Muttering:The Old Testament God shed light on Jesus Christ; In The New Testament, Jesus Christ shed light on the love of the Father. Both shed light on the Fullness of the Godhead and His love for us.
All we need to get started is basic faith. We were born with a measure of it. I don't know how much that measure is, but it is what we start with.
Basic faith is complimented with good character. We develop good character by putting on God's character. We grow in character if we dedicate our hearts and minds into learning truth in scripture. It does not just fall into our lap. We grow into it by learning truth.
Self-control is giving God control over us so He can teach us how to master our emotions. Mastering our emotions lowers the dial on being controlled by them. I can tell if my emotions rule. My emotions rule if my focus glorifies me or other people. If emotions reign loose in me,I am guilty. I am guilty of the worship of you or of little old me myself. Wrong.
There is a big push for humanistic knowledge today. Humanistic knowledge gives rise to the opinion that it is just fine and dandy to unleash your emotions. Pagan religions have always had that kind of delivery. That is probably why people feel so free to openly argue in public and on TV. Arrogant, disrespectful, "want/need/have to have the last word" people are admired. It is also politically correct to habitually say degrading disrespectful comments to or about others. It is "funny" if you ridicule with jokes. God does not think it is not funny.
God gave me His evaluation on my attitudes when my kids were teens. It was a sorrowful keen awareness. I was personally messing up on a multitude of things.Their attitude directly reflected my basic outlook. I knew that I was introducing opinions to them on what is right and what in wrong. The problem was that my opinions and attitudes were not right. I eventually learned to check my attitudes against what God says. I try to remember to ask God to evaluate what my real focus is. Is the focus REALLY on Him or is it on building the ego of man. Am I self-absorbed and self-centered in whatever I am doing/saying? Where are You God in the focus? Am I thinking of You, at all?
Perseverance or passionate patience is an exercise of self-control.You will not be easily discouraged or tempted to quit with passionate patience. I think procrastination is an enemy of God's will in our lives. It is like sleep walking. Your eyes may be open but you are not open for business.
Reverent wisdom or godliness is a trait that will keep me aware and in need of God's presence in my life. Oh Jesus I need You and I hunger for You!
LOVE. He is Love. He is the true love of insatiable consuming fire. That fire is meant to fill and consume every part of us. It is not lukewarm love that deserves to be spit out. It is expensive love. It cost more than we could pay to have it. The One who is Love, paid that price we could not pay. He died a sacrificial death for us. My focus can not be on me as the one who receives the love. The focus must be on the One who gave it to me. We learn from God that we are to love Him and the ones He created. The more He loves through us, the more we grow to be more like Him.
I woke today with a new push for life in me. I want to seize the opportunity to display God's love right now, right here, while I can. I am a walking, talking, moving, touching billboard for Jesus Christ. I can leave a testimony of truth everywhere by just being the me that He lives in. As long as I am His and He lives in me, it will work. I can be willing to only barely-make an impact OR be seeking and willing to be a richly abundant spokesperson for life in Christ Jesus. It is my choice. It is your choice. Let's not put it off...
One more thing. Everything in existence anywhere that is really seen in truth has one common factor. It is seen in relation to the One on the Throne in Revelations 4. The Almighty God created us because it pleased Him to create us. My attitudes and actions don't always give my Lord God pleasure. BUT He loves me because I am His creation. Oh my goodness! Isn't that just lovely! He loves me and redeems me and this gives Him great joy to do it. It does not make sense to me why He loves me when I am so guilty of being self-centered and unloving. I put myself into the places that He is suppose to rule. I do all sorts of things that I should not do. How dare I act like I am the center of the universe? When that attitude takes hold of me, I am displacing my Lord Jesus from His place in my heart. It takes continual monitoring and soul searching to keep Him first in my life. If I do anything other than put Him first in everything, I am putting my faith in the enemy of God. That evil agent wants us to pretend to be omnipotent so that our God is displaced. No way. God is the center of everything! God I want more of You! I want eyes to see and ears to hear and a mind to act on Your Will.
