I Will Praise You In My Wellness, I Will Praise You In My Illness

Early last month was a difficult one for me. I was suddenly stricken with horrific nerve pain from a weather front, as well as unrelated nausea and fever. I was miserable. I felt like I was under attack for no particular reason. I began to take inventory of myself. I had not committed any sin. I had remained faithful to tithe. And I had no hidden hatred or unforgiveness in my heart that I knew of.  Sometimes in our misery, we can have a tendency to believe God sends punishment of some kind because we've been a "bad child." Job had done nothing against the Lord and in fact, was sold out on Him 100% yet he suffered terribly with the loss of his children, property, wealth, his good name, and his health. When I realized my relationship with the Lord was stellar and yet Satan was attacking me I put my foot down.  I was angry with Satan for thinking he could get me to blame God or to doubt God's goodness. I know there are those of you out there who question God or blame God for illness or chaos in your life, IE: "Why are you doing this God?" "Are you mad at me God?" "What did I ever do to deserve this?" Sound familiar? Instead of getting mad at God, instead of complaining or whining, instead of letting frustration get the best of me (which I have done I admit), I decided to praise God in the midst of my agony. I was not going to let Satan win. I wanted Jesus to hear my voice loud and clear that I was still with Him, for Him, and loved Him regardless of my present situation. The Bible is filled with examples of praise when we see His power released. There are life-changing miracles, dramatic stories of the enemy being halted or defeated, hearts being changed, and people drawn closer to Him. We have so much to praise God for, there's great power in giving honor to Him. And many of you live that truth out every single day of your lives.

Sadly, the reality is that way too often, daily struggles or constant life demands can crowd out our praise to God.  For some, it really is a sacrifice to offer praise. We may not feel like it. We're struggling. We're weary of life. Or maybe, we feel like He's let us down. We think God seems distant, or against us, or that He doesn't really care about what's troubling us. Painful life blows, families in disarray, illnesses, conflicts with our spouses, etc. might have recently sent us spiraling. We must realize what can make a lasting difference. When we make the decision to fix our eyes on Him, and DAILY praise Him, no matter what is staring us in the face, we suddenly realize that God has already begun to release the grip those struggles and circumstances can have over us. One of THE MOST powerful scriptures is, "God inhabits the praises of Israel"(some translations say 'His people.') The Matthew Henry Commentary says, (quote) "This may apply to any child of God, pressed down, overwhelmed with grief and terror." There is power in our acknowledgment that He is worthy, above all else, of our worship and praise. His Spirit urges us onward, to press close to Him.  That's what happened to me, that still small voice in my spirit that said, 'draw close to Me and I will draw close to you.' It didn't matter how miserable I felt, I could still sing. And I did. I looked miserable, I sounded miserable as I held back becoming sick to my stomach, but what mattered was this -- my heart was in tune with our Creator and King. 

Why is praise so important? Let me count eight ways. #1) It truly gets our focus off ourselves and back on God.  IT DID FOR ME! Life is not all about us though we are now living in a "selfie" focused world. (Psalm 150:2; Psalm 35:28). #2) Praise truly brings us to a place of humility. Again, IT DID FOR ME.  As tears rolled down my face I realized how small I am in the scheme of things and how dependant I am on God (Psalm 95: 2-3; Psalm35:18). #3 Praise makes the enemy flee! How? Praise pushes back the darkness because evil will not stick around if we are praising God! In my case, I felt it waning, literally! (2 Chronicles 20:22).  #4 Praise leaves no room for complaining and negativity. Through praise, we're focused on Him, no longer allowing too much attention to be centered around the struggles. When I began singing it wasn't long until I felt physically better, but not only that, I felt empowered. (Psalms 103:2; Hebrews 13:15). #5 Praise makes room for God's blessing over our lives. Again, praise opens the gateway of blessing as we come into the presence of our King! (Psalm 100:3; Ephesians 1:3). #6 Praise invites His presence.  Oh yes!  I felt Him right there.  My pain which manifested as a scowl turned into a smile and joy. (Psalm 22:3; 1 Peter 2:9). #7 Our spirits are refreshed and renewed in His presence. Just as I was strengthened by His peace and refueled by His joy as I felt His presence. (Psalm 16:11; Psalm 63: 3-4). #8 Praise paves the way for God's power to be displayed. Remember what happened to Paul and Silas when they sat in prison? Though shackled and chained they kept praising God, and God sent an earthquake that shook the prison cells and broke the chains. AND... that very night even the jailer and all his family came to accept Christ. (Acts 16: 25-26).

We have a choice every day in this life... to live absorbed in worry, stress, doubt, fear, and defeat by staying tuned into the roar of the world or our own messages of doubt that play through our heads. OR we can ask God to help us take our eyes off all that is swirling around us: our problems, our mess, or the voices of others that try to convince you there is no victory in Christ. We can look up -- to Him, the One who holds it all together, and who holds us in His hands. God desires our whole hearts. He waits for us. He wants us to lean on Him, count on Him, TRUST HIM WITH ALL OUR WHOLE BEING. He longs for us to know the power of His presence in our lives. He really does desire to bless us more than we could imagine.  Praise will put you in the presence of the Lord, and in His presence there is peace, there is assurance.  In His presence fear melts away, problems become lighter, joy fills your heart, confidence grows, healing comes. In closing, here is a prayer for all those who reading today.

