Author: niroja

Joshua 24:15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

On this the 4th of July let there be NO DOUBT that we are free to choose!

“But Mary, it doesn’t FEEL like freedom! It FEELS like… prison… torture… like the apocalypse is right here, right now! I HAVE TO serve the one who rules over me. I didn’t choose this person, place or thing, I voted for the other guy! Even in America, where our blessings are far above what we could have asked for or imagined, it sucks to be me when I must suffer deprivation from that which I consider freely.rightly.mine!”

Maybe you have the wrong object of freedom… Choose for yourselves today

Maybe you expect the wrong profit of freedom… whom

Maybe you are unwilling to pay the price of freedom… you serve

The OBJECT of freedom is not my HIGHWAY to heaven, the OBJECT of freedom is choice – FREE WILL – the ability, the opportunity, and the desire to CHOOSE… 

The PROFIT of Freedom isn’t the paradise of all things perfect. Freedom doesn’t guarantee a perfect path or destination. If CHOICE is the OBJECT then the freedom of that choice is the PROFIT. Without regard to price, freedom is the vision that spurs us to journey on, no matter the people, places or things that hinder our pursuit of that which our heart desires more than life itself. Freedom isn’t the end of a journey, it’s the beginning. We, every person alive, must choose the God or god(s) we will follow to the END OF THIS JOURNEY.

Even Atheists (who do not believe in God/god) must choose whom and/or what their heart (their very soul) will pursue.

Even those who believe they ARE god, must serve someone or something in this life, until they are “fully revealed” in the next life.

The PRICE of Freedom is whatever is required in choosing and pursuing the choice you have made. The guarantee of freedom is not the ownership of all things wonderful, the guarantee of freedom is the choice and pursuit of our heart’s desire.

Our ultimate destination is the hope of spending all of our days, with our god/God in eternal peace and joy. A hope so valuable to us, we will suffer almost anything to arrive at our destination. Whether it’s the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living…we want to arrive!

We think the tasks good works we are given to do should garner grace for our journey.  Our pursuit SHOULD satisfy our god/God, after all we have chosen them. When the cost of maintaining our freedom to choose and pursue becomes more than we have bargained to give, we begin to DOUBT our god/God because, quite frankly OUR god/God should be GRATEFUL. These tasks  good works should make us FEEL happy, healthy and wise. Our service – our journey – our pursuit should never discourage or require more blood, sweat or tears than we are able to give without suffering blood, sweat and tears.

This is where I must be the bearer of the bad news. Freedom is choosing whom/what you set as the god/God of this life. The profit and price of such choice is up to the god/God! You choose whom you serve but whom you serve provides the eternal life and the hoops required to arrive. You don’t get to dictate to the god/God what is their choice to give. At the end of the day there is only two paths that determine the end of your days. The path of good and the path of evil. “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil;(Genesis 3:22) 

We were introduced to evil through temptation and chose to honor evil by disobeying the God of all good who created us and gave us Paradise. We were sent out of Paradise lest we eat from the tree of life (eternal life) and have to live the life of evil forever. Welcome to earth (which is not Paradise), where we get to choose whom we will pursue before the final bell of our life rings and the consequences of eternity are final.

Satan came to this world with us to protect his project (“Hatred of God”) and encourage his victim (God’s fearfully and wonderfully made creature) to choose him and break God’s heart.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

We are the only shot evil has to destroy all that God loves which, in his imagination, would then make him the ruler of all that is left. If that were true there would be no such thing as freedom. No matter what promise evil entices us with, what may look like wonderful will only lead to destruction and death. GUARANTEED! Evil hates God so much that he/it hates everything and everyone born from the hand of God.

Freedom to choose IS a gift given to us by God.  And because it is a gift from our good Creator God, it bears His image. The ability and opportunity to make heart choices. It is a gift that bears a profit worthy of all the wealth in the world. However, it also bears the responsibility to care for and use the gift well and to honor all of our fellow recipients in their care and use of their gift.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

We don’t earn the gift of freedom to choose, nor do we give the gift of freedom to choose whom to serve, but we can and should seek full awareness of who and/or what our heart chooses to pursue. We can and should COUNT THE COST and the WORTH of god/God we serve/pursue.

There is only ONE TRUE GOD. The God who created us and the God who loves us so much He could not leave us in sin. The God who defeated the god of evil on the cross and offers eternal FREEDOM from sin and death.

You do the math and CHOOSE! Let Freedom Ring… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

Come Lord, Come!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner-stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. 

Being the youngest of the family of 9 children and 2 very heavy laden adults, I must admit I was born into a house that was for the most part strangers (some very strange) and aliens (some from very fear away planets) to myself and I suspect in hindsight to each other.  As a family unit, we were taught to “live together”, and we did ok. But unfortunately we remained more like separate tiny houses rather than one big family. From my perspective, we refused to be built together by refusing to share the deeper things of our souls.

