Side by Side Hand in Hand

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Early on in my life I learned, as i’m sure most of us do, words matter! I could get what I “NEEDED” WANTED, if I spoke the magic words, and I’m not just talking, “Please & Thank You”,  I could manipulate my world IF I could manipulate the people of my world to care enough to give me the best… i.e….  everything my sweet, beautiful, cute, loving heart could imagine having. I could also loose it all by saying the wrong thing(s). Oh well, practice makes perfect, right?  Well… except for this ONE rule… whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Galatians 6:7)

I don’t remember the first time I fully understood this sowing/reaping was actually addressing MY fields of dreams. For a majority of my life I thought my fields SHOULD forever grow ONLY THAT which I demanded with my carefully spoken words orders. I think reality came as I entered the world and found that the competition for power and control over supply and demand was no longer guaranteed by the cocoon I was raised in. AND FURTHER MORE, no one  agreed to give me the power and control without declaring war.

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men (and women! and children!) will be (just like me) lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; 2 Timothy 3:1-5 

The world, the one I couldn’t wait to join (cause Dad & Mom just don’t understand), had ways and means to get what “they” wanted and I was just a small town girl with small town ideas and dreams.

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.  James 4:1-3  And this, my friends, was spoken about church… a community set apart for love and family and encouragement.  Whoa! This is exactly why “I WOULD NEVER” join a church (bunch of hypocrites)!

In spite of my, “I WOULD NEVER!” declaration, the question pursued and demanded an answer from me …. what, pray tell, is the source of quarrels and conflicts in my non-church community of which I am quite the organizer, extraordinaire? Now we are talking MY field! I could reasonably claim a deep desire for quality seeds by which I and my community would enjoy health and wealth from the wisdom spent at planting time. But explaining the actual produce at harvest time? I own the results!

I’d like to embellish the truth to avoid embarrassing myself. I’d like to point my finger at the worker bees I manipulated into being slaves in my field. I’d like to find and compare myself and my fruit to those who’s fields are even worse than mine. If only there was a way to CHANGE the truth… but alas… before Jesus took over my life, my farming skills SUCKED (and still do when I try it on my own)!

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4  

What Can I Say? Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

I once was lost… but now am found. I once was blind… but now I see. I no longer perform for the “wrong” audience. Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

The treasure I hoard in my heart, and the audience I perform for, to produce it and protect it, is no longer myself or an audience I can manipulate into mini me(s).

When I meditate on WHO (my audience of One) rules my heart, and WHAT He desires (my treasure), and WHEN He desires to increase it, and WHERE He will use the treasures He has stored, and HOW He will use such a weak storage chest, and WHY He has chosen to live here in me…

I guarantee the words of my mouth will proclaim He IS my Rock and my Redeemer… The only good seed to sow in a human heart!

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.

THIS heart will reap – the love of God – 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. 1 John 4:15-17

What can I Say? I seek the Lord, and He answers me, and delivers me from all my fears. I looked to Him and I am radiant, and my face will never be ashamed. (Psalm 34:4-5) 

Speaking the TRUTH In Love… this is the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart!

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

But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16

We have it but do we USE IT????

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, Romans 8:6 

What or better yet, WHO will we set our minds on?

Setting our minds… though I believe our choices (“choose you this day whom you will serve”) are MADE – proclaimed, stamped as the law, and expected to produce the fruits of life – in our hearts, or the place where the throne of free will resides. The mind is the computer – the operating system upon which, unless over-ridden with software changes and/or updates, all plans, tasks, and assessments are SET IN PLACE to accomplish the heart’s desire.

We usually examine our mind to reveal our “SELF”, i.e. our life choices, desires, and wishes. Though we can maybe see (more dimly than accurately) the ways and means to the end goal, asking a computer to DECIDE its own end goal will result in serious error messages.

However… we can assess the “settings” of our mind. The mind set on the flesh or the mind set on the Spirit. We can appraise our operating system and search the codes, synapses, and processes used to produce the end goals by appraising the fruit that grows in and around our lives. We can ask our minds just what they were/are thinking, but every answer must be suspected as only a “smile and nod” – a “Whatever you WANT it to be!” – or a wink to confirm “NO WORRIES!”.

But to find out our TRUE SELF, we must go deeper. Most call it the heart, some call it our soul, but whatever you call the deep place of your self, it is where the PROGRAMMER determines the program, where the THRONE and the THRONE AUTHORITY of our physical, emotional and spiritual life resides and rules.

