I Just had to write about how awesome and astounding it is when Yahweh uses posts from years prior to give encouragement, help, just the right word for the situation or for an answer to prayer. I just know its Him putting those posts in the recommendation section of this website.

Even the words of the Bible are still giving out today. (Great topic, but not part of this post.) Of course, with the bloggers I follow on this site, Bible passages are always used in their posts, so, I know that’s what makes them always relevant.

How many times has someone come across an older post or a book from a long passed pastor or theologian. I was thinking about how our wonderful Lord and Savior brings these things into our lives just at the right moment. I was also thinking about how He says things again and again, but its so new and refreshing. I’ve lost posts due to computer issues or the blogsite shut down. I just cleaned out a filing cabinet and had to throw out papers that were too old to read. It seems sad to lose these things. But, I started thinking about how they really were not saying anything that hasn’t been said already and won’t be said again when needed.

So in conclusion, I just want to be thankful that whether Jesus uses “old” writings or “new” writings, that He says what we need to hear at that very moment. I also pray that we listen. (Another topic not for this post.)

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Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will complete until the day of Christ Jesus.

Revelation 2:17 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone , and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except the one who receives it.

I’m thinking about beauty from ashes today and about the timing of seeing the beauty. My story just from the last twenty-five years has many ashes being made and much beauty coming from those ashes. I’ve seen some of the beauty. I believe there is much of it I haven’t seen. There are ashes still being made, and I have to believe so is more beauty. I think it can be said of this year, that many ashes have been made in everyone’s lives. I can see the beauty from those ashes in the lives of those I follow on this website. The effort of being thankful and still praising Jesus even in the midst of the ashes is awesome.

My prayer and desire is to glorify Jesus with my life and be an encouragement and blessing in the middle of all the ashes to others. I encourage everyone to stay strong amidst all the ashes and see the beauty coming from them. We may not see all the beauty that comes from the ashes of someone’s life, or even our own, but Jesus does. And though we may not see all the beauty, I want to believe that the name on that white stone will tell all that Jesus sees.

Most of the sixth chapter of Matthew talks about some of the secret fruits of a righteous person’s life. And about how that causes treasures to be stored up in Heaven. I believe there is going to be much more beauty to behold from our earthly lives than we think, when we reach eternity with Jesus. I’m wanting to see more now of the beauty from the ashes in my life, but, I’m also learning to be content knowing I may not see most of that beauty until I’ve shed this mortal body.

So for now, I put what we would call little tidbits on this website. But, in reality all my(and yours) comments and posts are much bigger to Jesus, I’m believing. They have to carry more weight than we give them credit for. I’m choosing to believe they are creating more beauty than we can imagine. So keep up all the good work as Jesus leads. You all are beautiful people and helping each of us to walk through these ashes into the beauty Jesus has created.

I was going to post this some months ago. But it seemed best to wait. I believe the time is now. My prayer is that the agenda of each of us is grounded in righteousness and God’s Word.

Philippians  1:20-24  “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor, yet what I shall choose, I do not know. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, and to abide in the flesh which is more needful for you.”

Matthew  10:28  “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear Him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:39(Matthew 16:24-26/Mark 8:35-37/Luke 9:23-26;14:26;17:33)  “He that finds his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.”

—— Am I making the eternal destination of every soul my mindset’s priority? Am I remembering that the death of my mortal body doesn’t matter as long as my name is in the Lamb’s Book Of Life.

Philippians 2:2-5  “Fulfill ye/you my joy, that ye/you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem another better than themselves. Look not every person on his own things, but every person also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

John 15:12 & 13  “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no person than this, that a person lay down his life for his friends.”

——- Am I doing anything out of strife, unrighteous anger or unhealthy pride? Am I willing to die not only for a friend, but for any person?

Lord Jesus Christ, please help us to live out the Fruit Of The Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control – more each day. Thank You for Your help and Mercy and Forgiveness.