Dear God, we praise You today with our hearts and songs, we praise You for Your faithfulness, we praise You for Your great power and love.  We confess our need for You, our lives don't go so well when we just spin around on our own. We struggle and worry, get weary and worn. Yet, You never leave us. Thank You for your presence.  Thank You for Your care over us, thank You that You breathe renewal right into our souls when we worship You.  We ask for Your Spirit to fill us now and work Your purposes through us, as we set our eyes on You. In Jesus Name. Amen. 

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

ENCOURAGEMENT

 Encouragement (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

We all face struggles of various kinds, some are self-afflicted and others are not.  We need to take comfort in what Christ has done on the cross and how Jesus’ sacrifice guarantees that God loves us and is watching out for us though there are times it feels like He has left us.“ When life is tiring, when you are struggling with your sin, when family members aren’t saved, when bills aren’t paid, when school is difficult, when work is exhausting, when your health is failing, when your loved ones are hurt, when the future is unsure because of this pandemic, or when a good friend betrays you, it is easy to be discouraged.

Discouragement is a thief.  Why? It steals your vitality, your zeal, your joy, your peace, and your contentment.  If discouragement dwells long with you, its friends will soon join.  Their names are fatigue, hopelessness, despair, self-pity, depression, doubt, and bitterness, and even illness. Sometimes, discouragement can be so strong that you even don’t want to go on living. If we have nothing to rely on, or we forget our blessing and look to our circumstances, then that is when discouragement begins to take hold. Instead, what we need is encouragement.  We need hope and peace and the knowledge that the Lord knows our troubles, has great concern and compassion for us and is not leaving us unloved or uncared for. Keeping your eyes on Jesus is the best way to be encouraged because in Him, you can have comfort and peace, and encouragement.  You need to find Him and His words, and by faith rest in Him!

Be encouraged because God is a God of mercy and comfort. Verse 3 says, "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." In Greek the word “mercy” is oiktirmos.  It means compassion, pity, mercy.   And, it is something that is felt in the heart.  In God’s very heart, He feels mercy toward you. WOW. He is the author of mercy.  His mercy toward you brings salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from eternal damnation… and this, because of Jesus, because of His sacrifice, because of His shed blood for you. God IS the God of mercy: Psalm 86:5 says, “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.” The word in Greek for “comfort” is paraklesis.  It means, exhortation, comfort, and encouragement.

In fact, a form of this word, parakletos is used for the Holy Spirit. That is why the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter in the KJV in John 14:26: “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. In the NASB the word is rendered “Helper.”

All this shows you that God is a God of Comfort, exhortation, and encouragement. All comfort comes from God who is the God of comfort, mercy, and love. It isn’t an angel, or a cosmic force, a pill, psychotherapy, or a quick and clever slogan that warms your heart and lifts you up.  It is God! But you may ask, “How is the Comfort received from God?” 

1. By faith – because God says He is the God of comfort, then you need to believe it and act upon it; that is, you need to trust Him and receive His comfort as He provides it. 

2. From others – God uses His people to comfort you.  When you have a problem doesn’t the Lord send someone with an encouraging word, a helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on? 3.Through His word – reading and hearing – The words of God are beautiful and are there for our instruction and encouragement.

3. By the Holy Spirit.  He is called the Comforter. He indwells you! You can take encouragement too because God is there in your afflictions.  Verse 4 – “who comforts us in all our affliction . . . . so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Affliction (NASB) (“trouble” in the NIV) in Greek is the word is thlipsis.  It can be translated as tribulation, trouble, anguish, persecution, burden, and, of course, affliction. Afflictions come in all different shapes and sizes. Sickness, financial difficulty, loss of a loved one, an unsure future, an auto accident.  But also, and this is something very important, the affliction occurs in the heart in that place where we get frustrated, confused, and hurt. Why do we have afflictions? Because we live in a fallen world. And it takes a world with trouble in it to train Christians for their high calling as children of God and to carve upon their souls the features of the face of Christ.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV) So then, afflictions are a way of making you better.  And that is how they should be tackled: as the testing and strengthening of your faith — through the comfort and mercy of Jesus. So for those of us, particularly those suffering from physical conditions, disease, or disorders, we push through and persevere sometimes without even knowing it's making us stronger.

You don’t have to worry whether or not He is going to take care of you.  He already has, (THE CROSS), He is currently doing so, and He will continue to care for you.  After all, aren’t you more valuable than sparrows and He cares for them. YOU SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BECAUSE YOU CAN BE AN INSTRUMENT OF COMFORT TO OTHERS.  Verse 4 “ . . . so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Personally, I've known others who have said they are encouraged by me even in my condition which in turn has given them strength to endure their own physical challenges. This glorifies God — to comfort others. Being used by God makes you feel good – that isn’t the only reason to help someone, but it does feel good when the Holy Spirit uses you to do good. As odd as this may sound, you need to praise God that you have even had afflictions so that you can be able to help others. How many of you, because of a trial, have been able to help another better because of that same type of trial? You see, God does not comfort you to make you comfortable, but to make you comforters. Let that sink in. God never causes diseases, sickness, or illness, but He can use it for good.