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you WALK NO LONGER just as THOSE WHO walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you LAY ASIDE the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and PUT ON the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:17-24 

Who is the PROGRAMMER?

You and only you… the only one you trust to want what is best for you?

Or God… the only one who not only desired the BEST for you, but gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in order to make us His children.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.  Galatians 3:26-29 

Unfortunately, old selves still want to play with the computer! We put on our new self and forget to change the settings (or don’t believe we need to). We forget to (or so I claim… “I FORGOT!”) GET OUT OF THE THRONE and PUT JESUS on it! When Jesus is on the throne in the CORE/center of our self, the Holy Spirit is THE PROGRAMMER and our mind will be SET WITH THE OPERATING SYSTEM OF GOD.

We will be renewed in the spirit of our mind, with codes, synapses, and processes that produce life and peace.

We will grow into and be trained to Think.Like.Jesus!!!! Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,

We WILL BEGIN to dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 

In our day and age, we have “SMART PHONES” which tempt us to think we are “smart” because we have them. But… do you personally know and have authority over the programmer(s) who produced them? They have indeed made it look like WE control the smartness because WE ask it the questions and tell it what we need… as if WE are the programmer!

May I just remind us all… we didn’t design it – we cannot vouch for the complete righteousness of all the information, all the methods, all the end games it seeks – and yet, we TRUST that these hirelings – these programmer(s) we buy our Smart Phones from, have ONLY our best interests not their version of what those should be, at the center of their programming.

We pretend to have control over our SELF, however we put our FAITH in a myriad of people, places and things, EVERYDAY – ALL DAY LONG, (not the least of whom is ourselves), because NO ONE can do it all! If we were truly honest, we have very little control, and even what we do have, we sell or give away for the immediate gratification of rainbows, unicorns, and all things bling.

Yes, we can tell a lot about our SELF by the operating system we call our mind… the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

Who’s your programmer?

Who programs your operating system?

Who controls your mind?

Choose you this day… but know this… Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Choose the One who really does control eternity! We can have the mind of Christ.

Programming 101… Think.Like.Jesus!

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

John 17:1-2  Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.

Thy Will be IS done! From the beginning of time, from the moment of “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (Genesis 1:26), Father, Son and Holy Spirit, declared Their Will over all of creation!

It was, is, and will always be only a matter of time (an earthly nuisance). In fact, Jesus declared the victory. The Hour has Come…

“It is finished!” (John 19:30) The Will of God… to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.

The gift of life… ETERNAL LIFE!

John 17:3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The Hour has Come… do you know the only true God??? AND Jesus Christ whom He sent???

Jesus… Who… glorified God on the earth, having accomplished the work which He had given Him to do. (John 17:4-5)

Jesus… Who… manifested God’s name to the men whom God gave Him out of the world; they were God’s and God gave them to Jesus, and they have kept God’s word.

Victory!!!!! Jesus declares it!!!

“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.  Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”(John 17:4-5)

Yes, the cross (the wages of sin = death) was still to come in those moments, but the cross was just the final sword (the debt paid and WIPED OUT) through the heart of sin and death. It was, is, and will always be, Jesus who saves – not the cross… “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. (John 3:16-17)

The Hour has Come and Jesus declares and desires His “bounty”. “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;  I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

The Hour has Come and it never Goes Away…“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;  that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:20-24)

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven… “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me;  and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:25-26)

Has your hour come? Have you experienced this kind of intervention and intercession with Jesus? It is His prayer! “I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity…”

I pray your hour has come!

Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might. 

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

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

It’s no secret that we put a lot of energy into seeking the perfect job. So much of our life is centered around the resume we are building in order to LIVE the good life. Our value is based upon production and our salary seems to reflect how good we are at living this life.

But… my question is… “How much time and energy do we expend in finding the “Perfect Boss?”

I’d venture to guess, most of us put this concern (who is the boss?) at the bottom of our search list. At the top? “SHOW ME THE MONEY!” Right beside, “Make it my DREAM JOB!”

Then… !Life will be good!

Yes, and unicorns live and play in my backyard. Imagine that!

Once again, as it seems EVERY generation and EVERY nation of mankind does, we turn from the goodness of God and seek the lust of our flesh, the lust of our eyes, and the pride of our lives. We enslave ourselves and others, into building our towers (remember Babel) so we all can obtain heaven. We CRAVE taking the throne of life from God and seating ourselves in His place.