By the time I was able to comprehend life as more than MY needs (some would say this never happened), the “big” familyhouse was pretty empty because all the other little houses had moved out. Though I had lots of room to enlarge my tiny house, the few neighbors left to share the land,  stayed in their own tiny houses because they were just too tired to “visit” and certainly didn’t have the energy to “invite” me into their space for the purpose of BUILDING something more together!

I’m not criticizing my family, or calling them out as a bad example, nor am I complaining about the life I was given to live. I’m telling/explaining how I was trained to live in and teach others to live in our own tiny houses, right next door but never fitted together.

For the last 65 plus years it has seemed to be the way to go. Equal but separate!

That is, until this last week when God spoke (funny how a passage of Scripture sometimes is lifted off the page and becomes the LIVING WORD of God) to me inside my tiny house!

God intends to build us all together into a dwelling for Himself – ONE HOUSEHOLD into ONE DWELLING. Before this last week, when God intervened in my community outreach program, I was so busy constantly decorating and redecorating the tiny house I had built. I failed to notice the construction crew God was sending to tear down my not so tiny walls.

Meet Congregation Beth Messiah (online – live on Facebook – Saturday’s at 10AM Central time) a demolition team led by Rabbi Michael Vowell, sent to bulldoze my pride built walls and demolish all of the lies I have hoarded and hidden in my space.

It was shocking, yes, to realize my precious tiny home must come down (Rabbi Michael and CBM does sometime get the “Dirty Job” of rudely awakening God’s people to HIS truth).

Then God, as the Perfect Father, wraps His arms around me and whispers His love into my heart, as He rebuilds me, together with all His saints, into His household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner-stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Some might call this a church, and I have entertained that label too. What I discovered this week was, those labels (and the expected lifestyles described by them) are the very things that separate rather than draw us together. In my earthly family we knew only the surface of each other. From that small view, from our own walled in looking-glass, we imagined each other to be the characters we created. Rather than knowing and growing with the individual, we labeled them family and THEREFORE knew everything we needed to know!

God doesn’t do that… He doesn’t call us His family members… He calls us His child.

He doesn’t call us His church members… He calls us His Community… His saints (set apart people).

He doesn’t call us His one and only… he calls us His nation… branches … Israel – and the rest of us – a wild olive branch, grafted in among them and becoming a partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree… (Romans 11:17-18)

One tree – individual branches – partakers of the rich root of the Olive Tree!

Our labels tend to separate us in order for us to imagine we might BE THE ROOT who controls the growth. In God’s household there is only One Root… and He (Jesus) supports the entire tree… do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. Humanly speaking, we tend to be arrogant toward any and all who aren’t like us or aren’t us.

The only true cure for our arrogance, as I learned this week, is to be exposed to and live in the community of God. The place where we take our position, and practice our ministry. The dwelling where we consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

The day that is drawing near… the day He comes back to finalize His covenant which He has promised to all who believe and confess Him (Jesus) as Savior.

Isaiah 40:3 A voice is calling. “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”We need to be a community of voices crying in this earthly wilderness… “Make ready the way of the Lord”… He’s coming back!

I admit I have been a lonely child living in my tiny house. I learned this week I can live in the midst of the community of God, where there is no time for loneliness or separation or boredom, unless of course I choose to return to my own little world.

I need to be… letting the word of Christ richly dwell within me, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing my brothers and sisters with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in my heart to God. (Colossians 3:16)

In my newborn/toddler years I was in community with other saints, but I became one of those who gave up assembling with others, for many selfish reasons but mostly because I did not DO family well, and therefore I gave up many opportunities to give and receive love from the household of God.

I want a DO-OVER!

I see in the mirror dimly through my online community. I see those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, putting on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgives (Colossians 3:12-13)

I pray to have the opportunity in the flesh once again (the few times I have visited in person, I have received the BEST HUGS EVER!)… Until then…

I put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. I let the peace of Christ rule in my hearts, to which indeed I was called in one body; and I am thankful (Colossians 3:14-15) 

God is surely building… His Household…  our forever Family Home – Made in Heaven!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

John 11:21-22 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

The back story is, Martha’s brother, Lazarus, was sick. They immediately sent for their wonderful friend Jesus (“Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” – John 11:3) whom they knew could and would, ask and gain healing from God. Then, they waited, patiently of course!

John 11:6-7 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place He was.

He did not come “in time”. His wonderful friend Lazarus died. Four days after he was put in the tomb, Jesus came.

Lord, if You had been here… how often do we say the same thing to our wonderful friend Jesus?

Verses 32-37 Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ other sister came to meet Jesus, and fell at His feet weeping, and the Jews with who came with her were also weeping. When Jesus therefore saw them weeping He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”

How often do we “encourage” ourselves and others with similar words, “Jesus CARES!”?

But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”

And, how often do we wonder in our hearts “Couldn’t He?” when things look as if God has failed to answer our call to come.