In Revelation there are Seraphim's who cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy", in the presence of God. The praise and worship 24/7! Serah means to burn in the presence of God. The closer that we draw to God, the more we will burn with passion. Go for it!
blessings,
Elinda
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Majesty Express
Muttering: "You are the God who does miracles; you have shown people your power." Psalms 77:14
This evening, Randy and I drove our old farm truck the 33 miles to Andrea and Josh's house. That old truck just keeps on going. It has a hole in the floor board and looks really ratty, but it is a good ole truck. We chose to drive it tonight because we took the crib for the baby to the kids and it would not fit in my van.Besides it is kind of fun to ride in such a rustic contraption. When I drive it, I can hardly see over the steering wheel. The last time I drove it, I sat on a phone book so I could see. I laughed and laughed and bumped down the road.
We got to the kids house, put our dinner on the grill, played with the dogs, finally ate and had a wonderful Bible study. It was worth the time and the drive. It is never a waste to explore the Word of God. The Word was very real to me tonight. Today I had asked God to make the things that are important to His Kingdom be real to me. Also, for Him to make them really stand out so I would pay attention to them. Time is too short to miss the important things. It is not time to be dull. It is also my prayer that He gives me more of Him. I want more of Him than I have ever had before. Why? So I can glorify Him and be used in His Kingdom.
Randy and I talked on the way home. The fatigue began settling on us in a heavy way so I kept the conversation going. I am a chatter box so it is not hard for me to find something to talk about. Somehow( I know how now:-) the conversation shifted to Elk. I love the Elk and I know why. A few years I was given a majestic show by them. Not up in the mountains or on a vacation. It was right here at my house. An astounding bull Elk resided at our place for a while with his herd. He buggled and really showed off.I could hear another bull elk buggling back to him some nights. Our boy here was not a happy camper about the competition. You could see the steam rise off of him as he paced back and forth. One day I am sure he chased a competitor off. I heard the loud crashing noises at the pond. The other guy left in a huff. Our bull had a tremendous rack of at least 8 points. I was able to take pictures of him, but they will never portray what he was in person. I heard later that a hunter had tried to shoot him. He was mortally injured, but was not dead when the wildlife agents found him. He had to be put down. That really bugged me and made me sad. It was such a waste of that majestic animal. I am pretty sure a poacher shot him. I hope the bull was not in pain.
The Elk have been around this year. I saw one herd about four or five miles from here. It is a fairly big herd of about 80 animals. They were grazing with domestic cows on the back roads in the daytime. They were incredible. They just take my breath away. This year I have only managed to see one cow Elk that was close to our house. She was in the woody area on the side of our house. I can hear them, but had not see them yet. Well,God is never to be outdone by any amount of imagining that we might do. He always goes above and beyond our expectations with His goodness and blessings! Tonight He had a majesty express present for me!!!
You could have blown me away with a feather when we drove into the driveway! Elk were all over the place! In our front yard, side yard and running toward the back pasture where the pond is. We have ten acres here which is not much for a herd of elk. There are connecting lands that gives them many miles of traveling berth. BUT they were here, right here at my house! It was dark, but I could still see them jumping over the blackberries and heading to our pond in the back of the pasture. I could hear them walking through the pond and crashing around. I even heard their gutteral noises and what seemed to be the sound of a baby calling its mother. They stayed pretty close, even when I walked my three dogs. I am pretty sure that they are out there right now. Go figure? A majestic express present from my Lord Jesus Christ! Needless to say, I feel so blessed by it all. He is great and greatly to be praised!
In His service,
Elinda
This evening, Randy and I drove our old farm truck the 33 miles to Andrea and Josh's house. That old truck just keeps on going. It has a hole in the floor board and looks really ratty, but it is a good ole truck. We chose to drive it tonight because we took the crib for the baby to the kids and it would not fit in my van.Besides it is kind of fun to ride in such a rustic contraption. When I drive it, I can hardly see over the steering wheel. The last time I drove it, I sat on a phone book so I could see. I laughed and laughed and bumped down the road.
We got to the kids house, put our dinner on the grill, played with the dogs, finally ate and had a wonderful Bible study. It was worth the time and the drive. It is never a waste to explore the Word of God. The Word was very real to me tonight. Today I had asked God to make the things that are important to His Kingdom be real to me. Also, for Him to make them really stand out so I would pay attention to them. Time is too short to miss the important things. It is not time to be dull. It is also my prayer that He gives me more of Him. I want more of Him than I have ever had before. Why? So I can glorify Him and be used in His Kingdom.
