Courageous

Courage-the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.  Synonyms 1. fearlessness, dauntlessness, intrepidity, spirit. (dictionary.com)

Let's continue learning about boldness from the people of the Bible.  Daniel and his three friends displayed courage.  Daniel survived a night in the lion's den.  They were not afraid to be different, they stood the test of fire (the 3 friends did literally!).  They trusted God and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God Daniel 3:28. Sometimes the most courageous and bold thing is to NOT do what others are doing!! How were they able to be so brave?  What can we glean from reading their story?  Here's what I found in the book of Daniel as the Holy Spirit revealed profiles of courage. 

• Daniel resolved not to defile himself (Daniel 1:8) Makes me think of 1 Corinthians 10:23 Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial...
• God gave them knowledge and understanding of all kinds (Daniel 1:17)
• Daniel used wisdom and tact when speaking to the commander of the guard (Daniel 2:14)
• Daniel displayed thankfulness and humility by praising God (Daniel 2:23, 28)
• The Spirit was evident to others in Daniel's life (Daniel 4:8)
• Daniel told the truth about the king's dream even though it was bad news (Daniel 4:19-27)
• Daniel served God continually (Daniel 6:20)
• Daniel trusted God ( Daniel 6:23)

One of the things I was most excited to read was Daniel 3:21 which tells us that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had on robes and turbans as they were thrown into the fiery furnace.  Why is that significant?  I think it's significant because we too need to wear our robes and head coverings!!!
I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels Isaiah 61:10.   If we are to be bold and courageous...we need the right clothes! Zechariah talks about receiving clean garments and turban and Ephesians 6 gives us instruction about the armor of God.  Christ in His sacrifice has provided them for us....put on the robe of righteousness and renew your mind to the Truth!!! She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25

Thank you Father for giving us the Word...thank you that it is so available to us-we are blessed to be able to read it anywhere, anytime!! Give us a hunger for your word and truth and change us as we are in your word. Thank you for being our provider, of battle gear and daily living necessities.  Fill us with your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding so that we will be resolved not to defile ourselves as Daniel was.  Lord as you make us more bold and corageous through the filling of your Spirit, give us tact and keep us humble.  Lord let me always be bold enough to give you thanks and praise-for it is you working in me that brings any success.  Enable us to always speak the truth as you lead us-even if it's not what someone wants to hear.  Lord, like Daniel-let us always serve you and trust you!! Remind us who we are in Christ and prepare us for all you have in store for us!  In Jesus' name, AMEN

Still didn't get to Esther....

Facing Giants

We've been talking about boldness this week and have read about the believers in Acts, learning that boldness is available to all believers because we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and the righteous are as bold as a lion (2 Cor 5:21 and Prov 28:1). Yesterday I wrote about David and the boldness and courage he showed in trusting God to bring him victory over Goliath. 

I don’t think we face physical giants today (unless maybe you are talking about my family –at 6’4’’ I’m the shortest of my siblings! lol).  But we do ‘face giants’ each day. When we listen to the voice of truth we will have victory over any giant we may face. 

Depending on the giants you may be facing, boldness may mean different things at different times.  It may take boldness to:

• Listen to God's truth and believe...boldly overcoming the lies of the enemy
• Give thanks....boldly trusting God in every situation
• Encourage someone when it's out of your comfort zone....boldly being a doer of the word
• Care for a special needs child or family member....boldly advocating for their needs
• Love the unlovely....boldly sharing the love of Christ
• Be nice! (new post coming on this soon:)...boldly doing the right thing
• Stand your ground (this one will have a post too!)...boldly resisting the enemy (1Peter5:9)
• Speak. To anyone.  About anything. ...boldly overcoming the fear of rejection-can you tell this is me:)
• Ask for help....boldly accepting that God put us here together and life is easier with friends! 
• OBEY...ENDURE...PRESS ON

Remember this boldness does not come from your power....but from the power of the Holy Spirit living in you. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.  1John 4:4 NLT (If you have time, read different version of familiar verses...I love the way it comes alive when you read it in a translation you are not used to!! Youversion and Biblegateway are great places to do that for free.)