How often does Jesus say to us what He said to Martha when she was concerned about the stench of death after FOUR DAYS IN THE GRAVE?

“Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Even Now…

When you pray for peace in our world and it appears things are going to hell in a hand basket, do you believe we will see the glory of God?

When you ask for intervention for you and/or someone you love and it appears that all hope for life is destroyed, do you believe we will see the glory of God?

When you have seen miracles and wonders rained down from heaven above, do you remember all of them with gratitude and belief? Does Christ dwell so deeply in your inner man that you are rooted and grounded in love and are able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:17-19)?

Or are your prayers, your request for intervention, your wishes, all cast with the EXPECTATION that they WILL BE fulfilled on your time-table, perfectly delivered to your specifications, every condition expertly managed to your specification? Do you desire to see the glory of God or demand your own will be done?

We are told to ASK! We are told to KEEP ON ASKING! We are also told… Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Galatians 6:9-10)

Martha and Mary and all the believers with them, KNEW God could heal and they KNEW Jesus was His Son.

What they didn’t know was God’s love was so much deeper, wider, longer, broader than keeping them from these moments of sadness. God wanted to raise THEM from the dead! He was preparing them (and us) for ETERNAL LIFE!

Through this one event, Jesus didn’t just heal Lazarus, He conquered death for this one person, for this one moment. Through this one event God foreshadowed His plan for all of us… For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Even Now…

1 John 4:15-18 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 

This world is full of reasons to fear. As humans we are vulnerable to the roar of evil. Our enemy (which is not flesh and blood) encamps around us and fires every weapon of violence and chaos he has at us, in order to destroy the work of God (Perfect and Perfecting LOVE) in this world. Our enemy does not care about us. Yes, he tries to destroy our health, our wealth, and our happiness, but it isn’t because WE are his worst nightmare. He hates God! But he can’t destroy God nor change God so he settles on causing God grief through His own creation. What better way than to steal the hearts of God’s possession?

Yet… Even Now… as He weeps with us just as He did with Mary and Martha… Jesus says to us… In this world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Even Now… in the midst of your tears… Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:4)

In the midst of your suffering – in the midst of your groaning – in the midst of everything our enemy throws at you… James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, (perfected and complete in LOVE) lacking in nothing.

Send word to Jesus that you or someone you care about needs Him! Wait for Jesus to come! Wait, but do not be discouraged when it is not in your way on your timeline…

Even Now you WILL see the glory of God!

Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. 

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

Genesis 4:6 the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

What a perfect question for our world today. And yet, if you followed with the reason you are asking (like God did), you would be pummeled with all kinds of HOW DARE YOU! and QUIT JUDGING ME! Pummeled! For simply asking an obvious “Why?” based upon facial facts.

Unfortunately for Abel (Cain’s brother), Cain realized he shouldn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t  pummel God, so he chose the next best thing. Go and spread the word that “God is not good because He made me feel bad! I offer Him fruit of the ground and He gives me NO REGARD (Genesis 4:5)!”

Evidently Abel wouldn’t play, how could he, he had the opposite experience with the same God. As far as Abel knew, God was well pleased with the FIRSTLINGS of his flock and of their FAT PORTIONS, which was wonderful because that’s EXACTLY what Abel desired when he specifically set them apart and raised them especially for his offering to God. Admittedly, fruit is harder to guarantee its freshness and quality, however pleasing God has to first (and last) come from the intent of the heart. “If you do well…

One can only imagine Abel’s answer when his brother told him what God just had the nerve to say to him. Whatever it was, verse 8 tells us that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

With anyone but God, Cain might have been able to get away with murder, but God called him out. Where is Abel your brother?

First murder, then the lie, then the excuse. Cain’s way lives on in our world today… “I do not know. (Well, maybe I do know) Am I my brother’s keeper? (Keeper? I did find a way to keep his mouth shut!) Been caught, been called out, but will NEVER EVER CONFESS!

Genesis 4:10-12 “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you;

Cursed by your own hand… but still it is God’s fault “My punishment is too great to bear! Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground;

Cain’s way lives on!

James 4:1-3 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Cain wanted to offer God the least – the easiest to give of his labor. God didn’t praise him for his lack of sacrifice. (Please note also, that God didn’t berate Cain publicly nor compare him to the “good” brother… God simply didn’t give him a participation trophy while honoring Abel for the love he had shown to Him.)

We DEMAND our Participation Trophy or else!!!!

Or else? God does not get or deserve our attention, much less our devotion or obedience! To those Abel’s out there… We will kill you because of your love for God and bury your altars that declare His love for this world!… sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you (Genesis 4:7) !!TRIGGER!!

Tantrum Time… I have NOT KILLED ANYONE! I AM A GOOD PERSON!!

But have you ever been angry with someone? Or called someone a “good-for nothing”? Or called someone, “FOOL!”?

