Exhorting, provoking, encouraging each
other as we pray, and praise, and seek the King and the Kingdom. This
really is the brass tacks of our faith and how we deal with others.
We who call upon Jesus not just as Savior---because He is that to all--even those who don't acknowledge Him--but those of us who have made Him Lord and Master need to knit ourselves together in the spirit, and in unifying friendship--denominations be damned. We won't be judged by doctrines but by our submission to and love of Jesus. Many will say Lord, Lord on that day but HE will say depart I don't know you. It all boils down to love--and was all about love even back in the garden.
I see so many who just "don't-get-it" in the body and have to leave them to the convictions of the Holy Spirit who is our literal life line to our Master and the Father.
I've just lived through far too much and my soul is seasoned from the battles both won and lost. I have been forgiven of much therefore I love much--I chose to get BETTER not bitter. God has finally brought me to a more restful faith--one that does not strive to perfect that which I cannot anyway. HE is the author and perfecter of our faith not ourselves lest we could boast WE have done it.
It is ALL about HIM, For HIM and IN HIM that we live and serve. There is a line in the show Babylon 5 that the Rangers use. They say "WE live for the One, we die for the One." We live for Christ in all that we do and breathe, but we all die to ourselves so THE ONE can eclipse our humanity and be seen as the bright and morning star--the GREAT I AM, and risen Savior.
In Him we live and move and have our being. Some of us have to battle and battle on, others seem to have a life of ease. For people like you and I who struggle and are enduring the trials of Job we are looked upon as being somehow sinful and out of the will of God or else why would we be suffering so---right? Such wrong thinking! God Himself said to satan "Have you considered my servant Job...." We are now a showcase to the truth and reality of Jesus in our lives--blessing and praising when we have every "right" to curse and blame.
Our households are being shaken and purified. We are somehow crazily deemed "worthy" of the trials and to share some of the sufferings of our Lord--a privilege even if it doesn't seem like it at all! Hard times and hardship drives us to God or away from Him. If we are as faithful as we can be our trials are only for a season then follows a season of restoration, and refreshing. We are also not alone---others are enduring the trials of Job and being prepared for the times ahead and perhaps for greatness.
I don't know the how's and whys. I don't understand why my life has been such a hard one but know that God has had His hand on my life even when I had no use for Him. There is just so much I don't know--but I can rest in knowing that God KNOWS, and He understands.
1 Peter 4:12-14
12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. …
Think of it WE get to share in something of Christ--His sufferings--so HIS Glory is revealed--Yeah baby bring on the revival of the latter rain! Suffer reproach for the name of Christ then we know we are in the right place because the above verse says FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTS ON YOU--CAN I GET AN AMEN!
Trials reveal the truth and truth sets us free to the Glory of God! Trials also bring out the likeness of Christ in us.
James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1: 2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
The Lord restored Job and HE will restore us--all we have lost or had taken from us must be repaid in some way. Jeremiah 29:11 HE is our future and hope and refuge those who put their trust in HIM will NOT be ashamed!!!
Glory Hallelujah Amen ---Lord let it be so--Thank you so very much for your grace to get through our own personal hells and our own trials of Job...May our restoration testify of Your glory to our nation! Praise be to God!
We who call upon Jesus not just as Savior---because He is that to all--even those who don't acknowledge Him--but those of us who have made Him Lord and Master need to knit ourselves together in the spirit, and in unifying friendship--denominations be damned. We won't be judged by doctrines but by our submission to and love of Jesus. Many will say Lord, Lord on that day but HE will say depart I don't know you. It all boils down to love--and was all about love even back in the garden.
I see so many who just "don't-get-it" in the body and have to leave them to the convictions of the Holy Spirit who is our literal life line to our Master and the Father.
I've just lived through far too much and my soul is seasoned from the battles both won and lost. I have been forgiven of much therefore I love much--I chose to get BETTER not bitter. God has finally brought me to a more restful faith--one that does not strive to perfect that which I cannot anyway. HE is the author and perfecter of our faith not ourselves lest we could boast WE have done it.
It is ALL about HIM, For HIM and IN HIM that we live and serve. There is a line in the show Babylon 5 that the Rangers use. They say "WE live for the One, we die for the One." We live for Christ in all that we do and breathe, but we all die to ourselves so THE ONE can eclipse our humanity and be seen as the bright and morning star--the GREAT I AM, and risen Savior.
In Him we live and move and have our being. Some of us have to battle and battle on, others seem to have a life of ease. For people like you and I who struggle and are enduring the trials of Job we are looked upon as being somehow sinful and out of the will of God or else why would we be suffering so---right? Such wrong thinking! God Himself said to satan "Have you considered my servant Job...." We are now a showcase to the truth and reality of Jesus in our lives--blessing and praising when we have every "right" to curse and blame.
Our households are being shaken and purified. We are somehow crazily deemed "worthy" of the trials and to share some of the sufferings of our Lord--a privilege even if it doesn't seem like it at all! Hard times and hardship drives us to God or away from Him. If we are as faithful as we can be our trials are only for a season then follows a season of restoration, and refreshing. We are also not alone---others are enduring the trials of Job and being prepared for the times ahead and perhaps for greatness.
I don't know the how's and whys. I don't understand why my life has been such a hard one but know that God has had His hand on my life even when I had no use for Him. There is just so much I don't know--but I can rest in knowing that God KNOWS, and He understands.
1 Peter 4:12-14
12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. …
Think of it WE get to share in something of Christ--His sufferings--so HIS Glory is revealed--Yeah baby bring on the revival of the latter rain! Suffer reproach for the name of Christ then we know we are in the right place because the above verse says FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTS ON YOU--CAN I GET AN AMEN!
Trials reveal the truth and truth sets us free to the Glory of God! Trials also bring out the likeness of Christ in us.
James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1: 2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
The Lord restored Job and HE will restore us--all we have lost or had taken from us must be repaid in some way. Jeremiah 29:11 HE is our future and hope and refuge those who put their trust in HIM will NOT be ashamed!!!
Glory Hallelujah Amen ---Lord let it be so--Thank you so very much for your grace to get through our own personal hells and our own trials of Job...May our restoration testify of Your glory to our nation! Praise be to God!
May we have the courage to continue on the road our Lord has laid out for us! Then we shall hear the Master's voice saying; "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the rest!
ReplyDelete1 Peter 5:9,10
ReplyDelete"9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same ([g]identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you."
Philippians 1:6
"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you."
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
ReplyDeletebut the Lord delivers him out of them all – Ps. 34:19