Lighthouses are built by shipwrecked sailors. Roads are widened by mangled motorists.  Hospitals are built by those who were sick. Where nobody suffers, nobody cares!  When you suffer you learn to care, right?  That is why God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.

But don’t forget, He suffered first….. You should be encouraged because the comfort you receive from God comes through Jesus.  Verse 5.  “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” This means that all comfort, encouragement, and hope that you receive through people, through the Word, or through circumstances are filtered through Jesus. Encouragement is something that belongs to you as a Christian.  You do not have to live in a world of hurt and doubt.  You don’t have to live alone. You don’t have to weep in solitude.  You have the body of Christ to lift you up.  You have the group "Just Saying" and the Christians who gather here. You have the Word of God to teach you.  You have the Holy Spirit indwelling in you who warms your soul. You need to depend on and keep your eyes on Jesus and Him alone. Be encouraged. You are not walking alone.

Until He comes,

-Pat-

Where The Mind Goes The Body Follows

 I once bought an unassembled gadget. After reading and re-reading the instructions I couldn’t figure out how the pieces went together. In my frustration, I finally threw the instruction booklet down, picked up all the pieces, studied them, then began assembling the gadget. In a short time, I put it together without the instructions. I'm still like that today with watches, mechanical things, furniture, etc. I simply cannot follow instructional manuals or the processes as written! I have to look at something to be assembled or taken apart AND THINK on my own!

The human mind is amazing. It has great power to imagine and carry out good or evil. It has the power to shape a person’s life. What we think about is what we are or what we do. In reality, where the mind goes the body follows! How powerful is that thought! We all need the mind of Jesus! To become like Him we need His mind and His Spirit and this will only happen when we set our minds on His Word. Philippians 2:5 KJV  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Whatever you hold in your mind will tend to occur in your life. If you continue to believe as you have always believed, you will continue to act as you have always acted. If you continue to act as you have always acted, you will continue to get what you have always gotten. If you want different results in your life or your work, all you have to do is change your mind. Thinking controls our actions. A wise person will change their corrupt mind. A fool never will. All of us are changing whether we want to admit it or not. The world affects and changes us through our thinking. For example, TV and movies are powerful influences on children and even adults. Commercials influence us to buy products. That’s why companies pay millions of dollars to produce them. Movies can influence a person’s behavior. Kids have watched violence and immorality and then have gone out and put these things into practice. It’s sad to think that good doesn’t affect us as much as evil does. Of course, we see less good than we do evil on the movie screen. 

If you want to know the mind of a person, just listen to their words. What a person talks about is what he is thinking. Why don't we talk about the Word of God and Christ? Could it be that we are not thinking about them? Out of sight out of mind? Our bodies will manifest what our mind harbors. One battle, particularly for men, is the attraction to pornography. King Solomon once said, “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” (Proverbs 6:27). Along those lines, can you repeatedly bring sexually arousing images into your head without consequences? You may not be physically burned by sexual images, but psychologists argue that those images can actually be burned into your mind. My husband and I knew of a married couple who regularly washed their minds with pornographic movies until it became an addiction and soon escalated into areas of deviation.

WE MUST THINK and train our minds to follow Paul's instructions found in Philippians 4:8, KJV: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. However, when you make the decision to clean up your mind, do you think the battle will be easier or harder? It gets harder. Temptation isn’t much of a battle if you easily give in to it. It is fierce when you decide to stand against it. Although you may despair at times, with all your steps backward, God won’t give up on you. Remember, your sins are already forgiven. This is a winnable battle because you are alive in Christ and dead to sin, you can become all God has called you to be. The bigger war has already been won by Christ.” No matter your sin ... big, small, perverse, habitual, all spiritual battles can be won because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world! We must believe this, trust, and ask for the Lord to work in us and through us. We must ask for Him to strengthen us powerfully by His Spirit who lives within us! Here are some relatable scriptures:

1) Colossians. 3:1-2 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

2) Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

3) II Peter. 3:1-2 “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.” The only way to wholesome thinking is by reading the Word of God. Psalm. 119:11 “Thy Word have I hid…”

4) II Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

As we set out to rid our minds of years of impure, foolish, vain, and prideful thoughts (making it obedient to Christ), remember that merely trying to stop thinking bad thoughts, whatever they may be,  won’t work. You must fill your mind with the crystal-clear Word of God. There is no alternative plan. We overcome the father of lies by choosing the truth! A good illustration is to picture your polluted mind as a pot filled to the brim with stale black coffee. It’s dark and smelly. There’s no way to get the pollution of coffee out of the liquid. However, sitting beside the coffee pot is a huge bowl of clear ice cubes. Your goal is to purify the contents of the pot by adding ice cubes to it every day. I wish there were a way to dump all the cubes (words of the Bible) in at one time, but there isn’t. Every cube dilutes the mixture, though, making it a little purer. Since you can only put in one or two cubes a day, the process seems futile at first. But over the course of time, the liquid begins to look less and less polluted, and the taste and smell of coffee decrease. The process will continue to work. But only if you don’t add more coffee grounds! Do you follow what I'm saying? Daily, little by little, line by line, precept by precept, scripture by scripture, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, THE WORD OF GOD washes your mind of old ways of thinking. Where the mind goes, the body follows.  "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2)