Additional reading – Matthew 6 (whole chapter)

There’s a saying, ” It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a’coming.”

Jesus died on Friday. The disciples and many of the Jews were disappointed, depressed and probably even angry.

” They said unto Him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him. But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel. ” Luke 24:19-21a

Even though Jesus had told them He would rise again three days after dying, they didn’t get it, understand what He meant and/or believe it. So Saturday comes and He’s dead. What are they going to do? They had loved Him, spent time with Him, trusted Him and put their hopes in Him. They knew He was sent from God, but, now everything had gone to hell in a hand basket.

What they didn’t know on Saturday, is that He really had gone to hell. His plan of redemption was going just as He planned. Things were right on schedule.

Sunday came and Yeshua Messiah had indeed delivered them and everyone whom had come before and whom would come after them. He conquered death and hell. He brought grace and mercy instead law and judgement. He brought renewal and complete healing.

Are you stuck on Saturday? Your dreams have died. You don’t know what the Creator is doing. You love Him, you’ve spent time with Him, you’ve trusted Him, you’ve put all your hopes in Him, you’ve heard Him talk, you’ve read His promises and given your praise and worship to Him. But, everything looks like its gone to hell in a hand basket. So much has turned to ashes, fallen apart or been destroyed.

Believe me when I say I know.  I’m at this very moment stuck on Saturday. I’m wondering when Sunday is going to get here. Unlike the disciples, I know Sunday is Resurrection Day and everything will be put back together. Will He let me die stuck on Saturday? Or will I indeed see all He planned come to fruition. How long will I be stuck on Saturday? Its been years already. How many years do I have left until Sunday arrives?

He’s still proving that He conquered death and hell. He’s still bringing beauty from ashes. He’s still making something out of nothing.

I just have to be patient and keep trusting Him. Sunday’s a’coming.

I was on itunes buying some songs and remembered a song from the 90’s by Susan Ashton called Grand Canyon. Its a great song and really ministers to the soul. But I couldn’t help but think how our feelings are sometimes just that and don’t reflect reality.

Though we sometimes “feel” far away from Jesus, its not at all true, ever, if our name is in the Lamb’s Book Of Life. Once we have accepted His sacrifice on the cross for our sins and waywardness, that canyon gap is closed. When that earthquake hit and the veil to the Holy Of Holies was ripped apart allowing our immediate access anytime, it also closed the gap between The Father and us, permamently.

A great song that reflects this gap closure, is a recent song by Mercy Me – Flawless. Do we really understand the full meaning of Jesus’ words on the cross when He said, ” It Is Finished.” ? ( check out Petra’s song – It Is Finished or White Heart’s song – Once And For All)  ~~~ scripture refs – Hebrews 10:10, John 19:30, Romans 5 (whole chapter).

I can’t help but think that our enemy wants us to think that we are far from Jesus sometimes, when we really are not ,ever, once our name is in Jesus’ book. Its just a facade that he wants us to think reflects reality, when it doesn’t. That’s why Psalm 23:4 says “shadow” of death, because we are just in its shadow and not actually touching it or in it. So don’t fall for his lies, we are always in the shadow of Jesus’ wings though (close enough to touch Him/for Him to touch us anytime). ~~~ Psalm 57:1;61:4;63:7;91:4. Don’t touch death, but do touch Jesus. It works the other way too – death doesn’t touch us but Jesus does. (Though our souls leave these earthly bodies, its not really death for those under His grace.) ~~~ Hosea 13:14;I Corinthians 15:55&56

(scripture refs for Book Of Life – Philippians4:3, Revelation 3:5;13:8;17:8;20:12;

20:15;21:27;22:19)

 

Don’t you just love when JESUS resurrects and restores something?

He does say He IS The Resurrection and The Life.

Experiencing that in reality is awesome!