Jesus says any of these are the same as murder – the court of perfect justice would call you guilty and punishment would be the same. (Matthew 5:22)

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Trigger yet another tantrum… “I AM a good person and if God doesn’t KNOW that, He’s no God of mine! In fact!… I don’t like you either because you just hurt my feelings! If I wasn’t such a good person I would kill you!”

We live in a world today that is having one gigantic tantrum. If it wasn’t so serious (and full of hate), I would giggle at the foot stomping going on today and laugh at the rhetoric that sounds like children on the playground trying to bully other children into playing THE RIGHT game – THEIR GAME.

But I can’t laugh while shedding tears for the devastation and destruction being wrought in the name of “good”. It’s a bloody war instigated and encouraged by none other than EVIL. It’s a war that will not end until EVIL is put down and RIGHTEOUSNESS reigns.

It is a war that is impossible for mankind to win. Evil whispered in our ear that we deserved to BE God because we looked just like Him. We believed him and killed the very thing that destroys Evil, our LOVE for God. We murdered the truth and buried it with our innocence toward “knowing” (intimacy with) Evil.

“What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood the blood of My love is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood the blood of My love from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you;

Mankind is naked, unable to win the battle and sent away from the kingdom of perfect love. Just as Cain learned, “the punishment is too great to bear! Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth… whoever finds me will kill me!” (Genesis 4:15)We are dead meat without God and His kingdom of love.

Tantrum Time doesn’t change the truth… that’s the bad news (for those who think it should)!

Our world is throwing a gigantic tantrum, and some are having too good of time doing it they refuse to stop. But the good news is… Tantrum Time does not change God.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 

Evil defeated us (for a time) but Evil NEVER DEFEATS love! What is impossible for man, is possible with God and His love for us.

I have a feeling… maybe it’s a prophecy…

This gigantic tantrum our world is mounting in their anger against God, will be the trigger that ushers in the GREATEST REVIVAL this world has ever seen… the revival of HEARTS GIVEN TO GOD WITH LOVE… and God will be well pleasedwith the offering!

Unlike me who sent my kids to their room (out of sight and hearing) when it was Tantrum Time, God comes nearer and whispers, “Come”… “Come to Me”… “I will give you rest!” … “You will have peace with Me!”

If we can “Be Still” for just a moment, quiet our tantrums so we might hear Him, “we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free.” (John 8:32)Rather than throwing our tantrum, we would be lifting our arms in confession and surrender and be gathered in His arms of love.

If not… the vagrant and a wanderer continues searching for their place of peace and rest… You’ll know them by the sound and fury of their tantrums, because for them it will always be… Tantrum Time!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.

I love to tell the story… I also love to hear the story! Evangelism 101 teaches us how to  “present” the gospel, and it is wonderful to learn, for it (the gospel) is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

As for me, I am not ashamed of it (Romans 1:16)… as a matter of fact I am eager to preach the gospel! (Romans 1:15)

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

But today… TODAY… I am eager to LIVE THE GOSPEL! And not just for your eyes only!

I want to BE. LIKE. A. TREE planted by the water!

I want to EXTEND my roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes!

I want my LEAVES TO BE GREEN!

But mostly… I want to NOT BE ANXIOUS in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit!

And then… not only can I preach the gospel but I. can. BE. the testimony of the gospel – my life can be the WITNESS that says, “My God is good (RIGHTEOUS!) all the time! And all the time, My God is good (RIGHTEOUS!)!”

Isaiah 26:3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he/she trusts in You.” 

Perfect peace… the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension – guards my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

I can…  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

I can… Let my gentle spirit be known to all men. (Philippians 4:5)

HELLO!… The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing! (Philippians 4:6)

By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving…  I will let my requests be made known to God… I will let Your story BE my story – my life!

It’s there in God’s Word! My story!

My name is all over Ephesians 2!

Ephesians 2:1 I (Mary) was dead in my trespasses and sins…

Ephesians 2:2 in which I (Mary) formerly walked according to the course of this world…

Ephesians 2:3 (Mary) formerly lived in the lusts of her flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and was by nature a child of wrath…

BUT GOD…

Ephesians 2:4 being rich in mercy. because of His great love with which He loves Mary…

Ephesians 2:5 even when she was dead in her transgressions, made her alive together with Christ (by grace she has been saved)…

Ephesians 2:6 and raised her up with Him, and seated Mary with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might SHOW the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward Mary in Christ Jesus!

My life IS the story of HIS GRACE (For by grace you have been saved through faith;… the gift of God) toward me! A TESTIMONY of true life – LIFE raised up with Christ and SEATED with Him and IN Him… A LIVING WITNESS (not as a result of works, so that I may not boast) of the good news of the gospel – Emmanuel – God with us!

Ephesians 2:10 For I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God  prepared beforehand so that I (Mary) would walk in them.

I am saved! Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 

However… if I want to be saved AND be a testimony of that salvation…

Faith – my confession and belief, must turn into Trust – the evidence that I not only believe but I PURSUE His kingdom/His Way/His truth… His Righteousness, AS MY OWN. seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

My WITNESS – my TESTIMONY of Perfect peace can now be added to my story! The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he/she trusts in You.