Randy and I talked on the way home. The fatigue began settling on us in a heavy way so I kept the conversation going. I am a chatter box so it is not hard for me to find something to talk about. Somehow( I know how now:-) the conversation shifted to Elk. I love the Elk and I know why. A few years I was given a majestic show by them. Not up in the mountains or on a vacation. It was right here at my house. An astounding bull Elk resided at our place for a while with his herd. He buggled and really showed off.I could hear another bull elk buggling back to him some nights. Our boy here was not a happy camper about the competition. You could see the steam rise off of him as he paced back and forth. One day I am sure he chased a competitor off. I heard the loud crashing noises at the pond. The other guy left in a huff. Our bull had a tremendous rack of at least 8 points. I was able to take pictures of him, but they will never portray what he was in person. I heard later that a hunter had tried to shoot him. He was mortally injured, but was not dead when the wildlife agents found him. He had to be put down. That really bugged me and made me sad. It was such a waste of that majestic animal. I am pretty sure a poacher shot him. I hope the bull was not in pain.
The Elk have been around this year. I saw one herd about four or five miles from here. It is a fairly big herd of about 80 animals. They were grazing with domestic cows on the back roads in the daytime. They were incredible. They just take my breath away. This year I have only managed to see one cow Elk that was close to our house. She was in the woody area on the side of our house. I can hear them, but had not see them yet. Well,God is never to be outdone by any amount of imagining that we might do. He always goes above and beyond our expectations with His goodness and blessings! Tonight He had a majesty express present for me!!!
You could have blown me away with a feather when we drove into the driveway! Elk were all over the place! In our front yard, side yard and running toward the back pasture where the pond is. We have ten acres here which is not much for a herd of elk. There are connecting lands that gives them many miles of traveling berth. BUT they were here, right here at my house! It was dark, but I could still see them jumping over the blackberries and heading to our pond in the back of the pasture. I could hear them walking through the pond and crashing around. I even heard their gutteral noises and what seemed to be the sound of a baby calling its mother. They stayed pretty close, even when I walked my three dogs. I am pretty sure that they are out there right now. Go figure? A majestic express present from my Lord Jesus Christ! Needless to say, I feel so blessed by it all. He is great and greatly to be praised!
In His service,
Elinda
...you thought I was altogether like you.Not!
In Psalm 50:21 ...God said, "You thought I was altogether like you. " Not so! God goes to great lengths to help us understand.One reason that Jesus takes us to places that we have never been before is because we have misconceptions about who He really is. He takes us to a state of helplessness. We must lose control. This is the only way that He can show us that He is NOT like us. It would not work if He allowed us to stay in our controlled zone. We would depend only on ourselves or someone else.
We tend to get rattled when something usual is threatened or removed. God also knows that our flesh is very resourceful in the effort to remain comfortable. When one thing is removed, we transfer that control to another area. I don't know about you, but I tend to put a death grip on usual things that keep me at peace. I read research data that studied the length of time it takes for women to adjust to the idea of change. This study said that it takes two weeks! Women are made to have all chicks safely under her wings. It is difficult to raise your wings and let God at them.
God is stronger than my gripping little fist. When our hands are empty, He fills them with Himself. It is blessed to be dependent on Him. Remember, we are here to learn to be like Him. Not the other way around.
A good illustration is found in 11 Chronicles 16:7-9 A human chose human help. God was there willing and ready to help, but He was not asked. God is always alert and constantly looking for worshippers. We are foolish to prefer human help over God. He was looking for us in the first place. He is our help in times of trouble. He wants to make us strong.
He is not like anyone on this planet or universe! God wants to give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we will know who He is. If we only have an understanding of Him in relation to His human image, we will be mislead. We will subconsciously downsize Him. We must never view Him as anything less than The Great I AM.
There is no mistake when He gives us difficult seasons. He is very aware of what is going on. Those difficult seasons are spiritual growth fertilizer. He is the reason for the season and the season is to know Him in a new deeper way. The reason always involves instruction in how to be more complete in Him.
Most of the things I have learned in these seasons are not used right away. Is that true for you, too? He usually allows me to have time for the lessons to sink in. When I have needed them, I have had them ready and waiting. He is such a grand wonderful God!
