It is free of charge. You only have to print the letters and provide the envelopes and stamps.   You can mail letters until October 25.

Go to www.writenow2024.org.  Give your email address and a link is sent to your email.  You do not have to create an account; you just provide your email. Click on the link you receive in your email and you get your own dashboard. From your dashboard, you download instructions, the letter to print, and a list of addresses, which come in batches of ten. I did this last night and the process is easy.

A key point is that in the 2020 election, President Biden won by 311,000 in the swing states. In these same swing states, more than 5.3 million registered CHRISTIAN voters did not vote. “So, if we would go from the pews to the polls, the direction of this nation would be tremendously impacted.”

Global Day of Prayer for America. Also, please go to about minute 45 in the same podcast and hear Dutch Sheets talk about the opportunity to pray with believers worldwide this Sunday, September 22, from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. EST.  Dutch Sheets explains that God has been moving on believers in the nations of the world to pray for America, to give back to the nation that brought the gospel to them.

Through various prayer organizations, more than 110,000 million intercessors have been asked to pray for America.  This is an unprecedented opportunity to partner with God on behalf of our nation and His agenda for righteousness. “Only a united church can heal a divided nation.”

How to participate? Go to www.gdop-america.org for information. If you click on ‘Invite’ you can download an invitation and a prayer guide and watch a 3-minute video explaining more about this opportunity you do not want to miss.

Midsection of senior people in bible reading group in community center club, praying.Photo on Unsplash in collaboration with Getty Images