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Sin, Iniquity, Transgression

 Matthew 7: 21-23 are alarming words the Church needs to hear because of their sheer intensity. Why do I say that? Simply because I am concerned for souls. Pick up your Bible today and read the verses closely! In it, Jesus is rejecting and telling Christians to depart from Him. Did I say, Christians? Yes. If you look closely at the two verses you will see that the people He is addressing had to be believers and followers of Jesus Christ because the only way a person can cast out demons in 'Jesus name is if they have been baptized in the Holy Ghost! Therefore, they had to be Christians who had been filled with the Holy Ghost. They also had admitted to doing other mighty works in His name as well as the gift of prophecy. By these, they thought they were worthy to enter heaven, and yet, were directed by Jesus to depart! Why? All Christians have a guaranteed ticket to heaven, right? Once saved always saved no matter what, right?

As a follower and believer in Jesus, you realize non-believers are not able to cast out demons, right? Where have you ever read in the Bible that a non-believer ever cast out Satan or cast demons out of people? A non-believer is simply not able to do that. Only a believer who has been filled with the Holy Spirit can do that. Then who were these who came to Jesus admitting they had cast out demons in His name and expected by that to be able to enter heaven? The "casting out power" comes from God alone within a believer not a non-believer. Jesus said, "Greater things than these shall you do ONCE THE HOLY GHOST HAS COME UPON YOU" John 14:12.  It requires the Holy Ghost to do these things! These people were Christians! Again, why would Jesus cast them out?  Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep and am known by My own" John 10:14.  Ask yourself, if they were filled with His Holy Spirit and admitted they had cast out demons in His name, wouldn't that make them a part of the body of Christ? Jesus answers that question in the same verse. Watch closely. He said, "Depart from me YOU WORKERS OF INIQUITY." Jesus did not say, depart you who are sinners. Jesus did not say, depart you who do not believe. Jesus did not say, depart you who are lost, you who have transgressed, or you who have never heard of Me. He specifically called them workers of iniquity. It is pertinent we understand what being a "worker of iniquity" means. That's the key to Jesus' rejection.

In the Bible, three offenses are mentioned: Sin, Transgression, and Iniquity. There is a distinction we need to understand between these three. Put on your thinking caps. In Psalm 32:5, the psalmist says, “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’” In this one verse, “sin,” “iniquity,” and “transgression” are all mentioned. Basically, the three words communicate the same idea: evil and lawlessness as defined by God (see 1 John 3:4). However, upon closer examination, each word also carries a slightly different meaning which you need to grasp. Let's break it down:

The word sin and its two other similar words are used 786 times in the New International Version of the Bible. Sin means “to miss the mark.” It can refer to doing something against God or against a person (Exodus 10:16), doing the opposite of what is right (Galatians 5:17), doing something that will have negative results (Proverbs 24:33–34), and failing to do something you know is right (James 4:17). In the Old Testament, God even instituted sacrifices for unintentional sins (Numbers 15:27). Sin is the general term for anything that “falls short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin leads to a downward progression that, without the restoring power of the Holy Spirit, we all tend toward. The sin nature is present in every human being born since the Fall of Adam (Genesis 3:6–7; Romans 5:12). Naturally, it's why your 2 or 3-year-old will stomp his feet in rebellion, refusing to obey, and screaming no at you. That's not something you taught him. It comes naturally because of our fallen nature! Once a person reaches the age of accountability, continual sin if left unchecked, leads our sinful nature to gravitate naturally toward selfishness, envy, and pride, even when we are trying to do good. The apostle Paul alluded to his propensity to sin when he wrote, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Romans 7:18).

The sin nature leads to trespassing. A trespasser is someone who crosses a line or climbs a fence that he should not cross or climb. A trespass may be intentional or unintentional. Trespass can also mean “to fall away after being close beside.” Peter trespassed when he denied Jesus (Luke 22:34, 56–62). We all “cross the line” in thought, word, or attitude many times a day and should be quick to forgive others who do the same (Matthew 6:15). But what about transgression. Transgression refers to presumptuous sin. To transgress is to choose to intentionally disobey; transgression is willful trespassing. Did you get that? An example would be Samson intentionally broke his Nazirite vow by touching a dead lion (Numbers 6:1–5; Judges 14:8–9) and allowing his hair to be cut (Judges 16:17); in doing so he was committing a transgression. David was referring to this kind of sin when he wrote, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1). Today we could say it's when we knowingly run a stop sign, tell a lie, or blatantly disregard an authority, we are transgressing.