Oh Lord,  make us like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Make whatever we do prosper (Psalm 1:3)  In any area where we need to grow in courage, we trust you Lord to teach us, realizing that this is not something we can do on our own.  I give you total control in my life, I want your Spirit to fill me to the fullest...making me bold in the hope I have in you Jesus! Guide us today, fill us with your love and let it spill out on those around us!  We will give you glory as one trembling heart and soul becomes a servant bold and courageous.  In Jesus' name-AMEN

So, I didn't even get to Esther or Daniel yet...I have been learning so much:) Come back tomorrow and I'll share! Thanks for reading and subscribing...have an excellent day!

Unstoppable and Unshakeable

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31

Yesterday I left you thinking on boldness.  I have been thinking more on Acts 4:31 and read this portion of a commentary and had to share:
"In answer to their prayer and in fulfillment of his promise (Lk 11:13), the place is shaken, and all--not just the apostles--are filled with the Holy Spirit (2:4; 4:8). They speak (literally, were speaking--continuous action at intervals) the word of God (God's great good news of salvation; 11:19; 13:46; 14:25) with boldness. The messengers are unstoppable. The mission continues with divine momentum. As Chrysostom observed about the place being shaken: "and that made them the more unshaken" (Homily on the Acts of the Apostles 11).

So according to this verse and commentary, it wasn't just Paul or the apostles who spoke the word of God boldly!  That means there is no qualification to being bold other than believing what the word says (Prov 28:1...the righteous are as bold as a lion) and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit.  I want to be unshakeable and unstopable in this life...whether it is in proclaiming God's word or being a godly wife, or raising my children, or encouraging a friend, etc...  I beleive this promise for boldness with the filling of the Spirit! There are corageous people described in the Bible.  Let's see what we can discover by reading their stories. 

What about David?  He said to Goliath "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty...All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (You can read the whole story in 1 Samuel 17.)  That's pretty bold!!! In 1 Samuel 16:13 we read that the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.  So David wasn't bold and corageous on his own.  We can't be effectively bold on our own either- it is the Spirit of God working in us to make us bold!!

Dear Lord, renew our minds to the truth of your word.  Fill us with your Spirit so that we can live life to bring glory to you.  Make us bold where we need to be bold...make us sensitive where we need to be sensitive.  Guide us in your love this day.  In Jesus' name....amen!

Come back tomorrow and we'll check out some other courageous people :)

Bold and Brave

I've never thought of myself as bold or brave. A few months ago I was reading through Proverbs and studying what the Word says about the righteous. Since I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21) what His word says about the righteous is true about me (not because of me).  Proverbs 28:1 stood out to me:

The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Hmmm....bold as a lion, interesting, but me? really? This will take some faith and the renewal of my mind. I could name a bold person- Paul was bold...it's recorded several time in Acts (9:28, 13:46, 14:3, 19:8) Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:31 

 

Also in Acts we read that it wasn't just Paul-

....And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31      I think I will need to write more about this tomorrow! 

Since that time a few other verses have also become alive to me about boldness.  Think on these today as you find time and let God's word become alive and active in every area of your life.  He is renewing my mind as I trust the Holy Spirit to make me more bold!

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.  2 Corinthians 3:12

When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. Psalm 138:3

Oaks of Righteousness

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61:1-4





http://www.wallpapers-free.org/42/-/America_-_oak_tree_in_new_england_sunrise/

  Jesus made us oaks of righteousness! Obedience is a fruit of righteousness....not the way to righteousness. We don't have to figure it out...just receive it! I am a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor...now I know why I am so tall...lol...I am a tree:)  More posts to come on this

What's in a name?

The lessons you learn from kids...

Zaleigh named her first 'special' doll Zea when she was almost 2.  This week, we tried to get Aleigha (who is now 2!) to give one of her special dolls a name.  She was very adamant that the baby's name was "MY baby" or  simply "MINE'.  In her eyes, the baby needs no special name, but it is important that others know it's her baby. 

I know that God says the same about us...that's "MY baby", My daughter, My son... He has adopted us and chosen us as 'special' to be adopted as his children through belief in Jesus.

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:1-2

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—  to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6


But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Praise you Father!!!! Thank you for choosing me and calling me out of darkness into your marvelous light!  Let me declare praises to you forever!  Thank you that you see me as holy and blameless because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me.  Thank you that even when I feel alone or rejected in this world, I know I am yours!  In Jesus' precious name, Amen

Opinions

How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who [are content to seek and] receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God?  John 5:44 (Amplified Bible)

Wow, that really got me!  If I value other people's opinions of me more than God's I will never truly believe and trust him. If I am always people pleasing, then I won't make time to seek Him and find His will for me.  Here is the same verse in a few more ways...see if one of these gets you. 