Yesterday in my “This is the Day the Lord Has Made” journal, I wrote…

“You, Lord Jesus (Lord Yeshua), have been whispering to me for a long time that prayer in my prayer closet and prayer in Your throne room are BOTH equally valuable to me and pleasing to You. However, they are neither less than nor more than our time walking together – your hand in Mine – every moment of every day I have made for us.”

My response  passionate plea/request (Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God)… “As I order my day, let me NEVER go Life Walking without putting my hand in Yours!”

And then He said… “And always remember, no formal words, ways, and means, are necessary between Father/daughter – Brother/sister – Heart Dweller/beating heart… for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)”

And then I said… “Can I BE a witness, PLEASE?! God at work in me IS MY STORY!”

God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure…

Is it YOUR story?

Can I Get a Witness, Please?!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

 

 

 

James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I always thought the apostle James was talking about suffering from catastrophic events that happen on this earth. Events that we have no control of… “Yea though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death”… events that test the mettle of our faith walk with Christ as He leads us through, without the guarantee of happiness, health, wealth, and wisdom. Events that give us a share (albeit a very small one in comparison) of the suffering He endured on the cross.

Though I still believe these life shattering events are used for good (to perfect, complete, so we are lacking in nothing) results in our lives, this morning, I realized James wrote this book with the idea that the DAILY EXERCISE of FAITH is required to grow a healthy body (the Body of Christ), and is not to be thought of as easy peasy, without necessity of a great deal of Holy Spirit nutrition, exercise and PUMPING the HOLY IRON of God’s commands!

James 4:7-10 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. 

Unfortunately some of us have been taught that God’s gym is the church building where we go in our “pretty clothes” with smiles and masks of “perfect makeup” hiding all of our weak muscles and stomachs full of unbridled feasts of jealousy and selfish ambition (James 3:14)

Faith on display – all dressed up and looking good but… What use is it, my brethren, if someone SAYS he has faith but he has no works? (James 2:14) If no action or sweat equity is produced, if no visible and life changing evidence of Christ LIVING IN YOU begins to be desired and pursued since being BORN AGAIN. Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)… someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)

Verse 19 – You believe (and can quote Scripture to boast with the best) that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!). You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Verse 21 – BUT are you willing to recognize that faith without works is useless? Take Abraham for example… God asked him to offer up his son Isaac on the altar… faith is great but will you show WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU? I can only imagine what this “GYM WORKOUT” was like! Talk about sweat, and grief, and self-discipline… talk about putting EVERYTHING of VALUE on the line to TRUST GOD and what He has promised.

Talk about “Show me the MONEY!” (“Jerry Maguire” Tom Cruise – 1996 movie)

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

In verse 23 – the result of Abraham’s works – a spiritual body to crave… he was called a friend of God.

Without the sweat equity of works, Brother James tells us, James 2:26… just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Sounds like what my doctor tells me often – a healthy body requires sound nutrition but also must have sweat producing, daily, committed EXERCISE. (Yeah! I don’t like it any better when he tells me, either!)

Got some ugly body parts in need changing? Solution will always be… becoming God’s gym rat

NUTRITION – the Word of God and EXERCISE – the works/practice the Word commands and inspires.

Got temptation? James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 

Got bitterness/jealousy? James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 

Got an untamed tongue? James 3:8-10 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 

Got relationship problems? James 4:1-3 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 

Get to God’s gym NOW! He is in the business oftraining up His children in the way they should go, (Proverbs 22:6)… even when you are old you will not depart from it.

James is right… Sweat Equity is absolutely necessary! Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. 

Sweat Equity with Brother James not your first choice of gym training?

James 1:5-7 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 

Like Brother James says:

James 1:19-21 everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 

Let this be our number 1 priority; to prove ourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:23-25)

Blessed with SWEAT EQUITY!

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

Consider it all joy and become God’s little, but determined gym rat!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

1 Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide (remain/live on) these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Yes! This is Scripture… but they are NOT just “religious” words, they are the matches that light man’s fire of LIFE. They are in the soul of EVERY man/woman/child

We (every man/woman/child) put our FAITH, our HOPE, our LOVE into serving something or someone…

EVERYDAY – ALL DAY LONG – EVERYTIME we CHOOSE to serve…

Joshua 24:15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…

With each choice,  come the “matches” that will light the “fire” of the service you have agreed to and/or wish to give.

The match of faith – your agreement that the person/thing you choose to serve is worthy of your service (at least at this moment).

The match of Hope. With its fire lighting the way, we pursue that which we envision (or hope) is our DESTINY – the hope of our “calling’.

As we move toward what we Hope is our outcome, we TREASURE  each and every milestone and trophy. As our heart proclaims the trophies of success and celebrates by polishing them, The match of Love assures of our choice and the fire of service becomes brighter and more passionate than ever before.