However, INIQUITY is more deeply rooted! This is the one we need to focus on and the one you must understand clearly. Iniquity refers to a premeditated choice; to commit iniquity is to continue in sin without repentance regardless of what you have learned what God wants of you. David’s sin with Bathsheba that led to the killing of her husband, Uriah, was iniquity (2 Samuel 11:3–4; 2 Samuel 12:9). Micah 2:1 says, “Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light, they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.” In David’s psalm of repentance, he cries out to God, saying, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2). This is what God has shown me again and again I must show BELIEVERS! As a believer and follower of Christ Jesus, to plan, think on, plot, and purposely continue in a particular sin whether it is (as an example) an adulterous affair, fornicating outside of marriage, drunkenness, homosexuality, etc. without any remorse, repentance, or turning from the vices you once lived in aligns you in a category of "you that work (or are workers of) iniquity. Why do you refuse to repent and turn from these sins? You simply cannot come to Christ, accept salvation, be baptized in the Holy Spirit, then continue in a life of deliberate debauchery. God forgives iniquity, as He does any type of sin WHEN WE REPENT AND TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS (Jeremiah 33:8; Hebrews 8:12). However, iniquity left unchecked leads to a state of willful sin with no fear of God! The build-up of unrepentant sin is sometimes pictured as a “cup of iniquity” being filled to the brim (Revelation 17:4; Genesis 15:16). Continued iniquity leads to unnatural affections, which leads to a reprobate mind. Romans 1:28–32 outlines this digression in vivid detail. The sons of Eli are biblical examples of reprobates whom God judged for their iniquities (1 Samuel 3:13–14). Rather than repent, Eli’s sons continued in their abominations until repentance was no longer possible. There can come a time it's too late once you've known the truth and still reject to obey what you know to do.  And there is no excuse to remain disobedient because the Holy Spirit is the power within you to perform it. 2 Peter 2:21, "It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness, than, to know it and then reject the holy commandment delivered to them" (2 Peter 2:21). Look at this verse, "We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning" (1 John 5:18 NLT). This, therefore, is the key!! God's children DO NOT LIVE IN INIQUITY. Children of God do not remain in and willingly continue to practice a particular sin (being a "worker" of iniquity) that remains a part of their old life! Will we slip, commit sins, and miss the mark of perfection? Of course! But we always feel remorse, we repent, we ask for forgiveness, then we keep marching to finish the race. A true follower of Jesus who has been "saved" and baptized in the Holy Ghost will not remain in their old lifestyle, refusing to leave sins they enjoyed before being saved. 

Regardless of how depraved a human heart may become, Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to cover all sin (John 1:29; Romans 5:18). Psalm 32:5 ends with these words: “And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”  I  implore all Christians who are non-compliant, purposely and knowingly practicing sin(s) from the past, to REPENT REPENT REPENT. Finally, if you call yourself a Christian but:

*Continue coupling outside of marriage or continue an extra-marital affair... 

*Willfully continue drinking and ignoring what God has shown us in Revelation that no drunkard will inherit the Kingdom of God ...

*Refuse to end your homosexual relationship ...

*Are Entangled in the debauchery involving immorality or perversion without remorse or fear of God ...

Please repent. Do not be a worker of iniquity any longer. You will be in danger of judgment because you have rejected the command you were given to live a life separate from the world and unto Christ. God will forgive you and give you the power to overcome if you repent and turn from your old lifestyles. Do it before it's too late.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Afflictions

 There is one thing I've noticed among my brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a whole lot of affliction! What is an affliction? It's simply a disorder, disease, ailment, condition, or illness that causes great suffering. But why? Why would the believers, of all people, be afflicted? Aren't we supposed to be healed by His stripes? Paul said something in his epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 4 verse 8 that many of us can relate to, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair." Today I want to address just one type of affliction and ask, why are we suffering from afflictions like fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, constant pain, bowel disorders, heart disease, lung disease, paralysis, on and on, and on? Is it that we have some kind of unconfessed sin causing our ailments? Is God mad and therefore punishing us? Why would a devote Christian who follows Jesus, loves the Word of God, follows in obedience, has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, etc. be afflicted? These are questions I have pondered over and over as I myself am "afflicted" by a genetic condition that progressed to the point I am now confined to a wheelchair. What in the world could possibly be the reason I, you, or any other believer is afflicted? I'm going to share what the Lord revealed to me.

It's obvious that we must consider the record of  JOB. Why? Because of the extreme amount of suffering he endured and the patience he maintained throughout his ordeal. You have heard people say of someone they admire, "He has the faith and patience of Job."  You know the story of Job; yet let me go over it very briefly. The first chapter begins with the story of Job, how he was prospering. He was a good man, perfect, upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. As his children feasted from day to day, he offered sacrifices lest they might have sinned. In verse six the scene is changed. The veil is drawn aside, and we see something happening in heaven. Satan appears, and when he is asked where he comes from he answers, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down it" Job 1:7. Then the question is asked, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and escheweth evil?" verse 8. Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face" Verse 9-11. These verses contain a challenge to the Lord that Job will not stand true. God accepts the challenge: "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put not forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD" verse 12. Do you remember the calamities that came upon Job? One thing after another happened. Job was perplexed. He did not know what was going on in heaven. He did not know of the challenge, and that he was being put to the test, and that the Lord was depending upon him. Job was stripped of all that he had, laden with disease, heartache, betrayed by friends, but at the end, he arose and said:

"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked will I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" verses 21-22. Satan was beaten. He had charged that Job served God because it was paying him; that God had put a hedge about him; that Satan could not get at him. But Job stood the test. PATIENCE. Then comes the second meeting in heaven, and Satan, unabashed, again appears. Though he had been beaten once, he was not discouraged. God asks him again if he has noticed Job. Satan answers, "Skin for skin, yes, all that a man has will a man give for his life. But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse You to your face." Job 2:4-5. God again accepts the challenge. And so Satan goes forth and does all he is permitted to do. He goes the limit. He may not kill Job, but he causes him to suffer intensely. Job is laid on the ash heap scraping himself, the matter oozing from all his sores. His wife counsels him to curse God and die. Job answers her: "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this, Job did not sin.  PATIENCE. Satan had been beaten again. 