It is simply amazing to me what people will do under the influence of LUST. It is even more amazing what they do while suffering the “morning after” hangover from the drunken binge. Having believed the lies of lust, they rage against THOSE WHO RUIN their chance at happiness. Rage begets the death of freedom and the death of freedom returns all too slavery. And slavery is… the difference between good and evil… the difference between God and Satan.

Choose you this day whom you will serve…

Whether you believe in God or not, whether you practice some kind of religion or not, whether you follow your favorite preacher or not, there is ONLY one choice each and every one of us MUST CHOOSE.  It is not… to serve or not to serve. If you have breath – you are alive, if you are alive you are “serving” (doing) life.

The choice is WHOM you will serve while doing life! As prideful as we are in making “good choices”, there is only two – God or Satan… good or evil. Neither give their throne away until the very end when evil is completely removed, throne and all! No matter how badly we may want to be a little g god, or think we are progressing upward, it will only be an illusion, put there by evil to entice you to choose his kingdom.

So… have you sought the Perfect Boss? ( I guarantee, all your illusions of grandeur aside, it is not YOU!) Have you identified the differences between the two (good and evil) you will be serving in whatever life you are doing? If you claim there is no god, little g or big G, guess what, you are still serving one of the two. Your denial does not change even a dot or tittle of reality, even when reality is invisible to our eyes. If you claim agnosticism, that god – big G or little g – is not an active or participating deity, so is uninterested in the life you are doing or the way you are doing life, you are actually depending on the idea that what you “don’t know” won’t effect you. But really? How do you KNOW what you DON”T KNOW?

In the little g kingdom of evil, those who don’t believe in G(g)od, make the best of slaves, you are an IGNORANT SLAVE! However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. Galatians 4:8 Whatever your method of or reason for avoiding God (the original sin and still sin today), I challenge you to own it. Don’t. be. an. ignorant slave.

You don’t have to be a slave at all. (Evil knows this well and hates you for it!)

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “ Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7 

God! The God of Israel! The God of ALL GOODNESS! From the beginning of time, through the darkest of evil’s days, into eternity, has provided for, pleaded for, desired for, His beloved to “Come Home My Child!”

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? John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

You choose!

Seek the Perfect Boss! For then you will know what your perfect job is… He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 

Seek FIRST His kingdom! Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 

Now you have “The Job Worth Doing and the Boss Worth Doing it For!”

Just DO IT… heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men!

As those who have been chosen of God (and as those who’ve chosen to serve Him), holy and beloved, put 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 forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:12-17 

THIS is the day the Lord has made… “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. (Matthew 6:34)Just keep on… doing LIFE!

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

1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Seeing is believing, right? It is wonderful to have eyes that are able to see, not everyone has the ability. If seeing is believing, how do these people “see”? Or what about those “things” that are invisible to the eye?

But maybe we’re using the “wrong eyes” to see or maybe we are unaware of “ALL of the eyes we humans possess.

There are the eyes of our earthly bodies… not everything is SEEN or CAN BE SEEN when looking at the images before our eyes, such as gravity or the future images that have not happened yet. Every action has a reaction, the prediction of the reaction cannot always be calculated before the action takes place. So seeing with our fleshly eyes, may not provide everything needed for the function of seeing. We have to add what I call the eyes of our heart and soul.

Though animals see things and INSTINCTIVELY (meaning a reaction totally within the confines of their nature) react, humans filter life through our “will” – the decision to act and the freedom deciding holds, to “choose” the action.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Some consider humans as equal with animals and animals equal to humans. The TRUTH is, there is no fish, no bird, no beef, nor creepy thing that comes close to the ability and potential to rule, than a human being. We were made in the image of God and given the freedom to choose to be like Him (Not to be Him!) but to be recognized as bearing His image.

If you “bear” an image, it means you hold it in honor and respect. It means you are pleased and proud “look like” the original… though you have not seen Him, you love Him. You LOVE the one you look like!

If you love the one you look like, though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him, beyond any shadow of doubt that might enter your thoughts. You BELIEVE in the one you love!

As a human being, made in the image of God, we have the freedom to choose whom we wish to love and whom we believe our life is best centered around… choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: (Joshua 24:15) We see, through the eyes of the flesh, we choose through the eyes of our heart and soul.