I believe Faith, Hope and Love were put into the soul when God created man (and woman and child) in His personal image. I believe it’s what sets mankind apart from any other creature. The breath of God blew into man not just physical life but the soul of life that includes choice, and thought, and desire, and pursuit.

I know, I know, I just triggered that RELIGIOUS STUFF!

However…

Whether you believe in God or not, you DO CHOOSE a god to believe in. You set your standard and seek the BEST REPRESENTATIVE (god) of the standard you set, for ALL THE WORLD to see and KNOW YOU!

For a lot of us, WE are that standard, and as the standard WE sit on the throne as the BEST representative. We may be the god we serve.

You freely choose… Some might say that they do not have the freedom I speak of and I agree their life may include forms of slavery either by other humans or flesh induced addiction left unchecked. They do not FEEL free nor have opportunity to choose who will be their master!

But I say, even in the worst forms of slavery, there is a sliver of light that whispers to your soul and says, “I AM FREE!” Whether or not your outside environment tries to prove it untrue, your heart KNOWS the truth! The only person, place or thing that can truly turn off that sliver of light is you. If that should happen,  I would not be surprised if life, at that moment, ceases to exist because there is no faith, hope or desire for the future.

Choosing LIFE and who or what best represents your “kingdom” leads to striking the matches that light our fire for living…

From your choice of who/what, you give FAITH – trust/authority to that deity (sorry) representative. Their purpose/ministry strikes the match to light the way toward the Hope you envision… or else! With providing the path, Love is the match that lights the passion of your pursuit… the greatest of these is love!

Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Love is the most endurable! Whether love for the good of yourself and others or love that is questionable in its mission and purpose, love will PURSUE success until there is no more DESIRE.

When we define love, we all want it to be the “GOOD KIND”. In fact, I think we blind ourselves to ANY OTHER KIND. Or, we enhance its position by attaching “I NEED”, so that whatever our desire is, love becomes the word that makes everything acceptable.

There are two things every human seeks… significance and security… one might even say these must be the PROMISE MADE for us to choose to serve. Significance being the desire to be known and thought of worthy to be known. Security being the covenant that binds us together so we are never alone or forsaken.

Everyone of us will use our freedom to choose THE “representative” which will provide enough of each of these, in order for us to find… contentment – satisfaction – peace that we have attained that which we seek.

The sigh of relief that we have lived or are pursuing the best of the best we can believe in – hope for – find success in.

Free Will…choosing for yourselves today whom (or what)you will serve…

Choice striking the match of Faith… the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Faith striking the match of Hope… the vision/desire that you will be filled to overflowing with satisfaction.

Hope striking the match of the heart to reveal that your treasure, your true love, is safe, secure, full.

When All is Said and Done… these three – faith/hope/love remain!

Take a look at the fire of your life.

There is no doubt in my mind you have chosen THIS DAY whom you will serve – possibly there are MANY – too many to name and some you will refuse to name but will serve anyway. Check out whom or what you have chosen to serve

Check out what/who you have put your faith in.

Check out the glow of your hope in the blaze to come.

Check out what’s in your treasure chest.

It is important information! If these three are the ones that remain, if they are the fire that lights up your life, if your life flame is in need of some fanning, faith – hope – and love are the ones you can look to when all is said and done.

If we seek significance and love, yet we lack the peace that we have attained all that we need…

When All is Said and Done check out the matches that remain ready to light the fire of your life.

Maybe, and I’m not judging (Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.) maybe you have dipped your matches in things/people who prohibit your faith – hope – love from lighting the fire necessary to live well and burn bright. Maybe they have gotten wet from swimming in the ocean we call this world. Maybe the fire your passion for life has gone out and you just don’t want to strike any more matches.

Check out your Faith… your Hope… your Love. Whether they are burning bright or being threatened by the environment of your life, check them out.  And keep a check on them… because…

When All Is Said and Done… these three (faith, hope, and love) remain.

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

I DO Declare…

Ezekiel 36:26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (does not mean worldly – means SOFT and PLIABLE with faith, hope, and love).

I DO Declare but first came a NEW heart and a NEW spirit! Thirty years ago! He has removed my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh. God did what He said He would!

It’s me… I have not been paying attention to the work God has been doing in my life. I’ve been walking like NOTHING”S changed. I actually think and act (and sadly have been encouraged to think) as if God’s work in me has been more like “tweaking an almost there life” rather  a full on HEART TRANSPLANT!

Even now, as Ezekiel slams it home, instead of intimately consulting with the Surgeon of all surgeons Who gave me His heart, I begin to imagine a heart that would be perfect for… ME. Maybe a heart like my first pastor (not sure he’s ready to give up his yet), maybe like my best friend’s heart (no, Barb I still need you HERE).

Maybe Peter’s heart… or Paul’s heart… or… Jacob’s… YES! You even changed his name (to Israel) as he received his new heart!