Satan had tormented Job, causing him intense suffering; but Job had stood the test. God's confidence in him was not misplaced. Put yourself in Job's place. He was greatly perplexed at times. He had not seen that scene in heaven; he did not know the challenge that had gone forth. God was depending upon him. Job was perplexed. He could not understand why this thing had come. He was a righteous man and obedient to God in every way. He didn't understand how important it was in God's plan that he should stand the test. And he, like all of us who are afflicted to some degree, searched his soul and he did not know of any specific wrong he had done. Have you done this? Wondered this? Have you been perplexed as to why your suffering from illness, ailments, or disabilities? Was Job a bad man? Have you sometimes stood at the bed of sickness or gone through some severe trial and asked, "Why? Why me?" I have!  

So then, why?

UNDERSTAND! The problem of suffering and sickness is indeed an important one but all sickness is not the result of sin even though there are preachers that preach that and some of us have been duped into believing it. Look at this, of the man mentioned in John 9, it is asked, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" John 9:2. And Jesus answered, "Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" verse 3. WOW. Sin was not involved. Could this be how God is using you? Don't get me wrong, there is, indeed, suffering that is a result of sin. You transgress and suffering results. That is one kind of suffering which we are generally quite well acquainted with. But there is another kind, mentioned in the fourth verse of the eleventh chapter of John (speaking of Lazarus) "When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" John 11:4. Reading again, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be manifest in him." We cannot know what purpose God has for the things He allows, other than, through reading scripture we know God has a purpose for our lives. I have known people to go through bad experiences and exclaim: "Why, Oh Lord, did this come on me? Where have I sinned? What have I done?" And they search their souls and can find no reason for it. They are perplexed. Could it be, as it was with the apostle Paul, he had to contend with the thorn in his flesh? (2 Corinthians 12:6-7). Notice it says FLESH? That was in Paul's body! So is it plausible that there is a purpose even in suffering, and that it may be that God is causing you to pass through that perplexity that you may be able to help and to comfort those who are in any trouble? After all, it is only as we pass through certain experiences that our words of comfort or reproof have any weight? I'm writing this for any believer who is worried and perplexed and who does not understand that God is putting them through trials for the purpose of service! Consider the spiritual impact you have when you walk through the fire (whatever that might be: a recent heart attack, daily pain, a crippling disability) and others see you come through it still trusting God, maintaining your faith, and still happy to witness His goodness. That's a powerful testimony you might not otherwise be able to give.

The bottom line is if you have an unexplained affliction or if you have been constantly attacked perhaps for years on end for no reason at all, just keep in mind Satan is given permission to try God's people to the utmost. We will cry to God day and night. It is the time of Jacob's trouble. We search our souls to see if any sin is left. But we find none. We repented of our sins. There is nothing against us. But the trial that comes brings perplexity, anxiety, confusion, terror, and distress. We go through somewhat the same experience that Job went through. Remain PATIENT. there is a purpose. Keep fighting the fight of faith. Stay strong. Honor God. Remain faithful. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning Psalm 30:5.

Until He comes,

-Pat-

I Waited But You Never Came

 

Many of you who converse with me on my Facebook page know I love animals. Having two cats and two rescued dogs is a testimony to that fact. One morning last month I awoke under a flannel sheet covered by two heating blankets that were caressing my body in a warm nirvana all night long. While lying on my back I began to stir and stretch. One of my cats sprung out of nowhere and jumped on the bed letting out a cute little phuuup sound. While curling up beside me she began nudging my arm with her nose in what was a successful attempt to cuddle and steal a hug. 

What a great moment that was, snuggled in a warm bed with my cat beside me safe from the frigid temperatures outside. It wasn't but a wink until my bliss turned to grave concern. The weatherman had predicted frigid cold for the next few days.  He warned the TV viewers to let their kitchen and bathroom faucets drip overnight to keep any pipes from freezing and bursting. As cozy and warm as I was, I realized protection from freezing was not true for many pets left out in the winter. As I lay there thinking, my mind drifted back to a situation I had witnessed as a volunteer at a local animal shelter.