Humans do not just accept and instinctively react to what is seen, we seek that which will we believe will give us the best outcome for what we desire. When we view something we cannot, or will not accept, or do not like, or just plain do not see clearly, we take on the task of “perceiving” (auditing – defining – assessing – chasing to fit) what our eyes have presented.

We seek the “best truth” life provides, so to speak

Unfortunately, there are those who believe that truth is a matter of perception/preference, not fact. Reality is strictly what the person perceives/prefers as real.

Which, would be true, IF, the nature of the person couldn’t and wouldn’t lie to themselves or others.

When we made our position of choice, to question and disobey THE PERFECT and RIGHTEOUS, we stepped away from the innocence we enjoyed in living and ruling over creation. Rather than declaring our SIN, we tried (and still do today) to cover our nakedness – our imperfect and unrighteous nature.

We “perceived” we had to HIDE when God called us out. We preferred to blame everyone but ourselves.

I have stated before and I will continue to say as we both shall live, “Perception/Preference IS NOT reality!” It IS (almost always) NOT truth!

An eyewitness account is almost always what the person THOUGHT or WISHED they’d seen. The eyes of the heart and soul must seek a solution when the eyes of the flesh cannot comprehend what they are seeing, or the mind cannot accept the explanation of the images coming into it. The eyes of our heart and soul must call in all its resources to explain and/or approve so that we may continue to live the life we have established as OUR LIFE.

If not… war will be declared and our inner self will be enraged until we can declare victory – never defeat!

While our fleshly eyes seek information, the eyes of our heart and soul seek PROOF that our life is as it SHOULD BE… what it USED TO BE, before we broke it by giving evil a position in our world. The eyes of our heart and soul are always seeking to conquer the territory and the King who rules it, so we can return to heaven.

The TRUTH is God was always the one and only King, is the one and only King, and will always be the one and only King! He wasn’t, nor isn’t, nor ever will be defeated. That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made –  Romans 1:19-20 Like I said, “Seeing is not always believing.”

Whether with the eyes of the flesh or the eyes of the heart and soul, we need one more set of eyes… the eyes of Jesus.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 

Reality, whether one believes it or not, remains REALITY.

Truth, whether believed or not, remains THE TRUTH.

The only way to see clearly is to see through God’s eyes.

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. 1 John 4:15-17

I love Him because He first loved me (1 John 4:19).

“My Eyes Have It!”

From eyes of my flesh to the depth of the eyes of my heart and soul… though I have not seen Him, I love Him, and though I do not see Him now, but believe in Him, I greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Who’s in your eyes today?

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

 

Exodus 17:9-12 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 

We will probably never be called to a fight like this one… oh yeah?!

We are called to fight in a battle for our very lives! We are called to go up against the enemy of ALL ENEMIES, the enemy of God Himself!  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. Ephesians 6:12 We are in a battle with darkness and wickedness, Satan himself, the thief, who comes only to steal and kill and destroy; John 10:10.

If you have confessed with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; (for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:8-10), God’s enemies have declared war with you. They HATE you! Though they may approach you as reasonable, caring helpers, who only have your best interests at heart, please know that their mission in life is to steal and kill and destroy… YOU!

Unlike Moses, we can’t send Joshua and his army to fight our battle, but, we like Moses must station ourselves on the top of the hill with the staff of God in our hand. 

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness , and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:14-17

Having done everything to prepare for battle, Stand Firm!!! With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit

Like Moses, lift your hands in prayer. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. Yeah, me too!

And so I proclaim, having fought many battles in my young life… NEVER FIGHT ALONE! And thus, we have reached the main point of this Website Wednesday blog… though Moses is the leader of this trek through the wilderness from slavery to freedom, Aaron and Hur are the poster duo for everything Side by Side and Hand in Hand!

But Moses’ hands were heavy. We’ve all been there. We lift our banner to God in the heat of the battle that assails us all and we prevail against. We also know of those times our arms get heavy and our banner comes down (“just for a minute, Lord”) and the enemy seems to prevail.

Like Aaron and Hur, we know the battle plan and we can recognize the signs of strength in battle and the weariness of a war that doesn’t take breaks for rest and relaxation. Like Aaron and Hur we can watch and I’m sure PRAY, but we can also take a stone (the Corner Stone) and put it under our battle weary fellow soldiers. Then, likeAaron and Hur, we and our partner(s) in encouragement, can support his/her hands and help lift the banner identifying us as God’s army,one on one side and one on the other.