His love is not sentimental love. It is a consuming love. His consuming kind of love is one that we can not possibly have for Him or for another. He knows what our limited capabilities are. He loves us regardless, with all of Himself. His desire is for us to love Him by choice, not by force. That is all He wants. He wants us to love Him to the best of our capability. When we love Him, we glorify Him in that love.
Sometimes I try to carry the cause instead of the cross. Have you ever done that? I am ashamed when I take the focus off of myself and realize the scam. Maybe it is a would-be cross bearers way of avoiding the death involved. You can not be resurrected and changed if you don't suffer and die. The scam does not work or do any work in me. God wants me to tell Him that I am done with myself. I give up all of me to Jesus. I am willing to let Him deal with my stuff.
Before this earth was founded, God decided that He wanted to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. We are free people because Jesus willingly poured out His blood on the altar cross. Our sins and punishments were deleted right out of the system. They were not even held in a delete basket. They were totally eradicated! So we are not skimming by. We are abundantly and totally free in Jesus Christ, IF we belong to Him. Hear the truth and believe it. Say out loud that you need Him. Tell Him that you are sorry for doing wrong things. Tell Him that you need Him and no other. Ask Him to live and have His breath in you right now. Do it and He will and live in you and you will live victoriously. Live as a walking billboard for Jesus!
blessings,
Elinda
We tend to get rattled when something usual is threatened or removed. God also knows that our flesh is very resourceful in the effort to remain comfortable. When one thing is removed, we transfer that control to another area. I don't know about you, but I tend to put a death grip on usual things that keep me at peace. I read research data that studied the length of time it takes for women to adjust to the idea of change. This study said that it takes two weeks! Women are made to have all chicks safely under her wings. It is difficult to raise your wings and let God at them.
God is stronger than my gripping little fist. When our hands are empty, He fills them with Himself. It is blessed to be dependent on Him. Remember, we are here to learn to be like Him. Not the other way around.
A good illustration is found in 11 Chronicles 16:7-9 A human chose human help. God was there willing and ready to help, but He was not asked. God is always alert and constantly looking for worshippers. We are foolish to prefer human help over God. He was looking for us in the first place. He is our help in times of trouble. He wants to make us strong.
He is not like anyone on this planet or universe! God wants to give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we will know who He is. If we only have an understanding of Him in relation to His human image, we will be mislead. We will subconsciously downsize Him. We must never view Him as anything less than The Great I AM.
There is no mistake when He gives us difficult seasons. He is very aware of what is going on. Those difficult seasons are spiritual growth fertilizer. He is the reason for the season and the season is to know Him in a new deeper way. The reason always involves instruction in how to be more complete in Him.
Most of the things I have learned in these seasons are not used right away. Is that true for you, too? He usually allows me to have time for the lessons to sink in. When I have needed them, I have had them ready and waiting. He is such a grand wonderful God!
His love is not sentimental love. It is a consuming love. His consuming kind of love is one that we can not possibly have for Him or for another. He knows what our limited capabilities are. He loves us regardless, with all of Himself. His desire is for us to love Him by choice, not by force. That is all He wants. He wants us to love Him to the best of our capability. When we love Him, we glorify Him in that love.
Sometimes I try to carry the cause instead of the cross. Have you ever done that? I am ashamed when I take the focus off of myself and realize the scam. Maybe it is a would-be cross bearers way of avoiding the death involved. You can not be resurrected and changed if you don't suffer and die. The scam does not work or do any work in me. God wants me to tell Him that I am done with myself. I give up all of me to Jesus. I am willing to let Him deal with my stuff.
Before this earth was founded, God decided that He wanted to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. We are free people because Jesus willingly poured out His blood on the altar cross. Our sins and punishments were deleted right out of the system. They were not even held in a delete basket. They were totally eradicated! So we are not skimming by. We are abundantly and totally free in Jesus Christ, IF we belong to Him. Hear the truth and believe it. Say out loud that you need Him. Tell Him that you are sorry for doing wrong things. Tell Him that you need Him and no other. Ask Him to live and have His breath in you right now. Do it and He will and live in you and you will live victoriously. Live as a walking billboard for Jesus!
blessings,
Elinda
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