  

On my very first day as I rounded the cages of lost, forgotten, and abandoned cats and dogs, I recall seeing one particular dog that was not confined in a pen.  He was sitting at the glass front door peering out over the parking lot.  People came in and out but this cute little dog sat perfectly still as if he were waiting for someone. I didn't think much of it at the time. My job was to take pictures of the dogs there, write creative personal bio's, then post their pictures online in hopes of attracting potential adopters.  Every day when reporting for duty I would see that same dog waiting at the front door peering through the glass. He always seemed disinterested in anyone coming or going. He never budged from his spot and he never looked up at people. After several weeks I became curious and inquired why this little Chihuahua, Lopez, was allowed to roam free while all other cats and dogs had to be restrained within assigned, numbered cages. And why or what was he waiting for?  The shelter manager told me he belonged to a former shelter employee who brought him to work every day. For reasons unknown the employee walked away from his job leaving his paycheck, never returning to the shelter, and never coming back for his dog. For two long years, Lopez waited for his owner. Every morning when the shelter was opened and the lights came on, little Lopez would run to the glass door and sit.  Still, his owner never came and Lopez was never adopted. Lopez eventually realized he had been abandoned and fell into despair. Lopez died waiting. He was found at the door one morning when the manager turned the key to enter the shelter.  Lopez had faithfully waited for his owner to come to get him, visit him, or even talk to him. 

 

 It's a sad story and remembering it can still induce tears.  Do you have any idea why I have told this story? This story creates a picture in my mind of how God must feel when we do not visit Him by praying, talking to Him, or reading our Bibles often. I can be distracted by TV shows I want to watch, by blogging on Facebook, spending time with my pets, or by just being exhausted that I often neglect to read the Bible as diligently as I should.  Oh yes, even me.  I am guilty.  As the story of Lopez came rushing back, I felt such shame as I mentally pictured God waiting for us just like faithful Lopez waited in vain.  The Bible, especially for the believer, is one of our greatest sources of spiritual food.  But sometimes we still fill up on too much junk food such as blogs, social media, news, TV sitcoms, books, online games, etc.  These things aren't bad in and of themselves but when they become the major source of your day something happens!  Your reasoning and perspectives will become less and less of a godly viewpoint. As an example, when a human body has a sodium deficiency, it will crave salty foods.  You might not even notice that you're craving salty foods in particular, but your body is reacting to that deficiency by creating a desire for something that restores it.  I know people whom I am friends with on FaceBook who have no desire to ever read the Bible.  They want nothing to do with it.  But that doesn't mean that as God's creation they don't crave, on some level, the desire for His Truth, His Wisdom, His Love, or His Perspective.  I frequently hear from non-Christians who have no idea how closely their innermost desires parallel God's desire for them.  A Christian, on the other hand, is much more likely to notice the source of this spiritual deficiency.  We've already been exposed to the source of God's Wisdom, Truth, and Perspective.  God's Word is meant to permeate every aspect of our lives.  Our knowledge of Him is supposed to transform us (2 Corinthians 2:15).  The more space that grows between your reading of scripture the more you'll find yourself saying things like, "That reminds me of a verse in the Bible" (but you cannot recall it), or, "That sounds kind of like the passage where...." (but you cannot recall it).  Before you even realize it, you'll begin paraphrasing it, changing it as you go along, making vague references to it, or letting other sources (books, articles, teachings) have a greater impact on your understanding of God's character which may not be true at all.  Have you ever said, thought, or whispered to yourself, someone else, or even God, "Look, at least I read a couple of verses today." 

  

Reading the Bible isn't just something you need to do to stay spiritually healthy.  It's not a pill you have to swallow or a chalky vitamin you have to chew.  Reading the Bible is something you should do because you want to!  How much you read and how frequently you read is not the point.  Reading exposes you to the history of the Creator's relationship to creation -- that includes you.  Lopez wanted a relationship with his owner.  Not because he had to, not because he was afraid to be punished if he didn't, and not because he would be threatened.  Lopez wanted a relationship with his owner because he was driven by love.  If a dog can have that kind of desire and faithfulness, can you not muster enough love for God?  If you want to know who God is, He had 40 people write a book with 66 chapters about Him over the course of 1,500 years!! Now, all you have to do is pick up a Bible off the shelf, read the Bible online in any version you want, or even download the Bible to your phone!  Don't do it because you feel someone is making you do it.  Had Lopez's owner returned, Lopez would have been crushed if he thought his owner really had no interest in him but was being forced to return to the shelter.  Also, don't read the Bible to show off or brag about how much you read.  Don't memorize verses to look impressive, to get a pat on the back, or acknowledgment from your friends.  These things can be motivators to assist you in getting on the right track and to create healthy spiritual habits, BUT DON'T LET THOSE BE THE REASONS YOU READ THE BIBLE.  A healthy relationship with God will drive you to read the Bible because what it says excites you!  Read the Bible because you want to know God!  Read the Bible because it's living and active (Hebrews 4:12).  Read the Bible because it can SPEAK POWERFUL TRUTH into your life.  Read the Bible so that your life reveals more of Christ in you (2 Corinthians 3:3).  I know God will always be faithful to be there for us when we do decide to communicate, turn to Him, and read His Word. He will never grow tired of hearing us and interacting with us. And, He will never forsake us the way we have often failed and forsaken Him.  

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Of Water And Of Spirit

The Lord woke me early this morning as He often does (2:34 a.m. it was) and began filling my mind with scriptures and the direction for this blog. Here are the words that came to me:

"You must be born again of water and of spirit." John 3:5 (Tell them what is meant by Water and Spirit.)

"By the washing of the water by the word." Ephesians 5:26  (I'm coming for a Church washed in water without spot or blemish. Tell them.)