Because WE KNOW… wait for it…

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20

With Encouragement and Intercession we bring The One Who Wins the War! He was/is/and will be there the whole time, but now, face to face with Jesus, the enemy must flee! Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:7-8 

Never Fight Alone! With this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18 Side by Side and Hand in Hand we can rest upon The Rock and lift holy hands together, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.

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

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

Ever had one of those days when YOU KNOW something is just not right? When YOU KNOW something is wrong?

Today is one of THOSE days for me. I know (something) IS wrong. I just don’t know the WHAT the something is!

Yesterday was fine… I was even bragging (oh, oh, maybe???) that physical therapy was going great – my plans were taking shape for an office downstairs – yes, it is hot in Texas, BUT still and all, I am content. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 

So, Mary, what gives? What is this overall heaviness I have had on my shoulders since I SLOWLY and CAUTIOUSLY got out of bed this morning?

Could it be… the air conditioner’s thermostat is off line and cannot be accessed?

Could it be… the ants have scheduled a parade around my kitchen without requesting a permit?

Could it be… I was suffering from “Just Not in the Mood” for this non-essential pre-coffee information?

Could it be… I AM just in a mood!

Not  a good time for moodiness, Mary! It’s Website Wednesday! Side by Side Hand in Hand ENCOURAGEMENT baby! Nope, not good at all!

But it is THE BEST TIME for a “Search and Rescue“!

Psalm 118:24  This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Once again, God whispers my name and says, “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.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Well, Hello! If I don’t know what’s up with this day, there is SOMEONE who does! Search me O God!

I confess… I do not trust my (little m!) thoughts. I am likely to “imagine” that my thoughts are clear and accurate. I do not trust my ways (again, little m) either.  Oh, I have plans, and if I don’t I WILL make plans, but they will always be about… wait for it… me – me – me – me… and my own desire.

One thing I do know, even if I don’t want to admit it, is I KNOW me!

Growing up I was taught to confess my sins, especially before Sunday and communion. The problem was (and still is) I also learned to lie about my sins. Well… not really lie – lie, but definitely create subterfuge to earn the “get out of trouble“, free card. You know the one. For the NOT SO BAD sins. I might be a sinner BUT I’m NOT a TERRIBLE person, therefore I really only need a “little” forgiveness (i.e. penance). It worked with the priests! They didn’t really want to know, they wanted to believe their people were essentially “good people“.

To this day, I still have the tendency (my old nature) to minimize the sin in my life. It works for me! I believe the lies I tell myself! However, unlike the priests of my childhood, God isn’t impressed nor willing to allow me to ride my slippery slope of minimizing ANY sin taking up residence in my life. (Psalm 139:5)  You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:7) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

PRAISE GOD!!!

Psalm 139:1-4 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.

Amen???

No more slippery slope! No more subterfuge! It is God who is at work in me (and you!) , both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

So now I know what this morning was all about… it was NOT about what was wrong, or even what there might be. It was about the two greatest weapons I have (we all have) when trouble invites itself into our day.

When in need of Search and Rescue…

#1) Run to Daddy! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6 FIRST and foremost, don’t ask yourself for the analysis and action plan…  ASK GOD! How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18 God is GOOD ALL THE TIME and all the time GOD IS GOOD! (from the movie “God’s Not Dead”)

#2) Put on God! Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13 

The one/two punch of Search and Rescue God’s way… Pray and Stand Firm!

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 

DWELL ON IT!!!!!

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 

No doubt about it… this isn’t the day I thought it was going to be!

This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

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

Jonah 1:3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord .

Have you ever had a meltdown with God and decided to take the next ship out of town?

Jonah did.

Jonah was a little different than the majority of us, in that, he wasn’t mad at God for sending him on an IMPOSSIBLE street evangelism mission, nor was he afraid to bring the message to these people. He was mad because he knew the people of Nineveh would repent and God would SAVE THEM instead of destroying them. Whereas we run away at the first hint of failure, Jonah did not want to succeed.

Let me make one thing clear, through this whole meltdown, Jonah didn’t give up on God nor did he turn away from his faith in God. And might I also say, God did not give up on Jonah nor turn away from his love of Jonah.

It was childish anger (tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine), not love, that formed Jonah’s plan of action. Go figure…

So Jonah went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord… and had promptly lain down and fallen asleep. Those tantrums really do wear us out!