How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God John 5:44 NIV

John 5:41-44 (The Message)

"I'm not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?

Dear Lord, help us to seek praise only from you.  Let us give our lives to bring you praise and honor and glory, even when it's uncomfortable to our flesh.  Your word says "blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,  who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods (Psalm 40:4) I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart (Psalm 40:8)

Desire versus Time

I desire to share what God is doing in my life in hopes that it may encourage just one person. I have struggled to find the time to blog and determine if it's really something I should do, if it has eternal significance. I believe it will be significant, that if God has given me the desire He will make it successful. I believe that as I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways acknowledge him, and he will make my paths straight (Proverb3:5-6).
This morning after reading several blogs, I have been encouraged...so if God can use someone's blog to bring me encouragement-He will be able to use mine to encourage someone else!! A post from 'she will sing there' blog, Compelled by Love really captures how I feel about blogging.  Another one I read this morning from the 'passionate homemaking' blog What Kind of Shoes Do You Wear? encouraged me that blogging does use the gifts He has given me.  This is the confirmation I have been seeking as I've felt led to update my blog and spend some time writing the things He is teaching me.  So...in the next while, I will continue to 're-do' the blog and attempt to put some of the things in my mind on the screen!  I want to make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5) and follow the Spirit as He guides me into balance in all areas of my life!

Lord, I commit to you whatever I do and believe that my plans will succeed (Prov 16:3) Teach me how to live to please you, because you're my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland (Psalm 143:10) Help me to not just keep my priorities straight, but to continually straighten them out according to your will for my life.  Help me not to be foolish, but to understand what your will is (Ephesians 5:17).  Jesus, I know it is in YOU that I find out who I am and what I'm living for (Ephesians 1:11).  Guide me and my friends, family and readers in finding more of you and your love each day.    Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12) May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17) AMEN!

When You Really Want To Live-Dayspring Devotional

When You Really Want To Live: "Eucharisteo Jesus, the God-man who came to save me from prisons of fear and guilt and depression and sadness. With an expiration of less than 12 hours, what does Jesus count as all most important? 'He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to them.' Luke 22:19 In the original language, 'He gave thanks' reads 'eucharisteo'. The root word is 'charis' meaning 'grace.' Jesus gave thanks, eucharisteo, for the grace, and within 'eucharisteo' is also the derivative, chara --- meaning joy. Deep joy -- chara -- is found only at the table of the euCHARisteo -- the table of thankgsgiving. So then as long as thanksgiving is possible -- Joy is always possible. And how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of what He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes to His grace. Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy. A threefold cord - that might hold a life?
 -Ann Voskamp Excerpt from the New York Times Best Selling One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to LIVE FULLY Right Where You Are. Through Ann's heart-breakingly beautiful stories, she offers a profoundly powerful guide to finding joy wherever people live. Even in the darkest moments, in the midst of everyday challenges, you can discover an ancient way of living that is deeply, fully alive. Joy really is possible. Right now"

Weaning (patience and faithfulness)

Psalm 131:2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

"Weaning can be unpleasant for the 'weanee' and the 'weaner'-Joyce Meyer
In order for your soul to be weaned, somebody has got to suffer....God is willing to listen to you scream and cry all night long (like a parent taking a binky or bottle away).  What do I need to be weaned from?  Is it the good opinion of others, the kind words or encouragement that I seek especially from relationships where it's no longer there?? Is it a bad attitude, pity party, victim mentality, selfishness....hmmm...

Endure
Hebrews 12:2-3---endure=put up with a good attitude
We all want to be used by God...to bear fruit.  We can dress it up and make it look good on the outside, but what happens if you squeeze it??? Fruit may need to hang around on the vine for awhile so it's not bitter... Jesus is the vine...we need to ripen on the vine!  It took David 20 years to get ripe. One day we will ripen and be handpicked by God!   James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Sometimes we learn how to treat people by getting treated poorly ourselves-then knowing how not to treat others. 

These are my notes from today's broadcast-patience and faithfulness  http://www.joycemeyer.org/ourministries/broadcast/