As I thought about the words in these scriptures, I started breaking them down:

We must be born again which involves two things. Water and Spirit. What are water and spirit? Simply His Word and the Holy Ghost. We can read in scripture that Jesus is coming for a Church (believers) who are sanctified and holy. The only way for this to happen is through washing in water BY THE WORD (Ephesians 5:26) and receiving the Holy Spirit. What does washing in water mean?

We can break it down even further. First, We must be born again of water OR in other words, we must be washed IN THE WORD because he said "by the washing of water BY THE WORD. What about actual water baptism? Doesn't that count? By coming forward to be baptized in literal water is like a promissory note, an act of faith showing our commitment to God, symbolizing the washing away of our old life, and beginning to walk in newness with Him. We know Jesus was THE WORD made flesh (John 1:14; Revelation 19:13) therefore Jesus and the WORD are synonymous. Secondly, we must be born of the spirit is the same as we must be born of the Holy Ghost. Acts 1 records John baptized with water" (the baptism of repentance of sin). After you repent of your sins, you need to immerse yourself IN THE WORD (the Bible is the spiritual water). Then you will receive power from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) to witness as you begin your journey of holy living. Remember, the word holy means separated, it doesn't mean you are some kind of pure god being. It means you are dedicated and consecrated to God, it means you are separated from your sin and unto Christ alone. Being born again of water and of the spirit is the regeneration of the human spirit in contrast to physical birth. Jesus also told us not to be surprised by the idea of rebirth in John 3:5-7.

It's time for believers and even non-believers to understand the call of God because the days are evil. When you think about the world in these times that we are living in, it isn’t hard to see that there is a huge amount of suffering going on. Warfare, poverty, political unrest, innocents suffering and being killed, etc. It can leave us wondering: when will it all end? Have you as a Christian ever wondered how long can God allow this to continue? But did you know there is something that believers can do to shorten these evil days? “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” 2 Peter 3:11-12. 

It is through the fear of God that we can hasten the coming of the day of God. As believers, we are to come to perfection in Christ, so that there is no spot or blemish in us. This is said of Christ, "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27.) With the strength and guidance God gives us by the Holy Spirit, each one of us can live without committing conscious, willful sin. With that strength and grace, we are able to overcome sin in our flesh when we are tempted, to the degree that we are obedient to the light and understanding that God has given us. The more faithful and obedient we are, the faster the work He has prepared for us will be accomplished (Ephesians 2:10) By this “holy conduct and godliness” we hasten His coming.

Paul said it like this: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on …” He is speaking about being perfect as Jesus is perfect; coming to the whole fullness of God (Colossians 29; Matthew 5:48). Are you thinking nonsense, none of us can be perfect. But Paul says that he was "reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3: 12-14. How can we possibly come to the point where we have no spot or blemish or wrinkle? What does that even mean?

To have no spot or wrinkle or blemish doesn’t mean that we have no sin, as we can clearly see in 1 John 1:8 all have sinned and fallen short of what God intended for us. As we grow in Him we become more and more enlightened to what He desires of us. We sometimes harbor sin (gossip, jealousy, anger, and the like that we are as yet unaware of, which God hasn’t given us light/understanding over because He only shows us as much as we can bear at a time. The more we read and learn, the more we grow and mature. We confess our sins, repent, and keep pressing on. That sin which He hasn’t shown us yet doesn’t cause us to be blemished, but what does cause a blemish in us, is disobedience. If God has spoken to us time and time again about something that we need to overcome, if He has given us light over something, and we don’t do anything about it, but allow that sin to remain active in us, then we get “spots” and become blemished. That will make us unfit to be a part of that glorious church that He will present to Himself. We have to do something when He shows us something in ourselves; we have to repent and continue to fight and come to victory over that sin.

We are not accountable for the sin that we are not aware of. Have you ever read the Word of God and discovered something you were doing in your life was a sin but you weren't even aware of it? That's what I'm talking about   But we are fooling ourselves if we think we can say, “Yes, I knew about that sin in myself, but the righteousness of Jesus covers me, so I will not be held responsible for it. I overcome through faith in His finished work on Calvary, not by anything I must or can do.” Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we can indeed receive undeserved forgiveness for sins we have and do commit. But the salvation obtained through forgiveness is only the beginning of a disciple’s life. Jesus opened a way of salvation from sin for us. This way, the way that Paul was pressing forward on, leads to the goal: to be perfect in Christ as far as we have received light/understanding. This way reaches all the way to God’s throne (Hebrews 10:19-22). There we receive all the mercy and grace and help we need to overcome sin (Hebrew 4:15-16). The power of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent to us after He had opened up this way, is what enables us to be “… more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:27).

It is critical that we pursue this goal, and be faithful to the extent that we have light/understanding over the sin in our flesh. None of us can do more than what we understand to do. But we can be 100% faithful to do that which we do understand. Then God can give us more light and understanding as time goes by, and if we are faithful to be obedient, then that pursuit of righteousness will hasten the coming of the day of God and He will receive a Bride whose lamps are burning bright, who are washed in His Word of Truth, kept by the power of His Spirit through grace and mercy, without spot or wrinkle.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-