But God…

The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”  Jonah 1:4,6

It was terrifying!

Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “ Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” Jonah 1:7-8 

One thing could be said about Jonah, he was honest about his little adventure…

Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “ How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. Jonah 1:10-11 

It seems Jonah’s nap dispelled his anger and he KNEW God was calling him out. He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” Jonah 1:12 

They didn’t WANT to, but having rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them. Instead they PRAYED… to God, NOT their faux gods!

Had we been there we might even had heard they angels celebrating and praising God for His NEW BELIEVERS! Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord , have done as You have pleased.” So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. Jonah 1:14-16 

Hello! What Jonah thought would serve God right for asking him to do something he did not want to do, God used for good and brought even these sinners to repentance. What some might think as terrible punishment for Jonah and causing innocent victims to suffer, some would be TERRIBLY WRONG!

God is good ALL THE TIME!!!!

We think in terms of earthly suffering and death, but God through Christ, conquered ETERNAL death and suffering. In comparison, this momentary light affliction we experience on earth (every day has enough trouble of its own) will be forgotten in the eternal glory of God’s Kingdom. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 

By faith… even in Jonah’s day. Romans 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

The storm and the high seas were not to “punish” Jonah nor harm his fellow travelers. It was discipline given in order to train up a child in the way he should go. God wasn’t beating Jonah for being angry at Him. But God didn’t (and wouldn’t) give up on Jonah either. Just like so many of our parents, God, being The GOOD Father, went along with Jonah on his runaway adventure, and along the way, saved some sailors that Jonah hadn’t even considered in his evangelistic ministry.

ALL THE TIME God is good!!!

After a leisurely (*sarc), stay in a one star hotel called “Big Fish”, Jonah came to the conclusion that you can’t run from God nor should you. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. Jonah 2:1-2

With just a little bitterness left toward his calling to Nineveh, “Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving”… Jonah was ready to obey, “That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.” Jonah 2:8-9

And there was REVIVAL in the land of Nineveh!

Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. Jonah 3:5,10 

One would think that obedience AFTER the meltdown would bring renewed joy… again one would sometimes be wrong… But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. Jonah 4:1

He obeyed but he also POUTED about it. He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.” Jonah 4:2-3

REALLY!? In order to forestall God’s grace and compassion, “Let me die, now!”.

As a parent, I guarantee I would not have been as patient or gracious as God was with Jonah and IS with all of His children. The Lord said, “Do you have good reason to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 

Jonah’s answer? He went off and pouted some more. God went with him and provided a huge plant for shade. God also provided a worm to ruin the plant and therefor the shade He provided, which caused Jonah more pity for the little Pity Party he was enjoying(?). He became angry about the plant… Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to death.” Jonah 4:9 

A GOOD REASON… The difference between God and us…

Then the Lord said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” Jonah 4:10-11 Mmmm… sound familiar? My way or God’s way? My will or God’s will? My love or God’s love?

If you ever find yourself having a meltdown over what God, your Father has asked you to do, consider two important TRUTHS… !) It’s Not Always About You! And the second one… You can run but God will still be with you!

Jonah had his own opinion about how God should proceed. Might have been a little better had he taken his opinion captive and replaced it with God’s Word…

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. 

And all God’s people say… THANK GOD!!!!!!!

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

Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
Revelation 3:17

These words were said to the church of Laodicea… one of seven churches for which the apostle John was given God’s view of the their coming days, spoken by the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Originator of God’s creation (Revelations 3:14)

To a church! A place where people meet in order to worship, fellowship,  and glorify God. A place where, if two or more gather in His name, He, Jesus, the Messiah in their midst.

One would think, if Jesus is in the midst, EVERYTHING would be about HIM! But He says… Behold, I stand at the door and knock;  Mmmm… looks to me like the church doors are shut and Jesus is on the outside.

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door… It doesn’t appear anyone is listening… maybe they are all too busy boasting about how rich and independent they all are… yep… healthy – wealthy – and wise!

THIS IS a perfect example that perception IS NOT reality! Especially the perception seen through the lens of LUST and PRIDE.

Evidently even church people can suffer from filthy rags (all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment Isaiah 664:6), the secret shame of nakedness (Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Genesis 3:7), and vision problems, without the light of Christ in the house (the darkness has blinded their eyes 1 John 2:11).

