Date: June 7, 2016
Have you ever believed things about yourself or others that weren’t true? What lies do you currently believe? When reflecting upon these 2 questions, I felt led to come up with 3 specific lies that I currently believe. I began to list all of my insecurities— starting with my the physical ones… Needless to say, there were 20+ that filled my mind, so I decided to just categorize those as feelings of unworthiness. Then, I thought about my emotional insecurities regarding not ever finding someone to accept me for me— crazy and all. Yet again, thoughts kept filling my mind, as I tried to pinpoint what “emotional insecurities” I with which I struggle. I decided to categorize these emotional insecurities as feelings of being unlovable… which led me to the third lie, feelings of loneliness. I’ve noticed that the more attention that I give to these lies (that, in my mind, are a reality), I then begin to dwell on them, which tends to lead to an obsession, which I know just thrills the enemy. The battlefield of the mind— that’s my biggest struggle— and because the devil knows this and realizes the power that my thoughts have on my mood, my demeanor, my life, Satan exploits his wickedness through his cunning/crafty ways to keep me from reading The Truth. He does whatever he can to distract me— whether it be that I need something to drink, or that my dog needs to go potty, or that all-of-a-sudden I need to use the restroom, etc.— Satan does whatever he can to keep me from opening my Bible because he knows the POWER that The Holy Spirit will grant me each time that I do. He knows that The Truth really will set me free— free from his lies, free from his deceit, free from his distraction. Once I open The Word of God, the enemy knows that he has been defeated. Once I enter into a time of prayer and worship, Satan knows that God will always prevail. God will always win the battle for my heart, mind, and soul whenever I let go of my own, selfish desires (usually, it's checking social media and/or watching TV) and let Him lead me on His righteous right path. God is not only the creator of the Heavens and the earth, but He is also my Maker. Why would I not entrust my life— my day— my time— my talents— my desires— to Him? Why would I not go before His Holy throne first and foremost? Why, why, why? It is all so clear in this moment at this time because the Holy Spirit is teaching me what my Maker wants me to know— because the enemy is not distracting me in this moment… Oh, but he is trying. Just as I typed out that last sentence, a thought flickered into my mind: Yes, but that is just in this particular moment of time… today… BUT what about... in an hour… this evening… tonight... tomorrow? UGH! What. a. freak. After realizing that those thoughts were clearly from Satan, I prayed aloud, asking God to eradicate the enemy from having power over my thoughts, asking Him to comfort me with His angels and create a shield of protection from this freakshow of an enemy… and He did… because He is a good, good father. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gSugruC1jQ
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Date: Friday, 5/20/16
REVELATION: 2 CORINTHIANS 3-5 The enemy makes us think that by not doing 'this' or not doing 'that' (because we need REST, per the commands of our Heavenly Father), then we are somehow "failing God". However, the reality is that Satan plants those thoughts into our minds because he so desperately wants us to get so overwhelmed in the hustle&bustle of it all that we get to the point where we feel like just throwing our hands up in frustration and say, "I'm done!" Satan will do whatever it takes to fluster us into a state of confusion so that we are incapable of conducting ourselves in a holy manner. Living in a society that is constantly on-the-go means that we must be intentional in setting aside time to be alone in the presence, kneeled before our Maker, as He cleanses us from the filth of worldliness and restores us with His Truth. The gospel becomes veiled whenever our minds are saturated with worldly thoughts because we are "too busy" to get alone in His presence. Thus, The Gospel/Word of God is then veiled, clouding our minds so that we are no longer capable of making wise decisions because we cannot see The Path that God has specifically set before us as individual children with unique talents and abilities with which He has blessed each of us. We cannot, or better yet, we should not make decisions based on what our Christian friends are doing or ask for their advice because we must first seek Him and ask for His wisdom in what we should do or where we should go or what we should read/watch or what we should listen to... THE WORD: "The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of The Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." -2 Corinthians 4:4 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, and not from us." -2 Corinthians 5:7 * conscience (vs. 3) * sight of God (vs. 3) * The Gospel is veiled. (vs. 3) "... A veil covers their hearts, but whenever anyone turns to The Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is The Spirit, and where The Spirit of The Lord is, THERE IS FREEDOM! And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate The Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes only from The