See what I have been doing? Though you’d think I would be past my Eve-like nature, I still, after 30 plus years, tend to look OUTSIDE to declare and put into practice God’s Word. It’s just easier! As I have gotten more and more able to discern what God has, is, and will continue to tell me, I have the OLD nature in my soul that wants to make it pretty on my eyes (lust of the eyes), make it desert, not vegetables for my taste buds (lust of the flesh), and strategically place His Word where I feel it will do the MOST GOOD for me but mostly for everyone else (pride of life).

For the last few weeks, I have been placed in transplant therapy, with, none other than the THERAPIST above all therapists. For the last few weeks, the Holy Spirit has sat me down, filled me with His desire, and brought out His flash cards of His Word –  made flesh and DWELLS within me.

Flash Card: NEW HEART… whereas i thought my heart would be replaced… it is actually the heart of a NEWBORN.

John 1:12 But as many a received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

This is the heart that “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it

Flash Card: God’s Word… written on my newborn heart…

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and life was the Light of men. 

I DO Declare! God Himself, written on my heart!

“So, Ms Mary, you have been declaring this for a LLLLLOOOONNNGGG time. One might call me out with, “What’s changed – or better said, “What IS changing?”

Well…

Certainly, God has not changed – nor His Word – nor that He has been actively writing His Word upon my heart. (it is God who is at work in me, Philippians 2:13)

Therefore, I must conclude it is I that is changing! The Heart Therapy that has been going on since my new birth, has finally reached the eyes of my heart and has begun to show me the redesign (flesh) versus what it was BEFORE (stone).

I’m beginning to pay attention!

God has been faithfully writing His law upon my heart. I know that because if He wasn’t, I would NOT BE declaring His Word in any form or fashion.

What IS changing, and what I want to DECLARE today, is the Word made flesh and dwelling within me (John 1:14)

The Therapist above all therapist has given me what I believe are FLESH-MAKING FLASHCARDS, which I will label “I DO Declare!”.  The Word of God has been spoken over me and by me for the last 30 plus years, but now God has added an intimacy that I will admit has laid dormant more times than not when I open Scripture.

God’s heart changing therapy for me (and possibly you, should you decide to join in therapy) is, at least for now, a 3 step action plan.

Step 1… The Holy Spirit takes from His Word (that is written on my heart) and “flashes” a Scripture He wishes to turn from just words (Mary’s view NOT Holy Spirit’s view)to intimate, Mary’s heart changing, Mary’s HEART MELTING truth declarations.

Step 2… I receive the Holy Spirit’s flashcards. I take my pen and paper, enter the throne room (it is the best play room EVER), and write the verse.

Step 3… Having written the verse, I read it over and over, noting the thoughts that enter my mind, and heart-strings that sing like harp strings played by angels,  and my child-like spirit’s exclamation over the fireworks display as seen by the eyes of my heart!

I know God has already written His Word upon my heart, however, my visual of that has pretty much been of stone tablets, like Moses brought down from the mountain. Like Israel, I pretty much wanted to leave those stones in the hands of God’s chosen leader. LET Moses face God and speak with intimacy what obeying His Word will cost. Let the pastors try to tell me what God means and what I NEED to do in order to appease serve Him. Intimacy with God? Moses had to cover his face after being in God’s presence. I prefer to keep a my distance when He is writing His commands on my heart. Intimacy with ABBA? Of course! He is my Daddy! But when Daddy is laying down the law… I prefer to be outside playing!

I know… childish!

Thus the reason the Holy Spirit has brought His “I DO Declare” flashcards and His heart changing therapy into my life for a time such as this. God WILL NOT allow childishness to remain!

Mark 10:14-15 “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Childishness, NO! When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; (1 Corinthians 13:11)…“when I became an adult, I did away with childish things.

I DO Declare!, comes AFTER putting away childish things (even a 66-year-old needs to put away childish things).

If I am going to boldly blog using God’s Word, obviously I do and I’m going to, then I MUST become PERSONALLY INTIMATE with it. And so, my commitment to you and my covenant with the Holy Spirit is to remain in heart-changing, heart-melting therapy with the Holy Spirit and His “I DO Declare” flashcards.

Then, having softened my heart with the FRUIT of His Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23) I will (go out with joy And be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before me, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12)

I DO Declare!

I DO mean I  – in the power of The Therapist above all therapists – the Holy Spirit of God. I DO… How about YOU?

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 

The thoughts and ways of God are so much higher, they makes our thoughts and ways look like one those of a one cell amoeba which hasn’t yet evolved into what its future state of being.

What’s really mind-blowing is, though we act like the amoeba, we are created in the image of God! When He blew His breath of life into each of us, we became able to THINK, able to PLAN, able to CHOOSE our action/reaction, able to DO, and able to BE related and in relationship with our Creator and our peers.

Notice I said able. Ready and willing and doing happen throughout all the days of our life.

Genesis 1: 27-28 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Then God stepped back and left us to our own devices.

NOT!