Ezekiel 26:36  – A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

I think I may be in the dark about religion. Looking back at all the blogs I’ve read – All the news articles I’ve read –  All the comments left in various places that I’ve read – All the comments and statements I’ve heard people say about it – I am now thinking that maybe I really have no idea what is being talked about.

How much do I really understand about something that I have never experienced myself? How much understanding do I get from only observing others’ experiences and listening to their thoughts and comments? What’s the validity of what others are saying the definition of religion is – both for or against it?

I would like to be an understanding and compassionate person towards others. And I do my best to be that. But I’m wondering how successful I can be in that endeavor. Of course, who’s definition of success am I using?

I don’t like to be called a religious person. From what I have gathered from observing others, I don’t like religion and I don’t want to be associated with it. But it also seems I am not able to totally disassociate from it due to the “comes with the territory” principle. Things are too interwoven to be completely separated from religion or at least the appearance of it.

Is it possible to be committed Christian and be completely separated from religion? I would very much like that to be possible. If I say I am religious, am I? If I say I am not religious, am I not? What about someone else? If someone else says I’m religious, am I? What if they say I’m not religious, am I not? Who really determines if someone is religious or not?

RELATIONSHIP – now that’s my thing. I LOVE my relationship with Jesus Christ. And I would give it up if I found someone who treats me better. About fifteen years ago I did go looking for something better than what I had. It was fueled by disappointment and unmet expectations. I couldn’t find anyone better, so I just said, well I might as well just stick with what I have and make the best of it. That’s when things really got bumped up to a whole ‘nother level. Another level that was exquisite and more than I could imagine. I just spent another two to three years in another valley, but this time I didn’t go looking for something else, just waited for things to change for the better. And last month, they finally did. Its been a miracle to me. I don’t know exactly what or how He did it, but He did something wonderful for me and to me.

Wish and pray everyone could experience this. Can’t cry too long when I see they don’t.

Its been over two years since I blogged. Life does seem to get in the way, putting obstacles on the path we are walking. I’ve missed blogging. I want to get back to it. Its a little bit scary going in this time (vs. new and exciting before). Social media/networks, like a lot of things, has its pros and cons. And some of the risks are riskier as time goes on. Things change – desires, modes of operation, thought patterns, what’s acceptable and what’s not, what’s tolerated and what’s not.

Bottom line – I still want to be that person that gives that little needed word of encouragement to even just one person. And using any means I can is still an option.

Its January – always a good time for, “Let’s try this again.” Always a good time to see life giving us a clean slate. Time for a redo or two. Time for reboots and fresh starts. Time to forget the past and press on towards the future. Time for hope to shine again. Time to forget about the disappointments and failures. Time to dream new dreams or pursue the broken or dead ones again. They just might be resurrected.

So, here’s to getting back into the saddle! Let’s see where this horse carries us this year.

Well, its December and the year is drawing to a close. Some years are better than others, some worse. I think its been a rough year for alot of people, me included and though some good things have happen, I can’t help but think about the things that weren’t so fun. And in that light I’m happy to see 2012  go and I am looking forward to 2013. There is alot of new hope on the horizon for me and my family.

My hope and prayer is that that can be said for many other people too. Wounds have been gouged deep, very deep for some of us.  ~~~ 2 Corinthians 4:8&9 – ” We are hard-pressed on every sided, but not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. “

Honestly, not quite sure about the not being in despair part, there are alot of people despairing, and there have been people struck down and destroyed, but Jesus is still in control and He still looks on with love and compassion. Jesus still is very trustworthy and He will heal every wound if we let Him. He is very faithful to complete every good work in us if we let Him. (Philippians 1:6)

So let Jesus Christ heal and restore you today. Let Him love you as only He can. Let Him give you hope for the future.

Merry Christams & Happy Hanukkah everyone !

Here I am trying to look at the 10,000 reasons to be thankful, when 10,000 reasons not to keep parading before me. Fight with me to keep being thankful and appreciate even the littlest things in life.