When Jesus isn’t actively present in our lives or we have placed Him in our Quiet Time closet (which some of us rarely go into) or we have locked Him out completely because we refuse any confrontation for our sins. Thus, we turn our backs on the repentance that is required of a child of God, and become like, the tithe paying members of the church of Laodicea. When the majority of members, elders and shepherds sit in its pews without regard to their Savior, the WHOLE CUP becomes TEPID! Neither hot nor cold toward Jesus!  But get out of their way when it’s Testimony Time!

Please believe me, I am not judging people like this. However, the REALITY is… where your heart is is where your treasure is. The REALITY is… where the Holy Spirit is, there is no room for worship of our flesh and the things it desires, there is ONLY room for the Passion of Christ! For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:17

Interestingly Jesus says He prefers either hot or cold – tepid He spits (vomits) out. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16 

I (and I am no expert) do not think this is about non-believers. The cold is not about being an atheist. I believe this cold is the result of not pursuing the PERSON of Jesus Christ. This cold is about being satisfied with salvation, “It is enough… if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, It is enough to be saved; Romans 10:9, nothing else is REQUIRED. 

For whatever reason, there is ice in the veins of those who know salvation but refuse intimacy with their Savior.  On the other hand, those that are HOT pursue ALL OF JESUS. They want to be just like Him and with Him all the time. They want to KNOW God!

As I said, I’m not judging. ONLY God knows the heart and so ONLY God knows what/and if the heart truly believes.

He does not wish for any to perish so I do not believe he was encouraging un-belief in this message to the churches.

However, the message is about loosing the rewards of overcoming the flesh bent toward sin and following the world as it wages war against God. 

Reality Bites! The people who do not repent and will not be reproved and disciplined by God and His love, are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked and DO NOT KNOW IT!

Come to Jesus now! He says to you, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19 

Take Jesus’ Word for it…  He will turn you around! “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Revelation 3:18

Our perception will always be skewed this side of eternity because our world is skewed. It is given that the time will come (Hello! The time is NOW!) when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 

Our perception insists that it is we who produce “holy ground” (it even insists we make our own little g – gods). Our perception insists, it is we who determine what is right(eous) especially when in agreement with the popular vote of the church that teaches the same. Our perception insists it is we who decide the level of ENOUGH “religious stuff”!

NOT!

It is God… Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Reality Bites! Before you are consumed (before you are you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked), seek Jesus!

He’s knocking… 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. (Revelation 3:20)

Now THIS is my kind of OVERCOMER”S Dinner Party!

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21

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

Genesis 3:8-9 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Where are you when it’s Abba time?

From God’s heart to our well-being. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Out 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; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. (Genesis 2:18-20)

Can you see this picture? God, wanting to give Adam us the very best “helper” (perfectly matched for him), so He 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.

Wow! Just WOW! God, side by side with Adam – maybe even reclining next to Adam in the grass, or bending low to see and enjoy Adam’s reaction to each creature, while proudly watching and encouraging, Adam’s position of authority and his training in Garden Management, for this, the garden Abba built for him (Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 ).

Like Father like son/daughter… He knew us INTIMATELY! God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27.

Do you see yourself, sitting with Abba as He brings you “suitable helpers” for you to name, claim, and enjoy in the garden He has created for you and Him enjoy together, along with all the other creatures made and placed in this garden called you?

Do you see Him and you, together, planning and managing all things included in abundant life living?

Do you celebrate with your Abba… cry with you Abba… laugh with your Abba…walk and run and skip with your Abba?

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7  Living beings with the breath of God in us! Created in His image with His Will that we should rule creation with Him.

Pretty heady stuff when contemplate it!!

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… Do you hear the sound of God walking in your garden in the cool of the day? Do you run to Him for Abba time?

Or are you, like Adam and Eve, “afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10?

Are you hiding from Abba? Or like some, have you put a KEEP OUT sign on God’s side of your garden gate?

I’ll admit, this earth that God created for us, is not now what He intended it to be. It is not the garden free of evil that existed before sin. And because it isn’t, we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:22-23

But God… our Abba… never left or abandoned us.

From DAY 1, He had… has… and will bring about His will – His promise of new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  2 Peter 3:13

So, why doesn’t He JUST DO IT??? The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 

Abba is waiting for you!

Deuteronomy 32:11 “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions.

He wants us to FLY… like an eagle!

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. 

It truly is… ABBA TIME! 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God;

Meet with Him in the garden of YOUR life!

Side by Side and Hand in Hand!

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 

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