Lord, who is The Spirit." -2 Corinthians 3:15-18 "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we RENOUNCE secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort The Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth The Truth plain and clear for everyone to see ... in the sight of God Himself." -2 Corinthians 4:1-2 "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god(s) of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers (& even believers, at times) so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ..." "Now The One who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us The Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come... For we life by faith, not by sight, so we make it our goal to please Him, for we all must appear before the judgement seat of Christ so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad, for Christ's love compels us." -2 Corinthians 5:5, 7, 9-10, 14 2015
"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." -Luke 8:17 While outside in my backyard on this beautiful Saturday morning, God filled my heart. The sunlight peaked through the tree limbs, radiating its warmth upon my face. I felt the light shine upon my eyes and was reminded how dark, brown eyes can actually appear beautiful, at times, whenever the light shines upon them at just the right angle. It then led me to think about how lighting affects/reflects a person's beauty and/or magnifies their flaws. In photography, light affects everything. If/when a moment/person is captured in the right lighting, he/she can appear much more beautiful as a result of the radiating light. The same truth can be applied to godliness. A person who is led by the Spirit radiates Christ's light from within, illuminating a life of purity and righteousness. What goes in will always come out. When you saturate/marinate your mind with truth, Christ's light radiates from your soul. * Immerse yourself in The Word. * Meditate on The Truth. * Learn about God's character. * Experience God. * Allow Christ's light to radiate in and through your daily interactions with others. * Saturate your mind with Truth. * Experience God's glory. * Magnify others' strengths, not their weaknesses. * "Humble yourself before The Lord, and He will lift you up!" * Make HIM famous. Worry about His reputation, not your own. Think like a princess. Speak like a princess. Act like a princess. For you are royalty; your Father is The King of Kings. -Shannon Kubiak (The Divine Dance) While basking in the sun, your body absorbs the nutrients emitted from the light source. Consequently, what has been absorbed emaciates from your skin, causing it to slightly glow. A LAMP ON A STAND (a parable) "Jesus said to them, 'Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest, nor is anything concealed, except to be exposed in the light.'" -Mark 4:21-22 ******************************************************************************************************* "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." -Matthew 5:14-16 Date: Monday, 6/29/15 Verses: Psalm 138:7-8 Today’s “Verse-of-the-Day” on my Bible app: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand, you save me. The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.” –Psalm 138:7-8 VINDICATE: support * defend * uphold * clear * exonerate * forgive * pardon Whatever troubles you are going through right now, have faith in knowing that The Lord will vindicate you; He will preserve your life. He will stretch out His hand against the anger of your foes. He will stretch out His righteous right hand; He will save you!
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2015 Church: First Baptist of Fisherville Speaker: Bro. Jack Scripture: Genesis 37, Psalm 40 THEME: God uses the pit to get us to the palace! 1) Dysfunctional Family (vs. 2) Jacob had more than one wife at one time. (Genesis 2: 18, 23+24) Nothing can throw you into a pit faster than family issues! 2) Favoritism & Jealousy (vs. 3) Jacob favors one son, Joseph, over all of his other sons. Because of this, Jacob’s other sons were jealous of Joseph’s relationship with their father. 3) Arrogance (vs. 2) Seventeen-year old Joseph tattled to his father about his older brothers. Joseph told his older brothers about his dream, in which God revealed to him that he would rule over all of them one day. (Genesis 37: 5-11) LESSON TO BE LEARNED: Joseph should’ve been wise and waited to speak, keeping this revelation between him and God only. While wisdom does come with age and experience, we must always ask God to grant us wisdom and discernment in each and every situation. (Remember, Joseph was only seventeen years old at the time.) We need to ask God for wisdom in knowing when the appropriate time is to share with others what God has revealed to us in the secret place (aka God’s timing—not ours). 21 YEARS LATER… GENESIS 50:20 & ROMANS 8:28 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done—the saving of many lives!” –Genesis 50:20
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.” –Romans 8:28 God is such a loving Father and only wants to bring us joy, purpose, and contentment. Therefore, whenever we are truly seeking His will and longing to put Him first in each and every one of our decisions and steps, He will work all things together for our good. He ONLY wants good things for His children! |