The Lord God planted a garden, and there He placed the man whom He formed, and commanded Him to cultivate and keep it (Genesis 2:8-15). Our of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; the man gave names to all…(Genesis 2:19-20) There was not found (in all the creatures made and named) a suitable helper (companion/peer) for Adam so the Lord God fashioned a woman from the rib taken from the man, and brought her to the man, and WHOA, the man was completely smitten by this creature that was his equal – “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:21-23).

THEN God stepped away and left us to do the heavy lifting of gardening and managing our earth.

NOPE!

Up until they “forgot” what God had spoken to them and did their own thing (Genesis 3:1-7), both of them knew and walked with Him in the garden, in the cool of the day without fear or shame. Genesis 3:9 then the Lord called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

It wasn’t God who left man to fend for themselves, it was man/woman who hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God – “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10)

Ok, NOW God turns His back on us!

NO! NO! NO!

Though He does call them out… Genesis 3:11 “Who told you that you were naked?”… Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat? (Of course you have or you wouldn’t KNOW what naked means, which in the realm of knowing good and evil means you are no longer covered with the perfection of God and completely innocent of evil’s touch.)

And He puts into place His plan to PROTECT us from the touch of eternal evil… CLOTHE our nakedness with the temporary coverings… and REDEEM us from the fruit of the sin planted in souls. (Genesis and the rest of the Story… HIS story… The Word of God)

What is really MIND BLOWING… Not only did God not walk away and let us believe He never existed (Atheism) or turn His back so we think He is not aware or interested in our world (Agnosticism) or allow us to be eternally damned (Hopeless) by the wages of sin.

Romans 8:37-39 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Not only NOT SEPARATED… but LOVED

1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 

I Do Not have the mind of God… You Do Not have the mind of God… We are not and can not BE GOD!

My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…  My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts

But WOWZA!

Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make…” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

You can have Him within and and His thoughts and ways written on your heart!

Walk with Him in the cool of the day… hear for yourself from God, Himself…

1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 

Run to Daddy… Cry out to Abba to show you how to… Wrestle with Father/Brother/Helper in training for preparing to go in the way you should go…

Ephesians 3:14-19 Let us bow our knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

I dare you… let God tell you HIS thoughts and HIS ways… guaranteed HE WILL! (Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.)

Guaranteed to blow your mind!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

1 Corinthians 12:4-10 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

Variety! Yes!! “Different strokes for different folks” … Variety IS the SPICE OF LIFE!

Gifts! Yes!! The MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT… Whoa; words of wisdom – words of knowledge – faith – healing – effecting of miracles – prophecy – distinguishing of spirits – various kinds of tongues – interpretation of tongues… GOOD STUFF!!

Same Spirit… Same Lord… Same God – who works all things in all persons!

Yes! Lord! We believe! You ARE and You are the rewarder of those who seek You! (Hebrews 11:6)

God gives – gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 

But, did you catch it?

FOR THE COMMON GOOD… wait, this isn’t just my toy to play with when and where I want to?????

The common good of WHO???? Oh yah, my family… (bigger) my play group – I mean my church family… (bigger) my classmates – I mean my denomination… (bigger) YOUR people… wherever and whenever You bring us together? WHOA!!! REALLY???

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 

YEP!!! Side by Side!!! Come On, take ahold, make it Hand in Hand!!!

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. Mark 10:9

Sounds like… marriage???

It is like marriage! When we are baptized into one body, we leave our first birth with all it’s Adam-like natures, and we become BORN AGAIN into God’s FAMILY; 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 

Not only joined BY God but joined WITH God!

1 Peter 2:10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Now I ask you… FOR THE COMMON GOOD… WHO are these “commoner” ?????  As the Oxford Dictionary states,  the common good would be – the benefit or interests of all (might I just add) the people of God.

I know! I know! It is not easy for us to leave our cozy kingdom of comfort. We have spent so much time, and effort, and costume changes, in putting together our gang of merry men and women. We have found the perfect “pastor” – our Robin Hood of stealing (not really stealing – just borrowing) meaning from the Word of God and replacing (not really replacing – just interpreting differently) with feeling good.

THOSE people… yes, we MIGHT be related by the blood of Jesus Christ… but THEY are scary different! If I spend TOO much time around THEM – well let’s just say IT could be contagious. Sshh… no, no… ONLY people who look like me!

ONLY people who PLAY NICE and RIGHT with… the my toys. ONLY people who KNOW HOW to use the my toys correctly – BY THE  MY RULES!

Maybe this could be the reason your the toys are few and far between… just sayin…

Sshh – Side by Side… who are you standing beside? At God’s table there will be someone of HIS choice sitting beside you.

Sshh – Hand in Hand… whose hand are you holding on to? Whose hand are you grasping and raising high in worship and praise of our Messiah?

Sshh… See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are… 

Sshh… it’s not a secret… if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9)… WE ARE… Side by Side and Hand in Hand!

To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Let the GIFTING begin!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.